WELLNESS AND BEAUTY ‘COACHING’

It's all about the "coaching" trend this year! “Health coaching,” “wellness coaching,” even “eyebrow coaching”
— coaching is big right now.

Experts say coaching in the spa industry is in a better position than in medical establishments to deliver preventative "healthcare"(i.e. to provide an environment and offerings that can actually help people make long-lasting lifestyle changes — the number one medically proven path to disease prevention and optimal health).

“Wellness coaching” and “health coaching” are very serious trends. Harvard Medical School now underwrites an annual conference on coaching’s role in healthcare, while supporting the Institute of Coaching. It’s the most effective model to get people to adhere long-term to healthy regimes.

Destination spas are taking the lead with both at-the-spa “coaching” models and post-stay coaching connections.

My favorite place - Arizona’s Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona offers its “Integrative Wellness Program” that is beyond worth visiting.

HEALTH TRENDS: ‘SECRETS TO LIVING LONGER’

The healthiest people tend to live in Italy, Japan, Greece, California, and Costa Rica where they have been able to maintain healthy and active lifestyles allowing them to surpass the age of 100.

The French are able to stay healthy and active because despite French cuisine involves a lot of butter and cream, their secret is portion control. They also do a lot of walking. Not only is gas very expensive but most areas are old and buildings won’t even have elevators or escalators. This is why so few of the French have heart diseases or obesity problems.

Scandinavians stay healthy by eating only pure homegrown foods. They also eat lots of omega-3 rich fish and so it produces a very low obesity rate – at only about eight percent.

As you know in Okinawa, Japan, the highest number of living people over the age of 100 live there, or centenarians as they are called. They practice hara hachi bu, which means eating until you’re about 80% full – no overindulging. Their diets are made up of mainly soy, high-fibers, vegetables, omega-3 rich fatty fish, and a small amount of meats. They also partake in many meditation and prayer exercises keeping them relaxed and as a result they have less breast, ovarian, and colon cancer death rates.

In the Mediterranean, their diet has been linked to less risk of cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, and heart disease. They consume lots of good fats – that can be found in olive oil, nuts, and fish – also lean meats, fruits and vegetables, as well as wine.

METABOLISM: SPEED YOURS UP

Your metabolism is as unique to you as your skin and your hair. Don’t be discouraged, though! We have tips to help you speed up your metabolism.

1. Cardio Workouts
Here’s the rule of thumb:
Dr. David Nieman, professor of exercise science at Appalachian State University says “if you do just two to three vigorous bouts of exercise per week for 45 minutes, you could lose a pound of fat every two weeks from the combination of calories expended during exercise plus what you burn afterward.” 

If you want to lose weight and be healthy, there’s no way to do it without incorporating exercise!

2. Sleep
By losing one night of sleep, your metabolism drops by five percent! The following morning your body burns carbs 20% slower than normal.

It has also been shown that women consume 329 more calories when sleeping about four hours as opposed to when they sleep about nine hours. You should be averaging about seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

3. Strength Training
Reaching the age of 40 is inevitable and so is the one- to two-pound weight gain per year afterward. This occurs because of the dip in estrogen levels during menopause leading to 50 calories less that is being burned a day.

By doing weight-lifting exercises about three times per week, it would add enough muscle to your build allowing your body to burn an extra 45 calories per day.

4. Eat Healthy
Your brain needs a constant supply of sugar that’s why you food intake is so important. If your blood sugar levels are low and you have a small muscle mass, your metabolism will be slow.

The trick is to consume about 100- to 200-calorie snacks in between meals to keep continuous sugar blood levels. Eating just before bed is just as important! Grabbing a light snack like peanut butter or a graham cracker will help you burn calories while you sleep.

SEX: HOW MANY TIMES A DAY DO YOU THINK OF IT?

According to the Journal of Sex Research, thinking of sex daily is healthy! The study showed that men thought about sex 19 times a day whereas women though about it 10 times a day on average.

Amy Levine, a sex educator claims that “people who tend to have no, or a low amount, of sexual thoughts and complain about it may be depressed.”

The same study showed that people who have sex regularly, like couples, think about sex more frequently opposed to singles who sometimes dismiss it as a priority.

Looks like in this case too much of a good thing isn’t so bad!

DO IT YOURSELF: HEALTH

Looks like the growing trend is do-it-yourself "health". People would rather diagnose themselves or try to solve their own problems than wait in a hospital waiting room for hours on end.

Mobile device apps will be the main aids in this growing trend. There are approximately 9000 health apps:

• 1500 cardio apps
• 1300 diet apps
• 1000 stress and relaxation apps
• 650 women’s health apps

For example, the Jawbone’s Up app is a wristband that syncs to your mobile device to your own moving, eating, and sleeping patterns.

There is also the Skin Scan app, which scans beauty marks and moles with an attempt at detecting cancerous skin cells. The app will let you know if you should visit your doctor.

You will be able to see many more health apps as 2012 progresses.

HEALTH TREND: RED WINE PREVENTS CANCER

A new study done at the Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles claims that one glass of red wine a day can decrease your chances of developing breast cancer.

The researchers found that there is a certain chemical in the skin of the red grapes that lower estrogen levels in premenopausal women. Alcohol has been said to increase levels of estrogen, which promote cancer cell growth. In the case of red grapes, the chemicals in its skin seem to have the opposite effect by not converting testosterone into estrogen.

