Nutrazon...Empowering Your Health...

From the first shot of Nutrazon juice, you will experience the goodness and raw power nature provides to us in this proprietary blend of extracts from the Rain Forest of South America.

The tremendous benefits of Nutrazon come from a blend of powerful botanical extracts including Lipidium Meyedii (commonly known as Maca), Unicaria Tomentosa (commonly know as Cat's Claw), Croton Palanstigma (commonly know as Dragon's Blood), and Morinda Citrifolia (commonly know as Noni).

These four extracts, when blended together with other naturally occurring ingredients, possess a powerful source of nutrients and catalytics for the human body. The results are measurable and palpable. There are many other great supplemental beverages on the market, but none of these are measurable. Native populations discovered the curative and protective power of these natural plants centuries ago. Over the last 20 years, scientists have spent countless hours studying, validating, and publishing their findings on the changes these extracts can have on the human body right down to the cellular level.

Nutrazon has exhibited many benefits to many people such as:

1.] Be more relaxed
2.] Have increased endurance
3.] Enjoy an increase in libido and sexual function
4.] A more focused, mental clarity and enhanced memory
5.] More balanced blood sugar levels
6.] Better success rate with weight loss

Some of the longer term effects that have been noted are:

1.] Anti-aging
2.] Protection from diabetes
3.] Reduced effects of metabolic diseases
4.] Healthier functioning heart and cardiovascular system
5.] Increased energy, resistance to fatigue, stress, & tension
6.] Overall contribution to a longer, healthier life

To meet the most stringent criteria, Nutrazon has enlisted the approval of a number of trade organizations as well as certifications:

1.] National Institute of Food Tech (IFT)
2,] American Herbal products Assoc
3.] American Nutraceutical Assoc
4.] Organic Trade Assoc
5.] Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
6.] Kosher
7.] Certified Organic Manufacturer (CCOF)
8.] Quality Assurance International (QAI)
9.] FDA Registered

As with any functional beverage, Nutrazon is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. However supplementing your health with this type of nutritional beverage can bring about immediate and long term benefits...this beverage...Nutrazon is Empowering!

Nutrazon...A Health Solution For The Ages

Nutrazon, a dietary supplement formulated deep withing the forests of the Amazon and from the far reaches of the volcanic areas of Hawaii, where healing botanicals have been used by native people for centuries. These healing botanicals have now been brought out and combined into a product so unique and unlike any other. After 10 years of research, development and beta testing, the concept of prevention has turned into a reality. Nutrazon has created a category of a unique blend of proprietary extracts from the Amazon Rain Forest, South America, and Hawaii. Nutrazon addresses many of the common health concerns we all are faced with in life including stress, physical and mental exhaustion from pushing ourselves too much, lack of energy, waning libido and problems associated within the broad category of aging.

The ingredients in Nutrazon have been scientifically shown to help your body "adapt" to an ever-changing lifestyle as well as an ever-changing world. Nutrazon, a leader in the field of double-adaptation technology, is the only product available today with all five of the key ingredients that have been verified to significantly heal the human body using "Double-Adaptation" science.

Adaptogens have the ability to enter a cell and essentially take over a function which is lacking or in someway abnormal. Once committed to a cell type, the adaptogen will evolve its properties to mimic that cell and it will then take on the job of repair within damaged areas. Results are consistent with an increase resistance to physical or biological stressors. Double adaptogens have been clinically proven to possess a normalizing influence on the body without disturbing normal body functions. The results of this science are not only proven by scientific research, but also verified with consumer feedback.

Nutrazon is an amazing product, but must not be confused with something from the "medical" world. It is not a drug. In my next post, I will discuss the benefits of consistently taking Nutrazon, as well as what these unique extracts are that make up Nutrazon...as well as different approvals and certifications from trade organizations...an Empowering Solution for todays world...Empowering Your Health...

Protect Your Wealth...Empower Yourself...

Effective estate planning is essential for everyone, regardless of age or circumstances, and should also form part of your financial planning process. Estate planning covers arrangements for your finances,in the untimely event of your death.

Effective estate planning should include:

A.] A valid, witnessed, up-to-date will...
B.] An appropriate power of attorney...
C.] Instructions to your executor about important financial and personal matters...

Estate planning allows you to leave detailed instructions on how you wish to deal with your finances, such as who will receive what, the way they will receive it, and when you wish them top receive it.

If you marry, it is important to update your will, as your existing will is null and void. It is highly advisable to set-up a trust as part of your estate planning to avoid estate taxes. If no estate plan is in place, a significant amount of your estate will be needlessly lost to taxes, fees, administrative costs, and probate. This is where it is important to retain the services of a qualified asset protection attorney to ensure that you have structured your estate appropriately. This is Empowering.

Being prepared for the unexpected is important. Sometimes in life circumstances determine that we are unable to work for a prolonged period, be it through sickness or accident. Being off work for a prolonged period of time can in itself be devastating and stressful, but there are ways that through forward thinking, you can plan and prepare to ensure that you, your family or your partner can manage in the event of loss of income.

