Believe it or not Gossiping is a healthy past time for elderly people

Recently, I read this article in a health magazine (Chinese Language) and I was rather amazed how 'gossiping' involving the older people, could extend so much assistance in enhancing their daily life. [Anyway, I am trying to translate it into simple English for the benefit of readers]. Read on ...

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They said, it is a good past-time for old people to get involved with gossiping. It was found that such activity is a blessing and will enable the older people to promote and foster a closer friendship bond among themselves. Likewise, when a person feels depressed, they often release it off through gossiping around and perhaps, half of their stress level or sickness could be gone. For e.g. when someone gets victimized at home, they often find relief when expressing them out to other listening ears.

Most elderly people when they are retired, they find themselves getting lost in their own world. This will develop into severe depression each day and eventually, sickness of all types will evolve. To name a few common problems :

a) having insomnia, or feeling restless in sleeping pattern;
b) poor appetite leading to digestive problems;
c) poor fluid consumption causing dehydration and constipation;
d) poor qi and blood circulation causing weakness and body pain;
e) breathing difficulty and discomfort of the abdominal and
hypochondrion areas;
f) frequent outburst of temper, or preference for quietness
leading to severe mental stress;
g) reserved and dislike noises, including from younger children

Thus, when they are able to gang-up with their own age group, just let them be. Such form of gathering, or getting together will promote better inner-feelings and inspiration. It will further boost their mental strength and enable them to keep abreast with what is going on around them.

In other words, for these people, gossiping is a good past-time which will indirectly assist to activate their mind, their thinking abilities, or their decision making. Of course, when these are achieved, don't you think older people will find their life more meaningful and easier to move on.

However, from the medical point of view, excessive talking can also contribute to :

1) strengthen their jaw and facial muscles;
2) pay attention and improve their hearing ability;
3) improve their breathing capability;
4) improve better vision

Once they are feel happy, their immune system will also become stronger. The later will enable the body to develop more active and healthy cells. What else do they want to achieve anymore when they can enjoy good companionship, great health and a harmonious environment (both at home, as well as among his close buddies).



When older people have osteoporosis problem, sometimes they might consume the wrong food items to counter such treatment. Often, they include the consumption of calcium supplement with milk. In fact, this is a wrong therapy and instead, he might become worst. Once calcium supplement is taken orally with milk, the later item has a certain property which will change its texture and react with the calcium supplement. Instead of resolving the problem, this combination will cause further hurt and discomfort to their stomach. Each stomach by itself, do possess its own fluid which will absorb the calcium (preferably, organic type). For young people, there are having plenty of such stomach-fluid but for older people, they are much lesser. Hence, it is imperative that calcium supplement should not be taken with an empty stomach. Carbohydrate has a good absorption effect on calcium. So, it is a better idea to accompany such intake with rice.

If there is a need to encourage older people to perform any physical exercise, it should be sufficient to ask them to stretch both hand upwards (toward the sky) and then, hold it for a few minutes. Do it several times a day. In fact, this is a good form of exercise, in view of their age. Stretching is beneficial for the young and old. It will assist everyone in resolving any spinal problem or back pain. Frequent walking around within the house compound, or some light gardening tasks should be considered from time to time too.

There is a chinese proverb .... when a person gets old, which part of his body will get older first ? The answer is his lower limbs (legs).

Building Muscle Mass Like You Mean It

By Emmanuel Palmer

A big chest doesn't have to be impossible. It doesn't matter if you've always been the frailest little guy in the litter - you too can have a superman torso by building muscle mass. This article will show how you too can build chest muscles effectively with discipline and the right tools.

Understand that to get big muscles you need to get big first. What does that mean? Eat eat and keep eating. Your calorie intake each day should be around the neighborhood of 3,000 to 6,000 units. Sound like a lot right? Yes it does; but if you're planning on bulking up this is what you need to hit. Load up on healthy food like lean meat, chicken and fish. Take a slice of pie or a few chips once in a while but as a whole you need to keep to the healthier fare.

