Healthy as an Ox

I HAVE MOVED!!! To a Chiropractic clinic in Darwin!

2011-02-27T13:37:00.000+09:30

Well, it's been over two months since my last update - hope you had a great Christmas!

Things have been go, go, go for my wife and I - we have started our own Chiropractic clinic in Darwin (NT, Australia) - and to go with it we have an official website (and blog) to work from.

So from now on I'll be posting at http://chiropracticdarwin.com.au/health-blog/

I'll see you there!

By the way, Leandra puts some amazing recipes on the blog, so that alone is well worth a look!

Happy Birthday ELA!

2010-12-16T11:10:00.000+09:30

It's my lovely wife's birthday today, head on over to ELA and wish her a happy birthday!

Needless to say I'm spoiling her today with some of her favorite foods before we fly to Melbourne tonight.

Avocado on toast, with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, home made Limeonade and Chai tea... Possibly one of the simplest yet best breakfasts possible.

Disagree? Then let me know...

Bored?

2010-12-14T10:00:00.001+09:30

From here

Feeling bored?

What about tired?

Finding it difficult to focus?

These can all be signals that you're not exercising enough. We all know that exercise is good for you, it doesn't really matter what type of exercise, how or where. What is important is that you do it! Regularly!

When you exercise regularly you improve your stamina and endurance physically and mentally. So going to the gym a few times a week, swimming, jogging, riding, playing tennis or basket ball - whatever it
is you enjoy! - it not only helps your fitness, but it actually boosts the energy you have during the day and encourages good sleep.

The added bonus is that if it's something you do alone - it's a great time to just relax and give your mind a break!

My suggestion is swimming:
    •    it's a great cardiovascular workout,
    •    low impact (so it's great for your joints),
    •    it can be great for learning to control breathing (great for people with asthma)
    •    you can't have your music (so it's a real time out from the rest of the world - it's almost like meditation)

Boost your energy without that caffeine hit, focus more easily and get rid of that boredom by adding something new to your day to day life.

Make sure you set some goals and measure your results (ie. make sure you're getting closer to them!)

Goals

2010-12-10T16:12:00.001+09:30

From here

I touched on goal-setting in the previous post (Present Time Consciousness), and goal-setting is just as important when it comes to your health as career choices etc.

Just as some people will wander aimlessly from the start of their career to the end letting the world push them to where-ever they end up, possibly more people take the same approach with their health. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with that, it's your life, do shat make you happy - just be prepared to reap the consequences of you actions good or bad.

Looking at physics, chemistry, and pretty much any other science (hell, look beyond science and you'll find the same!), every action has
a re-action, every Cause has an Effect.

If you set goals for your health and fitness then follow it up with constant steps towards those goals, what will the result be?

What will happen if you don't? Be realistic.

How will you feel when you're 60?, 80? 100?

How will you feel in your bones, your joints, your chest, heart, mind?

Will you be a burden to your kids or run rings around your great grandchildren?

Be honest with yourself.

Cause and Effect.

Make yourself a priority, set your goals and go for them.

See you at 100!

Present Time Consciousness

2010-12-09T12:52:00.000+09:30

From here

There's a quote that I love:

"The past is a mystery,
the future is a mystery,
but today is a gift - that's why it's called the present."

As far as I know this wasn't said by anyone particularly
famous or with historical or cultural significance, it was said by the wise old turtle in 'Kung Fu Panda' - yes, the animated movie starring Jack Black.

Lots of the stress that we all feel day to day is worrying about possible scenarios in our future, or worrying about what could have been done differently in the past. Neither of which are very helpful or productive.

Yes indeed, learn lessons from the past - that's what it's there for, it's why we make mistakes and have all of these experiences that comprise of our life - but don't dwell. Plan for the future - aspirations and dreams are important - but don't make the mistake of not taking steps towards them everyday.

According to Mercola (here), nearly half of the time we spend awake - our thoughts are drifting (where to? The past or future), just how well are you doing your job when this happens? How happy does it make you when you let your mind wander?

