Here’s another truth pill to swallow hard: Stress is not really what’s happening around you. It is the way we react to these external stimuli that makes us feel stressed in the first place. The tricky part is, these triggers can be anything and anyone at anytime. It ambushes you when you least expected. Now that a new study has revealed that our daily stress can trigger cancer, stress becomes no laughing matter suddenly. If stress causes cancer cells to mutate and replicate, isn’t it time to find our inner peace and be free from the woes of our daily living?

The Key to A Stress-Free Life: Awareness

By being aware of what causes your stress ( which includes irrational fears, worries, panics, sadness, or anxiety ), you can prepare yourself to be more adept in handling these stress triggers that you may not consciously notice:

1. Money

Debts, late payments, defaulted loans, foreclosures, failed investments, and so on – you name it. Finances can really cause a lot of stress to a person, specially when the consequences of not getting these problems solved are truly dire. The best way to deal with it is save for the rainy days, or simply, have an emergency cash reserve and watch out your spending habits.

2. Family and Relationships

Unfortunately, humans are social animals and emotional discord can put a toll on one’s sanity, not to mention, the heart. Disputes can happen most of the time and anything may spark an argument. Beat this stress by thinking first before speaking or acting out something you might regret later. If you can avoid the blaming game, do so. You may step out for a while to get some fresh air and a nice walk to clear your hot head.

3. Work

From the gossip folks to your nasty boss, your work can be a cause for stress where you might even feel dragging yourself to the office each day. Then, there is the threat of downsizing, mergers, or take-overs due to the tough economy nowadays. Keep your cool and always maintain a professional relationship with everyone. If you feel overworked, have a break… or perhaps, you need to find a new job that you will truly love.

4. Poor Diet

You are what you eat! No doubt about that statement. Now, are you eating your good share of fruits and vegetables daily? Are you drinking enough water to keep your body hydrated all day? Eating bad types of food can trigger an inner chain reaction that will make you irritable, tired, and so on. Keep in mind that stress is also triggered by all those trapped toxins inside you.

5. Substance Abuse

Are you addicted to cigarettes, alcohol, or pills? You are just putting more work for your lungs, liver, and kidneys. If these addictions make you feel good, remember that it’s just temporary. You don’t really want to be dependent on these things. Learn to face your daily troubles for it won’t go away no matter how many of these substances you use. Be matured enough to deal with your problems.

Stress can really wreak havoc on every aspect of your waking hours – from the mental, emotional, to the physical. This is an unhappy feeling which will resonate in the way your body lives. A happy mind means a healthy body. If you feel all worked up, maybe it’s time to reassess your life and start living a better one. You can make a habit of keeping a stress journal and writing down how you feel about a bad situation. It can help release all those pent up feelings. You may also try deep breathing exercises, meditation, aromatherapy, yoga, or sound therapy. Whatever your choice is to live a stress-free life, remember that it matters most to choose healthy. Aim to Be Stress-Free!

Girl Talk: “Stress Explosions”

Just Where Did These Turnips Came From?

Turnips are native to Western Asia and have been used as a food for both humans and livestocks. The bigger turnips are fed to the latter. During the Middle Ages, turnip is considered a poor man’s staple in Europe, before people loved potatoes. Turnips are harvested during fall and winter, and usually grows in temperate climates. These turnips are usually white, and turns into a shade of purple, red, or green when sunlight falls on it. Unlike contrary beliefs, one can also eat the leaves of the turnip ( so don’t you throw those extra leaves away ).

How Do You Choose, Store, and Prepare Turnips?

Always choose a medium-sized turnip that is about 2-3 inches in diameter. This has the best taste of them all. Make sure that the turnip is also firm and heavy, and that the green leaves are dark and crisp. Since turnips grow in temperate climates, it is best to store it in the fridge. Separate the greens and put it in a plastic zip lock bag. If properly stored, your turnip will last up to 4 days. If you are preparing your turnip for cooking, you need to peel it and wash the greens in a bowl of water. You can fold each leaf in half, and cut off the stem. If you will use your turnip in a soup, you can leave the stems intact.

