Ummm..yikes folks! These results are astounding when there is so much information on how to prevent disease. Okay, if you are eating well, then darn it! take the survey, because I am sure they did not show up at your door. However, if you are not yet on the bandwagon, please consider some of the recommendations for the new campaign! In health & eating ~j

Americans Eating Fewer Vegetables
5 a Day for Fruits and Vegetables? No Way, Surveys Show


By Miranda Hitti WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

March 19, 2007 -- A new report shows Americans are actually getting worse at eating their vegetables.

This is hardly the first study to document dismal diet habits. Last week, the CDC gave U.S. adults poor marks for fruit and vegetable consumption. Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins University confirm that Americans aren't getting better at eating fruits and vegetables -- even though public health officials urge them to do so. The Johns Hopkins study shows that, among U.S. adults, fruit consumption is holding steady, but vegetable consumption is headed down -- even if you count french fries. The study appears in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.


Fruit, Vegetable Consumption
Johns Hopkins University's Tiffany Gary, PhD, and colleagues reviewed data from two national health surveys.

• The first survey, conducted from 1988 to 1994, included nearly 15,000 U.S. adults.
• The second survey, done between 1999 and 2002, included about 8,900 U.S. adults.

In both, participants reported everything they had eaten during the previous 24 hours. Then researchers checked how many people met these goals:

• Two or more servings of fruit, including fresh fruit, dried fruit, and 100% fruit juice
• Three or more servings of vegetables (fried potatoes count, eeew).

These goals have been touted since 1991 as part of the national campaign to get Americans to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. But apparently, most people aren't heeding the message.

Few Met Goals
In the earlier survey, 27% of participants met the fruit consumption goal vs. 28% in the later survey. But the percentage meeting the vegetable consumption goal fell from 35% in the earlier survey to 32% in the one started about a decade later.

Fruit consumption basically stayed the same while vegetable consumption dropped slightly, note the researchers. In addition, vegetable eaters appear to be in a bit of a rut. They tended to eat several servings of the same vegetable, showing little dietary diversity.
In each survey, only 11% met both goals. Whites, college graduates, older adults, and people with higher incomes were more likely to meet the goals for fruit and vegetable consumption.

New Campaign
Today, the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation launched a national effort to promote fruit and vegetable consumption. The campaign, called "Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters," encourages Americans to eat more fruits and vegetables. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives these tips to help you meet your fruit and vegetable goals:
Keep a bowl of fruit handy.

• Go for variety.
• Serve a salad with dinner.
• Add beans to chili or soup.
• If you're ordering pizza, add some veggie toppings.
• Put chopped vegetables in pasta sauce or lasagna.
• Dip fresh fruit in low-fat yogurt or pudding.
• Dip raw veggies in low-fat salad dressing.

Helping Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables
It can be a challenge to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables, according to a survey of 1,000 U.S. moms conducted as part of the "Fruits & Veggies -- More Matters" campaign.


In the survey, more than 70% of moms gave their children grades of "A" or "B" for eating fruits and vegetables. But nearly 30% gave their kids and teens grades of "C" or lower for fruit and vegetable consumption. Those mothers said their children were tempted by other foods and weren't interested in eating fruits and vegetables.

If that sounds like your family, here are solutions offered by the USDA:

• Set a good example with your own diet.
• While shopping, let kids pick a new fruit or vegetable to try.
• Kids often like foods served separately, so don't mix vegetables on their plate.
• Offer children a choice of fruits at lunch.
• Top kids' cereal with berries or a smiley face made of sliced bananas for eyes, raisins for a nose, and an orange slice for a mouth.
• Use cut-up vegetables as part of afternoon snacks.
• Let kids decide on the dinner vegetables or what goes into salads.
• If children are old enough, let them help shop for, clean, peel, or cut up fruits and vegetables.
• Whether you have kids or not, pay attention to food safety.
• Wash your hands before cooking or eating, and wash fruits and vegetables in clean, running water.
• Keep fruits and vegetables separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood, and heed the expiration dates on canned and frozen items.

An Astounding Affirmation

Springtime

Spring comes when the earth, coaxed by lengthening days and warmer temperatures, begins to awaken from her winter slumber. She stretches open to receive the rain that gives drink to flower buds and seedlings. She takes a deep breath, and on her exhale the leaves on trees unfurl like tiny flags heralding her revival as baby animals tumble forth, trumpeting the good news to all who will listen. Rebirth and repopulation fill the void of winter with flurry and fury as what appeared to be gone forever comes into being once again.

Even though it happens this way every year, we stand in awe, our insides trembling sweetly like the legs of a new foal as we too are reborn. This is when we fall in love, again, speak without thinking, say yes to things we would normally refuse. It becomes more difficult to say no when the whole world around us appears to be an astounding affirmation of the resilience, richness, and plain, perfect beauty of life.

We may find ourselves feeling several years younger and 10 pounds lighter without changing a thing. We may feel the urge to cleanse our bodies with a new pattern of eating, clearing our kitchens of cold-weather comfort foods and filling them instead with lighter fare and fresh fruits and vegetables. We may clear our closets of old clothes or cut our hair to express a new facet of who we are, and who we might become. Springtime inspires us to believe that, along with the earth, we too might change, release the past, and give birth to new ideas, new relationships, and new perspectives.

