Dr. Maiysha Speaks Health & Wellness

Decrease Alcohol intake to decrease calories

2012-03-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

Alcohol packs on *** extra empty calories per serving. Consider having a few less drinks per day (or per week) and you may find that the weight that seemed to be hard to take off, gets a little easier less these empty calories.

5 Foods to Have Less of This Year

If we could just have one less unhealthy food per month, by the end of the year we would increase our energy, decrease our risk for many diseases and improve our over all quality of life. What we put into our body has a direct correlation over time with how we feel both physically and emotionally. We all know about the “sleepiness” that comes after having a meal loaded with carbs…or the indigestion that may come with having a large meal too close to time for bed… or even how having too much dairy or red meat and not enough water may make us constipated. There are many foods that cause inflammation, and disease and while we don’t have to eliminate everything that we love to feel healthy, there are a few that we should consciously avoid whenever possible. Here are 5 foods to consider removing from your diet this year!

Refined Sugars – Refined sugars are not only inflammatory in nature, but are linked to metabolic diseases as well. Sugar has been shown to cause tooth decay, diabetes, weight gain, and even acne. The most inflammatory sugars are those of a refined nature (white sugar and brown sugar), but over indulgence in even the so called “healthy sugars” can lead to any of the inflammatory diseases mentioned above. Bottom line: if you are going to have sugar, have it in moderation. Avoid refined sugars, and products containing high fructose corn syrup. These types of sugars have an addictive property and contribute to weight gain leading to obesity.

“White” Refined Grains & Carbohydrate – Besides having little nutritional value, refined grains are pro-inflammatory and are high glycemic index. They have very little vitamins or minerals and are low in fiber content. Many of these processed grains also have additives such as hydrogenated oils, sugars, and artificial flavors and preservatives which make them “tastier and last longer”, but at the cost of having being addictive in nature.

Sugar Substitutes & MSG – These food additives are not only inflammatory in nature but have been linked to disease in the body. Aspartame is linked to headache, nausea, dizziness, and is thought to precipitate and/or worsen conditions like multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions. Saccharin (otherwise known as sweet n low) has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Finally MSG has also been linked to migraines and has shown to worsen autoimmune conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis. Bottom line: Stay away from any additives but especially the ones listed above. Read your labels and observe this rule of thumb: If you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t eat it. Alternatively, look for sweeteners such as stevia, xylitol, or even raw sugar or sucanat. Again, use them in moderation, as anything in excess can be bad for you. Utilize herbs and spices in your cooking, or Braggs Liquid Aminos to add flavoring.

Red Meat - Other Non-organic meats – Commercially grown meats are not only raised in an inhumane manner, but are also fed a diet of corn and high omega 6 grains which can cause more inflammation within the animal. In addition, their close quarters living environment , makes their saturated fat content higher. The hormones given (to fatten them up), and antibiotics (to treat the various bacterias they are exposed to due to their living conditions) are maintained in their tissues when processed and we consume them when eating these meats. In addition, red meat is tougher and harder to digest. It is proven that a diet high in red meat increases the risk for colon cancer. Bottom line: More towards a more plant based diet. Make meat a once weekly (if that) occurrence and if possible eliminate red meat and port altogether. The meat that you DO purchase should be organic and grass fed to avoid all of the “Extras” that come with commercially grown cows, pigs, hogs, and chicken. Try more fish as a substitute: Salmon, mackeral, snapper, and tilapia are all great choices.

Non-organic Dairy – Dairy is also known to be an inflammatory agent. It promotes mucous production and is also linked to acne in studies. The protein in milk can act as a common allergen, exacerbating respiratory conditions like asthma and seasonal allergies. In addition, dairy can be a cause of constipation and other GI disturbances. In addition, the hormones contained in non-organic forms of dairy can lead to hormonal imbalance in teens and women. Bottom line: Minimize the dairy in your daily life. If you must have it, choose organic milk and cheese. In addition, explore things like kefir as it does not contain the allergens that milk have and are easier to digest. Goat and sheep milk & cheese have a makeup that’s closest to human breast milk and are therefore easier to digest.

Join the challenge!

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THEME OF THE MONTH:

In the month of March, we are focusing on mindful nutrition. This will include getting including healing foods, avoiding foods that can damage the body and cause disease, and learning creative ways to add healing spices into the diet.

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Remove one unhealthy item from you diet this week. Consider removing another the week after. To take it to the next level, create a system with which you remove or minimize all of the above items over the next 5 months!

Maiysha Clairborne MD

Eat One Less Bad Thing

2012-03-07T09:13:00.001-08:00

Eat One Less Bad Thing

Men: Eat Your Tomatoes!

2012-03-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

Men: Eat Your Tomatoes!

