Exposing the Pros and Cons of Fast Weight Loss Supplements?

In order to lose weight without tiring oneself, some people take pills that promise fast weight loss. But not all people should take these weight loss drugs without knowing the side effects these pills can do to the body. One should be aware of the pros and cons of taking these pills to avoid putting their health at risk.

Here is a list of weight loss supplements with their corresponding advantages and disadvantages:

Apple Cider Vinegar- This kind of vinegar can suppress a person's appetite. Some weight loss programs require their followers to take apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar supplements come in pills that should be taken before eating a meal. If you are short in terms of budget, you can take two to three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar exactly thirty minutes before eating. Be careful though; this supplement can contribute to an upset stomach once it is abused.

Bitter Orange- Bitter Orange is an herb that is known to flush out unwanted fats from our bodies. You should be warned though that this herb becomes harmful once you consume it along with other weight loss supplements. This herb, when taken with other medicines, provides side effects to its user. High blood pressures, difficulty in breathing and heart-related problems are some of the side effects that bitter orange can give.

Chitosan- Dieticians say that Chitosan acts as a fat magnet as it pulls cholesterol while making its way out of the body. Side effects may not be visible from one to three months of use, but it is proven to give negative digestive reactions after. Chitosan is a fast weight loss supplement that is acquired from the shells of sea creatures.

Chromium- Chromium helps an individual to have leaner muscles and a sexier body whenever he/she needs immediate results. If you are following a strict diet and going through a rigorous exercise, the chromium then indirectly contributes to faster shedding of pounds. When this supplement is abused, the user experiences uncontrolled anxiety attacks.

Fucoxanthin- This supplement has been proven to help eliminate fats especially in the abdominal area. This allows males and females to have their dream six-pack abs. This drug is an anti-oxidant that burns calories near the abdomen. Amazingly, this supplement prevents fats from forming inside our bodies. This supplement, found in edible sea weeds, is also known to avoid diabetes and chronic heart disease.

Guarana- This supplement comes in the form of black seeds that contains caffeine. This was originally obtained in the Amazon's rain forest. Experts say that the caffeine in Guarana is higher than coffee beans. Since Guarana is considered as a stimulant, it can still contribute a few harmful effects to one's body like a noticeable increase in one's heartbeat and frequent attacks of anxiety.

Now that you are aware of these supplement's side effects, be careful in using each of it. If you want fast weight loss, be sure to be cautious in everything you eat, drink and do or else, your condition will be put to danger.

Three heavily advertised weight loss product manufacturers have been fined by the FTC for "unsubstantiated claims", lacking scientific support. This article provides an outline for consumers on how to separate empty claims from scientifically supported product benefits.

The Federal Trade Commission recently fined three well-known weight loss pill manufacturers for deceptive or misleading weight loss claims.

TrimSpa, CortiSlim and One-A-Day Weight Smart were all charged millions of dollars in penalties for stating their products could do something that they don't do - melt pounds.

TrimSpa, using celebrity spokesperson Anna Nicole Smith, claimed tremendous weight loss (even though Ms. Smith said most of her 50 pound reduction came from a laxative).

CortiSlim said their product could eliminate "abdominal fat" caused by stress.

One-A-Day Weight Smart said that their product overcame age related slowdowns in metabolism, preventing weight gain.

The fines were levied based on what the FTC referred to as a "lack of clinical evidence" to support these broad and sweeping advertised benefits.

According to FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras "The marketers are required to back up the claims with science...if they can't do that, they can't make the claim."

So now that three well-known and heavily advertised weight loss products have been de-bunked, how do you choose a supplement that does work?

Here are a few guidelines:

#1 Choose a product that can substantiate its claims with double blind placebo studies

The marketing buzzwords used by many weight loss manufacturers today are "clinically proven" and "scientifically documented". Both of those sound substantial. But you need to dig deeper. Consumers need to ask for specific studies and testing done that goes beyond words. The gold standard for clinical studies is the double blind placebo test, normally run for a minimum of 8 weeks. It gives unbiased feedback, in a controlled environment, about a product's benefits. If the vendor cannot provide double blind placebo test results, don't believe the claim

#2 Scientific testing should have been conducted at reputable, well-known medical institutions

The second question to ask is, where were these studies conducted? If the manufacturer refuses to provide the clinical test location or organization, don't believe the claims. Harvard, Georgetown, Creighton, UC Berkeley and other recognizable and credible organizations do solid clinical testing. If you don't recognize the testing organization, don't accept the claim.

#3 Does the bottle have the same product as used in the clinical test

Some manufacturers point to legitimate, reputably-run clinical tests on which to base their product claims. Yet, the product they sell contains only a small percentage or lower grade ingredients used in the clinical test. This "watered down" ingredient level improves the manufacturer's profits, but undermines even the best research conducted by the best medical institutions in the world. It just won't perform the way it's supposed claimed to perform. So make sure the ingredients in the bottle match the dosage, purity and strength of clinical tests.

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Choosing The Best Mulch For Your Garden

The best mulch is provided by nature. In a well-designed organic garden, this is one of the only mulch types that magically appears in our beds in autumn, protecting the soil over winter, and breaking down throughout the following spring and summer until a new batch magically appears in autumn.

The Best Mulch Number 1

Of all the mulch types, by far the best for organic gardening is: leaves! They do absolutely everything right. That's why when we're designing our gardens we want to make sure to use plants that make a lot of leaves - not just evergreens - and we want to design the beds to catch all of these leaves.

Those that fall on the lawn and non-garden surfaces can be raked into the gardens or mulched right on the lawn.

If you don't have enough leaves, your neighbors will usually be happy to give you theirs, since they would otherwise have to rake them up and dispose of them. In many cities, you can rake your leaves to the curb and a big truck will come by to pick them up. But why would you want to give the best mulch ever away unless you have too many?

Ironically, some organic gardeners do this and then buy the leaves back as leaf mould in the spring. Leaf mould is just leaves that have been slightly decomposed. Leaf mould is one of the best mulch types, too, but in most cases, the gardener would have done much better to save the money and keep the leaves in the garden over winter where they can protect the soil.

If you have a thick enough layer of leaves in your garden (2" to 4" is nice), many weeds will be smothered. You will still get some weeds, but they will be so easy to pull that it won't matter. You can just drop them back on top of the leaves to become part of the best mulch ever.

Some people think leaves are not one of the most attractive mulch types for the garden, but is a forest floor unattractive? Or is the forest floor covered in 2 inches of bark?

We've been conditioned to think that bark mulch or bare soil is the most aesthetically pleasing, but if you covered your organic garden in a rainbow of autumn leaves, I think you'll see it differently, especially now that you know all the benefits they provide.

When we remove the leaves, we are breaking nature's cycle and creating more work for ourselves.

So leaves are the number one best mulch.

The Best Mulch Number 2

There is one other organic gardening material that doesn't take the place of leaves as the ultimate of all the mulch types, but it is beneficial to have as well. It's called a living mulch, i.e. plants. A living mulch is a dense plant cover on the soil, especially low growing "cover" crops.

These can be annual crops (also known as green manures) that we plant in our vegetable gardens to protect the soil during certain times of year and to provide organic matter to the soil, or perennial plants (also known as groundcovers) that live permanently in our ornamental gardens underneath our flowers, shrubs and trees.

A good goal is to make sure all of your soil is consistently covered with plants, and cover crops help achieve this goal. Plants send out hormones in the vicinity of their roots that tell weed seeds not to grow.

As long as your organic garden is dense with plants and leaves (the best mulch ever), and your lawn is dense with healthy grass, those weed seeds will mostly stay dormant and you have a whole list of other benefits to which you can look forward.

Mulching All Your Leaves - There Are Exceptions

It is possible to have too many leaves if you have a lot of big trees or if your beds are already covered in groundcovers and you don't want to totally smother them. In that case, you may just have to compost them or give some away, to a friend or to the city, although I have mulched 12 inches of leaves into some lawns with great success.

Actually, when I was a kid, I recall my dad would pile a bunch of leaves in the back of the pickup truck (we lived in the country), head down the street to where there were no houses, drop the tailgate, and hit the gas. It was so much fun watching the leaves get caught by the wind and cover the sky like a thousand red and yellow butterflies. In hindsight, I have no idea why we did this, but it was fun at the time.

I know someone reading this is wondering about oak leaves. I've never had a problem with the fact that oak leaves don't break down quickly. I've always enjoyed that about them because it just means my mulch stays around longer. And nope, they don't acidify the soil. But again, if you have too many, don't force it.

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Dietary Changes of Diabetes

Women with gestational diabetes should especially avoid high sugar foods when pregnant. Many women decide to use home remedies as a way to handle their diabetes. There are a number of safe home remedy style means to treat diabetes. The majority of these act to help regulate your blood glucose. You should, however, consult your physician before using any of these remedies. Although most of them seem potentially safe, getting your doctor's opinion couldn't hurt.

It is important for them to find ways of maintaining a proper diet. Although pregnant women, often have extreme cravings, they must seek avenue of maintaining a proper diet. One of the best ways to do this is to eliminate high sugar foods when pregnant.

