LONGEVITY SECRETS & LIFESTYLE

1. SLEEP

Sleep more, age less...Sleep is not an optional activity. It is as essential to life as water and food and is essential for a strong immune system.

Any book dedicated to the topic of aging will cite the necessity for enough sleep, which is 7-9 hours.

There is a strong relationship between deep sleep and the release of Growth Hormone as well. It is during sleep that adults secrete the greatest amount of HGH.

Lack of sleep causes anything from poor job performance to poor judgment, to obesity to...well, you name it. The body needs rest in order to build energy essential for your body organs to function. Without which, you'll find that your body will force you to rest.

If sleep is a problem it is suggested that you:

A. Eat your largest meal of the day at lunch
B. Eat dinner earlier
C. Avoid exercise, alcohol, and smoking before bedtime
D. If you nap, do so for no more than 30 minutes
E. Make sure that your room is dark and quiet, basically your refuge.

2. STRESS REDUCTION

You cannot deny the health benefits of stress reduction.

Stress reduction can go a long way in reducing symptoms of aging along with the onset of disease.

In a recent article by Dr. Paul E. Lemanski from the Albany Medical College writes,

'Stress causes the release of 'fight or flight' hormones which increase blood flow to our large muscles, increase our heart rate, respirations and blood pressure, and decreases blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract including the saliva glands.

Acute mental stress can cause blood vessel constriction in heart arteries and may alter coagulation to make blood more able to clot.

Techniques used to reduce stress are quite varied and beyond the scope of this newsletter, however a few of the more obvious ones to consider are meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, along with physical exercise and positive thinking, both of which are discussed further below.

3. EXERCISE

In the 1998 book called 'Successful Aging' a summary of the MacArthur Foundation study on aging in America, which had begin in 1987, showed that almost all healthy seniors had been physically active throughout their life.

Dr. Andrew Weil, a well-known proponent of alternative or complementary medicine and the author of, 'Healthy Aging', supports the idea that up until modern times, humans have almost always been physically active, simply by surviving off the land. Today we work off computers. Bottom line is that we need some form of daily exercise. Any yes, walking counts, if done briskly.

Researched and well established longevity exercizes include: Tai Chi, Yoga and QiGong. There are more that raise the life force or Chi, as referred to by Asian medicine practitioners. "Wrestle A Tree", "12-Shichen", and "Daoyin", to name a few. We develop these exercizes more below.

4. NUTRITION

In the interest of keeping this lens brief, but informative, I think I can say with confidence that long elaboration on this pillar is not necessary. We all know the importance of good nutrition , and a balanced diet.

However, I can cite many studies that suggest that the Mediterranean Diet is among the healthiest in the world with its fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and fish, mild to moderate amounts of alcohol and low amounts of red meat and dairy products, not to mention lots of healthy fats like olive oil.

Additional diets of longevity people are worth noting: Hunzas, Vilcambas, Abkhasians, Georgians, East Indian Todas and the Yucatan Indians. They deserve concentrated study if you are serious on the longevity adept path.

5. WATER

Like that of nutrition, lots can be said and studies can be cited all day long as to which type of water is best for us. One thing is for sure however. Drinking enough water on a daily basis is essential for proper elimination and detoxification. I have found that water in plastic containers is very acidic which results in an inflammatory state. Water from the city (Houston) is in healthy ranges but you can smell the excess chlorine. I suggest putting a filter on the tap and shower head. Less acid and chlorine.

Below are the 3 main classifications of water.

A. Bottled (as classified by the FDA), which consists of:

• Artesian well water
  
• Mineral water
  
• Spring water
  
• Well water

B. Filtered or Purified Water that consists of:

• Reverse Osmosis
  
• Absolute 1-micron filtration
  
• Ozonation

C. Distilled Water

6. SUPPLEMENTATION

Today it is becoming very hard to argue against proper supplementation in order to maintain health due to our poor soil nutrition. However, if one were to source natural crop supplementation, they would be better off. This is hard to come by because it takes extra knowledge to provide for yourself and you need to take the time to grow your crop. But, if you are are desiring longevity then I would begin the search for an urban community garden or acquire land to produce yourself.

Many well-respected scientists, researchers, and medical professionals have discovered the relationship between mineral deficiencies and a wide variety of health conditions, which afflict the human body.

Since our soil is mineral deficient, effective supplementation based on plant nutrients is crucial. Longevity herbal is a beneficial natural source of highly mineralized, vitaminized food. Besides the health engendering alkalods contained there are dense nutrients which provides the human body the potential for correction. The key is the knowledge of the practitioner and chooser of the herbs essential for balance to be achieved.

7. POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE

In the book 'power of positive thinking' Norman Peale writes that having faith in yourself makes good things happen to you. This same theme has been written about over and over, each book with a different angle, but with the same basic, underlying message.