In honor of spring, we could make a list of the many possibilities we envision for the future and bury it in the earth, surrendering the fertile seeds of our imaginations to the nurturing soil. In tune with the season, we can then watch in wonder as the last of the snow dissolves into the rich brown earth, and stark winter gives way to green possibility.

" Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being,
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. "
~World Health Organization, 1948

Enjoy today's news...this is a great plug for exercise, but it holds true for nutrition just as well. Each nutrient is processed inside the body and either supports health or the decline of health. What a great combination for wellness. Pay attention, it's your choice! ~j

Parade Magazine 3/20/07
New research reveals surprising facts about our changing bodies. You Can Stop ‘‘Normal’’ Aging

By Dr. Henry S. Lodge
Published: March 18, 2007

From your body’s point of view, “normal” aging isn’t normal at all. It’s a choice you make by the way you live your life. The other choice is to tell your cells to grow—to build a strong, vibrant body and mind.

Let’s have a look at standard American aging. Barbara D. had a baby when she was 34, gave up exercise and gained 50 pounds. Exhausted and depressed, Barbara thought youth, energy and optimism were all in her rearview mirror. Jon M., 55, had fallen even farther down the slippery slope. He was stuck in the corporate world of stress, long hours and doughnuts. At 255 pounds, he had knees that hurt and a back that ached. He developed high blood pressure and eventually diabetes. Life was looking grim.

Jon and Barbara weren’t getting old; they had let their bodies decay. Most aging is just the dry rot we program into our cells by sedentary living, junk food and stress. Yes, we do have to get old, and ultimately we do have to die. But our bodies are designed to age slowly and remarkably well. Most of what we see and fear is decay, and decay is only one choice. Growth is the other.

After two years of misery, Barbara started exercising and is now in the best shape of her life. She just finished a sprint triathlon and, at 37, feels like she is 20. Jon started eating better and exercising too—slowly at first, but he stuck with it. He has since lost 50 pounds, the pain in his knees and back has disappeared, and his diabetes is gone. Today, Jon is 60 and living his life in the body of a healthy 30-year-old. He will die one day, but he is likely to live like a young man until he gets there.

The hard reality of our biology is that we are built to move. Exercise is the master signaling system that tells our cells to grow instead of fade. When we exercise, that process of growth spreads throughout every cell in our bodies, making us functionally younger. Not a little bit younger—a lot younger. True biological aging is a surprisingly slow and graceful process. You can live out your life in a powerful, healthy body if you are willing to put in the work.

Let’s take a step back to see how exercise works at the cellular level. Your body is made up of trillions of cells that live mostly for a few weeks or months, die and are replaced by new cells in an endless cycle. For example, your taste buds live only a few hours, white blood cells live 10 days, and your muscle cells live about three months. Even your bones dissolve and are replaced, over and over again. A few key stem cells in each organ and your brain cells are the only ones that stick around for the duration. All of your other cells are in a constant state of renewal.

You replace about 1% of your cells every day. That means 1% of your body is brand-new today, and you will get another 1% tomorrow. Think of it as getting a whole new body every three months. It’s not entirely accurate, but it’s pretty close. Viewed that way, you are walking around in a body that is brand-new since Christmas—new lungs, new liver, new muscles, new skin. Look down at your legs and realize that you are going to have new ones by the Fourth of July. Whether that body is functionally younger or older is a choice you make by how you live.

You choose whether those new cells come in stronger or weaker. You choose whether they grow or decay each day from then on. Your cells don’t care which choice you make. They just follow the directions you send. Exercise, and your cells get stronger; sit down, and they decay.

Men like Jon, who go from sedentary to fit, cut their risk of dying from a heart attack by 75% over five years. Women cut their risk by 80%—and heart attacks are the largest single killer of women. Both men and women can double their leg strength with three months of exercise, and most of us can double it again in another three months. This is true whether you’re in your 30s or your 90s. It’s not a miracle or a mystery. It’s your biology, and you’re in charge.

Dr. Henry S. Lodge is on the faculty of Columbia Medical School and is co-author of “Younger Next Year” (Workman).

Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables.

They probably get jet-lagged, just like people.

~Elizabeth Berry

Hi gang~

WOW! Time magazine really stepped up to the plate on this one. This is a great article sharing viewpoints on 'local' being the 'new organic'...um what does THAT mean? Well, read on my friends. I am all for organic, but always choose my local grower over one that is across the country or in another country.

Gone local! ~j

Eating Better Than Organic

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245,00.html

Here is more food for thought...I LOVE his advise on the last page...sound familiar??

http://www.foodreference.com/html/local-organic.html

This is a good one guys...you may not eat twinkies, but it is a representation of the long list of ingredients found in many of our packaged foods, both natural and commercial. Enjoy the information! ~j

Damien Donck for Newsweek

What's Inside: One ingredient in the Twinkie is described as 'food-grade plaster of Paris'

View related photos
By Anne Underwood

Newsweek: March 5, 2007 issue - As Steve Ettlinger dropped down a Wyoming mine shaft, plummeting 1,600 feet in an open-mesh cage, he wondered how many other food writers had ever donned hard hats and emergency breathing equipment in pursuit of a story. But it was too late to turn back. He'd promised his editor a book tracing the ingredients in a Hostess Twinkie to their origins—and one of them was down this shaft. At the bottom, he and his hosts climbed into an open Jeep and hurtled for 30 terrifying minutes through pitch-black tunnels. Their destination: the site where a mineral called trona—the raw ingredient of baking soda—was being clawed out of a rock face by giant machines. "To say that this does not suggest Twinkies or any other food product would be an understatement," observes Ettlinger. "There you are at an open rock face, wondering why they do all this for the sake of a little snack cake."

