http://www.kompas.com/index.php/read/xml/2008/05/19/07592218/Makanan%20Mentah

Penulis: Bondan Winarno

Jangan berhenti membaca! Ini bukan bizzare food, melainkan tentang sayur-mayur yang dimakan mentah tanpa dimasak.

Sekitar 20 tahun yang lalu, saya menginap di rumah Prof. Nader Shooshtari, seorang gurubesar ilmu ekonomi di Universitas Montana. Malam-malam, sambil mengobrol, dia mengambil dua botol bir dan satu kotak tupperware dari dalam lemari es. Di dalam kotak itu terdapat berbagai sayur potong. Ada brokoli, kembang kol, wortel, batang seledri besar. Sambil minum bir, camilannya adalah sayur-mayur mentah itu. Tanpa dicocol salad dressing maupun salsa.

Apa enaknya? Pada masa itu, lidah saya belumlah secerdas dan secanggih sekarang. Saya cuma ikut-ikutan dan mencoba menikmati brokoli mentah yang rasanya langu. Juga wortel mentah terasa langu. Duh, sengsara banget jadi orang modern, ya?

Nader bukanlah seorang pemalas yang enggan memasak dan menyuguhkan sayuran mentah. Itu adalah gaya hidupnya. Gaya hidup bugar – fit lifestyle. Ketika kami seasrama di Hale Manoa, Universitas Hawaii, Nader selalu memaksa saya turun dari tempat tidur dan ikut dia melakukan push up duapuluh kali dan sit up duapuluh kali pula. Dia sendiri melakukannya sampai hitungan seratus.

Makan sayur mentah mestinya tidak merupakan tantangan berat bagi orang Indonesia. Kuliner Nusantara juga mengenal banyak sayur mentah. Karedok, misalnya, adalah kumpulan sayur mentah. Begitu juga trancam dan berbagai lalapan mentah. Tetapi, brokoli, kembang kol, paprika, dan wortel memang memerlukan acquired taste. Saya sendiri melatih lidah saya dengan makan sayur-sayur mentah itu dicocol blue cheese atau salad dressing maupun salsa. Sekarang, semua sayur mentah sudah dapat saya nikmati tanpa cocolan apapun. Tekstur dan crunchiness dari masing-masing sayur merupakan sensasi tersendiri yang sangat dapat dinikmati.

Pernah makan sup gazpacho dari Spanyol? Sup ini sebetulnya merupakan jus sayuran – paprika, timun, bawang bombai, tomat – dengan sedikit bumbu. Sama sekali tidak dimasak. Lebih baik lagi bila disimpan semalam di lemari es.

Belum lama ini saya sempat singgah di sebuah restoran yang khusus menyajikan makanan mentah. Namanya “Juliano’s Raw” di pojokan Broadway dan 6th Avenue, Santa Monica, dekat Los Angeles, California. Tempatnya sederhana. Tetapi, ternyata sudah banyak selebritis – antara lain Demi Moore – yang melanggani restoran ini.

Juliano tidak pernah menyebut nama belakangnya. Mungkin sekali dia keturunan Italia. Tetapi, di Italia, nama seperti itu dieja sebagai Giuliano. Ia selalu tampil dengan gairah yang luar biasa. Bicara dengan mata membelalak dan kedua tangannya bergerak mendukung setiap kata-katanya.

Juliano “berdakwah” tentang living food (makanan hidup), yaitu sayur-mayur dan buah-buahan yang mengandung the power of procreation. Sayur segar bisa ditanam lagi untuk menghasilkan sayur segar beberapa kali lipat. Demikian juga biji yang dikandung buah segar dapat ditanam untuk menghasilkan buah-buahan segar berlipat ganda. Itulah yang dimaksudnya sebagai the power of procreation. Karena itu, manusia yang hanya makan sayur-mayur dan buah segar akan menjadi “lebih hidup”.

Sebaliknya, sayur-mayur dan buah akan mati bila dimasak. Karena itulah Juliano selalu menganjurkan agar sayur-mayur dan buah tidak dimasak, agar tidak kehilangan daya alamiahnya yang luar biasa bagi kehidupan manusia. “Dead foods are dead. They spoil and rot deep in your guts, finally becoming some cancer which in a delivery of excruciating pain eats you from the inside out,” tulis Juliano dalam buku-buku yang sudah diterbitkannya tentang living foods.

“If we eat wrong, no doctor can cure us. If we eat right, no doctor is needed,” itu adalah petuah lain dari Juliano. Ia menjamin bahwa semua makanannya mentah. Bila pun sempat dimasak, dipastikan tidak melalui pemanasan di atas 40 derajat Celcius. Itu dilakukan karena menurut teori, pemanasan bahan makanan di atas 80 derajat Celcius akan mematikan semua enzim yang dikandung. Yang jelas, memasak bahan pangan berarti “memeras” cairan yang dikandung. Padahal, tubuh kita sangat membutuhkan enzim dan cairan.

Oke, maka kami pun mulai meneliti daftar makanan di kartu menu untuk melihat makanan apa saja yang kira-kira akan memuaskan. Kami memesan beberapa menu untuk dicoba.