Focus on the here and now - you'll be happier, you'll be more effective (no matter what you're doing), and if you're working towards your goals more effectively - you'll be happier in the here and now and then living the life of your dreams even sooner.

Aim High, Live Life

“You will become whoever you want to be.” ~ Paul Arden 1940-2008

Use it or lose it: body, brain.... etc.

2010-11-15T10:57:00.000+09:30

Image: Michal Marcol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Wow! The body that you live in is amazing!

It does most things you want it to and a mountain of things that you don't even know it should - just to keep you alive!

How do you wake up? How are you able to put one foot in front of the other and call it walking?
The chemical cascades and chain of reactions that control the human body is an entire scientific area of study in itself.

But one simple concept that I'd like to discuss is the bodies very efficient use of energy - how do these two topics go together?

When you don't exercise regularly, you don't put as much strain on your muscles. Your body will make note of this and instead of wasting precious energy on keeping the muscles the same size, they will save energy by making the muscle smaller - more proportional to the activities and stresses that you apply to the muscle.

It is very much a case of "Use it or Lose it!".
All to conserve energy for a later date.

So this idea that if you don't use a muscle it will waste away shouldn't be new (it's one of the many reasons why regular exercise is necessary), but what about if you apply it to the brain and nervous system?

The brain and nervous system are made up of billions of nerve cells. These nerve cells pass signals to each other via links that exist between the cells. If you think of the nerve cells as towns and cities on a map, the connections are the roads that link them. The more traffic there is between two cities - the bigger the road needs to be to handle all of that traffic. On the other hand, a small town linked to another small town only needs a minor road linking it.

Lets have a look at a few different scenarios.

Memory: lets use language as an example. If you learnt German in high-school (and actually learnt it well) the more you speak the language, the better you get - this makes sense, the more you access that information, the stronger the connections become. Now lets say that you stop taking classes and have no need for the language anymore - if in 15 years you go to Germany, you may find that you will remember some words, but how likely is it that you will be able to carry on a fluent conversation? Those linguistic skills that you formed will have dissolved significantly. Use it or Lose it.

Spinal Movement: This is of particular interest to me simply because I'm a chiropractor. In the nerves that travel within the spinal column there are two groups that I'd like to discuss - nerves that feel pain (lets call these P), and nerves that feel movement (lets call these M). M nerves actually drown out P nerve signals - that is if there is movement, the pain isn't as bad. If you don't use these M nerves very much, won't the body will break down the connections? Of course it will, it would be a waste of energy to keep that strong connection there if it's not being used!

So if you work at a computer all day - are you moving your spine enough?
The most likely answer is No.

This means that you will feel back pain more easily, not just while you're at the desk but all the time - because that time at the desk has told your body to get rid of that connection!

Now here's what you can do about it:

    1.    Make sure that ever 20-30 minutes you actually stand up and move around the office, do some stretches if you can.
    2.    When you are sitting, make sure you're sitting in the correct posture - desk workers get worse arthritis than athletes these days - your posture really does matter.
    3.    Get some regular exercise. A 20 minute walk every day. Swimming every second day. It doesn't matter what it is, but do it, and do it regularly.

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Run away from colds!

2010-11-03T18:12:00.000+09:30

So, it turns out that a recent study has shown what most of us already knew - people who regularly exercise tend to be much healthier and not get sick as often as those of us that don't exercise!

The study shows that people who exercise regularly catch the common cold about half as often (making it a little less common... I guess...).

The study (done in America) asked volunteers to note any cold-like symptoms (coughs, blocked and runny nose etc.) for three months in Autumn and Winter, and to also note how many times per week they exercised enough to sweat.

All of this makes sense - if you exercise regularly - your health will improve, making your body able to adapt to change a little easier, increasing the odds of you fighting off that cold... before you even catch it.

Here's the twist. One of the most important factors that played a role was the persons perception of how healthy they were. Just a bit more evidence of how the brain and nervous system really are in control of everything that goes on in these two legged vehicles we get around in.