If you've ever puzzled over why packaged foods contain "polysorbate 60" or "mono and diglycerides," Ettlinger's new book, "Twinkie, Deconstructed," is a treat you'll want to try. Chapter by chapter, Ettlinger—the author of previous food books like "Beer for Dummies"—decodes all 39 ingredients in the little crème-filled cakes. He explains their uses and the processes by which raw materials are "crushed, baked, fermented, refined and/or reacted into a totally unrecognizable goo or powder with a strange name," which then appears on a label full of other incomprehensible and barely pronounceable ingredients. Unraveling it all was a major undertaking—and Ettlinger received no help from Hostess and its parent company, Interstate Brands Corp., despite appealing directly to the Vice President of Cake.

At the heart of the book is the fundamental question: why is it you can bake a cake at home with as few as six ingredients, but Twinkies require 39? And why do many of them seem to bear so little resemblance to actual food? The answer: To stay fresh on a grocery-store shelf, Twinkies can't contain anything that might spoil, like milk, cream or butter. Once you remove such real ingredients, something has to take their place—and cellulose gum, lecithin and sodium stearoyl lactylate are a good start. Add the fact that industrial quantities of batter have to pump easily through automated tubes into cake molds, and you begin to get the idea.

What Exactly Is In a Twinkie?
Even so, it can be unsettling to learn just how closely the basic ingredients in processed foods resemble industrial materials. Corn dextrin, a common thickener, is also the glue on postage stamps and envelopes. Ferrous sulfate, the iron supplement in enriched flour and vitamin pills, is used as a disinfectant and weedkiller. Is this cause for concern? Ettlinger says no, though you wouldn't want a diet that consists solely of Twinkies. Ultimately, all food, natural and otherwise, is composed of chemical compounds—and normal ingredients like salt have industrial applications, too. Still, it gives you pause when he describes calcium sulfate, a dough conditioner, as "food-grade plaster of Paris."

In the end, you may learn more than you really wanted to about the Twinkie-Industrial Complex, as Ettlinger calls it. But you will never read a label the same way again.
© 2007 Newsweek, Inc.

I do not understand the mystery of grace,
only that it meets us where we are,
but does not leave us where it found us.
~Anne Lamott

Currently, about 90 percent of soybeans and 60 percent of corn grown in the United States are genetically engineered, and Funk said the "ability to contaminate the supply is increasing."

Leading Organic & Natural Foods Retailer & Wholesale Distributor Will Test All Their Private Brand Labels for GMO Contamination

This is an opportunity to make some significant changes Since GMO is infiltrating the non-GMO organic foods, measurements and testing will tell a story. Whole Foods private label, Eden foods and Lundberg Farm are all on board with this testing. The fact that they are finding GMO in fields and countries where it has not been planted nor is wanted is awful. Monsanto is going after small farmers telling them that they are owed compensation when the farmer doesn't want the modified crop, and the land is now contaminated! It is an outrage! Many farmers have lost their livelihoods, long time family farms and dignity after being crushed by the Monsanto Giant.

Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods

Jerry Garcia's wife, Debrah Koons Garcia, produced a wonderful documentary called 'The Future of Food'...very powerful portrayal, if you have the means to see it, I recommend it is worth your time!

Living non-GMO today! ~j

For cleanness of body was ever esteemed

to proceed from a due reverence to God,

to society, and to ourselves.

~Francis Bacon

Just last year, the European Union passed a directive dictating that personal care products must be free of chemicals known or strongly suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutations, or birth defects. As a result, over 1,200 chemicals were banned. But almost all of them are still authorized for use in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require makers of shampoos, soaps, or deodorants to test products for safety before they're sold. Among the roughly 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products, only 11 percent have been evaluated for safety.

Learn about the possible effects of using bath and beauty products containing questionable chemicals and how to avoid those products.
Read More


To chemical free cleanliness...~j

Weekend Inspiration~

thanks Jordan Rubin for prompting today's message!

Is Your Body Truly a Temple?
Paul tells us: "What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Primary to optimal health is how we treat our physical body — what we eat, how much and how well we sleep, and how much stress we encounter. After all, it's hard to focus on the spiritual when your body is crying out for help, whether due to disease, obesity, or lack of energy. What steps have you taken this week to treat your body as a sacred and important place?

Whatever your spiritual practice is...it is important to find your balance. It is easy to overcompensate in one area or another and then just tip over. When you are lying sideways wondering what happened...recognize that YOU have a great opportunity. There is no perfect, only perfect for you.

