Here are my four top tips for helping your children to stay healthy and avoid illnesses in the new school year.

The foods that make kids the sickest are sugar and dairy.  

1.  Avoid dairy

If you can possibly raise them without milk products, you will prevent the most common mucus conditions, especially colds and ear infections.  Milk is a great mucus producer;  bacteria love living in it, and casein, the protein in milk, is commonly used in laboratories to set up bacterial cultures.  Cheese is just as much of a problem, and yogurt is little better.  And it’s not because of the fat – in fact, butter does not bring on infections, according to my observations – it is the protein and the calcium, which in cow’s milk are intended to help baby cows become big cows (or steer), and are excessive for humans.

2.  Don’t reward them with sugar

If you can avoid giving your kids sugared foods – including sugared breakfast cereals, cookies, cake, candy, and ice cream – you will allow their immune systems to do a better job of keeping them healthy.  Sugar is known to depress the immune system, and what is worse, it is really addictive.  According to a recent study at the University of Bordeaux, France, it appears to be more addictive than cocaine.  I know that we tend to reward the children with sweet goodies, but that habit is perhaps best reconsidered – crayons, balloons, comic books or nuts and raisins might be a better idea for rewards.

3.  Give them lots of protein

To keep the kids healthy, they also need to eat sufficient protein (some in each meal, such as fish, chicken, meats, or beans and legumes), with lots of vegetables both cooked and raw, as well as good quality fats (extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, organic butter).  See my post on protein breakfasts for more advice.

4.  Make sure they get plenty of rest

Most importantly, they need enough sleep and rest, which will allow their bodies and their brains to recuperate and restore, as well as grow.  Lack of sleep is one of the major causes of stress and illness.

So there you have it:  feed them well, keep them off the ice cream and sweets, and make sure they sleep enough, and they will avoid many illnesses.
 

No shoes in the house (as most household dirt, pesticides and lead come in on your shoes)

• Go barefoot or wear slippers

Place floor mats vertically by your entryways to wipe your shoes

• This way more dirt and residue from your shoes stay on the mat

Keep the air clean

• Keep your windows and doors open as much as possible to ventilate
• Have your air ducts and vents cleaned with nontoxic cleaners
• Get a portable air cleaner/purifier, especially for the bedrooms
• Use green plants as natural air detoxifiers
• Remove odors with baking soda
• Use fresh flowers or bowls of herbs like rosemary and sage to add a pleasant fragrance to rooms

Be conscious of the potential for carpeting to hold toxins

• Use natural fiber wool & cotton rugs
• If possible, replace your wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors, all natural linoleum or ceramic tiles
• Use nontoxic glues, adhesives, stains or sealers for installation

Keep house dust to a minimum (as more dust means more toxins).

• Mop all surfaces at least once a week
• Vacuum carpets with a vacuum cleaner (with a HEPA filter, preferably) HEPA-filter vacuums capture the widest range of particles and get rid of allergens

Avoid excess moisture (as it encourages the growth of mold and mildew)

• Check areas for moisture accumulation or leaks (particularly basements)
• Regularly clean surfaces where mold usually grows – around showers and tubs and beneath sinks

Get a shower filter (as many contaminants in tap water become gases at room temperature)

• A shower filter can help keep these toxins from becoming airborne

Get a water filter (as more than 700 chemicals have been identified in drinking water)

• Filtering your tap water is better than drinking bottled water

Switch from the standard household cleaning products to cleaner and greener ones

• These don’t damage your health nor the environment’s as much and work as well as the mass marketed ones. You can also use basic ingredients you have around the house, for instance, you can use vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. According to our very own blogger, Annie Bond, the author of “Better Basics For The Home” you can clean anything with water and these 5 basic ingredients: Baking Soda, Washing Soda, Distilled White Vinegar, Vegetable based liquid Soap eg Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap and Tea Tree oil

Use Plastics wisely (as some contain BPA, which is linked to cancer).

• Avoid plastic food packaging (when you can)
• Don’t wrap food in plastic
• Don’t microwave food in plastic containers
• Choose baby bottles made from glass or BPA-free plastic
• Stay away from children’s toys marked with a “3″ or “PVC.”

