Low Rider

Almost daily in the news we see reports of chocolate’s health benefits. It’s a potent antioxidant, and is chock-full of chemicals and nutrients that have been attributed to making us happy. Yet many of us remain skeptical; eating lots of chocolate doesn’t seem to make us feel better, and in fact can lower energy levels for awhile. So what gives? If chocolate is such a miracle food, shouldn’t we be able to eat it all the time, without guilt and feel great? Well, yes, we can, but the way chocolate is prepared is crucial to unlocking its true potential as a health food. If you’d like to learn how to have a healthy dose of chocolate daily, read on…

It happens that the somewhat controversial ‘raw foodists’ are right on the mark with this one: it’s raw, unroasted, unprocessed chocolate that’s the real health food. Really, it’s not even called chocolate, but Cacao — chocolate is the name for the roasted, fat and sugar added product that Willy Wonka makes. (But for the fun of it, we’ll keep calling it chocolate. In the long run, it’s cool to think you’ve added ‘eating chocolate’ to the list of things you do daily that are good for you.) One needs to be careful, too, as raw chocolate is relatively hard to come by. Pricey organic hot cocoa is still roasted and alkalized, changing chocolate’s chemistry significantly enough to warrant limiting its intake. You can get raw chocolate online, and it’s slowly finding its way onto store shelves. Make sure it says ‘raw’ or ‘cacao’ (pronounce ‘Ka-’, as in cat, ‘cow’) and not ‘cocoa’, and should have no other ingredients (though some actual raw chocolate ‘candy’ can be found in very hip health food stores). Got it? If you still need a little convincing, here’s a quick look at the difference between raw and processed chocolates to help you make the switch — then on to a few recipes.

Energy and stimulation is at the heart of the chocolate experience, but many people are sensitive to chocolate’s effects. There are however, significant differences in the alkaloid structures of raw and roasted chocolate. Raw chocolate’s stimulation comes primarily from theobromine, which has little anxiety producing effects. Studies by natural wellness professionals and user reports both note that while commercially prepared dark chocolate has a very stimulating action that caffeine sensitive individuals may find too strong, an equivalent amount of raw cacao does not. The stimulating effects are reported mild, gentle, and without a ‘crash’ that is often associated with caffeine. A reason for mothers to think about creating their own raw chocolate treats for their children, too. The jury is still out on the actual amount if caffeine in raw chocolate; some investigators have found none, some have found small amounts in the ’skin’ of the cacao beans, and others of found only small amounts in beans that have fermented somewhat (an indication of a lower-quality cacao). Either way, if you’ve refrained from chocolate because of it’s caffeine content, raw cacao may just be your answer to enjoying this treat again.

Next the question of anti-oxidants. Chocolate has been discovered to have exceptionally high quantities of important polyphenols. A study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry was titled: “Cocoa Has More Phenolic Phytochemicals and Higher Antioxidant Capacity than Teas and Red Wine.” It’s hard to argue with that. Here again the question of raw arises: One report notes that while roasted chocolate is made up of 5% antioxidants, raw chocolate contains twice as much at 10%. Another important note is the addition of milk to make milk chocolate. Research has shown that the addition of milk actually cancels-out the positive effects of chocolate’s antioxidants. And milk may be one of the reasons many people seem to be allergic to chocolate, as lactose intolerance is fairly common. Another chocolate myth is some individuals break out when ingesting high amounts; reports indicate that raw chocolate does not cause this response, and that it may be the refined fats and sugars present in most chocolate products producing this effect.

Finally, the question of mood-enhancing neurochemicals and precursors. Chocolate contains significant quantities of the essential amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan intake has recently been collated with neurogenesis, the development of new brain cells, and both long and short term memory. The presence of tryptophan is critical for the production of serotonin, a primary neurotransmitter associated with mood (Prozac works on the principal of enhancing the action of serotonin). Once in the body tryptophan reacts with B-vitamins in the presence of magnesium (all present in raw chocolate) to produce serotonin. Enhanced serotonin function assists in diminishing anxiety and stress – ccording to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, serotonin is literally our “stress-defense shield.” Tryptophan is heat sensitive and is often deficient in many cooked-food diets, even when animal protein intake is high. In addition to tryptophan (but not heat sensitive) chocolate also contains PEA, the ‘love hormone’ and Anandamide the ‘bliss chemical’.