If you are on your way in building muscle mass, keep in mind that the ratio for your nutritional plan should be 50% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 20% fat. Here's another useful bit of information: A gram of fat equals to nine calories while a gram of protein and carbohydrates both equal to around four calories.

Once you've got your food plan checked, it's time to devote our time to the equally important task of putting together your best workout strategy. Before starting, you will need to warm up and stretch well first. Also, observe how wide and strong swimmers? chests are. You would do well in incorporating swimming into your program.

A beginner's program will look something like this: 3 sets of 12 reps bench press using 40 pounds (add or subtract according to your more detailed specifications); 3 sets of 12 reps dumbbell flyes using 10 pounds; and 3 sets of 12 reps dumbbell pullovers using 20 pounds. After few weeks, you can include 3 sets of 12 reps incline bench press using 30 pounds; and another 3 sets of 12 reps decline bench press. Monitor your progress; you should be increasing weight loads gradually while lowering the reps.

Keep your body challenged to perform its best by altering your workout program every few weeks. Train your chest muscles using different angles (flat, incline, decline) to give it a better burn. Dumbbell flyes isolate the pecs effectively so always have a variation of this in your routine.

Observe that you do not risk under training your other body parts even if your main objective is to build chest muscles. You don't want to be the man with a barrel chest walking around in chopsticks legs right? Set aside two to three days training the other muscle groups.

That's about it; focus on building muscle mass, have a balanced diet and do the right exercises in the correct form. It won't be long before you get that strong and muscular chest you've been working hard for. There's one last thing you will need to do, enjoy! Physical training really is one of the most gratifying experiences you can have - not only will you get a great physique; you will also gain a healthy and fulfilling life anybody would be lucky to have.

About the Author:

Emmanuel Palmer knows that to get an amazing physique you need to be building muscle mass. Click here to get the experts' best Ways to Build Muscle Fast.

It Could Be Time For You To Consider Natural Skin Care For Dermatitis

By Julia Cooper Davidson

The term dermatitis has been given to a variety of conditions which result in the inflammation and chronic irritation of the skin. It is usually identified as an itchy area which is also red and swollen. If you believe you have this condition and are concerned about what types of chemicals you put into your body, you may be interested in natural skin care for dermatitis.

Although dermatitis can be something that follows you throughout your life, it is not a life threatening condition. It is also not contagious so you cannot pass it on to your family and friends. Unfortunately it can appear on just about any part of your body which can make you very self conscious. It can also be very embarrassing to explain when pointed out.

It seems that those who have naturally dry skin are prone to have more problems. One of the best ways to combat it is to keep yourself well moisturized. You can get certain lotions that have helpful ingredients like aloe vera, cocoa butter and vitamin E. Stay away from products that add preservatives and fragrances as these can actually irritate your skin and cause the outbreak to worsen.

When it comes to health care more people are deciding to use natural methods to combat chronic problems. Many times dermatitis is brought on by contact with irritating products. By identifying and getting rid of these the number of outbreaks can be significantly lessened. It is possible that your diet could also be an irritant, as some people are actually allergic to milk and dairy.

One way to combat the problem is to make a special wash of slippery elm bark, comfrey root and white elm bark. Use one teaspoon of each in two cups of water. Boil for half an hour and let cool to a comfortable temperature before using it to wash the area. This has been proven to be highly effective for some.

A lack of certain minerals in your diet may also cause irritating problems. People who are deficient in Zinc, vitamin E and biotin may need to take the supplements in order to have clear skin. The vitamin E can also be used as a topical application to help alleviate itching and discomfort.

Natural skin care for dermatitis can help alleviate a lot of the discomfort that comes with the condition. Your doctor can also help you with other natural treatments and prescribe topical lotions that can help. It is okay to treat this condition yourself as long as you have consulted your physician first.

