Control Perfectionism!

                  The perfect is the enemy of the good. —Voltaire

The desire to excel is usually a good thing, but when it spills over into perfectionism it can also cause a lot of trouble, burn you out, and waste a lot of time. The key is finding the balance.

         Steps:

1. Forgive yourself for your shortcomings. Nobody's perfect, and everybody has strengths and weaknesses. That's not to say you should not try to grow. You can always learn something new or try to improve, but there are times when you'll have to go with what you already know and do what you can based on that. Don't waste time worrying about what you can't do (yet).
2. Focus on what is really needed. Is the real purpose to be perfect or produce a perfect result, or is it to get something done? What really matters? Perfectionism can often be the opposite of a timely result, because the uncertainty that comes with it leads to procrastination.
3. Define a goal. Knowing what you want to achieve not only helps you go in the right direction, but also helps you know when you are finished.
4. Separate Results from Judgment. Strive for the results that are best for you. Do not let your productivity be dictated by fear of others judgment. Accept a broader form of excellence, rather than narrowly defined perfection. Study to learn; rather than simple getting a perfect score. Eat and exercise for health and fitness; not for simple weight targets.
5. Learn from Judges/Critics. Achieving acceptance often is only a step to truly desired results. Do not set judgment up to be perfect. Expect to learn from the knowledgeable judges' opinions. Expect judges to help you improve, not simply give approval. Seek out diverse judges' opinions.
6. Get started. Even if you're not sure yet what you're doing, give it a try. You may be better at it than you think, or your task may be easier than you imagined it. Even if your first attempt doesn't get you anywhere, perhaps you'll know what or who to ask to get going. Or, you may just discover what not to do. Most of the time, you'll find that you imagined the barriers as larger than they really are.
7. Set a time limit. Some things, such as housekeeping, are never really finished. No matter how well you clean the floor today, it'll get just as muddy tomorrow when somebody forgets to wipe his/her feet. Instead of spending hours scrubbing, set a timer for a reasonable amount of time, and clean for just that long. On a longer or more detailed project, a deadline, even a self-imposed one, can get you started and keep you moving instead of worrying over details. Break things up into smaller parts or intermediate goals if they're too big.
8. Try new things.The accepted method isn't always the best and doesn't always work. Whether you're inventing something or learning a new language, you will have some false starts. In fact, the newer and more unusual an activity you undertake, the more you will have to learn by trial and error. Then, be sure to learn from your mistakes.
9. Recognize the beauty and benefits in imperfection. Dissonant harmonies in music can create tension and drama. Leaves left on the ground insulate plants' roots and decompose to nourish the soil.
10. Reflect on your failures. Failure is relative. Perhaps you thought your cookies were a bit overdone, but everybody else gobbled them up. As the doer, you probably know more about what went in than anybody. Whoever benefited from your work cares more about the result and may never even notice the process. In addition, consider what you learned from your failures, and how that will help you do a better job next time.
11. Reflect on your successes. Think back to something you have done or made that was successful. It may not have been perfect, but it still achieved a goal or objective. Probably you experienced some uncertainty along the way to creating that success. Your reservations and concerns may keep you out of trouble, but don't let them drag you into inaction. Rather than do a few things perfectly, accomplish many things successfully.

How a cute girl can handle Exam Anxiety And Exam Stress?

A common experience that happens during examination period, It’s called exam anxiety and stress; hehee

There are a number of ways to deal with this. Let me share with you some of them:

1. Have a revision plan and stick to it.

2. Watch a funny movie.

3. Take your mind off the exams for the moment. Indulge in your hobbies for a pre-stated time.

4. Chit-chat with a positive and encouraging person.

5. Correct preparation brings confidence. Understand the exams structure, sequence and topics. Know what to expect.

6. Eat the right food and sleep well.

7. Trust yourself and your capability. Insist on this.

Best wishes for your exams!

Get rid of those bags under your eyes!

First of all you are probably wondering why we get bags under our eyes. This is most likely due to;

AGING - As we get older, our skin that is made of collagen deteriorates, losing its elastic capabilities. Inside our eyes is also fat which also tends to droop down as we get older.

GENES - if your parents had bags under their eyes, chances are that you’ll eventually have them too.

ALLERGIES - You feel horrible with allergies, it will make the bags look worse as well.

