While most diets are designed to deprive people of food they may crave, a new concept has been developed centered on the idea of eating just about whatever you want, within reason.

Billed as Your Final Diet, Dr. Abby Aronowitz has written a book under that title which not only encourages people to change their thinking on dieting, it suggests being a little overweight might be good.

Abby’s diet even has a list of “healthy” junk foods she encourages users of her diet to eat. These snacks include all natural treats such as Garden of Eatin’ Sesame Blues tortilla chips, Smart Food popcorn and Newman’s Own Organics Champion Chip Cookies. These healthy junk foods are higher in protein and fiber and have no artificial chemicals in their ingredients lists. She has said her research at Columbia University showed artificial sweeteners can actually increase appetite. She also suggests ways of using chocolate to suppress an appetite.

Those using Abby’s diet plan learn to manage sugar, carbs and fat intake rather than eliminating them. Dr. Aronowitz has said everybody craves those elements of their diet, and eliminating them only leads to diet failure. This, in turn, can lead to yo-yo dieting and a poor outlook about themselves.

In an interview, Aronowitz said the USDA recommends women should consume about 1,600 calories per day. She encourages her patients to multiply that by seven for a weekly total of about 11,000 calories. Then, her patients are told they can eat just about whatever they want within the 11,000 calories, especially if they eat all natural foods.

Changing the mind set is also important to her plan. Those using her suggestions will be encouraged to ignore pressure to become unrealistically thin, learn being thin doesn’t mean being sexy and become good role models for children to teach them about food selection and positive body image.

Fitness is important too, and not just for thin people. Aronowitz says even those listed as overweight benefit from being more fit.

Dr. Aronowitz believes increased health comes less from worrying about losing weight and more from accepting your actual size, eating better and working on your overall fitness level. This also improves your self-image.

Article from: www.abbysdietsuccess.com

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Nothing beats a hot steaming cup of coffee in the morning. It stimulates the senses and wakens a tired body. It is one of the best ways to start a brand new day. Many people buy the cheap, mass produced coffee from the grocery store, but for only a few bucks more, you can get coffee that is better tasting and organically-grown.

Many of the manufacturing  and growing methods used to make non-organic coffee have been proven to damage the environment, through the use of  pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that is used throughout the growing process.

In order for organic coffee to claim its title and be sold as “organically-certified” in grocery stores and coffee shops throughout the United States, it has to follow a set of strict guidelines established by the US Department of Agriculture that regulates organic production.

Organic coffee must not use any synthetic pesticides or herbicides and the farmers must also have crop rotation systems in place to prevent soil nutrients from depleting along with sufficient pest control.

Given the nature of the organic coffee production process, its market is steadily climbing in the United States with total sales reaching close to 90 million in 2005, a nearly 50 percent jump from 2004. In addition, organic coffee is being sold by more specialty coffee firms than ever, a testament to its growing popularity.

Organic coffee continues to remain a premium product at, sometimes, extravagant prices. Currently, a 12 oz. bag of dark roasted shade grown, fair-trade organic coffee can climb upwards of $12 at your local grocery store. Light roasted organic coffee goes for about $3 less, depending on where you’re buying it from. Adding to organic coffee’s exclusivity is the size of the world organic coffee market which remains mired at less than 1% in all of the major coffee consuming countries.

Despite its status, organic coffee continues to be diverse, offering products that include coffee sodas, decaffeinated, caffeinated, and flavored coffees. Even though you may spend a few extra bucks, organic coffee is a safe alternative to the mass produced, environmentally unconscious coffees made today.

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Over 50 years have passed since Jacques Cousteau won worldwide acclaim and a Palmed’Or at Cannes for his film The Silent World – one of the few important environmental films ever to come out of France. Now, from director Jean-Paul Jaud comes Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution, a moving testament to one’s community’s fight for safe food production and a healthy diet for our children – and ourselves.

Food Beware begins with a visit to a small village in France, where the town’s mayor has decided to make the school lunch menu organic and locally grown. It then talks to a wide variety of people with differing perspectives to find common ground – children, parents, teachers, health care workers, farmers, elected officials, scientists, researchers and the victims of illnesses themselves. Revealed in these moving and often surprising conversations are the abuses of the food industry, the competing interests of agribusiness and public health, the challenges and rewards of safe food production, and the practical, sustainable solutions that we can all take part in. Food Beware is food for thought – and a blueprint for a growing revolution.

This eye-opening documentary features interviews with children, parents, teachers, health care workers, farmers, elected officials, scientists, and researchers. Food Beware takes a powerful look at the abuses of the food industry, the challenges and rewards of safe food production, and the practical solutions that everyone can take part in. This remarkable story of one community’s crusade to save their children’s health is both food for thought and a blueprint for a growing revolution.

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You may be asking what does Yin/Yang have to do with my life and well-being?

Everything in your life consists of both Yin/Yang energy. When these two energies are in harmony, health and well-being results. An imbalance causes dis-ease.

