Simple Ways To Take Care Of Your Body

Jim Rohn once said, “Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live”. Taken at face value you might be tempted to think that all you have to do to stay healthy is to worry about your physical body and everything will be alright. However, as a firm believer in the phenomenon that what happens to us physiologically results from what’s going on inside of us (mentally and spiritually) good health is more than just looking after our physical frame.

This blog post is about health: physical, mental and spiritual. We will explore and discuss the different mind-sets that individuals have concerning what it is to be healthy and how to become that healthy person we all crave to be. We will talk about what we put inside our body; how we treat it; and how the values & beliefs we have shape us and impact upon our mental & spiritual wellbeing.

When we meet someone for the first time, we often only consider what we can observe of that person’s looks, mannerisms or body language. We seldom stop to think that, here is an individual who is more than just flesh and blood but a spiritual being with a lot more going on than meets the eye.

As human beings, we have the ability to think what we like and those very thoughts determine whether we sustain good health or fall prey to injury, sickness and disease. Because we cannot directly and readily see the impact our thoughts have upon our world, we fail to conceive that there is a relationship between what and how we think and the outcomes that manifest in our lives.

This not only includes issues which are clearly seen, such as your or your family’s attitude towards education and the qualifications you achieve. It also encompasses your thoughts about nutrition, healthy eating and exercise, for example. If you believe your “body is a temple”, you treat it with respect and watch what you eat, what and how much you drink and what you do in your leisure time.

Nowhere than in the realm of research, into the impact of placebos on the treatment of disease, has the relationship between what goes on in the mind and the physical manifestations, been more clearly demonstrated. Studies have been carried out all around the world with many different groups of people with varying ailments to try to establish why and how this works.
In these controlled experiments, one group of people is given real drugs which treat their condition whilst another group is supplied with placebos (fake drugs that have no ingredients to affect their condition).

In one ground-breaking experiment carried in 1999 at the Karolinska Hospital in Sweden, 88 patients who needed pacemakers were separated into two groups. Both sets of people were fitted with pacemakers but only one group had their devices switched on. To everyone’s astonishment, both groups showed a marked degree of recovery.
Why the placebo effect exists is purely down to psychological conditioning or the “power of expectation” as some would put it. You expect the medication you receive to be effective in treating your condition and no surprise, it does.

In the same way that a positive outlook can have a favorable effect on your life, it is of little wonder that the opposite is also true. If you live in fear: fear about the future, anxiety about your circumstances, hang-ups about your past and so forth, these things will have an adverse impact on you.

There are those who believe that since you only have one life you should live it fast & live it hard, “empty the tank” and never mind the consequences. Whilst there may be some sympathy with this perspective, one crucial factor comes into play. Although people are living longer than the previous generation, they are not necessarily living healthier lives.

Better hygiene, public health, medicines and nutrition have contributed to this increase in longevity but more and more people are struggling in old age with chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. Not only do these conditions have a huge effect on the public purse but it also means that people are being kept alive in ill-health by medicines. Find out more information about health and old age at the National Institute on Aging.

Our interest at Borobudur Health is to keep at the top of our readers mind the fact that we don’t have to go through life suffering the effects of ill-health. How we view ourselves, what we eat and drink, how we treat other people, all of these things have an impact on our health.

We all have a good idea of what a successful person looks like. When you see an individual who you would consider to have accomplished more than most, it usually follows that that person, generally speaking, is enjoying a greater level of good health than the average person. We need good health in order to achieve success in other areas of our lives.

I believe that, for the most part, the things we experience in life come to us because we attract them. Although it may not be easy, a healthy mind, body and spirit is a state all of us can reach. We need to cultivate personal discipline and learn to expect good things.

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101 Ways To Relieve Stress And Tension To Get Your Life Back

In today’s contemporary world, avoiding stressful situations is essentially impossible. Everyone battles with the pressures from work, a social life, and searching for the balance in between managing finances, a household, work, friends, and alone time. However, stress triggers more problems than you can imagine, such as headaches, loss of libido, stomach problems, teeth grinding, anger, irritation, absence of energy, as well as depression.

If you are looking for methods to minimize your stress levels without going to the gym, keep reading for some of the most creative ways to de-stress and get your life back.

Click the ‘next page’ button to see our list!

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16 Surprising Facts You May Not Know About Diabetes

Today is World Diabetes Day (November 14th) and to help raise awareness for this disease, we have put together a list of surprising facts about diabetes that many people do not know.

Diabetes is and is often treated with insulin. Insulin was first used on humans by Sir Frederick Grant Banting who was born in Canada on November 14, 1891 (hence world diabetes day being on this day – his birthday).

