E-Elixir - Healthy Living

Codependency Enabling and Substance Abuse

February 19, 2012 | Author: Cliff

Do you know the signs of addiction? And if you do and notice them in those, or someone, you care about, what do you do at that point? Dealing with a loved one who is struggling with substance abuse can be extremely difficult and taxing and while there are similar aspects, it is much different than having the disease yourself. And that last sentence contained a key phrase, addiction is a disease, and as soon as you can acknowledge this, whether you’re struggling with it personally or watching a loved one go through it. And if you’re the family member or friend of someone who is in the throws of addiction, there are some extremely important self care needs to keep in mind and ensure you practice. One of the fundamental rules of thumb for being any support to an addict is taking care of yourself first. It’s a similar principle to securing your own life vest or oxygen mask. You just can’t help, support and much less save another human without first taking care of yourself.

Of course this brings up one of the major distinctions between a natural, environmental or physical disaster and substance abuse. You can save a person from a burning building or an earthquake, but you cannot save a person from their own addiction. You can be there and call 911 or other emergency services when a loved one has just experienced an overdose of pills but that is different and also brings up one of the concerns that surrounds trying to save a person from their abuse. It can frequently lead to, or be a common associative aspect of, co-dependent relationships . And even if your relationship didn’t start this way, it can slowly, and unperceived, sink into this as the disease progresses and remains untreated.

The enabling aspect of the relationship will begin by picking up your loved on from the bar after they’ve had too much. That seems responsible and caring, it seems to be the right thing to do and it is, when that is one time or very rare occurrence. But with disease it will happen again, and again, until it becomes a pattern. This will also expand into other areas, such as making sure the addict wakes up on time in the morning. Setting your alarm an then waking your partner might happen on that rare occasion, but when it starts to become regular, and occurs with other enabling activities, it becomes part of the co-dependent problem. Making sure your partner has money, eats, sleeps, doesn’t hurt themselves, all of these seemingly caring activities become co-dependent and turn into enabling when substance abuse is involved. Regardless of whether you live in California or New York, an Orange County drug rehab center will tell you the same thing the NYC program will. You cannot save your loved one from addiction, but you can learn healthy ways to support them through their recovery.

Healthy Foods for Better Skin

December 28, 2011 | Author: Cliff

Because of what people know now about skin cancer, a distinctively gothic look is healthier than a celebrity sun tan. Although it is a compelling look, certainly, it’s not one that everyone can pull off. It takes a specific kind of hair and eye coloring, at home in the dark of winter, and it’s hard to be that stylish and gloomy all year round. So even though the kinds of tans seen in the celebrity magazines of the 70s now look hideously unhealthy, there is something about skin that has a glow. That inner glow is often considered to be a reflection of a healthy inner life, and that’s one of the most magnetic things anyone can cultivate.

Healthy skin actually does glow. Like anything that is considered attractive over time and across cultures, there are roots and reasons why color in the skin is taken as a sign of inner beauty. Since it is clear that a lot of time in the sun is not a good thing, that does take some of the pressure off of anyone looking to create a perfect look. Healthy skin does not have to become a job, but is actually a deeper reflection of healthy lifestyles.

The relation between skin and diet is an obvious one, perhaps. Since the skin is a barometer of overall health, there is much to suggest that skin deep is much deeper than one might suspect. This organ is here to serve as protection, and is also the organ responsible for giving warning signs for internal problems. So it would figure that overall nutritional health is going to show in the skin. Indeed it does.

Taking this a step further, it might seem likely that one can help the coloring in their skin by eating certain foods. And one can, in fact, eat foods that promote tanning. That inner glow is something that can be affected with nutrition, and of course this makes perfect sense to those who subscribe to the idea that we are what we eat. Consuming a lot of vitamin C, it turns out, can actually hinder the way the sun’s rays work on the skin, but vitamins A and E can do wonders for it. This is also true for foods that are high in beta-carotene. In fact, the general principle here is that those very same foods that are promoted as being very healthy are the same ones that can make the skin look fresher, and even glow. Those same foods that are healthy for the inner organs are also the ones that look healthy on our most external organ, the skin.