Do we need income protection? Yes! Income protection pays the equivalent of your regular income should you be off work because of sickness or an accident. It is ideal if you:

A.] Have dependents and need to ensure that they can still pay the bills in the event that you cannot work.
B.] Own a business and rely on your income to service loan repayments.
C.] Own your own business where income protection can be regarded as a cost of doing business.

Some few benefits of income protections include:

A.] An income protection plan that allows you to receive up to 75% of your regular earned income if you are unable to work because of sickness or injury.
B.] Income protection can be simple and inexpensive.
C.] Premiums may be tax deductible, depending on your individual circumstances.
D.] If you are self-employed, you can take out an additional type of income protection also known as business expense insurance, which provides coverage for the operating expenses of your business whilst you are unable to work as a result of sickness or accident.

Whether you are part of a couple, a family with dependents or single, Life Cover and Total Permanent Disability insurance should form a part of any financial plan.

Life Cover offers a lump sum payment on the death of the insured, providing financial security for your partner or family, allowing them to meet their financial obligations.

Total and Permanent Disability Insurance typically acts as an addition to Life Cover. Should you become totally and permanently disabled, your insurer would provide you a lump sum payment, to help cover your financial commitments and any necessary nursing care.

Both life and disability cover are simple and inexpensive precautions that should be an integral part of everyone's financial plan. When you incorporate these principles into your financial structure, you give yourself a measure of stability and protection to hedge against those unforeseen and unpredictable emergencies. These proactive measures "Empower Your Wealth".

If you have not appropriately set-up you financial or estate plan....make a goal to do so ASAP. If you do not know of an excellent attorney, or have questioned some advice you have received, contact me directly. Elizabeth Zagajeski, attorney-at-law, a principal in the Law Offices of Gary Fales & Assoc, is an expert in estate and asset protection planning. I can make a confidential and private introduction for you, enabling you to discreetly discuss your unique situation...thus "Empowering Your Wealth".

Protect Your Wealth...Empower Yourself

If you want to be "Financially Empowered", it is important to ensure that your investments are structured according to your long term goals, because this directly affects your legal liabilities and accounting arrangements. Each individual's investment requirements are unique and it is important to get it right from the start.

Investment structuring can influence:

A.] Your tax liabilities as well as your deductions.
B.] How well your assets are protected from lawsuits.
C.] Your ability to procure financing when needed.
D.] Estate planning.
E.] Levels of autonomy and control that you may want over your investments.
F.] Levels of control others have over your investments.

Types of structures:

A.] Individual
B.] Partnership
C.] Limited Partnership
D.] Limited Liability Company
E.] Trusts both Domestic and Offshore
F.] Corporations

Each type of structure has its advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your situation, you may want to set up a combination of these, as there may be tax advantages to doing that. It is very important to develop an ongoing relationship with a reputable accounting firm, as well as an attorney who specializes in asset protection, to give you the proper advice. Laws are constantly changing. They will keep you appraised of changes you should make in your structure to maximize your profit and income, while giving you the best protection.

Remember that you are not locked into structuring your business in a certain direction. You must always keep an open mind, periodically review your structure, and make positive changes as it is warranted.

Along with this, when considering your personal or business finances, effective tax planning is essential and can have significant implications for both business owners and investors. Why is tax planning important?

A.] It can help avoid tax pitfalls and assist you in paying the minimum tax requirement within government regulations.
B.] It can provide expert assistance in dealing with complex and constantly changing legislation.
C.] It can ensure that you avoid penalties for failing to pay the correct amount of tax.
D.] It will help you manage risk and maximize cost savings.
E.] It can assist with long-term wealth building and retention.

I recommend starting with an excellent asset protection attorney. They are experts in structuring your assets, wealth, and different companies. The structure they set-up will make it easy for your respective accounting firm to finalize and complete the necessary structuring to ensure that you are protected from a tax liability as well as a legal liability standpoint.

If you need an excellent asset protection attorney, I recommend Elizabeth Zagajeski in the Law Offices of Gary Fales & Assoc. Elizabeth is an expert in all phases of asset protection and structuring, from LLC's to trusts both domestic and offshore, as well as limited partnerships and corporate structuring. Their office can handle all phases of estate planning and family finance protection. If you would like a private and discrete introduction, do not hesitate to email me directly with your contact information. With my next post, I will discuss estate planning and income protection. When you protect your business as well as your personal assets, you have "Empowered Your Wealth".

Fueling Your Muscles...How And When To Eat...

Just as important as what you eat is "when you eat" and "how much you eat". In my last post, I discussed different types of foods that fuel and Empower your training.

We must understand that it is important to understand that eating at certain times of the day, as well as how much you eat is vitally important...first of all to your overall health, but to maximize your training results. This is Empowering!

