Maca Root Blog

When trying to get pregnant, many times we can fail to conceive because our diets are lacking in the nutrients necessary for a successful conception and pregnancy to take place. Even when we are very careful about our diet and ?eat well?, our diet can still be insufficient.

When trying to get pregnant your main objective should be is to try and create the healthiest eggs and sperm possible, and in the woman, the most fertile environment possible so conception can occur.

Often, with many couples, an ordinary diet lacks the necessary nutrients a healthy pregnancy requires. The body knows this, and until the nutrient levels are there, doesn?t conceive.

So in order for the body to receive the nutrients it needs to conceive nutritional supplements are often required to supplement even the best most carefully planned diets.

There are a wealth of supplements available. A short stroll through you local supermarket or health food store reveals an array of choices; Fertility Supplement, Prenatal Vitamins, Fertility Blend, Natural Fertility Supplement, and so on.

The key is not so much what brand you buy, although quality is important, but more important is that the supplement you buy contains all the nutrients needed for high fertility. To achieve this you may have to buy more than one supplement to make sure you cover every nutrient.

Whether you buy a single supplement product or you need to buy quite a few different ones, it or they should contain the following:

- Vitamins A,E,D
- Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12
- Biotin, Cholene, Inositol, PABA
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin C and Bioflavinoids
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium, Iron, Manganese
- Zinc
- Chromium, Selenium, Iodine
- Evening Primrose Oil
- MaxEPA

After taking supplements containing all of these, apart from giving your body everything it needs to conceive, you should feel greater well-being and notice higher levels of energy. How these supplements benefit you in terms of you conceiving are as follows:

Vitamin A ? For men, vitamin A is necessary for sperm production and production of testosterone. In women it keeps the cilia in the fallopian tubes healthy, and deficiencies in either men or women could lead to infertility and miscarriage. Vitamin A is a known antioxidant so it plays an important role in detoxifying your body.

Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, PABA, Folic Acid, Inositol, Choline ? These vitamins usually occur together and are necessary for balancing estrogen and progesterone, as well as the production of sex hormones. For male fertility the B group is especially important. Vitamin B5 is needed for the testes to be healthy, high sperm count and motility require Vitamin B12, and Inositol is needed for a healthy prostate gland. A deficiency in Vitamin B can result in a miscarriage or risk of the baby being stillborn.

Vitamin C and Bioflavinoids ? Because Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant it works to eliminate toxins in your system, like lead for example. Vitamin C encourages ovulation in women who haven?t been producing eggs and who may be anovular. In men it prevents the sperm from clumping. However a deficiency of Vitamin C during the period of conception and early pregnancy can result in a miscarriage.

Calcium ? You need calcium for producing fertile mucus in the vagina. You know it?s fertile when it is stretchy. Calcium deficiency can result in toxemia while pregnant.

Magnesium ? Estrogen and Progesterone require Magnesium if they are to be produced. If a woman has a Magnesium deficiency the muscle contractions of the Fallopian Tubes can be affected, interfering with the movement of eggs and sperm within the uterus. You know you have a Magnesium deficiency if you crave sugary foods, chocolate in particular.

Potassium ? Potassium is necessary for sperm motility and the general wellbeing of glands. Iron ? Iron is essential for hemoglobin production and the correct formation of fetal blood. Without enough iron infertility can result.

Manganese ? Manganese is involved with building and breaking down genetic material, like nucleic acids. It also plays a part in the secretions from glands that affect a womans? maternal instinct, her desire to love and nurture her child. Deficiencies in Manganese reduce sperm count and can result in infertility.

Zinc ? Zinc is required for a healthy sperm count and for the sperm to be well formed. Zinc deficiency can result in chromosomal abnormalities in the sperm and low levels of testosterone. For women, low zinc can lead to a miscarriage. Whether male or female zinc is very important to your reproductive health.

Chromium ? Chromium helps with glucose metabolism, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Selenium ? Healthy levels of Selenium help males with sperm production and motility. It is a known antioxidant and can help remove toxins from the body. Low levels of Selenium reduce sperm production and sperm motility.

Iodine ? The thyroid gland the balance of hormones in the body and for it to function properly it needs Iodine. When a woman has a thyroid gland that is not sufficiently active she may not ovulate during her cycle.

Evening Primrose Oil and MaxEPA ? These two contain Omega 3 essential fatty acids which are important for providing what body needs for building cell membranes and body structures. They are also necessary for correct hormone balance and prostaglandin production. In females they help with bloodflow in the uterus. Deficiencies of essential fatty acids can lead to chromosomal defects and miscarriage.

Search your local health food store or supermarket for a supplement product or a combination of products that contain all of the vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids mentioned above. Taking the recommended daily doses of these will provide your body with all the nutrients it needs for it to become a highly fertile environment where conception can occur.