When things start sagging, it's time to pick them up. Maybe walking on your hands will help.

GET REST - If you have bags under your eyes, it could be that you are not resting properly. Get some sleep so the circulation under your eyes improves.

AVOID SALTY FOODS- Salty foods accumulate water.

GET SOME WATER - Some people who don't drink enough fluids get bags under their eyes.

EXERCISE - Exercise helps improve circulation around your body, and it will help reduce the puffiness under your eyes.

CUCUMBERS - You've seen it in magazines and in TV, and there is a good reason! Cucumbers help to

alleviate and tone your eyes. Lie down for about 20 minutes with slices of cucumbers on your eyes and you'll notice the difference. As an alternative to cucumbers, you can place damp tea bags as well. If caffeinated,

they are even better. Get two tea bags, dampen them and cool them in the refrigerator overnight. Place them in the morning for 10 minutes. You'll notice the difference.

RETINOL AND VITAMIN E EYE CREAM - Creams with retinol and Vitamin E help to alleviate discoloration and puffiness. It also helps to remove wrinkles.

The Alcohol-Cancer Connection in Europe

Alcohol may be widely available and wildly popular, but the link between excessive drinking and cancer risk is undeniable: Almost 10 percent of all cancers in men and 3.0 percent in women in western Europe are caused by people drinking too much alcohol.

Evidence from France, Italy, Spain, Britain, the Netherlands, Greece, Germany, and Denmark found that 50,400 out of a total of 79,100 cases of certain types of cancers – including bowel and throat tumors – in 2008 were caused by people drinking more than the recommended limits of two drinks per day in men and one drink per day in women. Even more cancer cases would be prevented if people drank less than the recommended guidelines or didn’t drink at all, added the researchers. The study was published in the British Medical Journal.

A standard drink contains about 12 grams of alcohol and is equivalent to one 125 milliliter (ml) glass of wine or a half pint of beer, writes Fox News.

So at the very least, it’s good to stay within the recommended limits of drinking. To get started (moderately!), check out these healthy twists on your favorite cocktails.

Tooth Alert: Are Cavities Contagious?

Turns out, you can spread cavity-causing bacteria — especially to young kids. Here's how to protect your family's pearly whites.

Colds, chickenpox, and even yawns are contagious. But did you know that cavities can be catchy too ??
Despite your mother’s finger-wagging, sugar-laden candy bars aren’t the only cause of cavities. Tooth decay actually results when bacteria in your mouth feed on food debris (starchy, sticky foods are a primary culprit) and produce acid as a byproduct. This mix of food, acid, saliva, and germs clings to your teeth as a filmy substance called plaque, which can erode teeth enamel and cause cavities to form.
No matter what you eat, cavities won't form without the help of such bacteria. These germs can spread from mouth to mouth via shared food and utensils, sneezing, kissing, and more, according to Edward “Trey” Wilson, DDS, a dentist in private practice in New York City and New Hope, Pa. — making cavities contagious

Here are Wilson's tips for preventing cavity spread in your family:

1. Go to the dentist. Nearly half of adults skipped the dentist in 2009, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But to keep from passing on a cavity, your first step should be to schedule a dental check-up. “Every adult needs to be screened for tooth decay,” says Wilson. While warning signs such as tooth sensitivity, pain, or visible holes in teeth are cavity clues, one of the biggest mistakes patients make is to avoid the dentist until they’re in pain. Regular cleanings (every six months) can help prevent decay from turning into cavities and reduce levels of cavity-causing (and cavity-spreading) bacteria in your mouth. According to CDC data, 23 percent of adults have untreated cavities.
2. Use a heavy-duty mouth rinse. If a cavity has formed, you’ll need a filling. But for early-stage decay, your dentist can prescribe mouth rinse with chlorhexidine, a powerful antiseptic that fights off bacteria and can prevent decay from developing into cavities.
3. Chew sugar-free gum between meals. Pick a brand with the artificial sweetener xylitol, and chew it three times a day for at least five minutes, Wilson advises. Xylitol boosts saliva production, which helps fight off bad bacteria.
4. Don’t overshare. If you have young kids, avoid sharing utensils with them or tasting food before serving it to them. Cover your mouth when you sneeze, and if you’re really concerned, “maybe kiss your kid on the cheek instead of the lips,” says Wilson.
5. Be a good dental patient. This time, heed the hygienist’s advice: Brush frequently (in the morning, at night, and after meals), floss daily, and put a cap on sugary drinks and snacks — and instill the same tooth-friendly habits in your kids. With infants, clean your baby's teeth with a soft cloth or gauze pad as soon as they start to come in; you can switch to a soft toothbrush when more teeth emerge.
6. Forgo fancy water. You may also want to consider switching your family from bottled water to tap. Most tap water contains fluoride, which helps teeth build up resistance to plaque

