Develop These Easy Heart Healthy Habits

There seems to be a concensus that changing unhealthy habits into healthy ones is difficult. It may take a little more patience and insight than what you are used to, but you can do it.
Following a "heart healthy" diet and lifestyle is really nothing more than eating a well-balanced, nutritious meal plan that nourishes with few calories and becoming more physically active. Here are some pointers to incorporate into your daily routine.

Everywhere we turn there seems to be news about how to maintain and develop a healthy heart lifestyle. Here are some suggestions, I hope you find useful. They work for me, so there's no reason they don't work for you. They are easier to implement than you may think possible...

Get more vitamin D.

End stressful relationships.

Play with animals, get a pet.

Engage in music therapy.

Increase your potassium intake.

Eat more whole grains.

Drink more green tea.

Exercise daily.

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Natural Uses for Honey and Cinnamon

Here's an article I found interesting on using honey and cinnamon for dealing with pesky health ailments:

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. What it will do is what some call 'turning to sugar'. In reality, honey is always honey. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will "crystallize". When this happens loosen the lid, boil some water and sit the honey container in the hot water, but turn off the heat and let it liquefy naturally. It is then as good as it ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. This will kill the enzymes in the honey.

Cinnamon and Honey
Bet the drug companies won't like this one getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:

It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects for any kind of diseases.
Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients. Weekly World News, a magazine in Canada, in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has given the following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon, as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply it on bread instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also, those who have already had an attack, when they do this process daily, they decrease chances of another attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder..

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and, clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from its root.

GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that when Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food is eaten relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans increase and even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old..

RASPY OR SORE THROAT:

When throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoon of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. When done daily for two weeks, it removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast and on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. When taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month .

FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research, says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, even when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, when taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., the vitality of the body increases within a week.

BAD BREATH:
People of South America, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing. Remember when we were kids? We had toast with real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!

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Natural Weight Watcher

Interested in wanting to either lose weight or maintain your current weight? Here's a natural remedy...

Wear a thick belt around your waist. Use your belt as a weight monitoring tool. Whenever you eat too much, your belt will appear to be too tight. Whenever you lose weight, your belt will loosen.

Keep track of your weight progress by placing a notch on the inside portion of your waist. Use a screwdriver to dig into the belt, making a notch. As your waist size changes, make note by adding another notch to your belt.

Good luck!

Natural Allergy Protection

While recently cat sitting for a friendly feline, I was reminded that I am allergic to cats. :? As I was discussing my dilemma with a friend, she mentioned an old-time remedy that has been a homeopathic favorite. So...I tried it and got great results.

It involves baking soda, a multi-purpose item that you can purchase in any grocery store. You're probably used to using baking soda in your homemade baked goods. Anyways...

Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 8 ounces of water. I like to decrease the portion, so I mix 1/2 teaspoon with 4 ounces water. Mix thoroughly and drink. Do not consume this mixture more than 4 times per 24 hour period.

Drink this concoction 30 minutes prior to contact with the item causing an allergy. The natural remedy may not work as well as a prescription-based allergy relief product, but it worked well enough for me. I try to avoid using pharmaceutical concoctions as much as possible.

Anyways, next time you need to protect yourself against known allergens, try this homeopathic remedy. It's cheap, easy and quick. :)

Remember, this remedy may not work for you. Check with your natural care provider first, if need be. I'm just sharing what works for me and accept no responsibility if you become ill after trying this natural remedy.

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Naturally Decreasing Coffee's Acidity

There are a variety of coffees available that are labeled as “Low Acidity”. However, did you know that you can easily make your own? The answer comes from the herb world.

Peppermint, or any variety of mint, provides a natural acidity attacker. Either add some dried peppermint leaves to your coffee grounds. Or, pick some fresh mint and add the leaves before brewing your coffee. The amount of mint depends upon your taste. A small amount, the equivalent of three leaves, will not noticeably affect coffee's taste. Of course, a larger amount will provide a minty taste to your coffee.

In fact, mint-flavored coffee is very popular around the holidays. Instead of buying commercially-prepared varieties where you're really not certain what goes into the coffee....make your own.

Store your dried mint in a glass jar. Place a dated label on the jar. This helps prevent confusion once you acquire a variety of herbs. (Herbs have a tendency to look the same when dried.) Keep the jar in your kitchen cupboard.

If growing your mint, well...I'm sure you know how to grow it. Just pick off some fresh leaves, rinse them and use them. You can the leaves whole, chopped or broken apart. The decision is yours.

Make certain to take a good whiff of the mint prior to using it. :) It smells fantastic!

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All-Natural Stomach Ache Relief

I've been doing this for so long, it's just second nature to me. However, I thought that I'd share it since some of you may find it helpful.

Whenever you have a stomach ache, turn to your refrigerator for remedies. Plain yogurt provides the solution for me. It needs to be plain yogurt without any added fruits, sugar or other ingredients.

