Archive for April, 2008

Confessions Of A (Slim) Cabbage Soup Diet Addict

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

They told me it was low fat, high fibre and that I would lose about ten pounds in only one week. I was intrigued. Sure, I had a few pounds to lose. Who wouldn’t want to slim down a bit? My high school reunion was just around the corner and with kids I didn’t think I could find the time to go to the gym. I knew I had to look better than the popular girls who had made my life a living hell. So, I set my eyes on the cabbage soup diet. I followed it to the letter, never letting my guard down. Let me tell you, it was something else.

My cravings roared to life. Every mention of the word chocolate sent me into frenzy. My children had to hide their school lunches in fear that I would eat them all and leave them with nothing. For some insane reason, I decided to try this cabbage soup diet over Halloween. I begrudgingly handed out candy, chocolate, pop and other delights to brats dressed up as pirates, witches, princesses and goblins. Usually friendly neighborhood kids seemed to scowl as they stole the candy from my weak hands. Sure I’d lost a few pounds by then, but the lag in my energy levels was hardly worth it. I barely mustered the energy to answer the door.

The mood swings that came from not eating normally took an enormous toll on my marriage and on my career. My husband couldn’t do anything right. Once I literally wept when he missed some cat hair while sweeping. Towards the end of the diet he started spending copious amounts of time paying bills, mowing the lawn and fixing useless gadgets. We barely spoke. My boss and co-workers instantly noticed a shift in my mood. I sulked around the office on pizza Friday. I felt gloomy on Jill’s birthday because I couldn’t have cake. I even threw away Spencer’s chocolates because if I couldn’t have them I didn’t think anyone should. Usually compassionate and kind, the lack of real food in my stomach turned me into a maniac.

When all was said and done, I had lost about seven pounds. That made me happy….for a day until I realized it was mostly water weight. After basically starving my body for a week, my system stored every last molecule of food as soon as I started eating normally again. In fact, I gorged on everything I could find. The first thing I did was order Chinese food….and pizza…and Sushi. I was insatiable. Whatever weight I’d lost came back within days. Then I ballooned to a higher weight than I was pre-cabbage soup diet.

The truth is, this diet was not worth it. I’m now eating a balanced diet filled with lean protein, fruits, veggies and dairy. I give in to small cravings and try to get in a bit of exercise each day. I’ve lost a few pounds. It’s been a slow go, but I know this is a much better way to go about things. My husband is speaking to me again and Jill has finally forgiven me. I even told Spencer what I did and we laughed about it over a Mars bar. Things are finally getting back to normal. Well, except for the fact that cabbage is no longer allowed within 10 feet of my house!

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Are You A Computer Addict?

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

What did people do before computers, anyway? I can’t imagine! But let’s be real. With the computer and internet so prevalent today, it’s no wonder that many people feel they couldn’t live without it.

Recently, my computer needed to be repaired. You would have thought I lost my right arm. I thought I was going to go insane! Fortunately, my best friend offered me the use of her computer so I could submit some articles that were due, as well as check my email so I didn’t have six hundred of them to sort through when I finally got my computer back. But this made me think: what would I do if my computer was taken away for good?

So how addicted are you? Granted, many of us use computers for our work. But I’m not talking about work. Let’s say you had a day off from work. Would you spend it online or playing computer games? And what if you had to be without a computer for a day? Would thoughts of checking your email or looking up a quick site consume you?

Look over the following statements and see if any sound familiar.

• The first thing I do in the morning is check my email.

• The last thing I do before going to bed is check my email.

• I bring my laptop into the living room while I watch television.

• If I want to check the weather or a movie show time, I don’t even think about looking in the newspaper, I check online.

• Our family argues over time on the computer.

• My kids have made comments that I’m always on the computer.

• I email more often than I pick up the phone.

• If the internet is down, I get frustrated.

• When out with friends, I think about checking my email at least twice.

• During devotions, the phrase, “you’ve got mail” interrupts your train of thought.

If you could identify with 5 or more of these statements, chances are, you’re a computer addict!