Feul and Machines

December 21, 2011 | Author: Cliff

Looking at health and the body in a holistic way can start to open up in many multiple and unexpected ways. The profound realization that all of the body’s systems is nothing less than a reflection of some very old principles, and these principles are at the foundation of a number of spiritual traditions. It may be news to most drivers to discover that their nankang tires are a demonstration of the principles of desire and attraction, but it’s probably obvious to anyone who has spent time learning about the more vital aspects of nutrition. The connection is not a new one, either. Any object that serves as an extension of the body or the mind is a reflection of the body and the mind. Hair and skin can demonstrate balance, and clothing expresses inner states, and vehicles for locomotion become larger versions of all of these things. Just as the choice of scents one puts on one’s body can greatly influence mood and thought, the choice of tires on the car will surely influence speed and accuracy. These subtle enhancements make a very palpable difference, and can even aid in survival. The internal and the external do come together here in very profound ways, and harmony is always a possibility in any given moment.

Some holistic organizations, like Veritas, have people who are very familiar with car racing on their staff, and the connections between the car and the driver are already radically apparent. The notion that a body cannot operate efficiently without balance, and a car has a better chance at winning a race with weld racing wheels is already apparent. For others, the body is always a thing that holds a hundred metaphors, and the connections between machinery and fuel are part of the literature of holistic medicine. There are also those who take things even further, making a mark in the world of racing by agreeing not to leave a mark in the form of a carbon footprint. Ecologically-sound racecars sound like something from a very distant future, but there are examples that are already here, and already competing in races in this lifetime. Everything that adorns a body and marks a vehicle becomes an outward expression of an inward state. But those things that affect the core systems tie the inner to the outer in a very powerful way, suggesting that things are connected in ways that we still cannot possibly fathom.

The Cost of Eating Healthy

October 24, 2011 | Author: Cliff

We always hear about the latest health craze and they almost always relate to diet and/or exercise, which fortunately are the two things that we all have the most control of in our lives. But do we really? When considering the importance of eating well, which is much different than the latest fad diet that most people relate to good health and proper nutrition, there are a number of things to consider. In addition to the fact that there is a lot of misleading information out there regarding eating habits and the fact that many diets are actually crash oriented and not overall healthy, this can lead to a lot of misbelieving perspectives that might contribute to weight gain and health issues.

There is no doubt that what we eat affects how we feel and even our susceptibility to certain health issues and diseases. With that in mind, it’s also true we can take control and determine our own well being in regards to our life style, exercise and eating habits. However, in doing so, we quickly realize how expensive healthy food actually is. Do we need to consider pay day loans to pay for a healthy diet? Probably not, though the difference is noticeable. For instance, a quality multi-grain bread will always be more expensive than the cheap white loaf. In addition, fresh vegetables, particularly of the organic variety, are more expensive than canned or frozen of the same variety. It is also more expensive to prepare a healthy, well balanced meal than to serve fast food, processed food or even a lot of restaurant options. And what is particularly troublesome is the many claims, and equally misleading, that are frequently attached to all of the above mentioned options.

How do we navigate through this maze of information? And how do we budget ourselves for the right choices? It’s always, actually, just that simple, it’s a matter of choice. We can do our own research on the right foods, meanwhile there are certain fundamentals to keep in mind. The more simple a meal is, the better for you it is. That means that the fewer ingredients there are, the better it will be. Fresh versus processed is best and always look for the amount of chemicals in any canned or pre-packed foods. Whether or not you go vegetarian, vegan , raw or otherwise is up to you, but smart food choices are important. And if you give up the junk foods and fast foods you can save a lot of money for the quality health foods. While we can save our loan needs from www.MoneyMutual.com for those unexpected life emergencies, we do need to plan appropriately for healthy eating.