Simply eat the yogurt. It's a form of medicine, actually. Plus, once you get used to the taste, it's enjoyable. Yes, you can become accustomed to eating plain yogurt. If you make your own, it can be a pure taste treat. (Making your own yogurt will be another blog post).

Choose your favorite brand of yogurt. Most offer a “plain” version. If a yogurt manufacturer does not offer a “plain” version, I wouldn't waste my time buying any type of yogurt from that manufacturer.

Eat as much yogurt as you feel necessary. Usually, I eat between ¼ to ½ cup. And, VIOLA!! no stomach ache. Results are rather instantaneous for me. As soon as the first couple of spoonfuls go down, my stomach feels better. Nice..

Your results may be different, but it works for me. It may work for you, too. Hopefully this can help others going through the same thing.

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Easy Heart Healthy Habits

Everywhere we turn there seems to be news about how to maintain and develop a healthy heart lifestyle. Here are some suggestions, I hope you find useful. They work for me, so there's no reason they don't work for you.

Get more vitamin D.

End stressful relationships.

Play with animals, get a pet.

Engage in music therapy.

Increase your potassium intake.

Eat more whole grains.

Drink more green tea.

Exercise daily.

Find interesting? Kindly share...

Mint To The Rescue...Marvelous Mint

Do you enjoy the taste of mint and peppermint? If so, you can gain numerous benefits other than its refreshing taste. Here are some ways the herb can help you...

Aids indigestion. When you experience stomach upsets, take some mint. Make a tea out of the herb and slowly sip it. Drink a cup of warm tea after a meal to help your digestion process. Add a tablespoon of dried peppermint leaves (organic preferred) to one cup of boiling water. Let it steep for five minutes. Remove the leaves and enjoy your medical beverage. If you prefer, eat the leaves.

Controls cramps. Mint can help with your constipation, cramps and diarrhea. You can either use tea for this purpose, or take a capsule of peppermint oil extract to help relieve these symptoms.

Headache relief. Refresh your senses and ease your headache pain by using mint topically. Mix one drop of peppermint essential oil with one teaspoon of almond oil together. Apply the mixture to your fingertips. Gently rub both of your temples with the oil.

Increase alertness. Another topical use for mint can perk you up. Mix together five teaspoons of water and three drops of peppermint essential oil. Place this mixture into a spray bottle. Close the top. Shake to mix thoroughly. You can either gently spritz your face with this herbal mixture or lightly spritz your surrounding air. The choice is yours. Either way, you will begin to feel rejuvenated and alert. (This is great after one of those long BORING company meetings).

Aromatherapy. Simply smelling the fragrance of mint can improve your mental state. Grow some fresh mint and see what I mean.

Peppermint is used as a natural remedy for a variety of purposes due to its containing vitamins, menthol and essential minerals.

Enjoy!

What's the Deal About Antioxidants?

We all hear about the benefits of getting antioxidants into our bodies. Do you know why, though? The antioxidants really are phenomenal. I'm talking about vitamins A, C, and E in this article. After doing tons of research and sharing information with others, here is a summary list I have come up with...

Your appearance can improve. If signs of aging skin is a concern to you, getting more antioxidants can help your skin look more vibrant and younger. Your skin tone (coloring) will appear more bright. They will nourish your skin. Antioxidants also assist in disease prevention. Increased circulation also helps your body function at its optimum level.

Vitamin A contains retinol, an ingredient known for lessening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The Mayo Clinic states that retinol was the first anti-aging ingredient found in original wrinkle creams.

Since antioxidants help increase blood circulation by fighting free radicals (harmful antibodies), they can increase the growth of your hair.

More later...

Eating for Hair Growth

Concerned about your hair health and its growth rate? Here is some information...

The main nutrient in hair is protein says the Mayo Clinic. So, a natural remedy that can improve your hair health and growth rate involves eating foods that contain protein. The protein can be from either plant-based or animal-based sources.

Soy is a plant-based, protein-rich source that you can use to your advantage. Soy foods include tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk and various meatless dishes. Usually, the food packaging will state the type of protein the product contains. (At least they should.)

Of course, there are a variety of animal-based protein sources. These include beef, lamb, veal, venison, poultry and seafood.

Make certain to include the protein as part of a well-balanced diet in order to gain as many benefits as possible.

Bilberry: Herb for Night Vision

Having suffered with night vision problems for along time, I have found one herb that has a reputation for improving this dilemma. Bilberry....

Bilberry was given to the fighter pilots during the World War to help improve night vision - for some background info.

If you can't find bilberry in capsules, make your own. Here's how:
* Find a health food store that sells bilberry in bulk.
* Buy as large a portion as you feel comfortable with. For about 20 capsules, I find it takes about
1/4 cup ground bilberry.
* Buy some empty capsules. These are sold in health food stores, also. Or, find them in the natural foods aisle of your grocery store. The capsules can be purchased either vegetarian or nonvegetarian. Your choice.

Store the bilberry capsules in an airtight container on your kitchen shelf away from heat.