Copyright 2006 Helene Kvist

Helene Kvist makes it easy to understand what to do to make your body highly fertile and more likely to conceive and become pregnant. Learn the essential keys to using fertility supplements for
a successful pregnancy. To receive the Powerful Pregnancy Report visit: vitamins good for getting pregnant. To receive the Powerful Pregnancy Report visit:

In the 21st Century, it is predicted that stress and stress related illnesses such as depression and anxiety will become the biggest killers. Despite significant advances in housing, standards of living, quality of food, and medical science, the pressures all of us have to face in today?s world are as demanding as any pressures experienced by our predecessors.
Why are these illnesses on the rise? And why do some people become so ill through these illnesses, they can find it hard to function?
Well they sure don?t happen overnight! You don?t suddenly wake up one morning and feel stressed or depressed. It?s not like flicking on a light switch! And by the same rule, if you?re suffering, you can?t just wake up one morning, flick off the switch and say ?Great, I?m better now.?
Many people who don?t suffer from these illnesses often say to sufferers:
?Come on, snap out of it.?
If only it was so easy! Should anyone say this to you, please forgive them as it?s just a lack of understanding. It?s very hard for people to understand how you?re feeling if they haven?t been there.
The fact that these illnesses don?t suddenly happen means we can draw some parallels with illnesses such as heart diseases, some cancers and strokes.
Because these illnesses don?t just suddenly happen either.
If we look at heart disease, it?s often the result of damaging behaviors practised over many years. Behaviors such as smoking, lack of exercise and a diet high in saturated fat. Strokes are a result of similar behaviors and cancers too, particularly heavy smoking and drinking as you know.
So how do stressful illnesses such as stress, depression and anxiety compare?
Stress is also the product of harmful mental habits and behaviors. These habits and behaviors are developed and practised over years ? since childhood in most cases. These are the mental processes that enable us to make sense of our lives and the circumstances we?re faced with. When we reach adulthood, we perform them automatically because we?ve learned these behaviors by repetition.
Think of it like learning to drive a car. Initially, the skills required to control the vehicle needed conscious thought. It seemed really difficult didn?t it? But once we?ve performed them for sufficient periods, we drive on auto-pilot. We?ve mastered the required skills by repetition.
Here?s the key: if we eat healthy food, take regular exercise, cut out harmful behaviors such as smoking and drinking, we improve our health and drastically reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and strokes. We are repeating good habits, habits that will give our physical well being a huge boost.
It?s exactly the same for stress. What?s important to understand is that not everyone becomes stressed or depressed ? even when tragic and traumatic circumstances happen to them. Just like people who lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid harmful habits and behaviors, people don?t become stressed or depressed because they have learned effective habits and behaviors that prevent stress from arising.
This is very good news if you suffer from these illnesses. Because just as we can learn habits and behaviors which cause us to become highly-stressed, depressed or anxious, we can learn the habits and behaviors which stop these terrible illnesses in their tracks. And the more often we make use of them, we?ll soon begin to perform them automatically and our mental health will benefit enormously.
No more feeling stressed out. No more feeling unable to cope. No more anxiety and no more depression. EVER.
I?m living proof of this. For 5 years, a series of traumatic events sent me spiralling into an anxiety-induced depression nightmare. I came out of it by learning the natural skills that starve these illnesses. The more I used them, the less anxious I became. They?re now as natural to me as driving a car, and I?ve completely eradicated anxiety and depression from my life.
You can do it too.

About The Author

Chris Green is the author of the new book ?Conquering Stress?, a special program which will show you how to conquer stressful illnesses such as depression, anxiety, panic and worry permanently and without taking powerful drugs. You can learn more about this new book and purchase it at www.conqueringstress.com.
-

You?ll hear many times that single events can trigger a major episode of stress, depression and anxiety. The key word is ?trigger?, because that is all a single event is. It doesn?t actually CAUSE stress, depression or anxiety but it does trigger a sequence of behaviors that lead to mental trauma.

But how does this happen?

Descent into a stressful, depressive or anxious episode happens because of negative and catastrophic reactions to events you are confronted with. One event by itself simply isn?t enough. There are many chain-reactions that take place before a person becomes highly stressed or depressed or anxious, but I?m going to discuss one of the biggest ones: using one event to ascribe catastrophic meanings to all areas of your life ? I call it ?generalizing?.

Let?s take a look at two events that most, if not all humans, will experience during their lifetime:

1. Loss of a job. 2. Death of a loved one.

Loss of a job is a major event that can trigger depression. Please understand, the job loss itself cannot cause depression. It triggers a number of reactions, especially generalization and here?s how it works:

You lose your job and you start to think in general terms:

?Oh no, this is disastrous! How will I cope now? What will people think of me when I tell them? My job meant the whole world to me, now my world is falling apart. I?m nothing without my job! How will I pay the bills? I won?t be able to get another job and life will become a real struggle. Everything is going wrong and I?ll never be happy again!?

Now, this reaction is typical of how a depressive episode can be triggered by one event. Powerful words ? disastrous, nothing, struggle, everything, never ? will stir fearful emotions within you. Self-esteem is being hit, doubt about your abilities is raised, and a catastrophic prediction of the future is made. The job has also been used to ascribe meaning to your whole life and now it?s gone, a feeling that your life has no meaning is also present.