Many women look forward to getting pregnant, because of the foods they will be able to splurge on. They don't mind consuming high sugar foods when pregnant, because it's only for a time. This all changes, if they are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. In this scenario, their concerns shift to maintaining a proper diet. Fortunately, there are many helps available for them to refer to in the process of becoming healthy.

In reality eating high sugar foods when pregnant is not good for you or your baby. Foods with a lot of sugar aren't good for anyone. Gestational diabetes is defined as a condition where a pregnant woman has high blood glucose levels. Women with gestational diabetes, often exhibit a resistance to insulin. This is why high sugar foods when pregnant, should be avoided.

Your health care provider will talk with you about ways to change your diet. In fact, most physicians try dietary changes, as there first method of treating this form of diabetes. Your physician will tell you what foods you should be eating, like fruits and vegetables. And which foods you need to steer away from, like those high in sugar.

The next step, health care providers usually take, involves exercise. Practicing a regular exercise program is very important to both mother and baby. Through exercise, a pregnant woman will be able to maintain a healthy weight. This can be achieved even throughout pregnancy. Exercise is also a great way of keeping your blood glucose within a safe range.

If your gestational diabetes progresses in a certain way, your physician may consider insulin. Prescribing an anti-diabetic medication, like insulin, is often used to combat gestational diabetes. Insulin is the most popular of these. Your doctor or nurse will be sure to explain the process of taking insulin to you.

One of the home remedies involves the taking of garlic, in some form. Garlic, is believed to be a sugar regulator. Chromium picolinate is also a supplement used as a home remedy. This is used because of its believed ability to keep sugar levels low in the blood. Some of the home remedies, also fit into the natural category. Natural products typically use plant based ingredients in them.

One of these natural remedies is huckleberries. Huckleberries are said to be an avenue of promoting the production of insulin, in the body.

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Organic Baby Food A Big Hit In Scotland

**50% of Scottish Babies fed Organic Baby Food

According to the Scotsman, more than half of Scottish children under two are now fed an exclusively organic diet. In fact, organic baby food accounted for 43% of total baby food sales in 2004. That represented sales of more than 63 million GBP in 2004.

A survey of 805 mothers and pregnant women conducted by the polling company BMRB found that four out of five mothers chose organic food for weaning their young children off of milk (between 6 months and 1 year old). The reasons given were clearly related to additives and chemical spraying. Mothers in the survey cited "less risk of chemical pesticides" (87%), "no additives" (80%), and "no GM" (84%)

Intensive marketing campaigns by groups such as the Soil Association Scotland are getting the message across about the negative effects of pesticides. This is clearly having an impact on the buying preferences of parents, and also on changes in school menus.

Organic milk also has positive health characteristics. It can contain up to 71 per cent more omega 3 than non-organic milk and most organic milk has a better ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 than conventional milk. Companies such as Hipp are bringing new products to market -- such as organic purees for weaning purposes -- to take advantage of the demand.

But adults are not changing their own eating habits nearly as quickly. Asda, a Scottish supermarket chain owned by WalMart, says organic produce for adults accounts for only about 2% of total sales.

**Self-Serve Machines moving in on fast food restaurants

People fond of ridiculing low-paying fast food restaurant jobs will be pleased to hear that many of these jobs will soon be a thing of the past. At least if RoberServer has its way. The company has recently unveiled its new fast food self serve machines called the "Line Buster."

According to RoberServer, the Line Buster will allow customers to place their own orders from a 15" touch screen, and then pay for their order with the onboard credit card processor. Customers then pick up their order at the counter. Industry estimates show that self-serve technologies can cut customer waiting time by as much as 33%.

The company is targeting the 115,000 fast food restaurants in the U.S. Similar technology has already been deployed in ATMs and self-checkout grocery stores.

Would you like fries with your meal?

Would you like fries with your meal?

Would you like fries with your meal?

**FDA says snack makers must show trans fats

The term "trans fats" has become a synonym for "unhealthy". That's because these ingredients hide in most mass produced snacks, cookies, and frozen french fries and then help to clog our arteries and contribute to our obesity.

As of January 1, 2006, the FDA is requiring the labels on packaged snacks and foods to list the amount of trans fats per serving.

Trans fats are an ingredient in nearly 40 percent of packaged foods, and they are suspected of contributing to diabetes, heart disease, strokes and many other unhealthy conditions.

Health researchers have found that trans fats raise the levels of unhealthy cholesterol and lower the levels of beneficial blood cholesterol. They say as little as 2 to 3 grams a day -- less than is contained in a typical donut -- can be detrimental.

Trans fats are common in processed foods because food manufacturers can use cheap liquid oils and turn them into solids by hydrogenation. Most experts agree it is better to use products that have been made with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats such as those found in canola and olive oils.

Simply avoiding processed foods and snacks accomplishes the same thing, since whole, unprocessed foods do not have trans fat additives.

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Certified Organic Spices And How To Use Them

When you buy bulk spices, you may also want to see if they are certified organic spices as well. Certified organic spices, like all certified organic foods, must meet certain criteria in order to reach certification status. Many people are willing to pay a slightly higher price for the better quality that typically comes with certified organic spices.

When people buy organic spices, they are typically concerned with how the spices were grown and handled. In order for crops to be certified organic, a farm must take several steps to be in compliance with guidelines set forth by the National Organic Program and the United States Department of Agriculture. These are the governmental bodies that set the standards for what foods qualify as organic, and then state certifying agencies make sure that the farms are in compliance with those standards before they offer certification. Throughout the entire process of growing, processing and shipping a food to market, the fa rm must not use synthetic chemical fertilizers or pesticides on the plants, as well as refrain from using genetically modified organisms or sewage sludge. The land on which the crops are grown have to be free of synthetic chemicals for usually three or more years prior to the start of organic plant production in order to qualify. When plants are harvested and stored, the organic plants must be kept separate from non-organically grown ones, and the farm must maintain detailed records of the production of the crop and undergo routine on-site farm inspections. When all of these qualifiers have been met, only then may a food product be certified and labeled as organic.
You can buy organic spices to suit a plethora of tastes and flavors. Italian dishes often call out for the use of basil, garlic and oregano, and so it is wise to keep these essential spices on hand if you routinely cook this type of cuisine. Indian dishes often use turmeric and cumin for added scent and flavor. Asian dishes often use not only garlic but also ginger to accent the flavor of stir fries and other traditional dishes found in this exciting cuisine. You can buy organic spices to fill all these purposes.

When you buy bulk spices, you can check to see if they are certified organic spices. Many people buy bulk spices so that they never run short of what gives every dish its impeccable flavor.

Certified organic spices are natural spices that can be used in wonderful spice rubs. These are used on various cuts of meat that will be cooked on a grill. Organic natural spices offer the best flavor in these situation where spices are blended toget her.

Certified organic spices can be found from better quality online bulk dried spice purveyors.

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Wholesale Spice: How Do You Qualify For Its Purchase And How Is It Used

Dried spices may be purchased as retail or wholesale spice. How you qualify to buy wholesale spice is not complicated, but there are certain criteria that must be met before that type of purchase can be made. The use of wholesale spice is related.

Dried spices may be bought as wholesale spice when that spice is going to be resold to the public in some fashion. The resale might occur if you own a restaurant and prepare foods that the public purchases from you. If you own a coffee shop or bakery and prepare sweet treats for resale, this would also qualify. Health food stores that offer dried spices for sale in bulk would certainly be eligible for wholesale spice prices. And the price is the big reason why businesses want to purchase dried spices, because retail prices are higher than wholesale ones.
Businesses as well as individuals can buy organic spices online. This is often the easiest way to do so, because you may live in a region of the country where particular specialty spices are not offered, and thus online shopping may be your best best for filling your spice pantry.

Organic spices online may also be available as bulk spices online. When dried spices are purchased in bulk, whether retail or wholesale, in either instance you will usually experience a savings in cost. While bulk spices online may be imperative for a restaurant kitchen's use, it is also a good idea for the home cook as well. No one likes to run out of commonly used dried spices like black pepper or salt late at night while preparing a dish, when it is inconvenient to head out to the grocery store.

Wholesale dried spices may be used in items that will be resold to the public. As to what those items are, the sky is the limit. Spices purchased at wholesale are exactly the same as spices bought at retail. The spices can be used in cosmetics, body lotions and other personal care products. Spices may also be used in laundry products such as soaps and dryer fragrance bags. Spices are traditionally used in cooking as well. Your breakfast blueberry-lemon muffins would not taste the same without a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg added to them, for example. Savory dishes also benefit from the use of dried spices such as garlic powder, basil, thyme, dill, oregano and others.

To find premium organic spices online, search for dried herb and spice merchants.

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Go With Organic Spices

Laissez les bontemps roulez (let the good times roll) with bulk spices! Your cajun spices cost less when you buy those spices in bulk, because you get generous volume discounts! Bulk spices mean variety as well as economy.