While it's a fruit, Tomatoes contain an ingredient called lycopene which are thought to lower the risk for prostate cancer. Make sure you get 10 servings of tomatoes per week.

Foodie Friday: White Bean Soup

2012-03-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

Foodie Friday: White Bean Soup

Kale is a nutrient-dense vegetable low in calories but high in fiber, calcium, and Vitamins A, C and E, to name a few. This simple recipe is easy to make and features a range of other delicious vegetables plus a healthy dose of protein from the beans.

Ingredients:

3 large cloves garlic, minced 1 medium onion 2 medium carrots 1 tbsp. olive oil 1 large sweet potato, diced 6 cups vegetable broth 2 can cannellini beans (white kidney beans) 1 bunch kale, chopped 2 tsp. dried rosemary 3/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1. In food processor, mince garlic then add onion and chop; remove to plate. 2. Add carrots and chop until coarse. 3. In soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and carrots and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. 4. Add sweet potato and 5 cups of broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook for approximately 10 minutes until potatoes are tender. 5. Puree half the beans in the food processor, adding some of the remaining broth to thin. 6. Add the pureed beans, whole beans, kale and remaining broth to the pot along with the rosemary, salt and pepper. 7. Simmer an additional 5-10 minutes until kale is tender.

Starting with Veggies – How Clean Eating Heals Starting with Veggies – How Clean Eating Heals

2012-03-07T09:11:00.001-08:00

Starting with Veggies – How Clean Eating Heals

I have a hunch you will agree: far too many of us are digging our own graves with too much fat, salt and calorie-laden food with limited nutritional value when what we need are simple, whole foods with the power to heal - locally grown, minimally processed, fresh food.

Unfortunately, we’ve forgotten what it means to eat fresh, local food with ingredients we can pronounce. Go down the middle aisles of any “big box” grocery store and you’ll see shelf after shelf of highly processed food that may be super quick to prepare but can wreak havoc on our bodies.

The truth: All those fatty, calorie-rich foods you love so much are causing free radical damage to your cells. A steady stream of sugar, salt and fat is linked to a host of chronic and/or life threatening disorders. People with a nutrient-poor diet are much more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and cancer but study after study has shown that a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, has the power to help protect us, reduce our risk of disease and increase our quality of life.

Vegetables are chock full of nutrients that help protect our cells - antioxidants like Vitamins A, C and E, iron, potassium, magnesium and calcium just to name a few. My favorite way to practice clean eating and get the most bang for my buck is by consuming copious amounts of dark, leafy greens like collards, kale, spinach and Swiss chard. Greens are nutritional super stars and natural detoxifiers that support a healthy liver, help purify the blood, reduce inflammation and provide amazing energy, no caffeine needed. And greens can put a whammy on pesky, never- ending sugar cravings. Start eating more greens and your desire for sweets will wane and I bet you won’t even miss them.

How do you get started? Crowd out the less than healthy, processed food in your diet by adding in more fresh vegetables. And by that I don’t mean you should do a 180 degree turn, giving up everything you enjoy and becoming a vegetarian but you can make small but simple changes that can dramatically improve your health over time. Creating a healthier lifestyle is not nearly as hard as you think - here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

- Add dark leafy green vegetables like collard greens to your favorite soup or stew

- Make a salad of fresh greens and other veggies you love on the weekend so it’s readily available during the week

- Juice your way to better health. Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables like kale, celery, cucumber and apple make the nutrients easily absorbable by your cells. Want some motivation to start juicing? Take a look at the trailer for Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, one man’s journey to overcome his chronic condition and transform his health. It’s an inspiring story that can’t help but resonate with you.

What can you do today or this week to reclaim your health and start practicing clean eating? It all starts with one simple, yet compelling change, to get you on the road to better health.

Wendy Battles, The Clean Eating Coach, is a nutritionist, author and speaker who teaches busy men and women in midlife how to ditch all the processed food and reclaim their health, one stalk of kale at a time. Visit her at www.dontworrygethealthy.com to learn more and receive her free offering, 10 Tips to Improve Your Health Today!

Eat Your Broccoli

2012-03-07T09:11:00.000-08:00

Eat Your Broccoli

Research shows that the indole compound in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli not only decrease the risk for cancer but also fight cancers cells. So get your serving of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, or brussel sprouts at least 3 times weeksly

7 Veggies You Must Have In Your Diet

2012-03-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

7 Veggies You Must Have In Your Diet

Why is there such an emphasis on fruits and vegetables when talking about healthy nutrition? What is all the fuss? Research has proven many health and healing benefits of different nutrient components of fruits from beta carotene in carrots to sulphurane in broccoli and sprouts There are many chemical compounds that work with the cells inside of the body to both regulate and stop abnormal cell growth. In addition, vegetables contain immune boosting and anti-oxidant value which help to remove damaged cells that may cause inflammation that promotes disease as well. There are vast amount of healing veggies available, but here are 7 vegetables that are a must have in your regular diet.

