Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts.
Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathing is one of those things that we completely take for granted. It happens all the time without us having to even think about it. Well, so many of us do not give the breathe enough credit. It assists in carrying oxygen throughout the body which has many physiological effects. It can help lower your heart rate, calm you in an uncomfortable situation or in a situation of excitement.

The point is, we as a society are shallow breathers. We only bring air in to the chest and then let it go. We should be bringing that air in down to the abdominal area or diaphram brathing. Yes, it takes longer by a second or so, but you've got the time!

There is so much more on the significance of the breath and breathing. I will have to revisit it later. If you have an opportunity to take a yoga class, this is a great place to learn about it. Just ask my buddy Scott.

You can also just take a couple of minutes a day and do some breathing exercises before you get out of bed in the morning. It will improve your health. You lungs are one of the elimination channels and trapped toxins escape through the breath.

The breath helps still your mind and gives you a sense of calm that we often rush off and forget. You know it's true, when you take a deep breath, it is usually because something is about to happen or you are trying to rebalance from something big that just has.

Action for today:
Take a couple of minutes to try one or more of the breathing exercises in the link below. When you know why breath is so important to your health and how to kick it up a notch, you will ejoy the rewards :-)

Namaste ~j
https://www.amsa.org/healingthehealer/breathing.cfm

I believe in you, and I believe in your destiny. ~Kahlil Gibran

Every day we have the blessing to start fresh, new and it is time to acknowledge how BIG that is. If you are trying to make postitive changes in your life and you find that you stumble a little here and there, well, that's part of life. You will keep trying until you are strong enough to make it through. That is called growth.

We are all here for a purpose, whether you know what that purpose is or not. If you look, it will be plain as day. Clearing the body of weight, toxins and other debris opens up the flow. Gives you increased physical health so that you can focus on things that are bigger in the big picture.

Below is a link that will help you on your way. There is a short video clip at the bottom, kind of a 'how to' to eating fresh, local and sustainable, recipe at the end. You may have very little time for cooking, but just changing one meal a day will impact your health, your community and ultimately the politics of food. Plus, you just might enjoy it.

• Sustainable Kitchen - runs about 8 minutes
  http://www.sustainabletable.org/kitchen/

In health ~j

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded."-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Now many people will define success in many ways, but this one kind of sums it up. Really it is about being your true self. Take a little time for yourself today, or tomorrow if you are already scheduled to the nines today. But give yourself permission to breathe, deeply, with intention; permission to nourish yourself with healthy foods and with rest.

Pray, meditate, or just stop for a moment and look at where you are. Are you happy? Are you fulfilled enough to spill over on your family, friends and those that come across your path?

Taking just that moment (or more) that you fully deserve to find your giggle, your smile, your joy, will go far in helping you see clearly those choices that are right for you!

Action for today:

Find your theme song. What is the song out there, new or old, popular or obscure that describes you today or inspires you toward tomorrow?

Namaste ~j

Veggies On The Brain http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061023/ap_on_he_me/diet_vegetables_aging

"The pursuit of truth and beauty is a sphere of activity in which we are permitted to remain children all our lives."-- Albert Einstein

Our children...they are under fire as much as we are. Obesity and overall disease is rapidly still on the rise. Attention and behavior disorders, allergies, diabetes and even cancer are creeping in like a mack truck. This is the first generation that World Health Organization has indicated will not likely outlive their parents. WHAT!http://www.cigna.com/health/provider/medical/child_obesity.html

According to the American Cancer Society and National Health Institute, up to 60% of these diseases are preventable. You heard it right. PREVENTABLE. For adults and children. With adequate, not even optimal, but adequate diet and lifestyle habits. http://www.newstarget.com/006688.html

WOW! Sounds like a no-brainer and yet at the class harvest or halloween celebration, what is the main nutrient found? How about your neighborhood gathering, playdates, scouts or soccer games? What's for afterschool snack in your house? Usually it is sugar, sugar, sugar, topped off with a little food dye and often some chemicals like aspertame. Now, sugar in a natural form and moderation, well there is within reason. But pretend chemicalized sugar? There are a very scary group of chemicals known as EXCITOTOXINS. Hmmm, might be a contributor to over excited kids? Sounds like there might be a connection, just in the name. This is a very in depth area that is worth looking in to. WE ARE WORTH IT!! For our puposes here today, we will just say:

Feed your children as wholesome as possible. If you are going to switch out package for package, at least you will be eliminating a lot of nasty chemicals that are harming the biochemical make up of your family. Newman's Own, Health Valley, Barbara's...these are better choices for packaged foods. Check out your options. Now that so many people are asking, there are many more choices. You have the power!