Sir Frederick Grant Banting KBE MC FRS FRSC (November 14, 1891 – February 21, 1941) was a Canadian medical scientist, physician, painter, and Nobel laureate.

In 1923 Banting and John James Rickard Macleod received the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Banting shared the award money with his colleague, Dr. Charles Best. As of November 2016, Banting, who received the Nobel Prize at age 32, remains the youngest Nobel laureate in the area of Physiology/Medicine. The Canadian government gave him a lifetime annuity to work on his research. In 1934 he was knighted by England’s King George V.

A little knowledge goes a long ways so here are our top surprising facts about diabetes that you may not already know…

>>Next Page<<

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Six Habits To Stay Healthy As You Age

As more Americans ageing into retirement develop chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes, they need to take care to ensure that retirement doesn’t turn into a never ending struggle to try and stay healthy. In this article we list six of the healthiest behaviors that could help the senior population stay in good shape for much longer.

Aging does not have to be synonymous with disease or impairment. You can stay fit and healthy as you grow older by adjusting specific day-to-day habits and routines. This is a simpler and much more affordable solution than consulting a specialist – which can be very expensive. The fact is there are a lot of people who cannot afford to see a physician whenever they want to. Staying healthy and fit for good, without having to pay for medications or long-term treatment plans to cure specific conditions, has to be the most sensible answer.
The list addresses many important aspects of people’s lives touching on things that could help them improve their health and provide long-term solutions to many issues that might shorten lifespan substantially.

1. Taking Good Care of Your Diet
First and most importantly, you need to be watching your diet constantly. “Nearly 23.3 million Americans suffer from diabetes, which is caused by poor eating habits in most cases. Cutting back on sugar is important for people of all ages but even more so as you get older and your body becomes less efficient at fighting diseases. You should consider using substitutes which are unrefined with a lower glycaemic index. Other things to consider would be to eat less food that are rich in fats and carbohydrates and include more fruits and vegetables into your diet. These changes alone can make a big difference in how healthy you are as you get older.

2. Keeping Your Brain Active
It is easy to see why this piece of cognitive-related advice is so important. All throughout your working life you may have had to stay focused and sharp to earn your living. Now that you have retired the pressure is off. What you may not have realized is, that it was this need to use your brain to find solutions to problems that kept your mind sharp and ultimately, your body healthy also. Research has found that keeping the brain active not only fosters executive function but it can also reduce the risk of developing memory-loss illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. Even when you don’t have the challenge of work to keep you sharp you can help yourself by doing recall games and word exercises – for example, finding 5 blue objects during a walk, and recalling them on your way back home. You can also try brain exercising games.

3. Walking with Poles
This involves walking with poles instead of canes or walkers. Pole walking engages the muscles of the upper torso, which are critical to better cardiovascular endurance and upper-body strength. This can, moreover, improve flexibility in ageing people, which subsequently contributes to a healthier lifestyle.

4. Taking Health Supplements
Most modern diets lack important nutrients that can help people keep their bodies working well. Taking specific health supplements, such as omega-3 fatty acids, can improve cognitive function, reduce joint pain, lower depression levels, aid digestion, and much more.

5. Eating Fiber-Rich Foods
As people age, their metabolism slows down considerably, which can make digestion very difficult. Nutritionists and seniors both agree that eating foods rich in fiber can boost metabolism and aid digestion. Fiber can prevent constipation, helping individuals to have healthy bowel movements without the need to take medications.

6. Quitting Smoking
The last piece of advice is quitting smoking – a habit that is seemingly decreasing the average life span substantially. Smoking increases the incidence of many of the conditions people suffer from during their lifetime. These include heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, lung disease, and even cancer. The quitting process may be difficult, but it will certainly improve quality of life, and help you achieve a much healthier lifestyle as you grow older.

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Gluten Free Maple Pumpkin Custards with Crystallized Ginger

A Thanksgiving meal wouldn’t be complete without pumpkin, but after a huge meal, a traditional pumpkin pie can sometimes be a bit heavy. Pumpkin is combined with maple syrup in these elegant custards, featuring the best part of a pumpkin pie and saving calories for a luscious finish of real whipped cream. If you can find it, use Grade B dark amber syrup to get the best maple flavor.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups 1% milk
4 large eggs
3/4 cup maple syrup,
3/4 cup canned unseasoned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons whipped cream
1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 325 °F. Put a kettle of water on to heat for the water bath. Line a roasting pan with a folded kitchen towel.
2. Heat milk over low heat in a small saucepan until barely steaming but not boiling.
3. Whisk eggs and syrup in a large bowl until smooth. Gently whisk in the warm milk (a little bit at a time so the eggs don’t cook). Add pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt; whisk until blended.
4. Divide the mixture among six 6-ounce (3/4-cup) custard cups. Skim foam from the surface. Place custard cups in the prepared roasting pan. Pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the custard cups. Place the pan in the oven and bake, uncovered, until custards are just set but still quiver in the center when shaken, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer custards to a wire rack and let cool for 45 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until chilled.
5. To serve, top each custard with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of crystallized ginger.
6. Enjoy!