In essence, Yin/Yang are relative terms used to describe everything in your life. Everything around you and in you, has these energies. Nothing is purely Yin or Yang but contains both energies in varying amounts. You cannot have one without the other. Neither one is better, with both being needed for balance and well-being.

The basic idea of Yin/Yang is that the only constant in your world is continual change. In other words, nothing remains the same; no disease, no condition, no emotion, absolutely everything is continually changing. In the same way, Yin/Yang are in a constant state of change, complementing and opposing each other.

Yin literally means the ‘dark side of the mountain’ representing: darkness, night, coldness, stillness, winter, autumn, earth, moisture, passivity, femaleness, black, blue, silver, moon, water etc. Yin energy maintains and endures, it is nourishing and supports growth and development. Reflection and stillness create Yin energy.

Yang on the other-hand is translated as the ‘bright side of the mountain’ representing light, maleness, day, warmth, heaven, activity, sun, dominance, spring, red, orange, yellow, summer etc. Yang energy is creative and generating, it develops and expands; it is aggressive, dynamic and full of movement. The power of Yang energy is what drives creativity. Passion and fire fuel Yang energy.

The Yin/Yang energies within your body and within each organ need to be in balance for your body to function in harmony. If there is an imbalance with your body’s systems, with either too much Yin or too much Yang, you will experience disharmony or dis-ease. To achieve wellness, you need to balance work (yang) and play (yin) and indulgence (yin) and discipline (yang).

Chinese Medicine, ChiYo, shiatsu, feng shui, acupressure and acupuncture all apply these principles of Yin/Yang in restoring well-being.

Now that you under the concept of Yin/Yang, we will look at how this affects you in your every day life.

Everything in your life, whether it be the food you eat, your personality, your job, your activities, the music you listen to, your moods, your emotions, the colors around you, the climate where you live etc can all be defined as either having either mainly Yin or Yang energy. So it’s about balancing these two energies. In a state of good health, Yin/Yang harmoniously support and depend on each.

You can apply the principles of Yin/Yang to your every day life. For example, if you are constantly on the go, have a fast-paced career, participate in competitive sports, have a tendency to want everything yesterday and love to push yourself, all Yang qualities, to achieve internal balance and well-being, you need to include Yin energy i.e. meditation, yoga, ChiYo etc in your life.

If this balance is not achieved, then another factor comes into play and that is that if something is extremely Yin or Yang, then it will become its opposite. For example, excess Yang as the example given above, will eventually become a Yin condition leading to fatigue and exhaustion, forcing your body to achieve stillness and rest through illness.

Below are a few examples of Yin/Yang qualities in your life. These are intended to give an idea of how Yin/Yang features in your life. You will be able to determine which energy (Yin or Yang) is the most prevalent and which energy (the opposite) you need to include to achieve balance and well-being.

Are You Predominantly Yin or Yang?

Yin Personal Characteristics:

Yang Personal Characteristics:

Yin & Yang Actvities

Yin & Yang Careers

Yin & Yang Foods

In summer (Yang) increase your intake of Yin foods and vice versa.

Balance should be your goal if you want to achieve well-being. So listen to your body as it will always tell you what it needs to achieve this balance.

Article by Rosanna Commisso
Rosanna Commisso is the Founder of ChiYo Life. ChiYo is feng shui for your body. It is a gentle holistic practice developed by Rosanna Commisso that combines the healing and regenerative techniques of specific yogic breathing, standing meditation, flowing Chi energy movements with acu-massage to increase internal Chi, balance the yin and yang energies in the body and activate the chakra systems, healing body, mind and spirit. www.chiyolife.com.au

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Almond milk is a popular beverage in Medieval Europe and the Middle East. It has been proven to have many health benefits for those who are lactose intolerant. Here’s a simple guide to making your own almond milk at home.

Homemade Almond Milk Recipe

Ingredients Needed:

• Raw almonds, 1½ cups
• Filtered water, 4 cups

Soak almonds in water for minimum six to eight hours. Drain the water, and blend the almond with 4 cups of water, until it reaches a milk like consistency. Strain it to remove almond skin and granules. One can store almond milk in an air-tight jar in the refrigerator for four to five days. If you want it to be sweeter, then blend in a few soaked dates or add a small amount of agave nectar as well.

The Health Benefits of Almond Milk

Lactose Free — Lactose is the sugar found in cow’s milk. Many people are lactose intolerant, and consumption of milk causes abdominal discomfort, bloating and diarrhea. As almond milk is extracted from almonds, a nut, hence it’s plant derived and lactose free, and can be easily substituted everywhere where one might use cow’s milk which makes this one of the most important almond milk benefits. Soy milk and hemp milk are two more alternatives if you are lactose intolerant.

Homemade and Pure — As one can easily extract the milk at home without much effort, and also store it without using preservatives and additives, it would be right to say that consuming almond milk means to consume health, 100 percent!

