Hypnotism - Stop Smoking

There are many ways to stop smoking. One of the most effective is hypnotism either used by itself or in conjunction with other methods.

What is Hypnotism?
Quite often we tend to think of hypnotism as something in the entertainment field rather than a serious topic that can have a beneficial effect on our health.
Hypnosis is a way of accessing your subconscious mind. During hypnosis one is in an altered state of consciousness. That does not mean that you are asleep or that you have no control over what you do. Wikipedia describes hypnosis as 'a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, with diminished peripheral awareness'.

You must want to quit smoking for it to have any chance of working
For a person to use hypnosis to successfully stop smoking they need to be ready to quit. It is not a method to use if deep down you don't really want to stop. A person cannot be made to do something they don't want to do just because they have been hypnotized.

Is Hypnotism Effective
It has been estimated that using hypnotism to stop smoking is about three times more effective than nicotine replacement therapy. For those who have tried to quit by willpower alone and failed, hypnosis is 15 times more effective than going it alone.
As a bonus those who are worried about gaining weight when they stop smoking one study on using hypnosis for weight loss found it 30 times more effective than the control group in the study.

Ways to Access Hypnotism
Find a hypnotherapist in your local area.
Learn self hypnosis. There is actually quite a lot of information around about this.
Buy a product that combines both the above. There are many products out there that have been put together by hypnotherapists that you can use yourself in the convenience of your own home. These usually cost much less than sessions with a hypnotherapist and could be worth exploring. To get you started, one such product is the Hypnosis Vault. There are eighteen hypnosis sessions. When you buy one you get the other 17 included. Of course one of them is to Stop Smoking. Have a look and see how many of the other sessions would be of interest to you.

If you are a smoker and want to quit I wish you luck and success. I know it can be difficult but go for it. If one method doesn't work for you keep trying till you find one that does.

Good luck,
Jocelyn

Smoking Diseases

As you can see it has been quite a long time since I have added anything on my blog. Things have been a little chaotic lately. The reason for this was that my Dad, aged in his 80's has recently had a below the knee amputation.

Until you see someone trying to come to terms with losing a limb one has no idea of what that really means in terms of day to day life. However he is gradually doing more and more and still hopes that he will be able to learn to use an artificial leg.

The thing is that he lost his leg because of poor circulation and the leg virtually died. According to the doctors the reason for the poor circulation along with the emphysema and congestive heart disorder is the fact that for many years he was a heavy smoker. Even though he has not smoked now for many years the damage was done. Smoking diseases have really taken their toll on his body.
Before you rush in to thinking that there was no use in quitting I would say that had he remained a smoker he would have been dead many years ago. The sooner one quits smoking the less damage is done and the shorter the time one is a smoker the less damage is done.

Some Smoking Diseases

• Cancers - a variety of different types.
  
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Hardening of the arteries
• Breathing and lung diseases
• Diabetes
• Cataracts
• Impotence
• Reduced fertility
• Loss of taste and smell

Not a pretty picture. Perhaps if you are a smoker, finding out how you can quit smoking and improve your health is something you are interested in.
The "Stop Smoking...Once and For All" eCourse is a step by step 4 day battle plan to becoming smoke free in just 4 days. If quitting is your goal check this out and see if it will work for you.

Best of health to you all.

Jocelyn

More Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Benefits

While I am on the topic of chocolate health benefits, I couldn't pass this interesting article from Science Daily. The article is called "Cocoa 'Vitamin' Health Benefits Could Outshine Penicillin"

The reason they believe it to be so important is that there is a compound in cocoa called epicatechin. Scientists are crediting this compound with huge health benefits.
Norman Hollenberg, a professor of medicine, studied the Kuna people in Panama, and the benefits of cocoa drinking. These people can drink up to 40 cups of cocoa in a week. That is about 5 or 6 cups a day. He observed that the diseases of stroke, heart failure, cancer and diabetes were reduced to a rate of less than 10%.

Natural cocoa, which is what these people used, contains high levels of epicatechin. Epicatechin and other flavanols give cocoa a bitter taste and so they are removed from commercial cocoas. I saw some raw cocoa in the health food shop today, maybe that would be one way to get this important compound.

