Category General

When It’s Snowing…On Your Scalp

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snow-snow-dandruff-shampoo-demotivational-posterUsually when we think of the winter season, we think of brisk weather and beautiful white snow. However, winter can bring a different kind of white flake, namely, dandruff. When the mercury drops, skin can become extremely itchy and dry, causing a torrent of white dust to scatter on your hair and shoulders. The combination of cold air and the dry heat which is encountered indoors can be especially problematic for people who already suffer from dry skin. Other conditions can predispose one to developing dandruff, including eczema, yeast overgrowth, seborrheic dermatitis, fungal overgrowth, skin allergies, or malnutrition.

Dandruff adThe most immediate and effective treatments for dandruff consist of hair products which are available both with or without a prescription. If your issue is one of yeast overgrowth, zinc pyrithione will effectively slow down such growth, while coal tar and ketoconazole are effective for fungal causes. Oily scalps will benefit from tea tree oil, selenium sulfide, or salicylic acid preparations. If your scalp is dry, you should make sure to condition your SCALP and not just your hair after you wash it. I also recommend sulfate free shampoos in general because they aren’t nearly as harsh or drying as the sulfate varieties are.

Regardless of which type of scalp treatment you use, make sure to leave the solution on your scalp for several minutes to give it enough time to exert its effect.

As Tough As Bathing A Cat

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Bert's BathA lot of people think I’m nuts for giving my three cats baths every two months, but I can honestly say it makes a huge difference in a household of people with mild allergies. Besides, two of my cats are purebred Burmese (one European and one American), so they are naturally a bit spoiled already. Since I never have time to brush my cats’ coats, this is a way to keep them well groomed with minimal effort. I have developed a system in which I gather all the bathing supplies such as towels, nail clippers and basins in a stealthy fashion so that they don’t realize what torture I have planned for them. I have a denim jacket which I have had for two decades which has, as its only purpose, protecting my arms, forearms and torso during the process.

I watch my cats for many hours on the designated day, waiting for the most opportune moment to grab all three cats and rush into the bathroom. Let me tell you, carrying three squirming cats into a small room is no easy task! The meowing begins almost immediately, usually by my silver spotted tabby rescue who loves to bellyache about the whole experience. No amount of talking in a soothing voice calms my kids down sufficiently. They simply hate everything about bath day. Before you assume that my cats are unaccustomed to baths, you should now that the Burmese cats have had regular baths since the age of 3 months, and the rescue began having baths at three weeks of age.

I have become quite skilled at holding onto a squirming mass of wet mammal with one hand while shampooing and rinsing with the other hand. This was especially challenging today, since I am still suffering from a forearm injury which has rendered my right forearm and hand almost useless. However, I was determined to get the job done with minimal hassle, and miraculously, my little monsters behaved pretty well this time around. As usual, I finished the chore pretty much completely soaked, with a wet bathroom floor and cat hair clogging my shower drain, but it took very little time for the cats to dry in our current 80 degree Fahrenheit weather. The cats are very clean now, and their shedding has dropped to minimal levels.

One of these days, I may have someone record me bathing my cats just so people can see how I get it done!

Never Enough Time

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worried-woman-with-time-clockDo you know that feeling in which all your best laid plans for a day unravel like a knitting project being attacked by a kitten? I know the feeling all too well, and despite every effort I make to prevent such an occurrence, chaos presents itself EVERY SINGLE DAY. I know the problem boils down to having too much to do and not enough time in a day to get it all done. I end up feeling worthless and helpless when I have to move chores, errands, appointments and projects to another day, week or even month. The saddest part of moving things back in my schedule is that I tend to shove spiritual and expressive “fun” projects into a distant “someday”, simply because I do not want to seem selfish for immersing myself in them. As a result, I tend to starve my spirit and have caused a rift in my spiritual connection which is beginning to take its toll on me.