It has already been proven that to increase milk production, cow’s are being injected with antibiotics and growth hormones. These unnatural additives can then lead to allergic reactions and toxic side effects in humans. In most extreme circumstances, these additives can even lead to the development of certain types of cancers.

Nutrition Packed — Almonds are protein rich, and full of vitamin E, magnesium, selenium, manganese, zinc, potassium, fiber, iron, phosphorus and calcium. Full of heart healthy flavonoids, almond milk helps lower LDL cholesterol and protect the heart. High levels of vitamin E, ensure powerful antioxidants in the body.

Antioxidants inhibit the growth of free radicals that are known to cause cancer. Almond milk contains many vital nutrients, unlike other milks, it doesn’t need to be fortified with vitamins and minerals. Almond milk is low in calories, contains no cholesterol and saturated fats, which helps make this nut milk very healthy and good for those trying to lose weight. Power packed with nutrients, almond milk will help you and your family stay fit and healthy.

A Word of Caution

Almond milk should not be substituted for breast milk. It does not provide the necessary adequate nourishment required for infant growth. For lactose intolerant babies, it would be best to consult your family doctor or a pediatrician on what would be best for your child.

Nuts like almonds also include goitrogens; this substance is known to suppress thyroid gland functioning by interfering with iodine uptake. The use of bitter almonds has also been cautioned against, as bitter almonds, when blended with water can release cyanide.

Buy good quality almonds, to not only extract its milk, but also for the many almond milk benefits. And if you don’t want to have it bland, add in some chocolate or vanilla flavor to create an instant yummy healthy drink!

Related Articles:

• List of Different Types of Nuts
• Soy Milk: The Benefits vs. The Dangers
• The Health Benefits of Organic Hemp Milk
• How Cow’s Milk Can Sabotage Your Metabolism

Source: NatureWise

With so many different sizes, styles, prices and systems available for garden compost bins how do you choose the bes one for your garden? There are a few simple things to keep in mind to ensure your new composter is right for you and your garden.

The choice of commercially available ready-made garden compost bins is endless. Plastic, wood, mesh, static, open, covered, spinning, rolling, wormery or fermenting system. How on earth do you know which garden composter to choose?

First things first, do not panic too much. If you are new to garden composting, rest assured that any bin your choose will make you great garden compost. Organic matter wants to decompose and break down. Even if you used no bin at all, and just piled it all up in the corner of the garden, you would end up with compost. The speed and efficiency at which humus is produced may vary considerably with different garden composting systems, but the end result will be the same eventually.

Price & Size

The primary considerations when choosing a garden compost bin should be price and size. Your budget will determine whether you can even consider the more flamboyant multi-chamber rotating composters, or if you will need to stick with basic static models. There is no point in dreaming of new super-fast systems if you do not have the budget for it.

Decide your price range and stick with it. The cheapest composters work, and often the more basic are the longest lasting so do not stress yourself with what you would have, just look at what you can have.

Does Size Matter?

The size of the bin is also key. There is absolutely no point in buying a huge container if you do not have huge amounts of organic debris to put in it. Be realistic. You want to be able to fill any bin within six months and ideally within three. Multiple bins are always preferable because once a container is full it will need to be left for at least a few months. So, you will need another bin to start filling.

The Speed of Composters

The speed at which you want to make compost may impact on your purchasing decision. The quickest way to produce garden compost outside is with a spinning compost barrel. Used correctly with regular mixing of the garden waste and kitchen scraps, these can make your compost within eight weeks. Speed does not really matter in the longer term, because once you start making your own garden compost you will always have some being made and some finished. But, in the early stages it is beneficial to get some made quickly for an immediate return on your investment.

How Important Are Looks?

Considering how ugly some bins are, probably the last thing people really consider are the looks of any system. If your garden is a large one, that’s fine as you can hide an ugly bin and not worry about it. But, most gardeners will find their bin is on view from some part of the garden.

For this reason what the bin looks like should be taken into account much more than seems to be the case. If you can afford a beautiful product brilliant. But, if like most gardeners you are faced with buying a cheap but effective plastic bin think about the color of it at least. Black disappears into the background, so an ugly black composter will be much less noticeable than a more stylish bright green one. Simple, but true.

Traditional Composting Systems vs. Worm Composting

Try not to be swayed too much towards worm composting or kitchen compost bins if you have the room and use for an ordinary garden composter. These should be chosen if a compost pile in the garden is not an option, or if you are looking for an additional composting system to use in conjunction with a traditional garden compost bin. Both those systems are great, because they recycle food scraps so effectively but they are much more effective when used in addition to a garden bin for the bulky waste.

I must reiterate, do not stress about the type of garden compost bin too much. They all work and the chances are you will want another one in a few years so you can try a different one then! Once you start garden composting there just never seems to be enough so most gardeners use several systems alongside each other.

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