Ternyata, makanan yang datang jauh di luar dugaan kami. Misalnya, burrito yang kami pesan ternyata tidak dibungkus tortilla yang biasanya dibuat dari gandum atau tepung jagung, melainkan dibungkus nori (rumput laut). Lasagna yang kami pesan pun ternyata tidak memakai pasta. Satu-satunya makanan yang dimasak adalah yang terbuat dari campuran berbagai macam kacang.

Beberapa bahan yang banyak dipakai dalam hidangan “Raw” adalah wijen, wijen hitam, bit, kubis ungu, daun ketumbar, guacamole (dari avocado), krim kocok (whipped cream), rumput laut, dan berbagai jenis bunga yang dapat dimakan. Krim kocok untuk makanan maupun dessert dibuat dari Irish moss seaweed (sejenis rumput laut). Keju dibuat dari kacang-kacangan. Pasta dibuat dari zucchini. Minyak zaitun yang digunakannya juga minyak khusus yang diproses dengan panas yang tidak melebihi 35 derajat Celcius.

Rasanya? Saya tidak bohong. Betul-betul mak nyuss! Begitu segar, begitu unik, begitu khas. Saya sendiri heran betapa makanan dari bahan-bahan mentah dapat disajikan sedemikian enak. Luar biasa!

Di restorannya, Juliano hanya menyajikan makanan yang disebutnya sebagai living cuisine. Juliano’s food comes straight from the garden to your plate – demikianlah slogan restoran yang juga menjanjikan “100% organic” itu. Juliano bahkan “menantang” tamunya agar membawa sisa makanan pulang ke rumah dan kemudian meletakkannya di tanah. Tiga hari kemudian, pasti akan tampak tanda-tanda kehidupan dari tanaman baru. Itulah bukti nyata tentang slogan “living food”. Bandingkan dengan daging yang Anda buang di tanah. Tiga hari kemudian yang akan bermunculan adalah belatung.

Satu hal lagi yang saya “pelajari” di “Raw” adalah bahwa ternyata pada umumnya wine adalah minuman yang tidak vegan-friendly. “Raw”, sebaliknya, menyajikan wine khusus yang vegan-friendly, yaitu wine yang dalam proses pembuatannya tidak memakai putih telur, casein, dan gelatine yang merupakan produk hewani.

Bahan makanan yang disajikan “Raw” sebetulnya tidak hanya seratus persen organik, melainkan juga seratus persen veganik. Veganik berarti semua tanaman itu dipupuk dengan rumput laut dan abu vulkanik – tanpa pupuk dari kotoran hewan, apalagi pupuk kimia. Bahkan pencucian semua alat-alat dapur maupun alat-alat saji di “Raw” tidak memakai deterjen, melainkan dengan jeruk lemon dan cuka. Juliano barangkali memang orang yang paling fanatik dalam menjalani doktrin veganik.

“All of our foods – fruits, vegetables, sprouted grains – have been gently and lovingly tranformed into delicious food,” kata Juliano dengan mata membelalak dan kedua tangannya “beterbangan” ke mana-mana. Diam-diam saya menyimpan kekahawatiran, jangan-jangan kalau saya jadi veganik juga akan menjadi “hiper” seperti Juliano – bicara dengan mata membelalak, suara tinggi, dan kedua tangan heboh ikut bicara.

“Doktrin” Juliano ini mau tidak mau mengingatkan saya pada prinsip yang dianjurkan oleh Dokter Chris Teo di Penang. Di kliniknya, Dokter Teo menyembuhkan pasien kanker secara veganik dan kebiasaan hidup sehat. Ia bahkan menganjurkan agar orang tidak menjalani kemoterapi yang menurut dia justru bertentangan dengan hukum alam.

Seorang visioner agung Alfred Einstein pernah berkata bahwa masa depan dunia ini akan lebih terjamin bila makin banyak orang beralih dari kesukaan makan produk hewani ke disiplin makan sayur-mayur dan biji-bijian.

Selamat Waisak bagi teman-teman Buddhis yang sebagian besar menganut vegetarian. Sabe satta bhavantu sukhitata. Semoga semua mahluk berbahagia.

© 2008 Kompas Gramedia. All rights reserved

http://cybermed.cbn.net.id/cbprtl/cybermed/detail.aspx?x=Health+Man&y=cybermed%7C0%7C0%7C13%7C562

Sekalipun hari yang akan dilalui, ditengarai terik matahari atau mendung disusul hujan rintik maupun lebat, tapi hati dan pikiran harus tetap cerah dan segar. Melewati hari dimulai dengan baik: bersemangat, pikiran jernih, jauh dari buruk sangka dan menyenangkan, merupakan separuh dari pencapaian tujuan. Hanya bila memperhatikan tips berikut:

1.       Untuk mendapatkan kesegaran fisik di pagi hari, tidur cukup di malam hari. Lepaskan masalah begitu berangkat tidur, beristirahat sebaik-baiknya. Yakinkan diri, esok hari akan lebih baik lagi.