You want bigger, stronger, leaner muscles. The key ingredient for this is protein. The body breaks protein down to amino acids, which are the building blocks of muscle repair and growth. What should your eating habits be in order to maximize muscle growth? They should be frequent and small...ideally eating 6-7 per day, comprising of moderate amounts of complex carbohydrates, high level proteins, and minimal amounts of fat, during your waking hours. Essentially that breaks down to eating approximately every 3 hours. Eating smaller, more frequent meals keeps your energy level at a consistently higher level. This also enables your body to burn fat calories...thus building lean muscle mass. When you eat too much at one time, the body has to go into overdrive...glucose levels spike, higher levels of insulin are secreted...and more fat is stored.

An important concept to understand is that if an essential amino acid is missing when it is needed, the body must break down its own tissues to obtain it. In order to prevent this breakdown of much needed muscle cells, it is necessary to eat a diet rich in amino acids. If the diet is lacking in any essential amino acids, the synthesis of protein will be inhibited, and you may be unable to achieve the fitness results you seek.

It is important to understand the differences between protein and carbohydrates in the body. Carbohydrates can be stored in the body as glycogen. This glycogen is stored in the liver and in the muscles. These stored supplies can be drawn on whenever energy is required.

Proteins cannot be stored in the body. There is only a small, temporary pool of amino acids present in the bloodstream at any one time. In order to maintain the best muscle growth, it is necessary to provide the body with a diet rich in foods that will build muscle. Eating muscle building foods means eating complete proteins with every meal. Eating these muscle building foods with every meal will help ensure that all needed amino acids are available whenever you make demands on your body during a workout.

It is important to remember that muscle building foods such as meats, eggs, and milk are not the only sources of protein, as non-animal derived foods can also be rich sources of protein. However, protein derived from plant sources is considered poorer quality than animal-derived proteins. This is largely due in part to the fact that plant-derived proteins do not typically contain all the essential amino acids. If you are a vegan, consider getting a high quality protein powder that fits your dietary qualifications to supplement your diet. Empower Yourself!

When you decide to add a protein supplement to your diet make sure the 9 essential amino acids are included and preferable the 11 non-essential ones as well.

The 9 essential amino acids are:

A.] Histidine
B.] Isoleucine
C.] Leucine
D.] Valine
E.] Lysine
F.] Methionine
G.] Phenylalanine
H.] Threonine
I.] Tryptophan

The 11 non-essential amino acids are

A.] Alanine
B.] Arginine
C.] Asparagine
D.] Aspartic Acid
E.] Cysteine
F.] Glutamic Acid
G.] Glutamine
H.] Glycine
I.] Proline
J.] Serine
K.] Tyrosine

Remember one thing...as important as supplements are, they should not replace foods. The backbone of your diet should be a selection of the best muscle building foods. The human digestive system was designed to process foods, not supplements.

Maintaining high quality foods, eating frequent smaller meals comprising of complex carbohydrates and balanced proteins 6-7 times per day will give your muscles the fuel it needs to repair and grow. It will also support your overall health...it will Empower your training...

Muscle Building Foods...Fuel Your Empowerment And Your Body

Years ago I trained with competitive body builders. There was a standard "Company Line"...it went like this..."Train like a pencil-neck...look like a pencil-neck"..."Eat like a pencil-neck...look like a pencil-neck". There is a lot of truth to this. If you train hard...I mean really maximize each set to muscle exhaustion, no matter what training style or techniques you use, you will see positive results. Some training programs are better than others, but in all scenarios, you will affect positive change. The same goes for eating and your diet. Your diet is every bit as important as your training schedule.

Here are seven foods that you should build your diet around for maximum muscle growth:

1.] Red meat and poultry - lean meat is a great source of protein and vitamins that are essential for muscle growth...(be cautious if you have elevated lipids)
2.] Eggs - another excellent source of natural protein (if you have elevated lipids stick to egg whites)
3.] Fish - (a favorite of mine...great source of omega 3's as well)
4.] Nuts - will provide you with the unsaturated fats your body needs (be cautious if you experience any type of Herpes outbreaks...i.e. cold sores, etc...L-Arginine promotes Herpes outbreaks and nuts are high in them)
5.] Oatmeal - a complex carbohydrate that will fuel your body with energy to stimulate muscle growth (great source of fiber)
6.] Milk - a great source of calcium and other minerals. (a great alternative, especially for vegans is soymilk...and isoflavenoids are excellent for cardiovascular health)

It goes without saying that you should take in plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of your balanced diet. A great option it to "juice" each day. Those live enzymes from drinking raw juice help rejuvenate and promote muscle recovery as well as blast your cells with nutrition you can never get from vitamins.

In my next post, we will discuss an eating plan that will Empower your training. It is important to understand that you must not only know what to eat, but how to eat and when to eat...this is Empowering!

Empowered Cross Training For Health

Cross training in various applications will create "neuromuscular efficiency". This is far superior to being satisfied with strict muscle building. As a practicing martial artist and fitness lover, I have seen the full spectrum from weight training, to aerobic only training, to anaerobic training only...over the years. I have seen and heard most of it. I have also cross-trained in most of it as well. i guess you could say that I have "been there, done that , and got the tee shirt".