A similar reaction will happen when you lose a loved one:

?I?m devastated! He/She was my whole world, and now my world has fallen apart. Nothing will ever be the same again, I?ll never be happy and I feel empty inside. Life holds nothing for me anymore and I don?t know how I?ll cope without him/her. ?

Can you see the generalizations? Again, we have powerful, negative and emotionally charged phrases to ascribe meaning: whole world, fallen apart, nothing, never, anymore. And a catastrophic prediction for the future is present again.

In both examples, one event has been carried into all areas of your life. With a job loss, enormous importance has been placed on the job itself and now the job has gone, these general meanings cause you serious distress. It?s the same with losing a loved one. Meanings about your whole life have been placed on one person and their passing means your whole life is affected.

In generalizing like this, descent into mental trauma is inevitable.

To stop it, the key skill of keeping perspective is crucial. This means that you keep an event from one area of your life separate from other areas. For example, if the event is job loss, you react without generalizing:

?OK, I?ve lost my job, but my job is just a way to earn income. It doesn?t mean I won?t find a better job nor does it mean that things will change for the worst. My social and home life will still remain the same and I?ll carry on with my life just as I?ve always done. One chapter in my working life has ended and a new one is about to begin.?

Do you see the difference in how keeping perspective and not using powerful, emotionally charged words and phrases will prevent fearful emotions arising?

Please remember that no change is permanent as nothing lasts forever. Things will come into your life and things will move out of your life. It is the cycle of life. Keep things relevant to the area of your life they affect and you will maintain good mental health no matter what circumstances you are faced with.

Until next time.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of ?Conquering Stress?, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For a free mini course, please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

Stress leads the list of all psychological triggers for migraine headaches and may be the most common migraine trigger of all. Understanding stress and how it effects your life could help you cope better with migraines.

Think of specific things you can add to or take away from your daily routine to reduce stress and help avoid migraine headache pain. Keep a note of the results and discuss them with your doctor.

Get enough rest. One of the best ways to do this is set regular bedtime and waking up times each day so that your body clock regulates itself. It may take 2 to 3 weeks for your body to adapt to this new routine, so it is important to set times and stick with them. Gradually, as your body begins to get used to these times your stress levels should reduce along with the frequency of migraine headaches.

Find an exercise you enjoy and stick with it. Exercise not only fortifies your body, but helps with “resting” your mind. You tend to forget all your worries when exercising. Try mild aerobic exercise such as brisk walking, for 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week.

Eat sensibly and have regular meals. Eat foods that are migraine trigger-free for you. Cut down on processed and overly sugary items. To avoid temptation, don?t have them in the house. Keep in mind that processed and sugary foods are not good for your body and can actually increase stress levels.
Headaches can be caused by ordinary foods that most of us eat every day. But cutting out common food triggers from your diet does not mean that you have to sacrifice tasty meals.

When it comes to migraines, decaffeinated coffee, fruit juice and sparkling water are better choices for beverages than caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. If you choose to have an alcoholic drink, stick with single measures and alternate an alcoholic drink with water.

Dairy products can also be common triggers for migraines. Try reducing or cutting out dairy items from your diet for a month to see if this makes a difference to your migraines.

Meats such as corned beef, hot dogs and pickled herring are “cured meats,” and contain an ingredient called sodium nitrate, which can trigger a headache. Instead, consider poultry or freshly purchased and prepared meats.

Identify areas of stress in your life and begin working to improve them. Share your problems, concerns, and thoughts with others. Don?t keep them to yourself. Sharing a problem can provide almost instant relief and you may find that others have constructive suggestions for solving issues. Also, have the courage to say “no” to people who place unwanted demands on your time.

Learn how to relax. If you sit down to rest, do not immediately pick up the phone, read a magazine or turn on the TV. Try out relaxation tapes to help you unwind and relax. You?ll find them at most music or bookstores. You can also search the Internet for tapes specifically designed to help prevent migraine headaches.

If you are suffering with Migraines, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in health related topics. To find out how you can get relief from headaches and migraines please visit this headache and migraine site. Source: www.isnare.com

Sometimes you need a little extra help when it comes to achieving a certain level of intimacy.

There are many supplements for sexual health and satisfaction on the market, but women?s supplements for sexual health tend to be a little known or discussed topic.

Below you will encounter a variety of women?s supplements for sexual health available, when a female wishes to enhance some of her sexual experiences, as well as energy.

Natural Products

When looking for a 100% natural product to stimulate pleasure, there is an item called ?SEX for Women,? - a herbal supplement geared towards enhancing a women?s sexual health. The main ingredients of this selection include Saw Palmetto and Siberian Ginseng, said to increase a woman?s sex drive.

Another women?s supplement used for sexual health is ?Alpine Root,? which is marketed as an alternative for ginseng. It has been proven to show overall positive changes within women?s sexual performance, desire, energy, as well as stamina. Not only does this product aid women?s sexual health, and used to treat poor memory and depression.