Fresh over packaged is best, but one step at a time. At least 1 piece of fresh fruit and 2-3 servings of veggies. If you try to tell me they just won't eat it, then I will ask you who the parent in the family is. And I don't mean force feeding or drawn out episodes. Be the example, offer vareity, let them choose, try something different and make a game of it.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_3166.cfm - Organics in school lunches

http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_1952.cfm - But, will they eat it?

On a political note: How many of the companies that you will buy your trick or treat candy from use child slave labor? Were you aware? Forebes Magazine is - http://www.forbes.com/business/forbes/2006/0424/096.html

Below is a link to help you stay informed about creating a healthy environment for your family. Enjoy! ~j

• CHEC - http://www.checnet.org/improve_main.asp

"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are."

~Anais Nin

So, the question is...where are you right now? Is there something in your life that is holding you back?

In my local travels I was shopping for my fruits and veggies and came across a very knowledgeable woman offering demos for the store. We struck up a conversation over greens, yogurt and rescue remedy. In talking with her and both being practitioners of different venues, I realized that no matter where we are in our walk toward health, there is always somewhere for us to go. So whether you have decided to eat a salad a day, stop eating fast food, delve into the world of raw and fermented or are just mulling all of this information over, there is always something new and exciting waiting for you. You don't have to do it all or know it all right now.

As you gain more knowledge, your viewpoint will change toward what you believe is healthy. I have people come into my office all the time and tell me that they eat healthy. Then they tell me what they eat...it is not healthy. Just because you don't eat fast food, doesn't mean it's all good. There are many hidden carcinogenic (cancer causing) agents in A TON of our foods. As a matter of fact, The FDA just recently approved a viral cocktail that will be sprayed on cold cuts, sausages, hot dogs, sliced turkey, and chicken. To be fair, please read both links below, then decide whether you'll want to eat these foods or feed them to your kids!

• http://www.organicconsumers.org/2006/article_1801.cfm
• http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2464943&page=1

Now, after reading these articles, has your viewpoint opened up, just a little? Maybe you've changed, just a little?

Little tip in case you have...Read labels: anything mentioning bacteriophage preparation, AVOID! If you get cold cuts and meats at a restaurant, ask them if they use meats prepared this way. The same rule goes for irradiated foods, and foods that contain hormones and antibiotics.

In health ~j

Our lives are defined by the decisions we make each day.

Today's note was suppose to be about my fieldtrip to a local market. However, I was fortunate to have been sent this little film done by meat.org. It is somewhat graphic, but VERY informative.

This is a very good reason why it is important to know what you are putting in and on your body! Don't be ignorant. Get the 411. Start now.

http://www.meat.org/Prefs1.asp?video=meet_your_meat

http://www.meatrix.com/ animated and entertaining... great supporting info

Please note: I am not vegan or vegetarian. I believe that animal protien is a vital source of health based on the teachings of the Price-Pottenger Foundation and the Weston A. Price Foundation. It is the quality of protien that is the concern here. What your ratio of macronutrients is will be based on your individual needs.

This is about the humane treatment and environmental impact of meats in our country.

• http://www.price-pottenger.org/
• http://www.westonaprice.org/index.html

When we consider the consequences of our actions, we can determine the best choices to create the outcome we desire.

So what is this real foods thing all about? Well, the real thing is not coca-cola, for those of you raised in the 70's! God designed us in an amazing and intricate fashion. In a nutshell, our bodies were meant to eat from nature to provide fuel to our cells which in turn run the metabolic machine that keeps us going.

Things like chemicals, food dyes, pesticides, herbicides, plastic, trans fats, fake sugar and such actually clog, congest and confuse our internal body functions. This is generally what the Standard American Diet (SAD) is made up of. This is why so many people feel crummy and are on one or more prescription drugs, act crummy- depressed, angry, unpleasant disposition and are generally cranky butts - stuck in their lives watching reality tv, gossiping about others, no sex drive, hate the neighbor and never really smile. Most of us know there is a problem out there, but what can we do about it. Well, we can WAKE UP and get informed. We have been trained and misinformed on so many things. The media has educated us brilliantly. Now it is time to think for ourselves.