Brought to my attention by lifehacker.

Get yourself as Healthy as an Ox.

“You will become whoever you want to be.” ~ Paul Arden 1940-2008

Fat vs. Carbs

2010-10-25T16:31:00.000+09:30

This is the first of probably many posts about fat and carbohydrates...

Fats have gotten a pretty bad wrap since about the 40s (and lets face it - probably a lot earlier than that too). It's been blamed for all sorts of things like heart conditions, blood pressure, strokes, obesity and a plethora of other health conditions... but is it really as bad as they say it is? Saturated fats are associated with increasing the cholesterol levels, the above mentioned diseases and diabetes... so if we already know all this why bother repeating it?

Because perhaps, just perhaps we've got it wrong...

Fats are essential for proper hormone production, the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) found in fish, flaxseed and other foods are essential for controlling moods, DNA transcription and has also been linked to osteoporosis (that is - having an imbalance may be a contributing factor). Now, we have known about EFAs and the role they play for quite some time. But recent studies are showing that the problems that have commonly been blamed on fats may actually have something to do with Carbohydrates!

So these fats that have been considered so bad may be innocent? Possibly...

In 2008 professor Meir Stampfer co-authored a study that followed over 300 subjects as they tried different weight-loss diets. The group that lost the most weight happened to be the group that had the highest fat intake of the three groups - but had the least carbohydrates.

Now going back to 1997, Stampfer also co-authored a paper that studied 65,000 women and their diets. Those that ate food with a the highest Glycemic Index (high in carbohydrates) were 47% more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes...

Coincidence? I think not.

Fat is not the villain that we have been led to believe...
But maybe the carbs that you are told should be the basis of your diet IS...

Check out this article too...

On Being Right and Wrong

2010-10-18T09:29:00.007+09:30

By now you know who Paul Arden is, Arden has an interesting view no being Right or Wrong. Being Wrong is nothing to be feared, it is in fact to be encouraged – only by being wrong are we able to grow.

“If you can’t solve a problem, it’s because you’re playing by the rules.” Often, thinking laterally or creatively is what you need to break through to the next stage, to create something special.

“The person who doesn’t make mistakes is unlikely to make anything.” How could one possibly do anything worthwhile without making any mistakes – we all make them! It’s the only way that we’re able to grow, adapt, or evolve.

“Knowledge comes from the past, so it’s safe.

It is also out of date. It’s the opposite of originality.

This is lazy.

Experience is the opposite of being creative.

If you can prove that you’re right, you’re set in concrete. You cannot move with the times or with other people.

Being right is also boring. Your mind is closed. You are not open to new ideas.

You are rooted in your own rightness, which is arrogant.”

“Start being wrong and suddenly anything is possible.

You’re in the unknown. There’s no way of knowing what can happen, but there’s more chance of it being amazing than if you try to be right.

Of course, being wrong is a risk.”

“Risks are a measure of people.

People who won’t take them are trying to preserve what they have.

People who do take them often end up by having more.”

Aim high. Don’t hold back.

“You will become whoever you want to be.” ~ Paul Arden 1940-2008

Aim High

2010-10-15T11:55:00.002+09:30

Paul Arden’s book ‘It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be’ (published by Phaidon) has a great message about not holding back, and going for the big prize. Arden points out that there is actually not much of a demand for excellence, but there is a huge demand for mediocrity. The big prize actually has less competition when you go for it – unlike the middle of the road, everyone’s aiming for that!

Much of this may seem obvious once you read it, yes, you may already know these things, but don’t you (like most other people) need to be reminded?

“You can achieve the unachievable.

Firstly you need to aim beyond what you are capable of.

You must develop a complete disregard for where your abilities end.

Try to do the things that you’re incapable of.

…

Make your vision of where you want to be a reality.

Nothing is impossible.”

“As long as the goal is there, there is no limit to anyone’s achievement.” Seriously, set your sights high and be specific, you’ve got to be specific!