One way to break the cycle of signing up for too much to do is to take a step back, determine what takes top priority, and only put those items or events on your schedule so that you won’t feel overwhelmed. I realize that people these days are so incredibly busy that if the most basic and essential tasks are not added to a day’s schedule, they won’t get done. For example, I must schedule my workouts, errands, beauty treatments, plant watering and household cleaning tasks if I want to ensure that I will have time to complete them. Over the past couple of years, I have become accustomed to literally hitting the ground running when I start most of my days, without slowing down until late at night when I am home and have completed article writing and social media tasks. I often wonder if life really has to be this complicated all the time, and fantasize about being able to move through daily life without feeling like I am racing against time.

We tend to manufacture the frenetic schedules we complain of, and get so caught up in them that pausing for a moment seems alien to us. However, it is important to remember that taking a moment to pause and breathe does not have the negative repercussions we fear it does. You CAN put down your work for a little while and enjoy life. Allow your spirit and your body to reset so that you are refreshed instead of stressed out and frazzled.

Healthy Grocery Shopping

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Regular grocery stores in the United States are notorious for putting processed foods in alluring packages and displaying them prominently on grocery shelves. If you are in the habit of reading ingredient labels like I am, you probably know that the most processed foods are located along the aisles in the center of the store, while whole foods are found at the perimeter. As a result of this, I advise patients and clients to do the majority of their shopping around the perimeter in order to maximize the chances of making the healthiest food choices.

Grocery store junkThink about it. If a food item can be stored in a box, bag or can at room temperature, it means that it probably has preservatives which keep it from spoiling. Start reading ingredient labels and you might be shocked at what you find. If ingredient labels are excessively long or have long names which you can’t pronounce, you probably should steer clear. Remember that the least processed foods will be assimilated by your body the most readily.

Grocery stores are designed to lure you in like a rat in a maze, but instead of getting a reward at the end of the maze, you might be signing up for health issues if you are distracted by all the colorful advertising found on the most popular food items. You are far better off avoiding the maze and selecting fresh meats, produce, nuts and whole grains. Happy shopping!

How Can You Forget To Eat?

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ForgetfulnessEvery time I hear someone say that he or she forgets to eat, it blows my mind. I could never forget to eat because I am so in tune with when my body needs fuel that my body reminds me that it is time to eat. Such fine tuning only comes with feeding the body properly with the right foods at the right times. I understand that most of us lead very hectic lives and that it can be difficult to stop everything just to get a meal in. But I do not understand how some people can work for 6, 8, 10 hours straight without a meal and feel no immediate physical repercussions from it. What about the churning, growling stomach? What about the impaired concentration or slump in energy? I get GROUCHY when I haven’t eaten my scheduled meals, and my body yells at me to eat.

Every time you skip meals, you prime your body to devour the most readily available foods, which in most cases means a trip to a fast food drive-through window. By this time, you are probably so ravenous that you will end up ordering far more food than you should. In all likelihood you will dip one hand into the bag of food while holding onto the steering wheel with the other hand, munching away rapidly and mindlessly, without allowing your body to respond to its satiety cues. If you make such fast food runs a habit, you increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Why wreak havoc on your health by engaging in such behavior?

If you are prone to forgetting to eat regular meals throughout the day, do yourself a favor and reprogram your eating habits. Set a timer to go off every 3 to 4 hours to remind you to eat. When the timer goes off, don’t continue to work, but put everything down and make sure to eat a balanced meal. Pack healthy snacks and meals to take with you and make sure that you have easy access to them. Some of you may be wondering how many meals are ideal and when to eat those meals. If you can get 4 to 5 meals in per day, evenly spaced apart, you will optimize your energy levels and re-set your metabolism.

