Five ways to increase your happiness

 
 Happiness is something that everyone wants, but few are willing to take steps to obtain it. There are scientific research on happiness and they indicate that happiness may be increased in different ways. Remember that you control half the level of your happiness, while the other half is influenced by your genetics, your circumstances and your environment.
1. Take a break from the material world
Psychological research suggests that money does not buy happiness. Once you have earned enough money to pay your bills, pay your housing and transportation, will be fine. But the people who make charitable giving part of their money to others, have reported higher levels of happiness over those who do not donate. >> How to talk money with your partner
2. Your relationships help you to be happy
You may not resonate with you if you're single, but if you are married - or live - your relationship is key to your happiness level. Research has shown that strong social connections with others are important for your own happiness. To enjoy these benefits, your marriage must be healthy and strong. >> How to maintain a stable relationship

3. The force enjoy not bring happiness
While there are factors you can control, happiness occurs naturally, usually without much conscious effort. It is the result of living a balanced life - take care of the family, attend work and having interests and activities, according to research by Mihaly Csikzentmihalvi. One of the most interesting findings is that watching TV is one of the most depressing that most runs. Activities with a goal tend to increase the level of enjoyment of life.
4. Be generous and grateful
People tend to be happier given. This is related to # 1, but also because when you focus on helping others, not so much time is spent evaluating and critiquing our own lives or circumstances. Research shows that being grateful for everything in life - health, friends, family, work and almost everything - it helps to be happy. It is possible that the gratitude we remember all the good things in our lives because we tend to focus on the bad.
5. Focus on experiences, not things
People who invest time and money to do things together like going on vacation or a day trip, have reported higher levels of happiness than those who focus on buying a bigger house or a luxury car. This is possible because the memories keep an emotional picture of the experience, while material things make a big emotional impact on our brain. Discard buy as many things for you and your children, happiness is only temporary.
Happiness is rounded to achieve a purpose and interest in others. In addition, a healthy body complements a healthy mind.

10 benefits and facts about aromatherapy

1. Too much stress and tension. Kill them all of your body in a bath of essential oils. Feel the muscles relax and your circulation begins to improve.

2. Add color to your life, look at your problem from another angle. Aromatherapy makes Queven the atmosphere of another color and problems from a different viewpoint. This treatment does not replace traditional medicine but that goes with it and makes its effects faster and more durable because they come to the emotional root of the disease.


3. That smell reminds me of the love of my life. When you smell something emotional memory is evoked, one can relate the emotions. Here's psicoaromaterapia or psychology of odors. It studies the effects of odors in our minds.

4. The limbic system and aromatherapy ... There you go! According to investigators, the fragrances that are inhaled through the nose, activate the section of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influence our memories. When the brain reacts to a positive odor, produces emotional and brings back pleasant memories. At the same time we feel relaxed and stimulated. Hello!

5. Relax and concentrate. Relax with lavender oil. If you approach your exams do not forget inhaling lemon oil or peppermint will help you concentrate.

6. Enjoy the summer. In this time of year you will be exposed to too much sun, an occasional bite of an insect, heat and excessive sweating. Solution: Apply essential oils. Recomendadísimo.

7. Aromatherapy belongs to the modern world. Lie. Spanish School is the oldest of all the Schools of Aromatherapy. Born in the Hispano-Arabic Spain over the centuries IX, X and XI. Spanish alchemists said that essential oils are the lifeblood of plants.

8. Have the best sex of your life. Aromatherapy is an aphrodisiac. Everyone loves a dimly lit environments and smells to stimulate the libido. When we love the smell plays an important role. So I invite you to have the best sex of your life. The essence of roses, jasmine, are basic for us. Ginger will make them focus more on yourself and vanilla lead to a deep connection between lovers.

9. If you like meditation, aromatherapy. Essential oils have been used for centuries to meditation and religious rituals. Those who know say that by meditating to achieve oils purify and prepare the place for meditation, calm and clarify our minds, finally achieving balance and harmony.

10. Aromatherapy in the Middle Ages. During the plague, all aromatic substances used to imagine to combat the Black Death. Fortunately they realized that these were the best antiseptics available. How? People who were in close contact with scents such as the famous perfumers were practically immune.

Until next time remember that "beauty comes from inside out."

Is it worth eating organic foods?