Here are a couple of tips:

• Try to reduce or eliminate any anger or hostility from your life.
  
• If you catch yourself with a negative thought, immediately and purposefully switch your thought to a positive thought. Over time this will become a habit and you will see some dramatic changes.

There are of course other pillars to support a long and healthy life, but these are what we consider the most fundamental.

If this area becomes more challenging with possible physical conditions showing then I highly recommend being in contact with a positive alternative medicine team . You may be very surprised at the sustainable answers you will find, how quickly conditions and concerns are resolved.

I hope you found this information of great value and as usual please feel free to send your comments.

These food choices are generally beneficial for most people. The exception will be determined by individual constitutions. If an individual is basically cold or hot, damp or dry, deficient or excessive, then foods need to be selected according the effect these foods make on your body. This aspect will increase the likelihood of further life extension.

Foods that Benefit Longevity:

Vegetables: Asparagus, Avocados, Alfalfa sprouts, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Vegetable juices, Cauliflower, Celery, Collard greens, Cucumbers, Fennel, Garlic, Green beans, Green peas, Kale, Leeks, Micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), Seaweeds (irish moss, kelp, etc.), Turnip, Scallion, Saltless sauerkraut, Mushrooms (Ganoderm, Maitake, Shiitake, YunZhi), Pumpkin & seed
Meat: Cod, Halibut, Salmon, Scallops, Tuna (from non-toxic sources, small portions-10-15% of plate, 1 time per day)
Fruit: Apples, Apricot, Bananas, Bitter melon, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherry, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Kiwifruit, Lemon/Limes, Oranges, Papaya, Pears, Pineapple, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelon
Legumes: Black beans, Dried peas, Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), Kidney beans, Lentils, Lima beans, Miso, Navy beans, Pinto beans, Soybeans
Whole grains: Amaranth, Barley, Brown rice, Buckwheat, Corn, Millet, Oats, Quinoa, Spelt, Whole wheat, Whole rice
Nuts & Seeds: Fox nut, Chestnut, Sesame seed, Flax seed, Walnut, Rye
Sweeteners: Royal Jelley, Stevia, Agave Nectar, Bee pollen
Healthy oils: Sunflower seed, sesame oil, ghee & coconut oil

Foods to Avoid:

Artificial Sweeteners, Coffee, Wine (beyond 1 oz. per day), Baked Beans (sugar), Baked Goods (doughnuts, cakes contain excess trans fats, sugars), Breakfast Cereals (sugar, processed grain, low nutrition), Campbell's Condensed Soups (hi sodium), pot pies (hi calory/fat), Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) foods, Hotdogs (unknown ingredients, sodium nitrate), Luncheon Meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), Margarine (highly toxic), Ramen Noodles (no nutrients, excess sodium), Refined Vegetable Oils (corn, cottonseed, soybeans, safflower seeds and canola), Saltines (excess carb & sodium), Sausages & cured meats (too many additives, sodium nitrate), White & Wheat bread (no nutrition), White Pasta (extremely hi carb & sodium), White Potatoes (solanine-calcium depletion & arthritic pain), Chips & French fries, Cocktails (excess sugar/liver toxicity), Fruit Juice (loaded w/ sugar), Fruit Smoothie (loaded w/ syrup, make your own), Dairy products except goat's milk (pure mucous), Sodas (removes rust from metal, excess carbon dioxide, imbalances digestive system), Excessive Protein (loss of calcium, damages kidneys)

The above healthy foods will go a long way to not only a long life but will bring quality of life, free from debility while the harming foods will bring short, painful and restricted life. Now that you know, what's left but to find the fortitude for 90-180 days to discover your healthy body.

"Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food."
Hippocrates circa 431 B.C

HIGH SPIRITS (Natural mood elevator, feel pleasantly good)
BODY FORCE (Builds the blood, weight and energy)
VITAL QI (Warms the abdomen, energizes the lower back & legs)
VITAL YANG (Increases energy, superior athletic performance)
VITAL YANG + (Improves libido, desire, sexual performance)
ADULT REVIVE (longevity formula, revitalizes the extremities)

The best results come from consulting a seasoned master herbalist. The key is their ability to match formula with your body type or constitution. Use the information above to determine which formula works best for you or call Mark Hammer, CMH at (713) 822-2655 or 713-339-3188 for assistance at Longevity Mountain.