Avoid non stick pans, pots, bakeware and utensils (because they contain Teflon)

Clean out your medicine cabinet (personal care products are loaded with toxins)

Seal or replace particleboard walls, floors or cabinets (as they contain formaldehyde, which causes sensitivity)

• Avoid plywood, fiberglass, fiberboard and paneling

Tell the dry cleaner not to use the plastic wrap (as the plastic traps the dry cleaning chemicals on clothes and in your closet)

• Let your dry cleaning air out (preferably outside) before storing it
• Use “wet cleaning” if you are lucky enough to have it in your area

Avoid toxic pest control in your home and toxic lawn chemicals in your garden

• These lawn chemicals get inside on your shoes

When painting indoors, use latex (water based) or other least toxic brands

• Open all windows to ventilate

And most important, no amount of environmental toxins are as important as emotional toxicity. You can do all the above, but if there is a house full of anger, resentment, jealousy, hurt and a lack of love, compassion and forgiveness, the house will remain toxic

The short answer is yes because common household and body-care products are increasingly being found to have negative health effects on the nervous and immune systems, on our reproductive systems and on our endocrine, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The average home contains 500-1,000 chemicals, many of which we are unable to see, smell or taste. While these chemicals may be tolerated individually and in small doses, problems can arise when one is exposed to them in combination or in larger doses. Everyone’s tolerance level is different depending on genetics, nutritional status and previous contacts with many chemicals, but the negative effects of household toxins are often compounded by the use of other drugs especially the habitual use of alcohol, or prescription or recreational drugs.

Indoor air is typically 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Home insulation, so wonderful for keeping our homes warm in winter and cool in summer, doesn’t allow fresh air in, so we’re constantly breathing in the same stale air. Wall to wall carpeting keeps us cozy, but can introduce a myriad of toxins to our well insulated homes. It can also trap dirt, fleas, dust, dust-mites and lead.

Many of the cleaning products we use to clean our furniture, bathrooms, windows etc. are full of toxic chemicals, some of which do not even appear on the labels. Similarly with the many personal-care care products we put on our skin and the pet-care products we use on our pets.
Most tick and flea products contain active ingredients and solvents that might cause cancer in animals. Also, substantial human exposure is possible by absorption through the skin, while playing with and handling the pet.

The pesticides we use on our gardens eliminate not only plant pests but also most of the insects that are beneficial to help control these pests. Of the 30 most commonly used lawn chemicals, 19 have studies pointing toward cancer and 15 are known to cause nervous system poisoning.

This is not to say that we should not keep our houses comfortable and clean and our yards looking good. What’s important is to understand that how we do this can have an important impact on our health. Abundant toxins can and do lead to health problems.

The media is abuzz with the latest research news on the potential impact of cell phone use on human health. The most recent research study by the Radiation Research Trust, a UK-based charity, focuses on the health effects of electromagnetic fields from wireless technologies. The report released on August 25th, 2009, and signed by global researchers, builds on the work by Swedish researchers that was presented in September 2008 at the first international conference on mobile phones and health, headed by Professor Lennart Hardell of the University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden. The Swedish study stated that “children and teenagers” are five times more likely to get brain cancer if they use mobile phones”. The report, experts say, raises fears that today’s young people may suffer an “epidemic” of the disease in later life.

The European Parliament voted last year by 522 to 16 to urge ministers across Europe to bring in stricter limits for exposure to radiation from mobile and cordless phones, Wi-fi and other devices, partly because children are especially vulnerable to them. Children are more at risk because their brains and nervous systems are still developing and because – since their heads are smaller and their skulls are thinner – the radiation penetrates deeper into their brains.

The following is from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Based on Advice from an International Expert Panel

Analysis Of Recent Studies

Electromagnetic fields generated by cell phones should be considered a potential human health risk. Sufficient time has not elapsed in order for us to have conclusive data on the biological effects of cell phones and other cordless phones — a technology that is now universal.
Studies in humans do not indicate that cell phones are safe, nor do they yet clearly show that they are dangerous. But, growing evidence indicates that we should reduce exposures, while research continues on this important question.
Manufacturers report that cell and wireless phones emit electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic fields are likely to penetrate the brain more deeply for children than for adults.

Modeling in the diagram below estimates that young children are more susceptible to electromagnetic fields due to smaller sized brains and softer brain tissue.

1) Electromagnetic fields from cell phones are estimated to penetrate the brain especially in children.