What are the Health Benefits of a Turnip?

1. Since turnips are rich in fiber, it is a good food that is low in calories which can help you stay in shape.

2. Turnips’ high vitamin C and anti-oxidant contents help fight free radicals and oxidation that cause a lot of chronic diseases.

3. Turnips lower your chances of acquiring obesity, high blood pressure, heart and lung diseases, diabetes, cancer, and bladder problems

4. Turnips are rich in calcium, folic acid, magnesium, and phosphorus which are all essential nutrients needed by the human body.

5. Turnips reduce your risks from getting cataracts and vision-related problems.

If you are suffering any thyroid condition, you need to limit your turnip intake since it is rich in a substance called Goitrogens, which can prevent proper functioning of the thyroid glands. In traditional Asian medicine, turnips are believed to be good for the body’s Qi or energy, which makes turnips a great food against nasal congestion, bronchitis, and asthma.

Turnips, coupled with a healthy lifestyle and healthy choices, will surely aid you in your quest for maximum health. There are many recipes on the web that will turn your humble turnip into a yummy treat. Bon Appetite.. to Health!

Savant, MD on Turnips:

Migraine may be a painful condition that disrupts a person’s normal functioning and daily life, but it doesn’t affect one’s overall health condition. Migraine can be accompanied with severe headaches that occur on one side of the head. This condition is related to problems with a person’s digestion, liver, and eyesight. When one is stressed and overworked, migraine is triggered because tight muscles simply squeeze a person’s arteries to work double time, causing immense pain on one’s head and neck.

What are the Common Symptoms of Migraine?

1. Pain on one side of the head
2. Pounding pain
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. A brief spell of depression, anxiety, or loss of appetite
6. Numbness or weakness of the arm, leg, or a side of the face
7. Confusion
8. Seeing aura or flashing lights that started as a small dot

What Causes Migraine?

1. Stress
2. Allergy or infection
3. Low blood sugar
4. Lack of quality sleep
5. Abuse of certain drugs
6. Nutritional Deficiency
7. Improper Rest
8. Too much alcohol, smoking, or sex
9. Menstruation ( known as ‘menstrual migraine’ )

What are Your Risk Factors in Acquiring Migraine?

You are more likely to experience migraine if:

1. You have a family history of this condition. If one or both of your parents suffer this, you may likely be at more risk.

2. You are younger than 40 years old. Almost 50% of migraine sufferers are aged 20.

3. You are a female. Women are more likely to be at risk for migraines, as early as puberty, than men.

4. You experience hormonal changes. Before and after a menstruation, women just undergo hormonal changes that can make them more prone to migraines, or get a worse case if one already suffers it.

Are There Natural Cures for Migraine?

Although there is no permanent cure to this affliction, one can count on having a lifestyle change by choosing healthy options to live life to the healthiest. There are natural treatments without having to pop a pill, and these are:

1. Drinking fresh and ripe grape juice
2. Having a good rest or sleep in the darkest room of your home
3. Applying a compress made of cabbage leaf on your forehead
4. Healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables
5. Getting hydrated with pure water
6. Loving your seeds, nuts, and whole grains
7. Hot bath or a cold compress
8. Exercising regularly ( even a walk in the park may do wonders, just go out there and get some fresh air )
9. Deep breathing exercises
10. Aromatherapy

There are some foods that can trigger a migraine and it is best to stay away from those with alcohol and caffeine. If you feel that there are more to your migraine than you know, you can always ask your neurologist to run a thorough check on you to rule out any chronic condition that may have triggered your condition. Get Yourself a Good Rest!

How to Cure a Migraine

What Exactly is Hunger?

Hunger is your need for food and your body has a way of letting you know that you’re running out of these nutrients that you need to stay up all day. You need energy to keep you moving, which you can get from eating foods. Hunger is a result of a chemical change in your body when you have a low level of glucose in your blood stream. This is why you experience hunger pangs, which lets you know it’s chow-time.

What Exactly is Craving?