How to Exercise the Brain

The brain, just like your body, needs exercise to thrive. A brain that is given a work out regularly will stay sharper as you age. To stay in good mental shape, perform these simple brain exercises on a regular basis.

Instructions

1. Try new activities. Performing activities that require the memorization of complex steps will help exercise the brain. Recommended pursuits that you can try are square dancing and chess.
2. Use your less dominant hand often. A good way to strengthen & exercise your brain is to try to focus your energies on performing tasks accurately with this hand. Use the less dominant hand to move your computer mouse or write a letter.
3. Practice Neurobics. This system was developed by a professor at Duke University as a way for a person to use their five senses in new ways on a daily basis. An example would be to listen to a thunderstorm and snap your fingers simultaneously.
4. Engage your brain. It is important to exercise your brain by completing puzzles or challenging the brain by reading a difficult classic novel.
5. Try a video game that has been designed to help exercise your brain. Brain Age by Nintendo stimulates your brain by making you solve math equations, speed count, draw pictures and read aloud.

Memorization exercisesImprovememory.info/3freechapter

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Physical Therapy Softwarewww.mavenlive.com

Create physiotherapy exercises. Share protocols with colleagues.

Eye Exercises - Free Bookwww.BetterVision.com/eye-exercises

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Brain Training Gameswww.lumosity.com

Improve memory with scientifically designed brain exercises.

Easy Ways to Get Protein

Eating vegetarian meals doesn't have to mean missing out on filling, protein-rich foods. By having healthy combination of grains and legumes, you can get the protein your body needs.

Most people know that meat, poultry, and fish are excellent sources of protein. If you’re considering no longer eating meat and possibly dairy products, you might worry that you won’t get enough protein in a typical vegetarian meal.

But there’s no need to be concerned, explains Andrea N. Giancoli, MPH, RD, a nutritionist in Los Angeles and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “Luckily for vegetarians,” Giancoli says, “protein is very easy to obtain with a balanced diet and good food choices.”

According to the U.S. Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board, the average adult needs about 0.36 grams of protein for every pound of body weight — that’s about 43 grams of protein daily for a 120-pound woman and about 58 grams for a 160-pound man. Consuming more protein than that is not necessarily better and eating lots of red, fatty meat can contribute to health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disorders, colon and liver cancer, and osteoporosis. Even athletes don’t need that much extra protein compared to people who are weekend warriors.

But when you’re cutting out traditional foods with protein, including milk and yogurt, you need to make up for it with protein alternatives.

Some dairy foods are complete proteins — eggs, milk, yogurt, and cheese. However, vegans and some vegetarians won’t eat dairy products because they come from animals. If you don’t eat dairy, you’ll need to get your protein from plant sources. “In the plant world, soy is considered a complete protein,” says Giancoli. “That’s why you hear about vegetarians eating a lot of soy products — tofu, edamame, soy milk, and others.”

If you’re allergic to soy or just don’t like the taste, you still have other options for making a healthy vegetarian meal. Most plant foods, including grains, nuts, and legumes (beans), contain some amount of essential amino acids. But because they are not complete, you should pair certain foods together to cover your bases and get all of the essential amino acids you need in one vegetarian dish.

Break your routine!

Simple changes in habits can get you energized and happier 

Ever have the feeling that you've been switched to autopilot? Maybe you're coasting through a too-familiar routine: shower, coffee, work, sandwich, work, gym, home, dinner, TV, sleep. "Habits and patterns of behavior make us feel comfortable," explains Cherie Carter-Scott, Ph.D., author of six books on life change including the best-selling If Life is a Game, These Are the Rules (Broadway, 1998).

