Featured Organics: What are Grains?

Grains are a major fuel that our bodies need in order to function properly. Yet, we take grains for granted by either purchasing instant variations or skipping them altogether thinking that we are better without them. Grains are low in fat and assist us with proper digestion, increases our energy, and even reduces the risk of heart disease. Grains should be properly cooked for better assimilation of their nutrients. Make proper selections for grains, such as those that are rich in protein and gluten free. So, what are grains?

Brown Rice
Brown rice is renowned all over the world. Some of the varieties include: Indian rice, which is long and the texture is fluffy and light and Japanese rice, which is short and has a sticky texture. Both are delicious and can be used for a variety of meals. The wonderful benefits of brown rice is that it is packed with Folate and
B Vitamins which support the cardiovascular system reducing the risk of heart disease. Brown rice is also wonderful for weight loss because the high content of fiber found in this power food. It can be purchased gluten free.

Quinoa
Quinoa is the mother of grains. Originating from the Andes Mountains, South America, Quinoa is an ancient grain of the Incas that has reemerged. Quinoa has a nutty, delicate texture. It is delicious served hot with vegetables and served cold over a bed of greens. A unique quality of quinoa is that it is a complete protein by way of essential amino acids. It is very beneficial to those looking for alternative ways of receiving protein away from the common animal proteins. Quinoa is naturally gluten free.

Amaranth
Amaranth is an ancient grain that has a history spanning thousands of years in Mexico. It was the grain of the Aztecs and the Mayans. Amaranth has a rich, nutty flavor. It is delicious with vegetables or added to a bread mix for a bread with complete protein. Amaranth is rich in the amino acid, Lysine, which gives Amaranth its unique quality. It is high in protein, which makes a wonderful substitute to animal proteins. Amaranth's Lysine value is greater than that of even quinoa and other grains. Amaranth also is good for weight loss, aids in the prevention of cancer and supports the cardiovascular system due to its high fiber content. Amaranth is also naturally gluten free.

Chia Seeds
Chia Seeds are wonderful for weight loss. When adding water to them it causes the seeds to become a gel and when eaten makes us feel full, assisting in the decrease of food cravings. Chia Seeds also have strong age- defying antioxidants which aids in the prevention of cancer. Among being gluten free, Chia Seeds are also rich in Omega- 3's which aid in weight loss, circulation, and gives the skin an amazing glow!

Grains are a very important part of our diet. They are rich in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and even protein. When we saturate them with butter and gorge ourselves with them, we make them bad to consume, not nature. Examples of modern people that consume grains consistently are the people of Asia such as in India, China, and Japan. These people eat rice on a daily basis and studies have shown that they have healthier and longer life spans than that of those of us in the United States.  Eating in a balanced manner gives our bodies the opportunity to receive what nature has given us.

For more knowledge on grains click on these links:

http://ofthesun.org/food-for-life-a-guide-to-extraordinary-living/

http://www.mychiaseeds.com/Articles/Top10ChiaBenefits.html

Exercise Machines no More... Let's Shimmy!

It is time to lay down the exercise equipment. Let's free ourselves from exercise machines and use our own bodies' rhythm to burn away the unwanted pounds. We can achieve this through an ancient dance form known in the West as Belly dance, also known as Middle Eastern dance. This dance form is linked to Egypt, Turkey, and Lebanon. Over the past century, Belly dance has become more popular all over the world.

After my second child, I learned about the power of belly dance With my second child, I nursed for about a year. While nursing, I did mostly yoga and Pilate's. I felt balanced and strong, however, the weight was still there. I needed something fun with lots of movement to inspire me to lose the weight. I discovered belly dance. In two months, I had dropped 30 pounds and in three months, I was back to my size prior to pregnancy. Plus, everything about me was well defined, without weights. Everyone is not the same, however, with an organic lifestyle and consistency, improvement will be seen.

No need to run and get belly dance costumes. You can make it your own and wear what pleases you. Belly dance music? It is fine to get Arabic Sounds, however, it is unnecessary. Simply dance to what you enjoy.

Belly dance is sensual in expression and works the body through undulations and isolations causing every muscle in the body to move. Movement of the hips and chest are the major components in belly dance causing the torso to be in constant motion, hence the name belly dance. We can focus on target areas such as abs, back, arms, legs, and all over stretching of the body utilizing different dance moves. These moves are fun and easy for beginners to learn.

The stance in belly dance is abs pulled in, back straight, legs about shoulder length apart, and knees bent. Keeping this in mind will assist in properly performing the dance moves and providing optimum results.

  Head rolls are a wonderful way to warm up the neck. For anyone that experiences stiffness in the neck, this is a wonderful exercise to assist in releasing tension. Beginners should take it slow with this move until flexibility increases. Before you know it, you will be whipping your hair all around the place.

