"There will be good days and bad, which means that some days I may be cranky and some days really cranky!"

- Peter Jennings

Fight Fat with Fish

By Kelley Herring

If you're keen on getting svelte (or just dropping a few pounds), you may want to stock up on fish, new research suggests.

A study published in Clinical Endocrinology examined how specific fatty acids in muscle cells influence the body's response to insulin and weight loss.

Twenty-one obese participants ate a diet that emphasized lean fish - not fatty fish or fish oil supplements. At the end of the study, the participants had lost an average of 11.2 pounds and reduced their body mass index (BMI) by 4.3 percent. They also saw an 11 percent reduction in their saturated fat levels, and an increase in their omega-6 (4 percent) and omega-3 (51 percent) fatty acid levels.

While wild salmon (a fatty fish) offers a boatload of health benefits, many leaner fish are great for you, too. We love the sustainably harvested wild varieties available at your local market, including flash-frozen mahi-mahi, Alaskan cod, and Pacific halibut. They're easy to prepare, economical, and satisfying.

It's Fun to Know: The Ikea Catalog

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time. But in 2004, the Ikea catalog overtook the Good Book in terms of annual circulation. The Swedish home furnishing company distributed 145 million copies of its catalog, compared to the 25 million copies of the Bible that were sold that year.

(Source: This Is London and That's a Fact Jack!)

Word to the Wise: Extirpate

To "extirpate" (EK-stur-pate) - from the Latin - literally means to pull up by the root. In other words, to completely destroy.

Example (as used by Philip Kennicott in The Washington Post): "A plant growing where it shouldn't is a weed. An object for which you have no need or sentimental attachment is garbage. Extirpate the one, toss the other."
__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2274, 02-09-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.
__________________________________________________

The Drink That Can Burn 20 Pounds Per Year

By Craig Ballantyne

If you are trying to burn fat, get rid of the sodas and juices and drink water.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina had 118 overweight women substitute water for their normal sugary drinks. As a result, these women consumed fewer calories over the course of the day. In fact, they eliminated a total of 200 calories per day by drinking water instead of sweetened sodas or juices.

Two hundred fewer calories per day adds up to almost 21 pounds of fat that you can lose in a year!

It's Good to Know: Pay-As-You-Wish Restaurants

It may sound like a recipe for disaster... but several restaurants around the world are doing a brisk (and profitable) business by letting customers decide how much to pay for their meals.

The owners of these places - Der Wiener Deewan in Vienna, Lentil As Anything in Melbourne, One World Cafe in Salt Lake City, and So All May Eat Cafe in Denver - consider themselves to be "social entrepreneurs," doing something to help the community. They have found that most diners pay a fair price. Some even pay extra to cover for those who take advantage of the system.

(Source: Springwise)

Word to the Wise: Viscous

Something that's "viscous" (VIS-kus) is thick and sticky, like honey or oil. The word is derived from the Latin for mistletoe.

Example (as used in Beautiful Children by Charles Bock): "The neon. The halogen. The viscous liquid light. Thousands of millions of watts, flowing through letters of looping cursive and semi-cursive, filling then emptying, then starting over again."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2273, 02-08-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

Living Rich: The Best Food in the Best Museums

By Suzanne Richardson

"Nothing will enrich your life as much as the appreciation of art," says Michael Masterson. "If you want to Live Rich, you have to - absolutely have to - include art in your life."

And, by making a few smart choices, you can kill two birds with one stone.

A recent Forbes Traveler list of "Best Museum Restaurants" recommends nine high-quality museums that also offer the creme de la creme of cuisine. Which means you can improve your mind, expand your cultural reach, and fill up on top-notch food... all in the same place.

And you don't have to fly to Paris or Vienna to get the combined benefit of fine art and fine dining. Next time you visit New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, or Minneapolis, stop by one of these spots:

• The Modern at New York's Museum of Modern Art. You can dine in either the elegant Dining Room or the up-tempo, less expensive Bar Room. (I've eaten at the Bar Room, and the garlic gnocchi with crispy sweetbreads was unbelievable.)

• Palettes at the Denver Art Museum. After checking out the museum's permanent collection of African art, dine on Colorado lamb or mustard-roasted pork loin.

• Taste at the Seattle Art Museum. Chef Christopher Conville serves up fresh-market fare made from sustainably harvested ingredients, dishes including black olive polenta and duck leg cassoulet.

• 20.21 at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. Wander through the nearby Minneapolis Sculpture Garden - one of the largest in the country. Then pop into Wolfgang Puck's 20.21, named for the Walker's extensive collection of 20th and 21st century art.

• The Restaurant at LA's Getty Center. General admission to the museum is free, so you can wander through its European art and American and European photography exhibits to your heart's content. Then enjoy The Restaurant's "California-Mediterranean" food and beautiful views of the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean.

It's Fun to Know: Ice Skating on Water?

It may surprise you to learn that ice skaters are technically skating on water, not ice. At it's freezing point (32 degrees Fahrenheit), ice has a liquid surface 40 billionths of a meter thick. If that layer was much thinner, a skater's blades would stick instead of glide gracefully.

(Source: That's a Fact Jack!)

Word to the Wise: Friable

Something that's "friable" (FRY-uh-bul) is brittle, easily crumbled or broken. The word is from the Latin for "to rub away."

Example (as used by Kathryn Harrison in a New York Times Review of Diary of a Bad Year by J.M. Coetzee): "Diary of a Bad Year is not the first among J.M. Coetzee's works of fiction to force readers to consider the friable boundary between fiction and nonfiction."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2272, 02-07-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"The physical part of your product does not sell. People do not buy the steel in a car, the glass in a vase, the tobacco in a cigarette, or the paper in a book.... The important part of your product is what it does."

- Gene Schwartz

Seven Good Reasons to Eat Only Grass-Fed Beef

By Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS

Ever since I wrote Living the Low Carb Life in 2004, I've been asked to defend my statement that meat is a healthy food. Truth be told, it's a hard statement to defend these days -- but not because meat is inherently unhealthy.

It's because the kind of meat most people eat is poisoned with antibiotics, steroids, and hormones -- and just as bad -- comes from feedlot farms where the animals are treated horrendously. They're also fed an unnatural diet of grain and have a high level of inflammation-causing omega-6 fats in their meat that is passed on to consumers.

