We all know that too much of a good thing can have serious consequences. The key to enjoying your dose of good old sunshine is moderation and having a lather of sunscreen protection. But for those who work at nights, sunshine is something truly missed. Do you know anyone working on graveyard shifts? What does she or he look like? Chances are, she or he will be pale as a ghost can ever be and perhaps, looking frail and sick.

According to Environmental Health, a study has shown that people who have been diagnosed with depression in the United States have suffered sunshine deficiency, especially during long winter months in the North. This is commonly known as SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Lack of sunshine also affects one’s memory and cognitive behavior.

Recently, scientists have found out that sunshine is all you need to avoid the loss of cartilage on a person’s knees. Vitamin D, or most commonly known as the Sunshine Vitamin, is known to help in the healthy growth of your body’s cartilage, making your joints healthy as well. For those who are sensitive to sunlight, they can take vitamin D supplements as well. But clearly, nothing beats a nice walk under the morning sun.

This summer may have been a real scorcher, and each summer seems to be hotter than the last one. Still, it feels just good to bask under the sunny skies as we stock up on booze, barbecues – and don’t forget, sun creams. So, even with the rise in the risk of harmful UV rays exposure, is sunshine still good for you? YES – just keep your guard up against over exposure.

Here are Great Health Benefits You Can Get from Vitamin Sunshine:

1. Better Cartilage and Joint Health
2. Better Memory
3. Good Mood ( Sunshine is a great mood booster, increasing your brain’s serotonin levels for that feel-good factor )
4. Protection against auto-immune diseases like cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis
5. Healthy Bones and Teeth

In the end, only vampires need to shy away from sunshine. But if you’re not one, you better get your dose to keep healthy and always pamper your skin with the best, natural defense available. Remember that if you’re going to sun bathe, always keep it to a maximum of 30 minutes and use sunglasses to protect your eyes from cataracts.

I Love Sunshine!

Here’s a Video on the Newly Discovered Anti-Aging Properties of the Sunshine Vitamin
( from Mayer, Eisenstein, MD )

There had been many clinical studies on the effects of music on one’s well-being. Music is the language of our subconscious minds and it had been well documented. What you hear is felt through your five senses and beyond.

Subliminal music, which has been notoriously misunderstood, has been used for market research by James Vicary in the late 50s. In his experiment, moviegoers were repeatedly shown a very short subliminal ads for Coca Cola and popcorn – which he claimed increased their sales. Although, in 1962, he claimed that this study was fabricated.

Whether you are having health or psychological issues, the fact that you are feeling ” stressed ” means that you are looking for a way to escape from all those negative thoughts and emotions. For this, subliminal or not, music can greatly help in improving your psyche. A healthy mind means a healthy body, and many of today’s diseases are brought upon by stress. With all those muscle tenses, artery blockages, and shortness of breath – all you want is for your body to restore its harmony and this can be done through the powers of sound.

Subliminal music are mixed with brainwave frequencies that you can’t normally hear, but which your brain can clearly perceive. You can call them beta, alpha, theta, or delta waves. Many call them as Binaural Beats, typically mixed with your music. Some are infused with subliminal messages which can be played over and over until your subconscious mind picks up the message. Yet, there are still many skeptics out there who are questioning the effects these music can bring to you.

What are the Health Benefits You can Get from Subliminal Music:

1. Stimulation of your neural pathways that leads to better performance of both your left and right brain.

2. A significant improvement in your ability to learn, creativity, memory, and concentration.

3. Quality sleep at nights, and having the much needed energy and focus during the day.

4. An overall improvement in your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health through the stimulation of brain chemicals that makes you happy.

5. A lower level of stress than what you have before.

Our modern age is full of stress, a term we use for the things that give us negativity. Science has now been appreciating the wisdom of ancient mystics: that we are in constant vibration, where music can bring back harmony to our own resonance to keep us healthy inside and out.

Resonate Your Life!

Here’s a Subliminal Music that You can Play to Boost Your Self-Confidence:

I had been a skeptic myself about using energy for healing. Being a sufferer of chronic ( and unexplainable ) pain, I have tried all those over-the-counter pills, felt instant relief, only to be plagued again and taken by surprise by another muscle ache. It can be mild to severe at times and yes, it is affecting the way I have been living my life – personal and work.