Figure 1. Model estimate of the absorption of electromagnetic radiation from a cell phone based on age (Frequency GSM 900 Mhz) (On the right, color scale showing the Specific Absorption Rate in W/kg).

2) Living tissue is vulnerable to electromagnetic fields within the frequency bands used by cell phones (from 800 to 2200 MHz) even below the threshold of power imposed by most safety standards ( 1.6 W/Kg for 1g of tissue), notably an increase in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and an increased synthesis of stress proteins.

The most recent studies, which include subjects with a history of cell phone usage for a duration of at least 10 years, show a possible association between certain benign tumors (acoustic neuromas) and some brain cancers on the side the device is used.

However, human epidemiological studies on cell phones conducted to date cannot be conclusive. Due to their recently increased use, we are not yet able to evaluate their long term impact on health. Even where an association between exposure and cancer is well established and the risk very high — as with tobacco and lung cancer — under similar study conditions (in other words with people who smoked for less than 10 years) it would be difficult, if not impossible, to identify an increased risk of cancer, as the risk appears mostly 15 to 35 years later.

The Ten Precautions

Given the absence of definitive proof in humans of the carcinogenic effects of electromagnetic fields of cell phones, we cannot speak about the necessity of preventative measures (as for tobacco or asbestos). In anticipation of more definitive data covering prolonged periods of observation, the existing data press us to share important prudent and simple measures of precaution for cell phone users, as have been variously suggested by several national and international reports.

These measures are also likely to be important for people who are already suffering from cancer and who must avoid any external influence that may contribute to disease progression.

1. Do not allow children to use a cell phone except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.

2. While communicating using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet.
Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a headset attachment may also reduce exposure.

3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone’s electromagnetic fields.

4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on “flight” or “off-line” mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.

5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, it is preferable that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside of your body. Depending on the thickness of the phone this may provide a minimal reduction of exposure.

6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure. For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.

7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.

8. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.

9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.

10. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for “sar ratings cell phones” on the internet.

Conclusion

The cell phone is a remarkable invention and a breakthrough of great social importance. Our society will no longer do without cell phones. None of the members on the expert committee has stopped or intends to stop using cell telephones. This includes Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, a 16 year survivor of brain cancer. However, we, the users, must all take precautionary measures in view of recent scientific data on the biological effects of cell phone use, especially those who already have cancer.

In addition, manufacturers and service providers must also assume responsibility. It is their responsibility to provide appliances and equipment with the lowest possible risk and to constantly evolve their technology in this direction. They should also encourage consumers to use their devices in a way that is most compatible with preserving their health.
In the early 1980’s, the owners of asbestos mines were reduced to bankruptcy as a result of lawsuits brought by the families of deceased exposed workers. A few years later, a key executive of Johns Manville, the most prominent company, drew lessons from the years of struggle of his industry against medical data and the scientists who were drawing attention to the risks of asbestos. He concluded with regret that greater warnings for the public, the establishment of more effective precautions, and more extensive medical research “could have saved lives, and probably also shareholders, the industry, and the benefits of its product.”

We call on the cell phone companies to provide independent access to records of use so that appropriate studies can be carried out.
That is what we wish for today’s cell phone industry. We do not need to ban this technology, but to adapt it – to harness it – so that it never becomes a major cause of illness.

A friend once asked me: “If you were stranded on an island and could only have three foods and all foods were equally nutritious, which three foods would you choose?” I wasn’t sure about the other two, but my favorite food is definitely watermelon.

Watermelon is a great cooling food on a hot summer’s day. It’s easy to prepare—just cut it! And nearly everyone likes it. But that’s only the beginning. It’s fat-free, unprocessed, natural, and low in calories. Watermelon is loaded with nutrients and health benefits. Just one cup of watermelon has 25% of our daily vitamin C needs, 10% of vitamin A and B6, 7% of B1, and about 5% of magnesium and potassium. It’s also loaded with the anti-oxidant lycopene. Lycopene has been shown to protect against cancers including: prostate, breast, colon, endometrial, and lung. It’s also been shown to reduce inflammation in asthma, and arthritis. Studies also show that eating at least three servings of fruit each day can protect against macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in adults. Watermelon is a delicious summer-time way to fulfill that.

My favorite way to prepare watermelon is to just cut it in edible sized pieces and leave the rind on it. If you want to be fancy, make a watermelon basket.

