The Energy Queen

Health - Anxiety and Stress Do They Control Your Life?

In today's world we are surrounded with electronics, fast cars, fast moving trains, electronic equipment that always seems to break down and challenge us. We have to conform to rules and regulations. We have to put up with people who are unreasonable and have unrealistic expectations. We have bosses who demand more and more of us each day. Then you have the traffic, long lines, higher taxes, more processed and packaged foods, fast food, fast jobs, fast eating, fast, fast, fast.

No wonder we have anxiety and stress. We don't know where the next dollar will come from, will we be able to take care of our families and loved ones.

Will we keep our house and even find a place to live that we can afford?

Will we be able to afford health care, car insurance and a new pair of shoes?

Will I lose my job, my hair, my sanity?

What ever happened to waking up in the morning going out and smelling the clean, fresh air of the morning, listening to the birds singing and being able to just stretch, taking a deep breath and saying it is great to be alive.

It is still there for those of us that work at remembering to slow down,'smell the roses' as they say, get up and take each moment as it comes. There are many of us who do not worry about the next minute, hour, day or week. They know that all will be taken care of. They are at Peace with themselves and others around them. They do not let the traffic, bosses, bills, taxes, news, tv or their neighbor ruin their Joy.

It is not healthy at all to be in a constant state of stress and anxiety. This emotion is very harmful for your heart, immune system, blood pressure, adrenals, kidneys,and your mind. Also when your mind is always worrying about the next moment it is not focusing on what you need to be doing in the present moment and you can make more mistakes, have problems concentrating on doing your job correctly, making a good decision and even affect your ability to drive a car because you are not focused on the task at hand.

Also taking a pill with not solve any of the problems you may be facing either.

So for one day try something different. Get up a few minutes earlier and go outside and if you are not in the big city and smell the fresh air,stretch and listen for the sounds of nature and be thankful that what you have. Give all your worries to a higher power and stay in the moment and you will see that your days will be a little lighter in burden and you may even find time to go to a park or just be with nature and just take a deep breath and be able to relax for a few moments out of your day. You may see things a little bit differently when you are at peace with yourself;those smaller irritations or worries may even melt away and you will wonder why you let them control you at all.

To your peace and joy. Remember to tell yourself every day that you are loved and be gentle with yourself.

Health & Nutrition - Clean Blood, Healthy Cells, Good Digestion What Can This Mean For Your Health and Welbeing?

A persons lifespan is directly related to the exhaustion of their enzyme potential. 

Enzymes are food. They are designed to help dramatically improve digestion. Enzymes are also energy. 80% of our body’s energy is expended by the digestive process.  The medical profession informs us that all disease is due to a lack of or imbalance of enzymes. Here are some of the problems that have been noted in people with a poor diet that do not use enzymes to supplement their diet -

1. tiredness
2. stress
3. arthritis
4. pain in knees
5. pain in back
6. headaches
7. food allergies
8. bloated feeling after eating
9. intestinal gas
10. indigestion
11. candida
12. weak immune system
13. PMS
14. poor circulation
15. stomach/colon problems
16. sugar/dairy intolerance
17. earaches
18. hormonal imbalance

Who can take enzymes?

Anyone who eats cooked food.

Who can benefit from taking enzymes?

Everyone - especially if you are experiencing any of the symptoms below - this is just a small portion of the  list.

1. over weight or under weight
2. diabetes
3. hypoglycemia
4. high cholesterol
5. high triglycerides
6. heart disease
7. heartburn
   
8. constipation
9. acid reflux
10. chronic fatigue
11. high blood pressure
12. candida or fungal infections
13. gout
14. kidney stones
15. any type of inflammation 

Taking enzymes also help keep your blood cells from sticking together which enables your cells to do the job they were intended for which is keeping our immune system healthy and fighting off invaders that try to weaken our immune system and make us easy targets for viruses and infections which make us sick. I had a live blood analysis done before taking enzymes and then after taking enzymes and the results were very revealing. This test shows how your blood cells look under a microscope and shows if your blood cells are free flowing or clumped together. You definitely want to have your blood cells free flowing and healthy looking.

