The Anti-Insomnia Juice

Finding it hard to have an 8 hour sleep? Perhaps you are the type that wakes up every forty-five minutes and needs another thirty minutes to doze off again? And we all know that there is nothing worse than suffering from annoying insomnia and the stressful effect it has on the rest of your days; the task of getting through a work day when you can barely keep your eyes open is painstaking, and makes you quite unpleasant to be around. This juice can help!

The Anti-Insomnia Juice.

Ingredients: 1 Cucumber, 1 in. Ginger Root, 1 Lemon, 1 Green Apple, 9 Asparagus Stalks.

Source: RawForBeauty

10 Simple Ways to Reduce Stress that Won’t Stress You Out!

Image: www.ecomarket.com

Here are 10 things you can do to reduce stress without adding more stress:

1. Just say no!  An overloaded and insanely busy schedule is often the main source of our stress.  You should look at all the things on your calendar and find anything that isn’t essential.  Don’t set yourself up for the sense that your life is constantly spinning out of control by over committing yourself.  You can and should decide how much activity is too much and learn to peacefully do less.

2. Focus on just one task at a time.  This simple strategy reduces stress and will also make you more effective.   If you are working on one project, don’t answer the phone or check email in the middle of that task.   Ask family members to respect this focused time of completing a task undisturbed and you will get things done faster without feeling overwhelmed by other projects screaming (sometimes literally) for your attention.

3. Let’s get physical.  There is a definite stress reducing benefit to exercise.  Find something you actually enjoy doing and just get moving.  Even if you can get in a 15 minute walk every day, it can have an impact on your stress levels and your sleeping patterns.

4. Prepare ahead.  If you get stressed in the morning chaos and worry about being late again, get organized the night before.  Feeling more prepared to start the day and getting off without raising your blood pressure will definitely decrease stress.

5. Take care of yourself.  Take a hot bath with soft music, drink a glass of wine by the fire and curl up with a good book.  When the stress of the day is catching up with you, stop and regroup.   Some people like to meditate, take a nature walk or take a nap. Find your calming activity and try to do it as necessary.

6. Take care of your money.  Finances can be a major stressor.  If you haven’t already, you should set up an automatic bill paying system. Look at ways to simplify that will also save you money. Find ways to have fun that don’t involve spending money.

7. Shop Online. Avoid the pushing, shoving, and parking trauma at the mall.  Sit back, pour yourself a nice cup of tea and let your fingers do the shopping. Search for websites that offer free shipping without minimum orders so you not only save on gas but you don’t have the added shipping costs.  Shop around and you’ll save money, time and reduce stress. I always check Amazon for great prices and you can get free 2 Day shipping with  FREE Amazon Prime.

8. Lighten up.  We often take ourselves and life’s surprises too seriously.  Laughter cures many woes.  Watch a good comedy or just find the humor in a crazy moment and laugh out loud.

9. Get rid of stuff.  Less really can be better.  If you get rid of clutter, a feeling of tranquility may enter that space.  For even more stress reduction donate the stuff to a charity and take the tax break. Win-Win.

10. Love the one you're with.  Focusing on relationships is always going to have you come out ahead.  It seems the more we focus on projects, houses or getting more stuff the more miserable, stressed and uptight we become.  Make the decision to spend more quality time and hold deep and meaningful conversations with your loved ones.  The benefits will be priceless.

Get healthier by visiting our blog at http://www.10TopHealthSecrets.com.

Healthy Blessings,

Sandy Scherschligt

Source: naturalnews.com

Heal-All Miracle Smoothie

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

This smoothie is a great heal-all. It contains ingredients that reduce inflammation, purify and cleanse the skin and liver, naturally boost our energy, improve the functioning of our immune system and help us de-stress. Best of all, it can be quickly made in the morning and super charge you for the rest of the day.

Ingredients:
- 1 cup organic raspberries
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 cups leafy greens of your choice (choose from butter leaf, romaine, kale, baby greens, sprouts, etc.)
- 2 ribs celery
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- water & meat from 1 young thai coconut
- 3-4 inches ginger
- LOVE

Put all ingredients into a high speed blender and pulse blend for 30 seconds. Enjoy!

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The Results Are In: Gardening Makes You Happy, Smart

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“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” – Alfred Austin

Gardeners have been knowing for centuries that their pastime gives them joy and peace. Many people will say that gardening is stress therapy. There is even a group called the American Horticultural Therapy Association “committed to promoting and developing the practice of horticultural therapy as a unique and dynamic human service modality.”