2.       Untuk memulai aktivitas, diawali berdoa untuk mendamaikan pikiran dan tentramkan jiwa.

3.       Waktu pagi hari yang cukup sempit, sempatkan berolahraga ringan, semisal jalan berkeliling tempat tinggal atau senam.

4.       Pagi hari cukupkan kebutuhan energi dan gizi tubuh. Sarapan yang baik adalah modal untuk kebugaran tubuh sepanjang hari.

5.       Mengeluh kondisi lalu lintas, akan merusak suasana hati yang cerah. Selama berkendara, hibur diri dengan bersenandung atau mendengar obrolan santai di radio kesayangan.

6.       Sambut hari tanpa lepas senyum dan sapaan pada orang-orang yang dijumpai. Anda pun akan mendapat balasan senyum.

7.       "Siap bertempur" di dunia kerja, dijalani dengan ikhlas dengan memetik hikmahnya ketika: beban kerja yang kebetulan hari itu berlebihan, melakukan kesalahan sehingga ditegur pimpinan, ulah teman kerja yang tidak menyenangkan, relasi bikin ulah.

Sumber: Male Emporium

Kiriman: Subagyo Danuningrat

Ketika perasaan sedang biru, kadang susah mengubah suasana biru itu menjadi merah. Berikut ini strategi untuk berdamai dengan dunia Dan bebas dari depresi.

1.       Beri makan otak

• Cari makanan rendah kalori yang renyah, seperti disarankan Dr. Madelyn Fernstorm, direktur UPMC Weight Management Center. Makanan renyah jadi olahraga buat gigi. Pilih wortel, seledri, atau apel, jangan keripik goreng.
• Jangan gunakan makanan sebagai pengobatan swadaya. Makanan memang memberi kenyamanan, tetapi merupakan sumber energi. Lebih baik jalan-jalan sejenak di taman untuk menyegarkan otak.
• Hindari kelebihan stimulan seperti kafein.
• Zat nutrisi seperti folat, vitamin B6 Dan B12 berperan dalam menjalankan fungsi otak yang benar. Mungkin vitamin ini bisa mengusir depresi. Temukan vitamin itu dalam jus jeruk, kacang merah, atau pisang.

2.       Bernapas dengan benar

"Semua oprang butuh latihan pernapasan," kata Mark Liponis, MD, penulis buku UltraLongevit: The Seven Steps Program for a Younger, Healthier You. Sistem kekebalan tubuh merespon secara instan setiap perubahan dalam pernapasan karena itu merupakan sinyal ancaman. Helaan napas yang cepat Dan dangkal merupakan respon stres yang kemudian dlkirimkan ke sistem kekebalan tubuh.

• Pelankan napas, biarkan diafragma mengalami kontraksi penuh
• Rasakan napas melewati seluruh paru-paru.
• Ingatlah untuk membuang napas. Buang napas sampai habis.

3.       Kenali diri sendiri

Semua orang punya gaya sendiri untuk melepaskan rasa marah. "Temukan metode rileksasi yang berguna untuk diri sendiri Dan simpan Dan kotak pertolongan pertama," kata psikiater Dan penulis buku For Some, It's Deep Breathing; Others Thrive on Exercise. Buat orang lain, mungkin rileksasi itu berupa obrolan dari hati ke hati yang diikuti dengan perawatan spa.

• Penelitian membuktikan bahwa latihan ritmis paling sehat untuk kekebalan tubuh. Pilih berenang, dayung, dansa tango, atau jalan-jalan.
• The National Institute of Health mendukung akupuntur untuk memperbaiki tidur, mengurangi nyeri Dan kesehatan tubuh secara umum.

4.       Keluar dari perangkap yang sama

Apakah Anda mengalami deja vu? Banyak orang melakukan hal salah yang sama di kantor, di rumah. Sebenarnya mudah untuk lepas dari situasi yang salah terus-menerus itu. Segera keluar dari cerita lawas Dan bahas dengan orang lain, sehingga Anda dapat perspektif yang berbeda. Beri diri sendiri kesempatan memeriksakan kenyataan agar menemukan akar dari masalah. Itu juga bisa ditemukan saat Anda berkonsultasi dengan terapis. Dengan bantuan terapis, Anda dapat membantu merevaluasi situasi.

5.       Dapatkan "Vitamin C" plus

Cinta atau "Vitamin C" plus canda tawa merupakan obat yang ampuh untuk mengobati kemarahan, ketakutan, Dan kekecewaan. Ketiganya merupakan sebuah emosi yang menandakan tubuh terancam bahaya. Cinta tak selalu berarti roman. Cinta bisa Anda dapatkan dari hewan peliharaan, orangtua, atau dari kegiatan merawat tanaman. Temukan aktivitas yang memungkinkan Anda mendapat teman baru Dan sahabat.

Sumber: Senior

http://www.kompas.com/index.php/read/xml/2008/04/22/12101319/apakah.anda.korban.televisi..

MENONTON televisi mungkin sudah menjadi bagian dari gaya hidup masyarakat modern. Bahkan di antaranya ada yang tidak bisa melepaskan diri dari kebiasaan menonton kotak bergambar ini dan telah menganggapnya sebagai aktivitas wajib seperti makan atau bernafas.