But there's a solution: buy (and eat) only grass-fed meat. Yes, it's more expensive (just eat less!) -- but grass-fed cattle produce a whole different kind of meat -- and it's actually good for you!

Here are my top seven reasons to eat only grass (pasture) raised beef.

1. No antiobiotics added. Antibiotics are routinely given to cattle in factory farms to help manage the problems brought on by their highly concentrated grain diets and living conditions.
2. No steroids or growth hormones. Steroids or bovine growth hormone are routinely given to commercial beef to speed up growth and weight gain for faster "finishing" times. These hormones actually make it into your body and have been implicated in a number of health problems including acne.
3. Healthy omega-3 fats. When cattle are fed their normal diet of pasture grass, their fat is different from that of their grain-fed factory farmed bretheren -- and it contains way more healthy omega-3 fats.
4. Healthy, cancer-fighting CLA (conjugated linolenic acid). This cancer-fighting fat is normally made in the chambers of the bovine stomach. Grass-fed animals are a great source of CLA; grainfed factory-farmed animals have next to none due to the high acidity of their stomachs.
5. Animals treated as humanely as possible to minimize stress and trauma. Organic farms, like US Wellness Meats for example, care deeply about the quality of lives of their animals.
6. Fed no contaminated animal by-product feed. Serious, organic farmers raising cows on pasture simply don't feed their cattle animal by-products. This reduces or eliminates the risk of contamination and Mad Cow Disease.
7. Minimal risk of E. coli. E. coli thrive in an acid environment and grain-fed beef have a much higher level of acidity in their stomachs. Pasture-fed beef do not have an internal environment that's hospitable to E. coli.

Meat can be a perfectly healthy food, especially so when it's combined with high vegetable intake. The key to the health of the animals we eat is their diet (and living conditions). Grass and pasture make for healthy cows which in turn makes for healthy meat. Anything else doesn't even come close.

It's worth noting that buffalo is almost always grass-fed, and is a good alternative to regular old supermarket beef.

[Ed. note: Dr. Bowden is a nationally known expert on weight loss, nutrition and health. He's a board certified nutrition specialist with a Master's degree in psychology and the author of five books including The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. His latest book is The Most Effective Cures on Earth.For more information, click here. ]

Nutrients & Health: Natural Alternatives for Herpes Outbreaks By Robert Kress, RPh, CCN

Are you one of over 100 million American adults with herpes? Surprisingly, you may be, and not even know it. That's because as many as 70% of herpes cases are spread when there are no signs of infection.

There are two types of herpes simplex viruses: type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). The viruses are spread through physical contact and released from the sores that the virus causes -- although it can also be released between outbreaks from normal-appearing skin.

Type 1 is usually found above the waist as cold sores on the lip and mouth area. Type 2, known as genital herpes, is usually found below the waist. Another surprising fact about herpes is that there are no absolute rules. Type 1 can present as genital herpes and type 2 as sores on the oral cavity.

The conventional approach to controlling the herpes virus is through oral medications like Zovirax, Valtrex, and Famvir. While these medications can be effective in symptom management by suppressing the viral activity, they do not eradicate the virus from the system.

That's partly because herpes is a lipid-coated virus. This means that there is a shield around the virus to protect it from destruction. But fortunately, there are natural therapies that can be effective in breaking through its protective shield and inhibiting the virus from replicating.

Here is a combination therapy we recommend at our compounding pharmacy:

1. Unrefined, organic coconut oil: Coconut oil is rich in a substance called lauric acid. It has the ability to strip off the protective lipid coating on several viruses including herpes and HIV.^1,2 We usually recommend our clients take one tablespoonful daily.
2. Olive leaf extract is a natural product that has been shown to support the immune system while at the same time interrupting the replication of the virus.³ Olive leaf renders the virus unable to reproduce and may eradicate it from the system. Because it is not an immediate kill, results do not happen over night; nonetheless, it is still effective. An average dose of olive leaf extract is 500 mg three times daily.

We often implement these two therapies together since the coconut oil will expose the virus to the actions of the olive leaf.

It is also important to mention that the amino acid L-lysine is commonly used in both the prevention and treatment of the herpes virus. L-lysine is an amino acid that has been shown to prevent genital herpes outbreaks when taken regularly.⁴ A dosage of 500 mg daily is recommended for prevention of an outbreak. Dosages as high as 1000 to 6000 mg have been taken for an active outbreak.

Foods high in the amino acid L-arginine should not be eaten with L-lysine as they can inhibit its beneficial action. These include peanuts, soybeans, red wine, processed cheeses, nuts, popcorn, corn, coconut and chocolate.

Don't forget that lifestyle changes can help avoid the outbreak and spread of the herpes virus.

1. Avoid stress-related outbreaks by boosting your immune system. You can do this by getting ample rest and eating a nutritious diet.
2. Always wear a sunscreen if you will be out doors for a prolonged period of time. Over-exposure to sunlight can trigger a flare-up in some people.
3. Do not touch a herpes blister and then other parts of your body -- this may allow the virus to spread. Always wash your hands.
4. Use a condom to protect yourself and your partner from infection.

References

1. Reprowatch. 1999 Feb 1-28;6,11.
2. AIDA Patient Care STDS. 1999 Sep; 13(9):572.
3. Micol V, et al. Antiviral Res. 2005 Jun;66(2-3):129-36. Epub 2005 Apr 18.
4. Beauman, J.G. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Oct 15;72(8):1572-34.

[Ed. Note: Robert Kress, RPh, CCN, is a Compounding and Consultant Pharmacist, Board Certified Clinical Nutritionist, and Quantum Reflex Analysis Specialist. Robert is co-owner of an integrative pharmacy and clinical nutrition practice where he empowers his clients to unlock their health blockages through what he calls the Royal Pyramid of Health. To learn more, click here.]

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 04-18-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success."

- Christopher Lasch

"Wide diversification is only required when investors do not understand what they are doing."

- Warren Buffett

"Insanity in individuals is something rare, but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule."

- Friedrich Nietzsche

A High-Fat Fruit for Detox

By Kelley Herring

Beets and grapefruit juice both help protect your liver and aid in detoxification. Now you can add avocados to your liver-defending list.