Of course, the Bible was written way before computers were even thought about. But The Word does say a thing or two about allowing something take a higher priority than spending time with God. And, I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty of doing just that.

Here are six ideas to begin to break the hold the computer has on you.

1. Set a timer for an hour or two. It’s easy to lose track of time while surfing the net or chatting with our friends on message boards or via Instant Messaging. Setting a timer is just an audible reminder that we’ve probably been on long enough.

2. The next time you think, “I’ll just send a quick email,” pick up the phone and call, instead.

3. Resist hitting that power button until you’ve opened up your Bible or at least said good morning to your Creator.

4. Turn off the computer after a certain time each evening. Maybe check email one more time after dinner and then shut it down for the night. Spend some quality time with your family. I guarantee they will be more fun than your Gateway.

5. Consider fasting for a day. Not from food, but the computer. Leave it off for just one day. It’s NOT going to kill you but it will make you stronger and more in control of your flesh.

6. PRAY! Ask God to decrease your need for more computer time and replace it with a desire for more God-time.

While it isn’t likely that computers are going anywhere, it is possible to diminish your dependency on them.

“Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.” I Corinthians 7:31 (NLT)

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Essential Oil Cures For Hair Loss

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Thinning hair and excessive hair loss can affect men, women, and children. What is often referred to as common baldness in men and women does have a inherit component however this is not the only reason for hair loss. Hair loss can be permanent or temporary depending on the underlying cause but in most cases something can be done to stop, reverse or slow down hair loss.

For instance stress from illness or surgery can cause hair loss. Many women after giving birth to a child notice hair loss, this is due to hormone changes and stress on the body. Other hormone imbalances can also lead to hair loss including thyroid gland issues leading to hypo or hyperthyroidism or problems with the sex hormones; androgens in men or estrogen in women.

Various medicines can cause hair loss; if you suspect this to be the case for you consult your doctor to find out what your options may be. Certain infections and diseases also can cause hair loss two examples are diabetes and lupus.

There is also the possible for mechanical causes for hair loss, you can actually damage your hair follicles which ultimately results in scarring. If a hair follicle becomes scarred it can not grow hair. This may be caused by prolonged pulling on the hair, such as in use of tight hair rollers, ponytails, pigtails, hair extensions or hair weaves. Some hair treatments including some perms or hot oil treatments can also cause damage to some scalps.

Because the reasons behind hair loss are vast and can be a symptom of a more serious condition you should always consult your doctor before searching for a hair loss cure. Even with common baldness or pattern baldness in many instances something can be done and your doctor may be able to prescribe a medicine to slow or stop the process.

If you are looking to find a natural treatment for hair thinning or hair loss then essential oils may be an option. Essential oils have been used for centuries to help all sorts of different ailments including hair loss. Some specific essential oils you may want to try are:

1. Lavender essential oil is very widely used for various reasons however it can also be used to promote hair growth. Add two or three drops to your favorite non fragranced leave in conditioner and massage into the scalp.

2. To slow hair loss add two or three drops of Atlas cedar essential oil to a carrier oil and again massage into the scalp.

3. Juniper berry essential oil can be used to inhibit or stop hair loss. To apply add a couple of drops to one ounce of your favorite non fragranced conditioner, massage into the scalp, let sit for five minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Other essential oils that may be used are Cypress, Rosemary and Thyme. Which ever one you decide to use remember it often takes several months before real results are seen. Your hair actually grows in a cycle, it is not all growing all of the time, and some hair loss is part of the natural cycle. Be patient and do not rule out any treatment after a week or two. Even medications such as Rogaine take approximately six months to show results.

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Do You Need To Be A Licensed Masseuse To Work In A Massage Studio?

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

If you are considering seeking employment in a massage studio, you have quite a bit to think about. There are dozens of types of massage, from Neo-natal to Rolfing to Thai massage. There are massage practices devoted to therapy and rehabilitation. Some are devoted to stress and tension relief.

In many places throughout the world, national, state or city governments require a license to practice massage. If you are considering seeking employment as a masseur or masseuse, you should make yourself aware of these requirements. If you operate against the law, you could find yourself having your business shut down or worse. You could be fined or even put in jail.

