Precaution about left over onions

I have taken the idea of this post through an email which I received recently. As we try to save our time and money by reusing or recycling our food, we might use the left over onions for making food.
Are left over onions safe for reuse? The simple answer is no, left over onions are very harmful. 

LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS

When someone gets sick, we blame oily foods while nobody cares about the bowl of potato salad sitting on the table. Mostly when we suffer from food poisoning, we assume that it might be due to the use of mayonnaise. Usually commercially made mayonnaise is completely safe. It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, but it's not really necessary."
The pH in mayonnaise is set at a point that bacteria could not survive in that environment.

What should you do in a dental emergency?

Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be serious and it should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage.
So what we should do in a dental emergency? First of all we should learn the basic of firs aid to handle dental emergency and after applying basic first aid, we should hurry to dental clinic for further treatment.
Dental emergency situations can be toothache, chipped or broken teeth, knocked out tooth, extruded or partially dislodged tooth or minor cases such as objects caught in teeth, lost filling and more.
In case of severe toothache,thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any lodged food. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek.

How to maintain joint flexibility and health?

We know that ageing process affects muscles, bones and joints. Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis are few bone and joint related health conditions observed in older people. 
How the elderly or ageing people can maintain joint flexibility and health?


The answer is that regular exercise, nutritious diet can help you achieve the goal of a healthy life even at old age. Regular exercise helps reverse joint stiffness, builds muscle, and boosts overall fitness. 


Increasing muscle and bone fitness through exercise can reduce or reverse the risk of disability and disease.
Inactivity decreases joint motion and flexibility. Inactivity can lead to weak muscles and deformed joints. One of the great benefits of exercise is to help you achieve and maintain your ideal weight which is highly beneficial to your joints.

Eating a higher quality diet. Vitamin D also supports a healthy immune response. Get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids from krill or high quality fish oil. Omega-3's support your joint health.
If you’re already using the above strategies, and still want additional support for your joints, consider using a ‘joint-specific’ supplement.

How to find joint specific supplements?
Suggestion: BioCell Collagen is one of those specific supplements which help maintain joint flexibility and health. 
Independent laboratory analysis shows that BioCell Collagen naturally contains Type II Collagen Proteins (60-65%), Chondroitin Sulfate (20%), Hyaluronic Acid (10%), Glucosamine and other Proteoglycans.
Each of these is found throughout the body and is required for healthy connective tissue (joints, skin, cardiovascular etc.).

GNC Jupiter FL offer BioCell Collagen which is a safe dietary ingredients. 

Another product offered by 'GNC' is "Jusuru Pet Blend" which contains scientifically proven ingredients specifically formulated to support normal joint structure, function and flexibility, as well as promote optimal overall health and well-being. Jusuru Pet Blend has the added benefit of providing a shiny, healthy coat. That means your pet will feel and look fantastic!
Link:  GNC Jupiter FL

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Ageing effects on muscles bones and joints

Ageing (aging) is a normal process for all living things. We usually observe that as we get older, our muscles or bones become weaker. Muscles, bones and joints are affected by the ageing process. Some joint and bone related health conditions are common in older people, such as Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. 
We are learning about "How ageing effects on muscles, bones and joints?"

Muscle and bone conditions common in older age: 

• Osteoarthritis – the cartilage within the joint breaks down, causing pain and stiffness
• Osteomalacia – the bones become soft, due to problems with the metabolism of vitamin D
• Osteoporosis – the bones lose mass and become brittle. Fractures are more likely Rheumatoid arthritis – inflammation of the joints
• Muscle weakness and pain – any of the above conditions can affect the proper functioning of the associated muscles.

Eye Vitamins to improve eye health and vision

Eyes, like all other organs, need certain vitamins to stay healthy and work well into our later years. Proper nutrition and a good eye vitamin formula is vital for healthy eyes and may play an important role in the fight against cataracts and macular degeneration. Certain eye vitamins can literally decrease your chances of getting an age-related eye disease by 25%.

Why we need effective eye vitamins?
As we age, the importance of vitamins increases drastically for a couple of reasons. Our body starts to naturally get tired from working for so many years, and needs more vitamins and nutrients to keep it working healthily and properly. Second, our body tends to have a harder time digesting and processing the vitamins that we do get in our regular diet. This is why people over the age of 50 need to take vitamins even if they have healthy eating habits. Lastly, there are some vitamins and nutrients that help prevent the eye from certain age-related eye diseases, and that are not found in many common foods. This is why you should consider taking vitamins for eye health well before you reach middle age.

Can certain eyesight problems, such as age related visual decline, be reversed or improved?
If you're looking for ways to improve eye health, the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO) recommends eating foods high in beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E, zeaxanthin, lutein, Omega-3 fatty acids, selenium and zinc. Research has shown that these nutrients can protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. Herbs like gingko and bilberry have been used to treat various eye problems. However, according to the National Institute of Health's National Library of Medicine (NLM), there is not enough scientific research to prove their effectiveness.

Eyesight vitamins, various herbs and nutrients have a positive effect on eyesight. Supplements may not to be very helpful in serious and advanced eye disorders, but they play an important role in mild to moderate cases of visual decline that occurs normally with the aging process.
Supplements that support healthy vision
The lens, retina, macula, and other parts of the eye involved in eyesight can be protected with the proper intake of antioxidants. Almost all the antioxidants likely have a positive influence on eye health, including vitamin C, Vitamin E, and alpha lipoic acid.

The two major categories are carotenoids and polyphenols, substances in herbs, fruits and vegetables that are good for eye health.

Vitamins and Minerals For Eyes:
Vitamin A : Improves night vision. Food Source for vitamin A is dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, spinach, broccoli, eggs, cheese and butter are also great sources. Vitamins and Minerals For Eyes:
Vitamin B complex is good to reduce redness in eyes and can help eyes that are sensitive to light. Food Sources for vitamins B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin): pastas, breads, milk, dark green vegetables, mushrooms, tuna, nuts, avocados, bananas, liver.
Carotene allows the formation of visual purple in the eyes, which helps improve weak eyes. A good source of carotene is: carrots, broccoli, cabbage and peas.
(Source: Vitamins & Herbs For Healthy Eyes)
Rebecca Prescott at 'Buzzle' suggests: Top 6 Vitamins And Herbs For Eye Health

These 6 vitamins, herbs, and phytonutrients help alleviate the problem of sore, dry eyes, and maintain good vision:

1. Bilberry - Bilberry is a herb used for both gastrointestinal and eye health. The active ingredients are called anthocyanosides, which are a type of flavanoid. Anthocyanosides are antioxidants that help improve the flow of blood through the capillaries in eyes. They help eyes adjust quickly to changes in light, and improve sharpness of vision. Bilberry has also been shown to be effective in stopping the progression of cataracts when taken with vitamin E. It's also used to treat diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration.

2. Vitamin A - Vitamin A is important for good night vision, and may play a role in preventing cataracts.

3. Grapeseed - Grapeseed is good for the peripheral circulation in our eyes. It also strengthens the capillaries.

4. Eyebright - Eyebright makes a great eye home remedy. Steep it in hot water to let the herb infuse, then remove the herb and cool the remaining liquid. You could put it in the freezer to cool it down quickly if you don't have any infused eyebright on hand in the fridge. Once its cool, use it as an eye bath, or a compress. It's great for sore eyes, and has an anti-inflammatory and soothing action.

5. Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Research from Harvard Medical school has found that taking omega 3 oils reduces the chance of getting dry eyes. Try taking 3 to 6 grams of a good quality fish oil supplement daily.

6. Lutein - Lutein is one example of a type of plant nutrient known as carotenoids. Better known examples include beta carotene and alpha carotene. Carotenoids are responsible for giving fruit and vegetables their distinctive colors, and the brightness of a fruit or vegetable is a good indicator of how much carotenoids it has in it. Those with a rich color have a higher concentration.