About the Author:

Get complete and comprehensive reports about how to effectively address dermatitis. Get information on how to achieve the results you want quickly and easily when you choose the best natural skin care products.

At Last It Is Now Easy To Use Sleeping Pills

By Zebulen Riess

An important new study that appears in the June 8, 2009 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine has found that middle-aged adults suffering from lack of sleep effects are at higher risk of developing high blood pressure. Hypertension contributes to 7 million deaths around the world each and every year. One third of American's are affected.

Sleeping Pills

In this latest work, University of Chicago researchers collected data such as blood pressure readings as well as other clinical, demographic and health variables on study subjects.

Even when you want to sleep, the cares of the day sometimes keep you from closing your eyes. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, on any given night, slightly more than 1-4 Americans rate the quality of their night's sleep as either "fair" or "poor"

The researchers found that those who slept fewer hours are much more likely to have BP pressure readings than those who slept longer. These sleep-starved adults were also more likely to develop hypertension pressure over time.

After five years of the study, the team noted that each hour less of sleep was associated with a 37% increase in the odds of hypertension - both systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) numbers were elevated.

Sleep, Blessed Sleep

Insomnia is really a extensive expression that entails symptoms of sleeplessness and/or a sleep problem staying longer than just a 7-day period. Insomnia can mean a problem, or simply problems with sleeping.

"Laboratory studies of short-term sleep deprivation have suggested potential mechanisms for a causal link between sleep loss and hypertension."

In addition, experts say that many on-the-job accidents are caused in part by poor decisions and responses made by sleep-deprived workers.

Only a lucky 1% of subjects got more than 8 hours a night. Black men tended to get the fewest hours of sleep. "These two observations suggested the intriguing possibility that the well-documented higher blood pressure in African Americans and men might be partly related to sleep duration," the study authors conclude.

The team believes that sleep deprivation affects the stress response of the body and this can raise the risk of developing hypertension.

If you or your significant other, like a child, a family member or close friend has a problem sleeping, the first step is to identify the problem and to seek treatment as soon as possible. Remember, chronic sleep deprivation, no matter what the cause is dangerous and potentially fatal.

Alteril's benefits are quick, like the initial night, and they're deep. You will fall asleep more quickly, and continue to be sleeping for a longer period with Alteril, and you will get up renewed and ready to go.

Practice moderation in alcohol consumption - no more than 2 drinks a day for men, 1 drink a day for women.Get more active - start slowly and build over time, at least 30 minutes a day of moderately intense activity is your goal.Don't smoke - if you do try to quit or cut down.

After being deprived of sleep, many people are ready to answer any question as long as they'll be allowed to sleep. With little or no sleep, people feel sick. Their bodies are sluggish and uncoordinated, and their minds feel mush.

This study encourages anyone who's worried about lack of sleep effects on hypertension to ensure they have a regular sleep pattern, as well as taking some of the other steps experts recommend to keep your blood pressure under control.

About the Author:

Trying using these best sleeping pills on the market today that are used by many and recommended by doctors.

Why It Is Important To Realize The Aloe Vera Juice Benefits

By Etta Bowen

It is essential to realize that the world is full of many plants that have a very medicinal and nutritional value. Some of the plants out there are actually very important although most people may not realize it. For example aloe vera juice benefits are some of the most unappreciated benefits out there. Many people do not actually realize how good the use of these juices can benefit their lives.

To begin with, people have to learn the importance of taking this medicinal plant in form of juices. Drinking the medicinal fluid maintains your oral gum in health states at all times. Most doctors recommend that you gently apply the fresh medicinal gel on in your mouth to keep your gum healthy. People with inflamed and painful gum find this medicinal gel useful to their health in a great way.

Another common problem among people is the eye problems. These can usually be caused by fungal infections among many other things. One sure way of treating such problems is through washing your face with this gel. The gel is of course mixed in proportions with water. It is very effective in alleviating such a problem.