Bila Anda setiap hari menghabiskan sedikit waktu saja untuk duduk di depan televisi mungkin tidaklah menjadi masalah. Akan tetapi, bila televisi sudah menyita sebagia besar waktu hidup Anda itulah yang akan mendatangkan petaka.

Menurut para ahli, kebanyakan menonton tv akan membuat Anda merasa tua dan loyo sebelum waktunya. Dengan hanya duduk pasif dan hampir tidak menggunakan otot, lama-lama Anda akan merasa kaku, letih, malas berfikir.

Dalam jangka panjang, ini dapat menurunkan kemampuan berpikir dan melakukan aktivitas fisik. Alhasil, otot menjadi kendur dan otak macet. Sebuah riset di AS pun menyebutkan bahwa kebiasaan menonton TV rata-rata 4 jam sehari dapat meningkatkan risiko mengalami kegemukan.

Tetapi siapa yang punya waktu sebanyak itu untuk nongkrong di depan TV? Jawabannya banyak. Sebuah survei di AS yang dilakukan Nielson Media Research misalnya pernah menyebutkan pria di Negeri Paman Sam itu rata-rata menonton TV lebih dari 3,5 jam sehari.

Nah apakah Anda termasuk orang yang sudah menjadi korban televisi? Berikut ini adalah kuisioner sederhana untuk mengungkap apakah Anda sudah mengidap kecanduan atau berpotensi mengalami masalah dengan kebiasaan kotak bergambar tersebut. Untuk menggunakan kuisioner ini, tandai tiap pertanyaan yang Anda jawab dengan ya.

1.       Apakah Anda menonton televisi lebih dari dua jam sehari? Apakah Anda menolak bicara dengan orang lain ketika sedang menonton televisi?

2.       Apakah Anda merasa tidak senang atau kesal ketika Anda harus mematikan televisi dan mengerjakan sesuatu yang lain?

3.       Apakah Anda kadang-kadang merasa letih luar biasa selama seharian?

4.       Apakah Anda sering makan cemilan atau makanan Iced yang tidak sehat sambil duduk menonton televisi?

5.       Apakah Anda sering mengalami insomnia dan menggunakan televisi sebagai cara untuk mengisi waktu selama sulit tidur itu?

6.       Pada suatu hari yang menyenangkan, apakah Anda lebih suka tinggal di rumah, menonton televisi, daripada pergi ke suatu tempat di luar?

7.       Sulitkah bagi Anda untuk berbagi atau mengungkapkan perasaan dan pengalaman dengan orang lain?

8.       Apakah Anda terlibat aktif dalam sekurangnya dua hobi, klub, atau kegiatan olahraga sekurangnya empat jam per minggu?

9.       Apakah Anda sering menyalakan televisi dan menjelajah semua stasiun tanpa gambaran tentang acara tertentuyang ingin Anda tonton?

Cara menilai hasil kuis:

Untuk setiap pertanyaan bernomor ganjil yang Anda jawab dengan ya, beri nilai dua poin. Faktor-faktor ini ditentukan oleh para ahli sebagai indikator untuk kebanyakan menonton televisi.

Untuk setiap pertanyaan bernomor genap yang Anda jawab dengan ya, beri nilai satu poin. Faktor-faktor ini, sehubungan dengan kebiasaan menonton yang buruk, menandakan potensi untuk bermasalah.

Jumlahkan skor Anda kemudian gunakan skala berikut untuk mengetahui posisi Anda.

3 atau kurang. Tidak ada masalah.

4 hingga 6. Berpotensi untuk menjadi masalah.

7 hingga 9. Ya, tampaknya Anda terlalu banyak menonton televisi.

10 atau lebih. Celaka! Otak Anda mungkin sudah kena setrum.

AC

Sumber : berbagai sumber

From: Vatsala Saxena

1. Throw out nonessential numbers.

This includes age, weight, and height.

Let the doctors worry about them.. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends.

The grouches pull you down.

(Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning:

Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.

Never let the brain get idle.

'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things

5. Laugh often, long and loud.

Laugh until you gasp for breath.

And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time

with him or her!

6. The tears happen:

Endure, grieve, and move on.

The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself.

LIVE while you are alive.

7 Surround yourself with what you love:

Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.

Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health:

If it is good, preserve it.

If it is unstable, improve it.

If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.

Take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country, but NOT to where the

guilt is

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

And if you don't send this to at least four people - who cares?

But do share this with someone.

From: William Joseph

All of us make little health mistakes that cause damage to our bodies in the long run - simply because we are unaware we are doing something wrong. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by many of us.

Crossing our legs

Do you cross your legs at your knees when sitting? Although we may believe that this is the lady-like elegant way to sit, sitting this way cuts down circulation to your legs. If you don"t want varicose veins to mar the beauty of your legs and compromise your health, uncross your legs every time you realise you have one knee on top of the other. The best way to sit is to simply place both legs together on the floor, balancing your weight equally. If you feel like changing position, instead of crossing your legs, simply move both legs together to one side. As an alternative, you could also consider crossing your legs loosely at the ankles. This is a classically elegant way to sit, and is far better for your legs and your health than sitting with your legs crossed at your knees.