Many people experience gas and bloating when they first take enzymes and this feeling could last for a few days to a couple of weeks. You should start out slow when beginning to use enzymes; take a small amount then build up gradually. When food that has not been digested properly has built up in the colon walls and then as the enzymes enter the body they begin to break down years of these deposits which causes a methane gas increases in the colon resulting in the gas and bloating symptoms. If you experience this gas and bloating problem, it is proof that the enzymes are detoxifying the body.

After using enzymes for a while, you may experience more energy, decreased digestive discomfort, better absorption of your vitamins and minerals, less brain fog, decreased appetite for sweets, better rest and even possibly smoother and healthier looking skin. Another benefit of using enzymes is some people have actually lost weight and have gone down 2 – 3 dress/pant sizes.

If you liked my article on enzymes check out other articles at: kathysarticles.com

JUST A PART OF LIFE ALLERGIES, SINUS, MIGRANES...THINK AGAIN

Our bodies are marvelous machines, however, we need to make sure they are running at optimal performance. Did you know that your diet could be affecting your health? You may have been told you have allergies because of where you live, pets, and other environmental items you are exposed to. Have you ever thought about the foods you are eating?

Allergies, sinus problems, and even migranes can and most often are a result of food allergies. Our bodies view certain food items as "invaders" and attack the food item which in turn actually is attacking our body. Our bodies cannot recognize the food item and do not know how to accept it so they see it as a foreign object and try to get rid it by attacking it. Some of the most common food items we find that most people have problems with are: wheat, corn, soy and dairy.

Wheat:
This includes rye, oats, and even spelt.
All baked goods (including bread and pizza crusts)
Pasta, whether egg-free or not
Some baking powders
Most batter-fried foods
Flour-thickened sauces, casseroles, and gravies
Canned soup and chili
Cereal (both hot and cold)
Salad dressings, barbecue sauce, soy sauce and other condiments
Beer
Candy (especially with nougat)
Sausage, meatloaf, and other dishes where breadcrumbs are used as a filler

Corn:
Almost every item we eat have some form of corn product included in the makeup of the food item. Corn syrup
frutose
malt
vanilla extract
sorbitol
baking powder
carmel
vegetable oil
to name just a few items.

Soy:
soy nuts, milk, soy lecithin - used in chocolate, soy flour, soy protein - in energy bars.

Dairy:
butter and most margarines (contain whey, casein, or lactose)
chip dip
most baked items and breads
most flavors of potato chips
cream sauces
cheese
ice cream and some gelato and sherbet

As I read down the list of items, it is amazing how many products have allergy containing ingredients in them.
It is very hard to know all the ingredients in your foods without reading the labels.

A way to find out which if any of these four food items you may allergic to is to eliminate all of them for two weeks. After two weeks, add one of them back at a time and chart how you feel also chart the two weeks while not on them at all. If you experience any of the symptoms coming back, you may need to stay off of the specific food item for 3 - 6 months; this gives your body time to heal and you may be able to introduce the item back at a later date on a limited basis.

Some people may say "I cannnot stay away from dairy or wheat, I love it too much". Which is more important feeling healthier, happier, having more energy and a better immune system or craving a food. As stated earlier, you may be able to have limited amounts of the food again after you give your body some time to heal itself. As your body is attacking this particular food item, it is also comprising your immune system and your health.

There are substitutes that are available such as rice milk,rice cheese, almond milk, almond cheese,gluten free foods (which are very expensive), homemade sauces, soups, specially prepared home baked goods, etc.

After writing this article, I do see a greater emphasis leaning toward eating fresh, whole foods, locally grown, not canned, bottled, frozen or packaged as much as possible then you know what you are eating without any worry and guess work.
That is an article for another time however.

If you liked my article check out more articles at: www.kathysarticles.com

Health - Are You Aware of How Your Health Is Affected by Toxins in Your Body?

