Metabolism Boosters

I get occasional emails from people looking for metabolism boosters, so today I thought I'd share a few techniques you can use for doing just that.

First, certain oils can speed up your metabolism. According to several diet authorities, coconut oil is an excellent choice for this.

For another metabolism booster, Dr. Raymond Peat suggests, "Small frequent feedings, each combining some carbohydrate and some protein, such as fruit and cheese, often help to keep the metabolic rate higher."

Finally, a study from Quebec's Laval University found that men who consumed coffee plus red pepper-packed snacks and meals were able to burn nearly 1,000 more calories a day more than a control group.

Short and sweet, that's it for today's tips for metabolism boosters.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Pioneer Home Remedies

Today, let's have a little fun with three home remedies from pioneer days here in the United States.

Rheumatism Home Remedy
For painful points apply equal parts of vinegar and whiskey. Put some cucumbers in a pot over a slow fire, add a little salt and leave over the fire for an hour. Press the juice from the cucumbers, bottle tightly and place in the cellar for a week. Wet a flannel cloth with this liquid and apply to the painful parts.

Wart Home Remedy
Sell your wart to someone for five cents. Rub raw potatoes on the wart then bury the potatoes. When the potato is rotten, the wart will be gone.

Cold Sores Home Remedy
Put honey faithfully on the sore every hour. If applied all day this will make any girl blemish-free and ready for a box social by night. This also works on shingles, burns, and warts, but healing takes longer.

Today's pioneer home remedy tips courtesy of Heritage of the High Country, A History of Del Bonita and Surrounding Districts.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Memory Loss Tips

I shamelessly lifted today's entry with five memory loss tips that will also help prevent Alzheimer's disease from Dr. Ben Kim's excellent newsletter.

According to neuroscientists at a recent Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Dublin, the five best steps you can take to prevent memory loss and Alzheimer's disease are:

1. Ensure regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Healthy sources include:

• Walnuts
• Purslane
• Freshly ground flax seeds
• Wild salmon
• Sardines
• Cod liver oil (Carlson)

2. Stay physically fit.

3. Reduce stress.

4. Enjoy a rich and varied social life that involves activities that mentally stimulate you.

5. Think young.

Now, those are five tips anyone can put into action. So incorporate them into your life starting today!

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Letting Go

I've been getting some good feedback about my latest newsletter, EarthRain Meditation, so today I thought I'd share a sample issue of this short and sweet ezine devoted to attaining peace of mind through meditation and quiet contemplation...

For this week's letting go meditation, we turn to Achaan Chan, a Buddhist monk living and practicing in Thailand, who so wisely observed...

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have even more peace. So wherever you are attached, let go of that and come back to the center. Learn to see all movement of life with balance and openness.

In my life, the more I practice letting go of things, the more bliss I experience.

When you're meditating deeply and your mind is silent, that is when you'll experience the remarkable peace that comes with just letting it all go.

You don't have to meditate deeply to let go.

When something arises in your life that causes upset, consciously take a deep breath. As you're breathing in, close your eyes and feel the peace that comes with breath awareness.

Let your breath be still for a second or two before you breathe out.

Note the peace and stillness at the pause between in and out breaths.

That peace and stillness is always there.

You just have to slow down enough to become aware of it.

Now breathe out and let go of what was bothering you.

Repeat this exercise whenever you feel off center or stressed.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

P.S. Click here to get a free subscription to my EarthRain Meditation newsletter.

Backpack School Safety

Today I want to share a natural health tip about safely wearing a backpack to school.

This important information comes from my friend, Dr. Ben Kim:

With today being the first day of school for many children around the world, I just wanted to remind all of you parents out there to have your children develop the habit of wearing their backpacks evenly over both shoulders.

This habit will help to prevent the development of a spinal curve from the uneven distribution of weight caused by slinging a backpack over just one shoulder. Young children in particular are susceptible to developing permanent curves because their growing spines are quite malleable.

Not only will the habit of carrying a backpack over both shoulders help to prevent a curved spine, it will also promote good muscle development and balance throughout the shoulders, trunk, and legs.

By the way, adults who use backpacks can also benefit from this advice. Even though the typical spine is completely done growing by the age of 25, carrying a backpack evenly over both shoulders can help prevent the development of muscular imbalances in the upper back and trunk that can lead to chronic aches and pains, including headaches.

I don't know about you, but during my 24 years as an English teacher I used to swing my backpack over one shoulder and then trudge around like I was cool or something.

Luckily, I didn't have that much weight to carry in my backpack to school, so I managed to avoid any of the potential problems Dr. Kim mentions above.

Anyway, if your kid lugs a backpack to school, be sure to share Dr. Kim's advice.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com

P.S. Speaking of backpacks, you'll want a copy of Dr. Ben Kim's wonderful 85-page Eight Essential Strategies for Academic Success. This is a study guide that every student can use to improve learning and grades. Click here for details.

Healthy Energy Bar Recipe

You know, when you're shopping in the local health food store for a healthy energy bar, you'll find a wide and expensive variety to choose from.

Well, happily, today I'm going to save you a lot of money and experimentation because with the healthy recipe for an energy bar I'm about to share, you just plain can't go wrong.

Try it and see if you don't agree.

Hearty and Healthy Energy Bar

1 cup dried apricots
1 cup dried figs
1 cup dates
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup honey

Grind apricots, figs, dates and raisins in food processor, each ingredient separate. Add unsweetened coconut. Mix almond butter and honey. Combine the fruit mixture and almond butter mixture. Form into bars or balls and chill in refrigerator.

Honestly, you're not going to find an energy bar recipe that's any better than this one.

Try it.

You'll like it.

Chet Day
Editor, The Health Circus
http://chetday.com