Tapping Into Possibilities

Lights, Camera, Action….2015 is the International Year of Light!

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Did you know that 2015 is the International Year of Light & Light Based Technologies?

UNESCO delegates from Ghana and Mexico introduced the idea for an International Year of Light in 2012 to raise awareness of the achievements of Light Science and it’s applications.

UNESCO and a number of scientific organizations, educational institutions, non profits, technology platforms and the private sector are sponsoring the IYL 2015 which will include exhibits, workshops, conferences.

Today is the opening ceremony in Paris at UNESCO’s headquarters kicking off a year of coordinated activities throughout the world.

100 partners from 85 countries all working together.

The purpose of IYL 2015 is to raise awareness of the achievements of Light Science and it’s applications. The IYL goal is to ensure that international policymakers are made aware of the problem solving potential of light technology.

What does this mean to you? Perhaps you think not much since light whether natural (the sun) or artificial (light bulbs) is something we take for granted and we’ve forgotten most of our high school science.

Light based technologies can provide solutions to an array of global challenges – in energy, in education, in agriculture and, of course, health.

We are human photocells. Light is the ultimate biological nutrient.  Gabriel Cousins, MD

 

http://www.light2015.org/Home.html

 

 

Welcome to Inlightened Wellness

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To my old friends thank you for sharing my four year journey with Intentional Health News. I am excited to launch this new site. The path has shifted but not the journey. 

Intention – a course of action that one intends to follow, an aim that guides action, an objective.

One of my very first posts four years ago read as follows:

We are all limited by our own personal experience so as I write here I’m looking at things from my perspective, maybe yours too, maybe not. I once had business cards that said Watch Me Now as my work as it was evolving at that time was focusing on new things and not staying in a rut but then I found out it was a porn site (do not go there!). Then I thought Changing Health Perspectives was a good description of where I was going but the name was a mouthful and too many didn’t have a clue what it meant. So after setting lots of intentions over the years about what I wanted, especially a great one for getting a good night sleep (email me if you want to know what it is), I realized that good health and wellness are as much about intention, your intention to be well, as it is about what pill you take or what exotic fruit you drink. So Intentional Health it is.

Enlightened – to have or show a rational, modern and well informed outlook, to not be narrow in thinking, to be spiritually aware.

Lots of fun, growth, experience and 114 posts later, a book called Light: The Future of Medicine (Liberman, 1991) and products from In Light Wellness Systems™ shifted my path this past year. Shall we say they “inlightened” me?

   A journey of a thousand steps begins with a single step. Lao Tzu (c 604bc – 531bc)

To All: Lights On! The journey begins.

 

Pro ProBiotics

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Why? The evidence is strong that Probiotics benefit the digestive and immune systems and there are many other reasons to consider taking a probiotic.

Green Med Info  www.greenmedinfo.com  has over 240 studies relating to 170 health issues that have benefited from a probiotic supplement

The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported  a study of adults with high cholesterol. Those that took a probiotic twice a day for nine weeks reported total cholesterol levels dropping 9% and LDL by 12%. (Men’s Health News, 11/26/12)

And for those of you who endured a bad and lengthy cold this winter…… A double blind study at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in NJ monitored college students for 12 weeks. Those taking the probiotics had cold symptoms for a shorter time, less severe symptoms and missed fewer days of school. (News-medical.net, 10/24/12)

What are Probiotics? Non pathogenic bacteria that naturally live in your gut or more simply put Good Bugs. Your body has give or take a 100 trillion friendly bacterial cells. Some of their functions include digestion, battling viral, bacterial and yeast infections, protecting us against disease i.e. stimulating the immune system and producing vitamins K & B.

Why Supplement? The sad American diet filled with sugar, flour, fast food not to mention stress and antibiotics all contribute to the growth of the bad bugs and don’t provide the food the good bugs need to flourish.

Good vs Bad

Good bugs release an acid that keeps bad bugs in check. Good bugs need high fiber foods, plant based foods, healthy fats and fermented foods. Probiotic rich foods include kefir, kombucha, yogurt, fermented vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut. The Nourishing Traditions cookbook has a easy recipe for fermented ketchup which is delicious.

Bad Bugs release toxins into your system. Bad bugs love sugars, fats from processed food, stress.

