5 Healthy Foods for Happiness!

A grumpy mood can pass through as swiftly as the wind, or check-in for extended stays inside your mind. While often overlooked, food can often be the sneaky culprit behind your disavowing disposition.  It’s important to eat the right healthy foods for happiness and stability in your life.

“Fill your fridge with these healthy foods for happiness and start satisfying more than just your hunger!”

The fact is, your mood can be directly influenced by the foods you eat. For instance, did you know that foods like potato chips and margarine can actually prevent you from achieving your own personal awesomeness? The difference between mood-elevating foods and the foods that can start a psychological slide seem to be based on essential ingredients like D and B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and even tryptophan.

Eat these 5 healthy foods for happiness to fill up and feel good!

1. Bananas:

Bananas are high in calming B vitamins. The level of vitamin B6 in Bananas can smooth your mood naturally through the regulation of your blood glucose levels. The potassium in them will help to maintain a steady heartbeat as well.

Bananas are even great for morning sickness! If you’re feeling nauseous when you roll out of bed, incorporate snacking on bananas between meals to keep your glucose levels normalized.

2. Blueberries:

Blueberries carry energy to the brain, providing you with a heightened sense of awareness and vigor.

Plus, blueberries do more than energize, however – they also relax! Your arteries actually relax once the nitric oxide provided by blueberries enters the body.

3. Cherries:

Cherries can be considered a natural remedy source for sleeplessness. Tart cherries help to boost the brain chemical, serotonin, that regulates your sleep and mood. Tart cherries also contain the self-regulating hormone, melatonin.

4. Green Tea

Did you know that green-tea habit can take the blues away? Green tea may be your golden ticket to feeling free and clear once again. A study of over 1,000 Japanese senior citizens showed that those who drank 4 or more cups of green tea daily showed less signs of depression (44%).

What makes green tea a magical elixir you might ask? According to researchers, an amino acid found in green tea called theanine might play a role.

(Fact source) Green tea consumption is associated with depressive symptoms in the elderly. Niu, K. et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2009 Dec;90(6):1615-1622.

5. Chocolate

Last but not least is that soothing sense of serenity that covers you with every bite of chocolate.

Why do you feel oh-so-good after eating a piece (or two) of chocolate? As soon as you take that first beautiful bite, your brain’s opioid production goes through the roof! (Opioids are chemicals responsible for reducing pain, increasing good feelings, and just making you feel warm and fuzzy all over.) Chocolate doesn’t have to be bad for you either – you can use dark chocolate, or cacao, which is chocolate in its raw form.

Are these foods in your home? If not, maybe it’s time to fill your fridge with these healthy foods for happiness and start satisfying your happiness along with your hunger!

Yoga is a peaceful practice that can act as a centering spiritual exercise, but did you know that there are multiple types?  Ashtanga Yoga is a unique form which practices smooth, flowing poses that should definitely be experienced during anyone’s lifetime.

“Consciousness, serenity, presence, and peace in the moment, and that yoga body are yours for the taking – all you have to do is go.”

If you don’t practice yoga you should know this. But, if you do practice yoga, you probably already know this. There is a type of yoga suited for every person, of every personality type. The calmness of mind, serenity, and the “yoga body” are not the sole domain of the naturally even-keeled.

Take me for example. I am a classic Type A personality, with a day job to match. Because of this, I like tradition, organization, and sequence. I always work toward “perfection” in myself and others. The concept of slowing down is difficult for me to grasp. In my world, there is always the next thing to accomplish. With these personality traits, there is a yoga for me! Ashtanga Yoga is my perfect match. In fact, it is one of my two favorite types of yoga to practice (the other being Iyengar Yoga).

AboutAshtangaYoga

what is ashtanga yoga? Ashtanga is a series of poses that you perform in a particular sequence. You coordinate the postes with the inhalation and exhalation of the breath, done at a very vigorous pace. Usually, it takes one and one-half hours to complete a class or series, with about seventy-five poses per series. As a person becomes more adept at a series, they can move on to the next. Ashtanga Yoga has six series in all, although I’ve found myself working on the primary series – the first one, for the better half of five years.