However, there are places in the world that have no licensing requirements. In these cases, you would not need a license to practice massage, and you could be employed in a massage studio regardless of your certification.

In places where you do need certification, a massage professional is usually required to have completed a minimum amount of hours of training and supervised practice. For example, in most places in the United States, massage professionals are required to have at least 500 hours of practice and learning. Some states require as many as 800 hours. Also, states will only accept these hours if they are completed with an accredited massage school.

Testing is also a major part of massage certification. Most places in America require massage providers to pass the NCETM, a very demanding national exam. There are also many boards and national and international certification organizations, that will accredit a particular massage professional with a membership if they meet requirements and pay dues. Though most of these certifications have little or no legal bearing, they provide a means for a massage professional to prove their qualifications to potential employers and clients.

One of the difficulties of working as a masseuse or masseur in a jurisdiction that requires licensing is that along with those requirements there are zoning laws to contend with, which might make doing business more difficult. In some places, massage is treated as an “adult business,” and zoning laws force massage studios to operate in areas dominated by sex shops, strip clubs, adult video stores and other unsavory elements. This is due to the unfortunate association between massage studios and the sex industry. While many massage studios are in fact facades for illicit and illegal activity, there is no reason a licensed massage practice should be barred from respectable neighborhoods. One of the reasons why the requirements to earn a massage license are demanding is because it inhibits sex workers from earning them falsely.

Many massage professionals debate the effectiveness of tests and certifications. Some of them argue that these requirements safeguard the public from hucksters and frauds posing as legitimate professionals, and ensure that a masseuse or masseur is adequately trained in methods, ethics and laws related to massage. Other people argue that these certifications are a result of the manipulative influence of people who want to control the massage industry for their own personal gain. They lament that these tests and laws drive therapists out of business, drive up costs, and force people to attend expensive training programs –even if they’ve been practicing for years. Also, many people contend that these tests ignore many crucial elements of a massage practice, such as interpersonal skills, ethics and palpitation skills.

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The Best Way To Learn Yoga Poses

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

The best way to learn yoga is to practice in a good yoga class with an excellent teacher, you can probably find those by asking your doctor or gym and then look the class up on the internet, most of the time you should be able to find some people who have done a class at that specific centre and write what they have experienced.

Most classes will also give you a test lesson if you ask for it. It is my experience that you will learn allot from such a lesson. You can learn if you like the teacher, if you feel uncomfortable with someone, learning yoga will be very difficult. You can also talk to the other classmates after the lesson and ask them for there experience. And you can learn if the style of yoga fits to your needs, there are many kinds of yoga and you will like some better than the other.

Yoga classes can be found at many different places, there are specific yoga schools and there are classes in health clubs and gyms and even in some community centers you can learn yoga these days. Yoga is still increasingly popular and you should be aware that there are very smart entrepreneurs around that are willing to make a profit from the ignorant and put unqualified teachers in front of the class or ask extreme prices. So be aware and do your research.

There are many kind of yoga styles and there are also many different yoga poses. And each yoga teacher has their own style of teaching. Some just give very relaxing and easy to learn poses others are more intense and some even are fun. You need to find the best kind of class for your needs and the only way is to experience the poses. For the first couple of classes it is smart sit somewhere where you can see the teacher and the other students this way you can look how the poses are done and replicate them.

Sun Salutation

Most beginner classes will start with teaching you the “sun salutation.” This is almost one of the standard series of yoga poses used in yoga classes. It is called a moving meditation and it helps to wake up you mind and body to start with the day and all the things to come. It also prepares you for the yoga poses that you will do after the sun salutation. You should focus on your breathing during the series of moves.

Other basic yoga poses are called:

The Cobra: lie down and raise your head and torso up.

Dog and Cat: up on the hands and knees, role the tail bone up and down

Trikonasana - the Triangle: stands with legs in a wide stance. both arms are raised and the body should bend to meet one foot at a time.