Lubricants

Women?s supplements for sexual health could also include lubricants created from a variety of natural ingredients. The Forever Virgin Vaginal Toner and Lubricant, created to awaken the body?s senses. This European formula has passed the test within the United States, Zurich, Paris, and Amsterdam. The product claims to encourage multiple orgasms through its unique combination of flowers, seeds, and plants. You should know that this item does not contain spermicides, artificial perfumes, colors or flavors.

Nutrients

The GH Female Super Formula is supposed to improve women?s sexual health and well being by supplying her body with necessary nutrients, as well as creating a balance within her body. Women suffering from PMS or menopause may find comfort with this product, as well as females who wish to increase their sexual desire and mood. This selection of women?s supplements helps with the sexual health of the user by improving their overall health.

Supplements

The next time you are looking for women?s supplements for sexual health, you may want to consider a female pleasure enhancer named ?Sensuality.? This product provides quick results and delivers a maximum strength dose that does not disrupt a woman?s daily routine. Women of all ages can find comfort with this product, which contains isoflavones, ginko biloba, as well as a stamina blend.

The name may sound funny, but there is a women?s supplement for sexual health, called ?Desire-X Horny Goat Weed.? This product aims to help a woman find their desire and pleasure. The main ingredient?s common name comes from the plant known as Epimedium Grandiflorum, which hails from China and Japan where it?s aphrodisiac properties have been respected for centuries. This product seeks results through increasing the sexual hormone production level within the user.

Another women?s supplement for sexual health is a product referred to as Maca 500mg, which is used to increase a female?s stamina and endurance. Maca is actually a root vegetable found in areas such as Peru. There is a high concentration of iodine, zinc, amino acids, as well as vitamin C, which are essential for promoting the progress of sexual fulfillment and functions.

More sexuality information and FREE exclusive diet and health magazines, are available on our web site: http://www.net-planet.org

When trying to get pregnant, many times we can fail to conceive because our diets are lacking in the nutrients necessary for a successful conception and pregnancy to take place. Even when we are very careful about our diet and ?eat well?, our diet can still be insufficient.

When trying to get pregnant your main objective should be is to try and create the healthiest eggs and sperm possible, and in the woman, the most fertile environment possible so conception can occur.

Often, with many couples, an ordinary diet lacks the necessary nutrients a healthy pregnancy requires. The body knows this, and until the nutrient levels are there, doesn?t conceive.

So in order for the body to receive the nutrients it needs to conceive nutritional supplements are often required to supplement even the best most carefully planned diets.

There are a wealth of supplements available. A short stroll through you local supermarket or health food store reveals an array of choices; Fertility Supplement, Prenatal Vitamins, Fertility Blend, Natural Fertility Supplement, and so on.

The key is not so much what brand you buy, although quality is important, but more important is that the supplement you buy contains all the nutrients needed for high fertility. To achieve this you may have to buy more than one supplement to make sure you cover every nutrient.

Whether you buy a single supplement product or you need to buy quite a few different ones, it or they should contain the following:

- Vitamins A,E,D
- Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12
- Biotin, Cholene, Inositol, PABA
- Folic Acid
- Vitamin C and Bioflavinoids
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium, Iron, Manganese
- Zinc
- Chromium, Selenium, Iodine
- Evening Primrose Oil
- MaxEPA

After taking supplements containing all of these, apart from giving your body everything it needs to conceive, you should feel greater well-being and notice higher levels of energy. How these supplements benefit you in terms of you conceiving are as follows:

Vitamin A ? For men, vitamin A is necessary for sperm production and production of testosterone. In women it keeps the cilia in the fallopian tubes healthy, and deficiencies in either men or women could lead to infertility and miscarriage. Vitamin A is a known antioxidant so it plays an important role in detoxifying your body.

Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, PABA, Folic Acid, Inositol, Choline ? These vitamins usually occur together and are necessary for balancing estrogen and progesterone, as well as the production of sex hormones. For male fertility the B group is especially important. Vitamin B5 is needed for the testes to be healthy, high sperm count and motility require Vitamin B12, and Inositol is needed for a healthy prostate gland. A deficiency in Vitamin B can result in a miscarriage or risk of the baby being stillborn.

Vitamin C and Bioflavinoids ? Because Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant it works to eliminate toxins in your system, like lead for example. Vitamin C encourages ovulation in women who haven?t been producing eggs and who may be anovular. In men it prevents the sperm from clumping. However a deficiency of Vitamin C during the period of conception and early pregnancy can result in a miscarriage.

Calcium ? You need calcium for producing fertile mucus in the vagina. You know it?s fertile when it is stretchy. Calcium deficiency can result in toxemia while pregnant.

Magnesium ? Estrogen and Progesterone require Magnesium if they are to be produced. If a woman has a Magnesium deficiency the muscle contractions of the Fallopian Tubes can be affected, interfering with the movement of eggs and sperm within the uterus. You know you have a Magnesium deficiency if you crave sugary foods, chocolate in particular.