What we do: We eat plain yogurt & kefir because added sugars cancel out much of the good. We eat some fermented foods but not enough. We supplement.

What we take: American Health Probiotic CD with 10 strains and 12 billion CFUs but there are many good brands out there including Innate Response Formulas Flora 50-14, MegaFood MegaFlora and Nutrition Now PB8. All can be purchased at www.iherb.com (use BOT164 at checkout for discount on first order).

What to look for: A brand with multiple strains of bacteria and at least 5000 CFUs. CFUs are Colony Forming Units.

Because we have trillions of good bacteria and hundreds of strains, it is good to rotate formulas every 3 months once you have a good foundation.

You really are what you eat.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.

 

 

Machine or Fiesta?

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For years I have used the analogy of a car, a computer or a machine to help people relate to and understand the intricacies of their bodies. I have referred to our bodies and health in terms of hardware, software, viruses and worms and virus protection – language that, we obsessed with technology people, can relate to.

Recently I came across this “poem” in Eduardo Galeano’s book Walking Words that made me re-think how I think of my own body.

The Church says: the body is a sin.                                                                            Science says: the body is a machine.                                                                   Advertising says: the body is a business.                                                                        The body says: I am a fiesta.                                                                                                        From Walking Words by Eduardo Galeano, 20th c Uruguayan writer,                                        journalist and “poet laureate” of the anti-globalization movement.

What if, instead of thinking of our body like a machine, a car or a computer that can be replaced, we treated our body (and I mean the whole thing, inside and out) as our most prized and valuable possession, as a precious, irreplaceable gem?

The body is a sacred garment. Martha Graham

The machine analogy may help us to understand the body  – there are many moving parts to putting on a good party as we all know, but treating the body like a fiesta, like a really good party, not just a sum of its parts, it certainly a lot more fun.

Take a moment to be still, to listen, to observe. Feel the pulse, hear the breath.

J. Ruth Gendler, writes in Notes for the Need for Beauty, the body is “like a Mayan festival with many different musicians playing throughout the village, the rhythms weave in and out of each other creating a music of many layers and depths.”

Cacao Nibs

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My favorite source of Cacao is Cacao Nibs which are broken up pieces of the cacao beans with the shells removed. One ounce of cacao nibs (about 3 tablespoons) contains 3 grams of protein.

Cacao Nibs are one of the best dietary sources of magnesium of which most Americans are deficient. If you’ve forgotten how important  Magnesium is please reread http://www.intentionalhealthnews.com/articles/magnesium-101

Cacao Nibs are also a good source of calcium, iron, copper, zinc and potassium and fiber. They may be a better source of antioxidants than even blueberries or green tea.

How to use: In smoothies, in yogurt or oatmeal, in baking or by the handful. They are crunchy, more like a nut, and not sweet but definitely chocolaty AND, the important key word, satisfying. You might think they are bitter or just bland at first but like anything new give them the benefit of the doubt and keep using them.

Look for Raw (though technically none are raw – they can be sun dried or slow roasted), Organic, preferably Fair Trade, Cacao Nibs I buy mine from my local Mom’s Organic Market but you can find them almost anywhere including Amazon or www.iherb.com (use BOT164 as a coupon code for a discount on your first order).

The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain.       Thomas Jefferson

My favorite way to consume my cacao nibs is in a smoothie and my most favorite combination is:

ABCD Smoothie -A great afternoon pick me up

1 banana                                 2 Tbls Almond Butter                                                                       3 Tbls Cacao Nibs                 4 pitted Dates                                                                                     4 ice cubes                             ½ cup water or coconut water

Blend until thick, smooth and creamy. Enjoy!

 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.

 

 

C is for Cacao cont’d…..

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What’s important to know are the health benefits of cacao and what form is the best way to get those benefits.

If you read part 1, you’ll note that for centuries cacao was consumed in liquid form though not the Swiss Miss instant variety. Look for Raw Unsweetened Cacao Powder. Look for Dark Chocolate with 70% cacao. And my favorite, Cacao Nibs.

To be considered “dark”, the chocolate must have at least 35% cacao but please note, the research and resulting benefits have all been done with dark chocolate with 70% cacao.  Although 70% is considered bittersweet, it is satisfying and you won’t keep craving more and more as in that big bag of M&Ms I used to devour at the movie theater.