White wine did not have the same effect. It doesn’t promote cancer cell growth but it doesn’t do anything to prevent it either.

MEDICAL TREND: IPAD APP HELPING SURGEONS

There is a revolutionary device now helping doctors provide faster and more advanced responses to emergencies and patient needs. It’s an iPad app that provides remote access to patient data. It comes from Global Care Quest.

It’s portable and gives doctors all your info in one place. Adoption of new technology is no longer a trend found only among younger doctors. Older doctors are using tablets now too. I spoke to Steve Curd, the marketing head at Global Care Quest who has a track record of growing successful health care technology businesses. He says doctors want to see all info on a patient and now there is a device that brings it all together into one place on a single screen. It really has changed the entire playing field. “Typically the doctor will want to see every component of clinical information available for that patient so that might include lab test results, it might include nursing notes, might include vital signs of physiological vital information. It almost certainly always includes clinical imaging, in the X-Rays or CT scans or MRI reports and MRI scans. Oftentimes a surgeon will cognitively assemble all of these pieces of information together in their heads, attempting to build a complete view of that patients current condition, and in terms of building a strategy for the upcoming procedure. We aggregate that information, we pull it into one single place, and then make that information available to the surgeon or the physician anywhere and any place it’s required. We start with the hospitals. In many cases, the solution is being pushed by the physicians, because as you can imagine it dramatically improves the surgeon’s quality of life. So now, rather than spending an hour a day attempting to pull information together for the patients, it has surgeons available instantly with to assemble that information and he/she can focus on what they really want to focus on which is quality of care of patients, in a much more efficient environment.”

Steve said it’s the convergence of technology that is making all this possible. “I think the one thing that is striking to me is the speed at which technologies have converged to make this possible, and if you rewind even just a few years ago, this kind of capability was essentially unheard of. Today with sort of simultaneous advancements in encryption, and information encryption technology, in high speed light weight computing devices such as iPads, in high-resolution displays that you can interact with, all of these technologies have converged to create an environment that has made an incredible impact in health care. The thing that is most for me is that these technologies are all independent. There is no coordinated effort to make all this happen so we’re in a very exciting time and the convergence of technology is really serving the best needs of physicians and patients.

STUDY: JET LAG CAUSES MEMORY & LEARNING PROBLEMS

Here is some useful information if you’re a frequent traveler. We now know that jet lag causes memory and learning problems and not only for the next day but for up to month after you return. According to the new research and psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley, chronic jet lag results in brain changes and impaired cognitive function for a long time.

So whether you're a flight attendant, medical resident, or rotating shift worker, repeated disruption of your circadian rhythms is likely going to have a long-term impact on your cognitive behavior and function.

Why exactly does changing time zones result in jet lag?

It’s all in the circadian rhythms. When we cross time zones rapidly with air travel, it upsets our internal clock. (East-bound is the worst when it comes to getting your clock back.) Chronic disruption of sleep cycles can lead to: memory and learning problems, decreased reaction times, higher incidences of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and cancer and compromised fertility.

The World Health Organization Now actually considers shift work a carcinogen. For those who have just returned to work, allowing one day of recovery for every one hour in time-zone shift is best. You might also try popping melatonin, which helps regulate your internal clock.

SURGERY TREND:
DR. CASSILETH’S ONE-STAGE BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

With the news that Giuliana Rancic is having a double mastectomy, Hollywood took notice recently. Now there is a Beverly Hills doctor named Dr. Lisa B. Cassileth that does both surgeries in one and it’s revolutionizing care for breast cancer patients. More women than ever are now choosing to undergo mastectomy for the treatment or prevention of breast cancer. Dr. Cassileth’s One-Stage Breast Reconstruction reduces scarring and makes it so much less stressful. The technique allows breasts to be reconstructed at the time of mastectomy in one single surgery. HTR sat down and spoke with her. She says women are taking their lives into their own hands but many still suffer. “I think women’s perceptions have changed dramatically. I think women are far less accepting of average or substandard care. Unfortunately now what we see is that women in urban areas are much more aggressive about getting the best outcome. We still see unfortunately in sub-urban areas and country areas and unfortunately even here in Los Angeles we see women with very, very delayed reconstructions. For example: having mastectomies for years but most of the women that come to me don’t want the mastectomy that unfortunately their mother or grandmother had where they woke up every morning feeling deformed or less than female.”

She tells us this new surgery is the best one you could ask for. “The obvious benefit of doing an all in one procedure is just having one stage, one surgery. The other benefit is that when I studied this extensively, I found that there is actually a lower risk of infection, and a better aesthetic outcome, a smaller scar, so it ended up being overall multiple ways of a great benefit to the patient.”

Women today are a lot pickier with their breast surgeries. “The trends we’re seeing with women and reconstructive surgery is that women now, unlike women of the past who might be happier with a scar or just getting rid of the cancer, women now today really are more likely to ask questions and say ‘I don’t want to wake up deformed. I don’t want to wake up with a large scar. What else is out there for me?’ Women now are being more proactive with their care. I also find that I have more women that are young, that carry a gene for breast cancer that we’re finding more and more frequently now. These people are especially aggressive now about having the smallest incision, the best possible cosmetic result, because they don’t have breast cancer. They’re doing this to avoid the risk of them getting breast cancer in the future.”