Other sources of the flavonoid epicatechin are: white tea, green tea, dark grapes especially in the skins and seeds - hence also red wine, apple, apricot and blueberries.

So for good health chocolate really could be a great addition to the diet. Of course keeping the sugar content low at the same time would be something to keep in mind. I am thinking of using raw cocoa and rapadua (dehydrated cane juice) to make a healthy chocolate drink. No milk of course because it seems that using milk with cocoa inhibits the absorption of the flavonoids and antioxidants.

Enjoy good health,

Jocelyn

A Surprising Food to Benefit Health: Chocolate

Here are some other chocolate health benefits.

Blood Pressure

One of the reasons that chocolate can be beneficial to blood pressure is that chocolate antioxidants called flavonoids help relax blood pressure. This is because they enhance the production of nitric oxide and also because they help balance certain hormones in the body
Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide signals the blood vessels to dilate or expand. It has a role in transporting oxygen to the tissues. It is produced when the body relaxes. Anything that helps the body to relax, or anything that combats stress, can help the supply of oxygen to the cells and reduce blood pressure.

Cholesterol

Dark chocolate can lower LDL cholesterol by up to 10%. Remember to eat dark chocolate. Antioxidant levels in dark chocolate are much higher than milk chocolate or white chocolate.

Endorphins

Chocolate helps to stimulate endorphin production. It seems that eating chocolate causes more endorphins to be released into the brain. Endorphins can help to reduce pain and decrease stress levels.

Serotonin

Chocolate is high in the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan causes an increase in the release of serotonin. An increase in the serotonin level helps a person's mood to be better. The anti depressant action of serotonin is well known.

There are over 300 different chemicals found in chocolate. Undoubtedly there are benefits in chocolate that have not yet been discovered in a laboratory. However many people would attest to the fact that they feel good when they have eaten some chocolate. Perhaps we don't really need to know every action of this delicious food. It is good to know though that amongst other nutrients it contains potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B2, D and E.

Enjoy good health,

Jocelyn

Health Chocolate: Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Rich

Chocolate antioxidants are known as flavonoids. Chocolate makers have been experimenting with new ways of processing and manufacturing chocolate that will retain a lot more of the flavonoids. That is good news because it is the flavonoids that give chocolate health benefits that have been found to be helpful regarding heart attacks and strokes.

The flavonols in cocoa help prevent clogging of the arteries by preventing oxidization of cholesterol in the bloodstream. They also help to make the blood platelets less sticky and so less likely to clump together and cause clots.

High antioxidant chocolate is dark chocolate as it is much higher in flavonoids than milk chocolate. So go for the dark every time. Look for chocolate that has at least 65% cocoa in the ingredient list. My favorite has 72%. Dark chocolate has been reported to have about 8 times the antioxidants of strawberries.

Scientists are still doing studies to find out more about how the chemicals in chocolate benefit health. They are now able to isolate some of these chemicals and study them separately. However it is always possible that it is the synergy of all of the components of chocolate that cause it to have the benefits that it seems to have. So why wait for scientists to deconstruct the cacao bean? Enjoy small helpings of dark chocolate as part of your regular balanced diet and reap the benefits of one of nature's delicacies.

Have good health,

Jocelyn

Chocolate for anti aging and youthful skin

Had to share this Reuters Life article about chocolate. The chocolate makers of the world claim to have developed a chocolate bar to fight wrinkles and slow the aging process. The claim is that eating 20 grams of the chocolate each day may boost elasticity of the skin and improve skin hydration. This could help the prevention of wrinkles.
It is the chocolate antioxidants or flavanols in the cocoa bean that come up with the goodies. The chocolate makers are saying that they now have better ways of keeping more of those flavanols during the process of making the chocolate.
Hurrah for chocolate.

Enjoy your good health

Jocelyn

6 Foods that Help Your Skin Stay Young

Yesterday I wrote briefly about some foods that help to increase the collagen in the skin. Today I want to look at some other foods that help to combat the increase of wrinkles.