“Don’t look for the next opportunity. The one you have in hand is the opportunity.” I’m taking this to heart at the moment: I’m in the north of Australia and about to take on a new job.

“Whatever is on your desk right now, that’s the one.
Make it the best you possibly can.”
I just said I’m about to take another job right?

Aim high. Don’t hold back.

“You will become whoever you want to be.” ~ Paul Arden 1940-2008

It's Not How Good You Are, It's How Good You Want To Be

2010-10-13T18:34:00.004+09:30

Paul Arden made a huge splash in advertising in the UK, working for Saatchi & Saatchi for 15 years – during which he became the Executive Creative Director. His book ‘It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be’ (published by Phaidon) helps to bring forth the unknown and untapped talents, dreams, thoughts and energy from within.

As the back cover says, the answers seem obvious once you see them written on paper: yes, you may already know these things, but don’t you (like most other people) need to be reminded?

Nearly all of the most rich and/or powerful people have only one quality that others don’t.

They don’t have more talent, better education or better looks.

They have the desire to be rich and/or powerful.

Arden says that your dreams and plans of who you want to be or where (etc.) is the ‘greatest asset’ that you have. One quote in particular that I just love is ‘Without having a goal it’s difficult to score.’

You need to know what it is you really want. What do you want? What specifically? If you don’t know what you want, you won’t be able to get it – figure out what you want and go get it!

Something that both Arden and Timothy Ferriss discuss is the professional/corporate hierarchy and expectations of work quality. Arden points out that there is actually not much of a demand for excellence, but there is a huge demand for mediocrity. Ferriss put an interesting spin on this by pointing out that because of this, setting mediocre goals means that your goals tend to be where the masses have their goals too – meaning high competition for completing these goals. So by Thinking Big, setting extreme goals that very few do, competition to get these goals is actually much less – so it should be easier to achieve them!

Back to Arden and another great quote:

“All of us want to be good at our jobs, but how good do we really want to be?

Quite Good.

Good.

Very Good.

The best in our field.

Or the best in the world?

Talent helps, but it won’t take you as far as ambition.”

Another good point…

We are all looking for the easier way to do something, the solution that automatically puts us at the top of our game (I’d certainly like that!), but lets face it – the only way you’re able to be good at something is to do it, make a mess of it, and do it again – but with more experience this time.

Til next time,

Aim high. Don’t hold back.

“You will become whoever you want to be.” ~ Paul Arden 1940-2008

I'm Still Alive!!!

2010-09-30T00:40:00.000+09:30

Hi all, sorry for the infrequent posting in the past while. Parents visited in Dublin, we packed up our lives and now we're in Dubai with ELA's Dad - on our way back to Australia... So it been (and still is) hectic to say the least... so bear with me (or is it bare with me? someone leave a comment with which one is right...) for the next week.
After that, all should be good, and back on track.
In the meantime ELA has somehow managed to put some stuff together so check in on her too.

Keep it healthy!

Think and Grow...

2010-09-22T17:38:00.052+09:30

It's Napoleon!

Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich' (through BookDepository.co.uk)is something that I've been getting stuck right into recently.

Each person that reads a book or watches a film is bound to take something different from it - different things will resonate with each individual. Take each of these quotes, they can and should be applied to your health. One of the most important things that you can realize is that your life is in your hands - no one else will live it for you.

Many others will make decisions for you if you let them, but it is almost guaranteed that the decisions that they make, will be more in their interests, not yours. Both financially and as far as your life-style is concerned.

Every human body is designed to be healthy, designed to be perfect - and it is only at the end that the human body stops trying to achieve that. What you need to decide is whether you are going to stand in the way of that perfection, or if you're going to help your body get what it's after - there is a LOT in it for you if you should choose the latter... here are the quotes:

"When one is truly ready for a thing, it puts in it's appearance."

"That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of Slipping in by the back door, and often it comes in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognize opportunity."

"One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average man's familiarity with the word "impossible". He knows all the rules which will not work. He knows all the things which cannot be done."