Remember, no one area of life is more important that the other. It all works together and I believe is divinely orchestrated (you know...higher power at work...just one girl's belief). With spring arriving, it is a time for renewal and reflection. Take advantage it, it can be very deep and rewarding.

If you are curious about Jordan, he has an amazing story and some great recipies as well. Just steer clear of the soy, otherwise, very sound and nutritive advice.

Finding and reaffirming the balance in my temple! ~j

"Do not take my word for everything.

Just listen to what I have to say,

use what you can and discard the rest."

~ Stuart Wilde

Yep! ~j

Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven.

~Jessi Lane Adams

This very valuable question was asked and is a response to the last post. I thought it was important enough to put in plain site!

Well, I am with you on the vices. We all have them. My love affair with coffee has been on again off again as well. Here's the deal...

1. Coffee has benefits, as long as you are not drinking it every day -can lead to caffeine addiction, even in the slightest way it effects the body. So 3 or 4 time a week is preferable.

2. It MUST be organic, shade grown - there are so many pesticides and herbicides in regular coffee. This is a sad little tidbit, but the DDT we outlawed back in the 70's we sold to third world countries who use it on their crops that they sell back to us. Shade grown offers many eco benefits, but More importantly to you...no systemic poisoning to the plant. Hmmmm...

3. Fair trade - are also an important factor - this is really about honoring a delicate and valuable ecosystem as well as quality of life and fairness for a multi-billion dollar commodity to the farmers. OCA is hitting Starbucks hard for their role in popularizing coffee and taking advantage of the little guy.

4. Swiss water decaf - If you drink decaf, make it the swiss water process. There is a tremendous amount of processing that does on and this is the cleanest way available.

So...make a difference in being conscious about where you spend your dollars and enjoy your cup of joe! ~j

In number 2 what I meant was systemic, where the poisons are absorbed into the soil and feed the roots of the plant. Yikes!

If you love the coffee houses, many of them are now very aware of offering organic, fair trade and shade grown.

Here's the OCA link...http://www.organicconsumers.org/fairtrade.cfm they can be extreme, but they do have their facts correct.

Again, it is all about being aware so you can make the best choices possible.

If you have any physical concerns regarding hpb, adrenal fatigue or even intolerance to caffeine, that would be a good time to consider no longer drinking it.

The world we live in is amazing! Enjoy ~j

Article - Total lunar eclipse thrills stargazers worldwide
Video clip - Rare eclipse

Speaking of Vienna, here is a great little snippette on coffee. We are going to chat more in depth about this. It is a HUGE area of health concern as well as conscious choice. I myself have a love hate relationship with this black gold.

Choosing Coffee with a Conscience

I love this song...

it reminds me of the times of my life...

a time for rest,

a time be on fire,

a time for reflection, and

a time to look forward to

with joy as the seasons of our lives change.

No matter what season you are in now,

don't miss it! ~j

Slow down you crazy child
You're so ambitious for a juvenile
But then if you're so smart tell me why
You are still so afraid?

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out
You got so much to do and only
So many hours in a day

But you know that when the truth is told
That you can get what you want
Or you an just get old
You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you

Slow down you're doing fine
You can't be everything you want to be
Before your time
Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight
Too bad but it's the life you lead
You're so ahead of yourself
That you forgot what you need
Though you can see when you're wrong

But you know you can't always see when you're right
You got your passion you got your pride
But don't you know only fools are satisfied?
Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you

Slow down you crazy child
Take the phone off the hook
And disappeaar for a while
It's alright you can afford to lose a day or two
When will you realize
Vienna waits for you.

~Billy Joel, Vienna

Ummm...eeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Hollywood caterer causes Hepatitis A scare

Okay, this is not only true for those in the spotlight. This happens all the time in our world of normal people. And they don't realize it until the body just can't normalize any longer. Yikes!

It is recommended that those who have an annual wellness check-in get a simple, inexpensive blood test. You can go through your doctor and pay through the nose or have it done yourself or through your health care provider. Directlabs.com offers a comprehensive wellness package for $89. That's a steal! It includes: Complete Blood Count (CBC),Thyroid Profile w/TSH, Lipid Profile, Liver Profile, Kidney Panel, Minerals and Bone, Fluids and Electrolytes, Diabetes (glucose).

http://www.directlabs.com/

Now, why you might ask?? Well, if you did eat something from that Hollywood party, would your doctor actually find anything on your labs? Most of the time they don't. Often labs are read from a pathogenic perspective. If you look at the ranges on many results, they are vast! Most people will fall into them, get prescibed a med for symptoms and still be sick because a cause was never determined.

You want to find someone who can read these labs from a FUNCTIONAL perspective. The ranges are narrowed down to assess from an optimal health perspective. There is a big difference here.

A word of wise for the athlete. Gale Bernhardt recommends in her publication that you get a blood test annually to be sure that you are not prone to anemia as well as assessing overall wellness while you are asking a lot of your body. My interpretation on overall is true glucose balance, cortisol and thryroid as well as liver enzyme function and kidney. These are key factors in immunity and energy production.

Okay, stepping off soapbox. Be healthy! ~j

"There is no evidence whatsoever of the ability of vaccines to prevent any diseases.

To the contrary, there is a great wealth of evidence that they cause serious side effects."