As with so many things, science introduces us to the physical wonders behind what we already know on a subliminal level. There are two interesting pieces of research that give credence to the feeling that our bodies and souls are better off from gardening.

Researchers reported in the journal Neuroscience that contact with a soil bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae triggers the release of serotonin in the brain. This type of serotonin acts on several different pathways including mood and learning. Lack of serotonin in the brains is related to depression.

So basically, the things we do as gardeners—working the soil, planting, mulching, and so forth—can really contribute to happiness. We ingest the bacteria by breathing or through broken skin. The simple act of children playing outside in the grass and dirt can be a natural way for them to reduce anxiety.

In addition to increasing happiness and reducing anxiety, serotonin has positive effects on memory and learning. Research presented at the American Society for Microbiology shows that feeding live M. vaccae bacteria to mice significantly improved their ability to navigate mazes, due to the fact that the bacteria triggers the release of brain serotonin. It appears that this bacterium plays a role in learning in mammals.

Have you noticed that you feel really happy when picking those ripe vegetables, especially that first tomato of the season? Well, it turns out that harvesting fruits and vegetables triggers the release of dopamine in the brain. It is speculated that this evolved over 200,000 years of humans harvesting food as hunter-gatherers. Dopamine is strongly correlated with reward-motivated behavior.

So there we have it, two physical reasons why people can be happier and smarter through gardening. I suspect there are several other other reasons contributing to this, including the myriad of colors in plants and animals, trees swaying in the wind, birds singing, squirrels chattering, lady beetles, and fresh air. Perhaps one day we’ll have scientific explanations for all this, but in the meantime we can take comfort in our innate feelings.


Source: RealFarmacy.com

Naturally Reduce Anxiety 4 Ways

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1. What to eat. 2. Herbs that help. 3. Supplementation. 4. How to relax. FOODS THAT REDUCE ANXIETY: Water. Staying hydrated is an important way to reduce anxiety symptoms. Vegetables. Filled with fiber and vitamins, these can help regulate your body. Fruits. Get your carbs and sugar from fresh fruit, not refined sugars. Foods rich in tryptophan. This natural relaxation component can do wonders for your anxiety. Look at poultry, oats, soy and sesame seeds to get a good dose. Foods rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Fish, flax seed and winter squash might help with anxiety and depression. Foods rich in magnesium. A crucial vitamin that most of the population lacks, this can be found in tofu and black beans.

HERBS THAT HELP: Here is a short list:
Chamomile. A natural sedative, chamomile can be added to teas for a calming effect.
Fennel. Though this might not help with anxiety itself, it can help alleviate the symptoms.
Kava. This is proven effective for moderate to severe anxiety.
Catnip. Just as it relieves stress and promotes relaxation for cats, this works for humans, too!
Motherwort. This relieves anxiety, and is safe for pregnant women.
Hops. This can help fight off stress, insomnia and headaches.
St. John’s Wort. Known for fighting depression, this one might also help with anxiety, as the two can go hand-in-hand.
Skullcap. This is a natural sedative used to treat anxiety, restless leg syndrome and even epilepsy.
Passionflower. Much like kava, and good for mild to moderate anxiety.
Valerian Root. A very effective sedative that soothes tension and stress.

SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP:
B Vitamins. B complex vitamins, especially B12 in hydroxocobalamin or methylcobalamin form, can help regulate the body’s response to stress. Foods high in B Vitamins include meats, fish, vegetables (especially leafy greens), whole grains and bran, beans and legumes, and certain nuts, including cashews and hazelnuts.
Magnesium. This mineral helps balance the neurotransmitters in the brain and keeps the nervous system working properly. You can take this as a supplement to get your recommended daily dose, and you can also get it from foods like bran, dried herbs, cocoa powder, seeds of the squash, pumpkin or watermelon, sunflower seeds and even molasses.

HOW TO RELAX:
The more relaxed you are, the better your body will be able to deal with anxiety. Here are a few ways to calm things down.

Massage and Acupuncture. Touch has been proven to help relieve stress and anxiety. Massage and acupuncture can help move energy through the body, as well as simply relax the muscles.
Breathing Exercises. Rapid breathing is a sign of an impending panic attack. Avoid this by practicing deep breathing techniques. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth, breathing deeply enough that your diaphragm moves up and down as you breathe. Practice this until it becomes second nature.
Meditation and Yoga. Studies – and thousands of people – have proven that yoga and meditation can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, lower heart rates, lower blood pressure and give you a general sense of well-being. You can do this with a class, or in the privacy of your own home.
Warm or Hot Baths. A warm bath can help relax the muscles, ease aches and pains and give you quiet time to think, all of which can reduce anxiety. To make it even more advantageous, add Epsom salts – your body can absorb magnesium while you soak.
If the anxiety continues or worsens even with these natural remedies, there might be an underlying cause. In that case, speak with your naturepath or physician.

