Thursday, December 31, 2009

Emotional Health



Emotional health is a big, BIG part of being physically healthy. Read that last sentence again. If you are not emotionally healthy, you will not feel good physically. I recently read an interesting article by Dr. Ted Koren, DC. Here are some thoughts from the article.

Emotional health is dependent on being connected to yourself and to others. The more connected you are to yourself, the more you can connect with others and the more fulfilling your connections (relationships) will be. The more good relationships you have in your life, the more happiness, joy, hope, optimism and vitality you will have. You will feel and be healthier, live longer, and you will recover more quickly from physical and emotional traumas.

Are you emotionally disconnected? Do you hold pockets of unresolved anger, fear, resentment, pain or other emotions locked up in your body and mind? Whatever the cause of those bottled up emotions, whether it is abuse, conflict with others, etc., these trapped emotions keep us from living fully in the present because some of our energy is still living in the past.

Past traumas and fears can manifest as physical ailments and emotional stress. They disconnect us from our deeper selves. When we are out of touch with our emotional wellness, our intuition is clouded, our life's purpose is confused, and we have difficulty forming healthy relationships. All of this can lead to disease.

Just as toxins can build up in our bodies from our physical environment, so toxic emotions can build up inside of us and make us just as sick, if not more sick. Make it a goal to rid your body and mind of toxic emotions, feelings and beliefs. A good book to read on this subject is: FREE TO LOVE, FREE TO HEAL by David Simon, MD. You can heal your body by healing your emotions.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Health Benefits of Bananas


ENERGY: Bananas contain 3 natural sugars combined with fiber, giving you an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. This may be why bananas are the number one fruit among athletes.
DEPRESSION: Bananas contain tryptophan, a protein your body converts into serotonin, known to make you feel relaxed and happier. If you are feeling down, try eating a banana.
PMS: Bananas contain vitamin B6, which helps regulate blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
ANEMIA: Bananas are high in iron, and can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood.
BLOOD PRESSURE: Bananas are extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect for reducing high blood pressure and risk of strokes.
BRAIN POWER: Research has shown that students who eat a banana before a test performed better and remained more alert.
HEARTBURN: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, making it a great cure for heartburn.
MORNING SICKNESS: Bananas keep blood sugar levels up in between meals, helping avoid queasiness.
MOSQUITO BITES: Rub the inside of a banana peel on insect bites to soothe irritation and reduce swelling.
STRESS: Potassium in bananas can help normalize heartbeat, send oxygen to the brain and regulate the body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
ULCERS: Because of it's soft texture and smoothness, the banana is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without irritating chronic ulcers. It also neutralizes acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
WARTS: Some people say that if you place a piece of banana skin on a wart and hold it in place with surgical tape the wart will go away!
Bananas have four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals than an apple.
I think I'm going to start eating more bananas!!