Sukhasana - Sit/Easy Position: sit with cross-legged and focus on your breathing

The Corpse: lie on your back on the ground, the goal is conscious relaxation.

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How To Find The Best Blemish Acne Cream That Works

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

One of the most annoying skin diseases that anyone can experience, acne almost seems to be part of ones natural life cycle such as puberty. Unfortunately the result of acne comes in the form of ugly blemishes and pimples, it even has been nicknamed ‘zit’. It mostly appears in all areas of the face as well as the neck, back, chest and shoulders.

If you happen to be suffering from acne then you already know that if you let it, acne can affect your self esteem and allow you to digress in your self confidence. You also know that you need to find a cure for this problem and your best solution to start with is to use a blemish acne cream.

Two proven blemish acne creams that get results

Although there are hundreds of acne creams available you really should do your research in finding the top acne creams available. You need to look for the ones that have been tried, tested and proven and have at least an outstanding track record. In particular you need to find out if these acne creams treat even the most stubborn and recurring of acne problems. The following are two excellent products to start with.

Proactive

Proactiv cream happens to be one the most popular and effective creams available for anyone suffering from acne. It’s one of the favorites simply because it is suitable for all skin types and it is also very affordable. You can get Proactiv at just about any local store offering over the counter health products. Trying this product is the first step in determining an effective acne treatment.

Derma Cleanse Cleanser

A second popular recommendation for a blemish acne cream is a product called Derma Cleanse Cleanser. With excellent healing results that treat very dry to very oily skin, this product is mild on your skin but a very acne treatment providing results that you would expect in an acne cream.

Use These Tips When Comparing

When you are shopping for an acne cream you need to be aware of a few things such as the active ingredient listing that can be found right on the box and label. You are looking for the primary active ingredient that is effective in both creams and gels. That ingredient is known as benzoyl peroxide. This ingredient gives the most dramatic results in solving your acne problem. Always be sure to follow the pharmacists instructions when using any the products you purchase.

Price can be added to the list when you are comparing. Of course you need to be certain that the product you buy is not overly priced but also you don’t want to end up with the cheapest product that will provide poor results either. The best guideline is to do your homework and also by reading the labels while you are in the store. This might sound time consuming but you just want to make sure you are getting an acne cream that is best for you.

With all that said, you might think that it is not as easy to just go to the store or pharmacy and buy any blemish acne cream. While that might have a hint of truth, you of course don’t want to end up spending money only to have that acne cream sitting in your medicine cabinet either.

Just remember these important points, you won’t always have this acne problem and “it is curable” - just do a little research and you will be fine. If your problem is more serious then the best course of action is to always consult with your doctor.

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5 Natural Remedies For Panic Attacks

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Panic attacks can be a terrifying experience. Often, when these attacks first strike, they appear so suddenly and are so unexpected that the person experiencing them often believes they are about to die. The symptoms match a number of symptoms related to heart attack such as light-headedness, nausea, numbness of the hands and feed, and chest pains. This is why those who experience Panic Attacks for the first time usually end up in the emergency room.

The following treatments have all been shown to be effective remedies for some people to cure Panic Disorders. Some people respond differently to different treatment - and what works for some may not work for others. So it is important that you take a close look at what the treatment offers, what it can provide you, and what you believe you can gain from it. The only treatment that will work for you will be the one that you feel comfortable with and that you believe in.

** Hypnosis **

Hypnosis gained popularity since 1958 when the American Medical Association recognized it as a legitimate form of treatment. In 1995, the National Institute of Health issued a statement commenting that the available scientific evidence favored the use of hypnotherapy for chronic pain. This has been a treatment method that has cured panic attacks for many people.

Hypnotherapy allows you to modify how you perceive the feelings and perceptions from your body. It helps you to focus and concentrate on your thought processes, and allows you to concentrate more on relaxing, rather than getting overwhelmed by the symptoms that are experienced during an attack.