Wise Grocery Spending

October 24, 2011 | Author: Cliff

Image by Jason Webb, on SchuminWeb, licensed by Creative Commons on 21 January 2005

     The cost of consuming is climbing. Purchasing medical insurance seems unattainable. Spending grocery funds wisely can save money. How can grocery funds be spent wisely? By not paying full price. Coupons can reduce grocery spending. Taking inventory of the food in stock at home can save money. Planning a weekly menu with simple fare and cooking aids is also easier on the checkbook. Saving money for medical insurance is the mark of a financially-responsible adult. Many adults are able to meet the day-to-day spending needs, but medical insurance requires the ability to pool savings.
    A traditional way to pool savings is to shop when grocery items are on sale. Coupons can reduce grocery bills. Coupons reduce grocery spending if they are limited to nearby stores. It does no good to save twenty cents on a grocery item, when it cost three dollars in gas to drive to that store sale. Take the advertised coupon to the local store. See if the store will match the sale. If a store advertises a coupon match, but does not honor their policy, write a letter or consult someone. Legal information on grocer coupon matching guidelines can be found by contacting a lawyer at this site http://www.swlaw.com. Try to purchase one item on the sale list. Store sales that advertise ten items for ten dollars may also apply that same sale to one item. Search for coupons that compliment home cooking. Often home-cooked meals can be stretched to two meals versus a one-time frozen dinner. Couponing for home-cooked meals is more cost-effective than purchasing frozen dinners, because it requires the consumer to consume items that are already in stock.
    Taking inventory of food items in stock in the home cupboard can reduce grocery spending. Make a weekly grocery list, then go to the store only once a week. Are there leftovers than can be eaten over the weekend, instead of pizza and soda? Only go to the store, once a week, when the inventory is depleted. If the inventory is well-chosen, perhaps grocery shopping can be stretched to every other week. Set a weekly grocery budget that does not accede fifty dollars. Gift cards can be helpful in this regard. Adding the budgeted amount to the gift card or charge card limits overspending. Bring fun and expectations to family meals. Prepare simple, home-cooked meals on specific days of the week. Mondays can be blueberry-lemon pancakes days with lemons from the decorative lemon-fruit tree in the backyard. Turning decorative food items and shelf warmers into delicious meals can save money for that medical insurance plan.
   Cooking at home is mystifying to many families without some practical aid. Investing in cooking aids can save grocery money. Invest in a Julia Child’s cookbook for tastier fare or look online for free recipes. Recipes that include beef substitutes’ fish or ground turkey are healthier and cheaper. Purchase a breadmaker. Baking bread with the ingredients that have been shelf-warmers up to now can save money spent on sandwich bread. Start a vegetable and herb garden, using natural pesticides. Vegetable and fruit co-ops are another good alternative. Investing in cooking aids is a resourceful way to cook on a budget.
    Limiting grocery spending can actually add enjoyment to meal preparation. Before there was no major medical insurance. Now there is a way to achieve medical coverage and the taste of fresh vegetables. Make grocery budgeting a priority.

Financing a Restaurant

September 9, 2011 | Author: Cliff

Perhaps you enjoy cooking and have always dreamed of opening your own restaurant. Perhaps you have worked in a restaurant and want to strike out on your own. Or perhaps you are a graduate of culinary school and ready to step up to the plate. Whatever the reason for deciding to undertake this great adventure let’s look at what it entails.

First of all opening your own restaurant requires a lot of passion and hard work. You need to be dedicated to make your idea work. You need to look carefully at design, fixtures and fittings and of course your menu. Perhaps the biggest factor in your success will be location. As in other areas of real estate it all boils down to the 3 most important factors – location, location, location.

But before looking at location, you need to determine what its going to take from a financial point of view to get your restaurant up and running. When you apply for a loan the lending institution (much like buying a home) will require a down deposit. You may also consider an angel investor to help with part of the financing – if you can sell them on the idea, and show how they will be repaid. The small business association may also be able to help you out.

Most people will go the traditional route – seeking financial help from a bank or other type of lending institution. For this you will need to have a detailed business plan in place showing how you will go about generating income, how you will use the financial loan once you receive it, and, of course, how you will repay the loan.