This is not to say that people should stop seeking medications. I am just among a few who wanted an alternative that will make me free from popping up a pill. Out of luck, I then tried my hands on energy healing. I cannot explain it, but it did wonders for me.

Is it because my mind is receptive to the idea of this form of healing? Is it just a placebo effect? There have been a documentary on the practice of energy healing, that we are all made of energy, and that each of us has some kind of electro-magnetic field. When the body is ill, the energy is weak. It is the healer’s task to restore this energy and balance to make a person well.

Are there scientific evidence involving energy healing? Science has always considered what it cannot define as a case of hoodoo. There has always been a thin line between conventional and alternative therapies. There have been some studies made on the subject of energy and healing.

In the end, it is you, who will make the choice for your body’s healing. It is the idea that we are all bound to a life force that makes energy healing a unique wisdom and practice in a league of its own. With today’s stressful and fast-paced living, there are many diseases rising that have never been heard of in the last century.

When the body is ill, there is great unbalance. There are many factors why the body is sick… and it can be something spiritual, something to do with your Qi, your Chakra, and so on. For now, research is still being made on the significance of energy healing in restoring one’s health – and energy. Just because something cannot be explained quantitatively doesn’t mean that it is a hoax. I had always been an advocate of anything that promotes natural health and all I can tell you is:

” There’s no harm in trying .. “

The problem is, when you are advised to eat plenty – the trouble lies in your own definition of plenty. There’s no report yet of any person suffering fatal consequences on fruits and veggies over consumption. There are cases though where one gets terribly sick out of food poisoning and harmful bacteria from eating these. Therefore, it’s very important you wash and prepare them carefully.

Studies will not deny the many benefits of fruits and vegetables – from protection against vision loss, nutrient deficiencies, high blood pressure, heart diseases – and cancer. They are just nature’s superfoods that help fight free radicals from doing damage to our bodies.

So, how do you define plenty? Here are some tips that can help you take the proper amount of fruits and vegetables to keep your body running on its best:

1. Dietary guidelines call for 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 cups a day, which is dependent on your caloric intake. For example, if you’re on a 2,000 calorie diet a day, you’ll need 4 1/2 cups daily and you may want to portion them in two.

2. Get a kitchen’s measuring cup and put your fruits and veggies, which will give you a count of a cup. You may want to see charts on the web to guide you in your servings.

3. Potatoes should be used in little amounts since it’s high in starch. You may see the healthy eating pyramid chart and learn why you must not have too much of them in your daily servings.

4. The most common reason why people don’t get to eat a lot of these hearty treats is forgetting to eat them. This time, place these fruits and veggies in a place where you can see it- on top of your fridge, your kitchen countertop, or a fruit bowl. This way, you will always be reminded to have a bite.

5. Some people complain how bland fruits and veggies can be. You can always mix and match, make a smoothie or just toss them all in your own version of a yummy garden salad. The options are really endless, so, have fun!

6. Others don’t like the mess and bulk of bringing fruits and veggies to the workplace. For this, you may get freeze-dried version of your favorite healthy treats, or cut them in bite sizes and put them in zip locks.

7. Dried fruits and veggies had its water contents removed, and so you will have to count 1/2 cup to equal a cup. Always opt for your organic versions without the added artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

Making fruits and vegetables a part of your diet can really be a tough thing to do, especially with all those junks that are available to us 24/7. A healthy choice a day can become a habit that is worth all your bucks. Junk foods may be cheaper, but it can only offer instant satiation, without the health benefits.

The Choice is Yours…

Unlike machines, the human body is composed of living, breathing cells that need to restore its vitality with a good quality and quantity of sleep. Take note that it is not only important that you get many hours of sleep, but it must also be good hours of uninterrupted sleep.

How much one sleeps depends on many factors like age, sex, environment. Too much and too less sleep are both unhealthy. If you are always awake at night, you are among the many insomniacs out there. Too much sleep may also be caused by problems such as chronic fatigue or depression.

Just how many hours are enough? Normally, adults need 7-9 hours each night, but there are some who manage at six. Don’t go less than five hours a night, or it will spell trouble. Studies show that people who have adequate hours of sleep live longer than those who don’t. A recent research even shows that lack of sleep can cause 2.9 lbs weight gain – in just 9 days.