If you want to contact Dr. Lisa Cassileth you can call here in Beverly Hills at 310.278.8200 or visit http://www.drcassileth.com/

STUDY:
FATTY FOODS AFFECT BRAIN

New health studies show that fatty foods not only affect the body but the brain too. They injure neurons in the area of the brain that control body weight. Studies were done on rats. They were fed a high-fat diet with similar fat content of the average North American. Three days into the diet, the rats were eating double the daily calories they usually would. The hypothalamus was affected. That's the part of the brain containing neurons that control body weight. It is not yet clear if the damage to neurons is permanent.

WORLD HEALTH EXPERT DR. NEIL MARTIN: ARE CELL PHONES REALLY BAD FOR YOU?

ARE CELL PHONES REALLY BAD FOR US? Everyone wants to know. I had a chance to speak to one of the top brain surgeons in the world today Dr. Neil Martin from UCLA. He is the leading world expert. There was no one better to ask than this man who operates on brains daily.

Dr. Martin says: “This is an area of tremendous study and obvious concerns since everyone is using cell phones frequently every single day. The bottom line is that the jury is still out. There have been some studies that suggest that there’s a modest increase in the frequency of brain tumors associated with cell phone use and numerous other studies that have failed to demonstrate any substantial increase. To be on the safe side here is what I recommend. The harmful radiation obviously comes from the hand piece. You don’t want to hold that right next to your head and for certain you don’t want kids using cell phones frequently because their brain is actively growing, brain cells are actively reproducing, and theoretically their brain must be much more vulnerable to the electro-magnetic radiation.”

I wanted to know what the health expert himself took in terms of vitamins, if any at all. Dr Martin said: “I take a multi-vitamin, I take fish oil that is mercury-free, I take folic and B-12 and I take vitamin D. You’d think in Los Angeles with all the sunshine here you get plenty of vitamin D but those of us who are working inside the operating room and in an office all day probably don’t get enough vitamin D and that is another critical element of a healthy nutritional program.”

“Vitamins are great because you get a concentrated dose and often a higher dose than your able to get from your average diet. If you sometimes have to hit the cafeteria like I do or if you have to eat out of vending machine between operations, you’re probably not getting the healthiest possible diet and vitamin supplements can help fill the gaps. There’s no question that there are many tens, hundreds, thousands of micronutrients that we don’t even know about that are found in the most beneficial fruits and vegetables that are probably not included in vitamin supplements. The best source is probably the natural source, but it is perfectly reasonable to consider supplementing your diet through vitamins, Omega 3 fatty acids that you can find in fish oil or in a multi-vitamin tablet.”

MONEY TREND:
FINANCIAL THERAPISTS

There is a new breed of doctors now. The trend now is to have a financial psychologist. It’s a new kind of therapist. Maybe more money really does mean more problems. Financial psychologists go past helping you budget – they get to the root of your money issues.  They don’t look at your assets and debts, budget and portfolio. They look at why you manage and spend money the way you do.

Money can cause so many issues between loved ones. The most common reason for couples to fight is over finances. The therapist will help you discover if there is an emotional issue causing you to spend a lot of money – or if there is something in your upbringing that is influencing how you handle money now.

This kind of therapy is based on the idea that good money management is as much emotional as it is practical.  Often there are strong emotions of fear and shame associated with money – so the problem is not in your bank account, it’s in your head. People’s beliefs about money are formed between the ages of 5 and 12.

PSYCHOLOGY:
HOW TO KEEP YOU BRAIN ALIVE

Your brain, just like your body, needs to stay active in order to function well. Here’s how to keep your brain going and alive.

1. Actively challenge your peripheral vision. It improves brain performance. Studies show that drivers have fewer accidents if they do this.

2. Develop careful listening habits. It helps your ability to understand, think and remember. When you focus, you release brain chemicals that improve memory.

3. Play an instrument. It touches on so many brain functions at once: listening, control of refined movements and translation of written notes to music.

4. Practice throwing and catching a ball up in the air. It is a sensory-guided movement that hones visual, tactile and hand-eye coordination responses in your brain. MRI studies show that it thickens parts of the brain's cortex.

5. Learn to use the other hand. If you're right-handed, use your left hand (or vice-versa) for daily activities like brushing your teeth and eating. This is great because it wakes up a part of the brain that is never used.

6. Start paying attention to the physical world around you. Start noticing things and make a conscious effort to find new details even in a familiar situation. When you stop learning, your brain stops growing.

HEALTH FINDINGS:
EATING SPEED ASSOCIATED WITH WEIGHT

Another study has found an association between eating speed and weight. People who eat the quickest are more likely to be obese than slow eaters. The faster people ate, the more their body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) rose - 2.8 percent for each step (equivalent to an extra 4.3 pounds.)

A study published earlier this year in Time Magazine showed that eating with a bigger fork was associated with eating less food and another study showed that people who eat quickly have a tripled risk of being overweight than people who eat slowly.

HEALTH FINDING:
LAUGHING LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE

Laughing or listening to your favorite music could lower your blood pressure maybe even more than cutting out salt from your diet or losing ten pounds. In a study, people with high blood pressure took part in group sessions twice a month built around music or laughter. Their blood pressure went down an average of six points after three months! This translates to a 5-15% lower risk of death from heart disease or stroke. Music and laugher alone isn’t sufficient to treat high blood pressure, but it is a natural tool to improve your health that is complimentary to medication. How exactly music and laughter affects blood pressure is still unclear.