Ashtanga yoga has everything I need and like. It’s steeped in tradition. And, it’s one of the purest forms of Yoga practiced. Its origins are from Mysore, India. It’s very linear. I know what to expect each class and what I’m working toward…that “perfect” pose.

The pace is vigorous enough to hold my attention. Yet, the series is never easy enough to allow my mind to contemplate all the things I need to get done after class. Somehow, Ashtanga keeps me instilled in the moment; the ultimate goal of yoga. This, in turn, allows me to carry the importance of the present moment. Whether I take it with me outside or in the Yoga studio matters now. Because I am happy creating the conscious, peaceful, powerful life I so crave and get to have.

If I could give you one piece of advice (okay two), it would be this:

1. Try many different types of yoga, whether your new to the idea or you’ve been practicing but your heart is just not singing during class. One will call to you personally if you experiment.

2. Practice the type of yoga that draws you in, for whatever reason.

Consciousness, serenity, presence, and peace in the moment and that yoga body are yours for the taking – all you have to do is go.

Do you practice Ashtanga Yoga or any other form? Share your experiences and how it has helped you in the discussion below!

People are going green and saving the planet through daily preservation practices. However, there are still many people that think going green is costly and time consuming or more of a “tree-hugger” activity.   It’s easier than you think and we’re going to show you exactly how easy living a greener lifestyle really is!

“We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.” – Wangari Maathai

Recycling: More than just a buzzword

Recycling in today’s world is becoming a pretty easy thing to do. In the US, it’s not hard to locate a trash collection service that offers glass, plastic, and/or aluminum recycling deposit station. However, there are a large number of people who still continue to discard glass and aluminum items into the normal garbage can.

In reality, it only takes a few seconds to rinse cans and bottles before dropping them into the recycle bin and allowing that precious material to be re-used in an eco-friendly way.

Newspapers, notebooks, mail, and most other paper products are another series of items that place a serious burden on our landfills. The majority of people, although they may not realize it, toss out hundreds of trees per year along with the daily trash.

Search for community groups in your area and you might find a group of earth-friendly folks may even run paper drives. To participate, gather your old newspapers, stack them, and contact them to pick them up at your location. There are also quite a few other uses for your paper products rather than tossing it out with “yesterday’s news”.

Let’s took together at some incredible ways you can become an advocate for a greener planet.

1 – Clean your windows with old newspaper

If you’re tired of seeing small white pieces of dust and streaks on your windows after using paper towels, try old newspapers instead – you’ll be more than happy to see the results of your re-use!

2 – Leave the auto out of your mobile

One more thing that could help you to start going green is walking a bit more. Have you ever taken a drive right up the street just to pick up bread?  Try walking or jogging next time, you’ll be surprised at the places you wouldn’t normally see driving; as well as the people you may meet! Most importantly, you’ll be saving the Earth by saving oil rather than burning it.

To save even more on gas, cut your lawn mowing in half. If you do it weekly, do it bi-weekly and so on. A luxe-looking lawn is great to have but skipping an additional week before you mow again shouldn’t have an effect on the health or appearance of it. You can even use a manual push mower; your local hardware store probably still carries this type of lawnmower – you can even find them online here.

If you want to start a lawn care company, you may go to this site to look into the tools and software that might be beneficial in the growth of your business.

3 – Compost your food and paper waste

Composting has become increasingly popular. It’s a good thing, too, because composting puts nutrients back into the soil. Plus, composting is a simple way to help the environment. When you compost you throw your recycled organic waste such as carrot peels, lettuce leaves, and grass clippings into a compost bin.

Over time, this waste decomposes making what some gardeners call “black gold”, a nutrient-rich soil. Set your compost bin outside your back door or in your garage so it’s convenient for you to throw out the leftover waste. You can purchase a compost bin or make your own. They’re easy to make and inexpensive.