Currently, there are hundreds of organic products in the market. From apples to apple cereal can be found with this call. Also, an increasing number of studies and experts confirm the relationship between genetically modified foods with numerous health problems. So it's worth paying a little more for organic foods?

The first is to clearly understand what you mean by the term organic, which means not just the food itself and also describes how the methods of production thereof. Thus, foods labeled as organic must meet or exceed the standards of the National Organic Program (NOP).
It is excellent that there is a clear definition of what is considered a non-organic food and other calls that are on the labels of foods that have no clear regulations or provisions, as "natural" or "super healthy". However, what began as a mark of exclusivity has become a powerful marketing tool where consumers believe that everything organic is healthy.
In fact, in a study presented at Experimental Biology Conference, people who ate cookies with organic labeling believed their snack contained 40% fewer calories than the same cookies that did not have this label.
GOOD HEALTH IS PRICELESS
However, Lisa Roberts-Lehan to, nutritional counseling and holistic chef (lisarobertslehan.com), it is worth paying a little more to include organic foods in your daily diet.
"100% organic foods are free of harmful pesticides, chemicals and genetically modified organisms. Our body recognizes these substances, so that the body has to work harder to digest and synthesize these compounds. Over time, the accumulation of pesticides and of other chemicals in our body can lead to certain diseases, "says Roberts-Lehan.
The Organic Center, in collaboration with professors from the University of Florida and Washington State University, found that organic foods can have up to 25% more vitamins, antioxidants and minerals than non-organic. Roberts-Lehan notes that "an organic apple may expose 20 to 30 chemicals on your skin even after rinsing with water."
WHAT TO INCLUDE FOOD IS WORTH?
Each year, the Environmental Working Group - a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental research to improve public health and environmental protection, the guide presents pesticide products. This year, these are organic foods that are recommended to buy apples, celery, strawberries, peaches, spinach, nectarines (imported), grapes (imported), peppers, potatoes, cranberries, lettuce and kale.
There is sufficient evidence of why you should include some organic foods in your daily diet. However, experts warn that fruits and vegetables should not be missing in the diet in any way, whether organic or not.
Additionally, indicate that not everything is healthy organic and / or low in calories, fat and simple sugars. Thus, organic fries are no less harmful than those that do not have the organic seal. Both will give you the same calories and saturated fat, so it's not worth it to invest your money in this product class.
>> Recipes: KALE SALAD SPICY LEMON SAUCE <<
Take advantage of all the benefits of organic food this healthy recipe of our holistic chef, Lisa Roberts-Lehan.
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1 bunch of organic kale, remove tough stems. Cut the leaves into small pieces.12 organic cherry tomatoes, cut lengthwise.1 red pepper, organic, yellow or orange seeded, cut into strips4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice4 tablespoons tahini (sesame paste organic)1 tablespoon organic olive oil2 tablespoons water1 / 4 teaspoon cayenne pepper3 tablespoons organic sesame seeds
Preparation:
Place the kale, tomatoes and peppers in large bowl. In a small bowl, mix lemon juice, olive oil, water, sesame paste, liquid protein concentrate (Bragg Liquid Amino) and pepper together. Drizzle dressing over vegetables and sprinkle the sesame seeds. This dressing keeps well for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

For men: book easy and healthy recipes

They are easy to follow recipes and prepare and besides, they also help in sexual performance and in turn lose weight. What man does not call attention to this proposal in the recipe book 'Goal in the kitchen'?

The author is Jenny Patrizia, also known as "The Sexy Nutritionist 'and we spoke on another occasion about his other book' Come sexy, lose weight ', who wrote to help people increase their libido consuming aphrodisiac foods, foods that in turn contain the vitamins and minerals needed to burn fat.

Now, with 'Goal in the kitchen', the nutritionist has fun and healthy recipes that describes the style of football played.

Here's what he told us of this publication is available in both Spanish and English.

Why mix the game of football with the kitchen? "Because you have to think outside the normal. The kitchen goes with everything, and combining it with sports is a way to motivate men in the kitchen while cooking show that can be fun not boring."


"As a nutritionist and a sports fanatic, I decided to combine both passions of the most entertaining way possible for men who love cooking, but do not want to be guided by a common recipe," he said.

Are there recurring key ingredients in your recipes? Why?
"Olive oil, garlic and onions ... because not only benefit our hearts and our health but are also aphrodisiacs and benefit our sexual desires. In other words stimulate our senses."