Not changing our toothbrush

How often do you change your toothbrush? Most of us wait until most of the bristles have either fallen off, or are in such bad shape that we"d be embarrassed to pull out our brush in public. However, since not many of us need to pull out our brush in public, we carry on with our frayed one until we lose it. Replace your toothbrush often. Damaged bristles can harm the enamel, and don"t massage your gums well. If you find brushing your teeth a pain like I do, but know you must do it, you might as well be doing it right. Imagine going through the annoyance of brushing your teeth tw ice a day only to find out that you"re damaging your enamel every time you clean your teeth. Also, use a brush with soft bristles unless your dentist has advised otherwise.

Eating out often

There are oils that are high in cholesterol, and oils that cause little harm and are better for your heart. However, no matter how light

the oil is, it is never a good idea to eat too much of it. Avoid fried foods.Remember that in all probability your favorite Indian food

restaurant throws a huge, HUGE chunk of butter i n a tiny bowl of dal. Rita, who worked in the kitchen of a 5 star hotel, was shocked when she saw the cook chop a 500gm butter slab in half, and throw half into a Paneer Makhani dish. No wonder the customers left licking their fingers. And no wonder they felt so stuffed and heavy afterwards. Limit outdoor eating unless you know that you"re getting served light and healthy food.

Skipping breakfast

Never, ever skip breakfast. Remember, when you wake up in the morning it"s been around 10-12 hours since your last meal. You r body needs food now, more than at any other time. Eat a heavy breakfast. You will then be busy through the day, and the calories will get expended quickly. If you are trying to diet, eat a light dinner. Here are some more common health mistakes we make. Being informed and making a few changes can help make us feel a whole lot better.

High heels

High heels sure look great, but they're murder for your back. This however doesn't mean you should steer clear of stilettos. Wear them, but not when you know you will be walking around a lot. Wear them when going out for lunch or dinner - when the only walking you will be doing is to your car, to the table, and back. Avoid high heels when you are going somewhere on foot. If you are constantly tempted to wear your heels, take a good look at your flats. Is there something about them you dislike? Invest in a new pair of beautiful flats or shoes with a low heel. Buy something you love, that you will enjoy wearing. If possible, get a matching bag. You will then enjoy your flats as much as you do your heels.

Sleeping on a soft bed

You don't have to sleep on the floor be kind to your back, but do make sure you have a firm mattress. Although a mattress on springs is soft and lovely to sink into, it's bad for your back. If you already have an old bed with springs, you don't need to invest in a new one - simply get a thick wooden plank put over the springs, and place the mattress on the plank. Similarly, if your mattress is old and lumpy, throw it out and get a new one. You r neck and your back will thank you. The same rule applies to sofas. If you will be spending hours on a sofa, get a firm yet comfortable one. Sofas you completely sink into are not the best idea.

Pillows

No matter how comfortable sleeping with ten cushions is, have pity on your neck and resist. Sleep with one pillow, and make sure it is not too thick. If your pillow gets lumpy, discard it and go for a new one. Get a thin pillow if you sleep on your stomach, and something a little thicker if you sleep on your back, to give your neck adequate support.

Not exercising

So all of us know we should exercise more, but many of us don't. This is a health mistake we consciously make And why is that? Simply because we refuse to admit the damage we are causing to our bodies by not working out. A number of people only start working out once they've experienced a warning signal. Don't wait for a heart attack to strike before you decide to opt for a lifestyle change. Make the change now. You don't need to train for the marathon to be in top shape. Half an hour of brisk walking three to four times a week will make a world of difference to your health. You could then increase this t o forty minutes, four times a week - and you're all set. If you haven't exercised for a week, you're making a mistake.

From: Srinivasa Raghavan

Headache cures are the most sought after remedies as it is one of the most common ailment people suffer from. Headaches afflict almost everyone at some time or the other. Most headaches are functional, being caused by temporary upsets, and are not related to any organic changes in the brain. They are often natures warning that something is wrong somewhere in the body. The actual pain, however, arises from irritation to nerve endings in the shoulder, neck, and scalp muscles, and also in the smooth muscles encircling the blood vess! els which severe these areas. Migraine headaches in an acute condition suffered by some patients and we have listed some useful information for them also.

Causes of headache

Allergies, stress, eye strain

The common causes of headaches are allergy, emotional stress, eye strain, high blood pressure, a hangover, infection, low blood sugar, nutritional deficiency, tension, and the presence of poisons and toxins in the body. Allergies are often the! unsuspected cause of headaches. The foods to which some people are a llergic and which can trigger headaches are milk and milk products, chocolate, chicken, liver, alcohol and strong cheese. Sneezing and diarrhoea are further indications of an allergy.

Headache cures and remedies

Natural Headache Cure using Lemon

There are several natural remedies for various ! types or headaches. The juice of three or four slices of lemon should be squeezed in a cup of tea and taken by the patient for treating this condition. It gives immediate relief. The crust of lemon, which is generally thrown away, has been found useful in headaches caused by heat. Lemon crusts should be pounded into a fine paste in a mortar and applied as plaster on the forehead. Applying the yellow, freshly pared-off rind of a lemon to each temple will also give relief.