1. Montgomery County, MD
Towns include: Aspen Hill, Bethesda, Calverton, Colesville, Fairland, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Montgomery Village, North Bethesda, North Potomac, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Wheaton-Glenmont, White Oak
Life expectancy at birth: 81.31 years

2. Story County, IA
Towns include: Ames
Life expectancy at birth: 81.02 years

3.Carver County, MN
Towns include: Chanhassen, Chaska
Life expectancy at birth: 80.98 years

4. Collier County, FL
Towns include: Golden Gate, Naples
Life expectancy at birth: 80.97 years

5. Benton County, OR
Towns include: Corvallis
Life expectancy at birth: 80.93 years

6. Fairfax County and City, VA
Towns include: Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Dranesville, Fairfax, Franconia, Groveton, Herndon, Hunter Mill, Jefferson, Lorton, McLean, Mount Vernon, Newington, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, Sully, West Springfield
Life expectancy at birth: 80.9 years

7. Marin County, CA
Towns include: Novato, San Rafael
Life expectancy at birth: 80.82 years

8. Olmsted County, MN
Towns include: Rochester
Life expectancy at birth: 80.68 years

9. Johnson County, IA
Towns include: Iowa City
Life expectancy at birth: 80.47 years

10. Honolulu County, HI
Towns include: Honolulu, Kailua, Kaneohe, Mililani Town, Pearl City, Waimalu, Waipahu
Life expectancy at birth: 80.45 years

10. Honolulu County, HI
Towns include: Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Parker
Life expectancy at birth: 80.31 years

12. San Mateo County, CA (tie)
Towns include: Belmont, Burlingame, Daly City, Foster City, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Pacifica, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Mateo, South San Francisco
Life expectancy at birth: 80.3 years

12. Johnson County, KS (tie)
Towns include: Leawood, Lenexa, Olathe, Overland Park, Prairie Village, Shawnee
Life expectancy at birth: 80.3 years

14. Santa Clara County, CAi>
Towns include: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale
Life expectancy at birth: 80.25 years

15. Arlington County, VA
Towns include: Arlington
Life expectancy at birth: 80.06 years

16. Burleigh County, ND
Towns include: Bismarck
Life expectancy at birth: 80.01 years

17. Dakota County, MN
Towns include: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville, Rosemount
Life expectancy at birth: 79.97 years

18. Bergen County, NJ
Towns include: Bergenfield, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Fort Lee, Lyndhurst, Mahwah, Paramus, Ridgewood, Teaneck
Life expectancy at birth: 79.91 years

19. Ozaukee County, WI
Towns include: Mequon
Life expectancy at birth: 79.89 years

20. Washington County, MN
Towns include: Cottage Grove, Oakdale, Woodbury
Life expectancy at birth: 79.8 years

21. Santa Barbara County, CA
Towns include: Goleta, Orcutt, Santa Barbara
Life expectancy at birth: 79.76 years

22. Howard County, MD
Towns include: Columbia, Elkridge, Ellicott City, North Laurel
Life expectancy at birth: 79.73 years

23. Orange County, CA (tie with Larimer Co)
Towns include: Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, La Habra, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Seal Beach, Tustin, Tustin Foothills, Westminster, Yorba Linda
Life expectancy at birth: 79.7 years

24. Larimer County, CO (tie with Orange County)

Towns include: Fort Collins, Loveland
Life expectancy at birth: 79.7 years

25. Williamson County, TX
Towns include: Brushy Creek, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Leander, Round Rock
Life expectancy at birth: 79.68 years

SOURCE:
"Best places for a long life", Article by Matthew Amster-Burton, CNNMoney.com
Source: Life expectancy stats from consultant Bert Sperling of BestPlaces.net, Centers for Disease Control. 2008

Whom To Trust

In this new information age, medical news, health information and advice through the mass media constantly bombard us. Some messages are encouraging, but most of them are causing more confusion and concerns. Drug recalls, discovery of unforeseen side effects, clinical proofs reversing previous claims, flip-flopping health advice and mounting evidence of medical errors are having a heavy toll on people's confidence in modern medicine. Lawsuit tangles involving pharmaceutical companies are most controversial and revealing. It raises doubts in our mind whether we can trust modern medicine and drugs to solve our health problems anymore.

When it comes to personal healthcare advice, there are so many different schools of thoughts. It is very hard to know what is right and whom to trust. The only way to protect our interests is to become more curious and studious by exploring all our avenues and getting more information. Get all the facts together and apply a lot more common sense in making decisions.

To live a long and healthy life is not a simple and easy endeavor. It requires life-long learning, personal responsibilities, disciplines, will power, sacrifice and hard work.

Some Common Myths

There are many differences between the Chinese food culture and those of the west because of fundamental differences in the approach to healthcare and medical principles. Chinese medicine, with its main emphasis in prevention rather than cure, has spent most of its efforts in analyzing the effects and impacts of food/herbs on health. With more than 5,000 years of experience in experimenting with foods/herbs and perfecting the culinary art of preparing them, the knowledge accumulated up to now is extremely valuable. They are factual, indisputable and very practical.

Modern food science has only started to scratch the surface in understanding food. Its emphasis so far has been on the active ingredients, translating them in terms of vitamins, calories, fat and minerals only. Chinese medicine has studied thoroughly the nature, characteristic, health benefit, impact and the everyday application of food. With the passing of such valuable information from generation after generation, the Chinese are better informed about what and how to eat wisely for optimal health.

