http://www.ted.com Simon Sinek presents a simple but powerful model for how leaders inspire action, starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers -- and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling.
Wednesday, 21 December 2016
How great leaders inspire action | Simon Sinek
http://www.ted.com Simon Sinek presents a simple but powerful model for how leaders inspire action, starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?" His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers -- and as a counterpoint Tivo, which (until a recent court victory that tripled its stock price) appeared to be struggling.
Thursday, 15 December 2016
Home Remedies For Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Some of the most important home remedies for human papillomavirus include the use of echinacea, goldenseal, calendula, oregano oil, astragalus, garlic, tea tree oil, thuja oil, mushroom, and curcumin.
Human Papillomavirus
You have likely heard the phrase HPV before, but the longer name is human papillomavirus. You’ve likely heard of this because approximately 70% of everyone will be infected by a papillomavirus at some point in their life, and many people will be continually infected without ever showing any symptoms or ill effects. The human papillomavirus is a DNA virus that infects the keratinocytes of the skin or membranes in the body, and can manifest in a number of ways. You may not show any outward symptoms, or you could develop warts and premalignant lesions. There are more than 170 different types of human papillomavirus, and more than 40 are transmitted through sexual contact.
Normal treatment for human papillomavirus includes the use of broad antiviral medications, but there is no specific “cure” for this infection. In fact, the human body appears to lower HPV to undetectable levels in the body, effectively clearing it up by itself. However, there can be resurgences in HPV in the first two years after symptoms have been “diminished”. However, given that premalignant lesions from high-risk HPV varieties can significantly increase the chances of cervical cancer, it should not be taken lightly. You should regularly consult with a medical professional, particularly if you believe that you have been infected, and if you detect warts or other lesions. Some antiviral products are in development, but due to the natural way that HPV can often be cleared up, home remedies are often recommended. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the home remedies for human papillomavirus.
Home Remedies For Human Papillomavirus
Echinacea: This well known antiviral herb is one of the most popular and relied upon treatments for HPV. You can make tinctures or teas from echinacea, both of which are highly effective in boosting the immune system and reduce the appearance of warts. The phytosterols and other antioxidant compounds in echinacea are able to boost white blood cells and improve the antiviral impact of the immune system.
Goldenseal: There are two different ways to use goldenseal to combat HPV. This herb can be made into a tincture to be applied directly to genital warts, or you can take goldenseal in supplemental form, which is widely available at health food stores and from trained herbalists. This herb has long been known as an antiseptic, but its antiviral properties are what makes it so valuable for HPV home treatment.
Calendula: Like many essential oil, calendula essential oil is very effective at clearing up skin conditions, including the warts and inflammation that occur as a result of HPV. The most popular way of using calendula is by consuming it or taking it as a suppository.
Oregano Oil: The essential oil of oregano is chock full of antiviral and antioxidant components that make it very effective for the treatment of HPV. Since this herb is so widely available, it is one of the most inexpensive home remedies, but the oil should be slightly diluted before use, as it can be an irritant on sensitive areas of the body, despite its antiviral and wart-reducing abilities.
Astragalus: With antioxidant, antiviral, and antibacterial properties, astragalus is directly linked to the elimination of HPV, as it induces the production of interleukin-2, which has known antiviral properties, and can also help to prevent cancer, which is important when dealing with high-risk varieties of HPV.
Garlic: As always, garlic is a popular suggestion for the natural treatment of HPV. The powerful effects of allicin, which is the active ingredient in garlic, include antiviral activities. You can soak garlic overnight, and then use the infused water directly on the genital warts for quick effects.
Tea Tree Oil: Not only does tea tree oil have powerful antiviral effects when applied directly to the affected areas, but it also boostsimmunity in the body, increasing the amount of white blood cells and attacking the HPV virus from two sides.
Thuja Oil: Although not the most commonly recommended remedy, thuja oil is a preferred remedy in Ayurvedic practices. This oil can actively seek out and neutralize infected cells and eliminate virus symptoms, including warts. Unfortunately, thuja oil can be an irritant, particularly in the delicate areas where HPV attacks, so be sure to dilute the oil significantly.