HEALTH FINDING:
CHIPS LEADING CAUSE OF WEIGHT GAIN

According to a major study, chips are the number one reasons for our weight gain. It found the chip is a bigger problem than soft drinks, sweets and ice cream. According to the study by Harvard University scientists, the reason is partly that old advertising cliché:  "You can't stop at just one." People generally have a whole bag.  We now know that what we eat and how much of it we consume has far more impact than exercise and most other habits do on long-term weight gain.

It's the most comprehensive look yet at the effect of individual foods and lifestyle choices. The new study finds food choices are key. The message: Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts.
 
Cut back on potatoes, red meat, sweets and fizzy drinks.

Now of course diet and exercise are important for preventing weight gain, but diet clearly plays a bigger role. Potato chips were the biggest dietary offender.  Each daily serving containing 28 grams (about 15 chips and 160 calories) led to a 750-gram uptick over four years. That's compared to sweets and desserts, which added 185 grams

LIFESTYLE TREND:
CULTURED PEOPLE ARE HAPPIER

Now some trendsetting news when it comes to your happiness...


Cultured people are happier people.

A new study over 50 thousand adults shows that people who go to museums and concerts or create art or play an instrument are more satisfied with their lives, regardless of how educated or rich they are.

Published in the British Medical Association's Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health the study shows that this is different for men and women.


For men, passive activities such as taking in "a concert" or seeing "museum exhibit" are associated with an upbeat mood and better health.

Advertisement: Story continues below but For women, the link is BEING ACTIVE Women were less likely to feel anxious, depressed or feel unwell - if they played music or created art.

Those who were studied were asked detailed questions about their leisure habits and how they perceived their own state of health, satisfaction with life and levels of depression and anxiety.

The results were unexpected:
men feel "better" when they are spectators while women prefer"doing" rather than watching to feel better. Even more surprising was that wealth and education were not an issue.

The study concluded that the use of cultural activities in health promotion and healthcare may be justified.

but the question remains I ask:

are people healthier and happier because they are cultured or do they seek out more culture because they feel good to begin with?

WHAT ‘REALLY’ IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR?

Now turning to a fascinating topic that I have researching in depth for 2 1/2 years now..and with all the headlines of some dark people with no integrity
“Pathological liars” are a topic I have sadly learned much about from the experts.

Would you know how to spot one?
Why can’t they tell the truth?

Well, we now know this:

Liars' brains are wired very differently from normal brains.

 

A University of Southern California study of pathological liars shows the first evidence of  differences in the structure of the brain - in the area that let's most people to feel

"remorse for other human beings and for their actions.”

 

In a three-dimensional MRI image of the brain, it’s
the first proof of brain abnormalities in people who lie all the time - and also those who cheat and manipulate.

When it comes to liars - past research had shown 
that there's heightened activity in the prefrontal cortex – that’s the area of the brain that lets most people to feel remorse or learn moral behavior.

This is now the first study to provide evidence of structural differences in people that lie a lot.

Liars have "histories" of conning others.

Researchers have told me that they are manipulative and they know they prey on people. They are very brazen in their manner but very cool when talking about it. I have lived this firsthand and know it to be true….so calm and cool in their speech that they can fool anyone around them.

I spoke in depth with Dr. Shari Corbitt of Promises Rehab facility in Malibu. She says alcoholism often goes hand in hand with lying and other addictions such as sex addiction or others.

Meantime....

Pathological liars can’t always tell truth from falsehood when speaking - and if they do - they do not see how it is to the rest of the normal world.

The researchers at the University of Southern California - used Magnetic Resonance Imaging to explore structural brain differences between the groups.

The liars had much more “white matter” and slightly less “gray matter” than those they were measured against.

Researchers found - the more white matter – the wiring in the brain – may provide liars with the tools necessary to master the complex art of deceit.

Lying takes a lot of effort. It’s almost mind reading.

They have to be able to understand the mindset of the other person. 

The liar has to suppress their emotions or regulate them because they don’t want to appear nervous and the higher the IQ the worse predator they are.

There’s quite a lot to do. They've got to suppress the truth. How horrible, empty, sad and superficial this existence must be.  

Researchers say –

The more networking there is in the prefrontal cortex, the more the person has an "upper hand" in lying. 

Their verbal skills are higher. They’ve almost got a natural advantage.

The study found that liars are people with a surplus of "white" matter and less "gray" matter. 

That means:

They have more tools to lie AND have fewer moral restraints than normal people.

They’ve got the equipment to lie, and they don’t have the inhibition that the rest of us have in telling big lies.

“When people make moral decisions, they are relying on their prefrontal cortex.”

When people ask normal people to make moral decisions, researchers see activation in the front of the brain BUT liars have a just 14 percent reduction in the gray matter - they are less likely to care about moral issues or they are less likely to be able to "process" moral issues. They sadly need more grey matter.

Be careful. Stay safe.
Ann

SPORTS FITNESS NEWS:
WHAT ARE THE MOST INJURY - PRONE SPORTS?

Did you know for men the high injury sports are currently, in this order: BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL and CYCLING.

Doctor Kenneth Best, Celebrity Doctor of Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology, author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Facing Lifes Challenges, says "these" sports MAY CAUSE more harm than a few bumps and bruises.