Cure Headaches naturally using Apple

Apples are valuable in curing all types of headaches. After re! moving the upper rind and the inner hard portion of a ripe apple, it should be taken with a little salt every morning on an empty stomach in such cases. This should be continued for about a week.

Natural Headache remedy using Henna

The flowers of henna have been found valuable in curing headaches caused by hot sun. The flowers should be rubbed in vinegar and applied over the forehead. This remedy will soon provide relief.

Headache remedy using Cinnamon

Cinnamon is useful in headaches caused by exposure to cold air. A fine paste of this spice should be prepared by mixing it with water and it should be applied over the temples and forehead to obtain relief.

Headache treatment using Marjoram

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjoram

The herb marjoram is beneficial in the treatment of a nervous headache. An infusion of the leaves is taken as a tea in the treatment of this disorder.

Headache treatment using Rosemary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rosemary_bush.jpg

The herb rosemary has been found valuable in headaches resulting from cold. A handful of this herb should be boiled in a litre of water and put in a mug. The head should be covered with a towel and the steam inhal! ed for as long as the patient can bear. This should be repeated till the headache is relieved.

Diet for headaches

Proper nutrition, excercise, positive thinking

The best way to prevent headaches is to build up physical resistance through proper nutrition, physical exercise and positive thinking. As a first step, t! he patient should undertake a short fast, and take citrus fruit juice s diluted with water every two hours from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. daily. Thereafter, he should plan his diet in such a way as to put the least possible strain on the digestion. Breakfast may consist of fruits, both fresh and dried. Lunch may consist of protein foods. Starchy foods such as wholewheat bread, cereals, rice, or potatoes should be taken at dinner along with raw salads. Spices, condiments, sour buttermilk, and oily foodstuffs should be avoided. Drinking a glass of water (warm water in winter and cool water in summer), mixed with a teaspoon of honey first thing in the morning, is also a good remedy. Copious drinking of water throughout the day is also advised.

Other headache remedies

Water treatment

Other helpful measures in the treatment of headaches are a cleansing enema with water temperature at 37 degree C, a cold throat pack, frequent applications of towels wrung out from very hot water to the back of the neck , a cold compress at 4.4 degree C to 15.6 degree C applied to the head and face, or an alternate spinal compress. Hot fomentations over the abdominal region just before retiring relieve headaches caused by stomach and liver upsets.

Hot foot bath

Hot foot baths are also beneficial in the treatment of chronic headaches. The patient should keep his legs in a tub or bucket filled with hot water at a temperature of 40 degree C to 45 degree C for fifteen minutes every night before retiring. This treatment should be continued for two or three weeks.

Yogasanas

Yogic kriyas like jalneti and kunjal; pranayamas like anulomaviloma, shitali and sitkari; and asanas such as uttanpadasana, sarvangasana, paschimottanasana, halasana! , and shavasana are also beneficial in the treatment of headaches.

From: Ganesh

Have you ever wondered why your life is the way it is? Have you ever pondered why things do not go your away, why situations worsen the more you want them to be alright? Why are we suffering every moment even though we may look to be contended and happy? What is it that we are missing, what is it that we are lacking, have you ever tried paying attention to the subtlest of changes happening in your space? In spite of all the knowledge, information & healing tools available, is there something we are doing fundamentally wrong? Yes, we are.

The two basic things for true change, for true healing, for true transformation is awareness and understanding of the natural phenomena "Acceptance and Resistance". Few years back, I was frustrated with the never ending list of problems that kept piling on; I poured my heart out to one of my earliest teachers.. He said "The solution to your problems is very simple, Accept it". I was dejected, I always thought that some stroke of good luck or a wave of energy from a great Master would come and vaporize all my problems. Somewhat irritated by my teacher's reply, I asked him what he meant by that statement. He said "A thing/event/matter/issue becomes a problem when you don't accept it, when you accept it, it is no longer a problem". The simplicity yet the profoundness of the statement gleaming from his eyes as he said that. I couldn't believe the key to happiness and peace could be something as simple as this. My ego came up and I decided to challenge him. I argued saying simply saying "I accept this problem" or feeling acceptance is not going to wish away all my financial problems, bills need to be paid, people are not going to be healed of diseases overnight. I further argued it is so easy for anyone to preach philosophical mumbo jumbo but it didn't make any sense to put into practice. Disillusioned with what my teacher said, I drifted in search of things that would solve my problems.

Few years later, it all made sense. Whatever situation you may find yourself in your life, accept it completely and unconditionally for when you don't accept it, you energize that problem more and more. This happens due to the energy of resistance. Non acceptance leads to Resistance and Resistance is a powerful form of energy. When you resist, you put so much energy to those thoughts, feelings/ the problem that you are not aware how you are applying the law of attraction into creating more of what you don't want. Simultaneously, you create a parallel strong current of conflicting debilitating energy in your body that your system starts getting affected badly. Every time you resist, your problem is energized more and your body is traumatized due to the powerful conflicting current of resistance energy (Pain, hot flashes, migraine, itching etc). You may relate to this.   A lot of people who were told that they suffered from a deadly disease like cancer have spent weeks, months, years in denial crying, suppressing, losing their temper, becoming numb to everything   i.e non acceptance and its forms. In this process of resistance, they have put their focus and energy on everything they shouldn't be thinking about i..e how will the hair fall after chemotherapy, how bad they will look with a bald mane, damaged skin etc. At the same time, we have heard of patients taking it positively and recovering quickly, miraculously. The only fundamental differences between these two sets of people were "Acceptance and Resistance". The first group did not accepted they had the disease and in that resistance worsened it as much as their imagination could. The second group recovered quickly because they accepted their ailment completely and unconditionally and from that state of acceptance and no resistance, their bodies healed quickly.