Researchers at Shizuoka University in Japan fed 22 different fruits to a group of rats. The rats had liver damage caused by galactosamine, a powerful liver toxin. The researchers then measured the changes in specific liver enzymes. Of the 22 fruits, the avocado had the most potent liver-protecting activity. In fact, avocados boast five compounds that appear to be active in reducing liver damage.

Hirokazu Kawagishi, the study leader, says: "Besides offering taste and nutrition, avocados seem to improve liver health. People should eat more of them."

Don't be deterred by the avocado's high-calorie, high-fat profile. Avocado fat is the heart-healthy monounsaturated variety. Plus, the "alligator pear" has a slew of potent nutrients, including antioxidant vitamins E and C, glutathione, lutein, and zeaxanthin. If that's not enough, they're also high in fiber and potassium, and provide a good amount of folate to boot.

So go ahead and slice avocados onto salads, fold them into wraps, and mash them into guacamole. You'll delight your taste buds... and protect your liver.

It's Fun to Know: The History of the Charcoal Briquette

Give Henry Ford credit for inventing the charcoal briquette. Ford made the first briquettes out of sawdust and scrap wood from his factories. Then he sold barbecue grills and the briquettes at Ford dealerships to encourage people to drive their cars to go on picnics.

(Source: That's a Fact, Jack!)

Word to the Wise: Levity

"Levity" (LEV-ih-tee) - from the Latin for "lightness" - is an inappropriate lack of seriousness.

Example (as used by William Logan in The New York Times): "Thomas Hardy had his black moods, but also his moments of sour levity."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2270, 02-05-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

Boost Your Body’s Defenses with Beets

By Kelley Herring

Every day, your liver processes and disarms hundreds, if not thousands, of toxic compounds that make their way into your body. While many of these toxins are unavoidable (like those found in the air due to pollution), many others are a direct result of our own bad choices - in diet, alcohol consumption, and the use of chemical substances.

The liver has a big job in neutralizing these harmful compounds. But the good news is that certain foods - like crimson-hued beets - can make your liver’s load a little lighter.

A recent study published in the journal Carcinogenesis found that beet fiber increases the activity of two important antioxidant enzymes in the liver, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase. Because the liver is the body’s primary detoxification center, free radicals are generated when toxic substances are broken down and eliminated. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase serve as an antioxidant defense system, acting as bodyguards for liver cells.

The earthy flavor and unique texture of beets makes them a standout in many dishes. Try roasting them and slicing them over fresh organic mesclun. You can also chop and saute beets with greens, or puree baked beets and pears for a sweet and delicious side dish. Your liver will love you for it.

---

It’s Fun to Know: The Redevelopment of Biosphere 2

Not many luxury residential developments begin life as large-scale scientific experiments, but that’s the situation at the former Biosphere 2. From 1991 to 1993, this sealed, self-sustaining environment outside of Tucson, AZ housed eight "biospherians." Their job was to study how humans might live on future space colonies. The experiment collapsed when its food crops failed and oxygen levels plunged to dangerously low levels.

The structure was relegated to minor research and educational work. But recently, real estate developers bought the property and announced plans to build luxury homes and a resort hotel in and around the dome.

(Source: Discover Magazine)

---

Word to the Wise: Laconic

Something that’s "laconic" (luh-KON-ik) is brief and pithy. The word is derived from the Greek for "of or relating to a Laconian or Spartan" (hence, "terse").

Example (as used by Bernard Stamler in The New York Times): "Readers’ reports range from the laconic to the verbose."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2194, 11-08-07], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"I don’t want to be just a voice on the phone. I have to get to know these guys face-to-face and develop a sincere relationship. That way, if we run into problems in a deal, it doesn’t get adversarial. We trust each other and have the confidence we can work things out."

Wayne Huizenga

"Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the
unconscious, and they must be brought into connection
with action. They must be woven together."

- Anais Nin

Are You Setting Goals... or Still Dreaming?

By Michael Masterson

We all have dreams. We all carry movies in our minds about how life could be for us in a better world. Sally dreams of a big house with a built-in pool. Harry dreams of an eight-car garage filled with vintage Porsches. Jill fantasizes about painting pictures at the seashore. Jack wants that corner office with the view.

Chances are, Sally and Harry and Jill and Jack will never get what they dream about. They will go on playing those mental movies for themselves or talking about them to friends and family members.

Failing to live your dreams is not necessarily a bad thing. Lots of people are perfectly happy dreaming of one life but living another. The problem arises when the gap between fantasy and reality results in unhappiness or even depression. When this happens, it's time to master plan a new life. And the first step is to establish goals.

Goals are different from dreams in four ways. They are specific, actionable, time-oriented, and realistic.

Specific: Being rich is a dream. Developing a $4 million net worth is a goal.

Actionable: Winning the lottery is a dream. Winning a foot race is a goal.

Time-Oriented: Developing a $4 million net worth is a goal. But developing a $4 million net worth in five years is a better goal.

Realistic: Developing a $4 million net worth in five years is probably reasonable. Developing a $4 million net worth in four months is not.

Goals are also different than objectives - more long-term and broader in scope.

Your master plan will be broken down into seven-year and one-year goals, monthly and weekly objectives, and, finally, daily tasks that will make it possible to achieve your medium-term objectives and long-term goals. For example:

Seven-Year Goal: Develop a $4 million net worth in five years.

First-Year Goal: Eliminate $36,000 worth of debt.

Monthly Objective: Land a part-time job netting $36,000 annually by year-end.

First Week's Objective: Get my first job interview.

First Day's Task: Write personal letters to CEOs of my top 10 "dream job" companies.

Okay, that's the plan. Starting today, you are going to be performing tasks every day that support weekly objectives that, in turn, support monthly objectives that, in turn, support yearly goals that, in turn, support seven-year goals. All of this will be done formally. All of it will be done in writing.

At this point, you may be wondering: "Does it really matter whether my goals are specific? Does it make any difference if I write them down?"

Glad you asked.

Several years ago, I found a very interesting bit of information in a book by Tom Bay - Look Within or Do Without - that was completely mediocre except for this one little gem. According to Mr. Bay, Harvard Business School did a study on the financial status of its students 10 years after graduation and found that:

• As many as 27 percent of them needed financial assistance.

• A whopping 60 percent of them were living paycheck to paycheck.

• A mere 10 percent of them were living comfortably.

• And only 3 percent of them were financially independent.