Potassium ? Potassium is necessary for sperm motility and the general wellbeing of glands. Iron ? Iron is essential for hemoglobin production and the correct formation of fetal blood. Without enough iron infertility can result.

Manganese ? Manganese is involved with building and breaking down genetic material, like nucleic acids. It also plays a part in the secretions from glands that affect a womans? maternal instinct, her desire to love and nurture her child. Deficiencies in Manganese reduce sperm count and can result in infertility.

Zinc ? Zinc is required for a healthy sperm count and for the sperm to be well formed. Zinc deficiency can result in chromosomal abnormalities in the sperm and low levels of testosterone. For women, low zinc can lead to a miscarriage. Whether male or female zinc is very important to your reproductive health.

Chromium ? Chromium helps with glucose metabolism, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Selenium ? Healthy levels of Selenium help males with sperm production and motility. It is a known antioxidant and can help remove toxins from the body. Low levels of Selenium reduce sperm production and sperm motility.

Iodine ? The thyroid gland the balance of hormones in the body and for it to function properly it needs Iodine. When a woman has a thyroid gland that is not sufficiently active she may not ovulate during her cycle.

Evening Primrose Oil and MaxEPA ? These two contain Omega 3 essential fatty acids which are important for providing what body needs for building cell membranes and body structures. They are also necessary for correct hormone balance and prostaglandin production. In females they help with bloodflow in the uterus. Deficiencies of essential fatty acids can lead to chromosomal defects and miscarriage.

Search your local health food store or supermarket for a supplement product or a combination of products that contain all of the vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids mentioned above. Taking the recommended daily doses of these will provide your body with all the nutrients it needs for it to become a highly fertile environment where conception can occur.

Copyright 2006 Helene Kvist

Helene Kvist makes it easy to understand what to do to make your body highly fertile and more likely to conceive and become pregnant. Learn the essential keys to using fertility supplements for
a successful pregnancy. To receive the Powerful Pregnancy Report visit: fertility supplements for a successful pregnancy. To receive the Powerful Pregnancy Report visit:

?You are what you eat.?

How many times have you heard this statement? In a world where the food police virtually have an open book to hassle everybody about their eating habits, they hammer this message home to educate people about the benefits of healthy eating.

In cases where individuals have become grossly overweight, then this statement rings true. If your diet is based on junk food ? sugar, fat, fast food etc., then your body will reflect your eating habits and you will put on weight and your arteries will clog. You increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and cancer.

But when we look at people who suffer from stress, depression or anxiety, this statement has no foundation whatsoever. The reason is simple. Foods, no matter what they are, cannot make you stressed, depressed or anxious. And no matter what the food police say, foods cannot cure these problems. There are some foods that can help you feel better, but they won?t cure you. I?ll reveal my choice picks shortly.

Many people who suffer the torment of a depressive, stressful or anxious episode do so because of reasons entirely unrelated to their diet. Also, I have personally known people whose diet has been anything but healthy and yet they are pictures of happiness. A very good friend of mine is a great example of this. She eats junk food day-in, day-out and yet, as anyone who knows her will testify, she is one of the happiest and friendliest people you could wish to meet.

Depression, stress and anxiety can and will arise no matter how healthy your diet is. Foods don?t cause these problems and foods don?t cure these problems. However, they can help to boost mood and here?s 3 quick, simple tips I have personally used to help me boost my moods. Give them a try and see how you get on.

1. Cod liver oil. Liquid is best but it?s harsh to taste. Try capsules. Failing that, try oily fish like mackerel. I loathe oily fish but the capsules are fine. Oily fish is high in Omega 3, an essential fatty acid. If you?re taking aspirin or you?re on prescribed drugs, just check with your doctor before you take an Omega 3 supplement.

2. I don?t eat refined sugar, especially full sugar soda. I cannot sleep if I drink just one can of full sugar soda so I avoid it like the plague. I sleep better and I?m not as fidgety during the day. Although sugar doesn?t cause depression, stress or anxiety, there are links to hyperactivity and I?m definitely less hyper than I used to be. See how you feel without sugar.

3. Sometimes, when you?re feeling a bit down, comfort food can be the equivalent of a hug. There are many comfort foods but my favorite is just a simple bowl of buttery mashed potato or failing that, creamy chicken soup. I love to do this when I just want to shut out the world and have my own company. I light the candles, play some nice music or watch a good film curled up on the sofa with my comfort food treat. It never fails to raise my spirits and it?s a great way to unwind and gather my thoughts.

The reason why food can only help and not cure stress, depression or anxiety is because food doesn?t cause these problems. If you?re depressed for example, changing to a healthy diet won?t cure you because it isn?t as simple as that. To permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety, the root cause has to be addressed. Diet can help, but only if it is part of a complete program that addresses all of the issues, especially the root cause.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of ?Conquering Stress?, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For more information please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

-

?You are what you eat.?