I have become a big believer in the "muscle confusion principle" which ties in with the "neuromuscular efficiency principle". Do you know where real punching power is generated and released? It is in the final inch or two of motion. Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee, was known for demonstrating this fact with his famous "one inch punch". Lee would position his fist just one inch in front of the abdomen of a subject and without moving his hand backward whatsoever...would unleash a punch that would life the subject off his feet and launch him in to a waiting chair several feet behind him.

Many boxing and martial arts techniques involve intercepting or redirecting an opponent's punch or kick before it reaches full extension. These techniques are only possible because of the reduced energy contained in a punch or kick before full extension.

Any serious boxer or martial artist will throw thousands of punches over his or her training career. A pro will throw millions. These repetitions build efficiency into the neuromuscular pathways between the brain and muscles. It's these many repetitions that make throwing a fast, accurate, and effective punch second nature. However, all those repetitions do virtually nothing to develop strength in the muscles.

If you want big power...you are going to have to pump some iron. Heavy iron. Think of that "one inch punch" It is not merely hand speed or delivery technique that launches the opponent into the air. It is muscle power anchored on the ground by leg muscles and transmitted through the muscles of the shoulder and arms.

The combination of weight training and aerobic training done in a confusing state never allows the muscle to "get comfortable" Muscles develop that "muscle memory" which can over time, cause that "plateau" that we have all experienced.

Whether you train in martial arts, are a weight lifter, fitness trainer, or where ever your passion for training takes you...confusing the muscles and developing that neuromuscular efficiency will take your training, lean muscle mass, and overall strength to new heights. It will most assuredly "Empower You".

Empower Your Workouts...Muscle Confusion

One of the most basic, and most important of the training principles, is the muscle confusion principle. This principle is all about ensuring you have a variety in your workouts. This will be a variety of sets, reps, exercises, rest periods, etc...

It is also important to train the muscle from the most efficient position, in which it has the greatest mechanical advantage/stress. It remains critically important to supplement those exercises with others utilizing various angles for certain exercises. Muscles should never be allowed to accommodate to an exercise to the point where the exercise is ineffective and doesn't result in hypertrophy or the goal you were looking to achieve. This variety will improve your motivation , keep you mentally fresh, and keep you muscles growing. Muscles become accustomed to a training program very quickly. We need to develop different exercises and perform a variety of sets and repetitions. The best way is to "cycle" your training program, typically in four week cycles.

By cycling or changing your training program every four weeks, your muscles cannot become used to the exercises. This forces your muscles to grow quicker than with any other training method. That is why muscle confusion is such an exciting and Empowering training principle.

One way to use muscle confusion is to vary the exercises. For example, if you were doing dumbbell flat chest press, you could use hammer strength flat machine one week and then the following week you could do barbell flat chest press. While you are still working the middle chest muscles, you are hitting them from a different angle of attack. This will stimulate new muscle growth.

By using the muscle confusion principle you are guaranteeing yourself consistent results in your fitness and resistance training workout.

I have included three tips to help you in using the muscle confusion principle:

1.] Change your exercises every four weeks.
2.] Use free weights, cables, or resistance bands in your workout.
3.] Vary the repetitions and the number of sets you use.

By following these three tips you will get the maximum results from you strength training workouts. Use the muscle confusion principle in your training program...it is Empowering.

Remember the three most important components of gaining muscle size are: proper rest, proper nutrition, and hard training...every set to exhaustion...this is Empowering!

Heart Disease...Things Women Should Be Aware Of...

Many women are scared about getting breast cancer, often unaware of a much larger threat to their health; heart disease. It is the number one killer of American women, while breast cancer is number six according to the CDC. On average, one woman dies every 90 seconds from heart disease. This in of itself is a startling statistic...

The condition affects women differently than men, as women may have different risk factors and symptoms. You can protect yourself from this killer, but you first need to understand these surprising facts about women and heart disease. Although the most common symptom of a heart attack is chest pain, it's not always severe and often gets mistaken for heart burn or acid indigestion.

The National Women's Health Information Center lists these other unexpected syptoms
to watch out for:

1.] Shortness of breathe.
2.] Nausea or vomiting.
3.] Pain in the back, neck or jaw.
4.] Heartburn or indigestion.
5.] Unusual fatigue.

While high blood pressure has long been documented as a risk factor of heart disease, are you aware that taking the birth control pill may elevate your blood pressure on a continuum? This is specifically true if you are obese, were hypertensive during pregnancy, or have a positive family history of high blood pressure (hypertension). Monitoring your blood pressure prior to starting on birth control pills as well as periodically during your drug regimen is very important. The cardiovascular risks for women of being on the pill tend to rise after age 35.

Depression has been associated with early signs of heart disease. It can worsen your chances of survival once you have heart disease. One reason may be that it's harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you are down, although it is also possible that depression may cause physiological changes such as heart rhythm problems that are bad for the heart.