Here’s what you need:

• Bin with a lid
• Drill

Building instructions:

• Take a bin with a lid
• Drill 6 to 8 holes into the bottom of the bin
• Add several layers of leaves
• Add several layers of dirt until the bin is half full
• Throw in your waste like eggshells, coffee grounds, etc.
• Stir your compost with a shovel or a pick
• Spray with a little warm water, not too much
• Drill 6 to 8 holes in the lid
• Place the bin in a shady area of your yard
• It should be ready to throw into your garden in a month.

4 – Plant a garden

It’s an incredibly fulfilling experience to grow healthy fruits and vegetables for your family. Gardening is a simple way to greener living since you’re replenishing the soil with good nutrients and cutting back on the processing and shipping of store-bought produce. There’s nothing like fresh and delicious garden-to-table veggies. In many areas of the country, you can grow almost year-round. If you decide to grow your own produce, be sure to do your homework. Read gardening books or follow local gardening blogs for tips. Here is a list of easy to grow veggies for beginning gardeners.

• Lettuce: Lettuce is a cold-weather vegetable so you can grow it in the early spring and fall of cooler climates. Some lettuce does tolerate the heat. Read the back of the seed packet for this information.
• Tomatoes: Buy disease-resistant tomato seeds or plants to guarantee successful plants. This limits the need for insect repellants.
• Cucumbers: Cucumbers like to climb. Upcycle an old metal gate or chair to give them room to spread out.
• Jalapenos: These hardy, bug-free plants are easy to grow. Great for homemade salsa.
• Herbs: Fresh herbs right outside your backdoor is heaven on earth.

5 – Buy glass storage containers instead of zip plastic bags

Do away with plastic storage bags. Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable or degradable.  They photodegrade, which means they break down into very small pieces. These tiny pieces end up in oceans, lakes, and the stomach of wildlife.  Researchers say it takes one plastic bag approximately 400 to 900 years to decompose. Instead, buy glass storage containers in all sizes to store your leftovers or anything you want to save. Buy the cute metal lunch boxes for your kids. Most of them have removable trays for easy cleaning.

6 – Use reusable bags at the grocery store

Help the environment by saying no to grocery store plastic bags. Plastic grocery bags are overwhelming the landfills. They degrade into tiny pieces that end up on beaches, in lakes, and contaminate the food of wild animals. Purchase a wide variety of reusable grocery bags to carry your grocery home from the store. They’re sturdier than plastic bags, and you’ll be able to use them for years.

7 – Use cloth napkins

Even though cloth napkins must be washed, all in all, they are better for the environment than paper napkins, especially at home. Here are several suggestions making the switch from paper to cloth napkins.

• Use linen napkins rather than cotton-Cotton production is not environmentally friendly. Cotton also requires ironing, which uses electricity.
• You can make your napkins-Buy different colors and patterns of fabric remnants to create fun every day or holiday napkins.
• Use cold water to wash them-Use a biodegradable laundry soap
• Dry them on the line-Set up a drying rack in your laundry room or line dry outside

8 – Use reusable kitchen towels instead of paper towels

Studies show that getting involved in environment-friendly activities makes you feel positive about your life and your contributions to the world. Simple choices toward a greener lifestyle make a big impact.  Another choice of greener living is to avoid using paper towels. Like paper napkins, paper towels aren’t environmentally friendly. Factories that make paper towels pollute the area with chemicals during their processing. Paper towels get shipped on trucks that give off carbon emissions. Without realizing it, when you buy paper towels you bring potentially harmful materials into your home. Cloth kitchen towels and dish towels can be used over and over. You can wash them and hang them outside to dry to save on electricity.

9 – Buy reusable plates instead of paper plates

Even though they are convenient to use, avoid buying paper plates. Like paper towels and paper napkins, the production of paper plates is bad for the environment and could expose you and your family to unwanted chemicals from the processing. Instead, choose sustainable ceramic dishes for your everyday use. A sustainable product is one that when it’s made there is a small impact on the environment. Research ceramic plates and dishes before you purchase them. There is a wide assortment of sizes and colors to choose from that you can use for your family’s outdoor and indoor meals.