The basics for healthy food choices:

• eat foods that are fresh, seasonal, local and in their closest to natural state.
• eat foods that are grass-fed, pasture raised, without hormones or antibiotics
• eat foods that are free from chemicals, food dyes and pesticides
• eat foods that are local organic over industrial organic - yes, there is also a war going on inside the organic world these days...the point is to be conscious and not get hung up on it.
• eat foods that are non-GMO and non-irradiated, this is huge, you midwesterners...how much corn and soy do you see along the side of the road in your community?
• eat foods that support sustainable agriculture and reduce your ecological footprint

Most of these things you have already heard of, but maybe don't know how to transition in your home. That is our journey. We have to start at the beginning.

Where does your food come from. Most of it comes from processing plants and factories far far away. It takes more fuel to get it here than you put in your car on a weekly basis. It was once food, but has been denatured or ripped apart and put back together...kind of like Frankenstien. The difference is, our food gets dressed up real pretty with shapes and colors and packaging before it goes out in public, but Franky, well, you've seen him.

Sustainable - Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.

Translation - Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers and animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances communities.

If we don't get our food from 'home' or our local community we will become dependent on other countries for our basic survival. Sounds extreme, but look at what happened with the ecoli spinach ordeal. One location, one mishap, one big deal. Are you ready to make a change?

Action for today:

Look up your local grocer. You will find farmers markets, farms and stores from the links below. Maybe take a field trip in and see what it looks like. This is only the tip of the iceberg. There may be stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods in your area too, but they usually won't come up on this site. It doesn't mean they aren't good, it just means that they are a chain. We are looking for options.

• http://www.sustainabletable.org/shop/
• http://www.sandiegoroots.org/markets.html
• http://www.foodroutes.org/
• http://www.kidsfootprint.org/index.html - nugget for kids!

Running from Safety...An Adventure of the Spirit ~Richard Bach

Chew on that for a moment...though not food related, today's thought is about trying something new. I was inspired by my little bro to trek out on a trail run for the first time. Fortunately, a mile or so down the road there is a forest, the Elfin Forest Reserve has miles of trails for me to explore. Now...I found myself excited at the prospect of this little side bar because since moving to San Diego I have found myself mostly enjoying the ocean. Well, it took me less than a quarter of a mile to splash through a creek and consider each and every noise a rattlesnake with his buddy the mountain lion just behind! What is up with that?

Finding a spot to contemplate, I finally was able to still the racket in my head. Where did this invisible fear come from? I have hiked miles through trails in the past. Just because I was alone and this was new territory...hmmmm a metaphor for life, a reflection for later. Please note, I did call a girlfriend 500 miles away to tell her that if she didn't hear from me later that day, well, I was somewhere in the Elfin Forest. Since I haven't seen any headlines in the news like...MOTHER FOUND RAVAGED BY SNAKES, LIONS AND POISION OAK AT LOCAL TRAIL, CHILD LEFT AT SCHOOL FEELING ABANDONED...I felt compelled to proceed.

It was wonderful. Fresh, open, free, different. So why do we place those fears and restrictions on ourselves? Many of them are not tangible. What excuses do we use to retreat rather than rejoice. This is a great place to start as it relates to real. You have to want to go for it and be open to new things. ~j

Whoever said, "you are what you eat," had no idea the extent of what that means in this century!

Okay, getting all of this started is quite the deal...now, delving into the unknown blogging world, some of my friends would say I am not, in a word, savvy, but we are on our way.

First I have to start this by saying:

I believe that God created each of us with our own unique physical attributes and biochemical design, a mind that has limitless capacity and a spirit that can reach deeply into the soul to find great joy, great sorrow, great compassion and great love. Life is a journey and if you are still here, there is a reason.

I believe that health is comprised of finding your balance of body, mind and spirit. How you find that is determined by how far down the rabbit hole you are willing to go.

It should be simple, but man has complicated nature and the results to the human body and ecology are devastating for many. I live in the real world with a family, job and a passion to educate. I do not claim to know everything, but find what is right for me. We all have choices and my goal is to provide information so that you can consider your options. No information contained here should be construed as medical advice.

Wake up! We all have choices! Though you may not live in my local area, most of the foundational information here will be true for yours. So, please take what you like and grow with it!

Namaste ~j