The skin is one of the largest organs in on the human body. This means that it covers the largest surface area on the body making it more prone to infections. However you should realize that continued use of the gel on the skin can help your skin to remain smooth and supple. This is because this product does not contain harmful chemicals.

In connection to the benefits that the gel has on your skin, it treats skin related problems. Medical professionals associate the herb with incomparable ability to treat acne and other skin disorders quickly. Moreover, the herb gel rejuvenates sunburned skin and treats blisters. You could also use the gel in case of insect bites, minor burns, allergic reactions and skin sensitivity problems among others.

People wonder how this gel is able to regulate body weight. Well, it has been researched by scientists that that is made possible since the gel cleanses your digestive system. Fatigue and exhaustion is mostly caused by the food remains in the digestive system. The gel also helps in avoiding excessive fat assimilation by removing the waste fats from the intestines.

The gel also contains a number of vitamins including vitamin A, Vitamin B1, B2 & B3, vitamin C and also Vitamin E. The juices also contain nutrients and minerals such as calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, zinc, sodium, copper and manganese. These are some of the most important vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function healthily and maintain your body biological in good condition.

In conclusion, it is vital to mention that the medicinal herb is a good booster of your natural immunity. Moreover, it helps in complete detoxification processes in the body to eliminate mot toxins in the body. Since most people today depend on acidic fast foods, the medicinal herb could be crucial in alkalizing your body fluids and tissues to avoid severe acidic effects.

About the Author:

You can visit www.irinapulatova.com for more helpful information about Why It Is Important To Realize The Aloe Vera Juice Benefits.

Everything You Need To Know When It Comes To Profile Design Aerodrink System

By Colette Foreman

These products are mainly made with varying designs. The variance in the designing is mainly meant to provide people with products which are different. Also, profile design aerodrink system is designed in such a way it will be widely accepted by many users. The users in this case are the customers. The designers had to come up with qualities which are favorable to many. Arriving at such a design is not a downhill task and requires a profession in this area. You should ensure that you get a product which is of your use. This is a product which you will enjoy the services it provides. Also, the product should serve you long period of time.

If you want to buy these products, determining the best producer should be prioritized. The right producers are the ones who are well known for selling their goods at a competitive price. The quality of the goods that they are selling should also be of high quality. Many companies are now selling these kinds of goods. It is from one of theme that one derives these products from.

The best place to get the right product is one of the things you should consider. This then entails you to see to it that you get the good from the right place. The best source can be described as the source that manufactures the good using the legitimate inputs hence can provide high quality products. The high quality products should be offered at the right terms. The right terms in this case are the favorable prices that are considered as competitive. Prices should not be the main determinant of the good you are to purchase. Poor quality products are normally sold at high prices.

For you to come up with a company of this kind, you will need to have information. The information is necessary in guiding you through the process of acquiring a quality product. The information derived needs to be treated with a lot of caution.

When you opt to visit local dealers, what you do is to visit as many shops as possible as you can. This method is considered better since one is able to get firsthand information. Gathering the information that one derives from these local shops is the one that makes one to make a better conclusion.

The other source that you can find important to use is the internet. This source is common with many buyers since they can use it in anytime they wish. It is applicable in the day time and at the night. This makes this source to be applied by many buyers.

When you are to get the required information, you need to be watchful. Regardless of whether you are inquiring information or making payments, you need to be sure of the websites. These are the websites which you will be getting information from. Confirming their authenticity is important as it helps you in evading cybercrimes.

There are sites which re genuine therefore, giving the right information and there are other sites which are owned by individuals and the information that they normally give does not really help the buyers. Always go for the quality goods regardless, of where you are getting them from.

About the Author:

You can visit www.sportfactoryproshop.com for more helpful information about Everything One Needs To Know Concerning Profile Design Aerodrink System.