You should prepare your business plan well in advance of seeking financing. And its something that you will want to update and fine tune over a period of time. You should also seek to have your financing in place before you get ready to operate your restaurant. And have enough money in reserve to carry you over the first few months of operation as you seek to establish your business.

Information provided by mortgage payment calculator helping you with your financial calculations.

Dealing with the Aftermath of Floods

May 28, 2011 | Author: Cliff

In recent weeks the country has been held spellbound by news coverage of massive flooding in the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. Whether you are dealing with Mississippi or San Diego flood damage in your home, you need to be prepared for a long clean up process.

Before you even start cleaning you need to contact your insurance company. They will be able to tell you if you have coverage for flood damage and will send an adjuster to evaluate the situation.

When it’s time to actually clean up, start by removing any contaminated mud using a shovel and then spray the rest away with water. If sewage has flooded your home you may want to wait for professionals to handle the problem as the risk of disease and illness will be much higher.

All surfaces that were touched by mud or flood waters will need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Different materials, such as glass, wood, fabric, and metals will require different cleaning techniques. Make sure you handle each properly, using hot water, bleach, or other cleaner according to instructions.

Do not run appliances or electrical equipment that has been damaged or submerged. They will need to be completely cleaned and aired and should be inspected by a professional.

Be prepared to throw out items that can not be completely cleaned. This may include clothing, books, toys, artwork and photographs. Most of these can be cleaned, but the process involved may be too time consuming given everything else you have to clean.

Remember that the surfaces of the house need to be cleaned as well as objects and furniture. Floors, walls, ceilings, even the outside of the home should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Measuring Alcohol

May 25, 2011 | Author: Cliff

Tennis in the Video Age

May 11, 2011 | Author: Cliff

There is a scene in movie Chariots of Fire that shows people in England lined up at a newsstand to get express printings of results from the 1924 Olympics. At a time when few people could afford radios and newsreels were only updated weekly, sports fans were dependent upon the printed word to find out about their favorite athletes, teams, and sporting events.

Fast forward to the current date. Less than a century later the notion of getting french open tennis scores from a newspaper is laughable. Not only are scores reported on special sports news radio networks, but they appear in television reports and are generally posted on the internet nearly instantaneously — or as fast as attendees at events can upload a score to their twitter account. Blogs, social media and professional sports sites all contribute to lightning fast distribution of sports results straight to the homes and offices of tennis fans around the world — regardless of weather or time zone.

As this is the video age, it isn’t even about the scores anymore. Fans expect to be able to watch matches live not just on broadcast and cable television; they flock to the internet to find french open streaming feeds that offer real time coverage of the matches. With mobile devices, people continents away from Paris can watch live play on their cell phones or tablets wherever they can get a wifi signal.

Give Your Windows a Facelift

May 1, 2011 | Author: Cliff

When you get tired of looking at the same decor day after day, you may start to dream about elaborate design projects that will completely overhaul every room in your house into a stylish environment worthy of gracing the pages of your favorite home design magazine . The realities of your pocketbook probably dictate that you think on a much smaller scale. Instead of redoing everything, think about the effect that new window treatments can have on any room.

You don’t need to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a complete room makeover when simply installing fashionable bamboo wood blinds can refresh the feel of a room. You may choose to install roman shades with a contemporary pattern or a combination of blinds and curtains. Bedrooms may need rustic shutters or all out blackout shades for privacy and light control. Finding the right balance between function and style is the key to a successful window facelift.

Remember to think of your windows from the outside as well as the inside view. Those antique cornices may be a great accent, but they aren’t visible to anyone approaching the home. Quality, well-fitting blinds and shades are going to make a good impression to visitors and passersby as well as create a beautiful interior.

News on Living a Healthy Life

Codependency Enabling and Substance Abuse

Healthy Foods for Better Skin

Feul and Machines

The Cost of Eating Healthy

Wise Grocery Spending

Financing a Restaurant

Dealing with the Aftermath of Floods

Measuring Alcohol

Tennis in the Video Age

Give Your Windows a Facelift

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