We have spent years brooding on things of the past like "Only if this would happen like this or I would have met him/her before, I wish my parents had loved me more, if only that accident wouldn't have happened". Needless to say, we are exhausting our life force energy on "ifs and buts". Consequently our bodies suffer, ailments like diabetes are a direct product of mental causes like "longing for what might have been". Non acceptance/denial of events that happened creates a strong energy of resistance. The energy of resistance is very potent, it overrides even the life force energy; it can negate any form of external energy you may generate through meditation, prayers or channeling. It is very powerful. Have you ever found yourself sinking, feeling drained after hearing or experiencing something which you don't want to accept, say death of a close one, breakup of a emotional relationship, loss of your job or damage to your own health? It can take hours, days, weeks, months and even years to recover from the effects of energy of such resistance. You will find that you come out of such incidents/traumas only when you have subtly and slowly started to accept them, even if it is a small step towards acceptance in the beginning, you have started to release(weaken) the energy of   resistance and consequently, the flow of your life force energy improves and you feel better. People who cannot come to terms with the events in their life are never happy for the simple fact that they are holding onto the energy of resistance which attracts more and more of the negative event and at the same time, gnaws away at their bodies.  These mind games of denial and resisting can be so subtle that you may not be even aware that you are non accepting some things in your life. These can be typically seen in relationships where a partner may be in denial of what he/she wants/feels because they are too scared to face or accept the truth of a separation or a confrontation. Non acceptance is the biggest factor for breakdown of relationships & families all around the world.

To explain this process at the mind level, an event happens; it triggers a response in you in the form of emotion e.g. anxiety/fear/anger and the emotion starts rising in your body. Your mind perceives the emotion as threat/danger and instantly, the labeling happens "This emotion is bad, it's a threat to me, I don't want it, Go away" and you start kicking away the sensations at the mind and body level thereby creating more resistance and energizing it further. The anxiety/fear/anger instead of going away increases in intensity and stays in your system. You become more and more restless and seek solace in external things like "binging on junk food (The most often used method used for escapism), watch television/movies, sleeping, avoiding, isolation or working excessively etc i.e. you start to escape the discomfort, the sensation, the emotion. Do you relate to this vicious cycle? Aren't you amazed how it happens so subtly and quickly that you are not even aware you are being controlled?

A lot of diabetic people never accept that they have a problem, they will hate, condemn the restrictions in their diets or taking medication for the ailment. Needless to say, the sugar level only increases and the problem only aggravates. A simple act of Saying "I love and accept my blood sugar levels as it is, I completely accept my blood sugar levels, I completely love and accept my pancreas as it is. I completely love and approve of myself. " will help them more effectively than any other treatment in this world.

Create acceptance of everything in your life. The most commonly thing that we resist is our present lives the way it is. We are living with the dream of everything becoming rosier some day in a distant future that keeps us going. After a point of time, we become frustrated and embittered waiting and hoping for that day, that perfect moment to come. Start with acceptance of your current life. Say "I completely accept my current life in the now, I accept all the situations in my life, I am at peace and harmony with my health the way it is. I totally love and approve of myself in this present moment". 

Let us look at some more examples say a fear of dogs, You first say I completely accept this fear of dogs. At the same time, within yourself, allow that fear to come and be. Do not shun it or condemn it, let it grip you, do not fight it. Remember you have been fighting this for years and it has persisted or camouflaged itself. Similarly, allow any emotion when it comes up to grip you if it does, accept that miserable discomfort you feel, that yearning to escape it. Accept and bless the feeling with love. When it comes to you and your mind, being gentle and effortless is the way to go. The mind doesn't like force, compulsion and uses it to gain more control over you.

A common mistake people make is when a fear comes is to kick away at the fear as if trying to say "Go away, Go fear Go". What powerful space of resistance are you operating from, do you realize?   You are training your mind to reject/condemn something which is a part of you and creating more resistance. You just have to understand one thing, there is a trigger and your body is reacting, the fear you are experiencing has come from within you, it is a derivative of the same energy which creates positive emotions like love, happiness, thrill etc, the fear is not real but your experiencing it is real. There's no point denying its existence. Your subconscious is trying to protect you through the fear mechanism. Therefore, accept that fear, as a part of you the same way you accept and enjoy love, happiness. Bless it love and see the magic happening.