~Dr. Viera Scheibner

A lot of people ask me about vaccines. This is a very in depth topic. I encourage them to gather information. Here is an online video that came across my desk recently. There are many publications out there. For books on this topic visit the Price Pottenger foundations book section. They are very well screened prior to being offered through this organization.

VIDEO: Vaccination: The Hidden Truth (1998)
http://video.

My questions are, if vaccines are so safe...why do we have a vaccine court? Why did the goverment give Ely Lily a 'get out of jail free card" regarding law suits and vaccines? I am not educated in the depth of the politics of it all, but you have to decide what is best for your children. Ultimately if you decide to vaccinate, staying away from the multi-cocktails are the best option. You have the right to ask your doctor for them individually.

http://www.mercola.com/2004/aug/28/thimerosal_vaccine.htm

Again, do your homework, weigh the pros and cons and make the decision that is best for you and your children. ~j

Prescription Drug Deaths Skyrocket 68 Percent Over Five Years

(as Americans swallow more pills)
By M.T. Whitney NewsTarget/Truth Publishing, Feb 22, 2007

Straight to the Source

This is a very cool new therapy. ~j

Vocal Profiling

Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. ~Hippocrates

No time for commentary on this thought today...but WOW! This is quite powerful when you think of how we seldom take time to allow ourselves rest and healing. You don't even have to have a serious illness or even the annual flu bug. Finding and maintaining optimal health physically, mentally and spiritually asks for both time and opportunity. File this one away after a few moments of pondering, I am certain you will pull it up again at just the right time.

Allowing for healing and opportunity today :-) ~j

...choose to take a deep breath and surrender to life's plan. ~

Do you ever hava a day, week or month when you think..."yikes! Things are not going the way that I planned!"

Well, I remember a joke from my old days in sunday school...God is laughing while we are making our own plans. It seems I am in the mood for contemplation this weekend. I am also reminded from Dan Millman's book, Way of the Peaceful Warrior...life is exactly as it is suppose to be. All of it. That is actually a comforting thought when I stand in the midst of the chaos of today's world and feel overwhelmed.

I am not suppose to fix it. I am suppose to acknowledge all that is. Live with intention, passionately for what I know is true in my heart and not with blinders as a distraction (there are sooo many of these). I certainly don't have to take the freeway when the scenic route is far more enjoyable and rewarding. I love to smell the 'roses' and in many ways am reminded to find my favorites.

One drop in the water creates a ripple. I don't have the grand divine plan all worked out in my head today and I don't have to. Whew! We are all here for a reason and we are intricately woven together as our paths cross, if only for a moment in time. Do you remember those people, those events in time that stands still as if it were only yesterday. Do you remember the impact of those moments on your life? If for nothing else than a reflection...a seed planted for the future, a message to get you through, a deja vu, a bridge from the past to the future, a puzzle to ponder...a lesson for living in the present.

Hmmmm...when it all washes in front of you in what seems to be the same moment...here is that deep breath...and the significant word, surrender.

Breathing today ~j

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there." ~ Ancient Chinese Proverb

"When someone does something well, applaud!

You will make two people happy."

~ Samuel Goldwyn

Consuming To Heal
Filling Imaginary Voids

In our culture today, we are constantly encouraged to consume. This includes food as well as purchasing ever newer items that we may not need, often using money that we may not actually have.

It could be that we are trying to fill a void we feel within ourselves, but if we take the time to examine it, we know deep inside that this is not the solution. We may notice how quickly the joy fades after our purchase or once the food we've enjoyed is gone, and how soon we feel the urge to do so again. This is a symptom of disconnection from our true selves, so the first step toward balance is connection to our center.


When we connect to our center, we access the fullness of who we are as an individual spirit. We also connect to the energy source of the universe, from which nothing can be lacking. It could be that we have been energetically starving ourselves but trying to feed the need physically, outwardly. Once we make the decision to reconnect, we have the ability to examine the behavior. We can look, without judgment, at the thoughts and feelings that occur before and after our indulgences to find a pattern. We may want to keep track of these observations in a journal so that we can go back if we lose our way.

Often boredom is the main cause for the desire to eat or shop. We just might find that we are stuck in mediocrity...But when we connect to our center, our intuition can more clearly guide us to the places where our energy can best be used. We can replace the boredom with a prayer, meditation practice, a class, a project, seeking a new job, or getting involved in a charity.


Whatever inspires us tells us the direction we should go. When we find the place we are meant to be, we become so consumed by its constant creation that the frivolous filling of an imaginary void becomes a thing of the past.

Finding inspiration today ~j

Three Inspiring Minutes - Enjoy! ~j

http://www.212movie.com/

"Calmness is the cradle of power."

~Josiah Gilbert Holland

How often are we running through our days...literally. From one task or activity to the next.

• Today consider finding your stride.
• Find your groove.
• Stop and find out why you are putting yourself through the crazy.

What are really the important priorities to you. Schedule them into your day first. Then, the nice to haves. When you find this balance, you will feel as if you are the one driving, instead of your life driving you. When you are planning for the important things...remember that the foods you eat should be a priority up there with...well, let's be honest...breathing.

Give yourself time to plan meals weekly, shop weekly, prepare a few meals with the intention of nourishing and rejuviating yourself.

