There are four main types of blood and these are called:   O, A, B and AB.  Your blood type will depend on the genes that you inherited from your family.  The most common blood type is O.

Your blood is made up of 55% plasma which is a white clear fluid and the remainder is made up of formed elements.  The formed elements are mostly Red Blood Cells (they look like little discs and have a strong covering called a membrane) and there are also White Blood Cells and platelets.

Blood has three important functions.  The first function is: transportation of oxygen, nutrients, waste and hormones.

The second function is: to regulate .  It regulates your body temperature, which aims to be at around 37 degrees.  Blood carries glucose to all parts of the body to facilitate energy and blood sugar regulation is another important function of blood.

The third function is: protection.  It is able to clot when there is a wound.  This clotting forms a protective layer a bit like.  The white blood cells also provide protection against disease and invaders.  The number of white blood cells in your body depends on whether there are any invading germs such as bacteria or viruses.  They are very efficient at seeking out invaders and destroying them.

The red colour of your red blood cells is due to a colour pigment called haemoglobin (pronounced hem-o-globe-in).  This is a protein and it carries the oxygen that keeps you alive.  The red blood cells live for about 120 days and then they are removed and recycled through your liver and spleen.  New Red blood cells are continuously being produced.

Dr Peter D’Adamo, N.D., conducted research and published Eat Right 4 Your Type. The concept of his book is based on evolutionary history.  The principles discussed in the book are that each blood type responds differently to specific foods.

According to Dr D’Adamo:

O blood type is the early human blood type and prefers a meat based diet containing meat, fish, fruit and vegetables. Eggs should be consumed only on occasion. A blood type prefer a plant-based diet containing beans, fruit and vegetables. Chicken should be consumed only on occasion. B  blood type and AB blood type are able to consume a variety of foods with some exceptions.

It is worth keeping in mind with the dietary suggestions of Dr D’Adamo that the Blood type Diet is only one blood genetic variable of many and therefore it might not suit everyone.

1. Play hide and seek in the park
2. Visit the corner café for a milkshake
3. Play hopscotch
4. Do a handstand
5. Hula hoop for as long as you can
6. Skip
7. Chuck water on the trampoline and jump
8. Use water balloons as your ultimate weapon
9. Blow big bubbles with Hubba Bubba bubble gum
10. Eat a choc-top from Mr Whippy
11. Make homemade lemonade
12. Laugh so hard that your stomach hurts
13. Spin around, get dizzy and fall down
14. Make a decision using “eeny-meeny-miney-mo”
15. Play scissors, paper, rock
16. Run till you are out of breath
17. Watch cartoons
18. Put money into perspective by playing Monopoly
19. Have an orange-flavoured chewable vitamin C
20. Go to the beach and catch a wave

There is no need for you to stop treating the child inside with lots of fun things to do …    GO ON!!

The Acu-calm application is a self-help tool to bring about greater contentment and wellbeing.  If you are feeling stressed look up which point to touch to help you in your particular predicament.

It’s easy and it works.

About Acupuncture points and Meridians

There are many healing points on your body called acupuncture points and most of these points belong to lines on your body called meridians.  Meridians can be likened to a mapping system of pathways through which qi (life energy) and blood circulate.

There are twelve main body meridians and two extra meridians that form lines in your body. Their role is to nourish, integrate, communicate, regulate and link organs to tissue.

An acupuncture point can be defined as a point of access to deeper energy circulation.

Acupuncture has been practised in China for over 2000 years and as early as the 3^rd century illustrations and locations of 349 points were recorded.  This later extended to 354 acupuncture points.  More points continue to be discovered today that are not associated with the meridian system and these are called extra points.

Each acupuncture point is given a name comprised of two letters and a number. This tells you which meridian it is on and which point on that meridian. For example, Ki 4 is four points from the beginning of the kidney meridian.

If a single acupuncture point is touched lightly, you can remind your body that it is able to heal itself and to mend any required energy areas on that meridian. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, illness, pain, emotional suffering and feelings are linked and so the use of acupuncture points will reap great benefits.

