Motivational Quote May 24 – June 1

“All the happiness you ever find lies in you.” Anonymous

All About Fiber and Why You Need it in Your Diet

Dietary fiber is a complex carbohydrate and is the part of the plant material that cannot be digested and absorbed in the bloodstream. Fiber is mostly polysaccharides composed of glucose units, but human digestive enzymes cannot break the bonding of these units. We can think of fiber as non-starch polysaccharides. These include cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and some other types of fiber. That might sound like Greek to you, but fiber is an important part of our daily diet, and a high fiber diet might be perfect for your body.

Depending on their solubility in water, there are of two main types of fiber: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Both of these types are important for optimum health. Fiber has a number of health benefits and hence is highly recommended in daily food. Some of its health benefits are:

• It promotes the feelings of fullness and reduces energy consumption.
• It prevents constipation, hemorrhoids, and other intestinal problems.
• Fiber helps prevent bacterial infection of the appendix.
• It reduces the risk of colon cancer.
• It stimulates the muscles of the digestive tract and helps them retain their health and tone.

To keep the digestive tract healthy and prevent other disorders like hemorrhoids and intestinal problems, people normally need 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily. These can be obtained from a variety of plants, vegetables and fruits. Fibers are especially abundant in whole foods. Good sources of soluble fiber include oatmeal, oat bran, barley, dried beans and legumes, and citrus fruits. All fruits are rich in fiber. For just 2 grams of fiber, you could eat 1 small apple, 1 peach, 1 small banana, 2 prunes, 16 large cherries, or a number of other fruits. Grains also contain fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, simply try 1 slice of whole wheat bread, 2 slices of cracked wheat bread, 1 cup of cooked oatmeal, 2 cups of popped popcorn, or ¼ of a cup of corn bran.

If you are on a low-carb diet, you can try eating cooked vegetables to provide your body with adequate fiber. For 2 grams of fiber, eat ½ of a cup of broccoli, 1 cup of celery, ½ of a cup of carrots, 1 small potato, 1 large tomato, or a variety of beans. Beans, or any type of legume, are the real powerhouses for fiber. By only eating ½ of a cup of kidney beans, 1 cup of dried peas or lentils, or ½ of a cup of canned baked beans, you can provide your body with a whopping 8 grams of fiber. If all else fails, small amounts of fiber can also be found in peanuts, walnuts, and pickles, so there is really no excuse for not getting enough fiber in your diet!

Getting Fit with Aerobics Classes

Getting Fit with Aerobics Classes

If you have ever wanted to be healthier, you probably already know that aerobics can be the way to go. You’ll find that you are able to stay trimmer, and you are also able to have more endurance and be able to do other sorts of exercises. One of the best ways to get into aerobics and to make it something that you can do full time is to take aerobics classes.

At aerobics classes, you’ll be able to learn how to do the basic fundamentals of the types of aerobics that you want to be doing. You can also learn how to different moves – things you might not know yet, and you can learn how to transition between one type of aerobics and another. At aerobics classes, you are going to have a chance to learn all about aerobics – what they can do for you, how they work, and why they are important. Not only that, but you’ll actually be able to learn them, from an instructor, someone who is good at what they do and someone who can help you be good at aerobics as well.

When it comes to aerobics classes, they good for you in another way, other than simply teaching you aerobics. Everyone knows that the hardest part about working out is actually doing it, going to the gym or riding your bike, or doing whatever it is that you have decided to do. This is the hardest part about an exercise routine, actually getting it done. However, if you sign up for an aerobics class, this means that you are actually scheduling yourself to do it – you are saying that during these times you’re going to be at aerobics, which means that you have to go.

Often, just getting it put down on the calendar is a great way to make sure that you do something. This is a great thing for you, and you can find that by scheduling yourself to be taking aerobics, you’ll find you are even more likely to actually go ahead and work out instead of putting it off. This is something that you might want to think about, because if you have a lack of motivation for any reason, trying to work out on your own just might not cut it. You would probably be better off taking a class because this way you are guaranteed to have scheduled this time to work out.