Carrots

The most well known healing component of carrots is beta-carotene which has been shown to help reduce a wide range of cancers including bladder, prostate, intestinal, stomach, lung, mouth and throat. In fact, another substance called falcarinol, also found in carrots has been shown by Danish researchers at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences state that cancer cells grow more slowly when exposed to this compound. Of course, there are also some studies that show that too many carrots may actually cause cancer, but you would have to be eating 2 – 3 kilograms of carrots daily for that to happen. Beta carotene is also proven to prevent night blindness and promote overall healthy sight.

Cruciferous Vegetables

If your parents encouraged you as a child to eat your broccoli and Brussel sprouts, or cooked cabbage on a regular basis, then they were wise parents indeed! The cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, Brussels, cabbage, and cauliflower all contain a component called indole-3-carbinol. This compound protects against and combats breast cancer cells by converting cancer promoting estrogen (E1) to more protective estrogens in the body. In addition, these vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin which may help decrease prostate and other cancers. Broccoli, and sprouts specifically also contain sulphurane which have been shown to activate certain enzymes that deactivate free radicals and carcinogens in certain cancers like colon and rectal.

Kale (and other green & yellow leafy vegetables)

Kale has indoles as well as nitrogen that helps stops the conversion of certain lesions to cancer cells in estrogen sensitive breast cancers. In addition, isothiocyanates found in kale are thought to suppress tumor growth and block tumor cells from reaching their targets. Kale is great for sautéing, juicing, and in soups. Kale also promotes the production of red blood cells, and lowers blood pressure.

Chili Peppers & Jalapeños

Chili peppers contain a compound called Capsaicin which is known to be a potent anti-inflammatory. Capsaicin is used to decrease the inflammation of muscles and joints and is great for arthritis. Capsaicin is also thought to neutralize certain cancer causing substances (nitrosamines) and may help prevent cancers such as stomach cancer.

Sea Vegetables (Seaweed)

The sea vegetables and seaweeds are great sources of iodine which promote healthy thyroid function. As well, they are rich in beta carotene, vitamin b12, protein, fiber and chlorophyll which make them great for cardiovascular health. In addition to iodine, many sea vegetables contain high mineral concentrations of potassium, magnesium, calcium and iron. The chlorophylones in sea vegetables is an important fatty acid compound that may fight against breast cancer. Most sea vegetables are great in stir fry’s. However there are seaweed snacks called Laver that can also be a tasty on the go treat.

Sweet Potatoes

While technically sweet potatoes are a legume, their properties are worth mentioning. Like carrots, sweet potatoes are high in beta carotene. Another potential benefit of beta carotene is the protection of the DNA inside of a cell’s nucleus from cancer properties outside of the cell membrate.

Mushrooms

This non-vegetable fungi also has properties worth including in the discussion of Veggie “Must haves”. Many mushrooms have been shown to have healing properties including Shitake, Reishi, Maitake, Agaricus blazei, and Murill, and Coriolus Versicolor. These foods contain polysaccharides that help build immunity in the body, and are a great source of beta glucans another immunity boosting component. They also contain a protein called lectin which has been shown to attack cancer cells and prevent them from multiplying. Mushrooms can also stimulate the production of interferons in the body and are being tested for their use as chemotherapeutic agents in Japan.

Conclusion: The moral of the story is simple. Get your 3-4 servings of vegetables daily. There are plenty of great, simple, and yummy recipes out there to help you get started. Stay tuned for our creative vegetable recipe this Foodie Friday for our recipe of the week!

Join the Challenge!

2012-03-04T18:57:00.000-08:00

Join the challenge!

THEME OF THE MONTH:

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Start with vegetables! Make sure you are getting 3-4 servings of vegetables each week! That is 1-2 vegetables each meal. It’s not as hard as you might think!

Maiysha Clairborne MD

Surprise Someone With Your Love

2012-02-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

Imagine if you came home and your child surprised you with a hand made gift..or your spouse cooked you a 3 course meal.What if you went to work one day and your boss gave you a dinner certificate for a gourmet restaurant...for no reason at all. Wouldn't that make you smile? Who can you surprise today with your love?

Foodie Friday Feature: Kale Mushroom Leek Soup

2012-02-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

Thinking of doing a pre-spring cleanse? This is the perfect soup to start with. The Kale is a great liver and blood cleanser, while the mushroom mix are great immune boosters. The Leek (onion family) is also good for lowering blood pressure and boosting immunity. The best part is that this soup tastes delicious! Enjoy!