Lutein, beta, and alpha carotene are converted by the body into vitamin A. And lutein is found in very high concentrations in the macula of the eye. Lutein is used to help prevent macular degeneration, which is a big problem for people over 40 years of age. Macular degeneration can lead to blindness. Lutein is thought to work as an antioxidant in this capacity.

Useful links:

Acupressure for lower back pain

Acupressure massage or therapy is useful for reducing pain and improving body function and level of disability in low back pain. Acupressure massage for lower back pain is a safe solution as it has been found effective in reducing low back pain in terms of disability, pain scores and functional status.
Acupressure massage is the same technique of applying fingertips pressure at specific points on the body used in acupuncture. The doctors at the 'National Taiwan University' found an 89 percent reduction in physical disability compared with physical therapy and the benefits of the treatment were sustained for six months.

There are two acupressure points which can help you get relief from lower back pain.
These acupoints are GB30 and B48:

Acupressure point B48:

What is criminal justice system and role of Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Lawyer is someone who is licensed to maintain stability within the scope of justice and his social authority. There are certain types of law practitioners and their roles vary depending. A defense lawyer or attorney’s job is to assist the state in properly convicting people of crimes.

The criminal justice system is a three-part system consisting of the judge and jury, the prosecutor, and the defense lawyer. Each part of this system has a specific role. The role of the judge and jury is to render an impartial decision based solely on the facts presented and the laws applicable to the charged offense. In order to decide impartially, the judge and jury must be able to hear arguments from both sides. The prosecutor's role is to argue the side of the state that seeks to prove the defendant's guilt. The defense lawyer's role is to argue on behalf of the defendant.

Roles of a criminal defense attorney:
* S/he investigates the case thoroughly and makes an assessment of the severity of the accusations. According to this assessment, s/he will prepare to present a strong defense at the court on your behalf.
* A criminal attorney often wants to prepare crucial papers and documents for the case. For preparing the requisite documents, an attorney frequently obtains warrants for search and interrogation purposes. With the aid of this warrant, s/he schedules interviews and gathers info to defend you.
* Based on the gathered documents and info s/he then prepares a complaint against your arrest.
* S/he appeals for your bail and for lowering your penalties and punishments. S/he defends your case efficiently and presents your case strongly against the opposition.
* S/he fights out the case just before the law and proves your points. If you are accused wrongfully, a criminal defense attorney proves your innocence and appeals to the court to release you right away.

Punta Gorda residents often search for criminal lawyers from websites over the Internet. One such reliable website for hiring criminal defense lawyers is Criminal Defense Lawyer Punta Gorda

Contact: Criminal Lawyer Punta Gorda

Reference: http://www.racialjusticecollaborative.org/

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Living at cul-de-sac and how to overcome the negative effects of it with feng shui rules?

A cul-de-sac is the end of street, forming a round dead-end and is often created in residential neighborhoods. This is believed to have bad luck or "negative Feng Shui" living at such place. This article offers the tips or ideas to overcome bad or negative of living at cul-de-sac following feng shui rules. The reason behind the theory is that 'the house which sits at the very end of a cul-de-sac has all the energy from the street pooling in front of it and pushing on the house, to create more drama or hardship than what the house itself might indicate.'

What is cul-de-sac?

A culdesac or cul-de-sac is a dead end street. It is a street that is not connected to other roads, and it provides both a way in and out of an area. In America or Australia, it is sometimes called a court, which is a cul-de-sac with only one way in and out on the same road. These dead end streets exist around the world, and they have existed for thousands of years. They were first seen in Egypt in an area that was found in the El-Lahun village that was estimated to be built in 1885 BCE.  

In the UK, street signs more often display "cul-de-sac" rather than an English translation, or "no through road". U.S. Federal Highway Administration rules state: "The Dead End sign may be used at the entrance of a single road or street that terminates in a dead end or cul-de-sac.

According to wikipedia "A cul-de-sac" (literally "bottom of bag") is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road (UK, Australian and Canadian English) or court (American English and Australian English) meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet. In the United States, a cul-de-sac is notably longer than a court. It is recognized that cul-de-sac and looped streets inherently remove car traffic through them and restrict access to residents only. Culs-de-sac may also be called "no through roads", especially in Australia where they are signposted as "No Through Road".

Geomancy (feng-shui) is the branch of classical cosmology, which gives a blue print for us to build our homes in splendid harmony with the elements of our natural environment. The Chinese exponents of Feng-Shui believe that where you live and how you allocate and arrange the elements of your home or workplace can significantly affect the harmony of your health, wealth, and happiness.

Many feng shui practitioners agree that living at the end of a dead end road is not the most desirable location and it is advisable to try not to get stuck in such a location. To start with, the chi energy coming to a house placed at the end of a road is usually fast, so the energy is pernicious and non-beneficial. Instead of bringing good fortune, it brings misfortune.

Over the years, several major new buildings in downtown Taipei have remained unoccupied and their owners have gone broke because they failed to follow the dictates of Chinese geomancy during construction. People believe that bad fortune comes along the street and hits the last house in the cul-de-sac.

A remedy: The real concern with a cul-de-sac is that usually the homes have pie shaped lots. The remedy is to square off the yard using hedges or trees. As to the "stagnant" qi, in the old days a dead end road in China was truly that. It was a walled off street. Today, there is traffic (although occasional) still moving through the cul-de-sac. It is not so bad. Focus on if the lot needs to be corrected though.

Cul-De-Sac Cure from 'Wofs'
The cure lies in harnessing the energy that flows down the road towards your house. If you can capture the chi and transform it into good sheng chi before it enters your home, you would have effectively transformed bad chi into good chi, and changed bad feng shui into really good feng shui. This is because feng shui is really about capturing and creating good chi. The cure lies in harnessing the energy that flows down the road towards your house. If you can capture the chi and transform it into good sheng chi before it enters your home, you would have effectively transformed bad chi into good chi, and changed bad feng shui into really good feng shui. This is because feng shui is really about capturing and creating good chi.

The best way of transforming chi energy is to first force it to slow down. Chi energy slows down when it meets with an obstacle, which can be a wall, some trees, boulders or any kind of structure. Chi energy also slows down when it encounters a body of water. To force oncoming chi that flows along a road to decelerate, the best way is to build a wall - something about five feet high.

The wall is like a shield that makes the oncoming chi stop, but this is not what we wish to create. The idea is not to make the chi stop altogether - the intention is only to slow it down, after which we need to capture the “slowed down” chi energy, then allow it to accumulate before it enters our house. This way, excellent feng shui chi gets created, bringing good fortune. Chi is transformed in different ways. With a wall, you can create a round or square hole to let the chi flow through and on the other side of the wall, you should have a small courtyard, in front of the door. The courtyard acts as your bright hall where the transformed chi settles before entering the home. Inside this courtyard, you can grow auspicious plants such as bamboo, pine trees or a variety of fruit trees.

Look at the sketches below and let these suggest ways for you to create something similar in your home. These are also well designed landscape features that happen to possess strong feng shui advantages. These ideas reproduced here come from various consultations we have done for clients living at the end of cul de sacs. All had been experiencing some problem or another, mostly associated with setbacks at work, falling victim to office wars, and losing out again and again to competitive colleagues in the promotion stakes.

All three clients went on to enjoy rather spectacular career rises within a year after we helped them create the feng shui remedy for their cul-de-sac houses. One got promoted to a very high and important public position. Another went on to become the CEO of a foreign company with a fairly large presence in Singapore and Malaysia.

They also loved the design features factored into our feng shui cure. As you can see, the cures were not all exactly the same - we used a wall made of bricks for the house where the road was coming from a South direction (fire), a figure of 8 water pond where the road was coming from the Northwest direction (metal) and in the third, a link house with not much space, we created a trellis planted with creeping vines that effectively slowed down the oncoming chi. There was no need for a “hole” in the trellis, as it had been made of soft bamboo with an interwoven design. In this third house, the road was coming from a North direction (water).