As the main meridians either begin or end on the ends of the fingers and toes, this application will focus on helpful points on the hands, feet and head.  Points shown here can be lightly touched subtlety in most work and home situations.
Instructions:

Chose the most suitable point or points for this moment (you can chose to touch more than one).

Touch the Acu-calm point(s) lightly with your index finger as if you are touching your eyelid.

If the point is on the hand or foot, ensure that you touch each side.  This can be done together or in turn.

While touching the point(s), focus your inward breath into the point as if breathing healing into it and focus your outward breath on expelling negative energy out of the point.  If you wish you can imagine the exact negative emotion or feeling being expelled.

The length of time to hold the point(s) is entirely up to you.  A minimum of 5 seconds is more beneficial.

When you feel you have touched the point for the length of time that you wish, then remove your finger, empty your mind and take a deep breath.

Menu of points

FOOT

Replace worry and inner turmoil with calm thoughts                           Sp 4

Replace anger and rage with peaceful thoughts                                       Lv 2

Replace fear with calmness and security                                                    Ki 4

Replace melancholy with renewed interest and vitality                      Bl 62

HAND

Replace fright and shock with inner calm                                             Ht 8

Replace grief and guilt with a sense of peace                                       Lu 7

Replace holding into issues with the ability to let go                       LI 4

Replace anxiety with balanced emotions                                              Ht 5

Replace a racing irregular heart with a steady calm heart beat   Pc 6

HEAD

Replace confusion with clarity and insight                                             Gv 20

Replace emotional trauma and stress with contentment                 Gb 14

Replace self-doubt with belief in self and success                                Cv 24

Cinnamon Bark is an anti-microbial and bacterial oil and can be used diluted as an energizing oil.

Cistus is good for rejuvenating tissue. It is beneficial for cuts, wounds, scrapes, and scars. It is a natural hemostat for regulating the blood and for cleaning the blood as it digests bacteria.

Clary Sage contains sclerol, a hormone mimicker. It balances both male and female hormones.

Clove is anti-microbial, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It is anti-carcinogenic can be of assistance for lymphoma, leukemia.

Cumin raises the immune indexes and has been used with AIDS with some success. It is helpful for stomach upsets, nausea, flu and indigestion.

Cypress increases the integrity of the blood vessel walls and it is helpful in preventing spider veins and hemorrhoids.

Dill is useful for those with diabetes as it reduces glucose levels.

Continue reading A to Z of Some Essential Oils and their Benefits

Bananas contain fiber and natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose.  When compared to an apple, a banana has more protein, carbohydrate, phosphorus, vitamins, minerals and iron.  It is also rich in potassium.

A banana not only gives a sustained energy boost, it can also help in the prevention of a number of ailments:

• Anemia: Bananas are high in iron, which assists in the production of hemoglobin in blood.
• Anxiety and Insomnia: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
• Blood Pressure: Banana is rich in potassium, which can be helpful in balancing blood pressure.
• Brain Power: The potassium in bananas can assist in making brains more alert.
• Constipation: Bananas are high in fiber and can help restore normal bowel movements.
• Depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas contain Tryptophan that the body converts into Serotonin.  Serotonin is known to improve mood and make you feel happier and more relaxed.
• Hangovers: Make a banana honey milkshake. The banana calms the stomach, the honey boosts depleted blood sugar levels and the milk soothes and re-hydrates your gut.
• Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect.
• Morning Sickness: Eating bananas between meals can help to keep blood sugar levels up.
• Mosquito bites: Rub the mosquito bite with the inside of a banana skin as it has been shown to reduce swelling and irritation.
• PMS: Vitamin B6 from a banana regulates blood glucose levels, which affects your mood.
• Stress: The potassium in bananas helps to normalize heartbeat so that optimum oxygen is sent to the brain.  It also regulates your body’s hydration levels.
• Ulcers: The banana is easy to eat, as it is smooth and soft. It can neutralize excess-acid and reduce irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
• Tobacco Addiction: Bananas contain B6, B12, potassium and magnesium.  Theses have been found useful in helping the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Perhaps a banana a day will keep the doctor away.

