Sugar sugar

I do not know one person who does not like the taste of sugar!  Some like salty more, but I have never had someone tell me they did not like the taste of “sweetness”.  The taste of sugar is so intoxicating and sweet, it appears in the lyrics of many popular songs.  For example: “Sugar, […]
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Mindfulness cues

Exercise 4: Mindfulness Cues In this exercise you focus your attention on your breathing whenever a specific environmental cue occurs. For example, whenever you hear the phone ring, you promptly bring your attention into the present moment and stay focussed on your breath. Simply choose a cue that works for you. Perhaps you will choose […]
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The ten second count

  Exercise 3: The Ten Second Count This is more of an exercise in practicing concentration than it is in mindfulness, and it is a simple variation on exercise 1. In this exercise, rather than focussing on your breath, you just close your eyes and focus your attention on slowly counting to ten. If your […]
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Conscious observation

  Exercise 2: Conscious Observation Pick up an object that you have lying around. Any mundane everyday object will do…a coffee cup or a pen for example. Hold it in your hands and allow your attention to be fully absorbed by the object. Observe it. Don’t assess it or think about it, or study it […]
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A minute of mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of intentionally focusing your attention on the present moment. “The cultivation of mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, but most religions include some type of prayer or meditation technique that helps shift your thoughts away from your usual preoccupations toward an appreciation of the moment and a larger perspective on life.” Practicing […]
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Stress Less

Stress contributes to all of the leading causes of premature death including heart disease.  Stress negatively impacts quality of life and plays a role in loss of muscle and bone strength, weight gain, and loss of sexual function.  Each of us can look at periods in our lives when we have experienced unhealthy amounts of stress. […]
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Slash Sugar

Most people like the “taste of sweetness”.  My featured photo illustrates that for many, sugar has become as addictive as “crack cocaine”.  This is why in the coming weeks I plan to blog about the significant negative health consequences of our over consumption of added sugar. Residents of Blue Zones do not eat sugar by […]
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Blue Zone Beverages

Soft drinks account for about half of Americans sugar intake. Most in the Blue Zones drank coffee, tea, water, and wine. Never drink soft drinks. I enjoy sipping many different varieties of tea, but my favorites are all types of green teas.  Thanks to Clara for the Rishi Matcha green tea! Water-Adventists recommend 7 glasses of water daily.  Research […]
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Go Wholly Whole

Blue Zone residents eat whole foods (i.e. not egg white omelets) .  They get everything that they need from nutrient filled whole foods.  A “whole food” is one that is made from a single ingredient and not highly processed  to change the food’s nutritional profile.  In Blue Zone areas, the centenarians eat foods grown close […]
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Sour on Bread

The bread eaten in Blue Zones is unlike the bread most Americans eat.  Most Americans eat bread that is made with bleached white flour that spikes insulin levels because it metabolizes quickly into sugar.  Blue Zone breads are made of a variety of whole grains such as rye, barley, or wheat.  These whole grain breads […]
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