Source: Dave Sommers

19 Stress Busting Techniques

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"Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don’t dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life."- Danzae Pace We've all fallen victim to workplace stress at one time or another. And some of us probably even called in sick because of a stress-related illness. Turns out that anxiety, stress and neurotic disorder cases are involved in the highest amount of long-term work loss, according to the Center for Disease Control. >More than half of workers report working under stress, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. This comes as no surprise, we are all too familiar with growing job dissatisfaction, heavy workloads, poor work/life balance and no mandatory vacation time. So arm yourself with these stress-busters and survive stress at work.

1. Throw your head back and shout loudly.

Shout and screaming is a great way to let go of all that pent-up tension that causes stress. Rather than risk being carted off to the asylum by shouting in the streets, let off some steam cheering on your local sport team, or heading to a sports bar. The added social contact will help you unwind even quicker.

2. Shake off jitters.

Speakers tense up in front of audiences because they fixate on how their limbs are moving. Their knees would shake, their voices would tremble, their thoughts would become jumbled… you know the rest. Warm up the link between the brain and body, however, and you'll stay more fluid. Shake out your arms and legs and make a motorboat sound (in private) with your mouth.

3. Recognize what you can and cannot change.

If you work in the stock market, you're going to be stressed that won't change. But if you make yourself crazy rushing for that 6:35 PM bus, simply get the next bus and save yourself some grief.

4. Break it down.

You're not Superman or Wonder Woman so don't act like one. Setting unrealistic goals only dooms you to failure, which fuels your stress levels. Try splitting a larger, seemingly insurmountable goal into smaller, more reachable targets. It’s far less stressful to aim to write three paragraphs before lunch than it is to complete a whole report by the end of the day.

Make to-do lists and tick of your accomplishments. This will make you feel less stressed as you will see how much you have already achieved and make you realize that no task is insurmountable.

5. Don't micromanage, delegate.

Again, don't try to be the hero. Effective managers delegate and don't micromanage. Prioritize your tasks to focus on the important ones. If you have subordinates, delegate responsibilities to them as much as possible. At home, hire someone to help with household chores or get your spouse and children to pitch in.

6. Play with your balls.

Stress balls that is. The act of squeezing a stress ball or a hand exerciser tenses the muscles in both your hand and your arm. Holding the ball for a second or two and then releasing it relaxes the muscle, causing the tension to leave your arm and hand, thereby relieving stress.

7. Keep cool under fire.

High-stress situations force us to bounce our attention between our inner thoughts - 'Oops, I'm screwed' and the task at hand. That rapid shifting makes everything feel like it's speeding up. Force yourself to focus by taking the time to jot down your plan what's wrong, and how will I fix it? – before you act.

8. Keep a golf ball or empty bottle.

Keep them for quick massages to relieve arch strain or foot cramps. This can be extremely soothing whether you work on your feet or at a desk. Foot massages are known to relieve tension, mental and physical stress, fatigue and headaches.

9. Brush it off.

If you can, paint your work space with calming colours such as soft blue. Research shows that exposure to shades of blue can lower blood pressure, improve sleep and reduce pain perception. In contrast, exposure to red light has the opposite effect, raising blood pressure and feelings of stress as it triggers release of adrenalin.

10. Reduce your distractions.

Your workspace should keep you motivated, not provide hot spots for daydreaming. Dress up your desk with items that keep you focused and place photos out of your direct and peripheral lines of sight. The effective use of space can not only increase your concentration but also reduce insomnia and stress.

11. Leave your work at work.

While we all want to appear the model employee, there is more chance of appearing so if you are not a sleep-deprived wreck, muttering in the corner. Aim to create a calm atmosphere at home by leaving your work worries behind, and try not to bring home any extra work, even if that means having to get to the office a bit earlier the next morning.

12. Be realistic.

Much of stress is self-induced from setting yourself ridiculously tight deadlines or by procrastinating. That work report will always take you twice as long as you had time-budgeted for once you factor in proof-reading, tea breaks, and the other ‘little things' like eating and sleeping. Take one thing at a time. Learn to prioritize urgent tasks and allot yourself enough time to complete your tasks, therefore reducing stress before it even starts.