While comfort is fine, straying off your well-worn path can give you a boost -- and bring more color and spirit into your life in the long term. Says Carter-Scott: "Once you stop numbing out and become more aware of whether you're happy or unhappy, comfortable or uncomfortable in specific situations, you'll stop going with the flow -- and start dictating the flow of your life." Consider if you're experiencing any of these rut symptoms:

1. Your eating, exercise and work routines are carved in stone. Always run the same route? Eat the same salad for lunch most days of the week? Carter-Scott offers some motivation for mixing up your routine: "Any little thing that disrupts your pattern provides a wake-up call and helps you be more present in your life."

Little shifts can work like a battery pack to energize your life. Hit the gym at a different time of day, get a slightly different haircut every time you visit the salon, or move your bed across the room so you wake up with a new perspective. "Even just making a special breakfast on a weekday instead of Sunday will help you tune into the choices you usually make without thinking," Carter-Scott says.

2. You swear you had this exact conversation last week. It's easy to experience discourse deja vu when you talk to the same handful of friends about the same stuff. Meeting new people is one of the easiest ways to bring new ideas and activities into your life. One idea: Sign on with a local walking group, runners' club or other adult sport team. (you may be surprised at how many require little or no experience)

3. Your weekends are starting to blur together. Weekends are your time, so make them less robotic and more memorable. If you've had one ho-hum Saturday too many, plan a monthly getaway, even if it's simply to a botanical garden you've always meant to check out. And vow to be more open to last-minute invitations -- no lame excuses! Often, it's insecurity, not laziness, which holds us back from a night of salsa dancing or a Spinning class with a friend. "We categorize ourselves by saying, 'I just don't do that, I'm not that kind of person,'" Carter-Scott says. "But the more flexible we are, the more we can handle the changes life brings us."

4. You can barely recall what you did yesterday. When you were 10 years old, you couldn't wait to flex the freedom of adulthood -- you certainly didn't expect it to feel like a conveyer-belt ride. "I know I'm in a rut when I start to fantasize about getting in my car, driving away and not coming back," says social worker Rhonda Marsden, 32. If you feel trapped in your routine, make a change that day, like refusing to work additional hours into the evening, which Marsden sometimes does to catch a movie or take a long walk.

Over time, change brings self-discovery. "Whether you're traveling or taking a class, you're going to find out what your tolerances are and how you cope with different situations," Carter-Scott says. "It'll help ensure you're going through life in the driver's seat and not bouncing around in the trunk''.

How to Express Yourself!

Steps

1. Never think of yourself too seriously. Don't put pressure on yourself to be perfect! If you don't have restrictions on yourself, it gives you more room to just let yourself flow creatively. Don't worry about being perfect.
2. Find a place that inspires you and that will help spark your creativity. Maybe you like a place that is quiet and feels private to you, such as the outdoors - calm, serene, and beautiful. Or maybe you have a bright colorful room that makes you feel artistic. Maybe you like starry nights - whatever it is, revel in it!
3. Experiment with different mediums. Never be afraid to try something new. If you want to try sculpting, go for it! If you don't like it, you can always just stop. But how will you know whether or not you're a secret writing/painting/sewing genius if you never try it?
4. Meditate. Relax. Get away from the outside world. Forget about the grocery shopping you have to do. You are in your own personal space -- be with yourself.
5. Find examples. If you think you might be interested in art, go to an art museum or find artists online. If you like writing, read a variety of books and investigate classical authors. It's a type of self-education, and it's what separates the true intellectuals from everybody else: a willingness to explore, learn, and discover.
6. Consider starting a journal to use everyday. It doesn't even have to be the kind of journal that you write in. It could be a doodle journal, or a sketch journal, or a poetry journal. Just use it to record your emotions day-to-day, in a place where no one can see them if you don't want them to.

Tips

• Be yourself! Even though you are consciously trying to be more expressive, it doesn't mean that you have to act like a totally different person.
• Find that one thing that is very much YOU, whether it be math or drawing or the tango! Be unique in your own way and find youself deep in what you like to do.

Cold, Flu, Swine Flu, or Allergies?