The study also looked at goal setting and found these interesting correlations:

• The 27 percent that needed financial assistance had absolutely no goal-setting processes in their lives.

• The 60 percent that were living paycheck to paycheck had basic survival goals (such as managing to live paycheck to paycheck).

• The 10 percent that were living comfortably had general goals. They thought they knew where they were going to be in the next five years.

• The 3 percent that were financially independent had written out their goals and the steps required to reach those goals.

And that's just one study. Here's one that shows the power of setting specific goals:

Researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University asked 56 female undergraduates to do as many sit-ups as they could in 90 seconds. One group, told to "do their best," averaged 43 sit-ups on each day of the four-day study. The other groups, which had been given the specific goal to do consecutively more sit-ups at each session, performed significantly better, averaging 56 sit-ups on the last day of the experiment.

Studies are great, but personal experience is better.

I spent the first 17 years of my life dreaming about success but having none. In my freshman year of college I decided to change that. I learned to learn and became an A student. Twenty-two years later, I discovered goal setting. Three years later, I was a millionaire. When I began writing ETR in 2000 - eight years ago - I learned how to prioritize my goals. That allowed me to achieve my first and most cherished dream: becoming a successful writer.

At ETR, needless to say, we set long-term business goals and medium-term objectives. This helped us grow our revenues from zero to $25 million in seven years. And it will help us grow to the next stage of our development, above $50 million, in the next few years. Using a master plan to grow our business is gratifying - but what's better is seeing our employees use personal master plans to improve their lives.

One, for example, used a master plan to go from being a low-level employee answering the phone to a management position in a few years. He is now a major profit producer for the company. Several employees have used master plans to meet their weight-loss and physical-fitness goals, including one who lost 30 pounds through diet and vigorous exercise and overcame significant health problems.

These laudable results happened because these people took the time to turn their dreams of wealth and health into specific, actionable, time-oriented, realistic goals.

You can spend your whole life dreaming. And dreams are wonderful things. By all means, dream away. But if you want to turn those dreams into reality, you need to transform them into goals.

What's your wildest, longest-held dream? How can you make it specific? How can you make it actionable? How can you put a time limit on it? How can you make it realistic? Use these four questions to create goals you can aim for... then take action. And you'll be living your dream in a few short years.

Stressed Out? Try Tea

By Kelley Herring

Stressed out? Reach for a soothing cup of black tea.

A recent study conducted by University College London researchers evaluated the effects of black tea on stress in the body. Seventy-five regular tea drinkers were split into two groups. All study participants gave up their normal tea, coffee, and caffeinated beverages. One group drank a caffeinated black tea. The control group drank a caffeinated fake-tea placebo.

To eliminate the "comforting" effect of drinking a cup of tea, researchers masked the sensory cues typically associated with tea drinking. Then they had the groups perform challenging tasks to evaluate their bodies' stress responses as measured by the hormone cortisol, blood pressure, blood platelets, and self-rated stress levels.

The tasks caused similar stress levels in both groups. However, 50 minutes after performing the tasks, cortisol levels had dropped by an average of 47 percent in the tea-drinking group compared with a mere 27 percent in the fake-tea group. The researchers also found that blood platelet activation (which is linked to blood clotting and the risk of heart attacks) was lower in the tea drinkers. And the tea drinkers reported feeling more relaxed in the recovery period after performing the tasks.

Because tea is chemically complex, researchers can't yet pinpoint the ingredients responsible for its beneficial effects. What they do know is that enjoying a cup of black tea may speed recovery from the daily stresses in life. And that, in turn, can help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease.

Stock up on healthy and delicious organic black tea. It's calorie-free, packed with powerful phytonutrients, and can help soothe away stress too.

It's Good to Know: Online Phone Directories

No need for those bulky Yellow Pages anymore. If you're looking for a landline phone number - for a person or a business (including corporate 800 numbers) - you can probably find it at one of the websites below. (Unless the number is unlisted.) You'll also find U.S. area codes and international dialing codes:

• anywho.com/index.html: Business and residential listings for the United States and many foreign countries, as well as a toll-free number directory.

• infobel.com/world/: Links to a variety of websites offering business and residential listings for almost every country on the globe.

• dir.yahoo.com/Reference/Phone_Numbers_and_Addresses/: A list of several online phone number databases.

• inter800.com/index.html: Enter the name of a product or company and this site will provide its toll-free number.

(Source: Lifehacker)

Word to the Wise: Protagonist

The "protagonist" (proh-TAG-un-nist) is the principle character in a literary work (novel, play, etc.). The word is from the Greek for "actor" + "competitor."

Example (as used by Ken Kalfus in a New York Times review of All Shall Be Well by Tod Wodicka): "For all Burt's eccentricity, he's a vague protagonist whose motives, actions, and responses are only intermittently clear."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2269, 02-04-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"The men who succeed are the efficient few."

- Robert Burton

How Much Fat Can You Lose in a Week?

By Craig Ballantyne

Viewers of "The Biggest Loser" were bewildered by the early results. In the first week, one contestant lost an astonishing 29 pounds. But in the second week, the biggest weight loss was only three pounds - and one contestant even gained a pound.

Here's why it happened...

During the first week of any weight-loss program, when you go from eating junk food to healthy, fiber-rich food and start even the easiest of exercise programs, the body loses excess water, some body fat, and possibly even more weight as a result of "cleansing out the colon."

A lot of factors determine weight loss - and some of them will have only a temporary effect. So if you really want to know how well you're progressing in your fitness regimen, skip the scale. A better way is to measure your body fat percentage over time. If your gym doesn't offer this service, you can do it at home using a body fat scale, which is different from a regular scale. You can purchase one at major retailers for about $50.

If you weigh yourself on one of these scales each week, under the same conditions each time, you'll get a reliable picture of whether you are losing body fat.

The rate of fat loss to aim for is 0.5 percent per week. If you are following a good fat-loss program, you should be down by 4.0 percent after eight weeks.

It's Fun to Know: The Android Dental Patient

The Kokoro Company of Japan has come up with a cutting-edge tool for training dentists: a human-like robot with a mouth full of sensors. The "Simroid" grimaces and says things like "That hurts!" It records the missteps and mistakes novice dentists make as they practice dental procedures. Training with the Simroid should also help students view their patients as people and not just sets of teeth.