Ingredients

6 cups of Water

1 Tbsp Miso Paste

1 Leek chopped

2 cups of Chopped Mushroom (Shitake, Maitake, Baby Portabella)

1 bunch of Kale (chopped)

1 tsp of each of the following spices: Thyme, marjoram, basil, oregano, rosemary) either fresh or dried

Braggs Liquid Aminos

Directions:

Combine the water, miso paste, chopped leek, and spices and bring to a boil. Add the kale in, and lower the stovetop temp to Medium. When the kale is slightly cooked, add the mushrooms and let cook on low for 15 - 20 min. Add Braggs Liquid Aminos to desired taste.

Intentional Love: Actions from the Heart

2012-02-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

During the 2011 holiday season, I heard of some wonderful and very generous acts of kindness from anonymous donors throughout the Metro Atlanta area. An elderly couple paid off lay-aways for people who couldn’t afford to pick up their items; a group of dental practitioners provided free cleaning and other dental procedures to over 200 people; the co-workers of a low-income, single mother bought gifts for her daughter, groceries, and cleaned and decorated her home.

Well, the holidays are over, now what? Do we allow the same people who were hungry during the holidays to go without daily meals because Christmas isn’t around the corner? Do we stop providing the unemployed or under-employed with financial support just because we no longer have the holiday spirit? I certainly hope not.

Oprah Winfrey, an entertainment mogul and one of the greatest philanthropists has the true heart of a giver. She sees a need, opens up her wallet and gets major corporations to do the same. You may be thinking, “If I had as much money as Oprah I’d give away millions of dollars too.” But it’s not just the money; it’s her love and attitude towards giving.

Regardless of the amount of money in your bank account, you have something to give. Time, love, a smile, compassion, a hug or a helping hand are simple, daily things that can be given in abundance. They cost you nothing financially but pay off heavily for those in need.

It’s unfortunate that our society puts so much value on the mighty dollar that simple, heart-felt acts of kindness get over looked, and are often taken for granted. Holding the door for someone on a cold, rainy day or sharing words of encouragement with the cashier who’s obviously having a bad day, are helpful and appreciated actions from the heart.

While perusing through the clearance aisles at a Famous Footwear, a young lady standing next to me intended to pull out one box, and surprisingly yanked several others with it. She called out, “Mom help me!” Unfortunately, her mother was too far away to prevent any of the boxes from tumbling to the floor and making a mess. Being the person closest to her, I quickly reached out my hands and to catch the boxes making their way to the carpet and positioned my body so others wouldn’t fall off the shelf. Through her embarrassment she managed to whisper, “Thank you.” Seconds later her mother joined us and thanked me several times. I could hear the sincerity in her voice and see the gratitude in her eyes for coming to her daughters rescue. “Your welcome,” I replied with a smile and walked away feeling warm and mushy inside. An unexpected opportunity to help a young lady in need, added an extra dose of joy to not only her day, but mine as well.

Instead of waiting for a need to arise, what if we searched for needs and decided to fill them.

Not anything big or over the top, but simple, intentional, random acts of kindness to bring more joy and peace to the world. With this in mind, I challenge you, and myself, to perform daily acts of intentional kindness. Ask yourself, what little thing can I do to make someone else’s life better? Who needs my help? What assistance can I easily and quickly provide? What actions from my heart would make one smile? What can I do for free that’s worth millions to another? Pick one or two actions then commit to doing them daily. I’ve chosen to give compliments and words of encouragement to as many people as possible. Nothing brightens the day faster then positive recognition. What about you? What will you do? There’s someone out there who needs what you’re willing to give; make sure you connect with those people, so they can receive an intentional act of kindness from your heart.

I want to extend my deepest gratitudes to LaShawn for being our guest blogger this week and I look forward to future contributions from this powerful light! Thank you my dear!

About the Author

LaShawn McCrary, is dedicated to helping women become whole and live intentionally by empowering them to take control of their destiny and experience spiritual, professional, social, intellectual, physical and personal completeness.

LaShawn always believed God had created her for a purpose but spent the early years of her life, like many women, not knowing what it was. After a decade of career changes and looking out windows thinking she should be somewhere else, doing something different, she finally stopped searching around her and began exploring inside. Now she's fulfilling her purpose by delivering messages and providing coaching that empowers women to grow closer to God, pursue their dreams, love themselves and be a blessing to everyone around them. One of her greatest heart's desires is to help women break thourgh barries and live life to its fullest.

She shares her energy and excitement for life during her presentations and every Sunday morning at 8am ET during Intentional Life, her Blog Talk Radio show.

LaShawn holds a BA in Communications from Bowling Green State University and is a former certified trainer for Fred Pryor/CareerTrack Seminars. She's also experienced in television production, sales, customer service, ministry and personal training.

Random Acts of Kindness

2012-02-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

An act of kindness is more than just a good deed, it's an intention. If there is an "in order to" behind your kindness, it will show. Check your motives today. What is the intention behind your kindness?