You may call it a desire for food, or simply – an appetite. Nobel prize winner and Russian psychologist Ivan Pavlov have been popularly known on his respondent conditioning concept on dogs. People are much the same, specially when presented with a stimulus one loves ( or hates ). A dog was trained to think of food with the sound of a bell’s ringing. Even with the absence of food, the dog continued to salivate. Much of the same thing happens to humans. That’s why we just feel that tingling sensation or desire to eat when we see a photo of our favorite pasta on the glossy pages of a magazine, or when we smell those heavenly delights as we pass by a shop on our way back home.

How Do You Differentiate Hunger from Food Cravings?

If you are physically hungry:

1. The food craving doesn’t simply go away, even if you wait for a couple of hours
2. The food craving intensifies while you wait
3. Nothing can make this craving go away unless you eat

If you are simply craving:

1. You are not really physiologically hungry
2. The thought of eating goes away when you are distracted of other things
3. The craving does not become intense while you wait it out
4. You feel “emotional” about eating a certain type of food
5. You are craving for comfort foods

Simply put, if you eat more even if you already feel stuffed or bloated, then, you are just following your food desires ( or your palate ). Still, don’t ignore your hunger pangs, specially if you feel very hungry, irritable, or dizzy. The best way for you to stop your food cravings for good is to manage stress, live a healthy lifestyle, and going for healthy choices to make you live life to the healthiest. A rule of the thumb is to wait your hunger out for ten minutes to see if the feeling subsides, or satisfy your craving with a very small portion to stop that funny feeling.

Whatever you choose to eat, never go below 1,200 calories or you risk slowing down your metabolism and gaining unwanted weight. Eat, Live, and Be Healthy!

Why are You so Hungry?

Most Common Beauty Myths

1. Crossing Your Legs Can Cause Varicose Veins

On the contrary, standing for hours will give you these unsightly veins, as well as your genes. When you are standing, it just takes too much work for your blood to rise from your legs to your heart. This is why unsightly veins occur, where there is just a pool of blood collecting in one or more places.

2. Soap is Harsh for Your Skin

Maybe, you’re talking of your grandma’s soap? Older soaps have animal fats and vegetable oils. The newer versions are milder, which come with moisturizers that are gentle to your skin. Besides, it’s better to have a clean skin than a dirty one.

3. You Can Lose All Those Cellulite

How you wish this is really true.. but even liposuction can’t simply get rid of all those cellulites. Know that these are deposits trapped between those fibrous bands connecting your skin tissues. These bands may squeeze the fats under your skin, causing a lumpy appearance – whether you are fat or thin. You can use firming creams and moisturizers to temporarily hide these swelling, or have a fake tan to camouflage those orange peels.

4. Plucking Gray Hair Means Having More Gray Hairs

Not Really! Plucking gray hairs doesn’t mean you’ll have more grays. Yet, doing so may just do damage to your roots, which is not really good.

5. You Can Minimize Pores

The ever-popular pore minimizer has been invading the cosmetics counter more than it has a few years back. If you think you can reduce your pores, think again! Pore size is something genetic. All those products promising to minimize pores will just make it appear smaller – temporarily.

6. Shaving Hair Makes It Grow Dark and Thicker

Your genes determine just how many hair your body has, whether you shave or not. Shaving your hairs can make new hair growth appear stubbier, and you need to cut your hair from the base. But the width, color, and density of your hair will still be the same.

7. Washing and Sun Can Get Rid of Blemishes

Staying clean is the best way to have healthy skin, but if you wash or scrub vigorously, you might as well increase your face’s oil production and aggravate your acne condition. Though the sun can help dry out pimples, it’s just a temporary thing. You’ll have more breakouts after being exposed to the sun. ( Did I also mention that chocolates doesn’t really cause acne? )

8. You Can Skip on Sunscreen on a Cloudy Day

UV rays are invisible to the naked eyes and you may still get those harmful rays, even on a cloudy day.

9. You Can Reverse Split Ends

Anti-frizz hair products may tame your hair and make those split ends less noticeable, but the only way to get rid of it for good is to have a haircut.

10. Cocoa Butter and Olive Oil are Great Against Stretch Marks

Not Really! Stretch marks happen when your skin expands quickly ( like, when you’re pregnant ), and sadly these marks are made below the top layer of your skin, which your topical butter/oil can’t simply reach.