This information was taken from an email, I was sent recently.  Use common sense when applying this information to your own health.

Are we more than just our physical body? We have hundreds of locations where there is concentrated energy. The seven major energy centres are called Chakras, which in Sanskrit means “wheel”. As well as a Chakra system, we also have a Nadi system and both systems assist us in how we see our world and receive, process and transmit life energies. They have a direct link to the attitudes and beliefs that we form towards our world and environment. Our senses too are extensions of our Chakra system. The energy created from our emotions runs through the Chakras to and is distributed to our organs, tissue and cells.

Continue reading Chakras and Nadis

School lunch boxes always pose a challenge for busy parents.  Here are a few simple reminders of what constitutes a good school lunch.

• Variety
• Mainly fruit and vegetables*
• Sandwiches – be sure to include a variety of breads to keep the children interested
  • Salad items – grated carrot, tomatoes, cucumber, slices capsicum, lettuce, avocado
  • Cheese or light cream cheese
  • Chicken** or lean meat
  • Egg
  • Baked beans
  • Tuna and Salmon
  • Peanut butter (if school allows)
• Dairy such as a carton of milk or yoghurt
• Water
• Healthy choice snack options such as: vegetable sticks, cheese sticks, dried fruit, fruit loaf, homemade muffins, rice cakes, pikelets, nuts (check school policy on nuts)

It is important to keep food fresh, wrapped and wash and dry your hands before any food preparation. Cold food must be kept cold and hot food must be kept hot. Freeze a small water bottle or milk or juice cartons to keep the lunch box contents fresh and healthy or use an ice pack designed to fit into lunch boxes.

Continue reading Healthy Lunch Choices for Kids

Meditation is a very powerful tool.  Different meditation techniques claim different benefits acquired in four levels: emotional – mental – physical and spiritual.

Scientific research has shown that meditation has many great benefits such as:

• Slowing down the aging process
• Alleviating pain
• Improving sleep
• Lowering serum cholesterol level
• Reducing bacteria levels in saliva thereby fewer cavities
• Increasing blood flow to brain making us smarter
• Improving memory
• and many more…

As the mind quiets down, our sagging spirits are revived and we feel more in control of our lives. It is a method to internalize the mind away from our busy thoughts to achieve a deep state or relaxation.

Meditation has many different uses and it can be applied into practically every aspect of your life. Children do it naturally. Have you ever watched a child so absorbed in play that they aren’t even aware of anything else?

Continue reading You might like to try some Meditation – how and why.

Olive oil (active component oleocanthal and rich in oleic acid) has been shown to reduce blood pressure, optimise cholesterol levels, provide anti-inflammatory benefits, minimise overgrowths of candida and helps to reduce free radicals and inflammation (thus cell damage) which in turn assists in the prevention of cancer. Choose an extra virgin olive oil that has not passed a year since it’s manufacturing date. When using it for cooking, the lower price virgin or extra virgin oils are fine Store it in a dark glass bottle or metal container.

Tomato Sauce contains carotenoid called lycopene. For best absorption of the lycopene, it should be cooked with fats. Men who eat more lycopene have a lower incidence of prostate cancer.

Continue reading Interesting Foods Facts to Ponder

How about tweaking the food pyramid idea to give a diet that is nutrient dense and also energy saving. Put fruit and vegetables at the bottom of the pyramid to encourage you to eat a lot more of these rich-nutrient foods than any other food category.

The tweaked order is as follows:

1. Vegetables and Fruit – eat mostly from this section
2. Protein and Carbohydrates – eat a moderate amount from this section
3. Fats – this category is still important for essential nutrients but eat only a minimal amount from this section.
4. Treats and pleasure foods- eat only a small amount and simply to give you pleasure. Chose wisely as some treat foods are better than others.

Continue reading Wonder Foods from Each Food Category