** Humor **

While many people may never have heard of it, there is also a treatment methodology called Therapeutic Humor. This therapy is a form of visualization - where you are taught to recall a scenario that caused you to laugh uncontrollably. This is much like training that actors go through in order to recall intense feelings from their past for acting scenes. This treatment will help you to instantly recall the positive feelings of laughter when you need it most.

Since a panic attack is essentially a series of negative thoughts that compound upon each other, this approach simply short-circuits those negative thoughts by interrupting them with a powerful recall of very positive feelings and thoughts.

The medical evidence does exist that offers this therapy some credibility. Anxiety is known to increase the body’s natural level of stress hormone called cortisol. Laughter has been shown to naturally reduce the levels of that stress hormone in the body.

** Energy Psychology **

Another natural treatment option is called Energy Psychology. Energy psychology is derived from the ancient Eastern technique of acupressure - involving the tapping of certain critical points on the body that is believed to be points of the body that produce an energy field, otherwise known as the “chi”.

It is believed within this Eastern-based school of thought that every thought that we have generates an energy field, and that this energy field serves as a catalyst for chemical and biological changes in the body.

The goal of this therapy is to tap these specific energy points in order to discharge that negative energy, which is associated with the negative thought patterns that led to the panic attack. This form of therapy is considered a bit more alternative than others - however a fair number of people believe in this form of therapy, which also goes by the more common name of acupuncture.

** Desensitization **

Desensitization is a unique therapeutic approach that has the patient focus on those situations or events that case the most panic. The patient is asked to focus on that situation and to imagine the worst case scenario. The goal of this form of psychotherapy is to help the patient teach themselves that there is not any outcome that can turn out as badly as they fear. Once all of the “worst case” scenarios are played out - the patient can then remain confident that they can put themselves in that situation and survive it without any major catastrophe.

Desensitization helps you to learn that sometimes our fears are grossly exaggerated, and that going through the experience that we fear is not going to lead to imminent crisis.

** Cognitive Behavioral Therapy **

Finally, currently the most effective treatment that has been proven to treat panic disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. This form of treatment is also used for a variety of other mental disorders, but it is especially effective to treat panic disorder.

The tremendous benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy are that you carefully examine your existing beliefs and then determine whether those beliefs are realistic or distorted. Many of the fatalistic thoughts that enter your mind and compound the building panic could be averted through restructuring those thought patterns using the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy.

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A Day In The Life Of The Happy Oasis Retreat

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Raw Food Summit which can be found at http://rawsummitarchives.com. In this excerpt, Happy Oasis shares more on her experiences living with tribes around the world and attitudes and relationships with foods. She always shares insight into what a day is like for her living at the Happy Oasis Retreat.

Raw Food Summit Excerpt with Happy Oasis, the founder of The Raw Spirit Festival.

Kevin: Okay. It’s pretty incredible. With the people that you’ ve been talking about, what is the belief about the day? Like what are their beliefs around food? What do they eat and then what are their beliefs about the day?

Happy: Well, there’s this feeling of sacredness and not a sacred necessarily of seriousness like that we have to be Protestant serious, this is a somber situation. It’s a sense of a joyful, deep reverence like a wonder and awe.

This feeling of gladness that become some kind of heavenly habit that we just begin with and end the day with this feeling of life, of joy, of celebration. A friend of mine just sang a song for me just before this interview and his words are “rejoice, dance, and sing. Celebrate everything.” And so, I think it’s the attitude of embracing everything, even embracing moments of sadness and moments of pain.

And for example, here I’d like to say that our relationship with food mirrors our relationship with life. And so that, if we can learn to close the refrigerator when we’re feeling sad or angry or fearful, and open our heart instead to reach into heart, you just breathe. So, just feel what’s there and to accept it into a very quiet, silent way to just give ourselves a huge hug to feel the love that is in the ambience.

You know, somebody was asking me the other day about Jasmuheen and HRM who are coming to our festival and they’re known to be “breatharians.” Now, they don’t really call themselves breatharians. They’re more in the solar gazing and into spirit embracing. However, the the question is, “what really is a breatharians?”

