Sweet ways to better health

We all know that aromatherapy can help brighten our moods. However, did you know that there are certain foods that can also help brighten your mood? Foods are a very powerful thing. Not only do they nourish our body with nutritious ingredients like vitamins and antioxidants, but also has amazing health benefits.


Fight fogginess with maple syrup. Yes, that is what I said. Start your day with a breakfast that includes this sweet toper. It's an excellent source of manganese, which is a mineral now study proven to keep you clear headed and energized for a few hours. Most Americans don't get enough of this source in their diets. So keep this in mind the next time you feel a little foggy because it may be just what you need to get through the slump.

The power of the vanilla - a slew of studies prove that vanilla is a potent stress buster. One of the studies that was undertaken had a group of patients undergoing CAT scans. Many of these patients were a little panicky. However, once they breathed in a little bit of vanilla, it produced instant calming affects. Vanilla extract can keep your skin vibrant. By adding 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract to your bath, which is rich in the antioxidant, vanillin, and can target skin damaging radicals that leads to signs of aging.

Maintain healthy bones with molasses. Studies show women are more likely to develop osteoporosis then men. Luckily, research proves you can dramatically cut your risk of the disease just by enjoying more of this thick dark syrup. Molasses is loaded with calcium, a mineral vital for building bone mass, and magnesium, a nutrient that accelerates your body's calcium absorption. Molasses is also rich in copper, a mineral shown to help usher bad LDL cholesterol from the body and raise the level of the good HDL kind - say the researchers.

Soothe arthritis pain with cinnamon. If you are struggling with joint pain, find fast and long-term relief by adding more of this spice to your diet. Researchers discovered that people suffering from osteo and rheumatoid arthritis had significantly less pain when they enjoyed as little as 1 teaspoon of cinnamon daily. This spice contains a unique compound proven to inhibit the body's production of nitric acid, which is a top culprit behind joint inflammation. Another benefit of cinnamon, is that this spice is loaded with an antibacterial agent that destroys germs that cause bad breath.

Use sugar to heal cuts and scrapes. Do you have a minor cut or scrape? The perfect remedy is as close as your sugar bowl. According to a University in the UK, they found that pouring granulated sugar over a wound reduces the pain and cuts heal quicker. Sugar kills bacteria by absorbing the moisture it needs to live. Plus, it contains an anti-inflammatory so it helps lessen pain.

Honey is another proven home remedy that is great for burns and cuts. Yes, honey is extremely sticky, but it is a fantastic healing ingredient. Honey also has amazing benefits for the body. By putting some in your tea, adding it on food, mixing it in a glass of water, or taking a teaspoon of it, you increase your body's healing power.

The powers of cocoa. Danish scientists just discovered that you can quickly relieve sweet cravings simply by sniffing and smelling cocoa. A study revealed that a group full of women were asked to breathe in the rich aroma for just a few seconds... Then the women were asked how they felt. Most of the women reported feeling just as satisfied as those who actually ate a 1 ounce piece of dark chocolate.The scent of cocoa tricks the body to suppress production of the hunger hormone while it activates the same feel good emotions that are stimulated when eating chocolate. So, if you happen to be a binge eater, or someone who eats when stressed, try smelling and inhaling cocoa to break you of that habit.

Smart idea's for banishing woes.

In my line of work, I deal with people every day on a daily basis. Everybody is dealing with some type of situation or some type of stress and here are a few ideas to help banish it.
1. Activate anti-worry genes with coffee - okay, we all know that drinking coffee can give us the jitters, however, its aroma has a different effect on us. Next time you are feeling anxiety, go take a deep long whiff of coffee. According to South Korean researchers, a report they worked on stated the unique genes are turned on by smelling coffee, allowing us to supercharge our production of stress fighting antioxidants.

2. Kick your angst by knitting - by doing a mere 20 min. of manual activity, which requires fine motor control, such as knitting, crocheting or even scrap booking, can help you reach a meditative state that lowers your flow of stress hormone's. And best of all, the effects can last up to three hours.

3. Boost your cheerful side with junk food - as it turns out, an occasional diet busting treat can zap stress. According to some new research from Australia, the report found that eating foods high in fat and sugar helps reduce anxiety level and increases your calmness.