Mushrooms: There are a number of antiviral and antimicrobial properties of mushrooms that make them valuable in the treatment of HPV. Adding these to your diet can be a simple and delicious way to combat viral infections and various cancers throughout the body.
Curcumin: There are proven anti-cancer and antiviral properties of curcumin, which is the key ingredient of the herb turmeric. By adding this spice to your meals, you can significantly boost the strength of your immune system and protect your body from HPV.
Final Word of Warning: Again, some varieties of HPV are essentially harmless, many can lead to dangerous premalignant lesions and increase your chances of various types of cancers. You should always speak with a trained physician if you believe you are developing HPV or have signs of genital warts. These home remedy treatments are suggested as complementary treatments, but should not completely replace formal medical attention.
Source: https://www.organicfacts.net/home-remedies/human-papillomavirus-hpv.html
Sunday, 11 December 2016
Therapeutic Healing on The Dublin Business Show
Johann Callaghan opens up to Alan Hennessy and Howard Hughes on The Dublin Business Show about her still birth and her journey to question who we really are and her path to creating Therapeutic Healing. She talks about the power of essential oils, her Aromatherapy & Holistic Living online training and her live webinars.
Friday, 2 December 2016
Tony Robbins: How to Understand Yourself (Tony Robbins Motivation)
Tony Robin talks about basic human needs to help understand ourselves.
Thursday, 1 December 2016
Health Hack: 13 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, or ACV for short, is an inexpensive cure-all of sorts. For something that sells for a few dollars in the corner grocery store, ACV has a wealth of uses and health benefits.
Before we launch into all the ways this simple potion can improve your health, let’s be clear that I’m talking about raw, organic, unfiltered ACV. Raw ACV includes "the mother”—sediment that is filled with enzymes and gut-friendly bacteria. You can easily spot raw, unpasteurized ACV by its cloudy appearance.
Here are just a few of the ways you can use this useful liquid in your daily life. ACV also moonlights as a helpful beauty product, but we’ll save that topic for another day.
1. TAME TUMMY TROUBLES
ACV has a high pectin content, which can help treat diarrhea by forming bulk fibrous matter in the gut. In layman's terms, let's just say it firms things up. The pectin also forms a protective coat in the gut that soothes the colon lining and relaxes intestinal spasms. Try mixing one or two tablespoons into water or clear juice like apple juice.
2. HICCUP HELP
ACV can be a great solution for hiccups. It restores the acid balance in the stomach and eases irritating spasms of the diaphragm. A 13-year-old even created an apple cider vinegar and sugar lollipop to stop hiccups.
3. SORE THROAT SOOTHING
Turn to ACV at the first sign of a tickle in your throat. Most germs can’t survive in the acidic environment vinegar creates. Gargle with equal parts ACV and warm water every hour, or try this Apple Pie Tonic Recipe.
4. EXHAUSTION RELIEF
Exercise and extreme stress can cause lactic acid to build up in the body, causing fatigue. Apple cider vinegar contains potassium and enzymes that can relieve that tired feeling. Next time you’re feeling exhausted, try downing 1 to 2 tablespoons of the stuff diluted in juice or water.
5. RELAXES NIGHTTIME LEG CRAMPS
ACV taken diluted in water twice a day can dissolve acid crystals in the blood and provide potassium, calcium and other essential minerals that the body needs to ease leg cramps.
6. BANISHES BAD BREATH
If you suffer from halitosis, ACV might be the remedy for you. It's acidic properties will break down the bacteria causing your bad breath. Simply add 1/2 tablespoon of ACV into a cup of water and gargle the mixture in your mouth for 10 seconds at a time until the cup is empty.
7. CONTROLS BLOOD SUGAR
Apple cider vinegar has an anti-glycemic effect that improves insulin sensitivity, which is essential to maintaining healthy sugar levels in your blood. Mix one teaspoon of ACV in a glass of filtered water and take 3 times a day to steady your stomach’s rate of digestion, which in turn will keep blood sugar levels more consistent. Of course, if you are diabetic, consult your physician before trying any new remedies.