"If the thing you wish to do is right, and you believe in it, go ahead and do it! Put your dream across, and never mind what "they" say if you meet with temporary defeat, for "they", perhaps do not know that every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent success"

"The greatest achievement was at first and for a time, but a dream"

"The oak sleeps in the acorn. The bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul, a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of reality."

"Awake, arise, and assert yourself, you dreamers of the world. Your star is now in the ascendancy. The world depression bought the opportunity you have been waiting for: It though people humility, tolerance, and open-mindedness."

"A burning desire to be, and to do is the starting point from which the dreamer must take off. Dreams are not born of indifference, laziness, or lack of ambition."

"No one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality."

"Remember, no more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty."

"Our only limitations are those we set up in our own minds."

Chiropractic explained

2010-09-20T17:34:00.003+09:30

I could try to explain all about Chiropractic and the philosophy behind it... But I've found this great video that pretty much explains it all nicely instead.

In the future I'll explore different aspects of health, but chiropractic is such an important part of my own health and wellness maintenance program that really, this is already overdue!

A great quote that I heard somewhere says "Like Gravity, Chiropractic Principles Work. Whether You Believe in Them or Not."

Stress

2010-09-17T04:06:00.001+09:30

Stresses can be categorised into three groups. Physical, Chemical and Emotional. It is our ability to react and adapt to these stresses that determines our level of health, as stresses build up in the body they have more and more effect on the body - often to levels that the body will start to deteriorate and/or change the way it functions in order to ensure short-term survival.

Although the chance of short-term survival is increased, if the stress is allowed to continue, the body then has to deal with a chronic stress - changing the way it works more significantly.
These compensations can take many forms - the most common ones are well known to us all: High Blood Pressure, many forms of Arthritis, Diabetes, even simple Back Aches, Neck Aches and Head Aches. The list goes on and on...

All of these conditions are the bodies way of telling you that the body body isn't handling the different stresses well.

Once you truly understand these facts, there are a number of questions that naturally follow:

What can be done to decrease the stresses on the body?
What can be done to help the body deal with any other unavoidable stresses?
Why not deal with the source of the real problem (stresses) instead of the symptoms when they arise (when it's too late)?

Just Quickly...

2010-09-14T19:07:00.000+09:30

ELA just posted this, I think it's appropriate for this day and age where we are all about the quick fix and shirking any responsibility for our own health... have a quick look...

Health - 101

2010-09-13T17:57:00.003+09:30

Health is not just something to think about when it fails, it's not even what most people are doing now - that's just survival!

Health is really thriving, your body functioning as well as it possibly can - physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

Is that you? Are you the BEST you can be? Is your body able to give you everything you ask of it?
Is your body going to get you to the age of 120 years old?
And then, if it does - are you going to be happy about it?
Will you be the inspirational 120 year old that is full of vitality? Still has a full social life?

Patrick Holford: wrote in his 2001 book 100% Health:

"Medicine as we know it defines health as 'an absence of illness'. You're tired all the time, you get headaches, you can't concentrate and you don't digest your food well - but the doctor says the tests are OK, you don't have high blood pressure, your cholesterol's fine, there's nothing to worry about. You're healthy."

"But health is much more than this. Health is consistent energy, mental clarity, resistance to stress, freedom from infections, emotional balance, healthy skin, hair and nails, good physical strength and stamina, ageless ageing and... an absence of illness."
He goes on to explain that even though we use the terms 'health care', 'health service' and 'health insurance', there really is no mistaking that they are all only for the sick. The very sick, as in bed-bound - because as soon as they're 'well' enough to go home, that's it - 'Job well done! You're on your own now!'. This is not 'Health' care, it is most definitely 'Disease' care, or 'Crisis' care.

And I think: god help anyone relying on a system like that!
Which is exactly why I have started this blog, I hope you will find the guidance that you are seeking for you to move forward into a life of health and enjoyment.