The following are a few fundamental differences in the two food cultures, which are making distinctive differences in our health. They are worthy of our attention and rethinking.

Eating vegetables raw is better than cooked

Many people believe eating vegetables raw is healthier than cooked because vitamins and nutrients can be destroyed or lost during cooking.

The Chinese point of view

Eating vegetables raw is not as healthy. First of all, they take longer to eat and to digest. Cold and raw foods need more stomach energy to warm them up to the required temperature of 100°F (38°C) before they can be digested and absorbed. It is harder and takes longer time for the system to break down the cellulose packets to absorb the nutrients. Cooking is pre-digestion, breaking down the cellulose walls and making the food easier to digest and absorb. It requires less stomach energy, less time and less work for the system.

A serving of green vegetables gives the wrong impression of plentiful because they are puffy. When vegetables are cooked, they will shrink significantly in size. It is only cooked vegetables that we are able to eat more of, which is necessary for good health. Green salad has a very low fiber content because vegetables of higher fiber content, such as Chinese bok choy, are very difficult to eat raw. Our body needs the roughage from vegetables to clean the dietary tract and to speed up food movement, which is key to avoid sicknesses related to food stagnation.
The normal washing and rinsing of vegetables may not wash out all the pesticides and toxins from chemical fertilizers and bacteria. Slightly cooked vegetables are cleaner and more hygienic. The best ways to cook vegetables are quick stir-frying or quick boiling.

Quick boiling is to cook the whole plant in boiling water for a few minutes, retrieve, cut up into sections and add oyster sauce or soy sauce to serve. Only limited amount of nutrients will be lost cooking this way. With the fact that cooked vegetables are easier to digest and absorb and the portions can be much bigger, we will have more health benefits eating them than raw vegetables.

The following pictures are common Chinese vegetables suitable for quick boiling. (Soak vegetables for about 20 minutes and rinse well before cooking)
Choy-sum Baby Bok-choy Shanghai Bok-choy Watercress

Milk is important for good health

Governments, health authorities, doctors and nutritionists are all stressing the importance of milk and dairy products in our diet.

The Chinese point of view

More and more studies are telling us that milk products are the main source of allergy, digestive and circulatory problems. The average North American diet is 25% dairy products which is far too much for the body's good.

Milk is nothing more than saturated fats with high cholesterol. It can clog up arteries and upset the stomach. Milk products are ideal for bacteria growth. Once it is exposed to the atmosphere, germs and bacteria will start to develop. It is very easy to have diarrhea after having milk products. The other common problem with milk is lactose intolerance. After all the pasteurizing and skimming processes, milk products have little nutritional value left. The benefits mainly come from the calcium and vitamins being added during processing.

In the Chinese food culture, there are only four food groups and no dairy products. Cow's milk is considered only suitable for cubs and only human milk is suitable for humans. Breast-feeding is the only way to raise an infant. If the mother's milk is not enough or not available, another lactating woman or wet nurse will be hired to feed the baby. Babies growing up on mother's milk develop stronger immune systems and have fewer problems with allergies throughout their lives.

Soy milk is an excellent substitute to cow's milk and has many additional health benefits. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and grains can provide us with all the calcium and vitamins that we need. By cutting out caffeine from our diet, which drains calcium from our bones, we should have enough calcium from our natural food sources. Too much calcium through supplements can lead to abdominal pain and inhibit iron absorption.

Avoiding milk products in the Chinese diet has lowered the chance of allergy, high cholesterol and artery problems.

RICE

Rice is fattening and not nutritious

Rice is high in carbohydrate and low in calories, therefore, not a good food choice.

The Chinese point of view

In Chinese medicine, rice is neutral in nature, sweet in taste and attributive to spleen and stomach. It benefits spleen-qi, harmonizes stomach, improves appetite and controls diarrhea. Rice, especially brown rice, is diuretic and is most effective in reducing spleen dampness (energy stagnation), a common problem in the North American diet.

Rice is a full grain and a complex carbohydrate. It requires longer time to digest and is less fattening than refined carbohydrates such as bread, pasta or noodles. When rice is digested, it turns into glucose and circulates throughout the body. When the body requires energy for physical activities, the glucose is immediately turned into fuel and provides the needed energy. As well, the brain which has no storage for nutrients depends on glucose to support its proper functions. For people who are physically active need a good supply of carbohydrates. If there are insufficient carbohydrates, the body will break down muscle fibre to get glucose. The metabolic process produces toxic free radicals which are harmful to the body. It is only when there is more glucose than the body can use that it is turned into fat and stored, making us fatter.