Unfortunately, women are 2-3 times more likely than men to suffer from depression. according to the National Women's Health Resource Center. If you notice signs of depression, such as a loss of interest in your daily activities, feeling hopeless, or unexplained changes in weight or appetite, then seek out treatment.

Smoking is always a major cause of heart disease for both men and women. However, women who smoke have a greater risk for stroke or heart attack. On top of this, women who are taking birth control pills have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than nonsmokers on the pill.

Once you reach menopause, your risk of heart disease increases because your levels of the estrogen hormone drop. When I was working as a nurse in cardiac surgery recovery and then as a cardiac perfusionist, I saw this numerous times. Outside of smokers, women had a significantly less incidence of coronary artery disease than men until they went through menopause. At that point, the ratios evened out rather quickly. Before menopause, estrogen protects women from heart disease. But do not think that taking supplemental estrogen is the answer once you are postmenopausal. Research actually shows that certain forms of hormone replacement therapy slightly increase a postmenopausal woman's risk of heart attack and stroke. Though you may take hormone therapy postmenopausal to control those uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, so do not think this therapy is protecting you from heart disease.

Another interesting statistic is that heart disease does not hit all women equally. African-American women and Hispanic women tend to have more risk factors for heart disease than white women, such as obesity, lack of physical activity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. So women in these ethnic origins should be more sensitive to these risk factors and doe their best to avoid them as much as possible.

Heart disease is a significant problem for women of various ethnic backgrounds as well as women who are postmenopausal. Women should begin at an early age to develop health eating habits, as well as a daily exercise regimen. Be cognizant or food preparation with respect to sodium intake, as well as foods that are heavily laced with refined carbohydrates and animal fats. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your spouse or domestic partner. Talk to your family and friends. Educate yourself. This communication is "Empowering". We should be way past the days of embarrassing feelings and lack of communication. We should "Empower Ourselves" through healthy dialogue and education. Together we can decrease the incidence of heart disease and strokes...the silent killers...

Simple Methods To Lower Your Blood Pressure

To have good health is "Empowering"...to say the least. We all are concerned about our blood pressure, as it is such a dynamic part of our health and lifestyle. Here are some key points to maintaining proper blood pressure and health.

1.] Maintain Proper Weight

Obesity is one of the more central problems of health in our society today. It is directly related to so many disease processes. It is a major factor in our self-esteem and psychological well-being. It is directly related to blood pressure, as obese individuals have an increased incidence of hypertension. A simple plan of action for maintaining healthy weight is a combination of exercise, keeping caloric intake to a minimum, as well as exercising 3-5 times per week for a minimum of 30-60" per day. One major factor in weight control is to minimize your refined carbohydrate intake, especially that of "High Fructose Corn Syrup" (HFCS). That alone is one of the scourges of our modern day diet, as it really wrecks havoc with our metabolism. If you can avoid foods with "HFCS" at all costs, do it...learn to avoid foods completely with this chemical added. It is far worse for you than white sugar.

2.] Cut Down on Salt and Sugar

When it comes down to controlling your blood pressure, reducing salt intake is a "no-brainer". Much of our salt intake is voluntary. Americans eat a lot of table salt and processed foods (even those we consider healthy) which typically contain high amounts of sodium. You should only be consuming 2300 mg of sodium per day.
Ways to limit salt and sodium intake...

A.] Purchase fresh, plain, frozen, or canned vegetables that say "no added salt".
B.] Use fresh meat and fish.
C.] Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasoning blends.
D.] Add little or no salt when cooking.
E.] Cut back on instant rice, pasta, or cereals which tend to have added salt.
F.] Rinse canned foods, such as tuna, to remove some sodium.
G.] Look for low, reduced, or no added alt foods.
H.] Be sparing with the salt shaker.
I.] Remember that kosher salt and sea salt are just salt.

3.] Stress Less

The "Fight or Flight" instinct protects us from danger, but too much stress can cause high blood pressure, an irregular heart beat, and weaken your immune system. We are stress junkies. When you are excited and there are lots of things going on...whether it's good or bad, your blood pressure is elevated and damages your arteries.

Manage your stress by slowing down...don't jam up your schedule. Get enough sleep. Exercise and take time to relax. A simple relaxation technique that you can do anywhere is to breathe in slowly and very deeply, then let it out with a sigh and let your shoulders relax. Do this ten times a day. Each time you do this, your blood pressure decreases.

4.] Get More Exercise.

Physical activity can help you lower your blood pressure, your cholesterol, and it can help you sleep better. A good exercise regime consists of at least 30-6o" of exercise at least 3-5 times per week. There is an old saying in exercise circles...3 times a week for "Fitness", 5 times a week for "Fatness". When you start to take control of your life, your health, your stress...you "Empower Yourself".

5.] Limit Alcohol Intake.

Though alcohol can actually lower your blood pressure at the time you are drinking, when it wears off it makes your blood pressure rise. The body tends to over-compensate on the reversal. If you are a heavy drinker, and that's how you deal with stress, it's not a good idea as far as blood pressure and weight are concerned. You do not have to cut out alcohol altogether, but women should limit their intake to 1 drink per day while men should limit their intake to 2 drinks per day.