Making a Watermelon Basket

1. Wipe off the watermelon with a damp cloth. (Sometimes they still have dirt on them.)
2. Cut a sliver off the bottom so it will sit better.
3. Take a marker or pencil and draw a line a bit above half-way around the watermelon.
4. Also mark a place for a handle and make it about 1-1/2 to 2 inches wide.
5. Then take a sharp knife and carefully cut along the outside of the “handle” in a zig-zag
   shape if you want to be fancy, and straight if you don’t care about being fancy.
6. Once you’ve cut out the handle, continue cutting on each side of it to finish making the
   basket. (zig-zag or straight)
7. Take a melon-baller or a sharp knife and hollow out the watermelon. Put the pieces in a
   bowl while you are doing this.
8. Then either put the watermelon pieces back into the basket or mix with other summer
   fruit—like other melons, berries, peaches, plums, nectarines, grapes, and more.
9. Eat and Enjoy the summer day.

Recently I was on an airplane watching a show in which two adult women were discussing a falling out they’d had. One of the women, upon being confronted with a description of her behavior, replied by saying “Well, that’s just HOW I AM and I can’t change that.” Once I finished judging her for her ridiculous closed-mindedness, I came to realize that I’ve used this excuse hundreds of times myself. So I began writing this down: There’s a choice here that we can explore. None of us are any ONE way. We choose who we are, moment to moment, day to day and year after year.

A close-to-home example: in the heat of a recent error in judgment on my part, I indulged in typically self-punishing, exhausting thinking. However, for the first time in my adult life, I actually stopped to breathe — and sensed the dramatically escalating inner pain literally squeezing my heart. I felt the tension emanating through my torso and down into my hands. For the first time, in that moment, I ASKED, in the silence of my own heart, for an opening. And I received that opening; from there I entered into a state of inquiry.

What IS this feeling? Can’t I just be sorry and move onward without this wild need to punish myself with sabotaging thoughts or actions?

I leaned over the metaphorical edge of the well of self-judgment, and instead of plunging into the usual damaging free-fall, I held myself still. I remembered a line from a great track, “Live through this, and you won’t look back.” I got really quiet inside, and the moment passed through, releasing my heart on its way out.
In the asking, I realized that trajectory from damaging thought to damaging behavior is simply NOT a path for me anymore. At my heart, I’m NOT a person who needs to be punishing herself with self-blame and self-destruction for making mistakes. It’s simply been a choice I’ve made in the past.

My point is, when I ceased to engage with my “usual” tendencies, and truly paid attention to what those habitual thoughts were doing to me, they ceased holding me hostage. In that moment of choice, I realized that those expressions of self-loathing were actually inefficient attempts at deflecting attention away from my actions! Using this well-honed but very destructive escape hatch of “hating myself” to avoid taking responsibility, I’d actually found a way to make those around me feel bad for me. In lieu of a clear-eyed apology, I’d make it even more about me.
So to set an efficacious example for my son, instead of now stating “that’s how I AM,” I have chosen to change gears. In that moment, instead of transforming my mistakes into an inappropriate, attention getting self-hatred session…I just apologized.

Please pardon that digression; that’s a whole lot of information to arrive at a constructive choice, which I can hopefully convey in the following contemplations.

My questions:

• What are the words I use to tell others about myself?
• How do those descriptions of myself shift when I am talking to someone I’d like to impress?
• Especially in a heated moment, when I know I’ve erred, do I try to escape an apology?

With these questions, I’ve chosen to starkly observe the ways in which I have sabotaged my own free will. I have chosen to identify the way I have, until now, chosen to negatively alter my own state of being. I stand still, and choose not to be too hard on myself. I have taken to remembering that I needn’t be a slave to what has, until now, always been true.
I want (and need) to be making choices about who and how I am.
Now.
Today.

It is a given that stress negatively affects our health. It is therefore important 1) to be aware that we have entered into a state of stress, and 2) to have self-care skills, such as meditation, to reduce the stress state rather than just suffer it. Without awareness, we can live in or near a state of stress all day long, even extending into a restless night and bad dreams.

The list below gives you a guideline to know if you are in a state of stress. You will notice that stress is not just perceived in your body, but in the state of your thoughts and feelings. Use this list to increase your awareness of stress and your signal to practice self-care.