10 – Walk to do your errands

Depending upon where you live, one simple way to live a greener lifestyle could be to walk to do your errands. Walking reduces car emissions and gas use, plus it’s great for your health.  Like many environmentally friendly choices, a green lifestyle may be more work. Walking to the grocery will take more time and physical effort on your part. But once you do it a couple of times, you’ll get used to it. Of course, you can’t walk in inclement weather, but even if you walk to do your errands a few days a week, it will help the environment.

11 – Buy local

When you buy your fruits, vegetables, and other products from local merchants and farmers you’re helping them stay in business. Plus, because locally grown foods aren’t transported across the country, they’ll be fresh and taste better. You can find local groups on different social media sites that share information about your town’s merchants.

12 – Plant plants that are native to your area

Greener living is as easy as planting the native plants of your area. Local plants cross-pollinate wild plants and help them spread their seeds. Your area wildlife receives shade and food from these plants. You also help native birds to nest and find food in these plants. Native bees, butterflies, and insects will be attracted to these native plants to create the perfect ecological balance in nature.

13 – Energy-efficient appliance

Energy-efficient appliances are great investments for a greener lifestyle. They’re made with the environment in mind using less natural resources and may save you up to 10% to 20% in electricity costs.

14 – Use energy-saving bulbs

Energy-saving LED bulbs utilize less electricity and last longer. They also throw off less heat so your AC doesn’t run as much when you have energy-efficient bulbs.

15 – Make your own household cleaners

There are many environments-friendly homemade cleaners. Here is a list of a few natural cleaners you can safely use in your home

Baking soda

Baking soda guts grease and grime from surfaces. It’s slightly abrasive, so you can gently scrub your stainless steel kitchen sink with it.  It’s also a natural deodorizer. Open a box of baking soda and set it at the back of your fridge to deodorize your fridge for several weeks.

Castille soap

You may not have heard bout his Castille soap, but it’s completely plant-based. Great for cleaning greasy area.

Vinegar

Vinegar is acid so you can use it to clean grease, grime and soap scum.

Lemons

Cut a lemon in half. Squeeze the juice from both halves into a medium-sized bowl. Fill the rest of the bowl with water. Put the lemon into the bowl of lemon water. Set inside your microwave and cook for four to five minutes. Don’t open your microwave door when it beeps, but let it cool down for five to six minutes. Take out the dish of lemon water. The combination of lemon juice and steam loosens the grease and any bits of food on the side so you can easily wipe them off.

16 – Hang your clothes outside to dry

Who doesn’t love the smell of clothes that have dried outside? Instead of drying your clothes in the dryer, why not hang them outside where the fresh and sunshine can dry them naturally? Of course, some materials get too wrinkled line drying, but tee shirts, shorts, jeans, towels, dish towels, and some shirts will dry fine outside. Get a greener lifestyle simply using nature’s dryer.

17 – Choose reusable water bottles

By now you know that plastic water bottles are of no benefit to the environment. Landfills are full of water bottles with no hope of getting rid of them for decades. Buy everyone in your family a couple of reusable water bottles. Keep them filled with water so they’re readily available for sports practice or going for a hike. You can keep a large glass water bottle in the fridge for refilling the reusable bottles. Wash them once a week, either in the dishwasher or by hand.

Final Thoughts on Adopting New Habits and Getting on Track to a Greener Lifestyle

There are so many simple ways to live a greener lifestyle. Don’t try all these suggestions at once, just pick one or two, then move on to the next one when you’re ready. Whatever you do to help the environment is worth it. Your small actions will have a big impact. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Whether you’re growing trees or houseplants or walking to work, we want to hear.

It’s easy to make a few lifestyle modifications to going green and benefiting our environment.  Are YOU currently taking part in eco-friendly practices?  Share your tips in the conversation below!

“Do, What you’re going to do in longevity. Not just what happens tomorrow.” – Skitch Henderson

What would you do with an extra ten, fifteen or twenty vibrant and healthy years added to your life? Would you travel, take art classes, spend quality time with family and friends? Would you read more books, go skydiving, garden, prepare gourmet meals? How about volunteering at a nursing home, giving manicures to people who can’t get out of their homes or giving a smile to those less fortunate than you?