How many times have you heard this statement? In a world where the food police virtually have an open book to hassle everybody about their eating habits, they hammer this message home to educate people about the benefits of healthy eating.

In cases where individuals have become grossly overweight, then this statement rings true. If your diet is based on junk food ? sugar, fat, fast food etc., then your body will reflect your eating habits and you will put on weight and your arteries will clog. You increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and cancer.

But when we look at people who suffer from stress, depression or anxiety, this statement has no foundation whatsoever. The reason is simple. Foods, no matter what they are, cannot make you stressed, depressed or anxious. And no matter what the food police say, foods cannot cure these problems. There are some foods that can help you feel better, but they won?t cure you. I?ll reveal my choice picks shortly.

Many people who suffer the torment of a depressive, stressful or anxious episode do so because of reasons entirely unrelated to their diet. Also, I have personally known people whose diet has been anything but healthy and yet they are pictures of happiness. A very good friend of mine is a great example of this. She eats junk food day-in, day-out and yet, as anyone who knows her will testify, she is one of the happiest and friendliest people you could wish to meet.

Depression, stress and anxiety can and will arise no matter how healthy your diet is. Foods don?t cause these problems and foods don?t cure these problems. However, they can help to boost mood and here?s 3 quick, simple tips I have personally used to help me boost my moods. Give them a try and see how you get on.

1. Cod liver oil. Liquid is best but it?s harsh to taste. Try capsules. Failing that, try oily fish like mackerel. I loathe oily fish but the capsules are fine. Oily fish is high in Omega 3, an essential fatty acid. If you?re taking aspirin or you?re on prescribed drugs, just check with your doctor before you take an Omega 3 supplement.

2. I don?t eat refined sugar, especially full sugar soda. I cannot sleep if I drink just one can of full sugar soda so I avoid it like the plague. I sleep better and I?m not as fidgety during the day. Although sugar doesn?t cause depression, stress or anxiety, there are links to hyperactivity and I?m definitely less hyper than I used to be. See how you feel without sugar.

3. Sometimes, when you?re feeling a bit down, comfort food can be the equivalent of a hug. There are many comfort foods but my favorite is just a simple bowl of buttery mashed potato or failing that, creamy chicken soup. I love to do this when I just want to shut out the world and have my own company. I light the candles, play some nice music or watch a good film curled up on the sofa with my comfort food treat. It never fails to raise my spirits and it?s a great way to unwind and gather my thoughts.

The reason why food can only help and not cure stress, depression or anxiety is because food doesn?t cause these problems. If you?re depressed for example, changing to a healthy diet won?t cure you because it isn?t as simple as that. To permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety, the root cause has to be addressed. Diet can help, but only if it is part of a complete program that addresses all of the issues, especially the root cause.

Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

Former anxiety sufferer Chris Green is the author of ?Conquering Stress?, the internationally acclaimed program which will help you to permanently conquer stress, depression and anxiety without taking powerful drugs. For more information please click here => http://www.conqueringstress.com

What causes tension headaches is not known, however the common assumption is that they are caused by muscle tension in the head and neck. Although muscle tension may be a related cause, there are many forms of tension headaches and recent thinking is that there is more than one cause for this type of headache.

One theory is a malfunctioning pain filter that is found in the brain stem may cause the pain. The thought is that the brain misinterprets information, from muscles, and interprets that signal as pain.

Serotonin is thought to be one of main molecules involved. This is evidenced by the fact that tension headaches can be successfully treated with some antidepressants. Teeth clenching is another theory as a cause for tension type headaches and migraine as it causes chronic contraction of the temporalis muscle.

Nonprescription painkillers such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen commonly relieve tension headaches. When severe muscle contraction occurs, stronger prescription drugs may be needed. However, there are side effects associated with these stronger drugs, namely drowsiness and slower reflexes. Therefore, most physicians will only recommend using strong medications for short periods of time and usually not for more than a few days.

Stress management can be very effective. Some people find exercises or meditation to be very relaxing. Biofeedback may improve relaxation exercises and can prove helpful for chronic tension headaches.

Other preventive measures you can try include keeping warm if your headache is associated with the cold. Try using a different pillow or changing your sleeping position. Adopt correct posture when reading, working or doing other activities that may cause headache. Exercise your neck and shoulder muscles when doing prolonged typing, computer work and when doing any close-up work. Getting enough sleep and massaging sore muscles can help reduce a headache occurring. Hot or cold showers or baths may relieve headaches too, so it?s worth experimenting to see if either help you.

Over-the-counter medication such as aspirin, ibruprofen, or acetominophen may relieve pain if the above-mentioned preemptive measures are ineffective. Sometimes antidepressant medication may be advised for the relief of chronic headaches.

Keeping a diary of your headaches can help identify the source of chronic headaches. When you suffer with a headache write down the date and time the headache began. Also write down what you ate and how much sleep you got over the previous 24 hours. If you noticed any unusual symptoms or felt under stress, make a note of it too. Also, keep a record of how long the headache lasted and what made it stop. Having a headache diary available can act as a tracking device and you may find patterns that you should do more to avoid.