Jacob

Napoleon Hill

2010-09-11T17:38:00.003+09:30

I've just started reading Napoleon Hill's 'Think and Grow Rich' (through BookDepository.co.uk), When I first heard the title I had the same reaction as the narrator in Robin Sharma's 'The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari' - what, some 'get rich quick' book?

Napoleon Hill from here

Indeed the idea behind it is success, but the most important thing is that it would seem that the principles can be applied to any facet of your life: Work, Relationships, Health, Wealth... what else can you think of? It can probably be applied to it.

So is it a get-rich-quick book? So far the answer is no - that would pretty much go against the principles outlined. But if applied properly it can make you rich in any and every way.

From page 38 "Remember, no more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty."

Very inspirational - now, back into it!

Decreasing belly fat? Ab-solutely! Article Review

2010-09-09T17:32:00.000+09:30

While thinking about how I REALLY need to get back into a gym soon - no, that's not me in the picture... I stumbled upon this article (I've started doing most of my thinking online now - it's a part of the high-information diet [geeze I've gotta go on a low-info diet!] - I know that doesn't make sense, but it will in a week or so) by Michael Geary called 'My Top 55 Lean-Body Foods to Build Muscle and Lose Body Fat'.

It's full of some really good basic nutrition information, there are a few bits in there that I don't agree with 100%, like references to good and bad cholesterol for example but really that's just me being really picky! (I'll explain why exactly I don't agree with that in the coming weeks...) But then again, Michael is the nutrition specialist, so he's just as (if not more) entitled to his opinion!

Some of his tips are exactly what I recommended for many of my own clients and I will for future clients too!
Simple things like:

Increasing the amount of vegetables. Vegies are SO important, they are so high in vitamins and minerals - and really, they are nearly all you need! Think about all of the biggest and longest living animals in the world - they all tend to be vegetarian, the animals that live on sugars and meat don't tend to live quite as long and don't grow as big. (I know, I know, yes, there are exceptions - there are exceptions to every rule... but in this case - we humans are not)
He goes through a great list of what he keeps in the fridge and staples of his own diet, all very comprehensive!

Over all a very good article - I think it would be very helpful for someone looking for a good summary of tips to begin eating healthier and lose weight.

To get to the site with his articles click here (heaps more too).

And just finally, (and sorry if it seems a little unrelated)
They say knowledge is power... and it's true - but only if you apply it!
Don't put something important off until tomorrow, it's a nasty habit to break once you begin.
Make the most of today - tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them, and
Go out and enjoy the rain, not just the sunshine - it's ALL good!

Biomega Bikes

2010-09-07T17:34:00.000+09:30

Biomega 'MN'

Obviously exercise is a massive part of a healthy life-style... and speaking of style, Biomega and Puma are giving us plenty of ways to exercise in style!

Biomega have decided to reinvent the wheel with the 'Copnehagen' and 'Bamboo' (after the jump) by changing the way the bike works - no cogs and chain, instead you have a crank-shaft... pretty clever... and when I had a play with one in the store, pretty quiet too!

Biomega 'MN'

So yes, exercise is hugely important and bike riding gets those all important Gluteal muscles, Quads and Hamstrings working hard. The benefit of this is that these muscles are quite large muscle groups meaning that if you use them properly, and build them up a bit - they can have a big impact on boosting your metabolism!
On top of that, because there is no 'impact' or jarring action on the joints - the joints are less likely to wear out... (I think he's talking about arthritis... Yep, he is...) while the muscles still get a good work-out and so does the heart.
Riding to and from work should just about do it. A good half hour each day! Just what the Doctor ordered!

Puma 'Funk' - Designed by Biomega.
The Cool Hunter had a competition to win one...
I had my fingers crossed and everything... No luck though.

Puma 'Funk' - Designed by Biomega

The Biomega 'Copenhagen'... Very fun to play with.


Biomega 'Bamboo' - No Chain, this one uses a crank. Apparently bamboo has incredible strength... so the natural thing to do is make a bike out of it... A bike for pandas?