TIPS:

• Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 4. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
• Ingredient Note: If you can find it, use Grade B dark amber syrup to get the best maple flavor.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving: 210 calories; 4 g fat(2 g sat); 1 g fiber; 37 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein; 23 mcg folate; 128 mg cholesterol; 30 g sugars; 26 g added sugars; 5158 IU vitamin A; 1 mg vitamin C; 156 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 179 mg sodium; 290 mg potassium

Carbohydrate Servings: 2 1/2

Exchanges: 1/2 low-fat milk, 2 other carbohydrate, 1/2 medium fat

Source: Eating Well Magazine

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What Are Nootropics?

When addressing the question ‘what are nootropics?’ it is best to simplify the answer otherwise it can get quite complicated. Nootropics is an umbrella term for a class of chemicals, some naturally-occurring, some man-made, that provide cognitive benefits to the human brain.

To get truly technical, in order to be a nootropic, a compound needs to fulfill 5 requirements set by Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea, the man who coined the term “nootropic.” The compound needs to …

1. Enhance memory and ability to discover.
2. Help the brain function under disruptive conditions, such as hypoxia (low oxygen) and electroconvulsive shock.
3. Protect the brain from chemical and physical attacks, such as anti-cholinergic drugs and barbiturates.
4. Increase the effectiveness of neuronal firing control mechanisms in cortical and sub-cortical areas of the brain.
5. Have very little to no side effects and be essentially non-toxic.

Although this may be the official definition of what a nootropic is, usually when you hear the term nootropic used, most people are really talking about a  “cognitive enhancer” – something that gives your thinking ability a boost in some way (enhanced memory, faster speed-of-processing, increased concentration, or a mix of these, etc.). “Smart drugs” is another interchangeable term. With this looser definition of nootropics, relatively innocuous everyday substances like caffeine and Omega-3’s as well as substances like Adderall are also sometimes included under the broad header ‘nootropics’.

When And Where Did Nootropics Come From?

While cognitive enhancement with numerous compounds has actually been recorded in Chinese and ayurvedic medication for centuries, the term nootropic was coined in 1972 by Dr Corneliu Giurgea.

Dr Giurega was a Romanian researcher responsible for the synthesis of piracetam, a man-made nootropic first synthesized in 1964 that stays possibly the most popular nootropic to this day. He obtained the term from the Greek words nous (mind) and trepein (to turn, to flex).

Although it was Dr Giurega who first introduced the term nootropic and who initially came up with the definition, there is a second way to categorize nootropics which was introduced by Dr Skondia.

His criteria was based on a nootropics metabolic technique more than Dr Giurega’s. Particularly:

1. The compound possesses no direct vasoactivity (vasodilation or vasoconstriction).
2. The compound should not alter fundamental EEG rhythm.
3. The substance needs to cross the blood brain barrier.
4. The substance needs to have metabolic activity in the human brain.
5. The compound must have little-no negative effects.
6. The compound should go through scientific trials which expose metabolic cerebral improvement.

Most likely the most significant distinction in between the scientists definitions is that Dr Giurega thought the compound ought to enhance learning and memory while Dr Skondia thought a compound needs to boost brain metabolism through glucose or oxygen update. The racetams (piracetam, pramiracetam, oxiracetam, aniracetam) would fit both Skondia’s and Giurega’s definitions as “real nootropics” but many commonly used “cognitive enhancers” wouldn’t. Hence technically we can say that nootropics are cognitive enhancers, while all cognitive enhancers aren’t strictly nootropics. Having said all this, as mentioned earlier, the term nootropic is used quite broadly these days and many people would include some cognitive enhancers as nootropic substances.

Some popular nootropics would include:

Racetams – Piracetam, Aniracetam ,Oxiracetam, Pramiracetam, Noopept. Racetam’s are a group of nootropics that first started with Piracetam’s discovery. Subsequent racetam derivatives are more potent on a gram for gram basis and carry subtle differences in effect.

Choline Supplements – GPC and CDP Choline are both bioavailable forms of Choline that nourish the brain and provide it with the raw materials for Acetylcholine and cell membrane synthesis.

Herbs – Vinpocetine, Ginkgo, Bacopa, Huperzine-A – Herbs which have been traditionally used for hundreds of years to strengthen the mind, reduce stress and support cognitive function.

