RECIPE: The Many Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Posted on by Tammy

Chia seeds come from a desert plant called Salvia hispanica – a member of the mint family grown in southern Mexico – and is a powerhouse of nutrients. High in both soluble and insoluble fiber, it helps to keep us fuller longer because when soaked in water (like in the stomach) it forms a gel, according to Julie T. Chen MD, board-certified in internal medicine and integrative medicine, in an article on Tooyourhealth.com.

The seeds contain calcium, iron, phosphorus, niacin, and actually offer more omega-3 fatty acids than flax seeds. “Many of these nutrients and minerals are essential for our hormonal functioning, muscle recovery, and even our energy level and blood pressure and cholesterol processing. So, by simply incorporating a spoonful of this into your daily diet, you are in essence taking a spoonful of a variation of Mother Nature’s multivitamin,” Chen said in the article.

With their nutty flavor, they can be used in a similar way as flaxseed – sprinkled on cereal, oatmeal or fruit; added to a smoothie and more. They can also be used for baking and in other dishes.

Here is a great recipe for Peach and Blueberry Protein Smoothie from “Gluten-free Vegan Comfort Food,” by Susan O’Brien:

Peach and Blueberry Protein Smoothie

Serves 4

Note: Either fresh or frozen fruit can be used, and the author suggests “Life’s Basics Plant Protein by Lifetime” for protein powder.

1 scoop protein powder
2 cups milk substitute (soy, coconut or almond)
1 tablespoon chia seeds
1 tablespoon flaxseeds
4 cups organic blueberries
½ cup organic peaches
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Ice (optional)
Mint leaves for garnish

Directions: Using a bender, combine the ingredients, mix and serve. Top with a spring of fresh mint if desired.

The Chopra Center Takes “Seduction of Spirit” Meditation and Yoga Retreat to Chicago

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For the first time ever, the Chopra Center for Wellbeing is bringing its signature meditation and yoga retreat – Seduction of Spirit – to Chicago, July 9-15, 2012, where co-founder Dr. Deepak Chopra, master Chopra Center instructors, and renowned guest teacher and author Mike Dooley will guide participants in a week of deep meditation, yoga for body-centered restful awareness, and other life-transforming mindfulness practices.

It will take place at Eaglewood Resort in Spa, in Itasca. Special pricing on the all-inclusive packages for the event and accommodations ends on May 30.

The theme of the retreat is “Your Pathway to Happiness,” and throughout the week there will be special sessions and activities focused on moving beyond obstacles and creating a life of authentic fulfillment, purpose and joy.

“Life today is fast-paced and full of distractions, and many people have lost their connection to their most reliable guide to happiness and well-being – their own intuition and inner clarity,” said Deepak Chopra. “At the Chopra Center, we created Seduction of Spirit as a retreat where people could slow down, immerse themselves in present moment awareness, and learn time-proven tools for reconnecting to their deepest self.”

The retreat is designed for anyone who wants to begin or deepen their practice of meditation, yoga, and other practices for releasing stress and opening to new levels of awareness, inner calm, and joy. The retreat features:

– Instruction by Deepak in an advanced meditation sutra practice

– Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga classes led by Chopra Yoga–Vancouver Director, Danielle Mika Nagel

– Instruction in Primordial Sound Meditation and your personal mantra

– Interactive sessions with Mike Dooley, a renowned teacher and author of Notes from the Universe

– Daily exploration of the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

– Time for self-reflection and rejuvenation

Elevated Existence Shops Sephora

Posted on by Tammy

Do you love beauty products, but don’t want the chemicals, sulfates, phthalates and more? We do too, so we shopped Sephora and picked out some of our favorite products for both men and women!

Click the names below to go directly to the Sephora site and see them for yourself!

What do you think? Did we miss anything? Let us know some of your favorites!

Anthony Logistics for Men Mud Scrub Exfoliating Bar — This vegetable-based soap bar cleanses and exfoliates in one step using purifying dead sea mud, exfoliating oatmeal and glycerin to soften skin. It smells like peppermint, and helps to clear the skin of impurities. Allergy tested and not tested on animals, it is made without:

– Phthalates
– GMOs
– Triclosan

Anthony Logistics for Men After Shave Balm — Made of plant-based extracts, it is light on the skin, restores moisture and calms minor razor burn. It’s allergy-tested, and not tested on animas. It’s also made without:

– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Synthetic Dyes
– Phthalates

Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens — Absorb excess oil and rid your face of shine with these 100 percent natural linen, preservative-free facial blotting papers. The compact holder is easy to take along with you, and it’s free of:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Synthetic Dyes
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates

Carol’s Daughter Almond Cookie Body Collection – We love Carol’s Daughter products, and the Almond Cookie smells divine, with scents of almond, vanilla and sandalwood. Try the dry oil mist, shea soufflé and more to pamper your body. It’s free of:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Synthetic Dyes
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates

Korres Lip Butter & Korres Cherry Full Color Gloss – These two products are comfort, hydration and color for your lips! The butter is formulated with natural oils and extracts, and shea butter and rice wax make the hydration last. It’s available in a variety of colors from light to dark. With summer coming, this is ideal for the beach bag ladies! The gloss features cherry oil (which smell great), offering a non-sticky texture with vitamin E and C, and comes in so many different shades! Both are formulated without:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates
– GMOs
– Triclosan

LAVANILLA The Healthy Deodorant – It may be clinical strength, but this deodorant is 100-percent natural. Scents include Vanilla Lavendar, Pure Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, Vanilla Grapefruit, Vanilla Passion Fruit and Vanilla Summer. It uses beta-glucan, a technology to fight odor while conditioning the skin, and does not contain aluminum or mineral oils. It’s also dermatologist-recommended, non-irritating and allergy-tested, according to the company. Formulated without:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Dyes
– Petro-Chemicals
– Phthalates

Matte For Men Hand Crafted Natural Cleansing Bar — This hand made (done in small batches and takes up to 6 weeks to produce!) oatmeal and lavender face and body bar is packed with all-natural ingredients and is USDA-certified organic. It cleanses without drying and can be used for those with sensitive skin. While the oatmeal exfoliates, lavender relaxes!