Happy Anniversary

2010-09-06T17:38:00.003+09:30

Dear ELA,
How happy I am that we met.
How happy I am that we got married two years ago.
Love you kitty!

Enough now, lets not make the nice people sick...

Happy Birthday Mother-in-Law!

2010-09-05T17:32:00.002+09:30

Happy Birthday you!
Mother of ELA...

A Day in the Park

2010-09-05T17:30:00.001+09:30

With all of my spare time, I've decided to reassess where I'm at. Where best to do that than laying on the grass in the park?

For the next month or so I'm still living in Dublin, so there are no better parks than St. Stephen's Green and Phoenix Park - the largest enclosed park in Europe (so I'm told).
Perhaps tomorrow I'll visit Merrion Square...

BUT while laying there, I realised that I was catching up on something
that I'd been lacking quite a lot of...

Any guesses?

Vitamin D.

Pretty common over here in Ireland...

It turns out that it's actually EVEN MORE important than we already thought.
Not only is it highly important for the health of bones, but according to Mercola.com, it's involved in the expression of over 2000 genes and EVERY CELL in the body has receptors for Vitamin D.
It's involved in countless complex processes occurring in your body right now, and has also been shown to actually play a role in cancer prevention (although we also know the risks of over-exposure) - and all you need for your daily intake?

About 15 minutes of bright sunlight.

Now, that all sounds well and good - go sit in a park for your vitamin intake...
But I also lived in Melbourne, Australia... in the winter months, I don't think I'll be sitting anywhere outside... and I've noticed that no-one else is either...

So in these colder months where in all likelihood, most Melbournians are deficient in this important Vitamin, what to do?
Well, the following foods contain Vitamin D:

Fatty Fish
Egg
Beef Liver
Fish Liver oils
Mushrooms

Of all of these options, personally I prefer fish and mushrooms...

There are always supplements to boost your intake over winter too.

The final option is sun-tan beds - there is a lot of bad press about tanning booths, it's an option that I personally won't use, but as with everything, look into it, do your research and make an informed choice.

Ah, a day in the park. My excuse? I did it for my health!
And you can too.

Fear Setting

2010-09-04T17:30:00.003+09:30

Hectic week at work, with the end result of me quitting! What a relief!

It was a case of me standing up for what I believe in and realizing that my work was causing me too much emotional stress - in the past two months I lost between two and three kilo's in weight. That puts me under my normal weight - and I don't like that!

Thanks to 'The 4-Hour Work Week' by Timothy Ferriss (through BookDepository.co.uk), and a technique that he calls 'fear setting' (define the absolute worst case scenario, is it really that bad? Are there actions that you could take to get things back on track? On a scale of 1-10, what is the highest possible lasting negative impact it could have on your life? If we're honest, probably only 3 or 4 - On the other hand, What are the positives that could come out of following through on this hypothetical action? On a scale of 1-10, what is the possible lasting impact it could have? Possibly up to 8? Even 9 or 10?).

So, now that I'm done with that, I get to recover and recuperate. Time for some more research and putting the good word out there about our healthy lifestyle alternatives - One-on-One is great, but I think I'll be able to make more of a difference with getting more information out in the public realm for you all to think about.

If there's anything in particular that you'd like me to look into - just drop me a line! I'll get onto it!

Great Sources of Info

2010-09-03T17:30:00.002+09:30

Before I start with all of the real info-ing, here is a great source of health information:
Dr. Mercola: an MD bringing new research to all about many different topics
Full of loads research and products that can really help!
Dr. James Chestnut DC: a chiropractor that has dedicated countless hours towards researching and reviewing the academic literature to bring scientific validation of chiropractic principles to those who scoff at pro-active health care principles.
Dr. Jennifer Barham-Floreani: an Australian chiropractor and author of 'Well Adjusted Babies', the book is an exceptional guide to pregnancy and parenting - an absolute must read for couples considering children right through to grand parents.
Patrick Holford: Author of '100% Health', promoting the principles of 'food as medicine', prevention being the best cure, and also advocating a pro-active approach to looking after health, another must read.