For females – believe it or not - CHEERLEADING causes the most sports related injuries - followed by GYMNASTICS.
If you go to the gym daily - the number one injury in gyms - shoulder-related injuries.

 

There are also BACK-RELATED injuries to worry about. It is estimated that 60 to 80 percent of the population in North America will have back related pain or injury!
Back pain is also the NUMBER ONE ailment that causes people under age 45 to limit physical activity.

About Dr. Ken Best, D.C.

Dr. Kenneth Best, D.C., a Los Angeles chiropractor and author of the books: "99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Facing Life's Challenges", published by the 99 Series of books, and "Rewriting Your Life - An Owner's Manual".

Dr. Best specializes in Applied Kinesiology ("AK") and is a teacher and practitioner of Thetahealing™.

Applied Kinesiology is a holistic approach which integrates traditional chiropractic with acupuncture, neuro-lymphatics, neuro-vascular, cranial-sacral, non-force adjusting, diversified adjusting and many other modalities to create a balance of the physical, chemical and emotional components of healing (more info)

Thetahealing™ allows us to connect to the quantum field of energy with unlimited energy to manifest miracles in our lives, not only healing disease, but changing the core of who we are from the inside out. Dr. Best has healed thousands of patients through combinations of physical and energetic therapy and spiritual guidance to change the inner being.

Dr. Best has developed a program utilizing the tools for inner change as a result of these healings, called “Rewriting Your Life™.” This program helps you to find and remove the obstacles to perfect health and creating the life you want. Part of the process is also about learning about how your brain works and to change the pathways by utilizing simple but effective techniques. This information is available through his books and online course.

Dr. Best is in agreement with Einstein, who said that light and sound would be the medicine of the future, Dr. Best researches and expands the investigation into energy healing, from healing light frequencies to vibration of brainwaves which influence our subconscious beliefs.

Dr. Best has been a seminar instructor for both healing techniques of Applied Kinesiology and Thetahealing for more than ten years teaching and assisting thousands of healers.

He is sought after for his healing abilities in the entertainment industry working with many celebrities, and the cast and crews of many television shows and movies. Some of the production teams Dr. Best has worked with are:

24 - starring Keifer Sutherland, The Changeling - starring Angelina Jolie, Brothers and Sisters – starring Calista Flockhart, Alias - starring Victor Garber, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, and Tom Cruise.

Dr. Best graduated Magna Cum Laude from the
Cleveland Chiropractic College in Los Angeles, California and has an Associate Degree in Basic Sciences from Patten College, graduating Summa Cum Laude after his BBA Economics degree from the University of San Diego.

HEALTH TREND:
JUICE BARS GO GLAM

There’s new trend in healthy living: Juicing has gone glam! Now called: "Designer Juicing.

What used to cost three and four dollars is now often up to 10 as juicing has taken on a life of its own entering the designer world of high-end drinks. 

but $10+ is truly now an often, going rate for a new generation of posh, glam, eco-chic juice bar drinks. 

The old 'juice bar' stereotypes are gone.

There is a different demographic growing interest in it.
Annie Juneau, certified naturopath and colon hygienist explains how she see’s more and more people gravitating towards the health drink. She says the younger generations re healthy now.

The juicing trend is so hot today. Many offer elixirs and other healthy items. In recent years people have grown interest in juicing and healthier lifestyles with a lot of help from Hollywood celebrities that promote it.

What makes juicing so amazing?

You are getting so many vegetables at one time with so many antioxidants.

It's easy to glam up your juice and smoothie recipes at home by using ingredients and flavor combos that are on the HOT list of juicing trends right now. 

Here are 10 ingredients to glam your juice up:

 

1. Coconut Juice
2. Yuzu: a tiny citrus very high in Vitamin C
3. Exotic Nut Milks
4. Algae Flakes and Spirulina
5.  Aloe: many juice bars are offering this as an add-in ingredient.
6. Herby Combos: things like basil and lime, Thyme and lemon, pear and mint
7. Acai berry
8. Hemp products
9. Goji berry
10. Freshly ground spices: cinnamon and nutmeg. 

For more information on Annie Juneau, go to her clinic vitacru.com 

PSYCHOLOGY:
HOW TO DEVELOP 'CREATIVITY'

Science is finding new ways to get the creative juices flowing. Research is saying not only is creative ability measurable, most people can hone it. They found the areas of the brain that regulate inhibition and self-monitoring shut down during improvisation. Take for example an expert musicians. They become so adept at playing that they enter a sort of automatic, expressive state when they improvise. You can't force creativity but you can maximize your ability to get in a creative sense of mind by really knowing what you’re doing well. There is much more to creativity than natural talent and IQ. Personality attributes such as non-conformity, curiosity and persistence also contribute to creativity. Innovative thinking has much or more to do with a person's motivation as it has to do with factors such as expertise or innate creativity. Intrinsic motivation and passion for doing something is especially significant and can be hugely influenced by our social, school or work environments.

Here are some tips:

  • Follow your passion
  • Master your craft and build expertise
  • Be curious and willing to experiment
  • Seek out challenging projects with supportive managers
  • Learn which activities put you into a creative mindset
  • Be persistent and work hard.