Go With Organic Spices

While bulk spices mean volume discounts and substantial cost savings, bulk organic spices means you are assured of top quality cajun seasonings and other spices and herbs that are free of chemical adulterants as well as petroleum fertilizers and pesticides. Remember that insects are much tougher than humans; therefore, whatever will kill insects is in all probability none too healthy for you!

In order to be certified as such, organic spices and other produce must be grown on farms that meet rigorous standards. The laws governing organic produce vary from one country to another. In the U.S., these standards are enforced at the state level by public and private agencies that have ideally been a pproved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers who raise bulk organic spices for sale must keep copious records and documentation and submit to year audits by these agencies in order to be able to sell their products as organic.

A World Of Taste

A variety of bulk spices means a healthful way to had variety and exotic tastes to simple everyday foods and drinks. Greek ouzo is a liqueur that is flavored with anise, which is an ingredient of licorice; chai from India is a delightful form of black tea that contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and sometimes even black pepper; traditionally served hot with milk and honey, it is also an ideal thirst quencher when served cold over ice.

Economy

If you are a business person who owns and operates a delicatessen or restaurant, you know how food costs can literally eat into your profit margins. Wholesale bulk dried herbs and spices can really ease the strain on your operating budget while organic spices can help your kitchen staff in offering the tastiest and healthiest dishes in town.

While its possible to re-create almost any national cuisine with a few basic bulk organic spices, there are some vari ations within these categories. Thai basil is ideal for the exotic dishes of Bangkok, but for Genovese pesto, youll probably want to use the Mediterranean variety.

Some
bulk spices are basic to almost every cuisine in the world primarily salt, black pepper and garlic. Low per-unit prices on wholesale bulk spices will enable you to keep those staples in stock for those times and dishes that you need them. Check out the great deals to be had on bulk spices today!

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The Chinese Kitchen's Bulk Spice Collection

You may dream of visiting China someday to experience the vivid cuisine, but until that day arrives you can recreate many wonderful Chinese dishes yourself in your home or restaurant kitchen. The secret is to keep the appropriate bulk spice and wholesale spices on hand, so that you can whip up your favorite dishes when inspiration strikes your taste buds and scent sense memory. Purchasing bulk spice and bulk spices wholesale means that you will always have a ready supply of your favorite bulk spices for seasoning your favorite foods, and they typically are offered at better prices.

In the cuisines of China you will find as many variations on bulk spice options as there are regions in this vast country. However, to begin you may want to acquire a supply of wholesale spices such as coriander, five-spice powder, garlic, ginger, dry mustard, black and white pepper both ground and whole, crushed red pepper flakes and star anise. These organic bulk spices will give y ou the flavor basis for seasoning many favorite Chinese and Chinese-inspired recipes.
You might like to create a chicken salad using your bulk spices that features sesame flavoring, which comes from a ground sesame spread called tahini. Add to some cooked chicken meat a sauce containing a bit of sugar, soy sauce, the tahini as well as ginger and garlic. This could be served as a main dish over lettuce leaves or as an appetizer on crackers.

You might wish to create a dim sum meal at home. This can be accomplished to your taste, using dishes that please you most. You could include some chicken pieces that have been cooked in a sauce containing five-spice powder. Five spice, although the recipe can vary, often includes the organic bulk spices of cinnamon, ginger, anise, fennel and clove, with black pepper sometimes added. You could also use the bulk spice of ginger, white pepper and garlic to season Pork Shu-Mei, a favorite dim sum dish that also uses soy sauce, sesame oil and green onion to flavor the ground pork filling that is placed in a doug h wrapper and is then steamed or deep fried.

You can use bulk spices wholesale such as ginger to flavor a basic Chinese chicken stock that is used as the base for many wonderful soups, including the famous Bird's Nest soup. It can be used to make an Egg Flower Soup, with peas, water chestnuts, and beaten egg which is drizzled into the hot stock to create the "flowers." White pepper is one of the wholesale spices used to flavor this delightful soup.

This is just a small indication of the many ways that you can use organic bulk spices for flavoring many scrumptious Chinese dishes in your home or restaurant kitchen.

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The Well-Stocked Kitchen And Bulk Spices For Sale

Any good cook knows that your kitchen can only turn out great tasting food so long as you utilize the finest ingredients in your dishes. Some of the most important ingredients in your kitchen are the spices that you use daily to flavor your food. For the home cook, you can find bulk spices for sale through online merchants, and for the commercial restaurant kitchen, you can purchase bulk spices wholesale. Many of the spices will overlap both uses.

Both home and professional cooks utilize the ease of purchasing bulk spices online. You can shop from the comfort of your home or office and are not limited to local stock on hand. When you shop for bulk spices online you can find unusual spices not normally carried in your local grocery stores and supermarkets. This access to the best spices leads to more culinary adventures in the kitchen, because you are able to use exactly what a dish calls for in terms of correct seasoning.

When restaurants look for bul k spices for sale, what they are really wanting to purchase is wholesale organic spices. Wholesale organic spices are available at a lower cost than if you were buying them at retail price, because the wholesale organic spices will be resold to the public in the prepared food sold at the restaurant. When you also purchase bulk spices wholesale, you will experience fantastic savings that will go toward improving your profit margin. Another benefit that comes from buying bulk spices wholesale is that you will not, with a large quantity of spice on hand, be as likely to run out at an inopportune time, like in the middle of dinner rush.

When you try to choose which bulk spices for sale that you would like to buy, there are a couple of tips that you will want to keep in mind. The first is that dried spices taste best when they are freshest. If you are purchasing bulk spices for sale, then you will want to consider the amount that you predict you will go through in no m ore than a year, because after that time the flavor of the spice will begin to wan. Another consideration is the types of foods you cook or would like to cook. Certain cuisines call for specialized spices and spice blends, and this will help to determine which bulk spices for sale will be most appropriate for these dishes. Consider a Thai dish without ginger or garlic, for example. It simply would not taste the same as it would traditionally prepared with the right spices. Such is the case with every regional food that you might want to prepare, so check your recipes, and then shop with confidence for bulk spices online--you will be glad that you did.

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Use Bulk Spices For Cooking

Picture this: you have just come in from your vegetable garden or your nearby farmers' market with a bevy of wonderful seasonal produce. Glorious eggplant, shiny sweet peppers and onions are in your clutches. You are inspired to turn it into something wonderful for dinner. You get out a cutting board, a knife, and put a pan on the stove with a little oil to begin heating. You decide that you are going to create an Asian-style dish, and so you reach into your spice rack for some ginger and garlic powder. And that is when you realize that you are out of your bulk spices needed to flavor your newly inspired dish.

Do not let that happen to you. Every home cook as well as professional chef is at a loss to prepare savory and sweet dishes without the proper bulk spice assortment readily available. By purchasing bulk spice, you will always have what you need on hand. Those who work in a professional culinary environment will want to purchase bulk spices wholesale for t he same reason. Bulk spices and organic bulk spices make the difference in a dish that is just so-so and a dish that excites the palate.
Every kitchen should have at least a basic assortment of bulk spices on hand. These are the flavors that you turn to most often for the dishes you prepare on a regular basis. They also include bulk spices that are commonly used in recipes, so you are ready to try something new for dinner without having to run out to the grocery for an important ingredient.

There are several spices that you will use often. You can start with the bulk spice of garlic powder. This ingredient goes into not only Asian but also Italian and Greek recipes, as well as Mexican, so it is a very versatile spice. The bulk spice of garlic powder is also useful when you are preparing dips, because the flavor spreads throughout the smooth puree evenly. Another one of the infinitely useful organic bulk spices is oregano. This goes into all manner of Mediterranean dishes, to name but one cuisine that relies on this fragrant flavor. Try a bit sprinkled into your scrambled eggs for breakfast, a nd a touch on your garlic bread with dinner for an added boost of taste.

Restaurant kitchens rely on wholesale spices such as ground black pepper as well as salt for use with patrons as well as in the kitchen. Bakeries utilize vast quantities of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and allspice, and these are more economical when purchased as bulk spices wholesale.

Whether as wholesale spices for the commercial kitchen or spices for your spice rack at home, purchasing in bulk ensures that you have a ready supply of your favorite flavors on hand and at prices that are more affordable.

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Reasons To Buy Bulk Spices For Kitchen And Bath

Keeping bulk supplies of spices is not just for restaurateurs and herbalists. Having bulk spices in your home is a way to establish and maintain a healthful and more economical lifestyle. They are versatile in many applications, from the kitchen to the medicine cabinet to the bath.

Choosing a Bulk Spice is More Economical
Buying bulk herbs and spices is less expensive than smaller prepackaged versions in stores. You often pay for packaging materials and shipping costs with commercial containers. Even if you tend to use only a few standard spices like pepper, salt, garlic powder or cinnamon, buying just a few spices in bulk still adds up to savings of money and time.