While these concepts will not prevent all cases of hypertension, they can make a significant difference in your blood pressure and overall health. When you make proactive changes such as these, you "Empower Yourself".

Empower Yourself...By Lowering Your Blood Pressure

Blood pressure measure the force of blood against your artery walls. When it is consistently high, it can weaken your blood vessels and significantly increase your risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure, to name just a few...

High blood pressure...also know as the "Silent Killer", even though you don't feel it...the tiny arteries that feed your tissue close off, first by the thousands and then by the millions, so all parts of your body are losing blood supply.

How can you take control? How can you "Empower Yourself?"

The consequences of high blood pressure can be deadly. The primary area affected is the kidneys. Over time the kidneys may shrink, ultimately leading to kidney failure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure also can lead to dementia. Most people equate dementia with Alzheimer's but that is only one cause. High blood pressure can affect the arteries in your brain, causing them to shut down. Uncontrolled high blood pressure also can lead to cardiac hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, liver congestion, peripheral and central edema, as well as headaches...to name just a few...

Here are a few lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure...

1.] Maintain a healthy weight
2.] Cut down on salt
3.] Stress less
4.] Exercise
5.] Limit alcohol

These are just a few simple things that can dramatically alter your blood pressure and ultimate your health as well as your lifestyle. Each individual has to gauge how to go about changing old habits and "Empowering Yourself." With my next post, I will give some creative but simple suggestions as to how to effect these changes. As with anything, change comes with determination and focus. When you enact these proactive measures...you "Empower Yourself."

Empower Yourself By Guarding Your Wealth

Choosing the right type of investment doesn't have to be difficult or confusing. If you are like some people, you may find the world of investing complex and hard to understand. You know you want to invest your money but you don't feel you have the knowledge to choose the right kind of investment. All of this can lead to you being stuck with an investment you didn't really want or that doesn't perform the way you expected.

All investments have risk and that there are many various types of risk. It is advisable to decide prior to investing, what level of risk you are comfortable entertaining. Then decide on investments that will keep you away from these types of risks. Some think that a CD invested at a bank is guaranteed by the government. It is free from the bank defaulting, however it is not free of interest rate risk or the risk of rising prices. You may need to keep your money stable so that it can provide you the income you need to live. However, prices for medications, food, and fuel continue to rise so you might need some way to protect the purchasing power of your income from inflationary issues.

It very important to diversify your investments. You have heard the saying..."Don't keep your eggs all in one basket". That is so true. Take for instance the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scam. I heard Donald Trump being interviewed the day after the news broke. He was telling the reporter how he had been hosting a party in Palm Beach the night the news came down about the Ponzi scam. He personally knew of individuals who attended that party that, not only had invested all of their money in the scam, but had leveraged their homes as well. Instantly, they were broke. Now these are extreme issues, but each day there area many people who invest their hard-earned money in similar ways.

Diversifying your investments will hedge against this type of investing. Most of the time, you will avoid catachlysmic shifts in the economy, but there are no guarantees. It is good to have a portion of your portfolio invested in real estate, some in stocks, some in bonds, and some in moeny market funds. Again, the percentages of such depends on your risk tolerances along with what your short term and long term goals include.

In simple terms, there are two types of investments...one where you loan money to someone and the type where you own something. Loan investments are designed to provide a stable source of income but don't protect you from rising prices. Owned investments, such as mutual funds that invest in stocks, are designed to protect you from rising prices but have a return that fluctuates.

For money you plan to use in the next 1-3 years or for that portion that you must have to provide income, it is better to rent your money...to use a type of loan investment. Make sure that you understand that not all investments are created equal. There are many choices and some are better than others. It is advisable to diversify further within a given category. When you invest prudently, you Empower Yourself.

Be aware of investments that attemp to meet all of you needs in one product. Remember..if it sounds too good to be true...it probably is! Look for the best investement based on your risk parameters. This will give you better control and flexiblity...Empower Yourself!

Tips To Live A Healthier & Happier Life

Living a happier and healthier lifestyle does not have to be buried in a gym routine of 2 hours a day...

Everything needs to be in balance. For some of us, that 2 hour a day gym routine is a lifestyle, but for others...this may not be the case. It is important to realize that you must establish what goals you have for your own health.The following tips give you a good platform to base your lifestyle...make proactive changes and improve your health.

1. Activity should be a daily occurrence. Walk, run or jump for a minimum total of 20-30 minutes a day.

2. Protect your skin. Sun block should be applied on face, neck, arms and hands even in the dead of winter. It protects against climatic toxins too. Make sure it covers UVA & UVB rays. Moisturize your skin daily.

3. Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products and small amounts of protein. Avoid sweets and other processed foods. Read your labels and stay away from "high fructose corn syrup". If possible, purchase a juice machine and drink raw vegetable juice at least once a day. Adjunct your diet with a high quality vitamin mineral complex.