The Basics of Eating – The Food Pyramid

Food Pyramid

An overwhelming amount of both natural and highly processed foods are available at the market and grocery stores. The choices can be overwhelming! To guide people in picking healthy food items, the US Department of Agriculture has designed the food pyramid. It is a labeled illustration, shaped like a pyramid, which demonstrates groups of essential food types and the quantity in which a normal individual requires each of these foods.

At the base of the food pyramid are such food items are ready sources of energy. These foods are rich in starch, low in fat, and include cereals, pasta, bread, and different types of grains. By the specifications of the food pyramid, a normal adult individual needs 6 to 11 servings of these items daily. Whole grains are the best and healthiest food of this group. In a single serving of these foods you can include a slice of bread, a cup of cereal flakes, one flat tortilla, and one ounce of rice or pasta.

As the geometry of the food pyramid shows, vegetables and fruits are required in less quantity than carbohydrates. Normally, a grown person would need 3 to 5 servings of vegetables and 2 to 4 servings of fruits daily. The high fiber content of vegetables and fruits make them ideal food items as fiber keeps the bowel movements in order. In addition, they are both rich in vitamins (required for immunity and general health) and minerals, which ensure the proper functioning of various body organs. Among vegetables, go for more dark green vegetables and try to pick fresh fruits instead of fruit juices.

Next upper chamber in the food pyramid is occupied by proteins and dairy products. You need 2 to 3 servings daily of each of these foods. Protein comes from lean meat, eggs, fish, beans, and nuts. It is advisable to remove the visible fat on the meat so as to make it a low fat item. Be moderate in using nuts, since they also hold fats. Among the dairy products, milk is the complete diet with most of the required vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Cheese and yogurt are also recommended dairy foods. Try to abstain from high intake of ice cream and cheese that is high in fat.

Lastly, at the top of the food pyramid lie fats, including oils, and sweets. The recommended quantity of these items is limited to sparing use. Butter, cream, oils, candies, margarines etc., are all foods that are not easy to digest and hence should be used in minimal amounts. However, it is an important part of our diet, just as all the other parts of the food pyramid are important as well.

Free Workout Music

MotionTraxx.com is fuel for running! Even better. . .its free! That’s right F-R-E-E! Digest that! It’s a fitness music podcast designed to for running and other exercises and activities that benefit from up-beat, steady-paced music. Motion Traxx features non-stop dance music mixes set at high Beats-Per-Minute (BPM).

The owner of the website Deekron the Fitness DJ is a life-long athlete, DJ, and business executive who transformed his career in order to pursue his passion and make a difference in people’s health.

You have got the free music. . .NOW GO WORKOUT!

Methods of Meditation

Methods of Meditation

Meditate on a lone cloud on a hill, floating effortlessly through space and time. Imagine you are that cloud and with every inhale and exhale, you are blowing yourself gracefully across the heavens, forgetting all sorrow, pain and worry of the hills below…

The art of meditation takes many forms and titles. Meditation has been practiced for over 5,000 years mainly in eastern religious traditions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Other religions that have used forms of meditation include Janism, Sikhism, New Age, Taoism and Islam. Christianity and Judaism have forms of meditation as well that are very different from eastern religions but still create relaxation and peace in the body.

Techniques are used not only for spiritual purposes, but also health purposes such as yoga meditation and secular meditation which fight against anxiety, stress and chronic physical pain.

By clearing the mind, relaxing the muscles and focusing on deep breathing, circulation, posture and concentration are improved. Yoga is deeply tied to eastern religions and its goal is to improve health and well-being and reaching Moksha which is the release from the cycle of life, death and rebirth and all the suffering attached to it.