Turkey
There are substances in turkey that help prevent wrinkles. It contains the protein carnosine. This protein slows down the process of cross linking. Cross linking is when fibers grow into the collagen making the skin stiff and less elastic. Eating turkey two or three times a week will increase the amount of carnosine in your diet.

Flaxseed
Flaxseed contains the essential fatty acid omega 3. Having sufficient of the right oils and fats in the diet make the fatty layer surrounding the skin cells stronger. This in turn plumps out the skin cells, disguising wrinkles.

Olives
Olive oil contains oleic acid which also can help to plump up the skin cells. Use extra virgin olive oil and eat olives to help your skin along.

Chocolate
I couldn't leave this one out of the list. I love it when chocolate comes up in the healthy food lists. However it is only dark chocolate that has enough antioxidants to have the desired results. It would seem that a high dose of cocoa increases the blood flow to the skin bringing it higher levels of moisture and nutrients.

Goji Berries
The goji berry is a very nutritionally dense food. It has gained quite a name as an anti aging food. They do contain vitamin C and are high in antioxidants so there is every chance that they would contribute to a stronger, firmer skin.

Blueberries and Prunes
These fruits are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants get rid of free radicals. Free radicals cause skin damage. A diet high in antioxidants is beneficial to general health as well as keeping the skin healthy and firm.

Add these foods to your diet as well as the collagen increasing foods listed in the previous article. Making sure you include several serves of these foods each day will certainly help your overall nutrition as well as your skin tone.

Be in good health

Jocelyn

Increase Collagen and Improve Your Skin by the Foods you Eat

As we age our skin has less collagen in it. That is why wrinkles appear. Now I don't suppose the wrinkles can be held at bay for ever but there are some simple, natural things that can be done to help. For our body to be able to make collagen we must give it the necessary building blocks from our food.

Foods To Eat

Green leafy vegetables: These contain the antioxidant lutein amongst other vital nutrients. To help your skin stay hydrated and keep its elasticity try eating kale, spinach, asparagus, cabbage etc. These foods help to provide the building blocks for your body to make and use collagen.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables are also rich in luetin.

Beans: There is an anti aging element known as hyaluronic acid that is found in the body. It is needed for skin repair, amongst many other functions. Beans contain reasonably high levels of hyaluronic acid can help your body to have sufficient of this nutrient thereby increasing your collagen production. Try butter beans, broad beans, kidney beans in fact any kind of bean.
Try this resource for ideas on how to use beans in your diet regularly. The Bean Bible: A Legumaniac's Guide To Lentils, Peas, And Every Edible Bean On The Planet!

Beetroot: Another nutrient that is used in producing collagen is anthocyanins. This is found in the purple pigments of foods like beetroot and purple cabbage. It is also a good antioxidant.


Vitamin C: Whether you use a supplement or choose foods high in vitamin C. This is an essential nutrient for overall health including producing sufficient collagen. Vitamin C rich foods include strawberries, oranges, kiwi fruit, Brussells sprouts.

There are many other foods that are great for our skin. For a start try adding some of these to your diet regularly. It is better to make changes bit by bit rather than try to make huge changes that are unsustainable.

Have great health

Jocelyn

Banana Facial Masks to Reduce Wrinkles

A reader has asked for more information on how to use banana in skin care for anti aging. Bananas are rich in nutrients that are beneficial to the skin. In addition putting banana on the face is reputed to assist in reducing wrinkles.

The simplest form of a banana facial mask is to simply mash up some banana until creamy then apply to the face. Leave it on for 15-20 minutes before washing off with warm water. Finish by washing with cold water to close the pores of the skin.

there are many recipes that combine banana with a range of other ingredients that also have a reputation of being beneficial to the skin. Perhaps experimenting with a few different combinations would result in finding a facial mask that suits your skin the best. Below are four combinations to get you started.