Stress shows up in your mind as

• Hypervigilance
• Judgmental critique of others and/or self
• Inflexible thinking, black and white thinking
• Frantic defense of opinions
• The need to always be right
• Inflated and arrogant self-image
• Worrying
• Chronic refusal to decide, maintenance of confusion
• Inability to focus, numbed mind
• Active search for distraction
• Victimized thinking
• Isolative self-absorption
• Hyper-skepticism, cynicism

Stress shows up in your feelings as

• Easy to anger, rage
• Aggressiveness
• Fake performance of feelings
• Denial of hurt and vulnerability
• Restlessness, impatience
• Desire to dominate
• Helplessness
• Hopelessness
• Overwhelmed

Stress shows up in your body as

• Hypertense vascular system
• Tension headaches
• Gastro-intestinal disturbances such as acid reflux
• Rigid diets, anorexia
• Body armoring and stiffness, e.g., neck pain and low back pain
• Workaholism
• Willful forcing of body to exceed limits (i.e., risk taking, extreme sports)
• Spent, Low energy
• Repetitive self-soothing such as excessive masturbation
• Eating too much, stuffing

If you notice a pattern of any of these stress states in your life, it’s time to learn self-care skills such as meditation. Meditation has solid research proving its positive effect on your mind, feelings and body. In the face of a world filled with sources of stress, we are approaching a point where self-care skills such as meditation are not just a nice idea but a daily necessity.

Richard Schaub, Ph.D., is director of the Huntington Meditation and Imagery Center, Huntington NY.

By Christiane Northrup, M.D.

“Deliberately pursue Pleasure”

Listen Closely. I want to let you in on a big and very well kept health secret. Ready? Here it is. The active and deliberate pursuit of pleasure—and the ability to receive it—are essential ingredients in creating and maintaining optimal health. Please read that again. And take a moment to remember the last time you really soaked in something pleasurable.

I know, I know. You think you’re too busy to experience pleasure. Or maybe the thought of pursuing pleasure as an important goal makes you feel guilty. (The term guilty pleasure comes to mind immediately, right?) Here’s the deal: Most of us were brought up to believe the “no pain, no gain” theory of health. Me, too. It’s ingrained in our culture. Last year I went to a Blue Angels air show at the Brunswick Naval Air Station. A Marine walked by me with the following message emblazoned on his T-shirt: “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” The subtext of this sentiment is that anything pleasurable is suspect and probably won’t get you anywhere. The “no pain, no gain” approach has its place. We are all capable of far more than we think we are. And there’s nothing like a crisis to bring out the best in human nature. We all remember the teacher who refused to accept less than our best and therefore helped bring it out of us.

“Maintain a balance”

But there has to be a balance. Too much “no pain, no gain” without the much-needed presence of pleasure is a setup for disease and addiction—pure and simple. Here’s why: We are pleasure-seeking creatures by Divine design. Just watch a bunch of little kids playing and you’ll see the truth of this. Our organs work better when we’re happily pursuing pleasurable activities—or thinking pleasurable thoughts. Pleasure is not only associated with better blood flow throughout the body, it’s also associated with higher levels of the neurotransmitter beta-endorphin—a naturally occurring morphine-like substance that dulls pain and induces a feeling of euphoria. Prolactin is another neurotransmitter that is also associated with pleasure. Like beta-endorphin, this natural substance is enhanced during pleasurable social interactions, while breastfeeding, and also during lovemaking.

“Include regular doses of pleasure in your day-to-day life”

When we follow a stressful lifestyle that’s devoid of regular pleasure, blood flow gets restricted throughout the brain and body—and our beta-endorphin and other neurotransmitter levels plummet. We’re left feeling depressed, sad, angry, or irritable as a result. So what do we do to get those levels back up fast? We reach for the quick fix of sugar, alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, or drugs. (And we justify this behavior by telling ourselves we “deserve” that hot fudge sundae because we’ve worked so hard.) Imbibing the sugar, or alcohol, or nicotine does make us feel better for a short time by balancing our brain chemistry. The problem is that over time, the body requires more and more of these substances to give us the same “high.” And that’s how addiction and disease begins. The bottom line is this: You cannot create the healthy sustainable beta-endorphin and blood flow levels that are associated with optimal health solely by taking mood-altering substances. The only way to achieve a feeling of optimal well-being within your body is by including regular doses of pleasure in your day-to-day life!