Convinced? Ready for a little raw chocolate power? First its critical to find a good source; make sure the chocolate you’re buying is raw – it’s most often labeled as ‘Cacao’, the name for the raw chocolate beans and the tree on which they grow. Cacao nibs are small pieces of pure raw chocolate that can be eaten straight, or mixed with other healthy snacks like dried fruits. But the best-loved raw chocolate preparation is the original chocolate drink: hot chocolate. Now it won’t be hot enough for long enough to convert any chemicals or to cook the chocolate, just to make it a warm comforting drink – and of course, heating the water isn’t necessary at all (though in recipes calling for Coconut oil, it helps to blend the oil into the drink). So to make a cup, use powdered raw chocolate (grinding the nibs or beans in a coffee grinder can work, though you’ll find this challenging as the natural oils in the chocolate will heat up and liquefy before the grinding is complete, leaving little crunchy bits). Put one or two tablespoons powdered chocolate, one to two teaspoons raw dark agave nectar (a low-glycemic index natural sweetner) and one to two teaspoons of Coconut oil in a blender. Add eight to twelve ounces almost-boiling water and blend for ten seconds. That’s it! You’ll find your personal favorite formula after a few preparations – more or less chocolate, oil, sweetener or water.

There are lots and lots of recipes out there, and great reading on raw chocolate’s health benefits and preparation. You’ll cacao powder often combined with other super nutritious foods in smoothies and good-for-you deserts. Natural organic candies start with the same ingredients as the drinks, but without the liquid. Just make a paste, adding pecans, coconut shavings or whatever you like, and chill to harden. As you’re not baking anything, there’s little to go awry, and really, so many possibilities. By using raw chocolate, you’ll open up a whole new world of cooking for yourself and your family — and if you hadn’t before, you might just find yourself really motivated to treat yourself to natural health and wellness.

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Recognized institutes offering authentic courses on hypnosis and hypnotherapy are scattered across the globe. It is possible to become a highly skilled hypnotherapist with proper skill to use this art in daily life through these training modules.

Such training aims at making participants excellent mind readers and makes them competent in tracing the buried reasons behind low self confidence and other mental problems that the subject might be afflicted with. You can employ the knowledge and skills acquired in the training to notably improve your own life as well as benefit others.

The course is just one of the many devices needed to become a skilled hypnotist. Just like any other field, hypnosis too, requires a lot of practice and dedication. A person possessing a healthy and unbound mind is in a better position to imbibe and internalize the knowledge provided in hypnosis training. A person possessing such a mind also displays positive qualities like high attentiveness, boldness and unbeatable determination.

The influence of hypnotherapy is immense and so are its benefits. Hypnotherapy training enables a person to connect with his subconscious and radically alter his own personality. The technique enables the practitioner to use the subject’s subconscious mind to instil positive thoughts that can significantly change the person’s behavioural patterns and eliminate his problems.

Hypnotherapy can be divided into self hypnosis and hypnosis aimed at another individual. Through self hypnosis, recognition and remedy of one’s own deficiencies is possible, and the person emerges as an altered individual with higher levels of self confidence and better chances of success in professional life, besides acquiring great communication and people management skills. A little tuning of the subconscious could give amazing results in building up inspiration and will power.

Hypnotherapy training can also be used in a profession by people who help patients come out of their disorders. An able hypnotherapist can cure all kinds of psychological anomalies. From anxiety to irrational fears and from obsessive compulsions to childhood disorders, hypnosis can provide a cure for all, if practiced correctly. Street performances involving in public hypnotic sessions are also made use of to generate knowledge about hypnotherapy and the powers of the subconscious mind amongst the public who are present there either as onlookers or as participants.