Find your calm, your power to make choices that reflect health. ~j

Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future.

~Paul Boese

What are some of the things that you are holding onto because you just can't forgive it? Letting go of these things is like cleaning out the overstuffed closet. Not really needed, hanging around and taking up space, hindering the opportunity to new things.

*

Many people find this true with old eating habits and beliefs. If you are consciously trying to make a change. Don't make it hard on yourself. Don't be hard on yourself. Know that changes, while necessary, can take a couple of trys. The road to success is paved with failure and when you put failure in the right light...it is not such a negative thing. It can be considered a stepping stone. If you know that you fell off the wagon or gave into temptation, well...you at least recognize that it happened. Now the task is to be aware of the choice for the next time. Forgive yourself so that you can look ahead with a true intention.

*

One day you will look back and wonder when all of those changes happened. Smile and enjoy the journey! ~j

If you aren't completely appalled

then you haven't been paying attention!

~Bumpersticker

*

I laughed so very hard when I saw this bumper sticker today :-)

*

On one hand, it is completely true and on the other hand, if you live life appalled, then you aren't really living. I think that when you reach an awakening sometimes it is startling. Reminds me of The Matrix. You look around and your world can be completely different. Ususally there is a jarring event that changes your perspective. Sometimes it can be a small tidbit of information, an article, a book, an interview, a conversation. When we realize that the world we live in offers so many possibilites and that we are not boxed into our expectations of life, well...it is a wake up call. Many people never hear it. It is the being open to the information that is the key.

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There are going to be things that you come across that are going to shock your socks off. And then there will be things that should be shocking but no longer are because we have been conditioned to them.

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Most things are tied to big business, health, food, entertainment, media etc. I guess what I am trying to convey today is how important it is that we are aware. That when something strikes you, check it out without being concerned with the outcome. Search for the truth in your own heart and make conscious decisions based on that.

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Paying attention...~j

Keep true to the dreams of thy youth.
Friedrich von Schiller (1759 - 1805)

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Okay, if there is a kid in you and you love rollercoasters...well you have to go to the updated version of Space Mountain at Disneyland. YEAH~ It totally rocks! It looks like they will only be rockin' to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers until April, so if you are in town...rock on with a big smile :-)
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Now, my recommendation is that you do not eat prior to the ride. Definately save it for after. As for theme park foods...

• carry a backpack, not too big...or something that you can comfortably tote around for the day.
• we always bring our food to the parks, but they are changing their menus and healthier selections are being offered. explore your options
• bringing some fruit, health bars or healthier snacks will make a difference in your day
• budget for plenty of water and drink it throughout the day rather than gulp it down in all one slug
• down time to take a load off your feet and take in the whole experience.

This, my friends, is all about the fun.
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Rockin' and rollin' today ~j

The Impossible Dream~Right In Front Of You
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When it comes to the things we want, there always seems to be an endless list. No matter how many times we get something off that list, we add new things to replace it. In life, this drama of wanting and getting and wanting is all part of the dance. The things we want motivate us to get up and get them. And yet, at the same time, we can torment ourselves with our wanting, especially when we want something we can't have or can't find. It is in cases like these that it might be fruitful to entertain the idea that maybe what you really want is right in front of you.
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Maybe you are using this desire you can't fulfill to distract you from truly engaging the blessings you already have. It may seem like that doesn't make sense, yet we do it all the time. It may be easier to see in other people than to see it in ourselves. We have all heard our friends wishing they were more this or less that, and looking at them we see clearly that they are everything they are wishing they were. We know people who have wonderful partners and yet envy you yours. We wish we could give these people a look at their situations from our perspective so that they could see that what they want really is right in front of them.
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Take a moment today to consider the many things you are holding in the palm of your hand and how you might best play with them.
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Peace be the journey ~j

If it frustrates you that they don't allow laptops on a Ferris wheel, you may be a workaholic. ~Dr. Donald E. Wetmore

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Yes, this his how I am feeling these days! Now I actually have a point here on this today. If you are slammed with work and life is also happening around you (family, pets, training etc.) Don't deprive yourself of nourishment throughout the day.

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Be prepared, whether you work from home or an office...enjoy some on the go foods. Stay as far away from the vending machine or gas station excito-toxin fest mart as possible.

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Breakfast

Egg wraps with veggies for breakfast, smoothies. Have some water 8oz.

AM Snack

Make sure you are prepared with some snacks. You may be hammering away on the computer, but you can surely sit back for a minute or two to think and chew, chew, chew a small apple, some yogurt with a little granola. Have some water 8 oz.

Lunch

Don't skip lunch...this is sooooo easy to do, time has a magic speed up button during the lunch hours. Frer-range turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, a small side of soup or salad. Take those precious few minutes to step back from your work to eat. You will replenish your thinking power with a few delicious morsels. Have some water 8 oz.

PM Snack

Harboiled egg or cheese with some pear or berries. Easy to pack, keep in a fridge or cooler. Have some water 8 oz.

Dinner

Still at work. It is really time to take a much needed break. Step out of the office and breath. Balance a portion of meat, poultry or fish with a beautiful and satisfying salad, maybe a side of cous cous. If you are fortunate to be home. Relax and replenish. Have some water 8 oz. If you are cooking, make it simple. Having ingredients on hand makes all the difference to prepare a stress free meal at home. If someone else is cooking, hug them, a lot and smile.