Useful links:
* How to Buy a House with Good Feng Shui
* Feng Shui of a House in a Cul-de-Sac: Feng Shui Tips to Attract Better Energy

First published on: 'knoji;

Nutrition myths and interesting facts

We all know that word 'nutrition' relates to food and nutritious food means 'the food which provides us the necessary nutrients to stay healthy'. This article provides you information about myths and facts which everybody should know.
According to Wikipedia :'Nutrition/ nourishment or aliment is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life.'
Another definition is: “Nutrition” is derived from “nourish,” which is from the Latin nutrire, meaning to feed, nurse, support, and preserve--literally, “she who gives suck.” Essentially, nutrition refers to the variety of ways the body makes use of food.

There are six major classes of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, minerals, protein, vitamins, and water. These nutrient classes can be categorized as either macronutrients (needed in relatively large amounts) or micronutrients (needed in smaller quantities). The macronutrients include carbohydrates (including fiber), fats, protein, and water. The micronutrients are minerals and vitamins.

Myths about nutrition:

• The Greeks and Romans regulated nutrition on the theory of the four humors circulating throughout the body (warm, cold, moist, dry). Classical physicians tried to correct an excess of cold and moist “humors” by providing hot, dry foods and vice versa. For example, a woman’s body was seen as wetter and colder than a man’s and, therefore, she was to avoid food that would make her even colder and wetter, such as fish, eels, and meat from newborn animals.
• Many parents during the Roman empire who were influenced by doctors such as Soranus and Galen often denied their babies colostrum (protein-rich breast milk) believing it was too thick and not good for the child’s digestion. They regularly gave their babies to a wet-nurse (though the mother’s milk was usually the best) and were likely to wean their babies onto foods that lacked adequate nutrition, such as diluted cereals and mixtures of honey or wine with softened bread.
• Most likely due to poor nutrition as children, many Greeks and Romans were shorter than people today. Men from Pompeii, for example, averaged 5 ft. 5-½ in. and women averaged 5 ft. 2 in.
• The Ebers papyrus (1350 B.C.) suggests placing drops of crushed and roasted ox liver in the eyes of people suffering from night blindness. While Egyptians most likely were not aware of vitamin A, liver does have high levels of the vitamin which help maintains normal vision in dim light.
• Alaska Natives have the highest rates of botulism in the world due to the way they butcher and store indigenous food (such as seals) under the ground in plastic bags.
• A 1552 B.C. Egyptian papyrus provides an early description of what seems to be diabetes and specifically mentions polyuria (frequent urination). Up until the eleventh century A.D., diabetes was typically diagnosed by “water tasters” who drank the urine of those thought to have diabetes. Those who had sweet-tasting urine were thought to have diabetes mellitus (Latin for “honey”), or Type 1 diabetes.
• Ancient Mesoamerican cultures such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec used chocolate as medicine and as a medium in which other medicines were taken.

Nutrition facts:

• Salt is the most common seasoning mentioned in the Bible. Salt was a vital mineral that was not only essential to life, but also preserved other foods critical for survival. Salt was so important that it was also often used as a form of currency or as a unit of exchange.
• Temperature can affect appetite. A cold person is more likely to eat more food.
• Minerals constitute 4% of our body weight. Unlike carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, they do not furnish energy. Minerals include calcium, iron, and sodium. 
• A deficiency of calcium/vitamin D during infancy or childhood results in rickets (deformed bones). The bones can become so weak that they can’t withstand the body’s weight, causing bow legs or knock knees. Once malformed, bones cannot be straightened. A person will usually swallow around 250 times during dinner.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, neural disorders, and psychotic behavior. Women who are planning to get pregnant are encouraged to have healthy levels of Vitamin B12 to prevent potential birth defects.
• Americans collectively consume approximately 900 billion calories each day.
• In the United States, it is estimated that every adult unconsciously consumes one pound of insects each year due to garden produce, poor restaurant and home hygiene, and commercial foods for which the USDA allows a certain amount of insect fragments. Peanut butter, for example, is allowed to have 30 insect fragments per 100 grams.
• Some children and pregnant women crave non-nutritive substances, such as paint, plaster, rocks, and dirt. These cravings may suggest the person lacks certain minerals, such as iron.
•  Americans eat nearly 40 billion hamburgers a year.
• An adult can starve to death within 8-12 weeks. In the final stages of starvation, adults can experience hallucinations, convulsions, severe muscle pain, and irregular heart rhythms. Organs weakened by starvation may actually burst if food is given too quickly. 
• The best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase exercise. Experts suggest aiming for a weight loss goal of one pound per week.
• Improved nutrition (as well as vaccinations and antibiotics) has extended the average U.S. lifespan from 30 to 40 years old in the early twentieth century to 70 to 80 years old today.
• Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. Weight gained after one’s early twenties is linked to higher chances of suffering from heart disease, cancer, infertility, gallstones, asthma, and even snoring.
• Eggs contain the highest quality food protein known. All parts of an egg are edible, including the shell which has high calcium content.
• Okinawans are thought to live longer than any other ethnic group and they have healthier hearts and bones. This is largely due to their cultural practice called Hara Hachi Bu, which means they eat just until they are 80% full. Their diet is rich in complex carbohydrates and plant-based foods and is low in fat. They are also physically active. A person will eat an average of 35 tons of food in his or her lifetime, or 1,500 pounds of food a year.

Reference:
http://facts.randomhistory.com

Anti-aging effects of He-Shou-Wu Root

He-Shou-Wu or 'Polygonum multiflorum' is a tonic herb hosting numerous health benefits. It is known as a powerful kidney and liver tonic. Studies show that He-Shou-Wu extract improves the cardiovascular system, enhances immune functions, slows the degeneration of glands, increases antioxidant activity, and reduces the accumulation of lipid per-oxidation. 

He Shou Wu/ aka: ho-shou-wu, heshouwu, or shouwu; sometimes mistakenly called fo-ti, is obtained from the tuberous roots of Polygonum multiflorum. It is one of the more commonly used Chinese medicinal materials, and has a special reputation for preventing or delaying the graying of hair, even reverting gray hair to its original color, as well as having other benefits for the hair, such as treating alopecia. The herb is used for a variety of other therapeutic actions related to the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) categories of nourishing blood and yin.

Responsibilities of personal injury lawyers

When dealing with personal injury matters with lawyers and attorneys, we need to know what kind of professional services we can expect from them. What kind of responsibilities a personal injury lawyer have?

We know that "A personal injury lawyer is a lawyer who provides legal representation to those who claim to have been injured, physically or psychologically, as a result of the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, company, government agency, or other entity."
Thus, personal injury lawyers should be knowledgeable and have experience with regard to the area of law known as tort law, which includes civil wrongs and economic or non-economic damages to a person’s property, reputation, or rights.

Responsibilities of a personal injury lawyer:
A personal injury lawyer is responsible for

• Interviewing prospective clients 
• evaluating their cases to determine the legal matter
• identify the distinct issues rooted within the plaintiff’s larger problem
• extensively research every issue to build a strong case
• Personal injury lawyer may have to take his client's case to trial if a settlement can not be reached

If we sum up professional responsibility of a personal injury lawyer, then it is "to help plaintiffs obtain the justice and compensation they deserve for their losses and suffering through advocacy, oral arguments, client counseling, and legal advice".


These responsibilities encompass professional codes of conduct set forth by state bar associations where the lawyers are licensed. Once licensed to practice lawyers are legally permitted to file legal complaints, argue cases in state court, draft legal documents, and offer legal advice to victims of personal injury.

While the guidelines vary according to state, the basic codes of conduct state that a lawyer must knowledgeably evaluate legal matters and exercise competence in any legal matter undertaken. Moreover, personal injury lawyers owe their clients a duty of loyalty and confidentiality and must work to protect their clients’ best interests. He must also adhere to strict standards of legal ethics when dealing with clients. 