HEALTH FINDING:
OFFICE JOBS SHORTEN LIFE

Did you know sitting all day could shorten your life? If you’re looking for longevity, your office job might have to go. Research found that men who are sedentary for more than 23 hours a week have 64 percent more chance of dying from heart disease than those who are sedentary for less than 11 hours. If you can’t change your office job, you might want to reconsider the activities you do when you get home. TV watching, surfing the web, and playing video games are all relaxing activities, but they'll cause you to sit even longer. Even if you have a regular exercise routine, that's not going to be enough to beat the negative effects of sitting all day. Experts recommend employees get their blood flowing and move around for a few minutes every hour at work.

HEALTH TREND:
ADVANCED LIPOPROTEIN TESTING FOR CHOLESTEROL

There is a test now being done here in the US gives you a much more accurate reading of your cholesterol by testing particles in the blood. It's called Advanced Lipoprotein Testing and it is truly amazing. Dr. Michael F. Richman is the founder Director of The Center for Cholesterol Management in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. He is a diplomat in the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and a fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians. In 2002-2003, he was listed by the Consumers' Research Council of America in the "Guide to America's Top Surgeons."Dr. Richman focuses on preventative aspect of cardiac care, namely cholesterol (lipid) management. He is a noted authority on lipid disorders and is currently the "Cholesterol Expert" on WebMD. 

The test saved my life recently. I tested and found out what no other tests show and I was able to change my lifestyle immediately. In a regular test, you are just measuring the amount of cholesterol in a certain amount of blood. It shows you nothing about where the cholesterol goes to cause damage. If you can’t get the cholesterol to where it is going to cause a problem, it’s irrelevant how much there is. Essentially, what they do is an MRI of the blood, and measure these vehicles and drive the cholesterol into the wall of the artery.

Doctors now know that risk of heart attack is not as simple as just measuring cholesterol. The Center for Cholesterol Management specializes in providing an Advanced Lipoprotein Testing that measures the number of various lipoprotein particles present in the blood - information that is more predictive of heart disease than traditional cholesterol testing.

 

This kind of test is especially important for people with certain risk factors, even if they have "normal" cholesterol numbers. Since most Coronary Artery Disease victims (50% of men and 64% of women) are not diagnosed until sudden death or heart attack,

Advanced Lipoprotein Testing can saves lives by going that extra step.

The Center for Cholesterol Management in Los Angeles - the number is: 310.481.3939

HEALTH FINDING:
EXCESS WEIGHT IMPAIRS MEMORY AND ATTENTION

We all know that excess weight is detrimental to your physical health, but what most don’t know is that it can harm your mental health as well. It impairs memory and attention. Losing weight can help improve these functions.Obesity is considered a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and stroke. Why would body weight have anything to do with brain function? It turns out that excess works on a number of different metabolic pathways that can affect the way we process information.

So if you feel like you’re forgetful or can’t stay focused, try a healthy diet and exercise – it just might do the trick!

WELLNESS FINDING:
MEDITATION MORE EFFECTIVETHAN MORPHINE

We all know the effects meditation has on stress and focus levels. New studies are showing that it even has an effect on pain – and it might be more effective than morphine. Meditation changes the physical structure of the brain. These can be seen in neuro transmitters, changes in blood flow, and brain wave activity. The study showed a 40 percent reduction in pain intensity and a 57 percent reduction in pain unpleasantness. Morphine reduces both these ratings by about 25 percent.

WELLNESS TREND:
MULTITASKING HINDERS SHORT TERM MEMORY

Studies now show that multitasking is bad for you because it can hinder short-term memory. Constant distractions from smart phones and social networks can damage mental performance. Ironically, if you're a frequent multitasker, you are actually worse at multitasking because you are more easily distracted by uselessinformation. The brain often looses the capacity to filter out irrelevant information and thus you don't stay on target.

MOBILE TRENDS:
APPS HELP YOU IMPROVE HEALTH

More and more apps are coming out to improve your health.
Absolute Fitness: Helps you keep tabs on your food intake and analyzes your diet. Gives you nutritional information on a huge range of foods. It also helps you monitor the amount of exercise you take, your body weight and blood pressure. $4.99

Run Keeper: If you’re running, cycling or walking, RunKeeper tracks the routes you took using GPS and gives you data about your speed and distance traveled. FREE

Quitter: An app that helps you quit smoking. You enter the dates you last smoked and the price of a pack of cigarettes. Quitter lets you know how much money you’ve saved by quitting. FREE

Epocrates: It’s a drug encyclopedia. Gives you in depth information about medications, their uses, doses and side effects. FREE

aSleep: This is one is for those of you who have a hard time falling asleep. It sets a timer, and it serenades you with peaceful sounds until you fall asleep. $0.99

HEALTH TREND:
MEDITATION IMPROVES COMPASSION

If you’re looking to get smarter then all you might need is a few meditation sessions. A study has found that meditation leads to an increase in brain capacity for learning and memory. You will also see improvements in self-awareness and compassion. More benefits include a decrease in anxiety and stress, perfect for those of us who constantly work!

The study had a group of people participate in an eight-week meditation program consisting of weekly meetings and home practice. Each session was just 30 minutes. Past studies have also found that meditation may reduce blood pressure and give you a longer attention span.

STUDY:
MEDITATION INCREASES BRAIN CAPACITY

If you’re looking to get smarter then all you might need is a few meditation sessions! A study has found that meditation leads to an increase in brain capacity for learning and memory. You will also see improvements in self-awareness and compassion.