Health Benefits from Recent Research:

Better Mood: The carbohydrates in cacao raise serotonin levels in the brain.  Cocoa contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid required for the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Enhanced serotonin levels can lower anxiety levels and improve mood.

Reduced PMS Symptoms: whether it’s the magnesium or the tryptophan, who cares, it works!

Eating cacao also helps to release endorphins, the “I feel good” natural high. Perhaps, this is why we have so many chocoholics.

Just the smell of cacao can increase theta brain waves. Think relaxation.

Healthy Heart and Lower Cholesterol Levels:  Cacao is full of antioxidants called flavonoids.  Flavanoids help to prevent clogged arteries and make platelets less sticky which can reduce the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.

Cacao contains healthy monounsaturated fats which help raise the good cholesterol (HDL) levels.

Suppress  Appetite: A cup of cacao before a meal will reduce your hunger. Cacao contains the mineral chromium which helps stabilize blood sugar.

More Energy: Cacao contains a substance called theobromine, a central nervous system stimulant. It helps boost your energy during that afternoon slump.

Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits.  Baron Justus von Liebig (1803-1873), German chemist

 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.

 

C is for Cacao

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The Theobroma cacao tree is an evergreen indigenous to Mexico and South America. It’s “fruit” are large pods containing 1” seeds. These seeds are where all forms of chocolate and, dare I say, cocoa come from.

Basically, Americans misspelled cacao a long time ago and now some say cacao is the raw form and cocoa is the processed form but they really are all the same thing (and if you want to debate cacao vs cocoa or raw, processed, hand shelled, etc. this is not the place).

Who do you have to blame for all those sweet, decadent chocolates that originated in Europe? The Spanish conquistador, Cortes.

For 100’s of years the Mayans (dating back to 400 AD) and the Aztecs (1400 AD) recognized the value of cacao. Not only was it a healthful drink called “chicolati” (beaten drink) or xocolati (bitter drink) but the seeds were a form of currency.

The Divine drink which builds up resistance and fights disease. A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk a whole day without food. Hernando Cortes, 1519

After Cortes conquered the Aztecs and won Mexico for the crown of Spain in 1520, he returned to Spain in 1528 with a cargo of cacao beans and chicolati making equipment.

Chocolate is a divine celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and universal medicine. Geronimo Piperni, quoted by Antonio Lavedan, Spanish army surgeon, 1796.

The beans eventually found their way to France in 1615 and to London in the 1650’s and was eventually sweetened and lightened and sweetened and lightened some more with sugar and milk becoming “a shadow of it’s former self”.

Note: Not all chocolate is created equal

B is for Breath

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Life begins with your first breathe and ends with your last.

Just watch a baby breathe. Breathing is an involuntary action. Or is it?

While breathing is mostly involuntary, your breathing is nothing to take for granted. Breath is the fuel of life. Your breath carries oxygen to every cell, all 70 trillion of them. Breathing eliminates toxins and stressors.

Breath helps us to communicate, to calm, to center, to circulate (not just oxygen, but thoughts and insights).

 For breath is life and if you breathe well,                                                  you will live long on  earth. Sanskrit Proverb

Many mystics and ancient cultures have believed for centuries that breath is evidence of spirit and that working with breath is a spiritual practice. In many languages, including Sanskrit, Greek, Latin and Hebrew, breath and spirit are the same word.

Today, science is proving the importance of “breathing well” and its ability to heal. How you breathe affects you physically but also your state of mind and how you feel. Different breathing techniques are powerful tools.

                             We need to learn how to breathe “more slowly, more quietly,                              more deeply, and regularly”, says Dr. Andrew Weil.

How you breathe can be invigorating; it can be calming; it can bring clarity and done improperly (shallow chest breathing) can be a health hazard. We thrust our chin and neck forward especially while on the computer; we hold our breath; we stiffen our spine; we shrug our shoulders.

Healthy breathing strengthens and improves the function of your diaphragm, which will keep your spine flexible and your core strong.

Your most important tool for well being and reducing stress is your breath. You may not be able to see it but it is an invisible force.

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.                                                                             Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist Monk

And the good news is you don’t have to be in a yoga class or have a dedicated meditation practice (though it’s a good idea), to begin breathing well.

