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Heart Disease Non-Existent in Coconut Eating Population

The benefits of coconut oil are vast and at Mindful Health we have been promoting this oil for years. Recently, coconut oil was shown to have positive effects on heart disease. A study was published in the medical journal Tropical and Geographical Medicine that found: "coronary heart disease,the world's number one cause of death, is virtually unknown in a coconut-eating population of Sri Lanka." Our favorite one is available online at our website.    http://mindfulhealth.biz/store/       Read below to learn more about the benefits of coconut, straight from the Coconut Research Center.     Coconut (Cocos nucifera) The Tree of Life The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. Early Spanish explorers called it coco, which means "monkey face" because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resembles the head and face of a monkey. Nucifera means"nut-bearing." The coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. On many islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides most of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world's population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy.    Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another, may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are summarized below:   Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses. Kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases. Kills fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections. Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites. Provides a nutritional source of quick energy. Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance. Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose. Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body. Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis. Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes. Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis. Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth. Helps protect against osteoporosis. Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease. Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers. Improves digestion and bowel function. Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids. Reduces inflammation. Supports tissue healing and repair. Supports and aids immune system function. Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers. Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease. Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease. Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay. Functions as a protective antioxidant. Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease. Does not deplete the body's antioxidant reserves like other oils do. Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation. Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement). Reduces epileptic seizures. Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections. Dissolves kidney stones. Helps prevent liver disease. Is lower in calories than all other fats. Supports thyroid function. Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate. Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats. Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems. Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection. Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin. Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking. Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots. Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion. Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Helps control dandruff. Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do. Has no harmful or discomforting side effects. Is completely non-toxic to humans. See Research to read some of the published studies regarding the above mentioned uses of coconut products. Coconut Oil While coconut possesses many health benefits due to its fiber and nutritional content, it's the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine. Once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is a unique and different from most all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food. Coconut oil has been described as "the healthiest oil on earth." That's quite a remarkable statement. What makes coconut oil so good? What makes it different from all other oils, especially other saturated fats? The difference is in the fat molecule. All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids. There are two methods of classifying fatty acids. The first you are probably familiar with, is based on saturation. You have saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. Another system of classification is based on molecular size or length of the carbon chain within each fatty acid. Fatty acids consist of long chains of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached. In this system you have short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Coconut oil is composed predominately of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA), also known as medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). The vast majority of fats and oils in our diets, whether they are saturated or unsaturated or come from animals or plants, are composed of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA). Some 98 to 100% of all the fatty acids you consume are LCFA. The size of the fatty acid is extremely important. Why? Because our bodies respond to and metabolize each fatty acid differently depending on its size. So the physiological effects of MCFA in coconut oil are distinctly different from those of LCFA more commonly found in our foods. The saturated fatty acids in coconut oil are predominately medium-chain fatty acids. Both the saturated and unsaturated fat found in meat, milk, eggs, and plants (including most all vegetable oils) are composed of LCFA. MCFA are very different from LCFA. They do not have a negative effect on cholesterol and help to protect against heart disease. MCFA help to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. It is primarily due to the MCFA in coconut oil that makes it so special and so beneficial. There are only a very few good dietary sources of MCFA. By far the best sources are from coconut and palm kernel oils.   Harvested coconuts lined up on the beach

Just 30 minutes a day...

We all seek ways to eliminate stress in our lives because as we all know stress is the most common cause for almost all illnesses. Some of us fill our homes with aromatherapy candles and special lighting for relaxation, others frequent day spas for massage therapy and still others choose to sweat out the stress in the gym. So what if I told you there is a way that you can not only relieve stress but allow yourself to reconnect to the world, yourself, your heart and it doesn't cost anything? For those of you not familiar with the power of meditation, the following article gives a great summary on how to get started and just how many benefits can come from meditating just 30 minutes everyday.

The Power of Meditation

by Bud on April 27, 2009

Are you meditating 30 minutes each day? If not, you should be.

An intelligent person like you can’t afford to pass up such a wonderful and enlightening experience.

What? You don’t know what meditation is? (I’ll wait while you imagine a monk sitting with his legs crossed humming “hmmm”…)

Don’t worry you’re not alone, and lucky for you, you don’t have to be a Buddhist Monk to participate.

So what is meditation?  If you were to have a dictionary on hand it would state, “The action or practice of meditating” Gee thanks pocket dictionary..

Shall we dive a little deeper?

This is my definition of meditation, so if you don’t like it you can go buy another dictionary

Meditation is a period of time in which your thoughts flow free of judgment. It is a period of time in which you just “be.” Meditation is a doorway  for you to explore your spirituality. Meditation is a time in which you become in-sync with your true-self. Meditation is a time in which your conscious mind is able to recharge after being constantly bombarded with stimuli. Meditation is the process of connecting with the energy of humanity.

The simplest and quickest way to completely transform your life is to practice daily meditation.

Let me repeat that again:

The simplest and easiest way to completely transform your life is to practice daily meditation.