Rice is a very filling food and is necessary to keep us satisfied from meal to meal. For people who cut out carbohydrates from their diet, they feel tired, lack energy and are hungry in-between meals. They have to rely on snacks and caffeine to ease hunger and to boost energy. The resulting fluctuation of blood sugar creates problems such as fatigue, mood swings, lack of concentration and forgetfulness. By choosing complex carbohydrates over refined carbohydrates, the diet is more filling, less fattening and provides sufficient energy for the daily activities.

The Chinese dietary guideline says:

"Grains for Sustaining, Vegetables for Filling, Fruits for Assisting and Meats for Enhancing."

A healthy diet should have more of the grains and vegetables and less of the fruits and meats. An overabundance of meats in a diet can create more health problems than the so-called poor man's diet of mainly grains and vegetables. It is because the extra protein can create energy stagnation and over working the organs such as the spleen, kidney and liver. Meat putrefies very quickly in the intestinal tract. If there is not enough high-fiber foods to maintain proper intestinal transit time, fermentation will take place in an under-active bowel, which favor the multiplication of undesirable toxic bacteria. It is the cause to many health problems including cancer. That is why the Chinese dietary advice has another popular saying, "meat can decay intestines".

Grains and vegetables are the most important foods of a well-balanced diet, because they are whole, pure and natural. As nature intended, they are to absorb nutrients and essential minerals from the soil and the environment and in turn, pass them on to us. This is the only natural way for human to absorb the vital nutrients that are so important to our health. A diet of over 60% of grains and vegetables can eliminate problems such as obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart problems. Most Asians whose diet consists mainly of rice and vegetables are not fat, never obese and have less of the western health problems.

More Common Myths

Eat When Hungry

To lose weight, eat only when you are hungry
This is common advice given by most weight control experts.

The Chinese Point of View

We know that when we are hungry, we eat faster and eat more. When the body is not receiving food on a regular basis, it behaves as if it is in a famine by storing up everything that passes through it and in particular, fat. This results in weight gain.
Our brain, which has no storage for oxygen and nutrients, is relying on the body to feed it continuously. When the supply of energy from food stops, the body breaks down muscle and fat to produce energy. This metabolic process produces toxic free radicals that are harmful to the body and may cause mood swings, fatigue, headache, forgetfulness and brain cell damage.

When people resort to snacking to fill hunger in-between meals, they are pumping in a high concentration of empty calories, which are mostly fattening and unhealthy. The most effective way of losing weight is to eat regular meals with portions that are adequate to support our lifestyles and physical activities.

In Chinese medicine, it is most important to eat on time and have regularities. There should be three meals per day, no more and no less.

Breakfast should be eaten between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. It is the most important meal of the day and should be of good portion and lots of variety (eat breakfast like a king). This is the time when the stomach meridian is most active, therefore, most efficient in digestion and absorption. The nutrients being absorbed prepare the body well for another healthy day.

Lunch should be eaten between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hours of the heart meridian. The portion should be generous (eat lunch like a commoner). Nourishing the heart well at this time could promote better blood and qi (energy) circulation.

Dinner should be eaten between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the hours of the kidney meridian. Kidney is the source of life because it controls our hormone production, sexual ability and reproductive functions. Nourishing it well can promote kidney health. Dinner should be the smallest meal of the day (eat dinner like a beggar). It should consist of mostly easy-to-digest foods so that digestion can be completed when we go to sleep. Nothing is worst than sleeping with a full stomach. It will generate bad and stagnant energy from food fermentation, which is the source of most health problems.

If we want to have good health, eating three meals a day on time is vital. It is what and how much we eat that count. Eating irregularly is most damaging to health and is least effective in losing weight on a long-term basis.

Chicken Soup - Home Remedy for Cold & Flu


Chicken soup to nurse cold and flu

During each flu season, we can find this advice appearing in most mass media. Most people call it the grandmother's remedy.

The Chinese Point of View

We know that cold/flu are a result of our immune system failing to protect us from the cold/flu virus. It happens when our body resistance is low, mostly due to lack of sleep or poor diet.

Chicken soup is good nutrition for our body when we are not sick. But after we have caught a cold/flu, we should not be taking it anymore. The reason is because the virus feeding on the nutrition will grow stronger, making it more resistance to drugs. Chinese medicine believes we should starve a cold/flu by eating simple, not-too-nutritious and easy-to-digest foods. Our body requires all the energy to fight the virus and a heavy meal can divert and distract the energy. Slight fasting is more suitable and beneficial. Drinking plenty of fluid can help the system to flush out the virus from our body.

Chicken soup is only allowed after the sickness is cured. Taking it too early could strengthen the virus to spread even further. When the virus has gone internal to our body systems, it would be most difficult to treat. Typically, older people with lower resistance could die of flu-related complications.

Dietary restriction is first and foremost in Chinese food care and should be observed at all times. It is even more important during sickness. For infectious diseases, chicken and most nourishing foods are prohibited. Chicken is also capable of extending coughs and turning it into a chronic problem.

In our opinion, using chicken soup to treat cold/flu is doing more harms than good.