Hypnosis training does not only provide you with expertise to use professionally but also helps you achieve success in life by helping you to handle difficult situations and people, and that is why it is highly recommended for people from all walks of life and age groups.

Learn more about hypnotherapy course or hypnotherapy course and uncover its benefits to your profession.

When you are getting ready to go in for cosmetic surgery, chances are that you are worried about quite a few things. Having Houston cosmetic surgery is never something that you are going to look forward to, no matter how much you are looking forward to the outcome. However, Houston cosmetic surgery is something that can cause you a lot of joy in your life. It is very important, for this reason, that you work hard to follow several steps in order to get ready to have your Houston cosmetic surgery.

First Things To Do

The first thing that you have to do before you have Houston cosmetic surgery is to find the right place for your surgery. Remember that because of the popularity of surgery, there are going to be many options for your in Houston when it comes to finding a place to have your surgery done. this can make it very confusing however, because you have to choose very carefully in insure that you know what you are getting in to.

The best thing that you can do in order to successfully choose a place in which to have your Houston cosmetic surgery done is to take the time to talk to doctors at each of the places you are considering. First of all you should listen to what they say about the different procedures that they have, and how they go about preparing you for surgery. Some places take the patients needs into consideration in better ways than others. Also, some of the Houston cosmetic surgery clinics are going to give you more say about what you look like in the end, while other Houston cosmetic surgery clinics will leave it up to the doctor. You have to find a clinic that makes you feel comfortable about having surgery done and getting the results that you want to get.

Also, you have to be sure that you schedule your Houston cosmetic surgery at a time where you can afford to recuperate. Remember, even if the Houston cosmetic surgery is done in one day, you are still going to have swelling that you have to deal with, and other things that will keep you home for several days. You have to be sure that you are allowing yourself long enough to recuperate. As long as you can do this, you will find that your Houston cosmetic surgery goes much more smoothly than you ever thought that it would be able to go.

The writer has been an expert on plastic surgeon and the author is also good at providng information on cosmetic dentistry.

Having a healthy and balanced diet always play a very important role in keeping a very good health in general. On the other hand it can also a great help in keeping your prostate in good health which is very important so that you can avoid suffering from prostate health problem symptoms in the future and of course you can avoid suffering from prostate cancer which is very common to men over fifty years of age especially if they choose to ignore their condition in their younger years. Plus the fact that they may choose to not take vitamins or at least the foods that are great for prostate health but to take foods and beverages that can greatly irritate prostate such as tea, soda, alcoholic beverages, and spicy and salty foods.

There are about sixteen numerous supplements that you are able to add to your diet for prostate health. But you can also begin with the one that you are using now. The following are the supplements that you can take:

Beta-sitosterol – this is considered as one of the minor ingredients of the herbs palmetto ad pygeum. You can have this from sugar cane pulp and you can as well as purchase this in capsule dose that can definitely give you a helpful dose to eliminate prostate enlargement.

Fish oil or Flax seed – it has more omega-3 rather than of omega-6 which allows you to have a higher tendencies to acquire prostate cancer.

* Ionic Minerals – prostate essentially needs minerals. Adding this to your prostate health diet is vital since you can never have good prostrate health without several amount of minerals as well as your regular diet can’t supply what you need.

There are also vitamins that you should consider taking so that you can eliminate prostate enlargement, this includes vitamin D and E. You can also consider herbal supplements that are available out there as long as you can make sure to consult your doctor first about it.

Most men who don’t know how to maintain prostate health will at some stage have Enlarged Prostate Problems.Whether you are new to the topic or an expert, make sure to learn more about Symptoms Of Prostate Problems.

Did you know your metabolism slows down after thirty? That is reason why you suddenly seem to start to gain weight more than before.

Now, if you do not exercise regularly then you will start losing muscle through atrophy that involves muscle shrinkage because of disuse. In fact, you also begin losing bone density, eventually causing osteoporosis.