Social Conditioning:

It’s unfortunate, but most of the Western World views meditation as a waste of time. “What  30 minutes of doing nothing? Your crazy.” Is a response I often hear. Many individuals claim meditation to be nothing more than a bunch of “new age” crap. This kind of thinking unfortunately prevents millions of people from experiencing what it truly means to live. If only some people were a bit more open minded…

How To Meditate:

Still reading? Great. Now I’m going to teach you how to meditate.

Take a moment and find a quite place where you will not be disturbed.

Turn off the computer (yes that means you must stop reading this blog) and your cell phone.

Get comfortable. Close your eyes. Now breath. Take a deeeep breath. Just let your thoughts flow in and out, not paying particular attention to any certain one.

After about 30 seconds it should begin to get uncomfortable. This is your social conditioning kicking in.  Perhaps you may think, “This is a waste of time.” Who knew doing nothing could be so difficult?

Let your thoughts flow.

Just keep breathing. Feels good doesn’t it?

After a good 10 minutes or so, you should now be entering a deep meditative state. This state should be particularly soothing. Take some time and notice your body. Feel the sensations in your hands, your toes, and your heart.

See how long you can go without thinking. At first this may appear to be impossible, however you will be surprised at what you’re capable of. The important thing is that you just be. Tune in to your higher self. Visualize. Pray. Breathe. Enjoy.

My Experience With Meditation:

The topic of meditation has always fascinated me. 30 minutes of doing nothing? Sweet. I have read numerous personal development books and  it seems that nearly all the happy and successful individuals spend a great deal of time meditating each day. Spiritual leader Deepak Chopra recommends meditating 30 minutes each morning and 30 minutes at night.

Can doing nothing for 30 minutes each day really transform your life?  Considering all the health benefits, I figured I’d give it a try. As with many, I at first found meditation to be incredibly awkward. I often thought to myself “ Am I really doing this?” However this awkwardness soon disappeared.  I now look forward to my daily time alone. Meditation has transformed my life.

Oneness

Oneness is a wonderful benefit of meditation.When I am in a deep state of meditation I can’t help but feel connected to the entire world because meditation is the flow of thoughts without judgment. It often takes me some time to reach this state but when I do, I feel connected to everything and everyone. The great thing about this feeling is it strengthens the longer my mediation lasts. Upon completing my meditations I almost always feel a sense of peace. Sometimes I  choose to connect with my friends through meditation by simply opening myself up to this type of communication. I always feel at home when I’m connected with the world.

Intentions

Your intentions quickly manifest when your mind is calm, therefore meditation is a perfect time to send out your intentions. I personally love sending out my intentions during my meditations. While meditating, I often find that my intentions are authentic rather than simply constructed from social conditioning. I often find these intentions to be more congruent with my life purpose.

Thanks

Sometimes during my meditations I like to give thanks. I simply send out a simple intention, thanking the world for all it has given me. I often give thanks for the extraordinary relationships I have been able to manifest. These meditations are often my favorite for it leaves me feeling extremely blessed. What are you grateful for?

Prayer

Occasionally while meditating I feel a strong urge to send out intentions for those in need. I find that whenever I begin praying I often pray for longer then intended. During my last meditation I prayed for 20 individuals. I say this not to show how many people I prayed for but rather show the power of prayer.

Visualization

I often take some time to visualize my ideal state of being. I picture myself in my ideal life. The power of imagination is extraordinary. Simply picturing yourself in your ideal state can do wonders for your health and well being. My visualizations often leave me feeling powerful and strong. If you had the “perfect” life what would it be like? How’s your health? Your relationships? Are you financially independent? Take some time to imagine your ideal life.

Conclusion

We live in a world of constant stimuli. We push ourselves to the limits and in the process forget to let our mind and soul recharge,and as a result we  become stressed and sick. It doesn’t have to be that way. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Meditate today.

 

To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse?

 

Have you been tempted to do a cleanse but you aren't sure which one to try- or if you should even do one at all?

A word of caution. Many cleanses can put a strain on the liver and the kidneys because they are pulling toxins out faster than your body is able to clear them. In addition, they can also stress your pancreas by causing drops in your blood sugar. It is a great idea to clean up your diet but how you do it is key. 

 

 

Try this first:      

1-Eliminate white flour,white sugar and gluten

2-Dump your juice and opt for fruit instead

3-Cut out the dried fruit

4-Up your dark green veggies like kale, swiss chard, dandelion, broccoli etc

5-Opt for lighter proteins for a few weeks like fish, eggs, and beans.

6-Incorporate exercise that encourages the body to detoxify  and eliminate stress like: rebounding, yoga, and breath work.

7-Drink half of your weight in water. Start the morning with warm water and lemon and you can even add small amount of sea salt to the water for mineral balance.

8-Take a sea salt bath to cleanse your body

 

If you are interested in doing a cleanse that is healthy and monitored check out the two Mindful Health offers, which are gentle on the body and customized for each person: 

 

http://mindfulhealth.biz/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=46&products_id=227