Surprise Someone Today With Your Love

2012-02-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Acts of Kindness

2012-02-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

10 random acts of kindness that will make another's day.

30 Things You Love/Like About Yourself

2012-02-17T05:00:00.001-08:00

Write a list of 30 things you love/like about yourself & 30 compliments you have received from others then share it with a friend who will acknowledge, support, and cheer you on as you read them.

Foodie Friday Feature: Cheeseburger egg white omelet

2012-02-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

Thanks to one of my wonderful Facebook friends Cherie Johnson for contributing such a unique and yummy breakfast recipe! Try it and leave your comments for me here and on Facebook by going to www.facebook.com/DrMaiysha. Bon Apetit!

Liquid egg whites (about 1/4 cup).

Crumbled, already cooked, ground sirloin (about 4 oz/ quarter of a pound) seasoned with Bragg's amino acids, sea salt and black pepper.

Ground mustard (the spice, not the condiment) about 1/2 tsp.

Sharp cheddar cheese, 3 tbsp.

Ketchup to taste.

Sliced hamburger dill pickles, 2-3

Prepare in omelet pan. Wait until egg whites become firm. Add half of crumbled meat and half of the ground mustard. Fold omelet in half. Add a half-tsp of Bragg's aminos, sorching the beef flavor to the already firm omelet. Wait 1 minute. Flip omelet. Add another half-tsp of Bragg's. Add remaining meat, mustard and cover with cheese. Add ketchup to taste. Add pickles.

Loving the Self (A Male Perspective)

2012-02-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

The late great Whitney Houston sang the lyrics “Learning to love yourself, it is the GREATEST love of all!” Frankly, through personal trial and error, I have to say I strongly agree with her. Self-love, not to be confused with conceit or selfishness, is in my professional and personal opinion one of the major factors in man’s (or woman’s) lovability. In other words I strongly believe that person is limiting themselves on how they can receive love from someone else if they don’t first learn how to love themselves. This may be a tough pill to swallow for some, but I encourage you to open up your mind and heart to receive this. We often read and hear of major ways to build our relationship with others, but we rarely focus on reason and ways to love ourselves. Here are a few reasons on why we should learn to love ourselves:

•           If we learn how to properly love and appreciate ourselves, we’re more likely to truly see and appreciate when others do.

•           We’ll be less likely to become needed of pats on the back and accolades, because we know our worth.

•           We’ll have a better chance of recognizing when other people are actually more upset with themselves and/or their situations but are just taking it out on us.

•           We’ll be less likely to put ourselves in harm’s way.

•           We’ll want better for ourselves in LIFE, LOVE & LABORS.

Of course there are plenty of other reasons for us to learn how to love and appreciate ourselves, but by now I think you get my drift. I have unfortunately seen quite a few relationships take nasty turns not because one or the other person necessarily did something wrong, but more so because one person was not in tune with themselves and was completely relying on the partner to make up the slack. YES, in relationships of all kinds it does take 2 to tango (as they say) but if one of the 2 or (God forbid) both of them are not in a space of self love, appreciation and empowerment that particular relationship has a greater chance of problems and pitfalls. So how do you do it? What are some ways that we can learn to love and appreciate ourselves? Well it all boils down to building a solid FOUNDATION:

Forgive yourself – If you can learn to do this, you will have released a great weight from your life.

Open your heart - Many of us are holding onto some things we need to let go so they be replaced with some good things we’re blocking out.

Unlock your full potential – For many people there is more to us than meets the eye. Take some chances on pushing yourself to live a little more.

Never tear yourself down - Life can be hard enough without us being an open enemy to ourselves.

Dream out loud – There are some things inside of you that you need to let come out. For no one else but YOU!

Appreciate your greatness – Each of us was created with our own measure of greatness, it’s time for you to learn to appreciate yours.

Take time out for YOU! - Self quality time for self is important. You can’t be good for anyone else if you haven’t been good to you.

Incorporate self-celebration – Find ways to reward yourself on a regular basis. It doesn’t have to be anything big, but something that you do for yourself to reward your great work.

Overlook the simple minded – Strive not to get caught up in the “minors” of others. Developing this loving foundation may be above what others are willing to give themselves. Let that be their issue!

Never feel unworthy – No matter what you’ve been through in your past always remember you are an amazing individual with a daily opportunity for greatness. You are worthy of all the love you can give you and so much more.

Building this self-love F.O.U.N.D.A.T.I.O.N may take a little work at first, but anything worth having really does. The amazing and good part is that once you build such a foundation, chances are anything else you build on or around it (ie: other relationships) will become solid as well. Are you ready? LET’S GO!

Self Love Through Acts of Love

2012-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we are so caught up in taking care of others that they forget to engage in the basic acts of self care. Today, take an hour to yourself; read, listen to some music, take a walk or even a nap. Acts of self love are important for building the muscle of loving others.