(Source: LiveScience)

Word to the Wise: Bootless

"Bootless" (BOOT-lis) means "useless" or "with no benefit." The word is derived from the Old English for "without advantage."

Example (as used by Peter Gay in My German Question): "Late in the nineteenth century there had been a bootless competition between Munich and Berlin as to which was more modern, more civilized."
__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2268, 02-02-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

How to Get Your Sunshine From a Bottle

By Jon Herring

Vitamin D is absolutely vital to your health - and it's nearly impossible to get enough of it from your diet. Very few foods contain much vitamin D at all. That's why I've said that cod liver oil is the "best and most concentrated food source" of this nutrient.

It is the best "food source." But I did not mean to suggest that cod liver oil is your best "supplemental" source of vitamin D. (Your primary source should always be the sun.) A question from ETR reader KC makes the point:

"Isn't the amount of vitamin A in cod liver oil toxic if you were to take the recommended amount of vitamin D?"

Cod liver oil does contain both vitamin D and vitamin A. And while vitamin A plays an essential role in vision, bone health, and the immune system, too much of it can be harmful. The Institute of Medicine suggests that the tolerable upper intake level (UL) is 10,000 IU per day for an adult. I believe this number is grossly conservative. (It would take a lot more than that to harm you.) But the fact is that if you take enough cod liver oil to meet your daily requirements for vitamin D, you would exceed the UL for vitamin A.

So why take the risk, when it is so easy to supplement with vitamin D? Most supplements have only 400 IU, which makes it inconvenient to get the 3,000 to 5,000 units you need. But Carlson Labs makes gel caps with 2,000 IU or 4,000 IU. That's what I recommend when you're not able to enjoy as much sun as you need.

[Ed. Note: Jon Herring, a copywriter for Early to Rise, is co-author, with Dr. Al Sears, of the book Your Best Health Under the Sun. Discover how the healing power of sunlight can improve your mood, increase your fitness, and protect you against dozens of diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.]

It's Good to Know: The Musical Road

Could iPods, CD players, and satellite radio be in danger of becoming obsolete? Probably not. But there's a new way to get your music fix while driving. In Japan, so-called "melody roads" are specially designed with grooves and bumps. If you drive over them at the optimal speed of 28 mph, you will hear a series of music-like high and low notes resonating in your car.

So far, there are three of these music roads in Japan, including a stretch that plays 30 seconds of a Japanese pop song.

(Source: The Guardian)

Word to the Wise: Inculcate

To "inculcate" (in-KUL-kate) is to teach and impress by frequent repetition or instruction. The word is from the Latin for "to force upon."

Example (as used by T.V. Rajan in an issue of The Scientist): "It is difficult, if not impossible, to inculcate in those who do not want to know, the curiosity to know; I think it is also impossible to kill this need in those who really want to know."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2267, 02-01-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"Many secrets of art and nature are thought by the
unlearned to be magical."

- Francis Bacon

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage
to continue that counts."

- Winston Churchill

5 Keys to Unlock Your "Completion Mentality" - the Door to Your Success

By Bob Cox

It is easy to get caught up in the supposed urgency of a situation. You start thinking, "I must get this done NOW or else." But there are few times when you must do a task NOW. More often than not, it is a matter of making a good decision about when to do it.

Let's say you discover that you have put about 5,000 miles on your car since your last oil change. You need to schedule an oil change. But you don't need to do so this minute. The car won't stop running right away. You have some time.

You know that it is a good idea to change your oil to keep your vehicle running as efficiently as possible. But the oil change is not so urgent that you must drop everything and run off to your neighborhood service station.

Keeping your car's engine running properly is your motivation to change the oil regularly. By working this task into your schedule, your car will run smoothly, the engine will last longer, you won't have to buy a new car for several years. If you didn't have that motivation, you might push that non-urgent task to the bottom of your to-do list. You might even forget about it. It becomes non-urgent and non-important.

Your long-term goals are "non-urgent," just like that oil change. But, like that oil change, they are important. You just need to find a way to motivate yourself to add those goal-setting tasks to your schedule and take action to complete them.

Here are five Motivation Keys you can use to activate your "completion mentality" and unlock the door to success:

KEY #1: KNOW WHY YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL

Ask yourself about the "whys" behind your goals. Perhaps you are a runner and your goal is to win the next Boston Marathon. Why do you want to accomplish this goal? Is it the health benefits of getting into shape? Is it the possibility of meeting new people? Or do you simply want to be able to say you participated? No matter what your motivation, you still have to endure months of disciplined, rigorous training.

But picking the right motivation is crucial to whether you actually follow through. If your motivation is to get into shape, for instance, you might find it difficult to push past the point of "being in shape." After all, you'll be fit as a fiddle long before you are actually ready to compete. If you hit a snag - maybe a week of being sick with a cold - it will be easy to fall behind on that goal. "I'm already fit," you might think. "Why push myself to train for a marathon when I'm already in shape?"

KEY #2: HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS

A personal sense of accomplishment is very motivating in and of itself.

About two years ago, I set out to get a private pilot's license. Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of taking off into a clear blue sky. Once I turned that dream into a goal, I achieved it in eight months.

I do not come from an aeronautical or engineering background, so learning this new skill was incredibly challenging for me. However, I was highly motivated by my own personal expectations. And once I became a licensed private pilot, I was even more motivated to continue the process. (In flying we say, "Once you have your private pilot's license, you now have a license to LEARN flying.")

Challenges make us define our commitments and implement a "do what it takes" attitude. Stretching yourself expands your horizons.

I obtained my private pilot's license after about 100 hours. I now have over 450 hours under my belt that include too many joyful memories to share in this message. Suffice it to say that none of those memories would have been possible had I not started with lessons... had I not kept going and going... and going. The simple desire to accomplish this lifelong goal was huge motivation for me, and it powered me forward.

Don't underestimate the power of expectations. You have your own expectations of what you can accomplish. Plus, you have the combined expectations of your teachers, parents, friends, clients, employers, and colleagues. Research has shown that most people live up to these expectations. A sales manager who sets a higher standard than her counterpart will likely see greater production from her sales team than if she sets a lower standard. In other words, our motivation to meet the expectations of others - and those we have for ourselves - propels us to succeed.