For years, HRM and Jasmuheen have all concurred that breatharians are every one of us because food – let’s face it, it’s just a snack. It’s just a supplement that all day long, we’re breathing. All day long, we’re inspiring. We’re inspiring our self, we’re becoming inspired and then we expire if we relax and this gives us space to take in new energy and calmness and clarity. And so, a breatharian is one who is conscious of breathing.

There are conscious and unconscious breatharian, of course. But to be fully conscious of every breath and to see what is happening as a result of that breath because for example, as a meditator, we know that the inhale creates very different thoughts than the exhale. It takes a different speed, a different quality, a different color of thoughts.

Our relationship with food can also relate with our relationship with breathing. We’ll notice that if we’re grasping and clinging onto food or being repulsed by food, there might be a similar response happening with our lungs and if we can calm our lungs and allow the oxygen and all life-force and what’s behind and beneath and inside the oxygen and the other elements that comprise the air, which is actually the love vibration. If we can embrace that in a great gentle way, then we are embracing our entire existence and existence itself in that very tender and sacred and precious.

Kevin: As you’re talking about getting up in the morning and as you with the people that you lived with and you have this awaking sense of just wonderment, what is…is the next thought food? I mean I don’t know. I want to completely understand, you know, the day of someone who doesn’t have any Westernized anything. That to me is just so fascinating.

Happy: It depends on each culture. It depends on each day. Certain cultures, they will pray for hours in the morning.

Kevin: Really?

Happy: Hours and just as certain people believe that it’s really important to deserve our food through exercise; other cultures believe it’s so important to deserve our food through prayer and that prayer can take many forms from chanting outwardly to chanting inwardly to climbing a mounting, to dmaking love with their beloved, to caring for their children in a way of massaging their children, to going out into their garden, to lying in a hammock high up in a tree in the forest, to chasing after the only ray of sunshine by climbing the tree deep in the forest and placing one’s faith right in the sunlight, to going out on a pond and singing to the divine,to just creating the most spontaneous and delicious and driving story that they can.

So, and it depends on the individual. But for example, the Khasi of Bangladesh, when they greeted me and knew that I did not speak a word of their language, they all went into silence, started a fire, and we sat together and we gazed into each other’s eyes for hours.

And I always remember those flickering faces and everybody laughing on each other and everybody having such honor and respect for me that they didn’t speak a single word of their language to each other just so we could get beyond language and be deeply intimate soul to soul around that fires together.

Kevin: So, it’s fascinating. Now, when they’re praying, is it for food or is it for life? I’m still western here so I’m like trying the grasp this. I want to get the full understanding because it’s fascinating. It’s amazing.

Happy: It’s actually not for food. It’s not for life. It’s giving back. It’s like in the west, people pray because they want something. Many tribal people, they have kind of a dog-like devotion to service, and it’s that just vast appreciation to the being or to the essence of creation and just wishing to give back directly. They never miss a sunrise and secondly as soon as they wake up, they’re in joyous chanting. And the sweetness of some of these people’s voices as people who lhave lived near people who live in Ashram can contest. They have the sweetest voices on the planet and that sweetness is a result of that devotion to nothing that we can grasp to life itself to the sunrise, to the morning to the very essence of the air as if we could hug and embrace and kiss the air with such gladness.

In fact, the people who live here at the Happy Oasis retreat we all in our own way commence the day with this feeling of devotion to the divine. For example, I wake up often before sunrise and the first thing I love to do and the last thing I love to do, is to gaze up into the stars and to just say good night and good morning to the stars. This morning, for example, I woke up before dawn and cuddled with my beloved and went out by myself and ran eight miles and went over its deep boulders and into the canyons and I have this game that I played with myself. I live out here in the wilderness and this game is that I can never take the same path twice. And then, I go into this pool and there’s a waterfalls.

My crown chakra is being splashed upon a torrent of living water that would just pour down from the crowd. Yesterday, we’re having the monsoon season here in Arizona now. And then I go swimming. I take baptism, and this water is so clean that I can drink it while I am swimming.