More benefits include a decrease in anxiety and stress, perfect for those of us who constantly work! The study was done using 16 people and was an eight-week meditation program consisting of weekly meetings and home practice. Each session was just 30 minutes! Past studies have also found that meditation may reduce blood pressure and give you a longer attention span!

DIET SODAS:
NEW ADDICTION

A beverage that more and more people are getting addicted to: Diet Sodas.
A survey found that people who drink diet beverages average more than 26 ounces per day and that 3% of diet-soda drinkers have at least four daily.

So what is it that these diet-soda drinkers are addicted to? For some it may be the caffeine. For others, the artificial sweeteners it contains can make some people psychologically, and even physically, dependent on it in ways that mimic more serious addictions.

Psychologically, people give themselves permission to over indulge because, unlike sugared soda, there is no immediate weight gain. Some people use diet-sodas to wean off their other addictions. This is a concept called addition swapping, when you switch one compulsive behavior for another.

Research shows that the artificial sweeteners in diet soda may prompt people to keep refilling their glass because these fake sugars don't satisfy like the real thing. A study showed women who drank water that was alternately sweetened with sugar and Splenda couldn't tell the difference, but their brains could. Even though both drinks lit up the brain's reward system, the sugar did so more completely, causing the person to crave more. It has drinkers chasing the high that diet sodas will never fill. The “teasing” effect can lead to dependence.

Heavy diet-soda drinkers who cut back experience the same symptoms as those detoxing from other toxins: headaches, nausea and irritability. Too much diet soda can be risky. Habitual diet-soda consumption has been linked to an increased risk of low bone mineral density in women, type 2 diabetes, and stroke.

Diet soda intake may actually encourage weight gain. Experiencing the sweet flavor of diet soda without absorbing any calories, it begins to forget that foods containing real sugar and other carbohydrates do deliver calories.

HEALTH TREND:
REASONS FOR LONGEVITY

How you your life determines how old you will get!

A Swedish study now finds that living to 90 is not based on genetics! It’s based mainly on lifestyle. It's based on smoking less, less coffee drinking, a good income and lower cholesterol. These are now the primary reasons for how old you live.

Those who followed that saw a decrease in heart attacks over the last 40 years. Researchers are using the study to track the development of illnesses for people past middle age.

ALMONDS:
PREVENT DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE

Something you definitely want to incorporate into your daily diet is almonds.

According to a study, it could help prevent diabetes and heart disease.

It helps treat type 2 diabetes which accounts for 90-95% of all cases. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes – but this type only accounts for 5% of all cases. Type 2 diabetes occurs most often to people over 40. Consuming a diet rich in almonds could help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease LDL-cholesterol – both preventing diabetes.

Almonds are cholesterol-free and compared with other nuts, they are the highest in six essential nutrients - fibre, magnesium, protein, potassium, copper and vitamin E.

Go nuts!

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION:
REDUCE STRESS

Women with high-stress jobs face about 88 per cent more risk of a heart attack than if they had low workplace strain. Scientists from Harvard University say stressful positions as those with demanding tasks and little authority or creativity. Those jobs were also associated with a 40 per cent greater chance of getting any kind of cardiovascular disease.

Job strain, social isolation and personality traits have been recognized as raising risks in both men and women, the association said. What's happening to you now in terms of mental tension has long-term effects on your health. The study analyzed job strain in 17,415 people from the Women's Health Study, a project that began in 1991 and ended last year. Researchers used a questionnaire to determine whether women experienced job strain.

The best way to respond to stress may be to increase physical activity, carve out time for soothing activities or meditation, and spend time with a peer group of confidantes. Doctors should ask patients about their stress, since the heart-attack risk linked to psychological stress is almost as much as that associated with high levels of blood cholesterol.

Stress stimulates a biological response in animals called fight or flight and this may raise the heart rate and blood pressure, and may have negative effects on the cells of the heart. Stress can also cause levels of the hormone cortisol to rise, increasing the likelihood of obesity, the website of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota says. Obesity is an additional risk factor for heart disease.

DRINK TREND:
RED WINE PROVEN TO HELP LOOSE WEIGHT

Drinking red wine can help you keep your weight down.

Researchers studied nearly 20,000 normal-weight people for 13 years. Over time, those who drank a glass or two of red wine a day were 30 percent less likely to be overweight than the nondrinkers

The reason: Digesting alcohol triggers your body to burn calories.

Alcohol also may burn calories due to a process called thermogenesis, Alcohol raises your body temperature (one reason some people get red cheeks when drinking), causing the body to burn calories to create heat.

INCREASE ENERGY:
CHECK YOUR PLATE

When it comes to increasing energy, the right food is still nature's best medicine.

One hidden cause of fatigue is dehydration. It's something that many people can't quite identify with. If you're feeling a little low, a glass of water may be the jolt you really need.

The experts say to try these dietary tactics to make you feel better.

• Drink as much water as it takes to keep your mouth and lips moist throughout the day, and so that your urine is clear enough to read through.
• If you have chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia and have low blood pressure, you can increase your salt intake—especially sea salt, for minerals—when your body craves it.
• Avoid simple sugars. These end in "-ose" like glucose, sucrose, maltose or dextrose—but not ribose.
• You should also avoid syrups, any grain that isn't 100% whole grain and saturated and trans fats.
• Aim to consume a diet of high-quality protein from nuts and fish, and cut down on carbs.
• Include lots of fruits, vegetables and 100% whole grains.