Personal Injury Lawyer Atlanta are trained and licensed to practice and handle cases that fall under tort law including; work injuries, automobile and other accidents, defective products, medical mistakes, slip and fall accidents, and more.
Contact: Injury Attorney Atlanta

What is Muslim dietary practice and what are forbidden foods?

Muslim dietary practice is fundamentally about obeying God. All practising Muslim believers obey God Almighty by eating the allowed foods (halal) and avoiding the forbidden foods (haram) which are mentioned in the Qur’an and in the sayings of the final prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). In Islam several animals are considered unclean and their consumption is forbidden (haraam), except in case of necessity; while others are permitted (halaal), as long as they are slaughtered in the proper manner and with blessings given to God.
'Halal' means lawful or allowed. Halal with regards to food and drink means that it is permitted for Muslims under the Islamic Law (Shari'ah). Halal food and drink does not consist of anything which is deemed unlawful.

'Haraam' means unlawful or forbidden. Haraam with regards to food and drink means that it is not permitted for Muslims under the Islamic Law (Shari'ah). It is considered a sin for a muslim to knowingly consume haraam food.


Forbidden Foods

• Pork, lard or any porcine substance
• Gelatine from animal source which is not halal
• Meat that is not slaughtered in the prescribed Islamic way.  Muslims must pronounce the name of Allah on all animals while slaughtering.
• Meat coming from a lawful animal which died before slaughter
• Blood (direct or indirect)
• Any food or drink with alcohol in it (all intoxicant and hazardous drinks)
• Any human substance or part
• All carnivorous animals and birds of prey
• Some non halal additives (E numbers like E120, E441, E542 etc) 

Useful links:

* Faithandfood Fact Files - Muslim
* Eat of the good things provided for you
* Muslim dining etiquttes

Meditation Provides Cognitive and Psychological Benefits Keeping Us Happy and Relaxed?

I started meditation for stress relief and discovered there were more benefits of practicing it. There are many other benefits which you may not know yet, so this article helps you learn 'how meditation practice offers cognitive and psychological benefits also leading us to a way which keeps us relaxed and happier.
I experienced that meditation, can reduce the negative energies in our system leading to happiness. The state of relaxation and happiness encouraged me to continue practicing meditation for many years.

New research and studies show that Meditation may affect in brain aging and mental fitness. "Research has found that meditation reduces the production of stress hormones like cortisol and increases the production of neurotransmitters that help us feel happy and relaxed."

Meditation may reduce stress-induced cortisol secretion and this could have neuroprotective effects potentially via elevating levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Meditation may also potentially have beneficial effects on lipid profiles and lower oxidative stress, both of which could in turn reduce the risk for cerebrovascular disease and age-related neurodegeneration. Further, meditation may potentially strengthen neuronal circuits and enhance cognitive reserve capacity.

At psychological level:  Meditation helps to encourage positive thinking and develop patience and understanding, helping those who meditate to come to terms with ‘what is’ rather than fighting endlessly for ‘what should be’ or often ‘what should have been’.

At physiological level:  Meditation slows breathing steadies the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and shifts activity away from the right hand side of our brains, concerned with speaking, making judgements and logical thinking, to the more intuitive, non verbal left hand side.

Mental benefits of meditation are:

• Relaxation
• Concentration
• Creativity & Mental Expansiveness
• Heightened Sense of Awareness
• Improves Learning Ability and Memory
• Lowers Incidents of Depression
• Decrease in Neurotic Tendencies
• Decrease in Irritability and Moodiness
• Increased Emotional Stability
• Vitality & Rejuvenation

Psychological benefits of stress reduction

• Decreased anxiety
• Better pain control
• More optimism, less depression as indicated by elevation of serotonin
• Greater self-awareness and self-actualisation
• Improved coping capabilities
• Improved well being and as an addition to psychotherapy
• Reduced reliance on drugs, prescribed/unprescribed, or alcohol
• Improved sleep
• Reduced aggression and criminal tendency
• Greater efficiency and output and reduced stress at work
• Improved response time and reflexes
• Improvement in perceptiveness of hearing and other senses
• Improved concentration and memory
• Facilitation of healthy change of undesired personality trait.

When you meditate, you allow mental activity to slow down in a natural way while your alertness is maintained and indeed enhanced. After meditating, you will feel mentally refreshed. You will feel calmer, more relaxed and have a greater sense of well-being. Benefits increase with regular practice.

Meditation leads to a feeling of being at ease with the world. Like many people who meditate, you may find that you have greater self-esteem, self-confidence and inner peace. You're able to concentrate more easily and and your ability to learn and remember improves. Meditation helps you to feel less anxious about issues that previously caused you stress, and many benefits arise out of a calm state of mind. You become a better listener and exhibit greater empathy, which in turn leads to closer and more fulfilling relationships. Calmness brings with it the capacity for more accurate judgement and enhances problem-solving skills. Being calm results in having greater patience and tolerance and gives you the composure to act in considered and constructive ways.

A large body of research has demonstrated that meditation produces comprehensive improvements in mental health, enhancing positive features and reducing various forms of psychological distress. In another statistical review of 42 independent research results, meditation was found to be effective in increasing self-actualization-an overall measure of positive mental health and personal development. Further analysis revealed that the technique is exceptionally effective in developing three independent components of this dimension: emotional maturity, a resilient sense of self, and a positive, integrated perspective on ourselves and the world (Journal of Social Behaviour and Personality)

Michael Anderson in his book “Mindfulness Meditation” (Australian Institute of Emotional Intelligence, Torquay, Victoria, 2004) describes meditation as an “opportunity to develop your mental skills”. Our increasing mental, emotional, and psychological skillfulness can then be applied in day to day living, not just in the moments of quiet meditation. Getting more control over our mental and emotional environments helps to clarify and simplify life,

Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, a team led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers report the results of their study, the first to document meditation-produced changes over time in the brain's grey matter.

"Although the practice of meditation is associated with a sense of peacefulness and physical relaxation, practitioners have long claimed that meditation also provides cognitive and psychological benefits that persist throughout the day," says Sara Lazar, PhD, of the MGH Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program, the study's senior author.

"This study demonstrates that changes in brain structure may underlie some of these reported improvements and that people are not just feeling better because they are spending time relaxing."

"It is fascinating to see the brain's plasticity and that, by practicing meditation, we can play an active role in changing the brain and can increase our well-being and quality of life." says Britta Hölzel, PhD, first author of the paper and a research fellow at MGH and Giessen University in Germany. "Other studies in different patient populations have shown that meditation can make significant improvements in a variety of symptoms, and we are now investigating the underlying mechanisms in the brain that facilitate this change."

Amishi Jha, PhD, a University of Miami neuroscientist who investigates mindfulness-training's effects on individuals in high-stress situations, says, "These results shed light on the mechanisms of action of mindfulness-based training. They demonstrate that the first-person experience of stress can not only be reduced with an 8-week mindfulness training program but that this experiential change corresponds with structural changes in the amydala, a finding that opens doors to many possibilities for further research on MBSR's potential to protect against stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder." Jha was not one of the study investigators.

More studies and useful links:

* The benefits of meditation
* Meditation vs. Medication: Your Path to Happiness?
 * Physical and mental benefits of meditation
First published on: 'knoji'

Seasonal allergies and prevention techniques

Household techniques and nutritional supplements can help you get relief from seasonal allergies. There are no guidelines for reducing your risk of allergic rhinitis because it is not fully understood why some people develop allergic reactions to certain substances while others do not. Still herbal remedies can be helpful as prevention measures.
Seasonal allergy symptoms include runny noses, congestion, rashes, itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, coughing etc.
Seasonal allergy prevention techniques:
These techniques help you reduce your exposure to the things that trigger your allergy signs and symptoms (allergens):

• Seasonal allergy sufferers should remove their shoes inside the house and machine-dry laundry instead of using clotheslines to keep pollen particles outdoors and off clothing, bedding and carpets. For allergy sufferers who are sensitive to dust mites, removing carpets and washing linens in hot water once each week effectively lowers dust mite levels.
• Filtering the air by usage of 'air filters, or in ventilation systems can remove more than 80 percent of airborne allergens. Tabletop air purifiers---as well as dehumidifiers, which remove the moisture that sustains mold spores---also support allergy prevention efforts.
• Stay indoors on dry, windy days — the best time to go outside is after a good rain, which helps clear pollen from the air.
• Delegate lawn mowing, weed pulling and other gardening chores that stir up allergens. 
• Remove clothes you've worn outside; you may also want to shower to rinse pollen from your skin and hair. 
• Don't hang laundry outside — pollen can stick to sheets and towels. Wear a dust mask if you do outside chores.