No Control Watching Your Breath As It Is During Asana

by Jill Satterfield

The Gust of Wind by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

As most yogis know, the breath is a most nuanced and dimensional reflection of our minds. Our breath can be an intimate guide to our psyches, and observing its movements and patterns is a revealing and direct path to understanding our most subtle behavior and disposition. Whether we watch our breath or manipulate it can mean the difference between insights or cover up—and only by practicing both can we surely know for ourselves.

Controlling and Manipulating vs. Letting Go and Observing 

There are many reasons to utilize breath techniques when practicing asana: it deepens a shallow breath, calms the nervous system and mind, and may keep an otherwise wandering mind in check and in the body. But just like the Buddhist parable of a man who constructs a raft to cross over a river and then continues to carry the raft overhead on dry land, it’s as important to be able to utilize a technique as much as it is to be able to let it go. 

Easier said than done. Once we are comfortable utilizing a technique, it becomes a friend and a companion on our path towards being more peaceful, calm, steady, kind. A technique trains the mind to stay on something, such as in meditation, when we watch the natural rhythm of breath to train or tame the wandering mind. So asking this familiar friend not to accompany us can be quite difficult because it has become a habit—skillful, but a habit nonetheless—and letting it go can be wrought with emotions of all kinds. A crutch is a crutch and attachment is attachment, and anything that becomes unconsciously habitual is not liberating; it can act as a shield against seeing what is naturally, without any kind of manipulation or conscious control. We can’t see things as they are if we are constantly fiddling, manipulating, fixing or changing them. As we practice to become more and more free of unconscious patterns, it is an important step in spiritual maturation to examine how we practice, and why. For any technique can keep us contentedly on the surface by enabling us to steer the ship of the mind, rather than observing its path when let loose in the uncharted waters of the unconscious. 

It can radically change a yoga asana practice to be a passive observer of your breath, rather than in any kind of control. In my experience, asking students to let go of a beloved breath technique can illicit everything from anger to sadness to confusion. Many yoga teachers are rather rigid in their instructions of breathing (breath goes from bottom to top, or top to bottom, or is only in this style, or as heavy handed as counting the beats of one inhale, and one exhale). Suggesting that someone just observe breath can be a radical departure to being constantly instructed, but how revealing it can be! 

Notice for instance where your breath goes when you are experiencing an uncomfortable stretch somewhere in a pose. If you have tight hamstrings, this can be obvious. Usually—unless we are trained to be aware of this reaction—the breath will move as far away from a place of discomfort as possible. If your hamstrings are tight, your breath might be high up in your chest. Genetically, we are inclined to quickly remove ourselves from danger, and this is a very skillful habit to have. But, as in many types of patterned behavior that have become unconscious and unquestioned, this reaction is too easily triggered, often to no real benefit. The urge to run from danger or discomfort can turn into a habit of fleeing anything even remotely unpleasant. Our minds are so habitually prone to check out, to find a distraction, or search for something/anything to take away the pain or discomfort that we’ve taken the initially life-prolonging habit a bit too far, over-stressing our system and depleting our life force. 

In the body then, there can be vast areas that we no longer inhabit because of an injury (discomfort), a trauma (discomfort), or tightness (discomfort), and we don’t even recognize that these parts have become off limits energetically, mentally and physically. We avoid these places with both breath and mind, and when practicing a posture we subsequently explore the breath in certain areas while avoiding others. But as breath and mind ride together we have the opportunity to recognize the areas of the body we aren’t consciously connecting to. 

Direct Experience Exercise

Practice three different postures that you like and are relatively easy for you. Hold each pose for five to ten breaths. While in each posture pay close attention to your breath—where it is full and easy, where it isn’t. After each posture, reflect and note (either mentally or write it down) before moving on to the next pose. Eventually you may notice a pattern.