Orphan Thanksgiving

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For many years I have hosted what I refer to as Orphan Thanksgiving. I realize the nomenclature has a lonely connotation, but it is a wonderful event and I enjoy it thoroughly. I invite friends who don’t have a place to go for the holiday, usually because their relatives live far away. Though there is a considerable amount of food prep involved, I get a kick out of making each dish and roasting and carving the turkey. You might think that this desire to cook huge holiday meals and have people over is something that was handed down to me from my mother, but my mom never entertained guests in our home and did not cook. Her idea of cooking was to heat up Stouffer’s entrees or throw a piece of meat on the broiler, and when the holidays arrived, she made restaurant reservations instead of spending time in the kitchen. Somehow I had a natural affinity for cooking and baking, and I also quickly discovered how much I enjoyed hosting events.

Thanksgiving-Dinner-New-York-CityThis year I will continue the Orphan Thanksgiving tradition and make my secret recipe for stuffing, throw a turkey in the oven, make mashed potatoes and tempt my guests with homemade fudge, coconut brownies and vegan banana bread. Some selections are relatively clean, while others are fully decadent and challenge any contest prep meal plan. I fully believe in enjoying “normal” foods during the holidays, provided they are enjoyed in moderation. I feel the greatest comfort knowing that good friends will be in my home, celebrating life and enjoying good food.

What Are Chakras?

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Chakra ChainWhile many of you may know have heard of chakras, many of you may not know what they refer to. Basically, chakras are energy centers which are located in our bodies and which often serve as focus points during yoga and meditation. It is strongly believed that blocked energy in these centers results in illness, so those who practice yoga and meditation seek a free flow of energy through the chakras to prevent illness and promote well-being and a connection to the energy of the Universe. There are seven main chakras, listed below.

The-Chakra-Wheel
1. Root Chakra – This chakra keeps us rooted to the earth and represents our foundation.
Location: Base of spine in tailbone.
Emotional issues: Financial security, food.

2. Sacral Chakra – This chakra represents our sense of connection to others.
Location: Lower abdomen, about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches deep.
Emotional issues: Abundance, well-being, pleasure, sexuality.

3. Solar Plexus Chakra – This chakra represents our sense of self.
Location: Upper abdomen near stomach.
Emotional issues: Self-worth, self-confidence, self-esteem.
More on Solar Plexus Chakra healing

4. Heart Chakra – This represents our interpersonal relationships with loved ones and our ability to love.
Location: Chest near the heart.
Emotional issues: Love, joy, inner peace.

5. Throat Chakra – This chakra represents our ability to communicate.
Location: Throat.
Emotional issues: Communication, self-expression, the truth.

6. Third Eye Chakra – This chakra represents our intuition and wisdom.
Location: Forehead between the eyes.
Emotional issues: Imagination, vision, ability to think and make decisions.

7. Crown Chakra – The highest Chakra represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.
Location: The very top of the head.
Emotional issues: Enlightenment, our connection to spirituality, pure bliss.

Nutty For Nut Butters

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If I had to pick one class of food which is allowed in my kitchen but which is dangerous due to its calorie density, it would be all the nut butters which are safely sequestered in my cupboards. Though I do not enjoy shopping, I will stop dead in my tracks if I am in a grocery store and see a shelf of nut spreads, and will peruse the ingredient labels while imagining what flavor punch each one would yield. Thank goodness I do not have any nut allergies and can sample any type of nut butter that exists.

You may be wondering which nut butters are my favorites and have earned the right to sit on my kitchen shelves. I will start off by saying that basic peanut butter varieties usually will not make the cut, and are edged out by more exotic blends and different nuts. Without further ado, here is my list of favorites, in no particular order:

Dark Chocolate DreamsPeanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams – This is a mixture of dark chocolate and peanut butter and in my estimation is the most delectable of any dark or milk chocolate peanut butter I have every tried. I cannot live without this stuff! The following link has all the peanut butter varieties this company offers: http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/peanut-butter-1.html

P28 White Chocolate Peanut Butter – This nut spread is so addicting that it should almost be illegal. The balance of sweet white chocolate with peanuts is fantastic, and you get the added bonus of whey protein which boosts the protein content to 14 grams per serving. I also love all the other P28 varieties, and the other varieties have earned places on my shelf, but this one is my favorite. https://www.p28foods.com/baked-goods/p28-high-protein-peanut-butterP28 Nut Spreads

Almond Butter – I like several different brands, including Trader Joe’s, Once Again, and MaraNatha.