4. Meditate or spend a minimum of five minutes daily in quiet time reflecting how much you have to be thankful for.

5. Find your spiritual self. Discover what inspires you, raises your level of consciousness, motivates you, and satisfies your soul. Involve yourself in some type of charity.

6. Exercise your brain. Read, study, solve problems, and learn new skills. As does the body, the brain atrophies with lack of use. This also helps to keep you emotionally in balance.

7. Hug somebody. The power of the human touch and affection has long been proven to release endorphins as well as serotonin, which improves your emotional well-being.

These tips, though simple and easy to perform, are often left forgotten in our busy lifestyles. If they are heeded, you will live a happier, healthier, and more productive lifestyle with less illness, as well as less stress. A simple way to Empower Yourself Daily...

Empower Yourself by Spiritual Improvement

Relationships can measure spiritual health. We have relationships with all types of individuals for various reasons. Those reasons are less important than what relationships tell us about ourselves and our spiritual health. The degree of peace we experience in our relationships is a key measurement of spiritual health. We desire peace but we do not always practice peacefulness. The gap between desire and practice is where most of us fall short. We fail because we allow our ego to take control of our responses. The ego fiercely protects it's illusions, so it argues, pouts, controls, and does things that intentionally hurt others, but underneath the dastardly deeds of the ego is the spirit's and the mind's desire for peace...the desire to be healed. There are a number of things that you can do in your relationships to improve your spiritual health.

1.] Stop demanding perfection and control. Perfection is elusive, subjective, and unhealthy to expect from yourself and others. Seeking perfection creates extreme levels of stress, agitation, and anxiety. Underneath our desire for perfection is the need for control. We cannot control others, nor should we try. We should be evaluating our own personality critically, with non-attachment thereby denying the shallow side of our personality. If we don't the denial pattern will eventually corner us into isolation and loneliness.

2.] Perceive every experience as an expression of love or a request for healing and help. Each moment in time brings the opportunity to choose a different perspective. We have the choice to choose happiness and peace among the chaos of horrific circumstances. When we look beyond the pain , frustration, and confusion of the physical realm, and seek peace instead of answers, we find a refreshingly simple perspective. If you learn to change your mind about what you perceive and seek, you will change what you get.

3.] Let go of the payoff from pain. We tend to cling to pain because we get some kind of payoff or satisfaction from it. Realize that your pain brings you some kind of value, or you won't hang on to it for so long. Taking responsibility for every aspect of your life and stop believing that you are being the victim. This is an important step forward toward healing and peace.

4.] Embrace the teachers in life. Each person and experience teaches us something. These lessons can be painful and difficult. Embracing the teachers of life means that we can learn to focus on what our experiences can teach us, rather than focusing on what we didn't get or how we are "injured". More often than not, we get what we "need", not necessarily what we "want". Accept this and acknowledge those with gratitude, peace, and love...those in your life who have gathered to help and teach you.

5.] Recognize that when we give to others we give to ourselves. When you give love to others, you give love to yourself. When you give anger or hate to others, you give it to yourself as well. It is impossible to separate what we give and what we receive. Learn to give more freely. Do not wait for someone else to encourage you to give. Yo do not have to give money...it can be your time. When you give of yourself...the real winner is you...you are Empowered! Step out...be strong...be proactive! A few years ago, I was one of the types who liked to talk about helping others...but never did. One day I woke up and told myself that it was time to stop talking...time to "walk the walk". I joined a charity that was feeding homeless children. The first day I passed out food to those children...I returned home a forever changed man...it was the most humbling, but yet Empowering experience I have ever felt. I realized as I looked into the faces of these young children...yes... I said "children" ages 6-13, that no matter what challenges I face in life...they are minute compared to what these children were facing on a daily basis...just wanting love, food, warmth, a bath, proper clothing...basic necessities of life...things we take for granted...

6.] Forgive others! Forgiveness brings relief. Hanging on to old painful grudges creates deep currents of stress in our mind, body, and emotions. When we learn to forgive, we experience a tremendous release of pressure. Relationships of all types will feel more loving, happy, and satisfied when we operate in a state of gratitude and forgiveness.

When we apply these simple principles of spirituality and love, our lives will open up to a whole new world of happiness, health, and wealth. When you practice this...you will truly become Empowered...

Ways To Empower Your Life Spiritually

What is the definition of spiritual health? A whole and healthy spirit means different things to different individuals. I believe it is a sense of "wholeness", a sense of "knowing", and a sense of something far greater and more wonderful than "what I see in front of me". When we get sick, we have two paths we can take...we can shrivel up and die or we can open ourselves up to a new journey.

Our spirit is our essence...it tends to be the one thing we neglect the most. We have to make time everyday to feed our spirit. When we take care of our spirit, we find the path to our authentic self and ultimately to living the life we were intended to live.

Most people are unaware of the importance of spiritual health...caught up in the whirlwind of life, mindlessly and without question living an illusion, and suddenly...illness shatters this illusion. We are forever changed by the experience of illness and we learn things we would have never learned otherwise. We can take these spiritual lessons and the knowledge we acquire...share it with those around us to try and make the world a better place, so that hopefully it won't come to the point where all those that come after us will endure the same suffering that we have endured.