Toxins - Toxins are all around us in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the clothes we wear. Toxins are in our home, car, place of work, where we play and pray.

Different substances give off toxic gases we ingest into our lungs which gets into our tissues, our brain and even our bloodstream. New cars are loaded with toxins from all the plastic, sprays, and other materials used in manufacturing the vehicle. The gases do not disappear for quite some time. New homes, mobile homes, paint, carpet, glues, varnishes and cleaning products are also very harmful to our health.

Did you know our liver has the job of keeping out new toxins and cleaning up toxins already in our body. Our poor liver has to try to keep out thousands of different toxins each minute. Our kidneys also are overworked trying to help out the liver.

If your body has a weak immune system your liver is really overtaxed to harmful degrees.

The better your nutrition is, the more you can keep away from harmful chemicals either by ingesting them from inhaling the fumes or touching them the better you will be in the long run.

Using paints and cleaning products that are all natural products as much as you can is very beneficial to your health. There are paints being produced that actually do not give off any fumes at all. You need to be wary though not all "green products" are effective in doing a good job so research your products and get feedback from others who have used them.

There are two types of toxins fat soluble and water soluble, The fat soluble toxins go for the fatty tissues in our bodies like our brain. These toxins are very hard to get rid of once they enter our body. The water soluble toxins are a little easier to get rid of but again our kidneys and liver have to work very hard to accomplish this task.

There are programs you can do to help your body rid itself of toxins but it is a slow process. You also have to work hard to keep out new toxins while you are trying to get rid of the old ones. Diet and nutrition are very important at this point.

Colon cleanses are not something you do to get rid of toxins they do not get into the tissues where the toxins are residing.

Liver and gall bladder cleanses are very beneficial to the process of toxin elimination.

Your memory, weigh, eyesight, hair, skin, nails can show definite signs of improvement when you eliminate these heavy metal toxins.

Stress - Everyday Stress How Do You Handle It?

Stress

It has been said the everyday stress is a good thing, we need stress to help us have the ability to get away from danger.

I believe that stress is not a good thing, I find that having stress leads to anxiety, worry, fatigue, irritability, eating disorders and memory loss to name just a few of the many symptoms.

I would say that being at peace, knowing where you are going and coming, being in control of your surroundings, circumstances and self are more important.  It is imperative to be balanced and centered.  When you are centered you are in control of your circumstances and have a much cooler head to think clearer and act in a more focused way.

A tool I found to help me when I feel stressed and out of control is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).  This is a method of "tapping" on meridan points where you channel energy and can actually calm yourself down and even alleviate your symptoms.

There is also meditation, massages, yoga, tia chi and other practices that can help one be centered and alleviate stress.

Stress a lot of the times is something we place ourselves under when we are doing too many activities or do not have a good plan of daily action in place.

Some people also use deep breathing, walking, hiking, going to the gym, swimming, jogging, listening to music, taking a nice warm bath to help them relieve their stress. 

There are many good books on reducing stress  one book I have been referring to is:  

"The Stress Management Sourcebook" by J Barton Cunningham

If you liked my blog on stress check out my other articles at:  kathysarticles.com

3 Mistakes You May Make In 2010

1.  Make a New Year's resolution that you cannot possibly stick to.

2.  Make a New Year's resolution that is not attainable.

3.  Make a New Year's resolution and not have a plan.

Each January 1st we all seem to get motivated and make resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, eat less, eat better, go to bed earlier, get up earlier and on and on.  We may even fully intend to do these new resolutions and actually attempt them for a day, week or even a month.  However, if we do not sit down and write a plan, it is like someone twirling in the wind not knowing where they will end up when they stop spinning.  You need to have a plan of action, a specific end goal and small attainable baby steps all along the way to reach the little goals all along the way to the ultimate end goal.