If you have more muscle then you can count on more calories being burnt, muscle being an active tissue. As a result, when you begin losing muscle, your metabolism slows down causing more storage of fat resulting in weight gain.

Well, there is a way to avoid our body getting into this kind of a condition and the answer is exercise. All of this occurs because of a lack of activity. Some individuals at 35 appear to be more energetic, firm compared to others, and the reason is exercise. While you might not be officially so to speak exercising, you can be generally more active and still be energetic. The bottom line is that you need to do some activity that uses your body’s energy and burns calories.

If you get on an exercise program, it should include both resistance as well as aerobic exercise including stretching. While you can do these workouts separately, doing them altogether as a part of circuit training is more effective as well as time saving.

Many people consider aerobic exercise to be the most effective method to lose as well as maintain weight. However, most of your calories are burnt when you are resting. It is high time people change their misconception.

On the other hand, resistance exercise builds as well as maintains muscle mass muscle being an active tissue burns more calories even while you are resting. In fact, while a pound fat burns about 4 calories in a day, a pound muscle burns about 50 calories in a day.

Therefore, if you are aiming at losing fat and gaining muscle then you have to include exercise in your routine. This means including resistance or strength training also in your routine.

Resistance training helps you to burn more calories than simple aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise on the other hand helps you to build endurance. Hence, a combination of both resistance training as well as aerobic exercise will help you lose as well as maintain your weight, especially after you reach thirty.

In fact, people as old as in 80s have noticed an improvement of 200% in the level of their strength within only three or four weeks of beginning exercise.

Staying fit as well as maintaining a healthy weight is not too difficult even at forty, all you have to do is to keep exercising.

Find more information and reviews about rowing machines in Australia and the latest pedometers news.

There are two main reasons why people will run as a form of exercise. They generally run in order to burn fat and improve their cardio. However, running impacts the body in many ways, one area overlooked is the impact it has on muscles.

Running can have either a positive or negative impact on the body depending on how you go about the process. When you run, you will want to use the proper method of running that will enhance your muscles in a positive manner.

When you run, you impact every muscle group in the body. Running does not just affect the legs as most assume. So when you run for your daily workout regimen, you will be developing your body as well. Your excess felt will melt away as well, because running has a tendency to shred fat like few other exercises can. This is the reason runners have such a great physique that is very desirable by many.

However, it is important to point out that when you overdo it with running, you can end up burning your own muscles as fuel. This means you will end up decreasing the amount of muscle mass you carry. Why does this occur? The reason is that when you run for too long of a duration or with too elevated of a heart rate, your body will opt to shift from primarily burning carbs and fat and into the realm of burning muscle.

When this happens, the result can be catastrophic on the physique. Usually the runner can end up with a very thin physique with little to no muscle mass. This is most definitely not the physique people want as their appearance.

Of course, there are ways out there to avoid burning muscle when you run. First way being cutting the duration of your workouts. Also, training in aerobics heart rate stage opposed to anaerobic stage is advisable. This is a safer way to train since anaerobic training results in an incredibly high heart rate.

Also, it is advisable to increase your protein intake when performing a lot of running. Since muscle is a form of protein, adding protein either from food sources or supplements will aid in ensuring the muscle mass is maintained. Just be sure not to overdo it with protein shakes since they can come with a high calorie count.

It also doesn’t hurt to add some weightlifting to your routine. Weightlifting can help rebuild some of the muscle mass you could have lost during running, and you don’t even need to lift a huge amount to get excellent results!

Cliff Pape is an elite Houston Personal Trainer who can give you quick and fast healthy results. Cliff has been a personal trainer for many years now and he will work with you in your exercise routine and diet in order to get in the best shape of your life. So follow the link to his site where you can get the body you have always desired! Certified Personal Trainer Houston

What is Chakra According to the ancient Hindus?

A chakra is the human bodys energy axis that receives, interacts with and conveys life force between an individual and his/her environment. Its direct English translation means a spinning wheel. Furthermore, ancient Hindu writings reveal that of the bodys 88,000 chakra points, there are seven which are considered of primary importance.