Using a Bulk Spice for Foods
Having a bulk spice in your cabinet to pinch from can be the difference between a bland or savory meal. A little parsley or oregano will enhance the flavor of an otherwise boring dish. Spices have been indispensable in flavoring and preserving foods for thousands of years. Adding organic spices like tarragon and pepper to a fish dinner is healthier than consuming foods processed with chemical flavorings and additives. Spices also stimulate better digestion. Ginger, hot pepper, curry and mustard are just a few of the spices known to stimulate enzymes and saliva for healthier digestion and metabolism.
If you are not a natural culinary in the kitchen, consider buying organic spices and seasoning blends. Having a ready supply of premixed poultry seasoning, Cajun or Italian seasoning made with a perfect assortment of herbs and spices in bulk can make your life simpler and more enjoyable. Spices embellish vegetables and bring out the natural flavor of meat dishes without special effort, for more satisfying and healthful meals.

Having just about any type of bulk spice on hand allows you to experiment with flavoring. Add a dash of cayenne pepper to your eggs or lemon pepper to your chicken.

Using a Bulk Spice for Bath or Medicine

Having herbs and spices in bulk is practical for bath and cosmetic use, as well. Make your bath into a spa by adding crushed ginger, clove or cinnamon to the water for stress-reducing aromatherapy, to stimulate blood circulation and release toxins from the skin. For a gentler relaxing experience, use vanilla pow der or crushed vanilla beans.

Organic spices and herbs have a high mineral content, which the skin readily absorbs. Spices have also been used medicinally for centuries. Anise, dill, and turmeric are just a few of the spices used in aromatherapy and thought to stimulate the liver to release toxins, though they should be ingested in small doses.

Just one bulk spice can become a great resource in your kitchen, medicine cabinet, and bath. The key is to always find bulk herbs and spices that are fresh and fragrant.

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Is Running Good For Weight Loss?

A very common question that many people ask, is running good for weight loss? Die hard fans of running will defend it to the hilt, and shake their fist in the air when someone disagrees. While others will say that you do not need to run to lose weight.

So, lets take an unbiased look at running and see if it is good for weight loss.

To start of, take a step back and ask yourself what running actually is; it is basically putting one foot in front of the other, as a form of exercise. That is it, nothing more nothing less.

With that simple analogy out of the way, it is important to know what the purpose of running is for. In this case it is to lose weight, therefore you would go running to burn extra calories and lose weight, right?

Now the next part is something that many people ignore, but it is crucial to running being good for weight loss.

To lose weight you must be burning more calories than you are eating and drinking.

That last line is the most important sentence of this article, and the most important aspect of any weight loss plan. You cannot ignore the natural law of weight loss and it all comes down to calories in versus calories out.

So why am I telling you this? You just want to know if running is good for weight loss, right?

Well, the calories rule is paramount when it comes to running being effective to lose weight: Is running good for weight loss? Yes, but only if you are burning more calories through running, than you are eating and drinking.

This has been a long winded answer about running for weight loss, but it is crucial to understand and is one factor that many people ignore.

How Many Calories Does Running Burn?

Okay, so hopefully you understand the theory of running for weight loss now. The next question you may ask, is how effective is it? Therefore I will put some figures below, to give you an idea of how many calories running burns.

The figures are based on 30 minutes of running; at a running pace of 10 minutes per mile; the bodyweight figures are shown on the left:

Weight - Calories burnt (30 minutes running)

110 lb - 249 150 lb - 339 200 lb - 600

If those calories numbers do not mean much to you, you may be interested to know that the recommended calorie levels for women, is 2000 per day, and 2500 per day for men.

Bear in mind that it is very easy to go over those amounts, especially with some junk foods. Start looking at the calorie content on your food packaging and you will appreciate this.

Hopefully now you can understand that it is not all just about one particular action, when trying to lose weight.

Is running good for weight loss? It can be, but only if you are eating right to make it effective.

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Experience the Real Benefits of Meditation through the Meditation Centers in India

People wanting to experience the real benefits of meditation can get in touch with one of the meditation centers in India which are managed by leading spiritual gurus. Meditation centers in India impart valuable techniques and knowledge to people across the world who visits these centers to overcome problems that are largely a part of our mundane existence. Meditation takes an individual towards positivity, simplifying the meaning and purpose of life. Meditation centers in India are famous around the world for their unique learning courses and facilities, which is why they call on scores of seekers from every corner of the world. Some of the beneficial results of practicing meditation through meditation centers in India are as follows:-

Meditation centers helps in improving psychic abilities Provides an empowered feeling Gives a deeper understanding of life Reduces stress and anxiety Proves to be beneficial during post operative healing Improves concentration Increases clarity in reasoning Meditation centers in India makes individuals emotionally stable

The contemplative philosophy and the spiritualism of meditation have been a part of the ancient Indian culture. Through meditation, human beings have achieved the idea of good health in harmony with their mental, physical and spiritual needs. By the means of an incessant process, meditation centers in India help individuals in discovering their inner selves. Due to these reasons, several meditation centers have mushroomed in India. Meditation centers in India are commended for their ability to provide unique experience to the seekers. Some of the famous centers and meditation ashrams are located in Haridwar, Rajasthan, Nashik, Varanasi and Rishikesh.

Aim of the meditation centers in India

The sole aim of the meditation centers in India is to bring passion, experience and truth to the seekers. Additionally, they provide support in healing mental and physical flexibility and strength. In accordance with the Hindu and Buddhist theories of meditation, these centers help in uplifting the practitioner's mind. Meditation centers in India vouches to offer a holistic approach through authentic meditation methods based on Sahaja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Roja yoga and Kundalini Yoga. Some other forms of meditations include Japa Yoga and bhakti yoga etc.

Meditation centers in India aim to offer meditation courses that would let individuals enjoy the pervading purity and beauty of the inner soul. With a fast paced lifestyle, meditation has become the need of the hour. It lets people realize the glory and effectiveness of physical postures that, combined with some ritualistic observation, work towards physical and spiritual healing. Indian meditation centers have their own unique approaches that reflect a blend of physical postures and spiritual beliefs. Deep meditation enhances the mental health by steering away all concerns of materialism and this is the point where an individual achieves nirvana.

In all the meditation centers in India, an implicit incorporation of two components like the enlightening preaching of the saints and a dependence on the psycho-analytical theories are perceptibly set for effective results. Meditation centers in India focuses mainly on the ultimate fact that unconditional and unselfish happiness comes through detachment from all corporeal and sensory needs. Meditation centers emphasize on attaining a pure state of inner being and this is the point when empowerment actually takes place. Meditation centers always try to bring this state of mind when containment is replaced by contentment and a learner transforms into a seeker of happiness and peace.

Z meditation center is a famous meditation concern offering meditation courses. Located amidst the serene valleys of Dharamshala, this meditation center is the abode of love, peace and freedom.

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Meditation Retreats Contribute to Individual Spiritual Growth

Meditation retreats not only provide a way to practice contemplation and increase the power of concentration but they also prove to be beneficial as an option of group therapy. Meditating and spending time together in a group helps in building focus and concentration while revitalizing one's mind, body and soul with positive energy. Meditation retreats are just the right place where a social being like man can find peace and tranquility. By meeting their like-minded counterparts, they can carry on with the common practices of meditation. Meditation retreats create positive energy that is highly effective in realizing the goal of life.

Although meditation retreats sound like a rather fundamental technique of contemplation, advantages are immeasurable. India boasts of a number of meditation retreats offering varieties of modules for different sets of benefits. Meditation retreats in India are spiritually charged and have very strong meditative vibes that contributes to an individual's spiritual growth. The meditation retreats in India mainly aim to provide a place that is located far off from the city's hustle and bustle, where individuals can easily connect with their inner soul. One does not have to put efforts to centralize their minds; the spiritual teachings will help them reach a different level of consciousness. Below are some of the reasons why people practice meditation retreats:-

For rejuvenation and relaxation Most people practice meditation retreats as part of their lifestyle Finding relief from the insurmountable issues of life Recuperation from a medical condition To lessen mental stress and tension Meditation retreats are helpful in getting a direction in life For setting the priorities of life Contemplating to find peace and truth in life

Learn meditation retreats from the masters

Quite often, meditation seekers try to contemplate on their own, absolutely not knowing about the intricacies involved into the process of meditation. At times, they refer to any valued ancient holy book or take help from the techniques of meditation preached by some great spiritualists. But due to lack of proper guidance, when they don't achieve the desired result, they start losing all hope. In the meditation retreats in India, one practices this art under the guidance of enlightened masters. Only a master can help all its disciples to transform into divine and enlightened souls.

Meditation retreats in India are arranged by many religious and non-religious institutions round the year and they offer an amazing opportunity to people who want to break out from the worldly quest of money and fame. Meditation retreats in India gives total rest to one's mind and senses, allowing it to engross the true discoveries of nature. To experience tranquility beyond the realm of matter and mind, these meditation retreats help an individual to delve deep into the ocean of meditation, yoga, discourses and a lot more.

Meditation retreats creates oodles of positive energy

The incandescent company of an enlightened master creates a field of realization that is highly charged with positive energy. Meditating with the master in meditation retreats help individuals come up more openly with their problems with a receptive mind. This helps greatly in bringing transformations within an individual. Meditation retreats in India successfully create a positive ambience of a sole consciousness that flows within the seeker's mind in improving individual abilities.