KEY #3: KEEP UP A "CAN DO" ATTITUDE

Whatever you aspire to do, you must believe that you can do it. In reality, the bigger your goal, the bigger the obstacles you will face along the way. Having faith in yourself and your abilities is the key to success.

When you have a defeatist "I can't do this" attitude, your negative expectations become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sure, you may not be able to accomplish your goal right this second. But remind yourself that every goal is a journey, with many steps along the way.

Harris Rosen, one of the inspirations for my program, The Billionaire Way, started his career as a front desk clerk after graduating from a prestigious hospitality school. If he had not set about acquiring additional skills (learning everything about running a hotel, for example), he would not have become the owner of Rosen Hotels and Resorts, the largest privately held hotel chain in the southeastern United States.

I am sure Harris had mornings when he woke up with doubts. Had he succumbed to those negative thoughts, he never could have achieved his goal.

Fear and negativity limit your imagination and ability to "look outside the box." Inspire and motivate yourself by maintaining a "can do" attitude.

KEY #4: TAKE A LOOK AT THE LARGER PICTURE

Winning a sales contest or receiving a bonus is an incentive to achieve... but only in the short term. The key to sustaining your progress over the long haul is to have a larger picture of what you want to accomplish.

Let's say your 2008 health goal is to lose 10 pounds. But that's only a short-term, one-year goal. Your "larger picture" goal may be to keep healthy so you can live longer, which will allow you to spend more time with your spouse, children, and grandchildren. To travel the world like you always wanted to... to live out your retirement without heart problems or diabetes.

Focusing on the "larger picture" will get you over the inevitable low points you'll encounter on your path to success.

KEY #5: TAKE ACTION

Only YOU can decide to be motivated. Nobody else has that power. Accomplishing your goals begins with your decision to take action. Yes, fear and lack of confidence can creep into your mindset. And, yes, those things can extinguish your motivation. Toss them out. Choose to be positive. Then take action. You'll find that taking even a single small step toward accomplishing a goal will motivate you to take the next step.

You may be scared, but push on ahead into that joint venture or new job and see where it takes you. What's the worst that can happen?

6 Motivating Questions to Ask Yourself

As you work toward your goals, ask yourself:

• Am I willing to challenge myself to reach this goal?

• Can I leverage my "ordinary" skills into extraordinary results?

• Do I know the "bigger picture" of what I want to achieve with this goal?

• Am I clear on why I want to accomplish this goal?

• Will I choose a "can do" attitude while pursuing this goal?

• Can I dig a little deeper to make this goal happen?

Answer these questions honestly and make a commitment to take action. This will put the "oil" in your motivational engine that will sustain your journey to success.

[Ed. Note: Robert L. Cox is the creator of The Billionaire Way and is the "voice" of ETR's Total Success Achievement Program.]

Hooked on Junk: Eating During Pregnancy

By Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS

What a woman eats while she's pregnant sets the stage for her children's health habits.

When researchers at the Royal Veterinary College in the U.K. fed pregnant rats the equivalent of rat junk food, their babies were born craving the bad stuff. They ate twice as many calories as baby rats whose mothers weren't fed the junk food. (Researchers use rats in these studies because their reproductive systems are similar to those of humans.)

Moral of the story: When you're pregnant, you really are eating for two. If it's something you wouldn't feed to your baby, don't eat too much of it. What you eat - and don't eat - could make all the difference in your child's long-term health.

The Department of Redundancy Department

By Bob Bly

A radio commercial for a financial services firm talked about how their investment advisors could help ensure financial security for "older senior citizen folks."

Are there younger senior citizens? Are there citizens who are not folks? Why not just say "senior citizens"?

Point is, if you're being redundant in your marketing copy, you're adding unnecessary words and wasting your reader's time.

A few more redundancies to avoid: armed gunman... living survivors... RAM memory... foreign imports... past history... stupid idiot... new innovation... consensus of opinion... add together.

It's Fun to Know: The Super-Sized Scorpion

If you have a fear of spiders and other bugs, take a deep breath before reading on. University of Bristol scientists recently discovered the fossilized claw of a 400-million-year-old sea scorpion. They estimate it was eight feet long. And they believe this discovery strengthens the theory that insects, arachnids, and other creepy crawlies were much, much larger in prehistoric times.

(Source: Associated Press)

Word to the Wise: Woolgathering

"Woolgathering" (WOOL-gath-uh-ring) is idle daydreaming. The word is derived from the relatively unproductive activity of gathering tufts of wool shed by sheep and caught on bushes.

Example (as used by Sandra Brown in Where There's Smoke): "The soprano roused Fergus from his woolgathering."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2266, 01-31-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

Bugged by Belly Fat? Then Read This!

By Craig Ballantyne

I often get asked, "What's the best way to burn fat and lose my belly?... Do aerobics work better than interval training?... Does resistance training help at all?"

Many personal trainers aren't even sure. They will guess that the best way to lose belly fat is "crunches", "sit-ups", or "aerobic cardio". But the truth is -- none of these works best -- or even works at all!

When it comes to exercise, if you want to lose stomach fat fast, you need to increase the intensity of your workout by using both resistance training and interval training.

Australian researchers, such as Professor Steve Boucher, even believe that interval training can lead to a spot reduction of belly fat. That's something that no amount of abdominal training can do!

Time is also a factor. While bodybuilders and young guys without any cares in the world can spend an hour a day on cardio -- and sometimes get results -- men and women who only have 45 minutes, 3 times per week for exercise just can't depend on slow cardio workouts to burn belly fat.

Let's take a look at the perfect workout plan to get you maximum fat burning results in minimum workout time. Here are the keys.

First, start with a circuit of bodyweight exercises to prepare your body for a fat burning workout. Three good ones are bodyweight squats, pushups, and lunges. This warmup should only take 5 minutes.

Follow that up with supersets of resistance training using multi-muscle exercises for maximum metabolism boosting. A superset is two exercises done back to back with minimal rest between each. A great superset is dumbbell squats and dumbbell chest presses. This works so much better for post-exercise calorie burning than slow cardio workouts. It will lead to more belly fat burning as well.

After 15 minutes of resistance training, finish with 15-20 minutes of interval training. You don't need a lot of intervals to get great fat burning results. Start with a 5-minute warmup. Do one interval at 60 seconds working at a slightly harder than normal cardio pace. Then recover for 60 seconds at an easy pace. Repeat 5 more times. Finish with a 5-minute cool down.