There are many different types of meditation techniques including: Mantra, Trakata, Chakra, Vispanna, Raj Yoga, Zazen, and Nada Yoga. All of them include focusing on breathing, entering into an alternate state of consciousness and focusing on a strong sense of self. Beyond being conscious of one’s breathing, there is a wide variety of techniques that help with reaching the developmental goal that the person is aiming for which include:

“Upward” which acts to reverse the pull of gravity on the consciousness by lifting the consciousness out of the body, “Mind-centered” in which the mind is a blank slate, “Monastic” which involves exploring death’s mystery, “Observer” where you watch your thoughts and emotions as they happen from an outside perspective, “Passive” where the mind makes no judgment similar to daydreaming or sleep, “Fantasy-based” where the person goes to an alternate place in his/her mind, “Trance” which included rhythmic chanting, “Denial” or “Dualistic” where divisions in the universe are realized and questioned, and “Religious” where one thinks about an inspiring religious leader.

Transcendental Meditation was introduced in 1957 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, disciple of the Indian spiritual leader, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. Yogi developed programs and initiatives to promote transcendental meditation and spent time touring the world teaching what he had learned. The technique involves sitting with one’s eyes closed for twenty minutes, twice a day and not contemplating but setting up a framework for the mind to move inwardly instead of being flooded with different ideas and feelings.

Music is a tool that is not only used for entertainment but for healing as well. Certain tones and chords can stimulate brainwaves, produce deep relaxation, increase the ability to learn, relieve stress, and even heal the body as a result of listening and feeling the music. Almost everyone has experienced deep feelings from a song a favorite artist plays or an experience at a concert.

Music can increase self-growth and fulfillment in certain areas of one’s life. Meditation music is one of many forms of music that can accomplish this. It acts to correspond with meditation practices to promote self awareness and relaxation as well as deep connection. It is also used in spas during massages to help the patient relax fully.

What are the Different Types of Meditation?

What are the Different Types of Meditation?

While there are many different types of meditation, there are two general classifications: concentrative and mindfulness.  In concentrative meditation, you focus on clearing your mind to provide you with greater concentration, awareness and clarity. In mindfulness meditation, you open your mind to become more aware of the things around you, such as scents, sounds and thoughts.

The easiest way to engage in concentrative meditation is to sit quietly and focus on your breathing.  Relax and count your breaths as you breathe through your nose. Take deep breaths, hold them and let them out slowly. This helps you to get oxygen into the lowest portions of your lungs.

There are times when you mind may wander, but you refocus on your breathing to get rid of your thoughts. You can also focus on an object when meditating or you may want to repeat a phrase or a word. This is called mantra meditation in which you can choose to repeat the word or phrase aloud or silently in your head.
If you are agitated or worried about something, your breathing will be short and fast when you first start this type of meditation. As you start to relax, your breathing will slow down and become regulated.  As you focus on your breathing or on an object, your mind will become absorbed with the regulation of your breathing and all other thoughts will vanish from your mind.

Zen meditation is one type of concentrative meditation in which you concentrate on the functioning of the heart.  There are three main aims in this form:
??        to develop the power of concentration

??        to awaken your inner sense of wisdom

??        to recognize the action of the Supreme Being on your inner self

The idea is that once you are able to rid yourself of the thoughts of everyday life, you can reach that inner sense of peace that exists in everyone. It helps to calm the mind and body to give you insight into the nature of your existence. You must be patient and persistent in meditating in order for your mind to become clear.

Raja Yoga Meditation is another type of concentrative meditation.  This form of meditation helps you to gain control of your mind to enable to you to develop a sense of peace. The life force of your body moves through the spine so that awareness is able to move into the “Third Eye” which is a point between your eyebrows.

Your mind is not passive and there can be many thoughts racing through it. You try to free yourself of these mindless thoughts and focus on the real meaning of meditating to achieve a pleasant feeling throughout the body.

Mindfulness meditation involves a passing parade of thoughts, emotions and images through your mind. You sit in a meditating position and instead of trying to banish the thoughts from your mind, you allow them to enter. You do acknowledge that they are present but you don’t concentrate on them. This allows you to develop a calm approach to your problems so that you don’t react quickly.

Instead of focusing on one individual thought or scene, you allow each though to become part of the bigger picture. It trains your mind to meditate on things in your life over which you have no control so that you have a heightened sense of inner peace that will enable you to go on with your life in spite or extreme difficulties.

Motivational Quote May 18-24

“Whoever is happy will make others happy too. He who has courage and faith will never perish in misery.”
-Anne Frank