13. Smiling is good, laughing is even better.

Nat King Cole had it right when he sang: Smile though your heart is aching. 'The brain cannot easily hold contrary emotional states simultaneously' so if you want to feel more smiley, then smile more. But if smiling is good, laughing is even better. A good belly laugh exercises your abdominal muscles and gets fresh air into your lungs. Think of it an internal workout.

14. Communicate.

It can be hard to do, but next time you have an issue with someone get it off your chest. Let your colleagues or manager know about it. They are human too, and don’t always see themselves for who they really are in the workplace. A friendly conversation expressing your emotions can do a world of good and can make things a whole lot better around the office. It won’t stop the overtime, it won’t increase the paycheck, and it won’t completely stop the griping. It can, however, make a job more enjoyable, build self-esteem, and engender a more positive attitude.

15. Take a break and walk away.

Or try to distance yourself from what is making you stressed. Counting to 10 will help you to move away from the situation mentally as well as giving you 10 valuable seconds to re-think the screaming-fit you were about to unleash on your unsuspecting co-workers.

16. Get organized.

You got up late and now have five minutes to leave the house. One of your shoes is in a tangle of bedclothes, the other in the cupboard under the stairs, and your brief case is no-where to be seen. Sound like you? Being organized will cut morning stress in half. Get into the habit of leaving your shoes, jacket and brief case by the front door and picking out what you want to wear the night before.

Make a list of everything you need to remember in the morning and set your alarm five minutes earlier, even if this means you just spend those five minutes in bed contemplating the day ahead.

17. Eat Nemo.

Australian researchers have discovered that eating oily fish such as salmon and sardines can help lower stress levels. This is because oily fish are jam-packed full of omega-3 fatty acids which help your nervous system to function properly and reduce the affects of hostility and aggression.

Most fish are also filled with stress-fighting vitamin B12 which plays a role in the production of serotonin; nature's Prozac.

18. Don't be afraid to take vacations.

Too much to do at work? Add another task to your list: take a vacation and relax. People can't operate at full throttle on the job day after day. When you do get away, leave your work cell phone and BlackBerry at home. You need to recharge so you can be at your peak when you get back to work.

19. Ask for help.

Look for signs that you're getting burned out. If you routinely zone out on the job, think that none of your work matters, or consistently dread going to work, it's time to get some help. So consider seeing a therapist or a career coach for guidance tailored to your own needs.

These tips for managing stress will help you change your actions and your outlook. Best wishes as you implement these ideas. Live a great stress-free life.

Source : Dave Sommers, Healthy Holistic Living

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Side effects of fluorescent light

Admit it, you don't like the cold, lifeless light that emits from these bulbs, but what you don't know may hurt you!

Better to vie for the warm welcoming glow of old school incandescent bulbs then to roll the dice with these bulbs that, if you dare break one, spew toxic matter all over the place.

-Headaches

-Migraines

-Eye discomfort

-Eye strain

-Enhanced tumor formation

-Contributes to agoraphobia 

-Endocrine disruption

-Increased stress

At the end of the day, natural sunlight is the best option because it brings a full spectrum of light frequencies.  The unbalanced light emitted from fluorescent bulbs has been studied thoroughly and it is a wonder why many government officials are pushing for regulations requiring their use over incandescent bulbs.  In fact, incandescent bulbs emit a more balanced spectrum light that is more similar to sunlight then fluorescent bulbs.  It is no surprise that many people are willing to pay more in electric bills and replacement in order to avoid the cold, lifeless glow of these mercury laden lights.

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Natural Cures Not Medicine 

"Nutrition is nature's health insurance."

5 ways vanilla heals

No, it is not just an ingredient in your favorite flan or french toast recipe.  Vanilla can heal and ease discomfort!

Here are a few positive effects on your health that you can expect from vanilla extract.

Regulates menstruation:  Adding vanilla extract to your diet could help if you have irregular menstruation cycles.

Reduces stress and anxiety:  Adding vanilla extract to a glass of water or milk can help calm you and reduce stress.  Since stress causes other health problems, reducing stress is getting at the cause.  Vanilla has even been used as a treatment for depression.

Helps with nausea:  One of the more popular applications for vanilla is as a natural stomach settler.  Again, put a few drops of vanilla extract in a glass of water and slowly drink it down when your stomach is upset.  It is also believed that vanilla extract can be used to treat fevers.

Helps with losing weight:  Some studies point to even just smelling vanilla extract as possibly helpful with losing excess weight, though nutrition is the foundation to weight loss.

source: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rawforbeauty/222272341214778

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