4. Feel happier by saying two words - did you know that just by saying 'thank you' and expressing gratitude has been proven to relax your body and mind, which increases feelings of optimism by 15 percent, while significantly reducing worries.

5. Sleeping problems? Try one or two of these idea's. Fructose (natures sugar) which is the natural sugar found in fruit, can increase production of calming brain chemicals. In some cases, you can feel relaxed in as little as 20 minutes. A study revealed that if you have one cup of fruit close to bedtime, you just may sleep like a baby. Also, it helps to try scrunching your shoulders and wearing looser bed clothing. If you take five minutes and scrunch your shoulders, do head rolls, even arch your back, it can help to release pent up stress due to tension and it can calm anxious thoughts and relax mind. By adding looser clothing, your body heat can easily escape so your body's core temp is cooler which helps to relax. It also stimulates your brain's production of sleep inducing melatonin. Many people also suffer from leg cramps. If you are one of those people who do, try massaging your calf muscles five minutes before bed. A quick massage stimulates nerves in the leg that will soothe the adrenals (glands that pump out stress hormones which interferes with the sleep process). And the all time winner!? Don't forget lavender. The scent of lavender amplifies relaxation and helps the brain produce waves of calmness and you can slumber in as little as 10 minutes.
So the next time you are feeling stressed or anxiety comes creeping in, why not try one of the above ideas? Here's to your health, blessed be to all!

Friday the 13th special!

Today only - take 13% off all orders of $5.00 or more at lunasgiftsntreasures.com or the virtual store on skycladdreams.com. Any order $100.00 or more (shipping and tax not included in total) will get a FREE $10.00 gift card for future orders.


Brightest blessings to all! (A portion of all orders will and is donated to charities, so make a difference by helping me to give back while you get something enjoyable).

Running a SPECIAL on Tarot/Rune readings

I am running an 'On the WHIM' special today. It's only good for today (July 12), come midnight-the offer expires and prices go back up. Be sure to check out the special by visiting:
http://www.skycladdreams.com/Tarotinfo.htm

Retrograding Planets you should be aware of.

Retrograding Planets: Uranus, Mercury and Pluto

When planets go retrograde, it appears that are moving backwards. What the planets usually represent in our everyday routines and how they are situated in our houses/ birth charts has a lot to do with how we think and feel. Planets have associations and duties, however, when a planet goes retrograde, it seems that their associations and duties are just the complete opposite of what they stand for.


URANUS

Uranus goes retrograde on July 13 and will be for about six/seven months and revels in suddenness and delights in last minute plan changes....like complete reversals and shock effects. He is the head of the Dept of One Never Knows-meaning you will and can even surprise yourself with the things you say and do. You may like order in your life, however where personal freedom is concerned-rules are made to be broken regardless of the consequences. If you feel confined or in a rut, Uranus is the planet to set you free. He is similar to a computer wizard-involved in mass communication and is bold enough to help you seek a solution to a problem and see it in a whole new light. However, when he is retrograding-all this goes out the window and the complete opposite happens. Be prepared to feel in a rut, to have your personal freedom disappear and to feel caged in or to have a situation hang around for a while and you to give yourself a headache on how to make it go away, find a solution or make it right.

So if you're feeling stuck in a present circumstance, well, hope for a transit to happen so you won't be stuck for long-however 'temporary people' often enter your life or people whose only purpose is to jolt you out of whatever you were missing and appear to provide exactly what you were sorely missing.