Moving the hands to different levels of the body will give different levels of resistance. When you sway your hips back and forth with arms straight and hands right over the head, this gives very little resistance to the arms, however, stretches the torso, elongating the spine. When hands are placed at ear level with straight arms, this strengthens the shoulders and the back. Placing the hands at shoulder level with straight arms gives the most resistance, strengthening the biceps, triceps, shoulders, and torso. The hands lowered to hip level is grounding, allowing you to feel the hips sway and feel the strength of your stance. Snake like movements in addition to the hands being at shoulder level will increase resistance.

Chest moves strengthen the entire torso. When you see those muscles become more defined and sleek, you will have these moves to thank.  Seasoned or professional belly dancers that can bend all the way backwards down to the floor have achieved this through strength and flexibility. Practicing these exercises daily will cause you to become stronger and more flexible in your back and abs.

Moving the hips to different levels also determines the resistance that the body feels. The lower the level of the hips, the less resistance that you feel in the torso. The higher the elevation of the hips, the more resistance. Moving our hips in a complete circle covers every muscle in the hip and pelvic regions. Starting with points from the front, side, back, and alternate side, then back to front, targets this area. When we move the hips in a smooth circle, we are not only working the muscles, however, also stretching them. The shimmy is also a popular dance move that moves the hip in a rapidly causing the whole body to shake. When done properly, it shows control over the body.  These exercises also strengthens the colon.

Fat burning moves would involve mostly leg and foot work (cardio). Foot work  in belly dance may seem easy to do, however, it does take some practice. Foot work in belly dance requires balance. This is excellent because it causes every muscle in your legs and feet to work. Many of these moves require that you be on your toes, which strengthens the arches, calves, quadriceps, hamstrings and more. Another bonus is that this cardio blast is no impact, so it applies no extra weight on the joints and bones. The foot work also stimulates the colon.

These are all beginner's moves, yet, in time you will advance. As you progress, you will become stronger and have more flexibility. In addition, belly dance will make you feel beautiful and sensual. This is an introduction or base, there is so much more to belly dance. Check out YouTube, purchase DVDs, or even go to the library to learn more. These moves can also can be performed in more intimate settings...smile. So feel the femininity, sensuality, and power that this dance form gives us.

Weight Loss On the Clock

The urge is calling for that midnight snack. So we raid the refrigerator telling ourselves that we're going to get the baby carrots and instead bypass them for those chocolate chip cookies that we baked for the children earlier. "It won't matter, their vegan, right?" We can eat vegan cookies, however, eating them at midnight will increase the risk of weight gain and be harder on digestion. Eating at night is what really effects us. Consuming  a small portion of vegan cookies at 12 noon, will be less likely to effect our weight because we have the rest of the day to burn them off.

It is best to eat our heavier meals earlier in the day and lighter meals later in the day. The purpose of food is to fuel our bodies instead of fulfilling our cravings. Eating our heavier meals when we are most active will give us the fuel that we need and increase our chances of weight loss.

It's Sunday and your husband wants you to fix that delicious lemon-pepper salmon with organic mac and cheese. Of course, you want some too, however, your on a journey to being curvaceous. How can we make this work? Eat this meal earlier in the day in one portion...Let us make sure that we do not overdo it. Then we have the rest of the day to clean, run errands, play with the children, and work out, to burn off that delicious meal we had earlier. Our last meal of the day can be a delicious plate salad with all of our favorite organic veggies.

By 7 p.m., we want to have had our food intake for the day. It seems farfetched if you haven't done it, however, I have been doing this for two months and have had little to no cravings to change back.. I have noticed a difference in my body since I changed my eating schedule. Postponing our meal intake until the next day at 7 p.m., gives our bodies an opportunity to break down the food that we ate. By the time that we turn in for the night, the digestion of the food we ate should be near completion. This will assist our bodies in getting the proper rest. Better rest also promotes weight loss. What if you get hungry? Drink a cup of hot tea with a touch of agave if needed. This will assist with the cravings and help to raise those feel good vibrations.

Scheduling all meals before 7 p.m. is attainable and healthier for the body. This is a natural weight loss plan and also a lifestyle change. Keeping this same system after we have reached our goals, will assist in keeping our digestive system running smoothly, causing our whole body to run more efficiently. There is no better weight loss than natural, healthy weight loss.

The Jewel of Self- Worth

To know your worth is rewarding. Self- Worth gives stability, confidence, and the hope for a new day. It is grounding in a time of confusion and gives assurance in the face of adversity.

Many suffer from depression, anxiety, and moodiness. Turn on the news and there are headlines about the number of people taking anti- depressants, “normal” people losing their minds in an explosive scenario, and even death from suicide.  Even the rich and famous, the ones that appear to be living the life that everyone wants have bouts of manic behavior, drug- use, and overdose.