Be in Love with Yourself

2012-02-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Look in the mirror & give yourself the highest compliment. When you can look yourself in the eye day after day and tell yourself how wonderful, smart, great, beautiful you are without flinching, then you can truly pass that genuine love on to others as well.

3 Ways to Love Yourself To Life!

2012-02-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

It’s February and love is in the air! But who is that love directed to? It is wonderful to give love to another, to be in love with another, but how often do we think about giving love to ourselves? How often do we think about falling in love with the person you see in the mirror day after day? I’m not talking simply about liking or loving yourself, I’m speaking of BEING IN LOVE WITH YOURSELF! FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE BEAUTIFUL BEING THAT IS YOU! I’m also talking about showing yourself love by performing actual acts of love towards yourself. If you are rolling your eyes already and saying to yourself how ridiculously cheesy and corny this sounds….keep reading!

There are many of us who like ourselves just fine and even those of us who LOVE who we are and who are completely comfortable in our own skin. But how do we show ourselves love on a regular basis! I’m the first to tell you that while I completely love who I am and am comfortable in my skin, I don’t always take the time to LOVE on myself like I would like. I --- like so many others I know, coach, and treat --- let life get in the way. Well, I invite you to step up your level of accountability (with me) and try these three ways of giving love to yourself on a weekly basis:

Take care of the basics- Eat, Sleep, Hydrate, Move….

This may sound extremely basic, but it’s amazing how many people out there do not even have a handle on the basic self-care activities in life. There is a saying that when you are feeling irritable and unreasonable, HALT! That means check to see if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. We are coving a few of these in this first step, and will touch on the others later in the article. Firstly EAT! When life gets busy, we tend to let the diet slide, eat more junk, and even sometimes skip meals altogether. When you are eating erratically or not eating at all, the metabolism be pulled out of whack leaving you feeling fatigued, achy, irritable, and more likely to crave more of the not so healthy foods. The second basic self care move is to GET SUFFICIENT SLEEP! The average person require 6-8 hours of sleep each night for the body to feel refreshed for the next day. Sleep is a time for the body to repair and rejuvenate the cells. When you are deprived of sleep over a long period of time, the blood pressure can become high, your mental faculties become compromised (forgetfulness, irritability, emotional instability), and you can even experience physical pain (migraines, body aches,). Rest (as a variant of sleep) can be just as important sleep. Just laying down for an hour can be as rejuvenating as getting a quick nap. HYDRATE! Your body is ~90% water, and so to keep yourself hydrated is pivotal in keeping the cells functioning properly. Drink 64 ounces of water daily unless you have a condition that requires water restriction (i.e. congestive heart failure or chronic kidney disease). Finally, MOVE your body! We are constantly in motion whether we realize it or not. The body needs and desires movement. Sedentary lifestyle can lead to muscle wasting, fat accumulation, and even decreased mobility all around. However, when you make a point to exercise or include physical activity of some sort in your life daily, you will see more energy, tone, and even mood elevation from the recurrent release of endorphins that occurs when you really get the heart rate up for longer than 20 minutes.

Get to Know The Good in You.

How often has someone given you a compliment and you’ve responded by downplaying it by saying something like “Oh, it wasn’t a big deal” or deflecting by saying “Oh but you really did all of the work” instead of just accepting the acknowledgement and saying “Thank you”. Part of our unconscious conversation about who we are or who we are not can reflect in our outward world. In fact, when we are having the unconscious conversation about “not being good enough” , “not being smart enough”, “not being loveable or wanted” it directly affects our sense of self esteem, our emotional well-being, and can affect our decision making process (especially in relation to taking care of the basics). A great exercise (and this week’s double dare challenge) is to write 30 things you like about yourself. Spare no detail, as even the smallest thing counts! Another great exercise is to write 30 compliments that you have received from other people throughout life. Through the combination of these exercises, you truly get to see who you really are through your eyes and the eyes of others.

Connect with Others

Remember, earlier in the article we mentioned the acronym HALT – Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. We are social beings by nature, and when we isolate ourselves from friends, family, and people we love (and whom love us) we are depriving ourselves of love that we deserve. There are numerous studies that correlate human connection with overall well-being. Human connection has been shown to improve outcomes after heart attack, stroke, and even improve cancer treatment outcomes. Connecting with others is allowing ourselves to be loved by others. Allowing ourselves to be loved is a way of showing ourselves love. Make your connections with others loving and fun! Schedule a game night, or a pamper day. Have a girls or guys night out, or a potluck dinner party. Spend a romantic evening in with your loved one watching movies or take a night out on the town dancing. Go to the park with your family, children, nieces, nephews…plan a family reunion! Whatever the activity, allow the love to infuse your life as you allow yourself to be connected to and loved by others.