MERCURY

Yep, it's that time again where planet Mercury goes retrograde on July 14. What this means it that it appears that the planet is moving backward. The good news is Mercury is only retrograde until August 8th - only 25 days. So what does this mean? Pretty much means to expect the unexpected. This is a time where Electronic Devices may not work properly, may break, or may malfunction. (Cell phones, cars, machines, appliances, computers, etc). Letter, bills, any communication with people may seem strained, delayed or misinterpreted. Mercury is also a trickster and you'll be amazed over some of the cleverly disguised errors that will happen - like losing something in your car or it falls behind something, and even bills, letters or orders can be sent to wrong addresses. People may be in tense moods and you may find yourself desiring/wanting more solitude. You may experience problems/delays in travel or trips and with meetings and appointments. This is a time where communication and schedules can be compromised. This is not a good time to sign contracts or make big purchases such as a car or appliance, hence things tend to break down or not function properly. People from your past may resurface and memories or past regrets may come from out of nowhere to haunt you.
What to do during this time: Think about your past and how you feel about your current circumstances. Consider if you are happy in your current situation? If not, think of ways to change it. This is a time to rethink, reflect, research, revise and renew. (Keep the RE in mind for the next few weeks). In regards to relationships and partnership matters, our thinking is turned inward. Re-evaluating a partnership and communication style within that relationship is wonderful use of this reflection period.

What not to do during this time: Not a good time for big purchases such as a home, car or electronics. These types of things/items will generally encounter major problems. Don't sign important contracts or paperwork. Try not to get upset over set backs. Expect them so when they happen, you're prepared. Keep cell phone charged, keep a can of fix a flat in the trunk, and don't panic if you leave the directions/invitation with the address on it at home, etc.


For more information on Mercury and the info that you should know about Pluto, please visit my website using the link below:
 http://www.skycladdreams.com/retrograding_planets.htm

Babies in homes with pets may be healthier.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Dogs are no longer just man's best friend: The furry family members may also protect infants against breathing problems and infections, a new study suggests.Researchers found that Finnish babies who lived with a dog or - to a lesser extent - a cat spent fewer weeks with ear infections, coughs or running noses. They were also less likely to need antibiotics than infants in pet-free homes.


Dr. Eija Bergroth from Kuopio University Hospital in Finland and colleagues said one possible explanation for that finding is that dirt and allergens brought in by animals are good for babies' immune systems. The researchers studied 397 infants who were born at their hospital between September 2002 and May 2005 for their first year.

Parents filled out weekly diaries starting when the child was nine weeks old, recording information on babies' health as well as their contact with cats and dogs. Based on those diaries and a year-end questionnaire, the researchers determined that 35 percent of the children spent the majority of their first year with a pet dog and 24 percent in a home with a cat. Despite only a third of families owning dogs and fewer owning cats, the majority of babies had at least some contact with a dog at their house during the study period and more than one-third were exposed to a cat. Before their first birthday, 285 of the babies had at least one fever, 157 had an ear infection, 335 had a cough, 128 wheezed, 384 got stuffy or runny noses and 189 needed to take antibiotics at some point, parents reported.

The researchers found that contact with dogs, more than cats, was tied to fewer weeks of sickness for babies.

For example, infants with no dog contact at home were healthy for 65 percent of parents' weekly diary reports. That compared to between 72 and 76 percent for those who had a dog at home. Babies in dog-owning families were also 44 percent less likely to get inner ear infections and 29 percent less likely to need antibiotics.

The researchers said infants who spent more than zero but less than six hours per day at home with a dog were the least likely to get sick. "A possible explanation for this interesting finding might be that the amount of dirt brought inside the home by dogs could be higher in these families because (the dog) spent more time outdoors," the researchers wrote Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

Bergroth told Reuters Health in an email that the dirt and germs a dog brings into the house may cause a child's immune system to mature faster, which makes it better at defending against the viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory problems. That theory is commonly referred to as the "hygiene hypothesis."

In many ways, (the study is) saying, if you're exposed to a natural environment… your immune system recognizes that you don't fight the normal allergens, said Dr. T. Bernard Kinane, the chief of the pediatric pulmonary unit at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston. Kinane, who was not involved with the new study, told Reuters Health not all research agrees that exposure to dogs and cats helps protect against kids' breathing problems. But he said there is an overall trend in that direction.

The researchers also can't rule out the possibility that people who own dogs are less likely to get sick for another reason, and not due to protection offered by pets, Bergroth noted.

To view article on the web, please click link below:
http://news.yahoo.com/babies-dog-owning-families-may-healthier-041915748.html
By Andrew M. Seaman Reuters – 16 hrs ago..

Empathy...Is this the secret to a lasting relationship?