So my body is drinking. My mouth and the feeling of oneness with the water – it’s a really holy feeling and it makes me really happy. And to stand the first two or three hours of the day doing this and then come home, and start work at nine o’clock and being of service to the world and going out first of all into the garden.

Yes, so I collected my breakfast in the wild from yarrow plants. So for example, this morning, I had fresh oak leaves for breakfast followed by yarrow which is dynamite for the liver. And then, upon running home after the baptism, I went into the garden and munched on parsley and nasturtium and nasturtium flowers, arugula, chard, duck, parsley, and clover.

I had this fantastic salad on my hands and knees before you even enter the home. So, how could somebody be any less than happy with the lifestyle like this? And then all day long for the next eight to ten hours, the Raw Spirit Festival for us is happening every day of the year.

And so, we are so privileged and delighted and really amazed by the people who contact us from around the planet every day and just inspire us and delight us in bringing us to a new level of communion with humanity. So that’s my day every day.

Kevin: It’s fantastic. It sounds like an amazing way to go through the day. It sounds a lot easier than some people’s days, yes?

Happy: It’s really beautiful and it seems that one of my definition for wealth is that do not get in the car for an entire day is wealthy. Something else, it’s really important. A very important part of the raw vegan diet and for optimal health is fasting. So, as much as we love food and we love to eat and it sustains us, and we go for the yummiest food we can get.

I advocate minimizing fruit as much as we can and eating as many dark leafy greens as we can including seaweeds including blue- green algae and what I love to do is take the pond scum off the ponds and the streams hat are right near my house.

Nothing fresher. Each life is fantastic; however, there’s nothing better than your own backyard.

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access the Raw Food Summit experts just like Happy Oasis, please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally through teleseminars and programs. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.

3 Simple Tips On How To Deal With Nocturnal Panic Attacks

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

Many people who experience panic attacks or suffer from panic disorder during their daily lives will, at some point, suffer from a nocturnal panic attack. Once these are experienced, the fear of them can sometimes make a recurrence much more likely.

Research has shown that these nocturnal panic attacks appear to take place during the change from various levels of sleep, such as dreaming sleep to deeper REM sleep, or from dreaming sleep to waking up. Nocturnal panic attacks are also not related to nightmares or dreams, but instead are related to the same psychological and physical causes as the daytime attacks.

A nocturnal panic attack is much more difficult to deal with because you are not aware of the approach of the attack as you are during the day. When you are awakened by the attack, you are suddenly conscious of all of the physical symptoms all at once - and this sensation can be very terrifying. It is this overwhelming physical sensation upon becoming conscious that creates such a powerful fear of these nocturnal attacks.

However, if you are aware that you are having nocturnal panic attacks, you can use that awareness to your advantage. This awareness will help you plan a strategy to eliminate these nocturnal panic attacks.

** Medicate **

While using sleeping medication isn’t always the preferred approach, since many of these medications can disrupt the normal sleeping rhythms of your body. Also, often the side effects of the drowsiness can linger into the following day. This can make it very difficult to get to work on time, or to perform to the best of your abilities when you are still feeling groggy or tired from the sleep medication that you took the night before. Furthermore, some of these medications are addictive.

However while there are side effects to the medicines - the benefits may very well outweigh the risks. If facing another nocturnal panic attack is more than you can possibly bear - then using medicine to help you sleep through the night will alleviate that fear. And removing fear from your mind is definitely the very first priority in your recovery from this disorder.

** Prepare for Bedtime **

A more natural, yet very effect approach, to reducing stress before bedtime and drastically lowering the chances of a nocturnal attack, is to prepare for bed in a way that provides for the best night of sleep that you can possibly hope for. By preparing your mind and your body for sleep - you are signaling to your mind that you intend to relax.

You can do this by allowing your body to relax as much as possible prior to bed time. Avoid drinking anything with caffeine or drinking anything with sugar. Don’t eat heavy or fattening foods late in the day, because the digesting of that food in your stomach can take away from the depth of your sleep. Before going to bed, practice your preferred approach to meditation and relaxation. This might include slow stretching and exercising, or it might simply consist of slow and measured breathing techniques to lower your heart rate.