Z Meditation center also offer meditation retreats to people across the world. Experience the blissful flow of bountiful blessings from the almighty while practicing meditation.

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Anti-Smoking Meditation

Today we know many methods on how to quit smoking easily and without having to endure the symptoms of it.

Having so many methods on your disposal gives you a great deal to choose from.

As we all know every person is different but some beliefs are in common, when I say that I'm talking about smoking beliefs or better say the smoking mindset.

I have to say that I have found the Meditation as an excellent help and support in quitting smoking process, it helps you ease you mind and relax.

In this way you can completely pass through the whole process without sensing the withdrawal symptoms.

The key is in conducting these exercises with perseverance and consistency.

For all of you who decide that Meditation is the way to go, the best advice is to practice twice per day.

In very short period of time you will notice that you feel much better.

But, lets start with a short explanation on what Meditation really is...

According to Wikipedia:

"Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness."

Meditation technique can be found in alternative but also in complementary medicine.

It is a mind-body technique where a person learns how to focus attention.

We can find many types of meditation which originated in religious and spiritual traditions in the ancient times.

This practice is believed to result in a state of greater calmness and physical relaxation, and psychological balance, practicing meditation can change how a person relates to the flow of emotions and thoughts.

Benefits of Meditation on the body:

Meditation reduces the heart rate, as well as the respiratory and metabolic rate so it is beneficial for people suffering from high blood pressure.

Meditation reduces cortisol the stress hormone.

Meditation reduces muscle tension and improves the quality of life.

Meditation improves the breathing and helps to increase airflow to the lungs.
Meditation boosts the immune system and slows down the process of aging.
Meditation increases the brain function.

Meditation helps in curing migraines, headaches, and other nervous system problems.

Spiritual benefits of Meditation :

Today is very well known that the stress is one of the biggest enemies of man kind.

We all live in very fast times when we have hardly the time to breathe and look around us.

So, it is not strange that stress is one of the major causes in almost every problem, physical or psychological, that one has to face.

Meditating we can lower the level of stress which is very important for the well-being of every single person.

Meditation has a great effect on our state of mind and soul, it increases our intuition, creativity and emotional stability, and at the same time reduces depression, anxiety and irritability.

It can help us to think positive and enhance the self-confidence, it improves our learning ability, memory and concentration.

Simply Meditation brings happiness in our lives, and helps us to overcome our fears and phobias.

That's why Meditation is so powerful in quitting smoking process.

It gives you the strength, the willpower and the right mindset to quit smoking effortlessly.

How to meditate?

There are many forms of meditation but the simple basics are:

Before each meditation try to achieve certain requirements to successfully reach the desired satisfaction and meditative effect.

Clothes you wear should be made of natural material with light colors.

You should eat at least two hours before the beginning of meditation.
The area of meditation should be with lot of fresh air, not too much light, noise that interrupt the flow of thought.

To increase the effect of meditation use calming music, the smell of incense or candles.

Posture should be sitting, with the spine and head slightly bent toward the chest, hands on knees, palms facing the sky.

Control your breathing.

Breathe deeply only through your nose.

You will slowly begin to visualize yourself feeling healthy and strong.

Feeling the light surrounding you.

After a while you'll start feeling that cigarettes are no longer needed.

Keep that feeling a few moments.

You will no longer have the urge for tobacco.

Light is once again released by our body.

You feel completely happy, complacent because you no longer feel the nicotine deposits, toxins circulating throughout your body.

You feel a kind of liberation.

Begin again with a deep, breathing from the belly as on the beginning of this meditation.

After a few regular breaths and open your eyes again to come back into everyday life.

You can repeat this simple exercise every day.

The art of visualization is very important during meditation.

See yourself free from smoking, feel it, and you will be free once and for all.

For those who want to try this simple exercise, personally, I wish much success!

So, to meditate or not to meditate...

Meditation is free of any kind of side effects and you can only gain by practicing it.

It is easy to learn and you can practice it when ever you want and it is a stress release method that function every time.

Doing so it helps us get in touch with ourself.

Meditation makes us realize that we are a part of the universe and part of the cosmic consciousness.

My advice? Meditate...

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Meditation (Deep breathing) processes for newbies

Meditation (Deep breathing) has often received a bad hip hop. Individuals sometimes think of meditation because some type of severe behavior. Really Meditation has become becoming popular. Numerous physicians, scientists as well as therapists know how Meditation helps people overcome panic and anxiety and helps to create a more well balanced life.

Meditation is not hard to learn. To begin meditation begins with managed inhaling and exhaling. This technique will also be used to assist you to calm down and lower stress throughout circumstances of higher anxiousness. There are numerous meditation techniques for newbies that you could discover.

It is important to understand meditation before you begin to undertake it. Meditation is not a hypnotic condition. You'll always be fully conscious of your surroundings while meditating and it is completely safe to do. During the meditative state a person will end up being relaxing as well as soothing the mind and body however, you will still be in total control. There is no need to worry that you simply received will be able to come back from the meditative state.

Begin your very first meditation

Start meditation through setting aside twenty in orders to half an hour. Look for a location in order to study. The location ought to be quiet and calm. You will need to be uninterrupted for the duration of your own deep breathing without any distractions. The area should be comfortable so that you are not considering it.

Many people make use of a trance-like pose that's commonly associated with meditation. Seated mix-legged on the ground is a simple pose employed for meditation. Nevertheless, you may sit or even lay out in a placement that's comfy to you. The main thing to keep in mind when selecting a situation is to discover pose that will be comfortable for you for that entire session.

As you get ready for Meditation you'll need to produce some individual room that is free from any technologies or even additional distractions. Throughout the deep breathing session you will be watching television, hearing music or texting. You'll merely be using your own mind to stay relaxed as well as relaxed. Deep breathing works the best once young done it several or more occasions. As you learn how to take control of your thought process you'll

Be able to reach the meditative condition more easily. Most people have trouble achieving this particular state during the very first a number of attempts so doesn't worry in the event that meditation appears to elude you. It will take a few practices to create your brain to this clear state.

To start your own meditation sits comfortably in your Meditation room. Near your vision and begin controlled breathing methods. Consider sluggish deliberate breaths in and out in a rhythmic pattern. Then you can begin to obvious the mind. The actual goal is to stop just about all thoughts except the ones from the Meditation itself. Many people like to repeat one word again and again to help clear the mind. An additional technique that's helpful for those who only begin deep breathing is to use led relaxation techniques. Guided relaxation techniques are pre-recorded relaxation techniques that you will listen to as well as adhere to along.

You might want to guide yourself though deep breathing. You can do this by talking yourself with the rest process through your whole entire body. This prevents your own focus where this belongs as well as doesn't permit the mind in order to wander.

If you find that the mind will begin to wander during meditation you'll all need to take it back in concentrate? It is normal for that untrained mind to jump to a lot of other thoughts as it is not really used to calm relaxation. Every time the mind thinks of another thing take it to focus on the meditation. Focusing on your own inhaling and exhaling is an excellent method to help keep the mind obvious.

Meditation gets easier and easier to do the greater you're doing so. As you train your brain to relax it will easily simplify the actual meditation process. Continue to exercise meditation even if you don't really feel its complete results. Quickly it is possible in order to really feel complete relaxation as well as relaxed via meditation. Put aside time every week in order to meditate. Meditation will help to help you stay focused as well as concentrated and will produce a relaxed as well as peaceful life.

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Good Meditation Books for Beginners

When it comes to selecting the best meditation books for beginners, a number of things need consideration in order to understand and initiate the various techniques of meditation accurately to achieve desired results. Meditation books for beginners offer some easy to learn' meditative techniques. When these techniques are adapted well by the practitioners, they can easily attain a peaceful state of mind. These books on meditation throw light over the fundamental principles of contemplation while motivating the practitioners to initiate regular meditation sessions at their homes.

Good books on meditation acts as guidebooks to various meditative techniques focusing on factors like why learn meditation, how to begin to meditate, how to analyze the goals of oneself. Beginner's meditation books offer practical guidance to break through the tension filled worldly pressures, evoking profound thoughts that give rise to realization in the mind. Meditation books focus on a number of important aspects of contemplation for instance- the guru guided meditation processes like Zen meditation which is a breathing exercise, Buddhist meditation that shows the way to love and kindness, etc.

People who are seeking to join meditation courses soon can consider going through some good books on meditation for beginners. This will help them to understand their conscious mind and will further provide support and faith within their inner self. Since meditation books are not standardized and differentiated according to categories, it is suitable for all. Only the objective of meditation differs from person to person and reading these books on meditation will help them to transform their present state of mind.

Good books on meditation for beginners help an individual enter into the state of tranquility. These guides highlight the fundamental sequence of meditative techniques. Since beginners are aspirant meditation practitioners, meditation books must direct them towards positive and optimistic thoughts shifting their attention from negative beliefs. Meditation books for beginners develop the idea of training one's mind to be aware during contemplation, gaining total control over the thoughts and feelings.

Once a practitioner has perfected this technique, suction meditation is performed focusing only on positive views. After achieving perfection over the basic techniques of meditation, beginner's books on meditation then guide practitioners to control their inhalation, invoking consciousness of the heart or other parts of the body. The main idea behind this is to control the mind during contemplation freeing it from all the worldly wises.