With that workout schedule, you'll be in and out of the gym in 45 minutes, three times per week. Compare that to what most people do, which is run, jog, cycle, or use the cardio machines for 45 minutes straight. Sure, that will burn calories, but it doesn't build a better body.

Men and women love the fast fat-burning results they get from short-burst exercise sessions. Remember, your body was not meant to run marathons. Instead, it was meant to perform quick bursts of exercise, and that is why resistance training and interval training sculpt a better body than long, slow cardio workouts.

Of course, your diet is also essential if you want to lose belly fat. In fact, I always give more credit to nutrition for being a key factor in fat burning than I do exercise. No matter what you do, you can't out-train a bad diet! So cut excess sugar from your diet, and increase your protein and fiber intake (through fruits, vegetables, and nuts).

With the right exercise and a proper diet, you'll shed that unwanted fat in no time!

[Ed. Note: Craig Ballantyne is an expert consultant for Men's Health magazine.]

Healthy Recipes: Cucumber-Yogurt Salad: A Metabolic Code Recipe By Laura LaValle, RD, LD

This light refreshing salad featuring soy or goat's milk yogurt is a healthy take on an Indian classic. It's also the perfect choice for those who want to avoid cow's milk dairy products. The nutty, delicate taste of tahini makes it doubly delicious!

Nutrient Spotlight:
Excellent source of calcium and vitamin C
Good source of vitamin B6, folate, and manganese

Ingredients:*
2 cucumbers, sliced into 1/4 in. thick rounds
2-3 green onions chopped
1 cup plain yogurt (soy or goat's milk)
1 tsp. tahini or almond butter
1-2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Dash of soy sauce (optional)
Seasonings to taste: a dash of salt, and pepper, and cumin (Cumin is the seasoning traditionally used in Raita, an Indian dish consisting of cucumber and yogurt.)

*Use all organic ingredients for optimal nutrition.

Directions:
Stir tahini, soy sauce, garlic, and lemon juice into yogurt. Pour over cucumbers and onions, stir, and enjoy. You can also add tomatoes to this recipe, which is especially good in the summer when the tomatoes are beautifully ripened. The versatile yogurt sauce can be used as a salad dressing or vegetable dip. Makes two servings.

Recipe Nutrient Analysis:
105 calories, 3 g. total fat, 1 g. saturated fat, 0.5 g. monounsaturated fat, 0.7 g polyunsaturated fat, 3 mg. cholesterol, 15 g. carbohydrate, 2 g. fiber, 8g. sugar, 7 g. protein, 240 IU vitamin A, 0.2 mg vitamin B6, 14 mg vitamin C, 45 mcg folate, 260 mg calcium, 70 mg phosphorus, 100 mg. sodium, 385 mg. potassium, 32 mg magnesium, 0.3 mg manganese

Recipe adapted from Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites (Random House, 1996).

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute (formerly part of Living Longer Institute). She offers personal nutritional counseling at LMI for clients who need help with their diet in relation to illness or disease. Laura also provides educational services in the areas of health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention. To learn more, click here.]

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 04-15-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

Nutritional Cleansing: A Missing Link in the Wellness Puzzle

By Dr. David Kamnitzer

If you are like millions of other Americans who feel that their energy level and/or weight is stuck at a plateau -- or maybe even spinning out of control -- nutritional cleansing could very well open the door to the breakthrough you are looking for.

Nutritional Cleansing is a process whereby we simultaneously cleanse and replenish the body internally.

This is so important because most of us have many impurities in our body AND we are nutritionally depleted. This combination is like an accident just waiting to happen!

In this state, our bodies tend to retain extra water and fat as a way to dilute and/or sequester toxins. Our energy levels will drop as cellular efficiency decreases. Nutritionally-depleted bodies are not well-equipped to undertake the process of cleansing the body internally ... A vicious cycle indeed!

Most of us have already heard something about cleansing. Fasting has been a part of most of the world's major religions. The challenge is that most of us do not have the ability to divest ourselves of our worldly obligations and commit a week to completely relax and fast.

In addition, in our depleted and stressful state, a radical fast can overwhelm our organs of elimination, producing uncomfortable symptoms including severe headaches, itching, achiness, and weakness.

Fortunately, there is a way out this conundrum! ... We can cleanse and replenish at the same time. I call this dual process nutritional cleansing.

I have seen people transform their bodies and energy so remarkably in a one to two month period with nutritional cleansing, that I literally almost didn't recognize them!

Here's what can occur: energy levels rise; mental clarity increases; mood swings level out; and hope is renewed. But that's not all. Lean muscle mass increases, while extra fat and water are no longer necessary. It is not uncommon for people to need a whole new wardrobe after only a month or two of nutritional cleansing.

With nutritional cleansing, the body's own healing power is liberated and lives seem to be changed at a very deep level. One of my patients told me that she feels like she got her life back!

It is often difficult for people to believe this is possible...I can assure you -- both from personal experience and from observing the results of hundreds of other people -- these results are very real.

How is this possible? ... Here's my take on it.

The synergy of high-quality easily absorbable protein, essential fatty acids, low-glycemic carbohydrates, vitamins, macro-minerals and ionic trace minerals, fiber, good bacteria, enzymes, naturally occurring fulvic acid, healing and cleansing herbs, and generous amounts of high quality water -- combined with moderate caloric restriction and the avoidance of foods that tend to trigger an inflammatory response -- produce these amazing results.

Here are some specific suggestions for effective nutritional cleansing:

1. Use a whey protein powder that is UNDENATURED and that comes from grass-fed cows (as a good protein source). This will insure maximum bio-availability and effectiveness.
2. Make sure you are getting plenty of essential fatty acids. I like to use hulled hemp seeds, as they have an excellent blend of omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids.
3. Monitor the quality and quantity of your carbohydrate intake by keeping your carbohydrate count between 100 and 150 grams per day of the following foods: all green vegetables, beans, berries, apples, and small amounts of whole grains (if you are not sensitive to them), squash, and sweet potatoes. These low-moderate glycemic carbohydrates will help to re-establish proper insulin response.
4. Drink at least one ounce of water per day for every two pounds of body weight.
5. Include shilajit in your program. Shilajit is a mineral-pitch that has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic healing. It is extremely high in trace minerals and is a superior source of fulvic acid. Fulvic acid facilitates nutrient delivery into the cells, as well as helping with removal of impurities from the body.
6. Consider supplementing with a good multiple vitamin and mineral supplement that includes enzymes and beneficial bacteria.
7. Include herbs that are known for their cleansing properties. Some good ones include aloe vera, pau d'arco, and burdock root.
8. Make sure that you are getting at least 20-25 grams a day of a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber. This will help to ensure proper elimination of what your body is ready to release.
9. Use a blender to make your life easier! Many nutritious and good-tasting "meals" can be made easily and quickly with the help of your blender.

