Fresh Squeezed Living

Tea Cup: Twinings Chamomile & Delicate Apple = Love at First Sip

In a previous, a post titled Herbal Tea Bus Offers Starbucks Customers a Ride; I shared how I ended my long time love affair with coffee. To be 100% honest, I have to admit I still love the smell and easily recall the amazing taste of great coffee. My transition from coffee to herbal teas was primarily made when I discovered the caffeine jolt my daily coffee drinks provided was affecting me in some undesirable ways. Those jolts that helped me rev up for the day ultimately wrecked havoc on my ability to sleep calmly through the night.

I even switched to decaf but my, I can’t get to sleep blues continued to plague me. Aside from the poor quality of sleep I endured, I began to notice some slight heart flutters from time to time. I visited my doctor to discuss my concerns. She asked if I consumed coffee and or other caffeine laden beverages on a daily (or less frequent) basis. (I admitted to my love affair with coffee.) After agreeing to some tests to identify if I had an undiagnosed medical condition, I discovered no condition existed. It was then that my doctor suggested I wean myself off the coffee drinks and take notice of how my body responded without caffeine.

Do you know how the rich get thin?

Not only do the rich including the likes of CEOs, socialites and celebrities know how to turn an idea/talent into a successful endeavor leading to a life filled with prosperity, fame and some of the priciest luxuries, they also know how to implement a strategic mindset that helps them stick with a weight-loss plan.

Yup, your mother was right. Her tips will help you achieve better health

Maturing from childhood to adolescence to adulthood is all about evolving through stages and various changes. It was interesting to experience the transitions from stage to stage. We quickly outgrew our shoes, struggled not to be seen with our pant slightly too short (or as we used to call them “high-waters”), hated those acne breakouts and undesired blemishes, and numerous other memorable challenges/experiences.

Maybe you had siblings that were there with you throughout the challenges of each stage. Maybe they sought to help you get though the stages with greater ease or possibly, they represented an added challenge as well. Whether you hated or loved them, siblings have played a big role, influenced many of our views about life and many of the decisions we have made.

What does natural fog have in common with brain fog?

Depending on where you live you may be more familiar with fog more so than others. Fog is created when a cloud comes in contact with the ground. For those of us that have ever attempted to drive in foggy conditions we recall how diminished our visibility was. Leaving us to feel we can barely see beyond the extent of our nose.

We typically cut on the headlights (maybe even the high beams), tend to be more cautious at intersections and wonder if the traffic light ahead is green or red. Who can really tell? What we know for sure is that fog minimizes our ability to function as freely as we would like. Ultimately, we end up feeling slightly uncertain of what our next move should be.

It’s time to welcome in the substitutes

Do you remember how news that a beloved teacher was absent would quickly spread through the school hallways? I do. I also remember during my early school days that soon after that rumor hit my ears feelings of dread would begin to set in. Oh no, not the substitute. I believe it is almost a reflex reaction to respond negatively to most things considered a substitute for what we really want.

In the end, the substitute really was not nearly as awful as we forethought. If we even allowed ourselves to be open (even a little bit), we realized the substitute was really okay and just another regular person.

The same is true for us now as adults, just being a little open to substitutes can lead us on a pathway of discovering healthier eating habits that are also (not God awful) but okay and very beneficial.

Emotional Well-Being: 4 Habits That Lead To Greater Happiness

Everyone wants to experience more happiness in his or her life, right? Do you know anyone that would say I’m as happy as I could ever want to be? If by chance you know of such a person, please have them to contact me and share their secrets. While my life is fulfilling with sprinkles of excitement and charity, I remain open to learning more secrets to greater happiness enjoyed by others. I recently explored an article titled The Happiness Factor it clearly identifies four habits that longevity experts say are at the heart of a sunny disposition--and that you can adopt, too. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that according to research, performing just five acts of kindness in a given day will provide a significant payback, which greatly exceeds the effort. And boosts your sense of well-being and happiness. I hope you will also enjoy implementing these habits and watching your happiness factor go way up.

Enjoy!

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Anti-Aging: Color Your Way to Better Health

Is it my imagination, or is it true, children are more drawn to a variety of bright colors than the average adult?  Children tend to pick out the brightest crayons in the box and off they go to create their next work of art.  Today we will learn how to create a masterpiece (in our diet) using gorgeous and colorful antioxidants of various hues.  We will discover how the beautiful colors of yellow/orange, green, blue/purple, red and white will influence our health and assist in our anti-aging desires and overall better health. Okay, let the class begin.