Let’s go through the symptoms of each of these illnesses separately first, then compare them:

Swine flu, or the H1N1 strain of influenza, is a new virus that appears to have arisen through some intermixing of the influenza viruses normally found in humans, pigs, and birds. It causes symptoms similar to the standard seasonal flu, including the sudden appearance of fever (anything above 100 F, in this case), cough, and sore throat. Some people also get a runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, body aches, headache, and joint and muscle aches. People can get diarrhea and vomiting with swine flu, which are symptoms that are unusual with regular seasonal flu.

The symptoms of swine flu can be different in young children and frail older adults, and flu of any sort can be hard to recognize when it affects the very young or old. Small children may just seem sick and out of sorts, with fast breathing or pulse, or might act very sleepy or irritable. Older folks might complain of severe body aches, or become dehydrated or confused. Most people who get swine flu do not become very sick with it. Symptoms begin to improve within two to five days, although it may take several weeks to feel completely normal again.

Seasonal flu causes sudden onset of fever, body ache, headache, and fatigue, with cough or sore throat. Body aches may be very prominent, particularly in older adults who may complain only of severe back pain. Vomiting and diarrhea are not usually part of seasonal flu. Regular flu is less contagious than swine flu, but it makes most people feel pretty sick.

Colds are mostly caused by rhinoviruses. These viruses usually settle in a limited part of the body (nose and throat, eye, ear, or chest). They can cause fever and sometimes fatigue and body aches, but generally do not make people as sick as influenza viruses.

Allergies can cause stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, and itching of the nose, eyes, throat, and skin. Allergies can make the eyes swell and look bloodshot. Occasionally, people will feel chilled, but measurable fevers are uncommon and the symptoms usually do not have the same time course as those of a cold or flu. Asthma can cause cough, but other chest symptoms, like shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness are just as common.

Depending on what the person is allergic to, the symptoms may last a few weeks or become chronic during certain times of the year. The person may have good days and bad days and the overall pattern is waxing and waning. Compared to colds and flu, allergies cause more prominent itching, minimal fever and body ache, and tend to build up and subside over longer periods of time.

Clearly, there are many symptoms that flu, colds, and allergies share, but there are other bits of information that help clinicians determine which problem is likely to be present. For example, if other people around you have recently been sick with similar symptoms, then colds or flu are much more likely. If you have similar symptoms at the same time every year, then allergies are higher on the list. Health care providers also use information from the government, the news, and other sources, as well as the knowledge they get from seeing patients all day long, to determine whether colds or flu are circulating in the community.

Ten Ways to "Sneak" Exercise into Your Daily Routine

After accounting for work and all of our daily chores and commitments, it can often feel that there is hardly any time to relax ? let alone exercise However, amongst all of these daily activities lay opportunities for simple movements that burn calories and greatly assist weight loss

After accounting for work and all of our daily chores and commitments, it can often feel that there is hardly any time to relax ? let alone exercise. However, amongst all of these daily activities lay opportunities for simple movements that burn calories and greatly assist weight loss. Once you develop the habit of performing some or all of the simple tips highlighted here, you will gain important tools for your weight-loss journey and might not even notice that you are ?exercising? throughout the day. 

Take the stairs 

Whether you are at work or the store, try to use stairs instead of escalators and elevators as often as possible. If done regularly, this great workout can really help you lose weight. At home, you may want to consider adding a few trips up and down the stairs each day for a little extra exercise. This can be achieved by simply making multiple trips between floors when doing household chores or performing other minor tasks. 

Park further away 

Regardless of where you are going, parking further away when you arrive is another good way to add exercise to your daily routine. In the mornings, get to work a few minutes early so you have time for a longer walk from the parking lot. The same activity can be performed everywhere you go, from the grocery store to church. Even if you don?t drive regularly, you can apply this trick to your daily routine by simply taking a little extra time each day for walking. 

Find a different entrance 

When you visit the mall or shopping center, park your car near the entrance furthest from your destination. You can then walk the added distance to the store or department you want to visit. During the summer, this can be a great way to rack up plenty of steps inside a comfortable, air-conditioned space. 

Deliver a message in person 

At work, try to communicate with your colleagues face-to-face as much as possible. Instead of using the phone or e-mail to send a message, simply walk to your co-workers desk or office. Not only will you earn valuable steps throughout the day, you might start a friendly ? and healthy ? trend in your workplace. 