There are many different spiritual paths and no one can tell another, which is the right one to choose. Each of us must follow the yearnings of our own soul or true self. Understand that we are not talking about religion here. Some people may find spiritual fulfillment in religion, but it is only one of many ways. Spiritual connection is about finding meaning and purpose in your life, discovering who you truly are and connecting with the sources that provide you inner strength, comfort, hope and inner peace.

Tune in to your inner voice and identify what it is that makes you feel whole and connected to the universe. When do you feel most fulfilled and complete? What gives you inner peace, comfort, strength and harmony?

It may be religion or reading the bible. For some, it might be a yoga class or meditation. For others it might be working in the garden, watching a beautiful sunset, participating in your favorite charity, or performing a dance. The sources are many...the important factor is that you identify what works for you...develop it...harmonize with it...let it "Empower" you. A lot of individuals believe that the search for the spiritual is a big mystery or mandates attendance at retreats or meetings...thus they never find "their spiritual hideway". They go on through the path of life not realizing inner peace and their true potential...

Spirituality is an integral part of everyone and can be found in all aspects of your life. You need to only become aware. When this happens...you are "Empowered".

Empowering Your Life Spiritually

Spiritual health is an important component of an individuals well being and an integral aspect of the holistic health philosophy.

Physical, mental, and spiritual health are deeply intertwined and have a profound effect on one another. For example, this is clearly exhibited when someone who is sad on the emotional level experiences fatigue, a loss of energy and/or decrease appetite on the physical level. On the spiritual level they feel out of touch with their true self and disconnected from the universe. When we feel lost and unbalanced, this may cause us to be moody and discontent with life. Perhaps we grow emotionally distant from our loved ones and on the physical level we may experience stress or fatigue.

On the other hand, when we feel connected and balanced spiritually, we feel better physically and emotionally. Everything in our life including physical and emotional pains are easier to deal with...we feel lighter and happier. Nourishing the soul is as important as food, water, and exercise.

Some people claim to have been healed spiritually. While this may seem a little more unusual, it does happen on occasion whether you believe it or not. I am speaking from first hand experience. My mother had a brain tumor over 10 years ago. The neurosurgeon was unable to remove all the tumor due to the fact that it was wrapped around a very important cerebral artery. Through our christian family, thousands of people from around the world were praying for her. She had a follow-up MRI one year later. The neurosurgeon just shook his head. He had no explanation, as he reviewed the films with my mom. He told her that there was no tumor present...period...nothing. These things do happen...miracles if you will. Even if you do not experience compete healing from whatever problem you are experiencing, spirituality can be used to help you feel better, cope with pain, symptoms, limits, and daily challenges so that you can continue to find meaning and purpose in your life...live life more fully...Empower Yourself...

Stay tuned for ways to improve you spiritual health...ways to live a happier, healthier life...ways to become more Empowered.

"Juicing"...Empowers Your Life...Your Health

What is an "Enzyme"? Why is "juicing" from raw fruits and vegetables so important?

According to the American Pocket Medical Dictionary, (nineteenth edition), an "Enzyme" is defined as an organic compound, frequently a protein, which is able to accelerate or to produce by catalytic action some change in a substrate for which it is often specific. Enzymes "Empower" us.

Humans, animals, and plants are composed of cells with different activities, both inside and outside the cell membrane. All these activities need the presence of enzymes in order to function. Without enzymes, there will be no cellular activities. A cell without cellular activity is considered dead.

Enzymes, like vitamins and essential minerals, are vital to all living things. We have different enzymes in different systems. Those that are concerned with digestion are known as digestive enzymes which are secreted by special glands or mucosal cells along the digestive pathway. Their chief function is to metabaolize the ingested food so that its components can be absorbed and utilized by our body. This whole process of digestion, absorption, and utilization is know as "assimilation".

Food enzymes are digestive enzymes present in food or food supplements. Their sources can be animal or vegetable in origin. In medical terms, digestive enzymes secreted by our digestive system inside our body are "endogenous". Those taken as food or food supplements (food enzymes) are "exogenous". These "exogenous" enzymes:

1.] Function best at certain pH and temperature.
2.] Are easily destroyed by high temperature due to cooking or food processors.
3.] Once destroyed, they must be replaced.

Digestive enzymes are categorized into four main groups. In layman's terms, these are comprised of

*Carbohydrase Enzymes which digest carbohydrates.

*Proteus Enzymes that digest proteins.

*Lipase Enzymes digest fats.

*Cellulase Enzymes digest cellulose which is a complex carbohydrate forming the framework of plant structures.

When we are born, each of us is given a limted supply of digestive enzymes. This supply needs to last throughout our lifetime. The more rapidly you use up your enzyme supply, the shorter your life will be. "Juicing" with raw fruits and vegetables replenishes many of these necessary enzymes. "Juicing" Empowers our minds, our bodies, our lives...