Being Grateful

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family_laughingMost of us are bombarded with countless stressors and may grumble regularly in response to the onslaught. Though I wish I could brush off daily frustrations with grace, I frequently find myself grumbling when I have to navigate through a particularly rough day. Our society is running at a lightning pace, so rapidly that it is next to impossible to allow ourselves an opportunity to stop and enjoy the moment. We bitch and moan about traffic, spilled coffee, being late for appointments, our cell phones losing their charges, etc., and in the process stir up anxiety and discontent in our lives, when we should be grateful for the many gifts and blessings that surround us.

It is easy to think that if we stop for a moment, everything will come crashing down, when in reality that is usually NOT the case. I have taken a baby step in my incredibly busy life lately, and have spent the last few weeks making sure to spend a few minutes every morning petting and snuggling with my cats, enjoying their calm and loving energy, and remembering to breathe and pause before the craziness of day to day life hits. I also am keenly aware of the struggles of a couple of dear friends who are dealing with cancer right now, and cannot even imagine how tremendously difficult their lives must be now that circumstances have caused mundane annoyances to come to a screeching halt. When life is stressful but somehow comfortable in its frenetic rhythm, a catastrophic event or illness will obliterate that false comfort. Suddenly leaving the toilet seat up or getting the wrong food order at a restaurant doesn’t have the same impact or importance.

Now that Thanksgiving is approaching, those of us in the United States will get a yearly reminder to be grateful for all the wonderful things we have. However, I hope that people around the entire globe will embrace the approaching holidays with a renewed appreciation for life and the loved ones around them. It is a blessing to live with good health, surrounded by those we love. If you are fortunate enough to have both, allow things to slow down enough for you to take notice of your surroundings. Put the computer aside, enjoy the outdoors, spend time with your pets or children, visit your relatives, laugh with friends. You might not believe it, but you are allowed to put things aside briefly. The world won’t come crashing down if you do.

Facebook Is NOT A Dating Site

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FBI am extremely tired of the random strangers who find it necessary to troll around women’s Facebook profiles, look up relationship status, assess degree of hotness, then send suggestive and annoying emails in an effort to snag a date. Since when was Facebook designated as a dating website? When I get an email from someone who clearly has no idea who I am but simply came across my profile image and thought I was hot, my defense mechanisms are triggered, and I will not even bother to reply to the majority of such communications. I also fail to see the point of flirting with someone on the other side of the globe. Is it THAT difficult to meet eligible partners in one’s own country? Also, how does one propose to meet the object of his desire if she resides thousands of miles away in another country? This is of course assuming that the lady is interested, which in my case is NEVER applicable.

I am well aware of the cyberstalking that occurs when a man is interested in a woman he encounters online. To be honest, it is rather creepy. In the past four years, I have been asked out online via Facebook far more than I have been in person, and have been harrassed by men who were desperate to date me, even when I was in a committed relationship and cohabiting with my man. Some men will not take no for an answer and will pester a woman to the point where she must employ the blocking feature simply to get rid of the guy. I have had men call me every name in the book, threatening and insulting me when I rejected their cyber advances.

Ladies, be hyper-vigilant with these men! Do NOT allow them to manipulate you. The blocking feature on Facebook is a valuable tool, so USE IT. Men, be respectful and understand that most women will not be receptive to a complete stranger asking her out on a date via a non-dating website. If a woman rejects your offer to take her out, bow out graciously. Don’t be a jerk and insult her simply because your ego is bruised. Such behavior is sociopathic and misogynistic.

Facebook is a great social media site, so don’t abuse it.