 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.

S is for Stress

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Some stress is good. Exercise, for instance, is a form of stress but it can help brain cells grow.

It’s the chronic stress, that’s not so good. Stress can come from many different sources. Work, relationship and financial problems and physical trauma are not the only causes.

Perhaps the more insidious causes of stress are the not so obvious, or at least the ones not talked about so much, such as toxicity, pathogens, allergies and nutritional deficiencies as a result of poor quality food, water and air. All can cause imbalances in the body.

When the body becomes ill, the body’s first signal that all is not well is through vibrational or electromagnetic waves. Our body is a network of bio-photons, which acts like an extremely fast super computer. Every thought and action is accompanied by an electrical activity in the nervous system and by bio-photon communication between cells.

Our cells network together to keep our body in balance (remember homeostasis from high school biology?). When any kind of stress enters the body, it produces erratic vibrations which lead to imbalances which leads to disease.

Stress worsens and/or increases the risk of many diseases including diabetes, Alzheimers, depression, GI issues, obesity and heart disease and of course, it accelerates aging.

Don’t assume stress is a way of life, something you have to live with. You can learn to change much of what is happening inside you without drugs or invasive procedures.

Natural Forces within us are the true healers of disease  Hippocrates, 4thc BC

What’s the first step? Stillness.

Whether you want to call it meditation, mindfulness, breathe work, prayer or just quiet time without any distractions, that’s the place to start.

Silence is something more than just a pause; it is that enchanted place where space is cleared and time is stayed and the horizon itself expands. Pico Iyer

 

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.

As a Matter of Fat…..Saturated Fat is not a Bad Word

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Not too long ago we were told all fats are bad. Now we are being told that saturated fat is bad and unsaturated is good but to decrease our overall fat intake.

Think again. We need fat in our diets.

Fat 101 – there are two types of fat:  Saturated Fat (solid at room temperature), think dairy, butter, meat and some oils such as coconut and Unsaturated (liquid at room temperature), think vegetable oils such as olive, canola, safflower, soybean, corn). However, don’t think for one minute that corn and soybean oil and even canola oil are “good” for you.

Saturated fat is actually good for you. The production of all hormones including the sex hormones progesterone and testosterone requires saturated fat. A study from Harvard’s School of Public Health showed that eating a low fat diet contributes to infertility and that eating full fat dairy may increase your chances of getting pregnant.

There are numerous studies supporting the importance of saturated fat. Saturated fat helps balance your body temperature and insulates and protects your organs. If you are usually cold, you may just have too little fat in your diet.

Saturated fat in your diet benefits your liver in several ways. It helps your liver empty its fat. Seems contradictory but in fact, the fat in your liver contributes to your belly fat. Saturated fat is more satisfying and helps with satiety. In addition, saturated fat protects the liver from toxins such as alcohol and medications (think Tylenol toxicity).

Your brain is mostly fat and cholesterol and most of that fat is saturated. You need saturated fat to keep your memory sharp, your energy up.

Saturated fat also keeps your skin and arteries lubricated and your nerves firing on all cylinders.

You need good/quality fat in your diet and in a balanced amount.

Today most “experts” believe 7.5% of your daily calorie intake should be saturated fat and 22.5% should be unsaturated fat for a total of 30%. If you are eating a 2000 calorie per day diet, this means you can have 17 grams (150 calories) of saturated fat each day. What does that mean to you? 1 tablespoon of olive oil is 2 grams, a whole avocado is maybe 2 grams, a cup of plain whole milk yogurt is 5 grams.

But some experts believe we should consume more fats because we are consuming too many grains and sugars. Too little fat is just as bad as too much fat. I don’t worry too much about the ratio I get no fat from processed foods.

The bad guy is trans fat which is in processed food to extend shelf life and to make it feel less greasy! Yuck.

Like a household budget for groceries or clothes, have a fat budget of 30% or even 40% but always pick good quality foods to spend it on. Wild Salmon, Grass Fed Beef, Raw Goat & Sheep Cheeses, Chocolate with 75% Cacoa, Pastured Butter.

As Dr. Andrew Weil put it, be a fat snob.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical counseling. Intentional Health and DIY Health & Wellness does not treat, prevent, cure, or diagnose any disease or ailment.