If noticing the areas into which your breath doesn’t flow is difficult, try breathing into the nooks and crannies of each posture, for instance, the inside rim of each hip, behind your heart, the right side of your ribs, your kidney area, or the bottom of your pelvic bowl. Be as inquisitive and investigative as possible.

Once you’ve noticed where you don’t breathe so easily, practice poses that open that area of your body, and gently, kindly begin breathing into those areas. Take your time and treat yourself as you would your best friend. If anything emotionally painful comes up, you could try practicing some gentle restorative poses or any other form of conscious relaxation to quiet your nervous system. And if you feel like you’d benefit from talking with someone about it, consider talking with a family member, a friend, or, if you have one, your spiritual teacher or therapist. The tissues of the body hold thoughts and emotions, and we all need support from time to time.

Jill Satterfield is the founder of Vajra Yoga + Meditation, a synthesis of yoga and Buddhism that combines meditation, yoga and contemplative practices. Named “one of the 4 leading yoga and Buddhist teachers in the country” by Shambhala Sun Magazine, Jill has instigated mindful and creative educational programs for over 28 years.

She is also the founder and Director of the School for Compassionate Action: Meditation, Yoga and Educational Support for Communities in Need, a not-for-profit that trains teachers, psychologists and health care providers to integrate mind and body practices into their professions. SCA also provides classes to people in chronic pain, with illness, those suffering from PTSD, and at-risk youth. Jill teaches workshops internationally, is a faculty member of Spirit Rock Meditation Center’s Mindfulness for Yoga Training  and the Somatic Training in Marin, California, and is a guest teacher for many other training programs. To find out more about Jill, visit her website vajrayoga.com.

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Long Island Chiropractic Care How Is It Beneficial

By Ali Summers

When we get hurt where do we go to? The hospital. If we have the flu or don't feel well where do we go? Our primary care physician. What about if our necks start to feel stiff and have sore shoulders? There are plenty of benefits to seeing your Long Island Chiropractor, and if those are your symptoms that is where you need to go.

People of all ages go to a chiropractor, not just those suffering from an injury caused by an accident. Chiropractors are known to treat many different ailments and not just back problems. It is essential to know what the benefits of going to a chiropractor are as many people are skeptical or may not even know.

Children are no strangers to stress. In fact they have just as much stress as adults. School can pack on the pressure emotionally and physically. Many children play sports during after school activities and during physical education, at these activities they run the risk of injuring themselves. Teachers also seem to not mind that a child has to often carry fifteen to twenty pounds of books on their backs. This amount of stress can cause a lot of strain on a young child's back. That is why it is important for regular adjustments to prevent from them attaining a more serious injury in the future.

If you have a very stressful job it can be very easy to attain the aches that come with it. Tense neck and sore shoulders are just the start. You may suffer from other ailments such as migraines, high blood pressure, even allergies, and all those can be cured with proper chiropractic treatment. A chiropractor's goal is to find the source of the issue and address it. Most of the time m any things that we experience are from a simple misalignment of the spine. With regular adjustments your spine will be aligned and all of those ailments will disappear.

With age our joints begin to degenerate, and this is a problem many elderly people face. With regular adjustments and chiropractic care the elderly can reduce joint degeneration. Instead of living day to day with prescribed medications that only masks the pain, they can gain their strength and mobility back drug free.

A chiropractor will not simply just start treatment on you. It will take a thorough examination and diagnosis before discussing treatment options. Their goal is to identify the problem and address it. Don't expect prescription drugs from a chiropractor as they use a drug free, and hands on approach.

Chiropractic care has its benefits for anyone who goes. The quality of life you will lead will improve greatly. You too can benefit from chiropractic care, start your path to a pain free life by going to a Long Island Chiropractor.

About the Author:

Before seeking chiropractic help, why not check out other videos on local Long Island Chiropractors.