Located along the spine, the seven key chakras are the root, navel, solar plexus, heart, throat, brow, and crown. These energy axes (chakra) in our body continuously receive and give out energies from their interaction with our environment such as other people, plants, trees, animals and other elements. They are credited with having a direct effect on our physical, emotional and spiritual character.

Chakras are defined in various ways but there is one common thread among all of the definitions and explanations whether from the Chinese medicine point of view, the Hindus mystical understanding of an individuals internal and external experience or modern psychologys explanation of human our consciousness and thought processes.

The chakra unceasing interaction with our body and the environment even during our sleep gives them a direct influence over our physical structure and appearance including our bodily processes, health and our emotions. A glitch of any one of the major chakras is an indicator that something is wrong with our physical/emotional health which may directly or indirectly be noticeable.

Each of these energy points have a direct influence on a particular endocrine gland in our body which is how imbalance and ill health can be made known to us.

Taking Proper Care of our Chakras From the preceding point of view promoted by the ancient Hindus and Chinese traditional medicine practitioners alike, we can conclude that a good number of our illnesses are in one way or another related to a malfunctioning chakra. Although physical symptoms may be absent or minimal at the very least, they are signs that something is wrong with us physically, spiritually or emotionally.

Forgotten or repressed emotional baggage due to traumatic experiences in the past is one of the major causes of chakra imbalance. Since most people have a habit of burying bad memories in their subconscious, we are unaware that these buried emotional toxins have an effect on our bodies at the cellular level. It is therefore necessary to come to terms with our emotional baggage and resolve them in order to maintain the proper balance of our chakra and heal our physical self in the process.

Advantages of Chakra Healing What most people are not aware of is that we have the resources to control and manipulate our energy points to our advantage. By knowing how to influence and manipulate the functions of our major chakras we can then control how they function so that we can achieve the benefits of balance and harmony, not only within us but with our surroundings as well.

There are a number of ways through which we can directly influence the functions of our bodys major chakras. From simple techniques such as aromatherapy, breathing exercises, physical fitness, or with the use of crystals and gemstones we can achieve balance and harmony.

For example, the practice of Yoga and directed meditation are but two of the commonly used healing methods to align and enhance our energy points in order for us to achieve total relaxation and concentration regardless of where we are. This is very helpful in relieving stress and enhances the bodys natural healing processes.

Despite the fact that we can not physically see or touch our chakras, they can work independently to sustain our body.

The human body has to be healthy and fed properly in order for us to have balanced chakras. There are foods that help maintain the balance of each of the seven primary chakras.

The first energy point, the root, is nourished by tubers and food rich in protein. The navels energy point on the other hand is benefited by our diet of sweet fruits and nuts while our energy point in our solar plexus chakra gets nourishment form wheat products, dairy and cereals.

Green, leafy vegetables, plenty of liquid, fruit juices and green tea are beneficial for our heart and throat chakras.

By eating blueberries, grapes and drinking wine or grape juice, we help nourish our brow/third eye chakra which is responsible for making our third eye senses sharper and more attuned to our psychical abilities.

The last of the seven major energy points, the crown, does not need nourishment but requires fasting in order to be detoxified.

These everyday methods, which admittedly are vey simple since they are an extension of what we already perform daily are some of the basic ways we can heal our energy points so that we can reap the benefits of possessing a healthy functioning chakra for a more productive and healthier life.

The author Anne-Marie Laureaut is a writer for the popular chakra-balance.com site. To understand how chakra meditation can transform your whole life and to get 29 Free chakra healing Audios visit here.

Because both are psychological illnesses, the fine line between anxiety and depression is often blurred. Thus, the Beck anxiety inventory questions are formulated to help differentiate the two conditions. By understanding the responses, one is able to accurately test the anxiety levels in individuals. These questions are simple and straight to the point.

The respondent should keep in mind that they are required to indicate how they have been feeling for the past one week. The questions in the inventory are written in phrases which are in conversational language, making them easy to read and understand.