What gives us our self-worth? Is it someone telling us how beautiful we are?  Or is it money and prestige? Numerous stories told by the media, shows facts that none of these will produce this result. So, what will?

It all starts from how we think. It seems so miniscule, yet, how we think determines our perception. When a woman stands in the mirror, no matter what size, and says to herself “I’m fat”, the result is a self-conscious woman preoccupied with how fat she looks. When a woman stands in the mirror happy, regardless of her size, she is free to pursue other ideas because she is free of negative thinking.

Self- worth is not about appearance. It is a state of mind that offsets negative that gets in our path. We may lose our job, however, if we perceive it as an opportunity to pursue talents that we have been neglecting, our thoughts stay lofty about ourselves, lives, and future. By thinking this way, develops assurance in ourselves and what we can do, allowing nothing or no one to dictate our worth.  


Look at every obstacle as an opportunity. Whatever seems unpleasant at the time, look for the beauty in it. This is how we maintain our value, knowing that beauty is in us and all around us.

Drink Your Green and White!

Daily, we are exposed to harsh toxins from our environment, the air we breathe, the water we use and the food that we eat. As much as we may monitor our intake of food and liquids for quality assurance, much of what we eat is still the best of the worst due to poor soil. poor air quality, and export/import of various foods. These traces of toxins can build up over time and produce one of the greatest enemies of the body... cancer.

Nature has provided us with antioxidants to get rid of these pesky little free radicals. First, what is an antioxidant? An antioxidant is an enzyme that can counteract the damaging effects of oxidation to any part of the human tissue. If some of the cells in your body were to be oxidized, hindering their growth causing deterioration ( death of the cells ), an antioxidant will combat this process to allow your cells to rejuvenate if possible or allow for a healthy environment for proper cell production.

Two of the best known antioxidants are Green and White Tea. Both originating  from China, they are celebrated for their unique properties in Asia and the world over. Delicious and light in flavor, these teas are produced from the delicately harvested Camellia sinensis plant. White Tea is from the younger plant and Green Tea is from the more matured version.

Green Tea is superb because it is an antioxidant , anti-carcinogen, and has been proven to gently raise the metabolic rate producing weight loss. The benefits of Green Tea are better received when drank daily. Green Tea does not produce immediate results of weight loss, however, gradually in addition to a healthy lifestyle, it will greatly improve your results.

White Tea is very potent in antioxidants and anti-carcinogens. During the times of the Royal Dynasties in China, White Tea was the preferred tea because of its delicate flavor and beneficial effects.

Green Tea and White Tea are a needed part of a healthy lifestyle. Green Tea is especially wonderful for the mamas that wants to get back to being curvaceous. Try drinking it daily with a touch of agave. Even mix it up a bit by sampling it in different flavors. Pomegranate Green Tea has an exotic flavor and added antioxidants (from the pomegranate). Enjoy!

Expansion on 3 Levels

On our journey we must expand our spirit, our minds, and our bodies. This is a time of building and renewing ourselves. To obtain a want takes patience, diligence, and stamina. Expanding our spirit to higher elevations will strengthen our minds and bodies.
 
Everyday, take the time to broaden your perceptions of what you think, do, and have around you. Look at the sky and imagine what could be beyond it. Look at the trees and have gratitude for the oxygen they give you. Stretch your limbs 10 seconds longer than you did yesterday. As we expand, we get better and we grow.

Enjoy  this journey in your life. Take the time to love self and learn something new daily. Life is what we make it. Expand your light to give others a brighter day!

Stay Away From the Scale

During our journey to getting that slim physique, we may become a little ambitious. Which is great in moderation. Watching what you eat, monitoring your water intake, and exercising everyday are all great ambitions to attain. Even checking your weight every two weeks is good. However, when it becomes every morning and night or even 5x a day, then it becomes obsessive. Then we become stressed when we don't think the weight isn't coming down fast enough. This can lead to depression, especially in nursing mamas.

Stay away from the scale. In order to lose weight, do we really need one? If we raise our vibration daily by thinking positive, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and exercise, eventually that weight will fall right off. If it doesn't seem to be working try other methods. For example, if you notice that you have poor digestion, this could be the culprit. So the solution would be to promote better digestion, not obsession.
In the beginning of our journey, we may only lose inches at first. So if your looking at the scale and notice no changes, then this can make you think that nothing is happening. However, when things are done in a natural way, they happen in degrees. 

This is to say for women losing weight, encouragement generally doesn't come from the scale, however, your state of mind. No matter what level of life we are in, if we keep our thoughts lofty and maintain focus for what we want to attain, it will be accomplished.