Here’s my step-by-step program to enhance your health through pleasure:

Step One: Make a commitment to your pleasure

Understand that all sustainable pleasure requires discipline, courage, and practice. Why? Because we live in a pleasure-starved culture that worships pain and suffering. Some people even believe that suffering is holy. And nearly every one of us has been led to believe that suffering and martyrdom actually buys us something—that somehow it makes us better people. No one leaves our planet without some pain and suffering. That’s for sure. But making pain and suffering a way of life—and being proud of it—does nothing but cause more pain and suffering. This has been called indulging in “negative pleasure.” Here’s an example: Have you ever worked in a job where everyone brags about how much work they have to do or how busy they are? Have you ever found yourself trying to “up” the ante of suffering by saying something like “You think you’ve got it bad? Listen to what happened to me. Last week my car broke down, I had to walk to work, and I still put in 12 hours?” If you want more happiness and enjoyment in your life, you have to catch yourself indulging in “negative pleasure” and stop.

Step Two: Name your bliss and follow it

To know sustainable pleasure, you must know what you desire—what lights you up! And you must also learn to trust those desires. I believe that our souls speak to us through our desires, and that we discover our unique gifts and talents only by allowing ourselves to follow our bliss. After all, desire is what created our bodies in the first place. We were conceived with an orgasm—the entire universe started with a big bang.
Articulating your specific desires and then manifesting them uplifts the entire planet. Get as specific as possible. Make a list. Do you like sexy, red underwear? Then go get some. And wear it regularly. Do you like to begin your morning quietly with a cup of coffee and a little inspirational reading? Then get up five minutes earlier to indulge in this pleasure. Do you love massage? Make sure you get a massage at least once a month. And if you can’t afford it, exchange a back rub or foot rub with your spouse or a good friend on a regular basis. To add more pleasure to your life, write down a list of your desires. Have fun thinking about everything you like.

In his wonderful book The Power of Pleasure (Hay House, 2007), Dr. Douglas Weiss points out that everyone has a unique pleasure blueprint—a specific way in which they experience pleasure. For some, pleasure comes through thrill seeking. They adore fast cars and extreme sports. Life just isn’t fun without indulging this pleasure zone regularly. For others, gardening and digging in dirt is a primary pleasure zone. Others experience pleasure through service.

One of my primary pleasure zones is taking a hot bath each evening. Whenever I travel, I insist on staying in a place that has a tub. I also love going to movies in theaters where I can get lost in the experience (and I’m not distracted by the phone or the lure of “multi-tasking,” which happens when I watch movies at home).

Step Three: Schedule pleasure into your life with the same regularity as you would brushing your teeth

Married couples who hire a babysitter and have regular “dates” each week, for example, find far more joy and pleasure in their relationship than couples who don’t take the time to enjoy the pleasure of each other’s company.

Step Four: Pleasure begins with your thoughts. Pay attention to them

Change the ones that aren’t pleasurable the minute you notice them. (Remember, this is a discipline that takes practice.) Here’s why this is so important. Thought plus emotion equals belief. Your beliefs are what create your reality and your state of health. Beliefs, which are felt primarily in the heart, transmute the invisible realm of spirit into the particles that make up matter.

Every thought you think creates a specific biochemical reaction in your body and also attracts specific events into your life. And guess what? When human DNA (that’s been isolated) is in the presence of positive emotions it begins to relax and unwind. Then it begins to create another molecule that is, itself, conceived in pleasure, appreciation, and love.

Try out this thought: “I am a highly desirable, sexy woman.”

How does that thought feel in your body? Good, right?

Now contrast how that feels with this thought: “I am a middle-aged woman whose best years are behind her. It’s too late for me to feel sexy or happy.”

Which thought is associated with better blood flow and more “feel good” chemicals? I’m sure you know it’s the first.

Your power to live a pleasurable, prosperous life lies in your willingness to focus your attention on thoughts, people, places, and events that are joyful, fun, sexy, and uplifting.

Step Five: Expect resistance.

The minute you decide to bring more pleasure and joy into your life, resistance will show up. Expect this. It’s a good sign!

When grief or sadness shows up, feel them for a bit and then do something pleasurable. Call a friend, watch a good movie, or get out and take a walk. You want to do something to move energy, something that feels better.