How about those who work at graveyard shifts? Believe me, night time sleep is very different from daytime sleep. I know. I used to work for the night shift before and I have to quit my job, for the sake of my health. The reason is that people who work at night are exposed to artificial lights, which reduces the body’s level to ward off disease. If you can’t have a normal daytime job, make sure you sleep in a dark bedroom for your body to heal itself.

Not only will you feel cranky without a good amount of sleep, but you are also at risk for high blood pressure that can lead to many serious heart diseases. High blood pressure have been known to be one of the factors in millions of death around the world each year. This info alone should make you be wary of your sleeping patterns.

Here are the Benefits You can Get from Quality Sleep:

1. A Healthy Heart
2. Better Immune System
3. Reduced Risk from Cancer, Heart Disease, and Diabetes
4. Relaxation
5. Mental Alertness
6. Good Memory
7. Weight Loss
8. Lower Levels of Stress
9. Better Mood throughout the Day
10. Youthful-Looking Skin and Rejuvenation from Healthy Cells

Ergo: It Feels truly Good to Have a Good Night’s Sleep

If you have trouble sleeping at night, you can always seek for help from your sleep doctor. You can also enjoy a soothing warm bath, the aroma of essential oils, a calming music, and a chamomile tea to help you sleep your way into the sweet valley of dreams. ( Or… you can always count 100 sheep )

Sleeping Beauty…

This humble seed has been loved since antiquity and have been popularly used in Ayurvedic healing.  This seed from a tiny herb might not be widely used in cooking, but it surely gives you the best fight against carcinogens.

Traditionally used to aid in digestion, the very aroma of this seed is so potent it literally make your mouth water.  The Thymol compound in Cumin acts as a stimulant, relieving you from gas troubles, improving your appetite and digestion.  Take it with hot water to ease your stomach pain.

In powdered form, cumin can also act as a natural laxative, cleansing you from the inside out.  It even works great on common colds and helps our bodies fight viral infection.  On a personal note, I would not be surprised if someday, cumin will be used against the deadly H1N1 virus.  Cumin can boost the body’s immune system against infections.

It might come as something new, but cumin is also rich in Vitamin E, which is good for the skin.  Although you don’t rub the herb on your skin to look young and glowing.  An essential oil with cumin can do wonders, with a little rub.

Cumin just make you feel hot, boosting your metabolism, and aiding you in your weight loss goal.  Try grinding black cumin seeds and add it with water to make a salve for boils.  Some studies even suggest that black cumin seeds can help treat arthritis and asthma.

What’s the best benefit you can get from Cumin?  Our modern lifestyle had been harsh on our health, which exposes us to many nasty cell invaders like free radicals and cancer.  Cumin inhibits the very enzyme that aid cancer cells in destroying your tissues, keeping tumors at bay.  This wonder herb is most beneficial against colon cancer.

Here’s a Healthy Cumin Recipe that I Love:

Roasted Onions and Taters with Cumin

1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 bowl of skinned and boiled white potatoes
1 peeled and diced Spanish onions
Salt and ground black pepper

Preparation:

Pour your olive oil in your frying pan, making sure they’re spread evenly. When it is hot, add the cumin seeds.  Wait for it to brown.  Then, toss in your potatoes and onions.  Lower the heat when everything turns brown and crisp.  Put a dash of salt and pepper.

Bon Appetite!

Nothing ever happens without a reason, and this is a fact.  Even Newton have known about it as he proclaimed that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  So, laughing your heart out would send ripples of positive energy that will cause only the good things to come as a result.  The wisest of sages have known that laughter heals and there’s always something good in feeling happy.

I was just watching TV last night when a local news reported of this woman healed from her cancer.   Any magic pill?  None, really.  She had only four months to live and as you’ve guessed it, she just wanted to spend this time – in joy.  She would watch her fave comedy flicks everyday or get a dose of humor from the web… and laugh her heart out to forget about her tragic illness.  Doctors were even dumbfounded of her miracle recovery.

Laughter really heals and researchers have found that it is indeed good for living healthy.  Today’s modern lifestyle is stress-ridden and we can all have a one, laughing escape from it all.

We all know that stress causes sickness, some of which are unexplainable, and the cure is up to us to find out.  Laughter reduces stress by releasing cortisols and adrenaline into your body.  This means laughter increases the production of antibodies in your cells, enhancing your T-cells, making your body’s immune system – stronger.  Not only will you have an improved mood, but you also reduce your risk from muscle pains.