Your skin is the largest organ of your body, which people see first. You can pamper your skin with natural skin care products that are great in cleansing and nourishing your skin. You can also use non-toxic personal care products which will help you stay away from all those harmful chemicals. To put it simply: Love Your Skin!

Beauty Myths

There is still a great mystery in how the mind works. When people say, ” mind over matter, ” what they meant is that our mind has the power to change our own realities, including our very own health. If you believe you are sick, chances are, you will be, sooner or later. Our bodies have the ability to heal itself, no doubt. Yet, we are the very own hindrance to this process by having an unhealthy diet, bad lifestyle choices, toxins from our surroundings, and mostly – relying on synthetic or chemical substances for our healing. We are part of the nature we seek to alienate ourselves from and nature is where our healing lies.

The Forbidden Cures They Never Tell You About

For whatever reasons, these natural cures have been kept hidden from us. Most of these are not as costly as your conventional treatment, and may be just as effective. Yet, many of these have been labeled as ‘lacking research or proof’ to make its healing claim. Know that your body’s immune system is your key to healing and the use of drugs or vaccines may just wreak havoc on the natural healing process.

1. Oxygen Therapy

Your body needs oxygen in order for it to function well and most of the time, your lifestyle and those toxins inside you doesn’t allow for good oxygen to flow to all of your cells, tissues, and vital organs. Oxygen therapies can detoxify you, as well as help reduce your risk from a stroke. Recovery from it are remarkable with this type of therapy as well.

2. Bio-Electric Therapy

Have you ever heard of magnetic healing? Probably not. This is not relatively new as the genius Nikola Tesla has made an invention on how electric and magnetic fields can promote great health. This type of therapy has something to do with how the Earth’s magnetic field affects your very own body. Thus, there are people who wear collars or bracelets that act as an antennae that boost the energy from the cosmic waves and used for healing on the affected body parts.

3. Blood Electrification Therapy

Dr. Bob Beck has invented a curious device called the ‘ blood electrifier ‘ which has been said to aid thousands of patients suffering from cancer, chronic fatigue and even AIDS. Still, mention of this treatment has never been exposed to print, TV, or radio. The blood electrifier unit has been said to boost the body’s energy levels and immune system, specially in the fight against autoimmune diseases – be it a virus or a bacteria.

4. Nutritional Therapies

You are what you eat, no doubt about that too. Yet, we are still bombarded with foods that are truly bad for us. Why is there no ban placed on these foods in the first place? Is it all for the sake of profit? Freedom of choice? When something is made of natural and organic resources, there is always the ‘no approved therapeutic claim’ label. Do we really have to eat or drink all those synthetic stuff?

5. Urine Therapy

This may be a taboo on this list, but urine therapy focuses on urine.. as the water of life. It can be an icky thing to do, but there were people who drank their own urine and survived the life-threatening disease they had. John W. Armstrong may have struck a nerve on this practice, but he believe that urine is full of antibodies that can enhance the immune system. Even rubbing old urine will clear up the skin.

There are still many natural ways of healing that are completely hidden from our knowledge and it is up to us to find our way back to natural health. Learn your healthy choices and strive to be happy, always. The cure for disease may not always lie on a checkup and a fat check to pay. Keep in mind that you have the right to know your options and take those that you believe are good for you. Be Truly healthy!

For more info, you may read here.

Cancer: The Forbidden Cures ( Trailer )

There are various factors in why you feel so tired and you should talk to your doctor, specially when you suspect a potential health risk. Fatigue, or even chronic fatigue, is a tricky subject to start with. Maybe, it’s just all in your head? Or perhaps, you are simply down and blue?

What are the Common Causes of Fatigue?

The are many reasons why you feel tired, namely:

1. Lack

From lack of happy spirit to lack of sleep, you are simply missing something your body needs in order for it to function well. Also, strive to make yourself happy, where you will feel much better. Keep in mind that a happy mind and soul.. means a happy and healthy body as well.