In the month of February, we are focusing on developing a daily practice of LOVE in our lives. This includes being loving to ourselves as well as appreciating and being loving towards others.

THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Create a loving affirmation for the self and say it every day. An affirmation is a positive statement in the present tense affirming something that you are striving for or moving towards. For example: “I am happily enjoying my beautiful body at 125 lbs” – or “I am excited to be financially free!”. An example of an affirmation of self love is “I am complete, whole, perfect, and beautiful” or “I am a child of God, and a person of worth”. Create your affirmation, write it down, post it up, place it somewhere that you will see it and remember to repeat it at least once daily. Post your experience my facebook or twitter page or email drlife@mbswellness.org. I acknowledge you for being willing to take on new challenges and ways of being in 2012! God Bless!

Join the challenge! Visit www.drmaiysha.com daily and connect with us through Facebook and Twitter for daily inspirations and dialogue about your and others successes and challenges each week.

Maiysha Clairborne MD

Copyright 2/05/12

Love through Gratitude

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Foodie Friday: Feature: Tricia's Outrageously Delicious Strawberry Shortcake

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

© 1 Lb. Soft Tofu	© 2 Lbs. Extra Firm Tofu (Pressed & Drained)
© 2 Tbs. Sunflower Oil	© ½ Lb. Organic Sweet Butter (Softened)
© 3 Tbs. Fresh Lemon Juice	© 1 Tsp. Lemon Juice
© 1 Tsp. Sea Salt	© 3 Tsp. Lemon Extract (Glycerine Based)
© 4 Tbs. Arrowroot	© 1 ¾ -2 Cups Organic Brown Rice Syrup
© 1 Tsp. Vanilla	© 5 Organic Eggs – (Add One At a Time & Blend)

Procedure: In a food processor, blend the following ingredients well: extra firm tofu, soft tofu, sunflower oil, lemon juice, and sea salt. Add brown rice syrup and blend well, again. Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl and add butter, arrowroot, vanilla, (1 Tsp) lemon juice, lemon extract and mix with a handheld mixer. Lastly, add one egg at a time and blend with the hand mixer until you have mixed in all 5 eggs.

Spray or lightly butter a 10-inch springform pan and bake at 375 degrees in a bath of warm water for approximately 1-1.5 hours (until golden on top). Leave in oven to cool with the door open for about 20-30 minutes. When completely cooled, top with a quality strawberry jam, fresh strawberries and fresh kiwi. Enjoy!

Serves: Many

Love Through Gratitude

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Enza is a spirit of love and we are so grateful to have her as this week’s guest blog. Please join Enza on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ENZAsPAGE?ref=ts

► "Whatever happens, whether blessing or challenge,

√ Find your heartbeat and

√ Tune into the LOVE frequency

√ Join the 'dance of love, the dance of life’

√ For dawn breaks each day,

√ And dusk falls each night

√ And so too, the seasons of your life

√ Will resonate to the cycles of destiny

√ Blossoming like flowers in the garden of your soul!

✔ "Love & Gratitude is all you need

✔ Forgive yourself & others

✔ Embrace love,

✔ Adopt an attitude of gratitude &

✔ Attract unconditional love into your life

"Everyday, as dawn breaks, awaken to the beauty that lies ahead, another wonderful day. Begin the day with passion. Invite into your life, through the power of intention all that serves your highest good.

With an attitude of gratitude, embrace with grace all that destiny shares – blessings and challenges alike. Put out the intention through visualization that only the highest energy enter your circle of influence.

Ask the divinity within to give you both the awareness and courage to act with love whatever your encounter as the day evolves.

Start each day forgiving yourself and others , releasing the emotions that weigh the karmic wheel of fortune down, leaving only the lessons to be mastered.

Have kind thoughts towards all who you encounter and whenever the opportunity arises, share the love that you are in all you feel, think, say & do.

What is gratitude?

It is the gift of embracing all with grace, with an attitude of gratitude.

What is an attitude of gratitude?

It is the art of seeing beauty & love in all that is transcending the terrestrial senses and searching for the beauty that is soul deep. It is the gift of seeing the love seed in all that is & accentuating the light in any darkness.

How would one describe a soul that exemplifies an attitude of gratitude?

The soul who embraces each day with passion finding opportunity in every challenge and a lesson in the power of love through gratitude in every blessing. As fear and love are mutually exclusive, so too gratitude and ego. This means that being grateful makes fear dissolve and disappear. When gratitude dissolves fear, the door of abundance opens and invites us in. Forgiveness just happens. Resentment, blame, judgement melt away as they are washed over and cleansed with the elixir of love.