8. BOOSTS WEIGHT LOSS
Some people claim that ACV promotes weight loss by speeding up the metabolism. The acetic acid also suppresses your appetite, and reduces water retention. If you drink a glass of water with 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before your meals, the insoluble fiber could help you feel full with less food. The fiber will also decrease the likelihood of you binging on unhealthy foods between meals. One hormone that is particularly important for weight loss is growth hormone. Growth hormone is instrumental in the breakdown of fat cells. The acid in apple cider vinegar can help your body break down the protein you eat into amino acids. This will help increase the availability of amino acids to create more growth hormone. Mix 2 teaspoons of the vinegar into a glass of water and drink this before every meal or sip it slowly throughout the day.
9. MAKES IRON MORE BIOAVAILABLE
The acid found in apple cider vinegar helps release iron from food so that your body can use it.
10. LOWERS CHOLESTEROL
Some research has suggested that apple cider vinegar can improve the lipid profile of blood by decreasing the levels of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or bad cholesterol and by increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or good cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, consult your physician before starting any new protocol.
11. NATURAL LIVER DETOX
ACV can help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver.
12. SUPPORTS THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
Apple Cider Vinegar helps break up mucous throughout the body and cleanse the lymph nodes.
13. CANDIDA CONTROL
This vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can help rid your body of candida, yeasts that are attributed to thrush and a host of other ailments.
Who knew there could be many benefits to one simple product? An easy way to include apple cider vinegar in your daily diet is by using it in salad dressings, or even simply mixing a tablespoon or two in some water that you can use to take your daily supplements.
Photo credit: Alicia Cho
Sunday, 27 November 2016
Hate Exercise? Maybe It's in Your Genes
There are a multitude of reasons to exercise. Just 15 minutes each day can lengthen your life by three years.1 Exercise helps reduce blood pressure, maintain your weight, stabilize your blood sugar and helps fight depression.
The list of benefits to exercise in your life continues to grow each year as researchers make more discoveries about how the human body works, and the integral part exercise plays in your overall health and wellness. Exercise has been a big part of my life for over 45 years, but how I’ve done it has changed.
Unfortunately, while some enjoy sweating, others find the mere thought of exercise to be painful. Researchers recently found a genetically programmed reason you may not enjoy the rewards others do when you exercise.
The good news is you don’t have to exercise for long periods to benefit from the experience and there are strategies you can use to reprogram your brain to enjoy exercise, and reap the short-term and long-term rewards.
Some Get a Mental Boost From Exercise
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80 percent of Americans do not get enough exercise each week.2
Survey data from over 450,000 adults found that less than 21 percent of all people meet the recommended amount of exercise — 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity or 1.25 hours of intense exercise per week.
A recent study, led by Rodney Dishman, Ph.D., professor of kinesiology at the University of Georgia, found your genetics may control your drive, pleasure and reward from exercise.3 Specifically, they are the genes that modulate dopamine in your brain.
Dopamine is the reward neurotransmitter in your brain.4 It is released when you experience something that you interpret as being enjoyable.
More of it is released when the experience is not expected, but you’ll still experience a boost in mood or positive feelings even when the event is expected, such as exercising or sharing a special bottle of wine.
Many people experience an increase in the secretion of dopamine with exercise, triggering the reward and pleasure centers in the brain. But, according to Dishman’s research, some people don’t have this experience. Dishman said:5
“Variation in genes for dopamine receptors, as well as some other neural signaling genes, help explain why about 25 percent of the participants drop out of exercise or don’t exercise at the recommended amount.
Combined with personality measures, we think these genes may help explain why some people have a natural urge to be active, while others never do.”
Research Demonstrated Results in Lab Animals and Humans
Researchers initially evaluated lab rats that were selectively bred to be fit and active animals or unfit and inactive. They found differences in dopamine activity between these two cohorts.
This short video describes how dopamine works in your brain. Once researchers discovered the dopamine link, they recruited 3,000 human participants for a clinical trial.
The portion of the study with human participants also accounted for personality and behavior traits that would impact exercise, such as self-regulation, social influences, access to fitness activities, goal-setting and current fitness and skill level. Dishman commented:6
“Our current field trial with humans suggests that variations in genes that encode for dopamine and other neurotransmitters linked with physical activity account for low or high physical activity directly.