My mother is in her eighties. She may move a bit slower than she did when she was in her forties, but she still gets around just fine. And where do you think she spends her time every Monday, just like clockwork?

Monday is the day she gets in the car with her good friend and fellow church member Christine, who is also an octogenarian, and they visit shut-ins. They visit people in their area who are in nursing homes, hospitals or in their own homes but unable to get out.

That’s right! These two women who have earned the right to sit quietly at home and enjoy some peaceful time instead choose to bring smiles, flowers, lively conversation and companionship to others every week. Some of the people they visit are even younger than they are! But my mother and Christine have an advantage.

They have tapped into one of the little known secrets of longevity.

As my mother sits with shut-ins, she often combs their hair, clips their fingernails and puts cream on their dry hands. After so many years of doing this, she said she found that most of the people she visits are starved for a little attention, a gentle touch and an interested ear. But, she brings far more than just a manicure set and a comb when she walks into those rooms. She brings a sense of purpose, a will to live fully and a passion for what she does. She doesn’t just touch their hands. Indeed, she touches their hearts.

Many people have come up to me and told me what a difference my mother’s visits have made when their mother or father was no longer able to get around. Some people have called her an angel and I understand why. She exudes a desire to do something wonderful in this world. She loves having a joy-filled purpose. And she loves to make a difference, one person at a time.

So what does my mother do with her time since her retirement? How does she stay youthful, vibrant and alive? What keeps her going long after other people her age have stopped doing much at all? She has tapped into the longevity secret of being passionate, caring, having a sense of purpose and a strong desire to serve.

I bet she’ll be visiting those shut-ins for a long, long time, don’t you?

With Love,

Katrina

“Studies suggest that yoga in general, has a positive effect on learning and memory. And it’s no secret that researchers have been studying yoga for years to see if it can slow the aging process and increase quality longevity.”

When looking for success through the stillness, you may be wondering how to meditate to create more positive outcomes in your life. That’s perfectly fine – everyone wants a little more positivity in their lives and meditation is a great way to produce that positivity, as well as relieve stress.  Here’s a simple guide to meditation and how you can employ it in your daily life:

How to Meditate

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to go to some remote mountain and sit in a specific position to meditate. You can meditate in the most comfortable space – even on your bed! All you have to do is be somewhere where you can just empty your mind of distractions and focus on your breath, and eventually, nothing at all. Once you know how to meditate to create more positive outcomes, you will realize that this is an exercise you can do anytime you need to bring peace into your life.

Where to Meditate

You can meditate almost anywhere; however, there are a few exceptions. Don’t meditate when you’re in a place you need to be alert. You certainly want to avoid trying to meditate while driving. Pick a place where you can be safe if you drift off to sleep while meditating. If you can go to a park or somewhere in the wilderness, that would be ideal. Find a spot surrounded by beauty – being in nature is a great way to just “be” in the moment with no distractions. Remember to turn your phone off when meditating as well.

What to Say as you Meditate

If you desire to manifest something specific, you can say or chant “I have (fill in the blank with whatever you are trying to manifest) while in your

contemplative state. Just focus on your breathing and keep repeating what it is you wish to manifest. If you are just trying to be more positive, for example, you could say, “I am positive and calm in all situations.” If you are trying to make more money, you could say, “I am financially abundant”. Of course, you’ll need to take action on the opportunities that present themselves after your meditation to fulfill your intention.

When To Mediate

You can meditate before you have to make a big decision. Thi means that you can meditate right before you go to bed as a way to shut your brain off long enough for you to go to sleep.  Or, perhaps you can even spend some of your lunch break meditating when you are at work. You just have to make sure that you don’t meditate at a time when you need to be engaged with what is going on around you.

Meditation is a great way to uplift your mood. It doesn’t cost any money, you don’t need any special equipment, you don’t need any special skills, and you can do it alone or with a group. All you have to focus on is sitting still and being ‘in the moment’.

Do you practice meditation? Share how it has helped you in the conversation below!