To create more pleasure in your life, you actually have to feel pleasure of some kind. Stop right now. Caress your hand with your other hand in a way that feels pleasurable. There. You’ve done it. You’ve created pleasure. Now do your feet. If you want to take it higher, put on some great music and dance around the room. That automatically increases pleasure—and also helps prevent cardiovascular disease and can burn fat!
Grieve your losses and let go regularly. You have to feel it to heal it. Every loss that isn’t grieved fully stays with us. Time doesn’t heal these losses. They wait for us to feel them and release them. We don’t get over them until we really grieve.

Anger is often a cover-up for loss and grief. It’s easier to be angry with someone or at someone than to feel sadness.

When we really grieve, forgive, and let go, we begin to recover who we really are. And then the miracle happens: more light comes into our lives than we could ever have imagined before. And we’re able to feel even more pleasure.

Step Six: Spread pleasure around and you’ll receive even more.

One of the most meaningful and Divinely pleasurable things I’ve done in the past year is both teach at and participate in Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts in New York City. My daughters have joined me in this transformational work, which my sister-in-law calls “personal growth on steroids for women.” Mama Gena (aka Regena Thomashauer) has created a curriculum that teaches women how to use pleasure to transform the world. We all know the old adage, “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Well, the opposite is also true. When women are happy, everyone is uplifted and happy!

One of the core concepts of the School of Womanly Arts is the amazing power of women to uplift and approve of each other. (You won’t find any backbiting or jealous put-downs there.) As a result of my experiences at Mama Gena’s, I now realize the incredible value of openly appreciating another woman (or man). So when I see something about a woman (or man) that is pleasing to me—I tell them! If I see a woman waiting in line or walking down the street and her dress or her hair or her jewelry is pleasing to me, I let her know. I make every effort to reward beauty and pleasure wherever I see it, because I know what I pay attention to expands. The same goes for men and children. The more pleasure you spread around, the more you feel yourself.

Here’s my final advice on pleasure: You were issued one body when you were conceived. It’s your duty to attend to this particular portion of living matter in a way that uplifts, celebrates, and comforts it. But it’s not your job to figure out how to do this for anyone except yourself. What a relief! Now can’t you just feel your beta-endorphin levels rising—and your blood flow increasing just from that thought alone?

When you take care of yourself with pleasure, your influence creates a standing wave of joy and pleasure that goes out from you and affects all living things on this planet. The world is depending upon your happiness, your joy, your pleasure. You have nothing to lose by following your bliss except your suffering. And when your own suffering decreases, the suffering of the whole world lessens. You’ll probably lose a few extra pounds, too!

This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. 
All material in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.

© Christiane Northrup, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Please visit Dr Christiane Northrup’s website http://www.drnorthrup.com/

“Chocolate has a favorable effect on your health”

It might not be much of a surprise when we read about how eating broccoli can lower the risk of certain cancers, or how loaded with antioxidants fruits and vegetables are. It seems that virtually every day we see a report of a newly-discovered health benefit of a fruit or vegetable. We can almost expect foods we know we “should be eating” to eventually produce some research that will show remarkable properties. What a pleasant surprise that we can add the often-forbidden-yet-highly-desired chocolate to that list of healthy plant-based foods. Now there is a way to enjoy chocolate without guilt–and know that it can have a favorable effect on your health!

I’ve long enjoyed dark chocolate as a treat; now it’s an extra bonus to eat a piece and know of its fascinating health-promoting properties. I especially enjoy helping to reduce the guilt-ridden looks on my patients’ faces when they confess giving into their chocolate cravings. I try to absolve them of their guilt by citing the latest research and sharing with them how chocolate can be part of a healthy eating plan.

Most of you probably don’t need an excuse to enjoy fine chocolate, but just in case you do, here are some healthy reasons to indulge yourself a little:

1. High in antioxidants: Chocolate is high in flavonoids, an antioxidant in the polyphenol category. Antioxidants can help to prevent cell damage and have been linked to prevention of cancer and other degenerative diseases.
2. Helps with cholesterol: Scientists at Penn State found that dark chocolate and flavonoid-rich cocoa powder reduced LDL (“bad” cholesterol) oxidation.
3. Reduces inflammation: An Italian study showed that when volunteers ingested small amounts of dark chocolate, their levels of C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker) decreased.
4. Lowers blood pressure: A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that dark chocolate had an effect on lowering blood pressure.
5. Helps with mood: Chocolate contains tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, which can help with depression. Research also shows chocolate can increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine (PEA) known as the “love chemical.”
6. Improves blood flow: Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that cocoa has anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties that work in a similar way as aspirin. Nobody is suggesting to replace your aspirin with chocolate, but the research is compelling.
7. It’s delicious! Research shows that enjoying food and life is beneficial for your health.