"Life is short, (the health) art is long, .... It is not enough for the
physician to do what is necessary, but the patient and attendant
must do their part as well, and circumstances must be favorable."
- Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

Eat Slowly

Some people regard eating as just a routine and gobble up food very quickly. For others, eating is an enjoyable, satisfying and fulfilling experience. Whether you enjoy eating or not, eating slowly is important for our health.

When we eat slowly, the process of chewing and mixing foods in our mouth with saliva is the first step in digestion. The more we chew our foods, the less work is needed to digest them. It reduces the burden on our digestive system, improves absorption and speeds up the passing of foods through our digestive tract. For people who are constantly experiencing bloating, stomach pain or heartburn after eating, they are eating too fast and are causing indigestion.

The other benefit of eating slowly is to prevent over eating. By eating slowing, we allow the stomach to signal the brain when we have eaten enough before we have eaten too much. For people who want to eat less, eating slowly is most effective.

Eat for Quality and Not Quantity

Many people eat for convenience and for economic reasons rather than for health. Fast foods, convenient foods, pre-processed foods are the main reason for obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems.
Bad food choices and over eating is the most deadly combination. We should not eat more than 70% of our capacity. Since we have limited capacity and food is so important to our health, we should always put quality first. Quality foods with high nutrient density do not have to be more expensive. Soy products are good examples. They cost a fraction of the price of meat, but have better protein content and other disease fighting properties.

If we want good health, we should eat only fresh and nutritious foods instead of highly processed convenient foods. We should be fully aware of the food source, the nature and characteristics of the foods, how they are being prepared and their pros and cons to our health. We should also rotate our food choices frequently so that the body can draw nutrients from a wider variety of foods. Eating well requires more time and effort, but not necessary more money.

Seasonal Food

Eat Foods That Are in Season

Fruits, vegetables, grains and seeds are all being nourished by the natural forces of the universe. They are the main source of living energies and nutrients, which are vital to our health. Each plant has its own nature, characteristic, properties and specialties and they have their own timetable of growing and maturing. When a food is in season, it is the time to consume plenty of it because the quality and nutritional content will be at its best. The abundant supply keeps the price low making it most affordable.

Seasonal foods are also a gift from nature, which keeps our needs in mind. For example, in spring, there are more sprouts, leafy greens and flowering vegetables to provide us with good nutrition to support new growth. In summer, there are plenty of fruits and vegetables with high fluid content, such as tomatoes and watermelons. They quench our thirst and cool us down from the summer heat. In autumn, root vegetables, nuts and grains are plentiful. They are for us to keep and eat through the winter months before the next growing season.

Eating seasonal produce is the best way to be in tune with nature and to lower the adverse impact of the extreme climate. They all have healthy, regulatory and therapeutic effects. In order to stay well and not to miss out on what nature has installed for us, eating seasonal foods is most effective. And it is easy, simple and cheap.

Home Cooking

Make Your Own Food

There is nothing healthier than eating your own homemade cooking. The food is fresh, of higher quality, no additives, hygienic and not over-processed. A food's nutritional content is best when it is fresh. Refrigerating, deep-freezing, re-heating, re-cooking and over processing all deplete the nutritional values of food. People who mainly eat out or eat pre-processed foods are at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases. They are more likely to be malnourished and overweight due to low nutritional value, too much fat and plenty of food additives and preservatives. Statistics have confirmed the exponential increase of modern health problems with the increase of out-of-home dinning.

Eating our own cooking is not only healthy, but the process of preparing food is fun, therapeutic and rewarding. It is a good time to break away from our other duties and put all our attention in the food. It is an act of love for oneself and the family. It is an activity that adds warmth, enjoyment and bonding to family life. For families with children, home cooking is good for their physical growth and mental development. They can experience the most basic act of love

More Water
More Water

Drink More Water

Most people drink too many soft drinks, sweetened beverages, coffee and tea, and not enough water. All this sugar and caffeine taxes heavily on the spleen, liver and kidneys.

Pure water is needed by our body to keep every cell alive. With 70% of our body being fluids, it requires eight glasses of water per day to replenish the system. The lack of water can lead to skin eruptions, bad breath, constipation, dehydration and kidney stones.

When drinking water, ice cold water is harmful to our stomach so warm water or at room temperature is preferred. A glass of water in the morning before breakfast is necessary to wake up the system and flush out the excessive acid in the stomach. Sipping water frequently throughout the day is healthier than drinking large amounts at a time. Too much water before a meal can dilute the digestive enzymes and cause indigestion. Hot water or tea after meals is effective in cleaning out oil and fat from the meal. We should stop drinking water one hour before bedtime to avoid the need to get up during the night and avoid swollen eyes the next morning.
Water moisturizes our skin, promotes digestion and relieves constipation. It is the source of vital fluid in our bodies. Filtering and boiling our drinking water is essential in protecting ourselves from water born diseases and chemical contamination.