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Okay! We made it through with a few ideas. Again, being prepared is the ticket. We want to keep that blood sugar balanced throughout the day so you are making level headed decisions and thinking clearly. Less stress surrounding meals makes the process of digestion much much easiery for your body. If you are in training...well, the performance zone is a whole different block of time to be prepared for. More on this gig later :-)

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Taking a deep breath...and go! ~j

"Chaos"...

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"as a new plant breaks the ground with great difficulty...so must we sometimes push against difficulty in bringing forth out dreams. "

Good Om today! Enjoy ~j

Know Your Food: Eating Close To The Earth

The food we eat is a multidimensional aspect of our lives. Food provides us with the energy that enables us to grow and prosper. Yet it can be, and frequently is, much, much more. Our food can be an experience in and of itself if we allow it to be. The dishes we remember from childhood offer unmatched comfort. The act of preparing meals can be an art form of the highest caliber. And the nourishment we derive from this fare promotes wellness within us.

But many of us, distracted by daily affairs, forget that the profound pleasures of eating go beyond simple sustenance. We eat foods that are convenient or we eat unconsciously, snacking on whatever happens to be on hand. To understand the true value of food and the impact it can have on our lives, we should acknowledge and honor it by eating close to the earth. If you have ever shelled and eaten garden-grown peas or bitten into a sun-warmed apple freshly plucked from its tree, you likely understand that there is a marked difference between these foods and those that are processed and stacked on supermarket shelves. Food recently picked contains more of its original life force and thus has a greater store of energy and nutrients. You can ensure you are eating close to the earth-and enjoying the many benefits of doing so-by shopping at a local farmers market and getting to know the individuals who grow your food. If you make the experience of shopping in this way enjoyable, you will be more apt to reject more convenient canned, packaged, and frozen foods in favor of the real delight you feel while browsing stalls of fresh foods nourished by the same soil you can find in your own backyard. You will soon learn what foods are in season in your area and how to prepare them.As you savor the vivid flavors of juicy ripe fruits and the hearty crunch of unprocessed vegetables, you can also take pleasure in the fact that, by eating close to the earth, you are supporting farmers in your region, connecting with your local ecosystem, discouraging those who would waste precious fossil fuels by carting produce cross-country, and helping to preserve healthy culinary traditions that have existed for centuries.

"We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are." -- Anais Nin

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As we walk along the path of life...it is often about our perception. When our perspective changes, so do things in our lives.

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Take a moment today to consider your perspective on the type of foods you eat. Are they nourishing to your body and soul? Do they provide enjoyment and enhance quality of life? Do you see them as life giving? Are they just fuel or only satisfy immediate hunger?

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All important things to ponder for a moment today. Food is acutally very simple, not easy, but simple. Eat foods that are in their closest to natural state. Fresh, local grown, organic when possible. It is also important that you are eating enough quality calories to sustain healthy metabolic function and wellness. The right balance of macronutrients for your lifestyle will make all the difference!

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Be well! ~j

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for,

and

if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

~Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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Hi gang! Things have been very busy here. First of the year always brings an onslaught of resolutions and those willing to take the next step in creating healthier lifestyles. Have you decided if that applies to you as well?? Remember...one step at a time, no matter what your choices. Make them yours, make them stick!

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I came across this quote from the book The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. She wrote a series of them a number of years ago and they spoke to me in a way that very few authors have. Since I only have a minute today, I will share the link with you and encourage you to reach deeply inside as you go through your day Peace :-) ~j

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http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com/

Your brain has an in-built mechanism for finding patterns you've programmed because of where you've put your attention. Solutions, innovations, and success come not from greater intelligence or creativity but from what we notice because of where we point those attributes. ~David Allen

What you put ON your body is just as important as what you put IN your body. If you are taking care to eat very consciously to improve health and wellbeing, then you will want to be looking at the personal hygiene products that you are using as well. Some people don't realize that the shampoos, lotions and toothpaste that they use are full of chemical detergents and carcinogens. Making a small change to your choice of product line will go a long way in assisting your body in having to try to eliminate them.

Please consider taking this survey to help shape the standard that is labeled ORGANIC for the future. Organic is becoming modernized and the meaning is become less clear for mainstream America. Big business always seems to blur the line and expand the grey area on definition.

As a consumer, it is your right to be informed so that you can make the best possible choice for you and your family. There are no wrong choices, only uninformed ones :-) ~j

ALERT: Take this Survey to Help Sculpt Organic Standards for Personal Care Products

This was quite refreshing! Enjoy ~j

I BELIEVE by Brian Tracy

I believe every person has within themselves inexhaustible reserves of potential they have never even come close to realizing. Definately my favorite! :-)

I believe each person has far more intelligence than they have ever used.

I believe each person is more creative than he or she has ever imagined.

I believe the greatest achievements of your life lie ahead of you.

I believe the happiest moments of your life are yet to come.

I believe the greatest successes you will ever attain are still waiting for you on the road ahead.

And, I believe through learning and application of what you learn, you can solve any problem, overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal that you can set for yourself.