Put down the remote 

Whenever you watch TV or listen to music at home, leave the remotes on the shelf and control everything by hand. By forcing yourself to stand up and walk a few steps each time you change the channel or adjust the volume, you can infuse important bursts of movement into your most sedentary activities. 

Skip the drive-up 

When you are eating on the go, resist the urge to use the drive-up window. Instead, park your car and walk into the restaurant. Without too much trouble, you could add 100 steps to your daily tally. Furthermore, as most people stay in their cars and clog the drive-up line when getting a quick bite, you might not lose any time at all by walking inside. 

Wash the car 

When it is time to wash the car, skip the automated systems and do it yourself. Initially, you may want to try pay-as-you-go car washes that allow you to use equipment similar to the automatic systems, but encourage you to walk around the car and stretch your muscles. If you want to devote more time to washing your car, you can buy the necessary products and work from home. In either case, you will insert both walking and stretching exercises into your routine and probably clean your car better than the automated systems ever could. 

Flex your muscles when sitting down 

Whether you are relaxing at home or sitting behind your desk at work, there are number of simple exercises you can perform without standing up. When seated, try to flex and release both your abdominal and gluteus muscles. Even when you don?t have a chance to move, squeeze in these isotonic exercises to help along your weight-loss regimen. 

Stretch your free time 

When you have a little more space to stretch your muscles, devote some time to simple movements that can improve your flexibility. Whether you choose to stretch your arms, legs or entire body, simple stretching movements are the perfect addition to relaxing moments of downtime. 

Move with the phone 

When you are on the phone at home or work, try to pace or do a short series of squats. If you are using a cell phone or a cordless handset, you shouldn't have any trouble taking a few steps back and forth. If you find yourself having a lengthy conservation on a corded phone, stand up and perform a few arm curls.. 

Though these activities and movements are designed for different locations or times of day, they all share one thing in common: these are all simple lifestyle changes that can exist as healthy parts of a larger lifestyle change after weight-loss surgery. Most importantly, consider that these tips represent only a few ways to integrate exercise into your daily life. Based on your daily routine and new healthy lifestyle, you may find that the opportunities to ?sneak? exercise into your life are limitless.

STAY FIT

If you really want to stay fit and full, here are some diet tips to keep you right on track:

1. Go as natural as possible. When you eat foods that have undergone little or no processing such as fruits and vegetables, you fill yourself with fiber and complex carbohydrates. These foods are slowly digested and make you feel fuller for longer. Besides that, they require you to chew more before swallowing so your brain registers satiety before you indulge in another piece.

2. Choose bulky and water-rich foods since they fill you up quicker and make you feel full for longer. Thus, if you have to choose between grapes and raisins, go for the grapes. Also, choose foods that take a little more chewing so you feel full with less. Examples of these are crunchy salads and seeded fruits.

3. Don't allow yourself to grow thirsty. Always drink a full 8 to12 glasses of water a day and drink one or two glasses before each meal.

4. Choose smaller plates. Dinner plates have grown as large as our appetites. And because we have been reared to fill our plates when we put on the serving portions and finish everything that we put there, bigger plates naturally mean a higher number of calories ingested.

5. Make breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks all about the food. Don't watch television while eating and savor every morsel. Also, while it is good to dine in company, try to eat by yourself as much as you can as research has shown that people tend to eat more when they are in a group.

6. Strive for six to eight hours of sleep every day. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces hormones that continually signal hunger, making you want to eat more.

7. If you have just had a fatty meal, don't keep on gobbling up portions. It takes time before fullness registers with a fat-laden meal compared to a protein-filled one. Eat slowly and wait for the feeling of satiety to come.

8. Eat a piece of starchy fruit, such as an apple, before every meal. It will give you fiber that will significantly lessen the amount of calories you take when your main course arrives.

Did the Coke Code Get Cracked? Regardless, It Was Always Unhealthy

The original recipe for Coca Cola has been a closely guarded trade secret since 1886. But yesterday, “This American Life” public radio show reported the recipe had been unwittingly published in an Atlanta-Journal Constitution article in 1979.

Coke denies that the recipe presented in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution is authentic. Coke's archive director Philip Mooney told "This American Life" that the recipe may well have been a "precursor" to the prized formula, but probably wasn't the version that "went to market."