Alternative treatment through the use of  nutritional supplements:


Do you buy vitamins online? Many of us don't know that we can now buy supplements online. There are many online sites which offer alternative treatment and herbal formulas. 'SuperGoodStuff' is one of natural dietary & nutritional health supplements store.

Blocked or stuffy nose is one of irritating symptom of seasonal allergies. 'SuperGoodStuff' offers  nasal wash or nasal decongestant products to get relief from allergic symptoms.

'Sponsored post'

Treatment options for immunity disorders

There are many treatments for immune system disorders. Traditionally antibiotics are used to treat common infections. More complicated and complex diseases are treated with a variety of different immune system boosters. These could include steroids, bone marrow transplants, gene therapy and stem cells or immunizations. 


There are some effective immune system boosters  (recommended by conventional medical and holistic advice) such as a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition, adequate sleep, regular exercise and reducing stress.


Alternative treatments have become popular now-a-days, and can be used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments. Popular choices in helping to deal with immune system disorders are hypnosis, yoga, biofeedback, aromatherapy, homeopathy and acupuncture. Other options such as hydrotherapy, massage and reflexology are claimed by some to have positive effects on illnesses and disease due to immune system problems. 

Nutrition experts say much of what our bodies need to fight off infection can be found in foods. Each of the foods should be eaten every day to boost immunity, nutritionist Heidi Skolnik told Good Morning America . "We should eat these daily, as often as we can, especially in this weather," she said. Plenty of rest is also essential to keeping our immune systems up, she said. Health experts also advise a flu shot as an immune booster.

Reference: http://www.mindbodyhealth.com/boost_immune.htm

http://www.immunesystemboosterssite.com/page-3.html

Useful links:

 * How to boost immune system naturally?

* Best Natural Immunity Boosters-Vitamins Strengthen Immune System

* How to boost your immune system

Personal Injury lawsuits and consultation of an Attorney

According to 'wikipedia': 'Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property.'

The most common types of personal injury claims are road traffic accidents, accidents at work etc. More categories are:

• Tripping accidents
• assault claims, 
• accidents in the home,
• product defect accidents 
• holiday accidents
• medical and dental accidents (medical negligence claims)
• conditions of industrial disease cases, including asbestosis and peritoneal mesothelioma, chest diseases, vibration white finger, occupational deafness, occupational stress, contact dermititis, and repetitive strain injury cases. 

If the negligence of another party can be proved, the injured party may be entitled to monetary compensation from that party.
Consultation of an Attorney: Unless your injuries were very minor (i.e. very minor soft tissue injury from a 5 MPH fender bender), you should consult with an attorney very soon after your accident.
A good personal injury attorney can help you gather key evidence and provide valuable advice on how to document your injuries and damages.
For example:
Personal Injury Attorney Utah have experience handling complex cases from Immigration to Criminal Law to Personal Injury. Our mission is to provide competent, effective, aggressive, well prepared representation in the most efficient manner. We strive to create a comfortable environment for our clients and are dedicated to being responsive to their special needs and requirements. We strive to provide personal and competent service at a cost that is competitive with the market place.

You may contact them at Liberty Law PLLC. With a free consultation, discuss your case and  story and get the advice for the best way to proceed.
Personal Injury Attorney Utah serves the Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Provo areas.

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An Islamic Perspective on Why Doesn't God Remove the Evil and tragedy from the World?

This is a question which might struck many persons around the world. "Why Doesn't God Remove the Evil and tragedy from the World?"

At young age when I was seriously thinking about the world, good and bads around me, this question came into my mind as well. As usual I tried to seach for the answer from the books. The final and satisfactory answer was from my own religion and as one of my factoidz fellow "Tony" Brown has tried to explain it in his own manner (Why Doesn't God Remove all Evil from the World), I want to provide Islamic Perspective for the topic.

 During search for this question at internet, I found very specific and interesting answers which I am quoting here. First few theories which are quite reasonable to accept and there is an islamic perspective for the topic at the end of the post.
Few theories:

Being capable of something and actually acting up on it are two different things. If God is permitting evil, there is a reason for it. There is nothing to indicate that he will allow evil to continue indefinitely.
One theory is that He allows it to exist to give us a choice and that He wants us to come to him by choice rather than to force us to love Him. Another is that good and evil must coexist otherwise there would be no difference.
God loves us enough to give us the capability to make choices on our own. man became sinners by nature after adam and eve ate the forbidden fruit. do any of us think that we are being loved when someone tries to control our every thought or action. there is no freedom in that in my opinion. sure, God could prevent evil in the world but then we all be robots so to speak. we choose whether we will do good or evil. as a believer i'm no longer a slave to sin. sin has no power over me anymore but that doesn't mean i don't sin in weak moments cause i do.

It is important to understand what evil really is. God has given humanity a free will to choose to obey or not to obey. Once a person chooses to disobey God, they are free to make further choices about their actions. If God would prevent their choices there would no longer be free will, and we would all be puppets of God. Evil is the result of disobedience. There are only two ways for God to remove evil from this world. One way would be to remove the freedom of choice from each human being. The other way would be to have a testing period where people become so strong in their faith that they can resist evil.

We need to view our earthly life as that of a toddler learning how to walk. A toddler may fall and hurt themselves, but eventually they will learn how to walk. When that child grows up and becomes an adult, they remember little about those bumps and scrapes and tears -- they are just happy that they can walk properly. Sufferings, persecutions, and troubles help to build our faith so we can learn how to spiritually walk. What God has in mind for us after this brief earthly life, I don’t know. But I do know that it will be for an eternity. Certainly a few decades of bumps and scrapes are worth it if it prepares us for an eternity of working for God!
The best answer at 'Yahoo. answers' was:
"Why did God create the devil"? God didn't create him as the Devil. This person who became a Devil was at one time a beautiful righteous angel who went bad on his own [Ezekiel 28:13-15]. The angel became Satan [which means Resister] and Devil [meaning Slanderer or Accuser] when he rebelled against his Creator and slandered him.

The answer to other questions: Why doesn't God just come down and stop famines, war and diseases and destroy the Devil? Well think about it this way: If a teacher is teaching the classroom and you have that one rebellious student who thinks that he can teach the class better than the teacher, the teacher could easily throw him out the class. But he allows the student to state his case in front of the students. What would happen if the teacher got mad and threw the student out? The other students might wonder if the student actually had a point. In the end the teacher proves otherwise. The Devil challenged Jehovah's ruler-ship in the Garden of Eden, insinuating that he was a better ruler for Eve and in effect the human race. [See Genesis 3]. So to allow the Devil to state his case, God has allowed him thousands of years to prove whether the Devil's way of ruler-ship is better, even if human have to suffer for a while. The number one issue is God's name and ruler-ship and angels and humans are involved in it just like the classroom full of students. If God actually intervened and stopped all the bad things from happening, that would be a conflict of interest so to speak. He would actually be helping Satan to prove his case. The Bible teaches us that Satan is the world's ruler and we see the terrible results of his ruler-ship. Prophetically Satan will eventually die [ See Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 20:10]. And the time will come when Jehovah will remove all bad things and mankind will no longer suffer [Revelation 20: 1-4]

This answer is very precise and basic concept is similar to teachings of islam. Now let's see what islam says about the topic.