Enjoy!

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Which Exercises Deliver Big Results In A Small Amount of Time?

We all know that regular exercise significantly improves health, reduces fatigue, and keeps you looking and feeling great. But, who really feels like working out on a regular basis? Perhaps the reason we slack off on the exercise programs after just two weeks into the New Year, the beginning of summer or right after summer is because we’re simply not interested in the workout. Based on the areas of your body you want to work on and the amount of time you have to spend in the gym (or at home) every day, you can find a workout that you won’t dread when you think about it.

To Bragg or not to brag?

That is today's question. As children, many of us were taught by our elders not to brag about the things we had in our midst, or about the God given physical attributes, talents and skills we possess. Yes, we could enjoy all of those things but waving them in the face of others was thought of as a no-no.

Well, I have not come today to wrestle with that teaching and its meaning, but I have come to brag on Bragg. I have been “Bragging” for months and have inspired many others to do the same. Even my grandmother (who shared the do not brag teaching with me as a child), is now “Bragging” right along with me. Have I lost you? I certainly hope not. Give me just a moment to explain why I continue to Bragg on a daily basis.

Do You Know Which Food Choices Improve Mood & Energy?

Do you ever spend some or all of a day feeling particularly sluggish, despite having received a full night of restful slumber? Have you ever found yourself cranky and irritable, perhaps a bit stressed, without being able to determine why? You might want to look at what you've eaten, because many foods can have beneficial or adverse reactions to your overall mood.

Alexander Make Room for Ginkgo Biloba “The Great”

Have you experienced the amazing benefits of ginkgo biloba? Upon researching this wonderful herb several years ago, I quickly learned ginkgo is one of the most valuable herbs to boost brainpower and is best known to enhance memory. Seeking a solution to feeling my brain was a bit sluggish, fatigued and overworked; I decided to try it. A boost in my mental energy and an ease in concentrating on very detailed information was seen in just a matter of days. I was very happy with the results. It is now several years later and I am still taking ginkgo because of the many other continuous benefits it provides as well.

Do Food Choices, Brainpower and Diet Go Hand In Hand?

Have you ever considered the role that eating choices play in boosting your brainpower? We are all familiar with the old adage, “You are what you eat,” but for many of us, this usually does not hit home until we experience a health scare, are looking to lose some vanity pounds, or are concerned about possible obesity.

Tea Cup: Herbal Tea Bus Offers Starbucks Customers a Ride

I’m in the mood to make a confession today. It is important and meaningful for me to share that on a personal level; experiences prove that life really is a journey.  In addition, while on the journey the opportunity to evolve continues to extend its hand for me to take hold. I am formerly known as a happy Starbucks coffee addict. I also have to share it was not an exciting or easy transition to turn away from that tall cup with the comfort sleeve, extra hot, non-fat, decaf, mocha, and with no whip. My love affair with their designer coffee drinks began many years ago. Not to mention that I have logged more hours in their boutique cafes than I can reasonably calculate. How much money did I spend over the years?  Gosh, I have no idea and would be horrified if someone was able to provide me with that amount.

Quick & Innovative Workouts to Fit Your Busy Lifestyle and Fitness Goals

Are your days at the gym in short supply? Or do you simply need a more convenient way to squeeze in a new workout each day?  You may be surprised to know the web offers some wonderful choices with free workouts and exercise regimens. Getting in shape could not be easier when you can quickly download a podcast or video to motivate you.  If you are like many others, those Jane Fonda workout tapes you once used are now collecting dust.  Here are some resources to locate an innovative workout that fits your busy lifestyle and fitness goals.

Could A Raw Food Lifestyle Be Right For You?

Have you heard of the raw food diet (or movement) as a healthier way of living? Are you curious to learn how it works? What benefits do eating raw food provide? Do you want to know if you can try raw food on a small scale (without totally altering your current eating habits)?  Well, stayed tuned.

Tea Cup: Curb Cravings With Green Tea Helps The Body Burn Fat

Green tea has a long history of healthful benefits and its qualities are significantly more effective than black tea. Both teas come from the carnellia sinensis plant but green tea leaves are steamed rather than fermented like black and oolong teas. This prevents a powerful anti-oxidant, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), from being oxidized and therefore diminished.