"Digestion, of all the bodily functions, is the one which exercises the greatest influence on the mental state of an individual."Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826)

di·ges·tion (dī-jĕs'chən, dĭ-) n.
Physiology.

1. The process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed and assimilated by the body. It is accomplished in the alimentary canal by the mechanical and enzymatic breakdown of foods into simpler chemical compounds.

Digestion occurs at the multicellular, cellular, and sub-cellular levels. This process takes place in the digestive system, gastrointestinal tract, or alimentary canal. It is the process of metabolism whereby a biological entity processes a substance, in order to chemically and mechanically convert the substance into nutrients. When you eat, you are eating to nourish or fuel your body. Healthly choices will feed you at the cellular level. Otherwise, choices that are not healthy or contain chemicals, additives and other forms or non-foods, the body will not recognize and now needs to figure out how to process them until they can be eliminated or stored in the cellular structure (usually in fat cells).

Digestion is usually divided into mechanical manipulation (CHEWING) and chemical action. It is a multi-stage process. It is separated into five separate processes:

1) Ingestion: Placing food into the mouth. Here is where our choice makes the difference.

2) Mechanical digestion: Mastication, the use of teeth to tear and crush food, and churning of the stomach. OMG! This is one of the most important things that we should be doing to improve or maintain health...how well do you chew your foods?

3) Chemical digestion: Addition of chemicals (acid, bile, enzymes, and water) to break down complex molecules into simple structures. This is a completely natural process, however, many people have reduced levels of these natural chemicals and will suffer with indigestion or begin supplementing to assist the body in its effort.

4) Absorption: Movement of nutrients from the digestive system to the circulatory and lymphatic capillaries through osmosis, active transport, and diffusion. Here is where intestinal health is so important. If the small intestine is compromised, nutrients will not be able to get through the mucosal lining and malnutrition may occur.

5) Elimination: Removal of undigested materials from the digestive tract. How many ads have you seen for relief of constipation or loose stools? When elimination is off, you can either be autointoxicating or nutrients are moving too fast through the system to be absorbed. You should be concerned.

Underlying the process is muscle movement throughout the system, swallowing and peristalsis (the movement of the bollus or now broken down food through the system). It is a beautiful dance of conscious and unconscious functions.

Just a brief overview here. Please take away at least this one thing. The importance of chewing your foods. Some people start with chewing 10 times before swallowing. If you can...stretch it to 20+ times. Foods should almost be chewed until they are liquid.

Since we are starting with new beginnings, why not start with improved chewing?! It is a conscious effort that makes the difference. ~j

The beginning is the most important part of any work. ~Plato

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I am quite short on time these days, but want to check in real quick!

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The beginning of anything that you do...starts with you. Whether you are fully committed or just testing the waters. You make the choices, you accept the excuses, you are the one who thinks the thoughts and performs the actions.

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It is pretty cool that it is all about you. Bless yourself so that you can bless others in your life. ~j

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do." ~ Henry Ford

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Some of us go right for the new year resolutions and make plans for the life that we would like to see. Others find that making and breaking those resolutions a tradition. Others yet, feel that resolutions can be equally as important when made throughout the year rather than as part of a collective hype. So, you may fall into one of those areas. If so, keep in mind why you want to make a change. What is the desired outcome? And just as important, how you will plan to do it. A plan is really your guide to getting to the outcome. It can be your support when you are ready to throw in the towel. A plan is also adjustable, because as you trek down the path of you hearts desire, life happens and not always the way that you planned it!

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When it comes to chaning your diet, it can always be a little uncomfortable. So take it a step at at time. Often times I recommend taking a look at what you are eating today. Then determine if you can make healthier choices or improve the quality of the foods that you are eating.

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For example: A hamburger...is it commercial beef or grass-fed? Is the bun white bread or whole grain? etc. Then we can take another step and look at how you are combining your foods. Do you really need that bun? Maybe sauteed mushrooms over the burger with a beautiful salad of fresh greens. Delicious, satisfying, easier for the body to process.

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Improving your eating habits is certainly in the top ten and for many reasons. People want to lose weight, feel better, more energy and on and on. It is possible and once you make choices to put the best available nutrients into this incredible carbon based machine we have been given, the quality of your life will certainly increase. Removing the clogging and draining types of foods alone is a tremendous effort.

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Choose health! Choose your life! ~j

What a way to start out the year! ~j

Despite a September survey found that 64% of Americans are repulsed by the idea of eating food from cloned animals, the FDA announced this week that milk, eggs and meat from cloned animals will soon be allowed on the market.

Ignoring a number of disturbing studies suggesting potential human health hazards, Stephen F. Sundlof, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine said "that meat and milk from cattle, swine and goat clones is as safe to eat as the food we eat every day." Consumer, food safety, and animal welfare groups have condemned the announcement, pointing out that animal cloning is inherently unpredictable and hazardous, and that the practice of cloning has led to a high number of cruel and painful deformities in the experimental animals' offspring.

Full story...Approval of Cloned Food Leaves Consumers Unprotected , Despite Lack of Science and Strong Public Concern, FDA Expected to OK Food From Cloned Animals

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves.

The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Live simply; love extravagantly! ~j