Islamic perspective:

The Quran tells us that good, evil and whatever happens in this world happens by Allah's Will (mashiat Allah). Only Allah knows fully His Will. We finite beings cannot grasp fully His infinite Will and Wisdom. He runs His universe the way He deems fit. The Quran tells us that Allah is Wise and everything that Allah does is right, just, good and fair. Allah did not make this world a permanent world. This is a temporary world and everything here has a time limit. When its times comes it will die, come to an end and finish. Neither the good things of this world are forever, nor the bad things eternal. We are here for a short time and we are being tested. Those who will pass this test will find an eternal world that is perfect and permanent. Those who will fail this test shall see the evil consequences of their sins and corruption.

Suffering can also be a test and trial for some people. Allah allows some people to suffer in order to test their patience and steadfastness. Even Allah's Prophets and Messengers were made to suffer.

Allah sometimes allows some people to suffer to test others, how they react to them. When you see a person who is sick, poor and needy, then you are tested by Allah. Allah is there with that suffering person to test your charity and your faith.
Suffering or tragedy occurs to teach us that we must adhere to Allah's natural and moral laws. It is sometimes to punish those who violate Allah's natural or moral laws. It is to test our faith in Allah and to test our commitment to human values and charity.
What is your view or thinking about it?------------

Useful links:
 * Evil and Suffering - Islamic Perspective
 * Why doesn't God stop evil and tragedy?
 * Can God Stop Disasters?

Home remedies to treat sore throat

I have been suffering from throat related problems since I was a child. I am now a middle aged person and still get irritation feeling in throat which sometimes turns into infection of throat or sometimes I simply can't swallow food.
What is the best solution to treat throat problems?
This post helps you learn about home remedies to treat sore throat symptoms.
First let's get some basic information about 'sore throat'or Pharyngitis which is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. It often makes it painful to swallow.

Pharyngitis is caused by swelling (inflammation) of the pharynx, which is in the back of the throat, between the tonsils and the voicebox (larynx).
Most sore throats are cauesd by a viral infection, such as the cold or flu. Some viruses can cause specific types of sore throat, such as coxsackie infection or mononucleosis.
Bacteria that can cause pharyngitis include Group A streptococcus, which leads to strep throat in some cases.
Other, less-common bacteria that cause sore throats include corynebacterium, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Most cases of pharyngitis occur during the colder months. The illness often spreads among family members.

Most sore throats are caused by viruses.
Antibiotics do not help. Using them to treat viral infections helps strengthen bacteria and make them resistant to antibiotics.
Sore throats should only be treated with antibiotics if a strep test is positive. Strep cannot be accurately diagnosed by symptoms or a physical exam alone.

Home remedies to treat sore throat:

• Drink a lot of water or tea- Hot fluids, such as tea or soup, may help decrease throat irritation. Fluids may help thin secretions and soothe an irritated throat. 
• Take hard candies or throat lozenges. Young children should not be given such products because they can choke on them.
• A cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier can moisten and soothe a dry and painful throat. Use a shallow pan of water to provide moisture in the air through evaporation if you don't have a humidifier.
• Try over-the-counter pain medications, such as acetaminophen.
• Gargling with salt water can help a sore throat.The salt is healing.
• Steam inhalation is the other most popular and effective sore throat or lost voice remedy that can help solve or at least reduce the problem overnight. It helps to effectively clear the nasal passages, ensuring that there is no congestion at all
• Pineapple works great. This is a natural remedy that really works great for sore throats and a cough. Just eat pineapples. Fresh is better than canned.
• If you have a really bad sore throat and don’t feel like swallowing any food, I have also tried this. Get the pineapple and just chew on it and swallow the juice of this pineapple, you can throw away the part you don’t want to swallow.

Caution: Call your health care provider if: You develop a sore throat that does not go away after several days You have a high fever, swollen lymph nodes in your neck, or a rash Seek immediate medical care if you have a sore throat and trouble breathing.

Reference: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001678/

Health benefits of fishing

Fishing is Physically and Mentally Healthy


Fishing is one of the most relaxing sports.  It gives us a chance to relax and offers us time to de-stress from all of the concerns and worries.

There are numerous studies that indicate the great health benefits of meditation and relaxation and fishing is a great time to practice meditation or another form of mental relaxation. It is a wonderful feeling to be completely relaxed only to be waken up by the drag of your fishing line screaming with a big fish on the line.

Fishing is also good for the lungs and skin. After all, fishing is mostly an outdoor sport. Being outdoors gives one an opportunity to get plenty of fresh air into one's lungs.  Fresh air is healthy air. It contains plenty of oxygen which is fundamental to a healthier physical and mental state. Sunshine is another health benefit derived from fishing. Although some people like fishing enough to brave inclement weather, most prefer a nice sunny day to fish. Sunshine produces a number of beneficial attributes for maintaining a healthy body and appearance.

Fresh air, sunshine and exercise work on one's appetite, so it is always a good idea to take some appetite appeasing food on any fishing trip.

Physically, fishing is not all that demanding. It doesn't take a lot of strength and stamina to fish. 

It is not very strenuous, unless you plan on going deep sea fishing. If you plan for such fishing then better to hire 'fishing charter' providers who can assist you to do this sports in a professional way. A charter rental will give you the opportunity to spend the day catching the fish you ever dreamed to catch for years.

One of those name is 'Mishigan Fishing Charters'

'Mishigan Fishing Charters' offers a fishing experience from the best charter fleet in. Their services are for Michigan and Florida. Typical charters are: Half Day, Full Day and Swordfishing. You get the support from captains and mates who have years of local fishing experience.
Typical charters are morning or afternoon charters for King Salmon and Lake Trout. They also offer perch fishing in the morning.
A maximum of 6 people (adults and children) can go on a charter.

You may carry these things with you:
Two Marines will provide fishing licenses (Florida Only) tackle, bait and ice for your trip. Bring these accessories with you:

• Sunscreen - recommended to apply 1 hour before boarding and reapply as needed.
• Sunglasses - Polarized Lenses are best for fishing.
• Hat-Visors tend to not fly away.
• Shoes - Preferably non-marking white soles that can get wet.
• Food and Drink - We have a cooler to accommodate your items.
• Camera
• Long Sleeve or rashguard T Shirts for additional sun protection.
• Seasickness medication (non-drowsy) if you are prone to seasickness. (Please consult your physician).

Boost Your Creativity and Lower the Risk of Heart Diseases with a Glass of Water

You can 'boost your creativity and lower the risk of heart diseases with a glass of water' and it is true. Drinking water has some benefits which we forget living in a dehydrated world of carbonated beverages, caffeine and alcohol.
We forget that water is important for our health and well being. Everything your body does it does better with a healthy supply of water, every system in your body depends on water.

 Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight.
Loma Linda University researchers found that drinking five or more 8-ounce glasses of water a day could help lower your risk of heart disease by up to 60 percent - exactly the same drop you get from stopping smoking, lowering your LDL (bad) cholesterol numbers, exercising, or losing a little weight.

Consistent failure to drink enough water can lead to Chronic Cellular Dehydration. This condition where the body’s cell are never quite hydrated enough leave them in a weakened state, vulnerable to attack from disease. It weakens the body’s overall immune system and leads to chemical, nutritional and pH imbalances that can cause a host of diseases.                                
Increased water consumption can help you control weight by preventing you from confusing hunger with thirst. Water will also keep your body systems, including metabolism and digestion, working properly and give you the energy (and hydration) necessary for exercise.
A glass of water can boost your creativity as well. If you’re properly hydrated you’ll have more energy, you’ll feel healthier, you will become more alert and aware of your surroundings. If your brain is functioning on a full reservoir it will function at full capacity and you’ll think better and faster.
A glass of water is a great boost to your creativity. You’ll find ideas are easier to come up with and they’re likely to be more unique. Your mind will work easier and it won’t seem like such a strain. All that and it’s one of the simplest changes you can make in your life.