2. Sleep Disorders

From insomnia to sleep apnea, you will definitely feel tired when you have lesser hours of sleep each day. Get yourself quality, undisturbed sleeps at night. Music and meditation can help you relax too.

3. Borderline Anemia

You may never have heard of it, but if you feel tired between 11 am to 2 pm, you really need to take plenty of dark, green vegetables. You may also get yourself iron supplements and make sure that you are eating foods rich in iron.

4. Toxins

Are you making a regular bowel movement? Trapped toxins in the body are poison and it can deplete your body’s energy real quick. Many people are constipated and all of them are stressed. A normal bowel movement would be 2-3 times a day. Ground flaxseed in your cereal can help you eliminate toxins, as well as drinking water and taking a lot of fiber in your meals.

5. Hypothyroidism

Are you feeling sluggish, tired, and a bit depressed? You may just suffer from hypothyroidism. Most women are afflicted by this disorder, where the body’s metabolism becomes slower. Have a blood test to see if you are a likely candidate.

6. Candida

This yeast occurs naturally in your body and it lives in harmony with other microorganisms. Problems happen when the balance of your body’s bacteria is disturbed and the yeast takes over the healthy ones. It can infect your mouth, throat, genitals, or even the intestinal tract. You will feel tired all the time, foggy-minded, craving for sugar or comfort foods, constipated, and losing a lot of hair. You need to stay away from anything white, including sugar – which is a perfect breeding ground for yeasts.

7. Dehydration

Our bodies are 70 percent water and if we deplete it of pure water, fatigue and other physical health problems arise. This is why you feel depressed, agitated, confused, or even constipated. If your urine is dark yellow, it means that you need to drink up. Besides, water is life.

The list goes on when it comes to the things that make you feel tired. The best thing is that you can do something about it now by making healthy choices and living a healthy lifestyle. It’s never too late!

Causes of Fatigue:

Know that millions of people the world over suffer from bad breath, so you are definitely not alone in your troubles. It can really have a negative impact on your self-esteem, which, at its worst can even be a cause for chronic depression. Medically known by the name ” Halitosis, ” bad breath is a result of bacteria living in your mouth, tongue, and tonsils. There are many factors why a person can have bad breath and it is not something that happened overnight.

What Causes Bad Breath?

1. Bad breath is caused by VSC or Volatile Sulfur Compounds found in the mouth. These are caused by some foods like a deep-fried serving of onion rings.
2. Bad oral care or hygiene. You need to brush your teeth 2-3 times a day, including the tongue.
3. Tooth Decay
4. Plaques growing on your tongue ( surprised? )
5. Dentures
6. Bacteria
7. Diabetes, Gingivitis, lung abscess, throat cancer, etc.
8. Too much use of alcohol-based mouthwash before sleeping
9. Throat Infection
10. Smoking and Drug Abuse
11. Vitamin B and Zinc Deficiency

Can You Cure Bad Breath Naturally?

YES. There is always a natural alternative in making sure you have a minty fresh breath by:

1. Avoiding spicy foods or limiting the number of spicy foods one take in a day
2. Staying away from cigarettes, since nicotine can really make your breath stink
3. Brushing your teeth after every meal, specially after eating milk, fish, or any meat
4. Flossing your teeth and replacing your toothbrush regularly
5. Avoiding mouthwash with alcohol and dye. Read Your labels well and choose those with zinc, sodium chloride, or chlorine dioxide to help you fight nasty bacteria.
6. Eating plain yogurt for 6 weeks. Research made in the year 2005 by the International Association for Dental Research shows doing this can lessen bacteria in your mouth by 80%.
7. Rinsing your mouth using water with squeezed lemon juice before you go to sleep
8. Keeping your tongue clean with a tongue cleaner or brush
9. Loving your herbs and choosing a natural toothpaste with peppermint, clove, spearmint, cinnamon, and grape seed oil blends

If you have a persistent gum and teeth problem, talk to your periodontist about it. You may also ask how to brush your teeth properly and have your bad tooth removed or restored. By being free from bad breath, you make more meaningful interactions, minus the disgusting look people throw at you. A good oral hygiene will definitely help you in long term. Love Fresh Breath!