More information about the process of nutritional cleansing can be found on my website. Until next time...To your health!

[Ed Note: David Kamnitzer, D.C. is an expert at helping people achieve high levels of health and well-being -- far beyond what is available simply through drugs and surgery alone. He combines his 20-year clinical experience and extensive knowledge in structural, nutritional, and energetic balancing to offer individuals cutting-edge approaches to healing.]

Healthy Recipes: Spinach, Pear & Gorgonzola Salad By Kelley Herring

This light salad balances juicy, sweet pears with piquant gorgonzola. And while it takes only 10 minutes to make, this three-ingredient salad offers a good source of 6 key nutrients. Plus, it's high in lutein and zeaxanthin — nutrients found in spinach and other leafy greens that help to protect vision.

Time to Table: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

Healing Nutrient Spotlight

• Good source of fiber, protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium
• Low fat, low saturated fat, gluten free
• Lutein and zeaxanthin (8 mg)

Ingredients:
2 ounce(s) organic gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
8 cup(s) fresh organic baby spinach
2 medium organic pears

Balsamic or raspberry organic vinaigrette to taste

Preparation:
Core and slice each pear into 8 slices. Place 2 cups spinach on a plate. Top with 4 slices of pear and half an ounce of gorgonzola cheese. Serve with balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette.

Nutrition Information
111 kcal Calories, 4 g Total Fat, 3 g Saturated fat, 0 g Trans Fat, 1 g Monounsaturated fats, 0 g Polyunsaturated fats, 11 mg Cholesterol, 244 mg Sodium, 15 g Carbohydrate, 4 g Fiber, 8 g Sugars, 5 g Protein

[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the Founder & CEO of Healing Gourmet. She is also the creator of Healing Gourmet's Personalized Nutrition Software and Editor-in-Chief of the Healing Gourmet book series published by McGraw-Hill, including Eat to Fight Cancer, Eat to Beat Diabetes, Eat to Lower Cholesterol and Eat to Boost Fertility. For more information, click here.]

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs [Issue 04-11-08] which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you
must first create the universe."

- Carl Sagan

"Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain and most fools do."

Benjamin Franklin

Protection With Probiotics

By Kelley Herring

You probably know that probiotics - the bacteria found in yogurt, buttermilk, and other cultured dairy products - can improve gastrointestinal health. Now new research shows another way these good-for-you germs guard against disease.

Researchers at the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health found that probiotics deactivate carcinogens that can damage DNA. And in doing so, they may help protect against one of the most prevalent cancers - colon cancer.

To get the cancer-fighting benefits of probiotics, kefir is your best culinary bet. (It has the highest concentration of probiotics.) Just watch out for the flavored varieties, which can be loaded with sugar and extra calories. Ideally, opt for a high-quality probiotic supplement (with "live and active" on the label) to get the maximum beneficial bacteria per serving, calorie- and sugar-free.

[Ed. Note: Kelley Herring is the founder and CEO of Healing Gourmet (www.healinggourmet.com), and is editor-in-chief of the Healing Gourmet book series.]

---

It’s Fun to Know: Fish Hibernation

It turns out bears, squirrels, and other woodland creatures aren’t the only animals to sleep through the winter. Marine biologists have discovered that Antarctic cod hibernate too. The cod reduce eating to about once a week, slow their heart rates, and settle down on the ocean floor during the coldest part of the year. Researchers believe this allows the fish to survive the region’s dark winters, when it’s hard for them to find food.

(Source: National Geographic )

---

Word to the Wise: Protracted

"Protracted" (proh-TRAK-tid) - from the Latin for "to drag forth" - means drawn out or prolonged.

Example (as used by Terrence Rafferty in The New York Times): "[Bette Davis’s] breakthrough role… came in John Cromwell’s 1934 adaptation of the W. Somerset Maugham novel Of Human Bondage, in which she plays the coldhearted Cockney temptress Mildred Rogers, a vile specimen who cruelly - and protractedly - abuses the affections of a sensitive, artistic, clubfooted young medical student."

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2324, 04-08-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.

"I don’t know where we goin’ but we sure is on our way."

Buckwheat, "The Little Rascals"

A Cause for Concern

By Craig Ballantyne

Our environment is making us fat. We drive more, exercise less, eat bigger portions, and consume more liquid calories than ever before. It's that last point that many experts believe is an underappreciated reason for weight gain.

Researchers from the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina examined dietary records of U.S. adults from as far back as 1965 to as recently as 2002. What they found is a cause for concern.

In 1965, only 11.8 percent of the average adult's calories came from beverages. However, that number significantly increased to 21 percent by 2002, largely because of an increase in the consumption of sweetened beverages.

Another problem the researchers noted is the huge increase in available beverage options. We now have energy drinks, sports drinks, sweetened teas, juices supplemented with vitamins and antioxidants, and more sodas than ever before.

A proven way to reduce your calorie intake and risk of weight gain is to eliminate sweetened drinks from your diet. So stick with unsweetened iced tea, water, green tea, and a small amount of coffee each day to quench your thirst. Avoid all sweetened beverages. Unless you are exercising for more than 90 minutes, forget about the Gatorade and stick to plain water.

It's Good to Know: Your Vital Statistics

If any of your vital records (e.g., birth certificate, marriage license, a relative's death certificate) got lost in a past move, were burned up in a house fire, or were simply mislaid, don't despair. You can probably get a copy for less than $10.

Each state has a different system, but the National Center for Health Statistics clearinghouse has links to the records departments of all 50 states. You can even find information for events that took place onboard a ship or in a foreign country. Check out cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm.

(Source: National Center for Health Statistics)

__________________________________________________
These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2265, 01-30-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.

__________________________________________________

For all your Real Estate interests look at The New Real Estate Source here.