Bring Instant Increase in Brain Power by drinking water:

• First thing in the morning have a glass of water.
• Around lunch, have another glass of water along with whatever you planned for lunch. Then grab a glass around 3:00 or somewhere in there, especially if you’re starting to feel like you’re slowing down.
• One glass of water with supper. It is important to know that the body can only absorb 4 ounces of water every 10 minutes, so like many things in life, it is important to be proactive with drinking water. 
• Aim to drink one glass of pure water every hour you are awake. And make the process enjoyable.
• Drink water before, with and after every meal; it will help you to prevent overeating and obesity. Eat slowly, drink water and you will get satisfied with less food.

Benjamin Franklin said: “There can’t be good living where there is not good drinking.”

Useful posts:

* 10 Reasons to Drink More Water

* Need to Increase Your Brain Power?

* How to Drink More Water Every Day?
First published at 'knoji'

Can Money Buy Happiness and Why Rich People Are Not Usually Happier?

It is very common question which humans are asking from decades. Because if money can buy happiness then rich people should be the happier but usually the case is different.

How to know if money can really help us buy happiness?
Let's read some facts, figures and survey reports if money can buy happiness, and how money effects our lives and why rich people are not happier than the poor ones.

These survey reports or finding are not the end of theories but it can teach us an some important life lessons about money, and happiness.

• Americans have on average gotten much richer over the past several decades than they were in previous generations. The inconvenient truth, however, is that there has been no meaningful rise in the average level of happiness.
• In 1972, 30 percent of Americans said they were very happy, and the average American enjoyed about $25,000 (in today’s dollars) of our national income. By 2004, the percentage of very happy Americans stayed virtually unchanged at 31 percent, while the share of national income skyrocketed to $38,000 (a 50 percent real increase in average income).
• The story is the same in other developed countries. In Japan, real average income was six times higher in 1991 than it was in 1958. During the post–World War II period, Japan was transformed at unprecedented speed from a poor nation into one of the world’s richest countries. But the average happiness of a Japanese citizen, measured on a scale of 1–4, stayed exactly the same at 2.7.
• In some countries, there is even some evidence that economic growth can create unhappiness. This is generally the case for nations experiencing rapid and chaotic development and thus opportunities for great wealth for the first time.
• Studies show that lottery winners, heiresses, and the 100 richest Americans are only slightly more satisfied than the guy toiling for his pay in the generic office-park cubicle. Still, mere mortals find it difficult to allow that an extra digit or two on the paycheck won't put a permanent smile on our faces.

We assume that a sportier car, a bigger house, a better-paying job, or that dress will bring us joy because, well, they did in the past, right?

• Not really, says Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychology professor and the author of Stumbling on Happiness. "Research reveals that memory is less like a collection of photographs than it is like a collection of impressionist paintings rendered by an artist who takes considerable license with his subject," Gilbert writes. We forget that the new-car high deflated well before our first trip to the mechanic, and the raise came with stressful late nights at the office and a steeper tax tab.
• Money doesn't buy happiness, say a couple of Princeton University researchers who found the link between cash and a good mood to be "greatly exaggerated and mostly an illusion.''
• Rich people spend more time in high-stress activities than people with modest resources or poor people, they found.
• Those with the highest incomes spend more time working, worrying, shopping, taking care of the kids and exercising, and less time relaxing with a book or an uplifting news story (like this one).
• At Princeton, economist Alan Krueger and psychologist Daniel Kahneman measured how people of different income levels spend their time, and which of these activities are enjoyable. (Though he's a psychologist, Kahneman won the 2002 Nobel Prize in economics.)

Their results: The rich are not lazing on the beach at St. Tropez for six months of the year, no matter what you see in the glossy photos in mutual fund ads. They're stuck in traffic, worrying about their kids and spending long hours at the office.

• "The belief that high income is associated with good mood is widespread but mostly illusory,'' the researchers announce today in the journal Science.
• "People with above-average income are relatively satisfied with their lives but are barely happier than others in moment-to-moment experience, tend to be more tense, and do not spend more time in particularly enjoyable activities.''
• Pulling in the big bucks makes people more likely to say they are happy with their lives overall -- whether they are young or old, male or female, or living in cities or remote villages, the survey of more than 136,000 people in 132 countries found.
• Another survey shows that a key element of what many people consider happiness -- positive feelings -- is much more strongly affected by factors other than cold, hard cash, such as feeling respected, being in control of your life and having friends and family to rely on in a pinch.
• "Yes, money makes you happy -- we see the effect of income on life satisfaction is very strong and virtually ubiquitous and universal around the world," said Ed Diener, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Illinois who led the study. "But it makes you more satisfied than it makes you feel good. Positive feelings are less affected by money and more affected by the things people are doing day to day."

Studies reveal another toll that money takes.
An international team of researchers led by Jordi Quoidbach report in the August 2010 issue of Psychological Science that, although wealth may grant us opportunities to purchase many things, it simultaneously impairs our ability to enjoy those things.

Their first study, conducted with adult employees of the University of Liège in Belgium showed that the wealthier the workers were, the less likely they were to display a strong capacity to savor positive experiences in their lives. Furthermore, simply being reminded of money (by being exposed to a picture of a huge stack of Euros) dampened their savoring ability.

Read more: New research reveals that reminders of wealth impair our capacity to savor life's little pleasures


Useful links:

* Can money really make you happy? Can Money Buy Happiness?
This post includes a story about a forty-two-year-old forklift operator in Corbin, Kentucky, named Mack Metcalf who won $65 million Powerball jackpot. But did it change his life in a positive way or was he happier than before? Unfortunately he died at the age of forty-five, only about three years after his lottery draw, racked with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis.
*Can money buy happiness? Maybe, up to $75,000
* Does money buy happiness? New research says yes, to a point

First published at 'knoji'

Immune booster - Belberyy tea

Bilberry is a plant. Bilberry is also known as European blueberry, whortleberry, and a few other names. Bilberry tea which is made from dried bilberry leaves or fruits is extremely high in Vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. This tea is preferred for medicinal purposes rather than for the flavor as this tea has a slightly medicinal taste.

There are other benefits of belberry tea which we are learning from this post.
It is one of several species of low-growing shrubs, bearing edible berries.
The dried, ripe fruit and leaves are used to make medicine. Bilberry is a perennial shrub that grows to about 16 inches in height. It has sharp edged, green branches and black wrinkled berries, which are ripe for picking in late summer. Bilberry is a relative of blueberry, cranberry, and huckleberry, and its fruit looks and tastes much like the American blueberry.

Today, the fruit is used to treat diarrhea, menstrual cramps, eye problems, varicose veins, venous insufficiency (a condition in which the veins do not efficiently return blood from the legs to the heart), and other circulatory problems.

How to make the tea?
Bilberry Tea can either be made through infusing the dried bilberry leaves or fruits in hot water, or through decoction of these same parts in boiling water.

Bilberries contain levels of anthocyanin pigments that have been linked experimentally to lowered risk for several diseases, such as those of the heart and cardiovascular system, eyes and cancer.

The bilberry leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal ailments, applied topically, or made into Bilberry Tea infusions.

Bilberry Tea as an herbal decoction prepared from the dried fruits is said to be effective in treating diarrhea in children. It may also be used as a mouthwash in treating various oral disorders and throat problems.
Other Health benefits of Bilberry Tea:

• Bilberry Tea may help inhibit eye and vision disorders by strengthening the walls of blood vessels in the eye and benefit the retina. 
• Help reduce inflammation, and help stabilize ligaments and tendons.
• Support cardiovascular health.
• Treat gastrointestinal problems.
• Ease varicose vein appearance.
• Lower blood sugar in diabetics.
• High level of anthocyanin pigments, which have been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease and cancer.
• Helps improve skin quality in all ages.
• According to Dr. Oz it is one of the tea which help loose weight. Bilberry Tea helps to kill cravings during dinnertime. Its savory sweet flavor balances blood sugar. Drink 1 Cup before dinner.