How To Get Rid Of Bad Breath

Bad Breath Test – How to Tell when Your Breath Stinks

Many conventional psychologists prescribe artificial solutions that you can find in synthetic pills – to anything from anger, depression, anxiety, or fear. People have simply lost the ancient wisdom of meditation, or are too busy to spend time outdoors to appreciate the beauty of what nature has to offer. Mother nature is totally selfless in her beauty and bounty, even if we shut her off. All we have to do is truly open our eyes and change the way we see the world today. For this, many have been turning to Ecotherapy for a new kind of lasting solace.

With the rise of technology comes the utter cacophony of mechanical sounds that dominate most of our waking hours. Why do people feel at peace with a simple music from the flowing stream? Is it some kind of a trance? ” I believe that there is a subtle magnetism in nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.” Henry David Thoreau is definitely right about this. That’s why we have all been saving for that once-in-a-lifetime trip to nature’s very cradle. That’s why people have always dreamed of retiring in the countryside.

Ecotherapy, or whatever you want to call it, will always have a healing power on our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. It is something that doesn’t prejudice against age, sex, race, or religion. Poor and rich, young and old can truly take their share of nature’s spiritual healing powers. No wonder children with ADHD have better mood after being exposed to the green outdoors. Studies even show that those who live in treeless or grass-less places are more prone to psychological problems than those who are not.

Humans may have forgotten that we are all interconnected. We are part of the nature we love to use and abuse. Yet, this very nature still gives us the very healing we need whenever we want it. All we have to do is step out of our artificial society and appreciate what is left out there. The opportunity to heal is at your hands. Will you take it, or will you just let it fly away like feathers in your hands? Love Your Natural Healing!

An Interesting Read: ‘Eco-Therapy’ for Environmental Depression by Bryan Walsh ( TIME Online )

” Angel of Healing ” by Stephen Rodes

Our body’s organs, tissues, and cells are all connected. What afflicts one shall have a negative impact on another. Not a lot of people realize that what’s happening to the face can be more than skin deep. The ancient Chinese medicine have mastered this art of reading the body’s very language with thousands of years of practice. By harnessing the five elements of nature, namely earth, wind, water, metal, and wood, the Chinese have simply taken visual cues on what’s happening within.

How Do You Read Your Face?

As long as you have a good pair of eyes and a mirror, you can always do a self-inspection. This will help you know if you have minor problems that can become major health issues in the future.

1. NOSE

Your nose is said to be linked with your lungs. If you have long and thin nostrils, you might have lesser lung power and stamina. This means you will have to exercise more and practice deep breathing techniques. A pimple on your nose, with veins showing, may be an indication of high blood pressure, heart disease, or liver disorder. Clefts can also be a sign of problems with the heart and blood circulation. Sneezing dispels excess alkaline in the body.

2. FOREHEAD

Not only the seat of wisdom and the soul, but your forehead can tell you more about your heart and small intestines. If veins are showing on your temples, you may be at risk for heart or gall bladder disease. Skin discoloration can also be a sign of emotional stress. It is even believed that you can predict a heart attack by looking at the color of the forehead. You’re in for a big trouble if it’s bluish-green.

3. CHEEKS

The right cheek represents the lungs/ large intestine and the left cheek the liver/ gall bladder area. Any blemish or discoloration may be a sign of lung or respiratory disease like asthma. Your left cheek also reveals your emotional turmoil, specially when it comes to anger and depression. This part of the face normally represents the nervous system. Any blemish or redness may be a sign of high blood pressure caused by negative emotions.

Even the color of your skin can signal a lot of health issues that you suffer from within. It is believed that greenish skin is a sign of liver disease and cancer. An orange or yellow patch shows too much intake of sweets and sugar. A white patch may mean liver or kidney disease. In the end, it is always best to choose your healthiest options in order for you to stay healthy for life. Make sure you get your yearly physical exam, live a healthier lifestyle, and never forget to consult your doctor if you think you are at risk for chronic diseases. Prevention is always better than… a cure!

Massage Techniques: Face Massage