So, does one enjoy the health benefits of chocolate with a steady diet of Snickers and Milky Way?

Hardly. It seems that the health benefits of chocolate come in packages that don’t include nougat, caramel, or high amounts of sugar.

Most studies were done using cocoa powder or dark chocolate. Experts suggest that adding small amounts (a one ounce piece a few times a week) of dark chocolate to a healthy diet that includes antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables will give you a variety of phytochemicals (beneficial elements of plants) that have proven health benefits.

Thanks to all of those scientists and the volunteers who allowed themselves to be the subjects for chocolate research so we could learn to enjoy this guilty pleasure with a little less guilt. I hope you had all had fun doing it. I can’t think of a better research study to participate in!

As I was preparing this blog, I stopped by one of my favorite places in Santa Monica for some homemade, raw, dark, organic chocolate: Zenbunni Chocolates and Curiosities. Within a few minutes of ingestion of this delicious treat, I felt an increased sense of mental clarity, heightened awareness, and mood elevation. One could attribute this to the caffeine and sugar, but this particular bar was low in sugar (only 4 grams) and did not result in the jitteriness that I usually feel if I have caffeine. I’m hoping that my body was enjoying the flavonoids, polyphenols, and other nutrients that nature has provided in such a tasty package.

Protein supplies the amino acids necessary for healing and restoring the body

As more and more nutritional deficiencies are discovered, we need to take a closer look at our diets to see what might possibly be missing.Recently, through bloodwork, we have found many people have deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, omega 3’s, and iodine. With the increase in toxicity we now think that the daily requirement for fiber should be closer to 35 grams a day. The requirement used to be 12 grams a day. With common deficiencies found in all major food groups due to both the quality and the quantity of what is grown we need to take a look at protein, one of the most underrated food groups. In general most people do not get enough protein from their diet on a continuing basis. Understanding the amount of protein a person requires is complicated. Common equations for calculating the amount of protein a person needs are based on body weight and the amount of lean muscle. Protein supplies the amino acids necessary for healing and restoring the body. Muscle is built and maintained through ingestion of protein so to have a complete balance of nutritionals we need to balance protein with the correct amount of complex carbohydrates and healthy fats.

The amount of protein a person requires should be consumed in divided quantities at each meal

A simple formula for calculating the amount of protein a person requires is to take your ideal body weight and multiplying by .75. This will give you the average person’s daily requirement for protein in grams. Using this formula, a 150 pound person would require 112 grams of protein a day. This should be consumed in divided quantities at each meal. Considering that one six ounce chicken breast supplies about 25grams of protein a day and three ounces of fish supplies 21grams, it is easy to understand why supplementing protein is gaining in importance.

Protein supplements

I use a protein powder every day to supplement the amount of protein I get from food and I also use it to help recovery after exercise. There are many kinds of protein powders available and how to buy one is often a source of confusion. The choices are many and include egg, hemp, rice, pea and whey proteins. These all vary in density and have different properties. Rice proteins are less dense, easy to digest and great for detoxification. My particular favorite as a daily supplement is whey protein. It is of the correct density to provide support for human muscles and provides a broad array of amino acids for the body to use in healing itself. There are many sources of whey available. They include the whey concentrate, whey protein and whey protein isolate. The isolate is the purest, the most expensive and the best absorbed. My favorite whey is extracted from the milk of grass fed cows that are raised organically. The whey is processed using a cold process which maintains the natural immune factors that are in the raw unpasteurized milk itself but lacking the lactose and many other components of the milk that we probably should not be consuming. The immune factors include many immunoglobulins to boost the immune system as well as lactoferrin and insulin growth factor. These help maintain and build up the immune system as well as help with muscle recovery and absorption of iron into the blood. The lactoferrin is being studied for anti-cancer properties as well. Good quality whey is a great addition to a healthy diet.