Rosebud Salve — This multi-purpose lip balm is for so much more than lips! Use it to calm irritation on the skin, and even soothe the sting of minor burns. You can use it on your elbows, knees, heels, cuticles and more! And for those of you with new babies – its great on diaper rash. The only ingredients are cotton seed oil and Aromol, with essential oils blended in a special petrolatum base.

SpaRitual Nail Lacquer – We featured a holiday set of this nail polish (which we gave away to one lucky reader) as part of our 2011 Editor’s Inspirational Gift Picks. Now it is being carried by Sephora, and we are excited! SpaRitual does not test on animals or use animal by-products in any formulations, so it’s completely vegan. The formula is hand-blended, and the bottle is crafted in Italy from reusable glass. It’s also formulated without:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates
– GMOs
– Triclosan
– Toluene
– Formaldehyde
– Formaldehyde resin
– DBP

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara – This mascara is one of our favorites because it adds length, volume, conditioning and helps curl lashes. In fact, it’s clinically proven to increase the appearance of lash volume by 424 percent and curl by 90.2 percent!! Ingredients include rice bran wax (to lengthen); carnauba wax for a smooth application; vitamin B5 to treat and thicken lashes; olive esters to condition and protect; and mineral pigments to soothe and soften. Best of all, it does NOT include:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Synthetic Dyes
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Foundation SPF 15 – Looking for a full-coverage foundation that is buildable? This one is amazing, and available in 8 different color shades. It’s long-lasting, and created with Amazonian clay, which works with skin that is oily, dry or combination. It helps to reduce the appearance of pores, discolorations and imperfections, and we think it gives an amazing airbrushed appearance when used with the special brush – Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush – created for it. Made without:

– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Synthetic Fragrances
– Petrochemicals
– Phthalates
– GMOs
– Triclosan

Acupuncture May Help People With COPD

Posted on by Tammy

A new study from Japan shows three months of acupuncture can improve breathing problems for people with chronic lung disease, COPD – an irreversible impairment of lung function, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis often caused by smoking.

“We don’t know if this is going to extend life, but the study suggests it improves quality of life,” said Dr. George Lewith, from the University of Southampton in England. “If I had enough money and I was the patient, I would give acupuncture a try.”

Shortness of breath is one of the main symptoms of COPD and acupuncture promotes relaxation. “What acupuncture does is it seems to relax all the muscles around the chest wall,” said Lewith.

The new findings are based on 68 patients treated with real or fake acupuncture. Half of them had weekly acupuncture sessions, with needles placed at points on the arms, stomach, back, chest and legs that have been tied to asthma and other lung problems. Participants in the comparison group went through similar sessions where practitioners use needles that don’t actually pierce the skin.

All patients were allowed to stay on whatever medications they were already taking.

Before starting treatment and at the end of the 12 weeks, patients did a standard six-minute walking test and researchers measured how far they got in that time and how much breathing trouble they had doing it. Breathlessness was assessed on a standard 10-point scale, with 10 representing the most difficulty breathing.

In the real acupuncture group, shortness of breath was initially rated at 5.5 out of 10 after walking. After 12 weeks of treatment, that fell to 1.9. The average distance those patients were able to walk in six minutes also improved, from about 370 meters to 440 meters.

In the comparison group, breathlessness scores held steady — at 4.2 before treatment and 4.6 after — and there was no improvement in patients’ walk distance.

“In a disease like COPD, we need to expand our thinking and come up with varying strategies to improve quality of life and relieve breathlessness,” said Dr. Ravi Kalhan, head of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s asthma and COPD program in Chicago.

Hay House Launches Blogger Website

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Hay House started a community-driven site for bloggers called BookNook, intended to encourage discussion about Hay House’s titles, and the publisher will give free books to bloggers who provide reviews of the company’s titles, according to Publisher’s Weekly.

Those who join may get traffic boost to their blog, according to the article, which explained Hay House has a database of 2 million e-mail names.

“We appreciate that reviewers start conversations, online and off, not just about our products, but all that Hay House stands for and how we fit into their lives,” said Gail Gonzalez, director of marketing at Hay House. She also noted there will be specific promotions rolled into the site, such as invitations to Hay House events and opportunities to live blog for the company.

VIDEO: Doreen Virtue Angel Tarot Cards

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Best-selling author Doreen Virtue and Radleigh Valentine created a new deck of tarot cards filled with angels, archangels, unicorns, fairies and mermaids! Words and artwork is by Steve A. Roberts, and still retains the “magical effectiveness of the traditional tarot.”

They also include a guidebook to explain the general meaning of each card, and information on how to give an accurate reading for yourself and others.

See Doreen explain the new deck in the video below: