Happiness at Any Age

Source : about.com health

Striving For Happiness

In my opinion, being happy is a feeling most people strive for. I think on some level we all want to be happy, otherwise life would seem pretty bleak. I know I do. When I feel happy, I am productive, motivated, creative and on fire.

For many, aging can create a lot of unhappiness as things that once felt in our control, now feel out of control, like our health, our bodies and even our relationships with others.

That's why it's even more important to engage in daily activities that cultivate happiness and to build that emotional muscle so that you can experience overall well-being.

Can We Choose Happiness?

Happiness is a fleeting emotion. We are dynamic individuals with many layers to us that feel tons of different emotions in any given minute. Experts will tell us that you can choose happiness, and although that may seem logical, I have found that most people struggle with this concept.

Happiness is not something you capture, and many of us sought to find it in external things like money, cars, big houses, etc, but the bottom line is that none of those things bring true happiness, as they are just things.

I always thought having the fancy house, nice cars and being able to travel anywhere in the world would bring me all the happiness I ever desired, but that wasn't the case.

True happiness, contentment and joy need to be nurtured, cultivated and practiced.

Here are my favorite tips on ways you can feel happier in your life;

Leave Your Seat, and Move Those Feet

Exercise is one of the best ways to feel happy. Neurotransmitters and endorphins are released during exercise that support you in feeling good. Your brain chemistry actually changes when you exercise and new neurons are created.

Studies have shown that physically active people can recover from depression more quickly than non-exercisers and it attributes to better mental health as we age.

Not an exerciser?

That's ok...just get up and move, even if it's a walk for 10-20 minutes a day, and work yourself up from there.

Connect With Others

Human connection is one of the most important factors in overall happiness and feeling good. In our busy world today, it's easy to skate through life with our heads buried in TV, electronics or other distractions.

Making an effort to deeply and authentically connect with other human beings will leave us with an overall sense of well-being and meaning in the world. When we have interpersonal relationships with others, we feel a sense of belonging.

It is in our nature to want to be close with others and connect, so reach out to someone today whether it's an old friend, or a new one waiting to be made.

Be of Service

What I find as I become more and more successful over the years is that being of service is the one thing that brings me true, authentic happiness. As I said before, it wasn't the cars, the money or any of those things, but when I am of service to the people in this world, I feel a very strong sense of connectedness and inner happiness that I have never felt from any external thing. My work with the United States Armed Forces and Push Ups for Charity is some of the most important work I do and brings me joy and a humble connection with the greater good.

 I am able to give back to those who give so much to us each day.

What can you do to be of service today? Even if it's just asking someone how they are, and listening with your whole heart to what they have to say.

Be Grateful for What You Have Now

Expressing gratitude may sound cliche, but studies have shown that feeling gratitude for the things we do have, versus focusing on the things you want or don't have brings a strong sense of internal happiness if practiced regularly.

So, take a minute right now to think of all the people in your life you feel grateful for and the experiences you've had that have warmed your heart. See, it's almost impossible to feel anything but happy when living in the attitude of gratitude.

Medical Q&A #11 - Ears, Nose and Throat

The Ears : Common question

I know that the ears are divided into outer, middle and inner sections, but I'm not sure how these parts work together. Can you tell me?


Hearing is made possible by the operation of a delicate, finely coordinated system that involves all three sections of the ear. The outer ear ( the part that is easily seen ) captures vibration, or sound waves, and channels them down a short canal to the eardrum, the membrane that separates the outer from the middle ear.

As the eardrum is struck by sound waves, it vibrates. On the other side of the eardrum, three tiny bones, named ( after the objects they resemble ) the hammer, the anvil and the stirrup, pick up the vibrations, amplify them and pass them on to the fluid in the cochlea. This bony, snail-shaped structure, about the size of a lima bean, is located in the inner ear.

