Sometimes the best thing to eat is : Nothing.

We are commonly told :

– Breakfast is the most important meal.

– Skipping meals is unhealthy (and can slow down metabolism – get fat).

– Eating three meals (plus snacks) is healthy (less is not)

– We need to keep up are energy and strength (eat often).

– Skipping meals can cause to Inadequate Nutrition and Blood Sugar drops.

– Skipping meals can lead to eating disorders.

But rarely are we told the benefits of not eating sometimes (eg skipping a meal or two):

– An easy way to re-balance a Calorie/Kj overload from previous or upcoming celebration meal (eg big meal last night do I really need breakfast? – perhaps coffee and cream is enough).

– If trying to reduce body-fat : Skipping a meal is often easier to do (whilst keeping busy) than restricting Calories at every/some meals.

– When we are sick it’s natural (and healthy) to not want to eat (live off of body fat stores) and maybe take a simple broth to keep up fluids and some minerals.

– Improved energy and mental clarity (meals can often cause a mental/energy slump).

– Many healthy/strong/fit people regularly and easily skip meals (no hunger, no discomfort, no energy slump) eg when busy, or if their last meal was big.

– It’s a good to rest the stomach and digestive system and allow the body’s energy to heal damaged areas of the body.

– Can improve gut and digestive issues and diseases.

– We can teach our body to better access/utilise the huge energy storage in body fat (even the leanest among us have a lot of working energy in stored body fat).

– Become less dependent on fast burning (and short lasting) sugars for fuel (carbs/glucose).

– Improve insulin resistance (precursor to type-2 diabetes).

– Allow the body to clean up damaged cells (destroy and ‘eat’ for them for fuel eg cells that are the beginning of cancers).

– Could actually extend life and health as the aging process can slow down.

– Can be a ‘RESET’ for poor eating and lifestyle habits.

– Can improve skin problematic conditions.

– May change eating habits from processed carbs to real/natural foods that include some fats (the stuff that provides sustained energy).

– Can have a calming/grounding/focusing effect as used in religions, mediation, yoga etc

Skipping meals here and there may not be for everyone, but when one learns to use it as a ‘tool’ it can be very convenient, healthy and liberating.

This post was brought to you by a “breakfast” of good Coffee with Cream and a piece of dark chocolate 🙂

A Healthy Soda Drink

A standard soda drink may contain 10+ teaspoons of sugar and artificial colors and chemicals.

The “diet” or low-cal sodas have artificial sweeteners and the other bad stuff of artificial colors and chemicals.

If you’re at home and want a refreshing (but healthy) soda drink – try standard soda-water (or sparking mineral water) and add some Balsamic Vinegar (and/or some Apple Cider Vinegar) – Preferably Organic vinegar/s.

Maybe it’s an acquired taste but it tastes great to me – somewhere between a soda and a root-beer (well you can pretend  🙂  )

 

Why is is healthy?

– It has no Sugar.

– Good quality Vinegar’s are beneficial to gut health (meaning whole body/mind health), in fact Apple Cider Vinegar is a probiotic (has live healthy bacteria – like that of good yogurt)

.- Good quality Vinegar’s can help with diabetes, weight control and other health issues.

– The vinegar has anti-oxidants.

 

Simple recipe:

With this method, the drink is made in the soda water bottle – you can pour it in a glass and add other ingredients

1. Take one chilled Soda Water bottle from the fridge (I use small ‘mixer’ drink glass bottles)

2. Open bottle and take a mouthful of straight (I like it straight too),  the reason for doing this is the soda can bubble over when adding vinegar/s

3. Add a slash of Balsamic Vinegar to soda water to the color/taste you like – I make the color to look like that of tea (or beer/scotch color if that thought appeals to you).

4. If you wish : add a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar – you can even add a pinch of good salt ( careful though adding salt as it will very likely make the drink over-flow out of the bottle – it will certainly add fizz).

5. You can add you own flavors eg Slice of lemon, mint etc

I enjoy this ‘guilt-free’ soda drink any time of day (especially on a hot day).

If you usually drink sugary drinks then this may take some getting used to, but I think it’s worth it.

I could even drink it at a party if I didn’t want to drink. In fact when I have a couple of these drinks this I get slight ‘buzz’ and my appetite reduces (even if I haven’t eaten all day) – Is the effect because of : Placebo? A belly full of soda-water? Gut/brain link enhanced due to proboictics? Other reasons?

In any case, I like it and it seems my gut bacteria likes it too.

Enjoy.

 

 

The disease of Minimalism

A minimalist walks in to an empty room…….

– Are they happy/comfortable?
– Are they disappointed there’s nothing left to get rid of?
– Do they think “Is that door really necessary?” or “This place has at least one too-many rooms”

 

Does minimalist see other peoples areas/homes as having unnecessary stuff/clutter?:

– Their living areas have STUFF (why do they have STUFF?). Do they use this stuff? What if the stuff wasn’t there would they miss it?

– Kids toys all over the floor or crammed in to plastic boxes….and LEGO!!

– Three different floor surfaces in a recently renovated home: Hardwood, Tiles and Carpet – did they really need the carpet?

– TV: Tens (or 100s of channels) and all of it crap – and the TV area takes up an entire wall and housed in an entrainment unit with DVDs and more stuff

– Ornaments, decorations, books, gadgets…….when will the madness end?

Does the minimalist think: “Maybe I can help this poor soul by helping them get rid of this crap?” “Or get me out of this crazy place”

I could go on, but this post is starting to look too ‘busy’…………..