Article by Julie Hanks, LCSW, for Sharecare


Empathy-the secret sauce for a lasting marriage/relationship

Are you empathetic? Is your partner? It might be the secret to a happier marriage. According to a recent study from Harvard University, being able to accurately read a partner's emotions--and believing that your partner is trying to understand your emotions--is related to couple relationship satisfaction.

This study highlights certain gender differences that echo dynamics I've seen in my clinical practice and in my 23-year marriage:

1. Women are more satisfied in their relationship if their partner accurately empathized with negative emotions.

2. Men were more satisfied when they could read their partner's positive emotions accurately.

3. Women's ability to read their partner's negative emotions was positively linked to both men's and women's relationship satisfaction.

The authors suggested that for men, being able to understand and be empathetic to their partner's negative emotions may feel threatening to the relationship, but women don't seem to find negative emotions threatening. Findings suggest that effort, not just accuracy, positively impacts relationships.

Developing Empathy
If your relationship is distressed or if you simply want to make a good relationship better, here are some ways to work on your empathy skills.

Listen for emotional messages
The emotional message isn't the same as the words that your partner is saying. Your partner may be criticizing you for not spending enough time together, but the emotional message may actually be, "I miss you and I'm afraid I'm not important to you."

Push the pause button on your own emotions
When your partner is expressing something critical, it's easy to respond defensively. Before reacting, take a deep breath and try to slow down your own emotional response so you can hear the emotion behind the criticism.

Reflect back your partner's emotional plea
Instead of coming back defensively with, "What are you talking about? We just went on a walk yesterday, and we went to dinner last weekend!" respond to your partner's emotional plea by saying something like, "You really miss me and want to spend more time together. Thanks for letting me know. I love you."

Even if you read the emotional message inaccurately, your effort to understand your partner's emotions will pay off!

To read the article on the web, click link below:
http://shine.yahoo.com/love-sex/empathy-secret-sauce-happy-marriage-044200327.html

Planets Venus & Saturn are now direct.

Even though Venus and Saturn are now direct, you may still feel the effects of their retrograde for up to 14 days even after they have gone direct. Just be prepared.


A quick reminder as to how these planets may affect you:
Saturn goes direct on June 25th. Saturn represents authority and he heads up the Boundaries and Rules Dept. like withholding and resistance to change. Saturn deals with your discipline, teaches you to respect your elders, follow rules, do things correctly the first time, don't act inappropriately...be in control, respectful and conservative. When Saturn retrogrades-all that flies right out the window. You lose control of emotions, can be disrespectful, harsh and short with people, may do some impulse buying or do things half ass, which will come back to bite you and you will end up having to redo all over again. You may notice your desk is messy and not as organized and that short cuts may be taken when guidelines are dealt with. Saturn also relates to skin and bones-the structure that holds your body together so if you notice rashes, aches and pains....there you go.
 
With Saturn being direct, be prepared for the screw ups to arise and come to light. All the short cuts that you took with certain details and the things that you did half ass could come back to haunt you now. That impulse buy that you did, may break or there are hidden fee's that you weren't counting on that will be surfacing now to make you aware of. Be prepared for the people that you were 'short or disrespectful' to - well they may bring up those feelings or perhaps Lady Karma will come around and correct things. 
 
Venus goes direct on June 27th. When she is retrograding, she can cause communication setbacks in all relationships with people, plus you may find that relationships and money concerns seem to become delayed, overlooked, muddled and mis-communicated. Venus supplies us with our favorite people, places and things, however when she is retrograding, you may not see your friends as much or be in your comfort zone. You may notice changes in chit chat, behavior and contentment issues. But don't worry, once she goes direct, things will get back to normal and you can get some much needed catching up done.
 
Venus is associated with harmony, love and reconciliation as well as beauty, joy, finances and friendships. Venus relates to your body's receptors - examples are sight, taste, smells, sound and touch. With Venus being direct, you will find that time to enjoy your significant other and to make time for catching up with friends and having some get togethers.


Not to put a damper on things, but hold on to your hat because both Uranus and Mercury will go retrograde a day apart from each other this month (July 13/14). Oh the fun! Brightest blessings to us all.