If you desire to lose weight, you need to know how much and how long will it take you to lose the desired weight.  What types of foods, exercise and motivation do you need?  Do you need to write out a shopping list of foods you may need to purchase? What types of exercises are the best for you and do you have the equipment to complete these exercises.  Do you need the assistance of a support person to help keep you on track?  When at work or eating out how will you handle your food choices?

I was told that if you tell the world your goal out loud it makes it real and others will be watching to see if you follow through.

Keeping a food and exercise journal is a very good place to begin you new journey to good health.

Health - Anger Can Be Stored in Your Liver

Anger is an emotion that most people have a hard time to keep in check.  Some people lose their "cool" all to often.  I have been reading many articles about anger and it was interesting to find that your emotions actually can store themselves in your organs such as your liver, kidneys, heart, and even your eyes. 

Anger is a negative energy and energy will surround and be absorbed by whatever is around the energy and since we are "right there" we absorb our own negative energies.  This can cause health issues such as severe headaches, your adrenals to not function to their full potential, eye problems, gastro-intestinal problems and even gallstones. 

We need to stop and think before we speak and maybe even before we think negative thoughts toward ourselves and others. 

Practice saying should "I say or do this action" stopping to focus on the thoughts and actions actually is a very healthy response and your body and others will be happy that you took that moment to stop and reflect.  

It has been shown that the liver is very strong but it has to accomplish 100's of tasks a day keeping our body running to its full potential from cleaning our blood, lymph, toxins, poisons and other invaders that may make us sick.

Words, thoughts and actions can be very destructive.

Deep breathing is very good when you are angry, it lowers your blood pressure, heart rate and helps to calm your frazzled nerves and gives your brain and body good, clean oxygen.

So for our health, we need to take a moment and think before we react to our first emotion of anger and outbursts; we will be able to have a happier, healthier, more peaceful day and life.

FOOD - MACRONUTRIENTS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning?  Do you wake up and jump out of bed with a zest of energy, fully awake, with a clear mind?  Or do you tumble over and over trying to fight your way up each morning hitting that snooze alarm...five more minutes. 

The first thing you need to ask yourself if you do not have energy in the morning with a zest to start your day is what did I put in my mouth the day and evening before?  If you ate heavy protein, meat, dairy, sugar, carbs and fats and ate late in the day you put a big stopper in your body that stops your body to rest, cleanse, heal, protect, relax and be strong.

The first thing you need to do is reduce your dependence on sugars, fats and salt.  This is not to say you should never have any of these substances every again but rethink the types of fats, salts, sugars you do put into your body.  There are natural sugars, fats, and salt that your body craves and actually uses to repair, strengthen and rebuild your mind, body, hair, skin, bones, blood and lymph.

A good place to start is with raw food.  In the morning try a superfood green drink, for lunch enjoy a fresh salad and for dinner have zucinni spaghetti or vegetable burrito. There are so many recipes and easy to make food items available and some are just three or four steps from beginning to the dinner plate.  There are snacks, entrees, deserts, drinks, and crackers. 

Try an experiment journal your food for a week one week eat your normal diet and journal what you ate, the amount and how you felt before, during and after your meal.  Then the next week eat mostly raw, whole, fresh foods, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and grains and write down the same as above.  If you don't feel any difference, you may need to detox.  It is not recommended that you go from the SAD diet to totally raw as your body will detox and you will feel very sick.  Oh yes don't forget to drink good, clean water. 

Macronutrients are such foods as meat, protein, sugars and starches.  They are very hard for your body to digest so in essence your body is constantly trying to digest your meals and before it can get done with one you are putting another meal or snack into your body and it just never gets to rest and you get sick, tired and a whole host of symptoms no one can tell you why.

Eat smaller amounts of food each day and use your body efficiently and it will give you more energy than you will know what to do with is.