The cochlea contains receptor cells crowned with microscopic 'hairs' that transform the vibration into electrical impulses. These impulses are transmitted by the auditory nerve to the brain, where they are translated into the sounds of the world around you.

Thai Chicken Soup

Recipes for family meals ....something for all the family .

Chicken soup, a popular home remedy for the common cold since at least the 12th century, may really help. The steam from chicken soup may open up congested noses and throats. Soup also provides fluid, which is important for fighting infection. Some researchers suggest that substances in chicken soup reduce the inflammation associated with the common cold, thus providing some relief of symptoms.

Serves 4

2x400g cans reduced-fat coconut milk
125ml hot chicken stock
1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
2 boneless, chicken breasts, about 175g each, very thinly sliced
200g mangetout
200g bean sprouts

____________________________________________________

The Big Diabetes Lie
Click Here!

____________________________________________________


1. Place the coconut milk, stock and curry paste in a large saucepan and bring to the boil.

2. Add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes, then add the mangetout and bean sprouts and cook for a further 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

3. Serve ladled into warmed serving bowls.

Medical Q&A #10 - The Eyes

Common questions

I do not understand how what I am 'looking at' becomes 'what I see'. Can you explain?


This is an especially valuable question, one that relates to almost everything that we see and do. The human eye works very much like a camera; although this comparison is an oversimplification, it is helpful in explaining how you see.

 Like a camera and its lens, the eye has a refracting, or light focusing, system. When you look at an object, rays of light travel from that object into the lens system of the eye just as rays of light travel from an object into the lens system of a camera.

The rays first pass through the cornea, the clear tissue that covers the iris, or coloured part of the eye. As light filters through the cornea, the rays bend inwards, travelling through the pupil, or hole in the centre of the iris, and continue onwards to the lens itself. Just as a camera lens narrows or bends light rays so that they meet in focus on the film in the back of the camera, the lens of eye narrows  the light rays so that they meet and focus on the retina in the back of the eye.

The retina receives the image of the object you see and then transmits it by way of the optic nerve to the brain. But the retina can record only what it receives. If the image sent to the brain is sharp, then that is the picture you see. If the image is blurred, you may need corrective glasses or contact lenses.

Jamaican Spiced Salmon With Corn And Okra

Healthy family meal plans...

Sweet corn is one of summer’s simplest, purest pleasures. A fresh-picked ear, grilled to caramelized perfection and lightly buttered, offers incredible, complex sweetness, an intoxicating texture and plenty of nutrition benefits to boot.

But many people have convinced themselves that sweet corn is bad. That’s a shame. It’s easy to take a few real nuggets of fact and use them to come to a distorted conclusion about this super-delicious summer veggie.

Serves 4

4 skinless salmon fillets, about 175g each
1 tablespoon Jamaican jerk seasoning
4 corn on the cobs, halved
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, sliced
250g okra, trimmed
50g butter
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt


_________________________________

Pure Reiki Healing Master
Click Here!

_________________________________


1. Rub each of the salmon fillets with the Jamaican jerk seasoning and set aside

2. Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil and cook the corn on the cob pieces for 15 minutes until tender.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large, heavy-based saucepan and cook the onion over a medium heat, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add the okra and cook, stirring frequently, for 4 minutes until beginning to soften. Drain the cobs well, add to the pan with the butter and spices and toss for a further 2 - 3 minutes until lightly browned in places.

4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan and cook the salmon fillets, spice-side down, over a medium heat for 3 - 4 minutes, then turn over and cook for a further 2 minutes until cooked through. Serve hot with the corn and okra mixture.

Can You Live Without Pancreas ?

Pancreas is approximately 6 inches long and its form is a little like tadpole, with head, body and tail. It lies within the abdomen, behind the stomach and in front of the backbone. It commits two main things namely making liquid which contains enzymes that break nutrients in food - like fat and protein - so that your body can use it; it also makes hormone like insulin to off-set sugar level in your blood.