These genes also act indirectly, by their associations with people’s acquired motivation to be active and also with select personality traits.”
Dr. Keri Peterson, internist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York added:
“Dopamine is a chemical in our brains that plays a role in feeling pleasure and regulating drive. The inherited activity of these genes may cause us to seek physical activity or to choose a more sedentary lifestyle.
This preliminary report suggests that the motivation and desire to exercise is hard-wired. You may actually have your parents to blame for being a couch potato.”
It’s Not All Written in Stone
However, while this research finds a genetic link to dopamine activity in the brain with exercise, other research has established that exercise has the ability to change DNA expression and potentially improve your satisfaction and enjoyment with exercise.
In a comparison between the phenotype expression — the physical characteristics expressed by human DNA — of modern man and hunter gatherer societies,7researchers believe that physical activity is one example of how an environmental factor can impact characteristics expressed by DNA.
The researchers found that years of exercise deficiency could result in an increase in many chronic health conditions in the entire population and not just one individual. Exercise deficiency leads to an increased number of people who suffer from obesity, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, hypertension and osteoporosis.8
Dori Arad, a registered dietitian and certified exercise physiologist at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City believes that although some people may be genetically less inclined to enjoy the experience, they can overcome this obstacle. Arad said:9
“Genetics is very, very important, but nothing is written in stone. You can decide to be active and move and do exercise, and in essence you can rewrite your brain so that exercise becomes pleasurable and rewarding.”
Who’s Not Exercising?
In discovering this difference in dopamine activity, scientists have found there may be factors beyond discipline and motivation that drive people to become physically active and enjoy the process. The dopamine connection is one factor, but how you interpret your body reactions to exercise is yet another.
Researchers at Iowa State University have found that your capacity for exercise may be lower than you think. According to Professor Panteleimon Ekkekakis, Ph.D., 50 percent of people who start a new exercise program will stop within the first six months. Although there are many factors that may be responsible, Ekkekakis believes many new to exercise are unable to accurately monitor and regulate the intensity of their program.10
Without experience, overestimating intensity may reduce efficiency of the program and lead to negative affective responses and/or injuries. Both of these factors may increase the dropout rate of people new to exercising. Research from Ekkekakis found the ability to self-regulate during exercise deteriorates as the exercise intensifies to a point that exceeds your body’s ability to exchange gasses.
This ventilatory threshold is also the point at which optimal fitness benefits are developed in people who have practiced a sedentary lifestyle. Without the ability to recognize and regulate exercise intensity, you may push past your limits without realizing it. Essentially, you have a physical capacity beyond which your body is unable to function. This limitation is based on lung capacity, oxygen transport and how quickly oxygen is absorbed and used in muscle tissue.
However, if you try to exercise too quickly or intensely you’ll likely begin to hate the activity and stop. For some people who have been sedentary much of their life, just a short walk after dinner, cooking dinner or doing the dishes may stress your body to your ventilator threshold. The good news is this threshold is not static, but may change with the right exercise.
Rewire Your Brain to Enjoy Exercise
Ekkekakis suggests that for the average person, this ventilator threshold is approximately 50 percent of their maximum ventilation capacity.11 Individuals who are elite athletes may enjoy a threshold as high as 80 percent of their maximum capacity, while those who have lived a sedentary lifestyle may experience a threshold at 35 percent.
There are steps you can take if you’re the type of person who doesn’t enjoy an intense game of tennis, a jog around the park or rowing in the early morning hours, but you understand the impressive health benefits to moving your body each day.
There are two strategies you can use starting today to build a habit that will last a lifetime. The first is to find an activity you really enjoy and then team up with others who provide you with both social interaction during your workout, and reward and motivation to continue the process. Dishman comments:12
“If you haven’t found something which is pleasurable, either the activity or the people you’re doing it with, then you don’t have much reason to continue it. When people start viewing exercise as a duty or obligation, then that’s not a formula for sustained activity. That just puts people in a constant state of dissatisfaction.”
Consider High-Intensity Exercises
I used to be a former sub three-hour marathon runner. Back then, I, along with many people, believed that completing a marathon is the epitome of health. What I didn't know was I was committing a major exercise mistake — one that could have severely damaged my health.