Daily Soup

A Good Soup a Day

Soup is the easiest form of food for digestion and absorption. The simmering process breaks down the food and allows nutrients to dissolve in the broth. It is an excellent source of nutrition for everyone. Especially for those who cannot chew well such as the young and old, and those who are sick and with poor digestion.
There are a lot of foods that are extremely nutritious, but are too hard to eat other than making them into soups. They are root vegetables, some hardier melons, animal bones, beans, nuts and some seafood. They need longer cooking time, but are very easy to make. Other than putting all ingredients in a pot to boil and checking the cooking periodically, there is no other work involved. Soup is best served with dinner and as the last course because it allows the digestive enzymes to work on the other solid foods first.

Soup is nutritious, non-fattening and is ideal for people watching their weight. The healthy essence is in the soup, so they can just consume the broth without eating the solid content. Many of the Chinese therapeutic recipes are for soup. By cooking herbs and foods together, their synergistic effects are far superior than taking them separately.

Daily Must

Daily Elimination is a Must

Chinese medicine regards elimination as more important than eating. Daily elimination of stool to get rid of stagnant and bad energy is vital to health. Constipation can lead to swelling of the abdomen, blocking of intestines, bad breathe, skin eruptions, rectal and colon diseases.

Drinking plenty of water and eating lots of high fiber vegetables promotes fast and easy movement of foods. Cabbages, sweet potatoes, bananas and most Chinese vegetables are very effective.

Developing the daily elimination routine in the morning is most suitable and healthy. Drinking a cup of water upon waking up will help. People with such good habits have better skin and complexions, slimmer waistlines, good appetites and are full of energy. They are less likely to have digestive problems or diseases. People with frequent constipation should increase their intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and a laxative should be used when necessary to correct the problem.

Exercize

Adequate Exercise

Exercise is necessary for good health, but there are an increasing number of people who overdo it and suffer from related injuries. Older people are particularly vulnerable.

Just as in eating, moderation is the key in exercising. It is important not to ignore the early sign of distress while exercising and know when to stop. The concept of 'no pain no gain' is misleading and creates more problems than good. Exercising with a machine is unnatural and potentially more harmful if not under close supervision.

Doing exercise outdoors is healthier. It benefits the lungs and gives the body a good supply of oxygen. Hiking, cycling, brisk walking and jogging are all good outdoor exercises. They are good for us both physically and mentally. The fresh air, the sun, the smell of the earth, flowers and trees, the sound of nature and the birds and bees are all very relaxing and calming.

Chinese exercise involves both the mind and body. Tai chi, yoga, and qi-gong emphasize mindlessness, calm, relaxation and concentration. Their movements are slow, but require both the body and mind to join together. People who practice these exercises on a regular basis control the energy flow within their bodies, promote self-healing and rejuvenation. They retard aging, improve alertness and allow the practitioner to handle stress better.

Adequate exercise is healthy, over doing it will result in self-inflicted health problems and injuries.

Variety & Moderation

Eat Moderately and Have Lots of Variety

We are what we eat! Foods have direct impact on the state of our health. Most people understand and accept this fact. However, the disease-preventing and disease-healing benefits of foods are so rarely known even though the knowledge has been there since the beginning of time. For some reasons, this knowledge has been downplayed by modern medicine and has remained one of history's best-kept secrets. In fact, modern societies have a system of banning any health claims on food. No wonder why people in these countries are most ignorant about food and are suffering from more health problems.

Nutritional awareness has only gained more attention in recent years with healthcare costs skyrocketed and people having more problems than modern medicine can solve. Modern medical science has been taking the "bandage" approach, dealing with problems after they have occurred. No therapy or drug is to rebuild tissue or to restore the original bodily functions of the diseased parts. Food alone has the potential to correct what has been damaged and to revert what has been wronged. That is why good nutritional food is an indispensable weapon against disease.

Since most people as well as doctors have not been properly educated about the disease-healing effects of most foods, we just have to expand our diet to cover as much varieties as possible so that we are not missing out on any good things. Each food in its natural form is whole, unique and pure and has so much nutrition to offer. Some foods are blood builders. Some are brain foods. Some are muscle foods and some are energy foods. It is only to our best interest if we have a wider selection and keep rotating our food choices for variety sake.

The modern food science of counting calories in determining what to eat is most misleading and meaningless. A diet with empty calories and not nutrient-rich foods cannot achieve and maintain good health. Only a well-balanced diet in moderation with lots of variety can.

One of the secrets of longevity of ancient centenarians was to live a regular life, to work and rest according to an established schedule.