Modified Vitamins and Nutrients – Both Sulbutiamine and Pyritinol are man made semi-synthetic forms of vitamins B1 and B6 respectively. Sulbutiamine plays a role in dopamine modulation in the brain, while Pyritinol raises Acetylcholine levels. Creatine, a common sports supplement also has cognitive enhancing qualities.

 

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What Is White Tea? Is It Good For Your Health?

So, What Exactly Is White Tea?

White tea is tea that has been lightly oxidized which, at its most basic, means it has undergone a chemical reaction with oxygen. This tea, primarily from the Fujian Province in China, comes from the buds of the Camellia sinensis plant – the same plant that produces green, oolong and black tea as well. The level of oxidation is what gives the different teas.  Today, white tea is also produced in Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Kenya, Northern Thailand and also Eastern Nepal.

 

Video: What Is White Tea

History Of White Tea

It is believed that white tea is the earliest form of tea produced in China – this is due to the fact that it requires very little processing. Written records dating back to 1105 AD mention white tea during the Song dynasty and the earliest types being silver needle, white peony followed by Gongmei and Shoumei later on. These varieties of tea bush produce a different and distinctive white tea taste.

White Tea Benefits

There are many health benefits of white tea which makes it one of the best teas you can drink.  Due to the very light oxidation process, white tea has the highest antioxidant levels of all the tea varieties.

So, What Is White Tea Good For?

White tea is used for weight loss, cancer prevention and for all sorts of health benefits. Here is a brief list of what white tea can be used for below:

• Weight Loss
• Lowering Blood Pressure
• Lowering Cholesterol
• Heart Health
• Glowing Skin
• Healthy Teeth & Gums
• Cold & Flu Treatment and other sorts of viruses and bacterial infections

Click the link to learn more about white tea benefits

How To Make White Tea

Brewing white tea is simple but for best results and to retain as much of the healthy goodness as possible, follow these steps to achieve a fine cup of tea:

 

1. Choose your tea: When you buy white tea, you will notice that it comes in many forms and the quality differs. You can get organic white tea, loose leaf white tea, white teabags and even white tea powder. You can also choose white tea with additional flavors such as pomegranate, jasmine and peach. If you are new to white tea, it is a good idea to try a sampler which allows you to try a variety of teas before choosing your favorite.
2. Make sure your white tea is fresh: Unlike other teas, white tea doesn’t keep for years and really should be used up within six months of purchase. Store your tea in a cool dark, dry place which will prevent it from oxidizing further.
3. Choose your water: Select good quality water to brew your tea in. Hard water can effect the brew and even ruin the delicate taste of the white tea. If you live in a hard water area, use filtered water.
4. Heat water to boiling and let it cool: After you have boiled your water, let it cool down for 5 to 8 minutes. Ideally you want the water to be around 158˚F to 167˚F or 70˚C to 75˚C – the perfect white tea temperature. Too high a temperature will produce a bitter brew – a longer steeping time at a cooler temperature is best.
5. Select your method for brewing: Choose whether to use a tea infuser, a tea ball or a tea pot. If you are using loose tea leaves then approximately 2 teaspoons per cup works well. Put your tea leaves or tea bag(s) into the infuser, ball or pot.
6. Steep: Add the boiled (then cooled) water to the mix and allow the tea to infuse for 7 – 10 minutes. White tea leaves can handle being infused for longer than other tea varieties. You may want to experiment with the steeping time to produce a flavor that’s right for you.
7. Pour: Serve your white tea as it comes. It is best unadulterated although some people do add sugar and milk – but this is really not recommended as it does overwhelm the subtle and delicate flavor of the tea.

How Does White Tea Taste?

White tea has a mild sweet, delicate taste and does not have the grassy flavor that some green teas do.  It has a velvety smoothness to it and is a subtle, delicate tea which can be easily over powered with the addition of milk and sugar. It is sometimes blended with fruit such as peach or pear which adds another dimension to the tea.

Does White Tea Contain Caffeine?

All tea naturally contains caffeine but there are several factors which contribute to the levels of caffeine found in each one.  The first contributing factor is the quality of the tea leaves. The best quality white tea is fresher, which also means it has higher levels of caffeine in it. Secondly the temperature of your brew. If the white tea leaves are steeped in water at a lower temperature, then the resulting brew will have a higher caffeine content than one produced at a higher temperature. Thirdly the steep time. The longer you leave your tea to steep the more caffeine in your cup – although this is only true of the first steep. Although white tea does contain caffeine, it must be said that the amount of caffeine is less than that of green or black tea and far less than coffee. Even still, the caffeine in white tea can be removed to leave a decaf white tea.

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