HEALTH TREND:
FOOD WITH BENEFITS

Nutritional, healthful, good-for-you - the trend toward beneficial foods is growing at a good rate.

Food now either has nutrients added, or have things removed (gluten-free, allergy-free).

Just last year we talked about functional food, which was really about adding ingredients to pump up the nutritional value.

Before that, it was fortified.

ENERGY DRINKS:
TOP 4

The drink that continues to gain popularity: energy shots.

The energy shot business revenue is expected to reach $500 million by the end of the year but beware - sugar and carbohydrate contents in energy drinks average at an alarming 27 grams per can, leading to a "crash" after the effects wear off.

One drink, ROCKSTAR Punched Guava, has an astounding 102 grams of sugar. That's four times as much as a glass of chocolate milk.

The leader in the energy market today with zero sugar content and only four calories per serving is the 5-Hour Energy shot. When it comes to energy shots, 5-hour has everyone playing catch up. 5-Hour Energy outsells its competition combined by a rate of 2.5 to 1.

WELLNESS TREND: HYPERBARIC THERAPY

Now turning to something brought to light by Michael Jackson, and the trend of using Hyperbaric Therapy (HBT). It's a way of delivering more oxygen to the body at the cellular level. HBT provides the optimal environment for the body to carry out vital cell processes, increasing the capacity for the body to heal itself and since it heals at the cellular level, which is critical for changes to be made, it in turn affects healthy tissue formation. This healthy tissue formation makes it possible for healthier organs to utilize filtered pressurized ambient 'air' to dissolve oxygen directly into the plasma, cerebral and spinal fluids, flooding tissues and vital organs with oxygen.

HEALTH NEWS:
SIZE OF THE BRAIN

Psychologists have found that the size of different parts of the brain is linked to personality.

Brain scans of 116 volunteers showed that conscientious people tend to have a bigger lateral prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain involved in planning and controlling behavior. Very extroverted people have a significantly larger part of the brain - just above and behind the eyes.

Here is the best: Your personality is not fixed from birth.

Rather experiences change the brain as it grows, which can change your personality. Your pain, your joys and your life change your actual personality as time goes on.

HEALTH TREND: ANTIXODANTS

Now turning to health trends. A team of nutritional researchers from southern California has completed a five-year study that shows people who consume more antioxidants appear to age at a 47 percent slower rate than those who don't. Antioxidants slow the rate at which cells divide. The faster your cells divide due to diet, stress or pollution, the faster you will age. There's a product called Proleva. It's a capsule formulated by a team of scientists in Seattle, Washington, that you take once a day to give your body the extra antioxidants you need for vitality and youthful appearance. A single dose of Proleva contains the antioxidants found in eight of the most powerful super fruits, antioxidants that have been shown to increase eyesight, improve your immune system, support your cardiovascular health, boost short-term memory, increase brain function and return the youthful glow to your skin and hair. After 2 to 3 months, nearly all Proleva customers report more energy, healthier-looking skin, deeper sleep, less sick time and better short-term memory. The reason is believed to be that their body is finally getting the antioxidants they need to balance the effects of poor diet, stress and pollution. It is well known that people don't consume enough antioxidants. In fact a 2008 dietary survey shows that on average person gets less than 25 percent of their recommended antioxidants intake each day. To check it out, visit www.proleva.com and request a free 10-day sample, just pay $3.95 for shipping.

MUST HAVE: SOY

Now turning to a very important product when it comes to beauty and health: Soy. Soy contains phyto-estrogens that make us look and feel younger. The estrogen replicates female hormones and makes us look younger. It helps with pigmentation of the skin and maybe fine lines. Soy lipids are very high in Vitamin E, which helps repair damaged skin.

It helps keep skin soft and flexible, which in turn delays the aging process.

TREATMENT FOR HOLLYWOOD'S A-LISTERS: THEATA HEALING

Theta Healing is a technique making headlines in Hollywood. Dr. Kenneth Best is a leading Theta Healing practitioner. The technique uses theta brain waves and there's a frequency that connects and lets the cells talk to each other. It helps reprogram negative thoughts you send to yourself.. Ken Best is a celebrity holistic practioner of applied kinesiology and a chiropractor. He has worked on the casts of ‘24', ‘Brothers and Sisters' and Hollywood movies helping with all sorts of back issues. Now he's helping Hollywood with the energy psychology

Dr. Best says celebrities especially find Theta Healing helpful. He says, "Theta healing uses the theta brain wave which is most dominant when we're asleep dreaming or when we are under deep hypnosis; And it's the frequency that cells communicate to other cells in the body. So, this allows us to connect with a creative force and with the cells in the body. When we're here talking, we're in the beta, so we're in a much higher level of frequency. But, it's at the lower frequencies that cells actually talk to other cells in the body. So Alpha is when you're meditating, visualizing in your mind. When you go into a deeper state, like when you're hypnotized, that's theta. You're using a different part of the brain."

For information on Theta Healing you can contact Dr. Best here in Los Angeles. He is an expert on all things theta, back issues, and muscle testing. He is definitely one of the best in his field, and here's what's amazing about him: he takes all phone calls and answers all personal emails right away.

You can contact him at drkenbest@drkenbest.com and if you're planning a trip to L.A., book a session. You will feel so much better. He also does Skype sessions from wherever you are. Tell him I told you to call, he will reply right away!