Given a choice between the two: Laughter is a much better emotional release than crying… or better yet, cry yourself with tears of joy.  Laughing doesn’t only cleanses your blood and boost your heart’s health, but it’s also a good cardio workout.  Studies even say that laughing 100 times daily is equivalent to a 20-minute cardio routine.  For this reason, we see laughter yoga having avid followers all over the world.

Remember that when you’re feeling happy, you can also think more clearly. Feelings of sadness, guilt, and anger are destructive.  If possible, control these negative emotions.  Why cry when you can just – laugh?

Laughter can be very contagious.  Even the funny sound of one’s laughter can trigger a cacophony of laughing sounds.  You can set a time daily to watch your funny flicks at home or at the movies, or you may spend a weekend with friends at a comedy club downtown.  Laughter must be real, but if you don’t feel like doing it – you can fake it until the situation seems too absurd to bring out the tiniest giggle in you.

Laughter is one of the best stress management therapy around and the best thing is – it’s free for all ages to enjoy!

You might be surprised to know that yogurts doesn’t only fight bad bacteria in your body and help reduce your risk from osteoporosis, but it is also great for debloating your belly.  Between a sweet pudding and a yogurt, I’d say go for the latter, especially if you’re maintaining an ideal weight.

Bored of your usual cup of plain yogurt?  The Greeks do their yogurt in a creamier, much fuller taste.  You don’t really have to skip all those flavored variety.  Here are things you must remember when buying yogurt:

Read Your Label

Don’t choose yogurt that has 200 calories or more.  Yogurt is made from milk and live culture, which will approximately turn up to 86 calories.  Added ingredients should not get more than a hundred calories.

Opt for Low-Fat or Zero Fat Label

Your yogurt may come with an extra cream, to make it thicker.  Always make sure that you only get a maximum amount of 4g of fat or less.  More than that would mean saturated fat, which is unhealthy for you.

Go for Less Sugar

Plain yogurt is sour and some labels add sugar to make it sweet.  Beware of products with high fructose corn syrup, which is a top contributor to obesity and other disease.  If you have a sweet tooth, buy the plain version and just add some organic honey or agave.

Count Your Calcium

You should get at least 20% of your daily calcium requirement from your fave cup, or about 200 mg.

Be Protein-Conscious

If the Protein label is less than 6 grams, it means the good metabolism booster milk has been diluted with gelatin, corn starch, or sugar.

Yogurt may not be everybody’s favorite dessert, but if you’re given a choice between your creamy, fat-laden ice cream and a plain yogurt – go for the yogurt!  It can take time getting used to.  Living healthy, naturally is not a short-term goal.  Be smart with your food choices, after all, we really are what we eat!

Recently, Acai berries have been touted by a lot of marketing campaigns on the web, TV, radio, and magazines.  Even chocolates are being filled with these tasty deep purple berries, promising a hearty indulgence with the benefits.

Acai is a fruit native to Belize, Brazil, and Peru.  The fruit, produced by the acai palm tree, appears to be the size of a grape – with a lesser pulp.  The juice is extracted and exported to many countries worldwide.  Acai is popular as a stand-alone juice, or used on your favorite blend of fruit smoothie.

People are now calling this little wonder a SUPER FRUIT, with 10 times more antioxidants than grapes. There is just a rise of avid supporters of this fruit and many are claiming its effectiveness in weight loss.  Even the news are praising the wonder benefits of this magical fruit.

Is acai berry a hype or for real?  One must remember that acai is a fruit, not a drug.  It can be a good supplement, but it must never be considered a sole cure, specially for serious illnesses needing immediate medical care.  There are plenty of scams out there and it is wise to stay vigilant.

The acai fruit can be most beneficial when eaten fresh.  The pulp of this fruit is so fragile that it needs to be frozen. This means that you are getting less hearty benefits from commercially-produced juices.  Better to have some than none at all, though.

There is just no magic trick when it comes to weight loss.  Acai can be your body’s super defense, but you still need to exercise daily to keep fit.  There are ways where you can curb your cravings for unhealthy foods – naturally.  It takes great discipline to master your mind over your body.  But when you do, the reward can be – priceless.