Since meditation is the rare technique of awakening humanity to the beauty and power of the inner soul, a good book on meditation is the biggest means to experience such a feeling. The technique of contemplation takes individuals towards spiritual enlightenment and growth. Meditation books are highly beneficial in getting this technique right while developing a composed mind.

It supports the growth of inner insight and spontaneous realization. Good books on meditation offer several ways that help to develop honesty, clarity, gratitude, curiosity and compassion within oneself enjoying life in a better manner. Moreover all, meditation is the most powerful weapon against the increasing stress and tension that will help one to find their own space of tranquility in this chaotic planet.

Z meditation is a renowned meditation center that helps practitioners reveal the real meaning of life.

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Benefits of Ancient Meditation Techniques in the Meditation Centers in India

Since the popularity of yoga and meditation has increased in India, innumerable meditation centers in India have sprung up over the past few decades. For centuries the Indian culture is tantamount with the insightful ideologies and the unfathomable spiritualism of meditation. Meditation centers in India redefine the concept of perfect wellbeing enabling human being to stay in harmony with his emotional, spiritual and physical needs. Meditation centers in India sets the process of contemplation on a continual basis that gradually helps an individual to connect with his or her inner self.

Meditation centers proliferating in India are renowned for their uniqueness. These meditation centers are even gaining great national acclaim as well as emerging high on the global platform. Although, these meditation centers have come of age with time, the original and traditional elements are still retained by them.

With the sole purpose of bringing experience, truth and passion among the practitioners, these meditation centers further helps an individual boost his physical as well as mental strength. With consistent practice of meditation, flexibility and patience in an individual also increase. And as the contemplation process progresses with time, followers can achieve holistic wellbeing naturally.

Havens of meditation in India

Some of the popular yoga and meditation destinations, ashrams and meditation centers in India are located in Rishikesh, Haridwar, Nashik and Varanasi. Western India houses some of the prominent meditation centers in Nashik, Maharashtra, Pune, Gujrat, Ahmedabad, Kutch, Rajasthan, Jaipur. The northern part of India are also filled with major meditation centers like New Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Lucknow, Punjab, Dehradun at Uttarakhand among others. Famous meditation centers can also be found in the Central India region in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Eastern India also accommodates some major meditation centers in Kolkata, Machmara in Tripura and Bodhgaya and Muzzaffarpur in Bihar. Meditation centers in southern India include the places like Hyderabad, Nagarjunasagar at Andhra Pradesh, West Godavari, Nizamabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kerala.

Authentic meditation techniques

All these meditation centers in India conduct meditation courses that incorporate both the Buddhist and Hindu meditative techniques. Meditating at these centers helps the practitioners in attaining absolute enlightenment. Based on some of the authentic meditation techniques, these centers promise to offer a holistic growth to their followers. The major meditation theories adapted by these contemplation centers include Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Sahaja Yoga and Kundalini yoga.

Certain meditation centers in India even perform some other forms of meditation and yogas including "sound and light meditation" or shabd yoga, Japa Yoga, wherein chants are repeated silently or loudly, yoga for devotion and love or the Bhakti yoga, Hatha Yoga or Kundalini Yoga for enhancing the inner spiritual energy mainly practiced in energy centers named Chakras'.

With immense physical and mental pressure, meditation is the call of the hour in this modern world. Contemplating and meditating in one of the renowned meditation centers will help people to realize the lost glory in their lives. Moreover all, nothing seems better than meditation when it comes to healing mind and body naturally.

Z meditation is the haven for practicing authentic and effective meditation techniques. Soothe your lives and connect with your inner self.

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Benefits of Meditation

People from all walks of life, in all the countries of the world belonging to all the possible religions, meditate for a wide variety of reasons. The same technique offers something different to each according to his needs and motives. Some of the motives for which people meditate today are:

1. To relax the body, mind and rejuvenate one's flow of energy in order to more effectively face the responsibilities of one's demanding and active life.

2. To heal illnesses (especially psychosomatic ones).

3. To overcome emotional problems.

4. To develop a more relaxed and positive view towards life.

5. To develop a peaceful and more clearly functioning mind.

6. For greater ability to penetrate into the core of problems and find inspirational solutions. This has been found especially useful by scientists and businessmen.

7. To tune into a creative inspirations for artistic expression.

8. For freeing oneself from addictions such as cigarettes, alcohol, narcotics and tranquilizers.

9. To purify one's character.

10. To develop will-power.

11. As a method of self-observation and self-discovery.

12. To develop the latent powers of the mind.

13. To create a relationship with God.

14. To develop an inner relationship with the Divine.

15. For spiritual growth, self-knowledge or enlightenment.

16. To transcend the identification with the body and mind, and experience spiritual realities.

17. For the ecstasy of union with the Universal Spirit, which is the essential reality of the universe.

Scientific Research on the Effects of Meditation on the Body and Personality

Numerous scientific experiments on people who meditate and similar control groups who do not meditate, have given repeatable results concerning the effects of meditation on a person's body and personality.

Most of the following studies have been made on persons practicing Transcendental Meditation. (However, my personal opinion after 34 years of practicing various forms including T.M., is that most forms of meditation will give the same results)

1. DEEP PHYSIOLOGICAL REST is shown by a distinct drop in the metabolism rate, as measured by the oxygen consumption by an individual in meditation, waking activity, sleep and hypnosis.

2. Another indication of the deep rest is that the number of breaths needed to be taken each minute during meditation drops significantly.

3. Good news for those with heart problems is that meditation is also extremely restful and rejuvenating for the heart.

4. Another indication of the deep rest produced by meditation is the significant drop in the blood lactate level. The lower the lactate level the more rested and rejuvenated is the muscle tissue.

5. Tests show meditation's deep calming effect through the decrease in skin conductivity.

6. Brain wave measurements during meditation show a higher incidence of alpha waves indicating a restful alertness. There is a sense of peace and yet a wakeful awareness in one's environment.

7. Another scientific study showed that meditation induces greater communication and interaction between the two hemispheres of the brain.

8. Perhaps the best documented and well known effects of meditation concern its ability to reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure. LONG TERM PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES

9. In the long run both the heart rate and breathing rate develop a slower pace as the body experiences less mental-emotional stress and learns to waste less energy. The body becomes more relaxed and more efficient.

10. Persons who meditate experience much more stable health. They have less illnesses in general in their lives.

LONG TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES

11. Studies have also shown that those who meditate regularly react more quickly and more effectively to a stressful event.

12. Meditation also increases one's perceptual ability and motor performance.

13. Studies on high school students showed that those who meditated had a higher intelligence growth rate than those who did not.

14. Memory recall is also enhanced by meditation.

15. Many psychological studies have been made in work environments concerning meditators and control groups of non-meditators. Meditators had above average increases in a. JOB SATISFACTION b. PRODUCTIVITY, c. Improvement in their relationships with coworkers d. Improvement in their relationship with their supervisors.

16. A large number of psychological tests have been done on those who have been meditating for various periods of time. A test made on those who had been meditating for only two months in comparison to non-meditators produced the following results: a. Meditators had greater inner-directedness than non meditators. b. They measured higher self acceptance. c. Greater spontaneity and creativity. d. Greater self-esteem. e. An increase in the capacity for intimate contact with loved ones. f. Less anxiety .

17. Prisoners who stared meditation showed: a. A marked decrease in mental illness. b. Their behavior became more socially acceptable. c. Less anxiety and less aggressiveness. d. Became inclined to more positive activities such as sports, clubs and educational activities.

OTHER LONG TERM PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES 18. After 4 to 6 weeks of meditation, meditators with hypertension have found their blood pressure fall.

19. A group of meditators who had been suffering from bronchial asthma found significant relief.

20. Meditators checked for their consumption of cigarettes after starting to meditate showed marked decrease.

21. Meditation significantly reduces ones need for or dependency on tranquilizers. alcohol and or drugs.

22. Other tests made on meditators show that they need much less sleep to recover from sleep deprivation.

23. Meditators show significant decrease in the illness after starting meditation.

24. Meditators showed greatly increased ability to recover from psychosomatic illnesses.

25. Insomniacs who start meditation require much less time to fall asleep.

26. A study on athletes showed that, after starting to meditate, there was an improvement in their performance on various athletic events as well as their intelligence as measured by intelligence tests.

27. In one other study it was found that meditation has the tendency to normalize a person's weight. That is if he is overweight, he tends to loose, and if he is underweight, he tends to gain.

SOME CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING THESE RESEARCH STUDIES

The conclusion is obvious.

Meditation increases whatever is good and life supporting in a person.

It strengthens our immune system, harmonizes our endocrine system and relaxes our nervous system. It creates health and vitality.

On a mental level it develops inner peace, clarity, self-confidence, self-acceptance, creativity, productivity and eventually greater self-actualization.

It makes our work environment more satisfactory, improves our relationships with coworkers, supervisors and subordinates. It makes us more creative, more responsible and more productive.