For daily relief of gastrointestinal problems or to aid digestion, bilberry leaves have been shown to be highly effective, either when ingested in the tea form or made into topical ointments and tinctures.

Most tonics are made with the leaves, because they contain a higher concentration of antioxidants and other healthy compounds.

Learn body language techniques

It is important to learn to read non-verbal cues(body language techniques) to understand people and their intentions. Learning body language not only helps in making a good impression but also helps immensely in figuring out the ‘unsaid’. Indeed other than the words we speak, our body language best conveys our thoughts, confidence and honesty.
Body language a proven way to accurately decode people's thoughts, emotions or mood. People may lie, but their body silently and unconsciously speaks the truth. The most effective way to uncover hidden desires, thoughts, or emotions is by reading and interpreting body language correctly.
Actress and playwright Mae West had once commented, ‘I speak two languages: English and Body’.
Body language goes both ways:

1. Your own body language reveals your feelings and meanings to others. 
2. Other people's body language reveals their feelings and meanings to you.

You can change your body language but as all new habits it takes a while. Especially things like keeping you head up might take time to correct if you have spent thousands of days looking at your feet. And if you try and change to many things at once it might become confusing and feel overwhelming. Take a couple of these body language bits to work on every day for three to four weeks. By then they should have developed into new habits and something you’ll do without even thinking about it. If not, keep on until it sticks. Then take another couple of things you’d like to change and work on them. 

Body language techniques: 
 1. Don’t cross your arms or legs – You have probably already heard you shouldn’t cross your arms as it might make you seem defensive or guarded. This goes for your legs too. Keep your arms and legs open.
 2. Have eye contact, but don’t stare – If there are several people you are talking to, give them all some eye contact to create a better connection and see if they are listening. Keeping too much eye-contact might creep people out. Giving no eye-contact might make you seem insecure. If you are not used to keeping eye-contact it might feel a little hard or scary in the beginning but keep working on it and you’ll get used to it.
 3. Don’t be afraid to take up some space – Taking up space by for example sitting or standing with your legs apart a bit signals self-confidence and that you are comfortable in your own skin.
 4. Relax your shoulders – When you feel tense it’s easily winds up as tension in your shoulders. They might move up and forward a bit. Try to relax. Try to loosen up by shaking the shoulders a bit and move them back slightly.
 5. Nod when they are talking – nod once in a while to signal that you are listening. But don’t overdo it and peck like Woody Woodpecker.
 6. Don’t slouch, sit up straight – but in a relaxed way, not in a too tense manner.
 7. Lean, but not too much – If you want to show that you are interested in what someone is saying, lean toward the person talking. If you want to show that you’re confident in yourself and relaxed lean back a bit. But don’t lean in too much or you might seem needy and desperate for some approval. Or lean back too much or you might seem arrogant and distant. 8. Smile and laugh – lighten up, don’t take yourself too seriously. Relax a bit, smile and laugh when someone says something funny. People will be a lot more inclined to listen to you if you seem to be a positive person. But don’t be the first to laugh at your own jokes, it makes you seem nervous and needy. Smile when you are introduced to someone but don’t keep a smile plastered on your face, you’ll seem insincere.
 9. Don’t touch your face – it might make you seem nervous and can be distracting for the listeners or the people in the conversation.
10. Keep your head up – Don’t keep your eyes on the ground, it might make you seem insecure and a bit lost. Keep your head up straight and your eyes towards the horizon.
 11. Slow down a bit – this goes for many things. Walking slower not only makes you seem more calm and confident, it will also make you feel less stressed. If someone addresses you, don’t snap your neck in their direction, turn it a bit more slowly instead.
12. Don’t fidget and try to avoid, phase out or transform fidgety movement and nervous ticks such as shaking your leg or tapping your fingers against the table rapidly. You’ll seem nervous and fidgeting can be a distracting when you try to get something across. Declutter your movements if you are all over the place. Try to relax, slow down and focus your movements.
 13. Use your hands more confidently instead of fidgeting with your hands and scratching your face use them to communicate what you are trying to say. Use your hands to describe something or to add weight to a point you are trying to make. But don’t use them to much or it might become distracting. And don’t let your hands flail around, use them with some control.
 14. Lower your drink. Don’t hold your drink in front of your chest. In fact, don’t hold anything in front of your heart as it will make you seem guarded and distant. Lower it and hold it beside your leg instead.
 15. Realise where you spine ends – many people (including me until recently) might sit or stand with a straight back in a good posture. However, they might think that the spine ends where the neck begins and therefore crane the neck forward in a Montgomery Burns-pose. Your spine ends in the back of your head. Keep you whole spine straight and aligned for better posture.
 16. Don’t stand too close –one of the things we learned from Seinfeld is that everybody gets weirded out by a close-talker. Let people have their personal space, don’t invade it.
17. Mirror – Often when you get along with a person, when the two of you get a good connection, you will start to mirror each other unconsciously. That means that you mirror the other person’s body language a bit. To make the connection better you can try a bit of proactive mirroring. If he leans forward, you might lean forward. If she holds her hands on her thighs, you might do the same. But don’t react instantly and don’t mirror every change in body language. Then weirdness will ensue.
 18. Keep a good attitude – last but not least, keep a positive, open and relaxed attitude. How you feel will come through in your body language and can make a major difference.

Related and reference: www.positivityblog.com

Useful links:
'Do you make these body language mistakes?

Immune booster - Echinacea tea

Echinacea tea has been proven to boost the immune system by stimulating the white blood cells. The tea is often used to treat individuals suffering from mild viral infections. These include the flu, the common cold and other mild infections. According to Holistic Online, some professional herbalists consider liquid echinacea to be the most effective because of its ability to coat the internal parts of the body most negatively affected by colds and congestion.                        


Echinacea also known as purple coneflower, is one of the top selling herbal supplements in American. Echinacea comes from an herb found in the southern section of the United States.

History of echinacea herb:                       
The echinacea herb has been used as an herbal medicinal treatment for hundreds of years, especially among Native American Indian tribes. Native Americans and Europeans have used Echinacea purpurea (and other species of the plant) to boost the immune system, prevent colds and flu, and fight infections.

Health benefits of achinacea tea:
Echinacea tea is a great source of vitamins and minerals. Echinacea includes iron, maganese, selenium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin B, and several other vitamins and minerals.

Echinacea may also help fight off urinary tract infections, herpes, ear infections, strep throat, staph infections and bronchitis. It is recommended for those suffering with chronic respiratory infections and patients with cancer. Drinking the Echinacea can heal joint and muscle issues as well as reduce inflammation. Echinacea tea is the best herbal tea which contains infection-fighting natural anti-inflammatory properties.

Echinacea works to increase activity of our immune system by stimulating white blood cells. White blood cells attack viruses and bacteria that can lead to illness or infection. For this reason, research shows that its medicinal properties are very beneficial to those that suffer from AIDS since the disease attacks the immune system.
You can boost your immune system by adopting a healthy lifestyle and starting your day with a cup of Echinacea Tea.

How to prepare Echinacea Tea?
Ingredients:
2 cups cold water
1 teaspoon dried Echinacea fresh edible flower (or roots)
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
Juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon honey
Preparation: Place the Echinacea leaves and ginger in a teapot and pour 2 cups of boiling water over the leaves.
Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes. Strain into tea cups. Add lemon juice and honey and stir to blend.


Remember:
Be advised that people suffering with diseases, such as HIV or AIDS, tuberculosis or multiple sclerosis, using Echinacea can irritate these diseases by making their symptoms worse. Check with your health care practitioner first before using Echinacea in any form.

 Echinacea tea has a number of known benefits to a person's health, though you should never use an herbal supplement, even in the form of tea, without consulting your health care practitioner.

Useful links:

* Echinacea May Boost Immune System More Than Previously Thought