FOOD - WHAT YOU DONT KNOW CAN BE KILLING YOU

Processed foods, canned foods, cooked foods along with tainted meats, sprayed crops, poor sanitation  and more of these types of conditions can be doing are bodies a lot of harm.  I have been researching lately and found that the less we eat, the more clean our foods, the more natural and the closer to home the better.  Yes there are a lot of people to feed in the world but get big business, government and the greed out of our food supply.  It is not bad enough that we are so busy, stressed, pushed to the limit each day to just provide for ourselves and our families could we not get a little help from food manufacturers, the government and our local communities to make sure we have good, whole, fresh, natural, safe foods to eat...obviously not.  We need to take control of our lives and do all we can to protect ourselves so that we can have a good quality of life when we get older and now in the present time.  Disease means (dis ease) our body is not comfortable with what it is being forced to deal with and it can only do so much to fight out all the pollutants, chemicals and stress we send its way each day.  Our bodies are marvelous machines but machines can only work as good as the maintenance we give them.  We take better care of our cars then we do of our bodies.

So start taking even small baby steps to helping your body and your loved ones to eat more vegetables, fruits and whole, sprouted grains and nuts.  There are a number of recipes that I have come across that actually look very appealing and I can't wait to try some of them.  We do not need to consume huge chunks of meat, gallons of dairy, hunks of fish to have nutrition.  If you desire to eat meat, consume dairy and eat seafood then go ahead of enjoy but make sure you check in with yourself and see how you are feeling and if you are not feeling your best maybe cut down the amount of heavy, laden foods and see if you feel different.  Everyone needs to find out for themselves what is right for them but processed foods with sugar, salt, fats and preservatives are not assimilated well in our bodes and they show up in many different forms as rashes, asthma, allergies, pains, inflammations, headaches and stomach ailments.  So if you want to have a better quality of life, keep a food journal and experiment with some foods which are in season like winter squash in the fall and blueberries in the summer and see if eating foods in season help you feel better.  Food is a pleasure for all of us to enjoy just don't let it be your ticket to ill health.

Food - Yes You Can Eat Chocolate Everyday In Fact You Should

Chocolate -

There are so many of us that LOVE chocolate and other that only crave it at certain times of stress, frustration, hunger or boredom.  The good NEWS is that eating the correct type of chocolate is actually something you should include in your diet each day. 

Raw Cocao -

Eating raw cocao is a very beneficial to aid in helping you lose weight, lower blood pressure, help with decreasing inflammation, is an antioxidant, helps lower diabetes, helps elevate your mood, gives you energy and it tastes good. Raw Cocao is all natural, and easily absorbed into your bloodstream.  I think it is a pretty good deal that you can eat chocolate and it helps you be healthier. 

The chocolate you buy in the store has added sugar, milk and heated and has chemicals added; this is not the type of chocolate you should eat.  Just having a small amount of raw cocao powder everyday is very beneficial it can be added to your favorite beverages, sprinkled on your oatmeal and make a delicious breakfast, snack or lunch drink.

When I am on the run or at work I found a dark chocolate product that is not very expensive and is available in nuggets, bars, cookies, bars, and drinks.  The product is very good tasting and you get your daily supply of fruits and vegetables in just three little squares.

There is a lot of research on chocolate out there you can go to:

http://mydrchocolate.soundconcepts.com/goodbad.htmo

and check out the article for yourself.

Also make sure what kind of dark chocolate you are eating.  Some chocolate has added oils, colorings, and cheap imitation as cocoa butter and chocolate is very expensive.  Be an informed consumer.

Eat your chocolate each day and have a healthier day. Make sure your dark chocolate has a good amount of flavonoids in your chocolate the flavonoids is what is helping your body to be healthier.  The flavonoids should be 600 - 900 count.

I just found out that eating dark chocolate is actually also good for your teeth. 

It is also can help with psoriasis.

Good dark chocolate -

• Has not been alkalized

• Has been dried and cool-pressed rather than roasted

• Contains cocoa butter instead of milk fats or hydrogenated oils

• Has 70 percent raw pure cocoa

• Contains natural sugars and is low glycemic

Eat your way to health with dark chocolate everyday. 

To get information on a good dark chocolate product that I utilize, email me with your name, phone # and email address and I will get the information out to you.

knhoagland@comcast.net