Some lifestyle changes may be necessary to reduce tension headaches. This may include getting enough rest and exercise and possibly a change in job or free time activities.

If you are suffering with headaches or migraines, you should first consult your primary care physician before taking other steps.

About the Author :

Kathryn Whittaker has an interest in health related topics. To find out how you can get relief from headaches and migraines please visit this headache and migraine site. Source: www.isnare.com

In a sporadic outburst of decadence I joined the Chocolate tasting Club. Every month a box of ‘the-most-fantastic-chocolates-in-the-world’ would drop the through the letterbox. Please enjoy these mouth watering treats in a linguistic format. No calories - you get to keep your teeth! You can also use this technique of turning immediate sensory information in writing to overcome writer’s block !

These boxes contained about 50 chocolates, usually two of each main variety. I would eat one and savour its qualities and later on with the second one would write about it while I ate it.

Whisky Truffle
A nice firm fit in the mouth with a rippled texture that melted with blood warmth. After a slow initial start, my tongue encouraging the outer layers, the truffle imploded gently with shards of dark chocolate bedded into the outer mass and burrowing their way into the creamy centre. A wide taste of whisky warmed my mouth and filled my heart.

Macadamia Smoothy
I fitted the dome shape into my upper palate and left it there to warm. The casing slowly melted and then cracked open in places, leaking a subtle flavour of warming gin and neroli-like orange that quickly turned to flavoured fluid. Suddenly my mouth was a river of macadamia and orange and I swam down it to melting point. Like a swift visit to a sophisticated cocktail bar.

Le Crunch
An ‘energy builder’ claimed the description. An almond and two hazelnuts sat together and my first bite took one of each. It split like perfect slate and nested while my tongue worked the edges, soon feeling nutty texture. Light brown flavours infected my taste buds and increased my saliva. The flavours merged together into toffee. It melted together with the surety of a target taste, I could feel it compiling a taste direction in my mouth, leaving nutty shards. I bit into them and nut and praline exploded together infusing a delicious end flavour.

Memories
It was lust. A Toblerone made by angels in heaven exploded nutty stars and nougat.

Confit d’Orange
The bundle took a while to melt, releasing slow flavours like a distant memory of orange. It broke into an orange wonderland and I rafted on the dark chocolate down an orange flavoured stream of pleasure. The enrobing raft stopped me drowning and caressed me into the flavour, leaving shreds of elfin marmalade scattered around my mouth.

Smile
I wanted to bite into my smile but I didn’t. It fitted in my mouth perfectly and I rolled it round and over as it melted to me. As the smile melted inside me it infected my heart with a grin. I felt welcomed by a world of tiramou ganache which whispered secret flavours to me about the original beans.

Mignonne
I placed the hazelnut-domed, white chocolate carefully upright into my mouth.
My glands secreted swift saliva at its scent, urging the melt. Rotating the ball, my tongue soon found a nutty texture emerging from the robe, leeching subtle flavours. The wafer and nut counterpointed each other perfectly. The wafer melted in waves of creaminess, the nuts patiently waited, clustered in melting chocolate. Finally I bit into it and the nut maiden ran from her bushes and showered me with sweet kisses.

Kenya
The pixelated, rasta-coloured top drew my interest from the very beginning. Edible pigment in cocoa butter. It seemed the right size to bite into. Chilled to two degrees below room temperature it broke easily in my mouth, the crust of tight chocolate breaking easily into a brick like core. I let it rest a moment and suddenly all the coffees I’d ever enjoyed rushed me in ambush. I could taste the plantation, the heat, the sweat that had gone into these beans, beating together with the cocoa nibs like sharper bubbles in the sand. They melted together with a nutty finish. I’m sure I saw giraffes.

Calvados Truffle
I popped the whole thing in at two degrees below room temperature. I sensed a petrol-like energy building, suggestions of Cox’s Orange Pippin bleeding through its melting skin. I rolled it around in anticipation. The flavour hues grew deeper as the chocolate escaped into me, revealing a forest of Calvados ganache that stretched away to melting point in a soft, toffee-like ending.

Lime Sorbet
A perfect fit in the mouth with a fascinating speckle like a bird’s egg. The skin fractured quickly to ooze sweet lime that flowed with increasing sharpness across my tongue. The light explosion of fruitiness slowly faded to chocolate bliss dark as a raven’s wing.

Rum and Sultana Ganache
A firm shape like a square Christmas cake with an enrobed sultana crowning it. It was quite big but I popped it in in one go anyway.
The melt started. On one side the raisin roughed my tongue like the gentle but rough lick of a cow. The internal ganache morphed itself to fit my palate and ultimate flavours started to leech through the casing. The temptation to bite became intense and my teeth fractured through the sultana, mixing a rush of Carribean rum to float over the soft, dark ganache. I put my Bob Marley CD on.