Enzyme is a protein which increases chemical reaction rate in your body. Without it, a process which may take a few seconds or minutes will take a period of years. The enzyme in pancreas is merged with bile, liquid made by heart, to break food.

Can you live without pancreas? The answer is yes, yet living is not the same without it because pancreas makes insulin. You will suffer from diabetes if your pancreas is removed or is no longer functional. This means you will rely on injection or insulin pump. It is also difficult for you to organize it because pancreas also produces other hormone which controls sugar in blood.

Pancreas can be destructive to oneself when the channel, or tube, in the pancreas is blocked, which creates enzyme. When this happens, it is called acute pancreatitis. Symptom includes gradual illness or suddenly in stomach , that may not be severe in early stage, but usually will be desperately after that. Treatment usually involve entry to ward for the admission of IV liquid, and fasting, so that pancreas can rest.


Unhealthy nutrition, sistik fibrosis, and a few medicines can cause chronic pancreatitis, but common cause is often drinking liquor. People who have this disease should stop drinking liquor, regardless of what causes their condition.

Every day the pancreas produces half gallon of liquid and enzyme. Those who experience certain condition - like pancreatitis, sistik fibrosis, and those who had undergone particular operation - have no pancreas enzyme that is enough. This is due to they could not absorb nutrition well, they need a treatment that is called pancreas enzyme replacement therapy.

When you suffer diabetes type 1, a particular type islet cell (cell in pancreas) is no longer making enough insulin,  because it has been plagued by the body's immune system. Those who suffer type 1 diabetes have to take on insulin. This condition could be recovered by conducting therapy to control immune system so that it does not attack islet cell. Type 2 diabetes happens when body becomes resistant to insulin. This is usually caused by genetics combination and factor of life style, including obesity and lack of physical activity. 

Pancreas transfer is carried out when a person is having type 1 diabetes that is difficult to handle. It is usually carried out along with kidney transplant. Old pancreas ordinarily is allowed in provenance to continue making enzyme because your immune system innately will reject new organ, thus you should take medicines to prevent it in your lifetime. Pancreas transfer cannot be done on people with pancreatic cancer. Medicines used to prevent organ rejection will also deter immune system from fighting cancer.
  

Chicken Thighs With Lemon Creme Fraiche And Greens

Cheap family meals ideas ... wholesome budget supper for whole family.

 As we are all told, white meat is better for you and dark meat contains too much fat. Consequently, most feel that chicken thighs are too fatty to eat on a regular basis. While it is true that chicken thighs contain twice the amount of fat of boneless, skinless breasts, it is only at a mere 11 grams of fat per 4-ounce serving. That is less than you will find in the same size serving of beef or lamb.

The calories and cholesterol in chicken thighs weigh in at 232 calories and 105 milligrams cholesterol per serving. There is not much difference in the breast meat. It weighs in at 196 calories and 96 milligrams of cholesterol per serving. If you are one who gave up the dark meat of chicken thighs, take heart! You can eat them again - guilt free.

Serves 4

8 boneless chicken thighs
4 tablespoons thyme leaves
1 tablespoon olive oil
Finely grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 x 200ml cartons creme fraiche
200g baby spinach leaves
Pepper
Cooked rice or creamy mashed potato, to serve

_________________________________________

Bodyweight Burn - Fat Loss
Click Here!

________________________________________



1. Season the chicken thighs with plenty of pepper and roll in the thyme leaves. Heat the oil in  a large, heavy-based  frying pan and cook the chicken thighs over a medium heat for 20 minutes until cooked through, turning frequently for the first 10 minutes, then covering with a lid for the final 10 minutes.

2. Add the lemon rind and juice to the pan and toss with the chicken. Mix the mustard into one of the cartons of creme fraiche and then add both carton of creme fraiche to the pan with the spinach leaves. Toss and heat for 2 - 3 minutes until the spinach has wilted and the sauce is hot.

3. Serve with rice or creamy mashed potato.