Other examples: If you are working on having a good memory, accept your memory first as it is.  "I completely love and accept my memory as it is now, I love and approve my memory"

If you are working on a relationship issue e.g. I completely love and accept my relationship with Sue the way it is. I completely accept Sue the way she is. I completely accept that Sue called me a loser yesterday. I accept my anger towards Sue, I love and accept myself with this anger.

I accept that I have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I love and accept myself the way I am. I totally love and approve of myself with Hepatitis C.

I completely love and accept the dandruff on my scalp. I completely love and accept my scalp the way it is. I now bless my scalp and hair with unconditional love.

If you are feeling sensations which you find irritating, painful then saying and tapping "I completely accept this sensation on my scalp/stomach/knees etc. I totally love and accept this sensation they way it is. This will reduce your pain/discomfort immediately because you are releasing resistance.

If you have been holding onto a resistance for a long time. For example, a person may have never been to public places due to a fear or cannot come to terms with it.

You may then want to start by saying "I am willing to release the resistance in accepting this fear of going out to public places; I am willing to release all resistance. I am willing to accept myself just the way I am. Then progress slowly to I choose to release, I choose to accept myself………statements.

Accepting any issue and any problem with feel and intent "Yes, I accept this; I accept this "issue"  will amaze you beyond your imagination. Whatever it is (Health, Finance, Relationship etc), it's a part of you and you need to accept and love it. If you resist it, it will create more problems for you.

Even if you take a week, a month to only love and accept yourself, your issues, it's perfectly fine and good. You haven't been doing it (accepting) for years; let it take time now if it does.

Even if some thought/feeling is haunting again and again even after accepting it, its ok, don't get perturbed. Accept the haunting thought and feeling, accept that you are feeling agitated with the recurring thought "Ok, I accept this thought/feeling completely. I bless this thought/feeling with love, I accept my non acceptance of this thought/feeling"

The moment you release the resistance and start accepting every moment, every person, thing, situation, yourself just the way it is, you will discover true happiness, true peace. Be aware of the energy of resistance and discover the Power of Acceptance.

Happy Healing

From: Kong Chee

During 1970s, University of Massachusetts at Worcester, U.S.A., started a stress-reduction program. This center for Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) still exists today.

Visit: www.umassmed.edu/cfm/index.aspx

By sitting still and following the movement of air entering and leaving your nostrils, your electroencephalograph reading will show that gamma waves which are associated with attention and learning are generated. Isn't this good for you?

During meditation, unusual amount of brain activity in the left side of the pre-frontal cortex is going on. It was confirmed that experienced practitioners eventually have an average 5 % thicker cortex. This part of the brain is associated with positive emotions. You will therefore be more alert and happier than the others. The mental images you see when your eyes are closed are your own creation. They can be anything a person may imagine. These are called Nimittas. For most people, they are beautiful lights of various colors, e.g. while, blue, purple, grey, yellow, orange etc. Sometimes they are bright and unstable, vibrating or flashing and changing shapes, like the clouds.

Some people also see eyes or faces when their eyes are closed. These are very normal and we should not be attached to them for our own safety. If they are too fearful, just open your eyes and they will be gone. Do not be attached to whatever you see. If a certain thing appears in front of you every time you meditate, just have a paint brush ready, dip it in ink and hold it while you meditate. When that thing appears, gently mark it with your brush and then open your eyes. What has been marked?

For more advance practitioners, within next few minutes after the nimittas, maybe few hours, days, months, or years, ( depending on how well you have practiced so far) Jhana will happen by themselves later on.

According the Buddha: for one who indulges in Jhana, four results are to be expected: Stream-Winner, Once-Returner, Non-Returner, or Arahant.

If you encounter difficulties, you need to consult experienced practitioners. These people normally do not request money for assisting you. If they do, be aware. It is better to consult those who don't ask for monetary rewards.

Meditation is a form of psychotherapy. The number of psychiatric patients is increasing rapidly and many hospitals can't cope. Those people ended up in the hospital because they did not know how to cope with stress. They need to relax mentally. They are ambitious. They struggle too hard.

Meditation may also prevent you from ending up with diabetic, high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems, because the elasticity of your blood vessels will be improved and your blood toned up. As a person thinks of compassion, his body system stimulates the cells to generate valuable chemical compounds to produce energy and vitality. So we can say metta has tonic effect on the whole physical constitution.

The following are some of the other benefits of meditation :

·         Getting rid of your tension and find some relaxation

·         Calm down your worries and find permanent or temporary peace

·         Develop the courage to face or overcome your problems

·         Gain self confidence

·         Help you to understand the nature of your fears

·         Help you see the true nature of life ( if you are heart-broken)

·         Help you to be more focused and concentrated in your studies

·         Help you to have contentment and not to harbor jealousy towards others

·         Help you to overcome the fire of anger, hatred and resentment

·         Help you to understand the danger of jealousy

·         Help you realize how to overcome your dangerous habit

If you wish to read books on meditation, visit http://www.bps.lk/

From: Simon Santhosh

George Carlin is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor and author.

He is especially noted for his political and black humor and his observations on language, psychology and religion along with many taboo subjects.

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life ! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day  thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' 

May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

How To Stay Young

1.       Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'

2.       Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.       Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4.       Enjoy the simple things.

5.   &nb