To dispel any nostalgia for the “good old days,” it’s safe to say that the formula for Coke, regardless of the exact ingredients, was never healthy for consumers. Yahoo News writes that pharmacist John Pemberton reportedly hit upon the formula for Coca Cola in an attempt to overcome the addiction to morphine he contracted after the Civil War; and yes, as often told, the drink originally contained coca leaves laced with cocaine. The company has used cocaine-free coca leaves since 1904 (which means for the first 18 years, they didn’t!).

The original recipe – if that’s what it is -- included alcohol, large amounts of sugar, and one ounce of caffeine, which exceeds current FDA regulations for caffeine.

Is it true that...

...Coffee is a Healthy Food?

The NY Times has a great feature on all the health benefits of coffee – and there are many. Last year a report was published that reviewed nine different studies into coffee consumption. The overwhelming conclusion was that “habitual coffee consumption is associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes”.

That’s a real kicker. Type 2 Diabetes is currently one of the biggest health issues on the agenda — particularly with regard to state health spending.

But wait – there’s more:

• A typical serving of coffee contains more antioxidants than typical servings of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries and oranges.
• Antioxidants in coffee may dampen inflammation, reducing the risk of disorders related to it, like cardiovascular disease.
• In a large study of 27,000 women: Women who drank one to five cups a day — caffeinated or decaffeinated — reduced their risk of death from all causes during the study by 15 to 19 percent compared with those who drank none.

Of course there are always going to be individual responses to the caffeine found in coffee. And there always those who will completely over-indulge.

Maybe if we started thinking positively about what we eat (instead of guilt-ridden)… then there would be a flow on effect to our health. Or maybe I’d better go get myself a double-shot before I start to bore myself to death.

Eating Fish May Help Save Aging Eyes

A new study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology found that women who ate at least one serving of fish per week were 42 percent less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration (AMD), due to the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

AMD is a disease in which damage to nerve cells in the part of the eye called the macula causes blurry vision. AMD can make things like reading, driving, and recognizing faces difficult.

High intake of omega-3 fatty acids has long been linked to better heart health, helping to reduce inflammation and high blood pressure.

To start reaping the benefits of fish, try this recipe for Pistachio-Crusted Tuna Steaks.

Mind-body And Relaxation Techniques

The following post is aimed to make our blog a bit more interesting for our readers. Nicko Anton you asked for it...
so this post is for you!

15-Minute Tantra: Sex Is Meditation

Tantra aims at turning every action into a practice of love. Here is a basic tantric bonding meditation: Perform this meditation with your lover, for 15 minutes every day. 

Tantra is the combination of tattva ( the advanced science of cosmic principles ), and mantra ( the sciences of mystic sound and energy vibrations ) and its various applications. Authentic Tantra is based on the harmonization of this combination,raising its intensity to unlimited potency.

Tantra has a wide range of practical techniques applicable by men and women of every spiritual level. It aims at turning every action into a practice of love. Here is a basic tantric bonding meditation: Perform this meditation with your lover, for 15 minutes every day.

Sit on cushions, face each other, and close your eyes.Gently visualise your lover. Relax, be still, and focus on deepening and steadying your breath, through your nose and drawing the breath in to the pit of your stomach. Relax!

Still relaxing, focus on your partner, with a deep sense of calm.Smile, remember moments together, the joy of your very first truly loving embrace together, and allow that feeling to fill you again.

Let the memory go, but hold on to the feeling of joy, and be joyfully aware of yourself with your lover, right now. Simply be aware of yourself, free from thoughts of should  or could, and merely exist in the present moment, now…

Make love with a steady mind. Find an internal point of awareness within you and settle the mind here, keeping this internal point of tranquility throughout the love-making.

Be aware of your physical arousal and focus on your sense of attraction. Keep this point of stillness within you, within the dynamic movement of yo

ur breath and the electricity of your attraction.

Spread the feeling of love to your partner, and be relaxed. Breathe until you find balance in movement and stillness, between softness and vigor, between arousal and fulfillment.

Become aware of that tranquil state within your lover as well… and remain in this relaxed, joyful, internal tranquil abiding, until you become still within your ecstasy, and come to experience the union of bliss and emptiness itself… your own, and that of your loved one too!

This basic bonding ritual, done for 15 minutes everyday, is powerful in removing obstructive, negative vibrations, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of companionship.