The Benefits Colon Cleanse And What It Involves

By Daniel Patterson

The colon is responsible for passing waste products through the body so that they can be expelled through the anus. However, some waste products do not pass through the large intestine freely and accumulate on the intestine walls, where they eventually form a solid crust. This narrows the passage of the colon, meaning that it becomes more and more difficult for the body to push the waste products, leading to the accumulation of more waste deposits. This is just one of the many benefits colon cleanse.

There are a few different ways to have your cleanse, and a variety of sub-methods within these categories, which are just variants of these methods, but use slightly different techniques or ingredients. The first of these methods, and perhaps the most unnatural involves going to a colonic hydrotherapy clinic. This means that you make an appointment, go to the clinic, and they put a hose or tube into your rectum (bum) and pump water inside.

After the Egyptians, the Ancient Greeks adopted the idea and modified it slightly to fit into their system of philosophies and beliefs. Colon cleanse was popular in the United States until the 1930's, when it fell out of favor because of a lack of scientific evidence for the benefits it claimed to give.

Cleansing diets will have a lasting impact on your health. By removing the toxin and waste buildup inside your colon, your overall well-being, attitude, and even happiness will grow by leaps and bounds. Toxins actually harm your system and can cause mood swings.

Actually, there are many medical researchers who report that most of the illnesses within the entire body, which includes cancer could be linked right to the digestive tract. For this reason, it is so very important to you to definitely have good stomach health, something that can be done with the proper intestinal tract cleanser product.

One more thing that individuals considered in the cleanses reviews may be the effect that product has around the rest of our body. All things considered, the intestinal tract health is actually carefully linked with the health of the other internal organs, as well as our lymphatic system.

A more natural form of cleanse involves taking oral supplements. This can be dietary fibers, laxatives, or special herbs meant to force your large intestine to pass the stools trapped within. Although this can also be unnatural, it is a lot less invasive than the other method. A final method is the most natural. This method involves simply putting you on a very strict diet for a couple of weeks to a month, which should be high in fiber and free of toxins. Everything should be natural. This may help to clean the the as well.

In conclusions, natural colon cleanse can be a very healthy and natural way to improve your health and vitality. If natural is the way that you want to go, then avoid having the colonic hydrotherapy method done.

About the Author:

Find details about the benefits colon cleanse products and view our selection of products at http://www.pauloberdorf.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=20 right now.

It is not finding gratitude that matters it is remembering to look in the first place

by Nina

In a Meadow by Melina Meza

II.33 Upon being harassed by negative thoughts, one should cultivate counteracting thoughts. —translated by Edwin Bryant

For some time now, I’ve been intrigued by Facebook posts from certain friends that simply list things the person is grateful for. I particularly like the ones by my friend Liz because her lists include very simple things, mostly free and available to almost everyone.

Today's good things:

1. Walked six miles;
2. Dog therapy on campus today, in particular the golden retriever puppy;
3. Watching the bushtits (birds) flit in and out of the trees on campus;
4. Got a lot of items off my 'to do' list at work, moving forward with several work projects and learning new things.

I also happen to know this gratitude practice is a very serious one for Liz, because she suffers from a serious, chronic illness that affects her quality of life and requires quite a bit of time spent in the hospital. She says, “It’s been bumpy, but I saw research that said gratitude practice helps. And I set intentions at the beginning of each day and have seen improvement.”

Today's good things:

1. Three mile walk at lunch, great watching the hawks circle;
2. Very productive day at work, a lot of weeding and organizing;
3. Ran into a lovely friend whom I haven't seen in a while, always great to catch up;
4. Gluten-free ice cream sandwiches

So I was very intrigued when I learned that neuroscientist Alex Korb’s book The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time actually provides a scientific explanation of why this practice works. Apparently, cultivating gratitude actually has a beneficial chemical effect on the brain, boosting levels of both dopamine (a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers) and serotonin (a neurotransmitter that affects our mood).