1. Combine mashed banana, 1/2 cup finely ground oats, 1/4 cup honey, 3 tablespoons milk.
2. 1 small mashed banana, 2 tablespoons pure cream, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon oat flour.
3. 1 mashed banana, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon wheat germ oil, 1 tablespoon finely powdered oats.
4. 1 mashed banana, 2 tablespoons honey, 1/4 cup yoghurt.

the general method is to combine all ingredients until very fine and smooth. If you choose a recipe that has an ingredient that is coarse such as oats, grind them to a fine powder in a food processor. Adjust the quantities to gain a consistency that is similar to thick yoghurt. Apply to face and leave about 15-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water.

Regular use of facial masks is required to maintain the benefits gained. Using once a week may be sufficient, though some people use it three times a week.

12 Kitchen Hints

Here are some kitchen tips I came across recently. Some I have used and some I have yet to try. They all looked reasonably useful. Try them when you have the need and see if they work for you.

1. Eliminate Odors from Disposal Unit - Put a lemon in unit and grind it up.
2. Get rid of fish smells - Rub butter on your hands. Rubbing toothpaste on them works as well.
3. Get rid of onion smells - Dampen hands and rub bicarbonate soda on them.
4. Keep salt free of moisture - Put uncooked rice or pieces of blotting paper in the salt shaker. They will absorb the moisture. My salt shaker has large holes and so I sewed the rice into a little netting bag.
5. Over salted the dinner? - Potato absorbs the extra salt. If possible cook it for a while with a potato or two in it.
6. Freshen stale nuts - Put them in the oven for 15 minutes at 250 degrees C.
7. Boil a cracked egg - Add a dash of vinegar to the water.
8. Be sure your boil eggs will peel easily - Keep lid on a few minutes after boiling. The pressure causes shell to fall off easily.
   
9. Make sure all the popcorn pops - Freeze it first.
10. Keep berries fresh - Don't wash until ready to use. Keep in refrigerator until ready to use.
11. Keep vegetables fresh longer - Put paper towels in the bottom of the veggie bin or containers. It will absorb moisture.
12. Keep and use over ripe bananas - Mash and freeze for making cakes and baked goods.

As far as removing smells from hands I find that toothpaste gets rid of most things.
Regarding over ripe bananas. Mine never last to try the mash and freeze as I love fried banana with my breakfast egg so they all get used that way.

I am keen to try the popcorn one. How fabulous if they all popped.

Jocelyn

Easy Snacks - Looking for Healthy Foods? Snack on These

It can be hard sometimes to find healthy snack foods. It is so easy to find cakes, sweets, cookies and the like that are ready made and delicious. The problem is they are generally filled with calories but no real food value. As much as we might sometimes crave these foods we know that they do nothing to increase our health but do plenty to increase our weight.

For really easy snacks there is always fresh fruit or a handful of nuts. These take no preparation time at all. They contribute lots of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients. In fact they make great healthy food snacks. There are times though when that is just not the sort of food we are craving for. The question is can there be such a thing as healthy snack recipes to satisfy this type of craving?

The resounding answer is yes, delicious satisfying foods. Snack on these recipes and each one will contribute fabulous nutrients to your diet. These 20 recipes give you easy snacks that require preparation but no actual cooking.

These recipes for healthy treats and healthy snack foods use no processed sugar, flour or additives. They are based primarily on nuts, fresh fruit and dried fruit. It is amazing what delicious concoctions can be made with such simple ingredients. If you are looking for healthy foods snack on these. Not one of these free recipes could be said to have empty calories. They are all made with health giving ingredients.

For those who need a gluten free diet, 19 of the 20 recipes are gluten free. The Fridge Cookies on page 14 contain oats. All the other 19 recipes in 20 Healthy Raw Snacks and Treats are gluten free. It can be even harder for the gluten free to find easy snacks so I was especially pleased to find this resource.

Next time you crave something decadently sweet or tantalizingly delicious try Coconut Orange Chocolate Squares, Chocolate Fudge, Blueberry Slice or or one of the other healthy snack recipes found in this collection of recipes. Just click on this easy snacks link and save the pdf file to your computer.

Enjoy healthy foods. Snack without compromising your health.

Jocelyn