Elevated Cholesterol?

It’s been nearly two years since my last medical ‘check up’  – including blood lipid tests.

Of course I have no real idea what the these lipid levels are, meaning:

* Total Cholesterol

* HDL (so called “Good Cholesterol”)

* LDL (so called “Bad Cholesterol”)

* Triglycerides

Not knowing………Is that bad?

Is feeling good, looking healthy, clearer skin, being cleared headed and happy and able to easily perform strenuous physical work a true sign of health today and years to come?

Is walking regularly, eating mostly home cooked meals, living with low stress and sleeping well, healthier than the seemingly normal position of taking medications for health issues whilst nightly spending hours on the sofa in front of the TV and mindlessly ‘snacking’ ?

Though I don’t know my blood lipid numbers, I think it’s likely some of them don’t fit in to the statistical average numbers the lab has on today’s society.

I’m guessing my current health, percentage of body fat, lack of medications taken, lack of stress, amount of sleep and mobility doesn’t fit statistical average numbers for today’s society either.

So should I conform? – ‘Do the right thing’ and get my blood lipids tested and follow standard advice if a particular lipid is ‘elevated’ ?

Should I watch my ‘numbers’ : like constantly watching the car’s speedo whilst driving and maybe not pay so much attention to the road in front of me?

I’m currently ‘driving’ without looking at the ‘speedo’, but I have clear view of where I’m going, the traffic & pedestrians, the road conditions, the mind focused and the ‘car’ is in good working order – Is this a dangerous situation?

What are the true signs of health?….

 

Yoga Builds Muscle

Yoga is great for flexibility and minimizing stress – but can it help build muscle?

The ability to build muscle depends on a number of factors, not the least of which are:

– Genetics

– Nutrition

– Rest/ Sleep

– Exercise

Yoga is a workout in itself – effectively body weight/balance work : push-ups, squats, sit-ups, lunges, handstands, headstands, stretches. If you think that yoga sounds easy – do an one hour yoga class then we can talk. I’m not against gym work (I do it and enjoy it), but things like yoga and even simply walking can enhance the effect and help burn body fat and promote muscle.

Building muscle can be hard, but maintaining a good base is relatively easy – both building and maintaining are made easier with lower stress hormones (eg  Cortisol).

So what has happened to me after several months of yoga? (male – already long term eating well and going to the gym, with reasonable starting base):

– Increased bulk (lean)

– Increased flexibility

– More balanced : now can do headstands and handstands

– Stronger legs

– Less stressed and happier

– Sleep better

How much of it can purely attributed to Yoga? : I’m not sure.

How much of it is placebo effect? (a real phenomenon) : I’m not sure

Though nothing works alone – everything works part of a system (eg weightlifting alone, won’t yield much if nutrition is poor, stress is high, sleep is bad and you’re not happy).

Perhaps if Yoga is part of your routine, you might find muscle is added and other aspects of your life improve.

Any thoughts on this : Does yoga promote muscle?

 

 

 

 

 

Clean Up, Get Organised.

Do you have a drawer, box, filing cabinet, cupboard, room, or house full of old paperwork?

It’s probably just in dis-organised piles that you’ve been avoiding for weeks, months or even years.

Here’s an idea : Get up early in the morning (possibly on the weekend), make a cup of good coffee and start sorting through that junk.

Use your desk, kitchen table, kitchen bench or even the  floor to start laying out  and sorting the paperwork.

Speaking of junk have a large bin in the middle of the room as you find a lot of it is actually just junk and not something you’ll need to keep.

Be sure to destroy personal/private/financial/security documents/info (shred them, or as a minimum tear them up) .

Depending on how much you have and how long you’ve avoided it , it could take hours or even days to get through it.

Stay focused, keep the coffee flowing, maybe have music on in the background, or a podcast subject you’re interested in, you’ll start to get a momentum and it will get easier. Some people prefer doing this type of task alone and some prefer to have someone to help (if they can get it).

Most likely at least 50% of the stuff will be thrown out, though obviously keep require paperwork such as required records for bills, tax, work etc.

File important documents properly, using a filing cabinet or arch-lever folders.

You’ll find stuff that you have lost or forgotten about and some of it could be worth money – eg un-cashed cheques (checks), stock certificates, gift vouchers, travel money, travelers cheques (checks).

If you need breaks take them, but make sure they’re short ones – the get back to it.

At the end of the day – do something you enjoy to reward yourself – eg take a ride or walk in the park, go for a spa, go out to a movie, or out to a cafe with friends.

This may take a few days to complete, but after each day do something that evening as a reward – this should keep you motivated to keep going day after day to the end.

Slowly as the sorting is done the load will lessen, you’ll start to fell better and at the end you’ll feel like a weight has been taken off your shoulders – that the junk is gone and you properly filed important stuff and may some extra money in your pocket.

Your life is starting to get back in order.

Obviously maintenance is quite easy from now on – keep on top of it.

 

 

 

Drop Shipping – Easy money?

As shown in the graphic above, Drop Shipping allows the retailer (a real shop, or online store)  to take orders and payments but not keep sales stock, the order (and customer delivery details) is passed on to the the manufacturer or a wholesaler, who then ships the goods directly to the customer.

As in normal business practice, the retailer effectively sells at a marked up price to that of his manufacturer or a wholesaler (the drop shipper).

Interesting concept – obviously a reliable drop shipper is required.