Antioxidant Properties

Most of us have heard of the positive effects red wine can have on a fatty diet and its healthful benefits on heart disease. High amounts of catechins polyphenols, particularly EGCG, are present in green tea. And EGCG has twice as much resveratrol as red wine, making it a powerful weapon towards lowering cholesterol, inhibiting blood clots and negating the effects of a fatty diet.

Heat Up Your Fall & Winter With Hot Yoga

Looking for a new and interesting exercise experience? How about a way to stay warm and get some exercise this fall and winter?  Well I have something for you today.  As you well know, yoga has been around for thousands of years, but a new branch of the ancient Indian discipline is emerging–hot yoga. I know what you’re thinking: “Yoga in a sauna?” Not quite, but it is practiced in a room that is heated to 92 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  Is that warm enough for you?  (I first heard of hot yoga several years ago through a male co-worker.  He absolutely loved it!)

Cranberries Challenge Popular Myth Regarding "Size"

We have all heard that often-time "great things come in small packages."  Based on my own personal experiences in this life, I can honestly say many pleasant experiences have evolved from very small packages.

Many women have received an unwrapped and seemingly plain tiny box from their beau, opened it and laid their eyes on an absolutely gorgeous engagement ring. It is not uncommon for rings costing very sizeable amounts to come from the smallest and plainest of boxes. 

Tea Cup: Reach For Your Sweater and Ginger This Fall Season

As fall temperatures are being experienced across the country, many of us are reaching for a sweater, blazer or overcoat to insure we are warmly dressed. Feeling chilled all the way down to the bone is just not a comfortable thing. What I know for sure is this is the perfect time of the year to make ginger root tea.

Enjoying ginger root tea on these fall and upcoming winter days will be like enveloping yourself in a fluffy down comforter. Warmth will gently and thoroughly radiant through you.

Pineapples: The Healing Fruit of the Tropics

For a natural and tasty way to improve your health and boost your healing capacity, add fresh pineapple and pineapple juice to your diet. Pineapples are nutritionally packed members of the bromeliad family. This delightful tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain and the antioxidant vitamin C, both of which plays a major role in the body's healing process.

Bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory with analgesic properties, encourages healing, promotes well-being and has many other health benefits. Bromelain is very effective in treating bruises, sprains and strains by reducing swelling, tenderness and pain. This powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect can also help relieve osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and reduce postoperative swelling. Additionally, bromelain can relieve indigestion. The enzyme contained in fresh pineapple helps break down the amino acid bonds in proteins, which promotes good digestion.

The Stomach And Intestinal Tract Go Hand In Hand For A Healthy Life

Are you plagued with stomach cramps, pain in your abdomen, reoccurring heart burn, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation?  I certainly have experienced each one of these through my own life and I am sure you may have too.  These symptoms plague everyone at one point or another in their lifetime and are related to good digestion.  Good digestion includes both the stomach and our gastrointestinal tract (GIT). 
    

Cinnamon: For Spice and Good Health

The aromatic scent of cinnamon is powerful because it makes many people feel warm and fuzzy.  The health benefits of cinnamon have taken the backseat in favor of its spice properties. Many health    experts claim that a dash of cinnamon can be a way to add flavor to many dishes and at the same time improve one's health in many ways.  For centuries, cinnamon has been used for traditional medicine and other therapeutic purposes. Many studies have supported the ancient health claims of this spice. Cinnamon is most known to medical experts because of its ability to fight fungal infections, prevent ulcers, treat tooth decay and gum disease, and alleviate gum disease.   

Strap on Your Cape and Grab a Super Food, It's Going to Be a Long Day

Okay guys (and gals), how many of you remember watching cartoons in your childhood featuring your favorite super heroes? Did you ever dress up for Halloween as one of your beloved super heroes? Just putting on that costume made you feel bigger, stronger and more powerful, didn’t it? Maybe you were one of those children that tied a towel (or sheet) around your neck, ran across the room and pretended to fight some invisible ghosts or bad guys.

In addition, who can ever forget about the inspiration we all received from the beloved Popeye the Sailor Man? He surely knew what to turn to when extra power was needed to battle old Pluto. Well we are all grown up now, and for most of us, we do not have to fight off any ghosts or bad guys. However, some things remain the same, we find ourselves needing some extra power to make it through the long and demanding workday (and evenings!).