Rose Cream
With my first one of the two, I was impressed how a flavour as delicate as rose transferred to chocolate. Yum. I was transported to Chelsea Physic garden and my first smell of a chocalate scented fritillary. I was in a bower made of chocolate and scented roses hung around me. Waves of dark chocolate fondant flavour almost overwhelmed me in a moment out of time.

Green Apple Sorbet
I placed the chilled chocolate with its bright green splatter into my mouth and waited. Its like that moment when you light the fuse of a firework and ’stand well back’. The advantage of chilling was clear with this chocolate, it gives the skin a little more integrity while the insides of the chocolate warm to blood temperature. The sweet nugget collapsed slowly and vibrant green flavours erupted onto my taste buds like oozing lava. Scintillating colours rainbowed my mouth and throat as it slipped down in a river of sweet-sharp sorbet and ganache.

Enrobed English Fudge
I liked the look of plain chocolate to this one, but avoided the temptation to bite it. I had eaten the first one at room temperature and was suprised how much chilling changed the whole effect the second time around. Instead of melting into a mass, the fudge crumbled delightfully to sweet-rich and dark-earthy flavours. It was all over too quickly. May I have another one please?

Bruges
The surface crackled and the chocolate spread out in melt. Crispy chrunchles were taste and texture asteroids in a flood of feuillentine. I even tasted the crisp, starched uniform of the chef who so lovingly created the pancake crystals and embedded them in a pure river of milky wonder.

Criollo baton
I scoffed a pure criollo baton while I considered the next victim from the box. Of all chocolate flavours so far it is criollo that transports me the most, on a whistlestop tour of Africa that leaps the ocean to South America. I become part of the earth’s consciousness. A simple chocolate can hold so many mysteries.

Brigitte
A chocolate by master makers Hermes. It melted well, maintaining its form. The outside melted in unison with the inside and flavours of almond marzipan transported me back to the bazaars of Istanbul. Hazelnut praline nestled at the core. This chocolate morphed through flavours, retaining them all in a most excellent symphony.

Jockey
I prefer the mysteries of dark chocolate the the mothers milk of creamier varieties, and enjoy chocolates that have ’stages’ which this one certainly has. The milk chocolate surface one melted away, leeching a darkness from the core until I bit into the ground zero of hazelnut heaven. It was beautifully timed for a perfect finish.

Rocher Noir
The instant tang of dark chocolate hit my hungry tastebuds. This chocolate had lacerations of caramelised hazelnut embedded in its surface that woke up my tongue with texture. The ball warmed in my mouth and slowly imploded. The crisp texture dissipated with the enrobing to a centre of almond praline I wanted to bite. I waited and worked my tongue, eroding the rich and fresh taste until my eyelids went fluttery.

Grand butter whisky
This looked too milky for my tastes and it collapsed too quickly into a greasy whisky sandwich. Give me hard and plain any time.

Chinese truffle
I loved the streak of white chocolate in this one. It reminded me of Cruella De Ville in 101 Dalmations. It was a perfect size and it sweated layered tastes onto my tongue. I played with it like a worry bead in my mouth until it finally split through the skin on one side. Like the first eruption, ginger took me and filled me with warmth nurtured by the careful ganache. It was like a whole evening by the fireside in two minutes.

Dark chocolate baton 60% Belgian
Two molecules into the silky sheen deep flavours started to erupt. I was planted in black soil as the rich flavours expanded my senses. My roots straddled the ocean, one set in South America and one in Africa. The whole world was in my mouth, whispering to me its fresh, earthy secrets.

Summertime
Hazelnut, cocoa butter, pistachio with smooth and creamy chocolate sail along together into a summer sea of aftertaste. Elegant flavours mixed in harmony.

Ramses
Deep coffee-chocolate flavours dwell in a mystic core of smooth hazelnut praline. Aftertastes are rich and nutty, lurking for a while and coating my tastebuds with Egyptian night.

Ganache 982
Richest, deepest, darkest, strongest - scintillating flavours of coffee night, burnt sugar and butter mingle with the fresh, creamy chocolate. Was I consuming the chocolate or was it consuming me? For a moment I lost touch. This was essence of Black Forest Gateaux with a wide and lingering aftertaste.

Clever Creme Caramel
This chocolate was so clever it just leapt into my mouth without any help. The first tastes as the double heart chamber melted sent me schitzoid. Caramel flavours flooded from one half and dark ganache from the other as it played on my tongue, slowly unrobing. Then it merged my psyche back to harmony. Shards of the chocolate chambers protected the last moist flavours until fade.

Mango Sorbet
Delicate as a quails egg, its orange speckles tempted me in. The skin erupted flagrant mango while a rich, dark core stood back to complement. Extreme fruitiness put me in a party mood as the three tastes of white chocolate, mango and deep ganache came together in a perfect finish.

Latte Machiatto
Creamy milk and a burst of coffee with chocolate sprinklings, even the foaminess was there. Like all the most perfect coffees and hot chocolates merged into a single experience. I would spend my life in a coffee bar that served this.

Georgette
I immediately felt the weight of this one in my mouth. It was so heavy I had to sit