If you have not heard of David Smith, he was the man who took it upon himself along with his coach and now best friend, Chris Powell to loose 400 pounds. Their story has been picked up by TLC and has hit home for many Americans. They have made it their mission to help others as well as the youth stay healthy.
Easy ways to go GREEN.
1. Find local farmers and co-ops. More and more local and organic farmers are cropping up all over. Many sell organic eggs, milk, meats and vegetables.Go to LocalHarvest.org to find one in your area.
2. Learn to reuse. I have heard of many creative ideas on how people reuse. For the most part more people are reusing such things as metal water bottles, grocery bags, and even old clothes.
3. Eat sustainable fish. Sustainable fish are often more healthy for you and the environment. Check out Blue Ocean Institute.
4. Cut down on paper use. This could mean opting for paperless bills or phone books.
5. Fill up the fridge. Not only will this let you stock on, but it saves energy when its fuller.
6. Plant a small garden. Most homes don’t have much room for a garden, but you can grow many vegetables and herbs on your patio in planters.
7. De-clutter your mailbox. Get rid of junk mail. Go to OptOutPreScreen.com for more info.
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Find time to clear your head. Finding tools like yoga, tai chi, or meditation can help bring balance to your life. These practices can help control your bodies stress response, calm tension, and reduce blood pressure. They also help make you become more grounded which helps to keep your mind clear.
Learn to prioritize. Multi-tasking can be very tedious especially around the holidays. The best way to make sure you get things done is to make a list. This will help you remember what needs to get done, and what can wait to get done. Often we have to do everything, and forget to realize that not all tasks are imperative.
Make sure you get some R&R. Life is hectic when we have to pick up the kids, work, make dinner, and find time to do the other things that need attending. Make sure you set time everyday aside for just you. If you feel that everyone gets in the way of you making R&R time then stand firm and tell them that you will get to it when you have time. Don’t forget that you have the authority to say yes or no.
Unwind with music. Promising studies show that listening to music can help you relax. Such music as classical soft music, and therapeutic cds show promise as a means of calming the mind and body. These recordings work by projecting two tones of similar frequencies into each ear. This creates a “beat” at a certain frequency in the mind, say proponents, and your brain falls in sync with it; different frequencies call forth different moods.
The National Institutes of Health has granted more than $24 million over the past 20 years to study the effects of the Transcendental Meditation (TM) program and other related programs on cardiovascular disease. The following is a summary of findings of the published research as well as a listing of universities where recent studies have been conducted.
Reduced Blood Pressure. The treatments employed included simple biofeedback, relaxation-assisted biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, stress management training, and the Transcendental Meditation program. The results of statistical analysis showed that none of the first 4 treatment approaches demonstrated statistically significant reductions in elevated blood pressure, while the Transcendental Meditation program showed both significant clinical and statistical reductions in blood pressure.
Improved Quality of Life for Congestive Heart Failure Patients. This study examined the effects of conventional health education and the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique on measures of heart failure severity and quality of life in a randomized controlled trial of twenty-three older African American men and women with congestive heart failure (CHF). The results indicate that the use of the TM technique may be effective in improving the quality of life and functional capacity of heart failure patients.
Enhanced Longevity. This study was a first-of-its-kind, long-term, randomized trial. It evaluated the death rates of 202 men and women, average age 71, who had mildly elevated blood pressure. Subjects in the study participated in the Transcendental Meditation program; behavioral techniques, such as mindfulness or progressive muscle relaxation; or health education. The study tracked subjects for up to 18 years. The study found that the TM program reduced death rates by 23%.
Reduced Atherosclerosis. In the study, 57 adults were randomly assigned into three treatment groups. After one year, the ceratoid intima-media thickness decreased significantly more in the subjects who were randomly assigned to the TM group.
To read more go to National Institute of Health