Aromatherapy, either on its own or in combination with the techniques above, also has the ability to induce a calm and relaxed feeling. Research aromas that are known to have the most calming effects and test different varieties to learn what works for you. Another excellent technique to sleeping well is introducing white noise or soothing music in your bedroom while you are sleeping. Often external noise will focus your mind during dreaming and deep sleep, and soothing noise will help to calm your mind while you are not conscious enough to do it yourself.

** Self-Talk and Relaxation Techniques **

Finally - just as you’ve learned to practice powerful relaxation and self-talk techniques to manage your daytime panic attacks, you need to practice the same techniques at night. However the disadvantage to suffering from nocturnal attacks is that when you are conscious, you are already in the middle of a full-blown panic attack.

They key upon waking to such a scenario is to immediate work on focusing and quickly orienting yourself to your surroundings and where you are. Then calmly and carefully talk yourself down using the same techniques that you’ve learned to manage your daytime attacks.

Using any one, or all, of the techniques described above will help to reduce, or completely get rid of, all of the nocturnal panic attacks that you may be suffering from.

Did you find this article on panic attacks at night helpful? If yes, visit our site today to find out how to deal with panic attacks once and for all…

What Can Cause A Panic Attack?

Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

No one knows for certain what causes panic attacks to occur, however a number of factors have been identified by researchers. These factors include genetics, physical illness and/or taking medications that affect the part of the brain that handles fear, major life stresses, and psychological disorders.

Panic attacks are the body’s biological alarm that allows people to appropriately and quickly respond to an immediate threat to their health or their life. It’s a survival mechanism that is deeply programmed into our psyche. Unfortunately some people are susceptible to this mechanism being triggered unnecessarily when there’s no imminent danger.

** Genetics **

Panic attacks are the most common psychiatric illness in the U.S. Panic attacks are twice as common in women as in men. Research has found that panic disorder appears to run in families, indicating that genetics may play a very strong part in a person’s risk of developing panic disorder.

** Stress **

The most common precursor to a panic attack is when life stress levels have risen dramatically in a person’s life. This may be an illness in the family, a job change or job loss, or any other major change that creates an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty and anxiety in a person’s life. It is known that people who have tendencies to take on excessive responsibility tend to suffer most often from panic attacks.

Another cause of panic disorder is also an underlying psychological condition called PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Studies have shown that people who suffer from PTSD exhibit a far higher rate of panic disorder than the rest of the population. While the causes of panic disorder are unknown, this correlation seems to indicate that stress plays a tremendous part in the triggering of a panic attack.

** Physical Illness and Medication **

Many times, the initial panic attack a person experiences may not be related to stress at all. Sometimes the attack is purely biological. Anyone who suffers from an illness that induces symptoms similar to panic or anxiety can trigger a panic attack. This is even more likely when medications are being taken that has side effects that might affect body or brain chemistry which might induce feelings of fear, anxiety or panic. Once those feelings are triggered, if they can not be managed properly, and the feelings and thoughts can very easily snowball into a full-blown panic attack.

One example is hypoglycemia - a condition where insulin receptors in the brain malfunction, which alters the production of glucose into energy for the brain. This lack of energy causes the brain to signal the adrenal glands for more adrenaline for energy.

While the adrenaline is a survival tool that the body uses to prevent brain starvation, an unfortunate side-effect is that adrenaline will also likely trigger a panic attack.

** Hyperventilation **

While hyperventilation is a panic attack symptom, it can also be a cause. It stems from the body having too much oxygen. In order to use oxygen absorbed into your blood, your body needs a certain level of carbon dioxide. When people don’t breathe properly, or they breathe shallower due to nervousness or highly stressful situations, they do not allow the body to retain enough carbon dioxide, and as result, their body can not extract needed oxygen from the bloodstream.

Improper breathing, especially during difficult or stressful times, can contribute greatly to the onset of a panic attack unless breathing is slowed and relaxation techniques are practiced.

Did you find this article on panic attack causes helpful? If yes, visit our site today to find out how to deal with panic attacks once and for all…