Macrobiotic Diet Helps Balance Your Diet and Your Life

Macrobiotics devotees believe that food, and food quality, affects our lives more than is commonly thought. It is thought to affect our health, well being and happiness. They focus on moving away from processed foods, and moving toward more natural and more traditional methods of food preparation. They claim it is better to choose food that is less processed, more natural, use more traditional methods of food preparation for themselves and their family.

Macrobiotics emphasize locally-grown, organically-grown whole grain cereals, legumes, vegetables, fruit, seaweed and fermented soy products, combined into meals according to the principle of balance between Yin and Yang properties, rather than scientific dietary guidelines. Macrobiotic diets follow the idea of Yin and Yang. Cereals, fruit, beans, nuts and vegetables, and rice make up the main part of the diet and are considered neutral and are naturally balanced in terms of Yin and Yang. Foods which are either extremely Yin in nature or extremely Yang in nature are eaten very rarely if at all. Very Yin products include coffee, tropical fruit, sugar, soft dairy products, vegetables, alcohol and honey. Very Yang products include poultry, meat, firm dairy products like hard cheeses, and eggs.

The macrobiotic diet is high in natural, unprocessed foods, complex carbohydrates, and vegetables. It is low in saturated fats, whilst providing the essential fats. Food should be organically grown and eaten fresh. The Macrobiotic lifestyle also governs how food should be prepared. No microwave should be used - rice must be cooked in a pressure cooker. Food should be eaten and chewed slowly, in a relaxed manner.

Low-fat high-fiber diets are also believed to play a role in preventing some types of cancer. And the macrobiotic emphasis on fresh, non-processed foods may be beneficial to those dealing with certain food allergies and chemical sensitivities. Followers assert that the balance and harmony of the macrobiotic diet and lifestyle create the best possible conditions for health. They claim that the diet yields many positive health effects, including a general sense of well-being, and some studies actually show that people on the diet have a decreased risk of heart disease and some forms of cancer.

Peace of Mind towards Beauty Enhancement

Beauty is closely related to physical appearance. The shape of your body, the color of your skin, the shine of your hair, the clothes and jewelry that you wears are all factors used by the modern world to define the beauty of a person.

Many people have forgotten that beauty is composed of inner and outer beauty. What is inside a person’s heart and mind is manifested in the outside world. Beauty is the total impact of your views about a person’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual attributes.

Inner peace is a key component for achieving true beauty and health.

Peace
Having peace of mind is another key factor in achieving beauty inside and out. Peace of mind gives a person much needed space to enable them to see the beauty of everything around them. The way a person views the world depends on their inner peace.

Meditation
Meditating helps in achieving peace of mind, tranquility, and serenity. Anyone can engage in meditation. You don’t need to be an expert in yoga to be able to meditate. You can sit on a chair, close your eyes and free your mind of the thoughts of the past and the future. Focusing on the present is what yoga is all about. You should feel the air passing through the nose, entering and exiting the lungs. Meditation takes practice, which should be done regularly.

Other than knowing than art of meditation, there are ways of achieving peace of mind. Listed below are some of them:

-Forgive those who have wronged you

It may sound like a cliché but this is one of the basic lessons that people often take for granted. Holding no grudges against people will be very helpful in achieving peace of mind. Unloading all of your hard feelings and accepting past events is a major key toward inner peace.

-Say “I’m sorry”

Saying “I’m sorry” for the mishaps and mistakes that we make is necessary when trying to achieve inner peace. Inner peace is not achieved through pride; it is achieved by respecting the people around you.

-Pray

Praying for wisdom and courage instead of material things is a fulfilling experience. Peace of mind speaks of the soul and not of the material world.

Achieving peace of mind is a way of improving one’s overall image. Beauty is a two-sided coin; both inner and outer beauty should be improved and neither should be taken for granted.

SPA To Enhance Your Appearance

A Relaxing Spa Experience Will Help You Enhance Your Appearance Inside And Out

Spas abound in all sizes and shapes and they all have one thing in common which is that is all are dedicated to providing personal health. To a certain degree, each addresses emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

You can walk out of a spa physically and emotionally sound and free from stress. Stress is the number one factor that affects not only your emotions and health, but your appearance as well. A day in a spa helps to release stress and allows for the release of all negative energy, both of which are necessary to attain a more tranquil body.

The best spa environment must offer the following:

• Clean surroundings

• Professional, courteous and friendly staff

• Credentials that are available when requested

Basic spa treatments include:

1. Therapeutic massage is the use of the hands on the on the muscles of the body to provide a soothing and relaxing feeling as well as several other health benefits.

2. A facial is a service offered in a spa that involves deep cleansing, skin analysis, massage, toning, moisturizing and "extraction" - which is the removal of impurities, particularly blackheads.

3. Body treatments involve cleansing by exfoliating with a body scrub or salt glow to cleanse the skin and remove the dead skin layers, resulting in a very soft and refreshed feeling.

Body scrubs are usually supplemented with either a hydrating or detoxifying body wrap. Algae, seaweed or mud products are used to detoxify as they increase blood circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system. This improves your body's ability to release waste products. During the treatment, an oil or rich cream is applied to hydrate the skin to make it softer and glowing.


4. Spa manicures and pedicures and foot scrubs are available in some spas that have salons for hair styling and cutting services as well.

Before going to a spa, call and ask about the following:

• Ask about the services they offer. There are those that offer the basics such as facials, massages, foot scrubs, “manicures and pedicures”, and others that offer specialized bodywork, body wraps and much more.

• Ask about prices.

• Ask about the staff: are they certified or not? Can you see their credentials?

Your spa etiquette:

• Turn off the cell phone.

• Massage is generally done nude, however parts of the body that are not being massaged will be covered.

• Share the space with other spa customers respectfully.

• If there’s anything that displeases you, talk to the manager.

• Remember to tip 15-20 percent.

Relax and savor each spa moment and arrive 20 minutes before so that you have enough time to change and enjoy the sauna.

Treat yourself to a spa today! You deserve it!