On a spiritual level it puts us in contact with our inner voice, with our inner strength, with our inner spiritual wisdom and love.

Think now, what would happen if many people in our society meditated? How would it affect our society?

Think what would happen if you meditated daily.

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Meditation and Hypnosis

"Meditation is merely hypnosis without suggestion.." -is what most hypno-therapists will tell you.

And whilst this in some (very few) instances may well be true, it is unfortunate that this view is promulgated, as this only describes a very limited aspect of meditation, and does not consider the phenomenal number of forms of meditation that are in fact out there. It also does not consider the true nature of most forms of meditation.

To illustrate this I would suggest that one consider the incredible number of guided meditations that are offered, sold, and promoted by various profit and not-for-profit organizations. Of course to fully understand the impact of this one has to consider the makeup of most of these guided meditations, which include a few primary elements :

1. Usually designed to create an alternate state of consciousness.
2. Usually designed with a specific life / meditative objective in mind.
3. These objectives are even sometimes pursued in some form of metaphor, visualized or otherwise.
4. Can be administered by oneself, or by another, or in a group context, with great success.

When this is reviewed, it is clear that there is almost always an objective which is pursued in guided meditations. One then also has to acknowledge that no objectives can be reached without some form of suggestion to prod the practitioner in the right direction. Of course there are various other forms of meditation in which suggestion, in itself, plays a lesser role. It should be remembered though, that meditation without objective is usually fairly pointless, and as such most forms of meditation is practiced with some objective in mind. And not surprising is also then the fairly obvious deduction that there has to be some suggestion, even in these.

A further example of this would be a simple application of meditation for the purpose of relaxation. (a fairly common practice). In this instance there remains an objective. "Relaxation". And whilst suggestion is not usually passed during the meditation, they are usually pre meditative suggestions, which are then acted out during the meditation, and usually with desired results.

So to reduce in definition meditation to a pointless exercise, would be less than fair. This of course brings to mind another point of consideration.

Is there really a difference between hypnosis and meditation?... After all they do seem to have similar primary properties. And if so, wherein lies the distinction, if there is one ?...

Whilst the answers to these questions remain somewhat more complex, it should be considered that whilst this may not be recognized at this stage, meditation is clearly a less formalized form of hypnosis, and in fact qualifies as hypnosis in most analogies. Especially when the properties of an average meditation is considered.

In fact when this analogy is considered further, it comes to mind that meditation sets out to do in principle the same as hypnosis. It also focuses on creating mental states within which it is possible to manipulate the mind towards achieving objectives that have been set. One thing to remember though is that this is usually practiced in a far less formal environment, and more so in a solo situation, essentially resembling self hypnosis. Of course there are group environments wherein meditation is practiced, and usually in guided form. These however still maintain similar properties and as such can be as effective as most forms of hypnosis practiced.

With this in mind it would appear that there is virtually no distinction to be made in definition, except for their uses as therapeutic tools.
1. It is possible to therapeutically utilize hypnosis to manipulate and monitor responses from patients. This making it possible to apply direct, and instantly adaptable mental therapy in a controlled environment. This offers therapists an opportunity to treat more severe mental ailments for which meditation would not be suitable. Essentially this is achieved by the creation of externalized control through hypnosis, which is conducive to safe mental healing, of fairly severely ill patients. This also offers a fairly simple alternative to meditation for those who do not possess the inner ability and strength, to self hypnotize / meditate.
2. Whilst meditation can also be used as a therapeutic tool, it requires more practitioner internalized ability. Considering the nature of meditation, and the significant similarities that exist between meditation and hypnosis, meditation can be used as efficiently as most self hypnosis techniques, and even some therapeutic uses like regression and other forms of related hypnotherapies, are available to advanced meditators. It is possible for a practitioner to achieve similar result with meditation as with hypnotherapy, on things like say "helping you quit smoking". However when it comes to more severe mental ailments / conditions hypnotheraphy is without a doubt better for dealing with the issues that may come forth, due to the externalized ability of the therapist to monitor and improvise a session as needed.

Accepting this I would suggest that meditators should not be afraid to explore their own minds and abilities using meditation as a platform, and expanding it to include what would traditionally be considered selfhypnosis techniques. Noting that if this is done with care, one can achieve a lot more from your meditation, in a lot less time. Especially when combining techniques from both genres when focus is placed on inner self ability, rather than the traditional hypnosis requirement for externalized control. Applying this, one is also offered a unique opportunity to set your own hypnosis / meditative goals, which is not normally possible with hypnotherapists, as they usually want to decide what is best for you.

Of course there will always remain room for externalized hypnosis / meditation, and if the therapist can be trusted, this can also come with amazing benefit, and probably somewhat quicker results, than expected from attempts to do it on your own.

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Meditation Cushions – How to Choose the Best

Meditation requires an individual to sit in a particular position for longer period of time. This process has a lot of health and mental benefits on the meditator. However, there are also certain problems one faces while engaging in meditation. These include strain in Back, back pain, distraction, pain in the neck and the like.

If you want to meditate, dont worry about these problems striking you at any time. There is a solution available for all the problems one faces while meditating.

Meditation cushions have been invented to provide prefect meditation posture, proper alignment and comfort to the meditator. A meditation cushion can help deepen your meditation practice. It will facilitate you to enjoy deeper state of inner awareness.

Most people do not understand why they require a meditation cushion.

Here are some reasons to convince you why a meditation cushion is so important to you when meditating:

a) Proper support

When meditating, one requires adequate support. Without this the body will succumb to the shape of the surface on it rests. This usually results in a lot of damage to hips, shoulders, spine and head to misalign. This ultimately results in a lot of discomfort. Meditation cushions are used to enhance the posture and level of comfort while meditating.
b) Posture

Some of the common meditation postures include the half-lotus, traditional full-lotus, chair sitting, kneeling and lying postures. Meditators usually use more than one posture for meditation. This requires the ability to meditate in any of the sitting or kneeling postures. Meditation cushions help in improving great postures and engaging in various meditation postures.

c) Proper alignment

This is very important to sit in a proper position and get good benefits from it. The spine needs to be erect with the lower back curved inside, the upper back curved out slightly. The neck should be curved in slight and the head level.

The alignment lets you support the body in a natural way. A meditation cushion provides the best of comfort and also work towards minimizing stress one tends to experience on the spinal components.

d) Comfort

No matter what position you desire to take on while meditating, you need to focus on your comfort level in order to benefit the most. Meditation cushions are specially designed in a fashion to provide great comfort to the meditator.

These are available in various styles, shapes and sizes. You would not face any discomfort such as back pain, stress, distraction, spinal problems or pain in the neck if you use meditation cushions while meditating.

When purchasing Meditation cushions, try to look for what is available on the market. Understand the benefits of using each type of meditation cushion and then decide on purchasing one.

You may also look for various options available on the internet.

If you are learning to meditate under the guidance of an instructor, you can take help of this instructor to purchase a particular type of meditation cushion that will be suitable for you.

Meditation cushions are really helpful in providing great comfort when practicing meditation. Buy one now!

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Meditation Techniques by Meditation Mania

Meditation techniques give peace and calmness in a spiritual way. It enlightens the human life. Meditation techniques nurtures and transforms the qualities of an individual by relieving him from stress of daily life. Meditation technique changes the negative thoughts into positive and it is done just by focusing within a one’s self and not outside.

Here are some popular forms of Meditation Techniques –

Concentrative Meditation Technique is performed by focusing the attention on an image, a sound (mantra chanting) or on the breath. Concentrative Meditation technique stills the mind and results in a better clarity and awareness. Concentrative meditation technique can be done simply by focusing on the breath; it is a very basic step. It is believed that there is a direct connection between the state of mind and the breath. When an individual gets agitated, frightened, and anxious or distracted, the breath shallows. But, when the mind is focused and calm, then the breath is deep, regular and slow. If an individual focuses on the rhythm of the process of breath intake and out, it gives an object for meditation. When the breath is focused, the mind gets absorbed in the process of breath intake and out. In result, the breathing becomes deep and slow. It makes the mind more alert.

Zen Meditation – Zen Meditation technique is performed by focusing the attention on the feelings and sensations, sounds, thoughts, images and so forth without thinking about these elements. While meditating, there should be no thinking about the worries, images, thoughts, and memories. Zen meditation technique results in a better state of mind that is clear, calm and non-reactive. Zen meditation technique is done by observing sensations and breathes non-judgmentally and very keenly. Zen meditation technique gradually takes an individual to emptiness & stillness, but it takes some time to master this technique. Zen Meditation technique is the easiest and most effective technique.

Japa Meditation – Japa Meditation technique is mainly performed for easing the tensed and stressed life. Japa Meditation results in a peaceful and calm life. Also it evokes the happiness from within an individual's self. Japa meditation technique involves the God’s name. The mantra chanting can be done softly or an individual may chant the mantra loudly. While sitting in a posture of meditation, the Japa meditation technique can be done in addition ot the worship in group or any other peaceful sitting activities.