Ancient scholars on the art of healthy living recognized the effect of work-and-rest habits on one's health and life span. In the Spring and Autumn period Guan Zi (?-645 B.C.) indicated, "An irregular daily life ... will result in over-fatigue and a shortened life span." Sun Simiao also said, "One who is good at preserving life gets up and goes to bed by a timetable adjusted to different seasons, and maintains a strict regimen in daily life." The Canon of Medicine prescribed a daily schedule adapted to climatic changes in the four seasons. Scholars in later generations worked out ways of preserving life by us¬ing the 12 shichen (two-hour periods) named after the Twelve Earthly Branches.

According to "The Canon of Medicine:"

Spring: "Go to bed late and get up early and stroll in the courtyard"
Summer: "Go to bed late and get up early and keep doing body-building exercises without being afraid of sunshine"
Autumn: "Go to bed early and get up early, rising as soon as the cock crows,"
Winter: "Go to bed early and get up late, awaiting warm sunshine."

It said those who "drink excessive liquor, get up and go to bed at irregular hours and have sex when drunk," namely, people who do not observe a regular timetable in daily life, will become decrepit at the age of 50 and die before their time.

12 Shichen (Caring for life): The practice was re¬ferred to by the Daoist of Stone Chamber of the Ming Dynasty as "12-shichen exercises." You Cheng, a physi¬cian of the Qing Dynasty, called it "12-shichen disease-eliminating method." Here is a brief summary of the writings of various scholars on this topic.

Large Intestines (Rabbit):

• At sunrise, get up and tap teeth together 300 times
  
• Swing shoulders back and forth to loosen muscles and tendons
  
• Then rub hands until they are warm, massage both sides of the nose and both eyes six or seven times and rub and curl both ears five or six times.
  
• The next step is to place the palms of the hands over the ears, fingers on the back of the head, placing the forefingers on the middle fingers and tapping the back of the head with the forefingers of both hands 24 times each, an exercise called "beating the heavenly drum."
  
• Then go outdoors to do daoyin exercises.
  

Stomach (Dragon):

• After finishing daoyin exercises, drink a cup of boiling water or tea, then comb the hair with hands instead of a comb, doing it more than 100 times to refresh the mind and brighten vision.
  
• Then wash face and rinse mouth. Porridge or other light food are most suitable for breakfast
  
• Then take a slow walk for 100 paces while massaging abdomen with the hands. This benefits the spleen and promotes digestion.
  

Spleen (Snake):

• Read a book, do house¬work, grow vegetables or tend flowers.
  
• When tired, sit quietly to nourish the mind or tap the teeth together and swallow the saliva.
  
• Since the elderly are short of breath, it is better not to talk aloud with others for very long. Talk consumes qi, so it is best to "talk little to nourish qi."
  

Heart (Horse):

• Eat to 80 percent of full at lunch, making sure to rinse mouth with tea to dissolve the grease.
  
• Then sit quietly for some time or take a nap.
  

Small Intestine (Ram):

• Take a nap
  
• Practice qigong, taichi
  
• Play chess,
  
• Read magazines, newspaper
  
• Do housework
  

Bladder (Monkey):

• Read or write poems
  
• Practice calligraphy or painting
  
• Play the lute
  
• Go out¬doors to gaze at sunset clouds
  
• Work for a short while in the fields or take a stroll on the pathways between fields.
  

Kidney (Cock):

• Practice Daoyin exercises.
  
• Eat early and little for supper. It is all right to drink a small glass of spirituous liquor but take care not to get drunk.
  
• Rinse mouth and brush teeth before going to bed to remove residue and anything harmful to health and wash feet with warm water to reduce internal heat and promote blood circulation.
  

Pericardium (Dog):

• Practice qigong exercises and go to bed. It is best to "lie in the shape of a bow."
  
• Calm the mind before closing the eyes.
  

Triple Heater (Boar) & Gall Bladder (Rat)

• Curl up with bent knees in sleep, but when awake stretch, relax and shift to promote the circulation of qi and blood.
  
• Go to bed in a quiet environment and sleep tranquilly to nourish the qi.
  

Liver (Ox) & Lungs (Tiger)These are the times when jing (essence) and qi begin to grow.

As jing and, qi are the very treasures of man, it is unadvisable to consume too much of them in sex, though excessive continence can also be harmful.

Generally speaking, it is best for elderly people to have sex once every 20 to 30 days.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This reference is a list of dietary supplements and is not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any diseases. The information here is not provided by medical (allopathic) professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment. However, billions of people have used these products without complication. These herbal formulas have been used in conjunction with allopathic medical regimen, successfully without interference in the restorative process. Complications in the use of herbal remedies has occurred when manufacturers unkowledgeable in the practice of herbalism but more focussed on the profit aspect have provided product too high in concentration. Hopefully, more master herbalists trained in Chinese, Ayurvedic, Tibetan, North and South American herbology can share the more subtle rather than gross practice of herbalism. Appreciatively, more allopathic physicians and institutions are embracing the wonders of natural herbal medicine in their practices.