A few examples of the questions that are cited in the inventory:

1. I get a sort of frightened feeling as if something awful is about to happen…

2. I have a good sense of humor and see the funny side of things…

3. I can sit at ease and feel relaxed…

4. I get a sudden feeling of panic…

5. I look forward with enjoyment to things…

Respondents have four given answers to choose from. Once they have selected their answers, they can either tick or cross their answers in the space provided. Each answer has a corresponding rating number which may follow the scale as detailed below:

3 – Definitely and quite severely

2-Yes, but not too badly

1 – To a small extent, but it doesn’t concern me

0 – Not at all

The answers to choose from are also in easy language that most individuals can relate to, which makes the inventory even better for evaluating the respondents. There are some disagreements concerning the questions in the inventory according to some observers. The selected answers are added up to give a total score, which is then interpreted to show the level of anxiety for the respondent.

The first argument is that the listed questions are too generic to encompass the diversity of each individual who takes the Beck inventory. They contend that the minds and personalities of human beings are far too complex and that the inventory questions don’t address many of these elements. An exemplary example: The root cause of anxiety is often due to one’s attachment to labels and titles, and the inventory doesn’t cover this aspect.

The second criticism of the inventory questions is that they fail to consider the mentality of the respondents. Instead, the questions dwell too much on the symptoms of their anxieties. This causes the evaluation to be one sided as it doesn’t encompass the entire human psyche. To improve the inventory, the critics suggest the addition of questions that require the respondent to reflect on his life. This will allow the evaluators to determine the real cause of the anxiety.

The third argument is that the inventory stops short at providing the solutions to the respondents. It merely identifies and classifies the anxiety levels. Respondents are often left on their own to seek their own solution. This is one of the limitations of the inventory.

Even though the inventory has its limitations, it is a good starting point for those who suffer from anxiety problems to recognize their problems and become more conscious of their mental and emotional being. The Beck anxiety questions are a tool that can open up to further research related to anxiety testing, diagnosis and treatment of anxiety symptoms.

Trevor Mosley was once a chronic sufferer of anxiety and severe panic attacks. Click here if you want to discover how you too CAN overcome your anxiety forever. By taking action today you will be able to greatly improve your quality of life. http://conqueranxietytoday.com

Treatments for Tinnitus : Tinnitus affects millions of people worldwide and it actually drives someone nutty. The continuous ringing sound in the ears is something that a person is frantic to get rid of. There can be diverse reasons for this condition.

One of the major causes can be the exposure to loud noises. There are some natural homemade remedies and treatments for tinnitus that work without any complications. These cures can be applied at home to provide natural relief.

Surgery is not the only course for you. Natural home-made remedies can work to a degree. There are more techniques too. An individual afflicted with this condition often suffers from anxiousness too. There are certain breathing exercises that will help you a lot.

Treatments for Tinnitus Natural : You should avoid exposure to loud noises. If you have to go to loud places, you need to use ear plugs. Thus you can decrease the exposure to intense noises, one of the major causes.

Now you need to try and decrease your stress. Avoid the conditions that result in more stress for you as it is one of the major causes of your condition. Try practicing numerous relaxation techniques and exercises.

A healthful sensible diet can also go a long way in helping you dump tinnitus. Your diet should have a low amount of sugar, salt and fats. You may check with your consultant to advise you the right diet.

There are certain natural treatments that have proved to be successful for many individuals. One of the most vital therapies is yoga. It has helped thousands of people worldwide and it is extremely popular in India.

Natural therapies & Treatments for Tinnitus : Homeopathy is a powerful therapy. It has been used for centuries for treatment of various diseases. It is one of the trusted treatments for tinnitus.

There are a number of natural herbs that have achieved success in giving relief. Gingko biloba is one such popular herb. Black cohosh, spinach, onion juice and pumpkin seeds are used as successful treatments for tinnitus.

There are certain vitamin formulations that have been effective on various patients. These include Vitamin A, Vitamin B, C, E and Zinc mineral. These supplements are advised by doctors for natural treatment for patients.

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