Mostly, the Japa Meditation technique is performed counting a bead string that is known as Japa Mala. The Vaishnava devotees mostly chant by using a bead string that is made of Holy Basil (Tulsi). There are 108 beads in a Japa Mala. People also wear the Japa Beads around the neck while some wear them on their wrists.

Chakra Meditation - There are energy focal points in our body that are use by us in a conscious or unconscious state if mind. These energy focal points are called Chakras. The focal points are located in the body parts like head or heart. In the Chaka meditation technique, the different postures are used in order to open the Chakras. The hands are placed in a specific position and the body is relaxed, the eyes are closed; the charka is asked to open. Then it is visualized in the mind that the chakra color emanates and the size of the charka becomes larger. As the color becomes brighter, the color’s warmth is easily felt; also the charka emotions are felt. The body organs are felt filled with light and energy.

Bhuta Shuddi is a form of Chakra Meditation of Yoga and Tantra practice through which the five elements (bhutas) are balanced or purified (shuddhi). Bhuta refers to the past, and shuddhi refers to purifying that past, or the samskaras that operate in conjunction with the five elements. This is a very useful practice, whether you think of it as preparation for kundalini awakening, or simply as a practice for feeling balanced, centered, or tranquil, etc. (One of the two foundations of Yoga is Abhyasa, practices seeking of tranquility; Yoga Sutras 1.12-1.14).

For the Chakra Meditation of Bhuta Shuddhi, it is necessary to understand how the five elements relate to the chakras. The five bhutas are the five elements of earth, water, fire, air, and space, and they operate in conjunction with the lower five chakras (at subtle level they are called tanmatras, which are part of tattvas, or subtle constituents). The sixth chakra is of mind, and is beyond or prior to the bursting forth of space, air, fire, water, and finally earth. Consciousness itself (or whatever you want to call it) is prior to, or the source of manifestation of mind, and is the seventh chakra (surely there are other chakras, including between sixth and seventh, but the bhuta shuddhi practice itself need not focus directly on these).

Transcendental Meditation or yoga nidra (popularized by the Bihar School of Yoga), which owe its origin to ancient Hindu meditative techniques, aim towards a totally detached frame of mind. These forms encourage the practitioner to retreat within the inner-self, into the "real" world, away from the "illusions" (maya) of outside influences. Meditative practices like Mantra yoga, for example, induces the mind to concentrate on a sacred sound by ritualistic chanting, until it attains the trance-like state of samadhi (a state of mind, where it is only responsive to subjective impressions).

Healing Meditation – Healing meditation is practiced after sitting comfortably. It is a belief that the body is filling with light slowly, starting from the feet and then slowly moving upwards. As the light moves up the body, the light is felt like is relaxing the muscles and also the mind. I feel the light moving upwards until my entire body is filled with light and every muscle of my body is feeling relaxed.

Healing meditation calms the mind and gives it a balance state. Healing meditation increases the self esteem and confidence in a person. Healing meditation improve the memory and concentration of the mind. It reduces the tension quickly. It improves the attitude, mood and outlook on life. Healing meditation increases an individual’s problem solving ability.

It is felt like the body of light is radiating the light out from the eyes, the light is shining like a torch is shinning out directly from the eyes. Feel that the soul is directing the light towards the body part that causes discomfort and pain, it represents as a shadow on the body. Imagine like the painful body areas have dark shadows around them. Now feel like you are attracting a healing light to the painful body area, so that the darkness is vanished.

You can feel that this healing light is returning you to health and vitality

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Improving Your Digestive Health

A healthy digestive system is very important. When you consume a poor diet your digestive system weakens tremendously and it impacts the rest of your body. As a result, your immune system weakens and leaves your body more susceptible to numerous illnesses. A healthy digestive tract absorbs nutrients and releases them to the rest of the body. This way, all other body parts are well nurtured and unwanted toxins are disposed of regularly. When your system is weakened on the other hand, your body is unable to absorb the necessary nutrients and numerous toxins get left behind. Irritable bowel syndrome and even colon cancer can be a result of a weakened digestive system. So is there anything we can do in order to improve our intestinal health?

A healthy diet is the first step to healthy digestion. A healthy diet consists of no fried foods and no processed foods. What you should be consuming is more fruit, vegetables, and fiber enriched products. It is also vital to drink plenty of water because water helps your body get rid of unwanted toxins. Also, try to include some probiotic foods into your diet, such as yogurt.

Another way to build a healthy digestive tract is to exercise regularly. Not only will regular exercise keep you fit, you will also experience reduced levels of stress. Everyone already knows that stress has a negative effect on the digestive system. However, given that all of these natural remedies still dont improve your health to its fullest; you can always try certain all natural supplements. There are supplements out there which aid with bloating, indigestion, chronic fatigue and other intestinal problems. So if you want to improve your digestive health, try a few of these healthy lifestyle tips.

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Yoga Teacher Training Vancouver,Yoga Studio Vancouver,Yoga Teacher Training in Vancouver

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The integrated curriculum we offer is taught by expert teachers with decades of experience. Students report that the Divine light Yoga Teacher Training faculty deeply impact their development as yoga teachers because the faculty embody what they teach. We construct the Divine light Yoga Teacher Training in ways that cultivate your ability to thrive in your personal and professional life and graduate as a unique yoga teacher, with a well-developed connection to a deep source of knowledge and inspiration and the ability to guide others into theirs.

Are you interested in taking your yoga teacher training cources to the next level and taking a yoga teacher training and yoga certification program? If you are like most yoga students, you have been practicing yoga for a while and are now wondering if you should take the plunge of becoming a yoga teacher. You have taken an introductory 200-hour, 300-hour, 500-hour yoga teacher training services. Whether you are just starting out or deepening your existing practice, Yoga Teacher Training with Divine light is a spiritual journey that encompasses all aspects of life. On this journey you are guided by various gifted instructors who introduce you to yoga philosophy, anatomy and Ayurvedic principles with great insight and thoughtful reflection.
If you are searching Yoga Teacher Training Vancouver program will develop a unique path to physical, mental and spiritual well being. Yoga is the union of the body, breath, mind and spirit and our Certified Yoga Teachers Training Vancouver program develop the most profound union that is between the individual self and the universal self. You will increse your mind knowledge about yoga. Our site divinelight.ca/ will offer you everything you need to know about becoming a yoga teacher and enrolling into the right yoga certification program. Our Yoga instructors in Vancouver are dynamically active and very famous for their vibrant and friendly nature, masterful techniques and deeply meditative teaching approach.

Divine Light is that we have all always had everything we needed to get by in this life and to live it well. Our mission is to help people awaken their own divine light within. To spread the true essence of yoga and give people a complete and clear under standing, thereby enabling them towards becoming their divine self, which is completely. You extend your knowledge about yoga postures and advanced variations which are not taught in a basic yoga teacher training. Enhance yoga teacher training vancouver, yoga studio vancouver, yoga teachers training in vancouver, yoga classes in vancouver practice with new Asanas, deepen your practice.

Our course will comprise of intensive Yoga Philosophy, Anatomy & Physiology of Hatha Yoga, Asana practice & teaching, Yogic Lifestyle, Structuring & Sequencing Class, Pranayama practice & teaching, Raja Yoga's Eight Limbs, Mantra Yoga, Yoga Sutras, Multiple tools for different studentsand meditation practice, journaling, study of set texts, anatomy and a thorough analysis of teaching methodology. Our course is a practical teacher training designed to both deepen your own practice, and make you a confident and effective Yoga teacher.

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Yoga Teacher Training – Become A Yoga Instructor

If you love yoga and want to help keep this very old tradition alive in contemporary cultures, you may need Yoga Teacher Training and become yoga instructor.

To become a good Yoga Instructor, you may need professional Yoga Instructor Training. There are lots of different Yoga Teacher Training courses are available for you, many of them are free and some are paid. Yoga is an activity alike which anyone can explore it at any time. You can change your student's lives with getting help from your local yoga teacher training centers.

Yoga is an art. Before going to become a yoga instructor, you need to gain whole knowledge of yoga. Yoga Instructor Training gives you a full understanding of yoga as an art which is required for a yoga instructor. You need to learn the different positions of yoga as well as the history of yoga. With the help of yoga workshop you may become a good yoga instructor in quick time.
If you shows interest on yoga, than Yoga Teacher Training can be easy for you but if you show no interest it can be difficult. The Yoga Instructor Training is made so that you can learn how to teach and train others in yoga. Keep one thing in your mind learn everything from yoga teacher training courses from every angle so that you can teach and help your students after becoming yoga instructor. You need to learn deeply about all the yoga positions. You must be reacting as an instructor in all the difficult positions. For this you may also learn how to master these positions.

A good Yoga Teacher Training courses includes Yoga Videos, Yoga Music and Yoga EBooks for their students. Students can also get help from these yoga videos and yoga ebooks. These things can be helpful for students at the time of finishing their Yoga Instructor Training courses.

At last, not forget to take a Yoga Certificate from your yoga training center. Every Yoga Center pro vides a Yoga Certification or Yoga Instructor Certification to their students after completing their courses. Yoga Certification is must required for a yoga instructor, especially at the time when you decide to start your own Yoga Workshop.

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