Whatever challenges you face – embrace them with love for love always has the answer! The soul that lives according to this philosophy – embraces each day as another day of miracle manifestation, understanding that just as a gardener must await the season of harvest, so too the seasons of challenges precede the harvest of divinely orchestrated miracles. And miracles unfold when the time is ripe. This is the opposite of what happens to a fear driven individual who draws fear from the past & projects it into the future, colouring the present with shades of grey rather than the kaleidoscope of rainbow colours, the full spectrum of the light image that we are, weathering every storm awaiting for the sun to shine and give birth to the wonder that awaits. Every moment in life is a miracle in progress so be sure to enjoy each breath, each moment.

How does gratitude & love facilitate life’s lessons?

Think back to the best teachers you had in life, the ones that moved you to tears with their kindness, patience and unconditional love. Think back to the passion & motivation to learn that they inspired in you for everything you did was an achievement and every achievement was commended. From this we can see that the best teachers in the world are boundless and generous in their encouragement – who are beyond labels and criticism. These are the teachers that touch our hearts, that connect with our souls, that forever nurture endearing emotions in the memories of our lessons . We can only look back with an attitude of gratitude and embrace with grace the passion and love they shared with the knowledge imparted with love and dedication. More than the intellectual facts, what remains is the heart & soul of the special teacher that left us with a gift invisible to the naked eye but unforgettable and magical when viewed through the window of our soul.

What are the fruits of gratitude through love?

When we approach life with an attitude of gratitude, the picture we paint on the canvas of our soul has all the colours of the rainbow and invites abundance and all it represents into our lives, one breath at a time.

In the infinity of possibilities that the universe offers, visualise and connect with the magic that is – the boundless, eternal love that invites us to continue dreams as we awaken each day – to live the life we love and love the life we live. We soon come to realise that all moments are special – they are the flowers that colour our life experiences. Whether challenges or blessings, all experiences, all events, all who come into our life serve a purpose in the evolution of our soul, in the weaving of our unique tapestry of life.

Gratitude invites us to nurture the garden of our souls with petals of faith and raindrops of love as we observe the wonders that mother nature shares. We appreciate the sun, the moon, the rain, the wind and everything in between for collectively

we are living the magic of the forest of our being as it evolves into the masterpiece of the universe, one jigsaw puzzle at a time. We are but one small piece in the oneness that unites us all. If we but invite the divinity within us to give us a peek at the bigger picture through soulful awareness and faith that all is – is as it is - for a reason, then we resonate at a frequency of higher consciousness, seeing our place in the bigger picture which we are all part of.

Gratitude invites us to practice the art of self love and healing each and every day and this involves the gift of self forgiveness and love. Each and every day, call on your higher consciousness to make spiritually aligned soul choices through the tongue of intuition. Learn the language of the soul which communicates its wisdom in the silences between our thoughts. Make time to allow for those gaps in time when rest & wisdom connect and spark magical thoughts that enlighten us as wise thoughts reach you. They are yours for the learning if we but dedicate a part of our day to listen soulfully. Remember that the law of quantum physics facilitates the magic of attracting ‘real’ dreams aligned with soulful intent.

When the soul invites abundance into our lives, it is inviting riches that are invisible to the naked eye, celestial jewels that terrestrial eyes will grasp only with lenses that transcend the physical. If it is invisible to the naked eye, it has the potential to belong to the realm of spiritual affluence.

What invisible treasures we may ask are immaterial?

Love, joy, a smile, friendship, love making, a gesture of kindness, caring. These are the gifts that touch our souls to spiritually connect to others and invite us to share the love that we are. All souls can share these gifts – they are the gifts of the divine – of our higher consciousness.

In the ocean of abundance that we are all part of, the drop that we are connects with the many other drops to channel the tides of mother nature into the magical miracle that just is. Each act of love ripples in the waters of the universe, so we all truly do make a difference, one person, one gesture of kindness, one word of encouragement, at a time.

An attitude of gratitude through love in all that you think, say, feel and do will be the magic wand that sparkles fairy dust from the soul tops of our higher beings to fertilise the seeds of love that are gratuitously blown into the garden of our soul by the winds of our imagination. Invite imagination & intuition to be the compass of the soul and connect with the realm of all possibilities, of omnipotence in the galaxy of unconditional love transcending time and space forevermore. Transcend the limitations of the human mind and invite the soul to take you on a journey of a lifetime experiencing the delight of infinite possibilities and living the life one loves as one loves the life one lives. This is the reward of living life with gratitude and love. Namasté. ~Enza Currenti~ © 2012

Stop Negative Thoughts

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Whenever you begin to feel yourself fall into a host of negative thought, STOP! And immediately name OUT LOUD 5 things you are grateful for in the moment…and WITH ENERGY!

A-Z Gratitude List

2012-02-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite exercises of gratitude (as many people know) is the A-Z gratitude list. Start an A-Z gratitude list in your own online community. Create this movement in your household. Notices the shift in everyone's energy.