“The benefits of gratitude start with the dopamine system, because feeling grateful activates the brain stem region that produces dopamine. Additionally, gratitude toward others increases activity in social dopamine circuits, which makes social interactions more enjoyable …”

“One powerful effect of gratitude is that it can boost serotonin. Trying to think of things you are grateful for forces you to focus on the positive aspects of your life. This simple act increases serotonin production in the anterior cingulate cortex.” —Dr. Korb

When I was thinking about how this practice related to yoga (haha, I figured it must!), I came back to this sutra by Patanjali about cultivating the opposite (pratipaksa-bhavanam).

II.33 Upon being harassed by negative thoughts, one should cultivate counteracting thoughts. —translated by Edwin Bryant

Bryant explains in his commentary on this sutra that the “negative thoughts” being referred to are those that counter the yamas and niyamas. So thoughts that are the opposite of contentment (the niyama santosha), such as dissatisfaction, displeasure, and unhappiness, would count as negative thoughts that you should counteract. And the practice of being grateful for what you have, which is cultivating contentment, is indeed the practice of cultivating thoughts that counteract dissatisfaction, displeasure, and unhappiness.

Of course, when you are being “harassed by negative thoughts,” it often isn’t easy to find and focus on things you are grateful for. But Korb says, the effort alone provides the benefits.

“It’s not finding gratitude that matters most; it’s remembering to look in the first place. Remembering to be grateful is a form of emotional intelligence. One study found that it actually affected neuron density in both the ventromedial and lateral prefrontal cortex. These density changes suggest that as emotional intelligence increases, the neurons in these areas become more efficient. With higher emotional intelligence, it simply takes less effort to be grateful.”

Fascinating, isn’t it? Just like strengthening a muscle, a regular gratitude practice makes you stronger at being grateful over time. So that means getting better as it as you age, and eventually more time spent in a state of contentment. And those brain density changes? That sounds to me like the gratitude practice is improving brain strength—always a good thing.

And by the way, thank you Liz for agreeing to share your story with us. I'm grateful for your friendship and your honesty.

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Why It Is Important To Deal With Adult ADHD Treatment Frederick

By Elaine Guthrie

There are countless disorders that people have problems with and these can of course, be treated. One of these is adult ADHD treatment Frederick. A lot of children suffer from this, but it is not typically talked about amongst adults. It can crop up or it can be there all the time and people may not be aware of it.

Sometimes a person will have had this disorder as a child, but things change as they enter adulthood. There are certain symptoms and problems that one suffers with at school which are different for one who is older. Both are difficult to handle and both will need treatment by a professional who knows what he or she is doing.

A child will struggle with school because they will go from one project to the next, not wanting to finish something because of basic restlessness. This means that they will have trouble with their grades and they may even have to stay back a year. It will be difficult for them to concentrate in class and they may have social problems as well.

They will also not do particularly well with relationships because they are always getting bored and they will get tired of one person. When this happens they will want to move on to the next person. This is especially a big problem in a marriage. One cannot get out of this and the person will also lose concentration in a relationship like this.

They may become forgetful and lose things like their money and their wallets. They have to be reminded constantly. They often turn to drugs and alcohol to calm themselves down. Often this is also because the moods that they get into. Depression and anxiety is also something that is common with people that have been diagnosed with this.

As an adult, it may be tough holding down a job, the same as a child will find it difficult sticking to one project. An adult will want to change a job even if they are not fired. They may find it boring. Because of this they will switch from one thing to the next. The same goes for relationships and this can be a problem in life.

There are tests one can take online to find out whether one has this disorder, but it is best to go to a professional person who deals in this. They will also give you a test or they will ask questions to find out where exactly you are in life. Sometimes people have been affected severely and are not able to cope, and others are able to get by.

It may not have been picked up in the past, especially when adults are older and there was nothing known about the disorder. Parents and teachers probably knew that children were a little different, but they didn't think anything of it. Now is the time that one can make sense of it all. It is easier to look back at the past and to the school days because this will give you a better idea.

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