Developing an exercise program to meet your needs means pushing yourself to your current aerobic capacity for short periods of time, and resting between bursts of exercise. This is high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which can be done on an exercise ball, rowing, jogging or other aerobic exercise that meets your current abilities.
You can read more about the benefits in my previous article, “New Research Reveals Why High-Intensity Training Is So Beneficial for Health — It May Even Help Prevent Cancer.” One of the reasons that HIIT works so well for so many people is that you start at your current ability and move forward. If walking increases your heart rate and breathing to your aerobic capacity, you start there. This is not a competition against anyone else except yourself.
Variety Is the Spice of Life
When developing your exercise plan, variety is the name of the game. There are five types of exercises that will turn your fitness routine into a truly comprehensive exercise plan:
•Interval (Anaerobic) Training: This really is aerobic and anaerobic, but the research shows that the anaerobic phase is far more important. The BEST way to condition your heart and burn fat is NOT to jog or walk steadily for an hour. Instead, it’s to alternate short bursts of high-intensity exercise with gentle recovery periods. This type of exercise, known as HIIT, can dramatically improve your cardiovascular fitness and fat-burning capabilities.
Another major benefit of this approach is that it radically decreases the amount of time you spend exercising, while giving you even more benefits. For example, intermittent sprinting produces high levels of chemical compounds called catecholamines, which allow more fat to be burned from under your skin within the exercising muscles.
The resulting increase in fat oxidation increases weight loss. So, short bursts of activity done at a very high intensity can help you reach your optimal weight and level of fitness, in a shorter amount of time. It also promotes the production of human growth hormone (HGH), known as “the fitness hormone,” which can help you add youthful vigor to your years, in addition to promoting weight loss and improved muscle building.
•Aerobic: Jogging, using an elliptical machine and walking fast are all examples of aerobic exercise, which will increase the amount of oxygen in your blood and increase endorphins, which act as natural painkillers. Aerobic exercise also activates your immune system, helps your heart pump blood more efficiently and increases your stamina over time.
Just don’t make the mistake of using aerobics as your primary or only form of exercise, as you’ll miss out on many of the most potent health benefits exercise has to offer.
•Strength Training: Rounding out your exercise program with a one-set strength training routine will ensure that you're really optimizing the possible health benefits of a regular exercise program. You need enough repetitions to exhaust your muscles.
The weight should be heavy enough that this can be done in fewer than 12 repetitions, yet light enough to do a minimum of four repetitions. Avoid exercising the same muscle groups every day. They need at least two days of rest to recover, repair and rebuild.
•Core Exercises: Your body has 29 core muscles located mostly in your back, abdomen and pelvis. This group of muscles provides the foundation for movement throughout your entire body, and strengthening them can help protect and support your back, make your spine and body less prone to injury and help you gain greater balance and stability.
Pilates and yoga are great for strengthening your core muscles, as are specific exercises you can learn from a personal trainer. Even if you aren’t using a personal trainer right now, please watch these sample videos for examples of healthy exercise routinesyou can do with very little equipment and in virtually any location. Focusing on your breath and mindfulness along with increasing your flexibility is an important element of total fitness.
•Stretching: This is another important piece of the puzzle, and yet overlooked by many in their exercise programs. The right stretches may help heal lower back pain, prevent injuries and improve your ability to move throughout your day. You can read more about stretching and see a sample video in my previous article, “When and How Should You Warm Up, Stretch, Exercise and Cool Down?”
[-] Sources and References
- 1 The Lancet, 2011; 378(9798): 1244
- 2 CBS News, 2013, CDC: 80 percent of American adults don't get recommended exercise
- 3, 6 American Physiological Society, November 2016, Hate Exercise? It May be in Your Genes.
- 4 Psychology Today, December 2012, What Does Dopamine Actually Do?
- 5, 9, 12 CBS News, November 2016, Love or Hate Exercise? It May Be in Your Genes
- 7, 8 The Journal of Physiology, Sept 2002; 543(2): 399-411
- 10 Iowa State University, Research Panteleimon "Paddy" Ekkekakis, Ph.D.
- 11 Wall Street Journal, February 2013, Hard-Wired to Hate Exercise?
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