What ingredients should have a man always in your pantry and / or refrigerator?
"Garlic, ginger, apples, grapes, cherries, broccoli, tomatoes and onions."

In your book highlights the importance of including aphrodisiac foods which in turn help to lose or maintain weight. What are recommended for men? "For men I recommend ingredients different from women ... I recommend them high in zinc ingredients to help with testosterone production is key to a high libido, such as celery, asparagus, garlic, and beans ".

In the book can find a variety of recipes, from pancakes with strawberries, until shrimp salad and salmon with white wine. Visit Jenny Patrizia here

HHS and Data and Technology, Oh My!!

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a talk called, "Unleashing the Power of Open Data to Improve Health" organized by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia-section on Public Health and Preventative Medicine. The speaker was Todd Park, the Chief Technology Officer for the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). I have to admit, I was expecting something a little dry (having received my fair share of power point overload at government sponsored presentations). Wow- was I surprised to find Mr. Park on a wireless microphone running up and down the aisles engaging members of the audience!

The presentation focused on how HHS is living up to President Obama's "Open Government Initiative", which promises to have a "system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration". In terms of health data, Mr. Park said let's stop making people find data. Instead, let's "make data find people". In order to develop channels to help data find us, HHS has been engaging leaders from many areas of popular social media and technology (e.g., YouTube and Smart Phone application development). The government team has been sending the message "the data is yours...let's see what you do with it". In order to get the creative juices flowing, HHS has held and continues to hold "Health 2.0 Developer Challenges". The most current being the "Go Viral Collegiate Challenge" which calls on multidisciplinary teams from colleges and universities to develop a web or mobile application to address a significant health problem facing their communities.

Check out some examples of data applications produced through the use of open government health data:

• Community Clash: An online card game that engages you in a discovery of your community's health and well-being status and let's you see how it compares to other communities in a head-to-head clash. (*Warning- apparently this game is incredibly addicting!)
  

• Asthmapolis: A device that uses global positioning satellite technology (GPS) to determine the time and location when an asthma inhaler is used. The data is then stored on a server. The user can use this device to track asthma symptoms, triggers, and medication use- which could lead to an identification of environmental or other factors which improve/worsen their condition.

In addition to these challenges, HHS has also launched multiple websites to assist with the dissemination of this open health data. For example, HealthData.Gov and HealthIndicators.Gov. While this is all fabulous (and I really enjoyed looking at the challenge applications), how is this initiative being evaluated? Is the ultimate goal just about numbers? Does HHS just want to increase the number of people/organizations that are using health data? Do they just want to increase the number/types of data sources they can make available? Or is there some evaluation of the quality and accuracy of what is being produced? The challenge application website is sure to point out that the applications were not produced with federal money and therefore the government does not endorse them. But are they somehow creating an inventory of the applications and evaluating their effectiveness? Do we know which ones are actually increasing knowledge and changing behavior? Are we learning from the ones that do not? I applaud all the excitement around this initiative, but as always- I'm interested in seeing the outcomes. How will this initiative, which "unleashes the power of open data" actually improve health"?

Michelle Williams is Working to Reduce Barriers to Exercise for Single Moms

As I got my hair cut on Friday, I paged through the February 2011 issue of Marie Claire Magazine. As a major "Dawson's Creek" fan in the 90s, I am always excited to read about the old cast. What a pleasure to read the interview with February's cover girl- Michelle Williams.

As always, she was asked the question about how she coped with the death of her ex-fiance Heath Ledger. This time she spoke about the practice of yoga and how it helped her work through the grief.

The interview introduced us to a project which Michelle helped create called The "Yoga for Single Moms"Project. The project pilot is in Boston and seeks to effectively address key barriers to exercise for single mothers:

1. Expense (of a gym or yoga studio)

2. Childcare

3. Social Support

Michelle tells the magazine, "The idea behind the program is that if you can clear the time, we do the rest. It provides childcare while the mum is in the yoga class, and it's all free."

I'll be watching to see how they evaluate the program and how/if it rolls out nationally. But it appears to be off to a good start as it goes beyond simply educating women about exercise and telling them that they should. The program seeks to work for a single mom's environment, schedule, and unique challenges. Great job Michelle.

The shape of the mouth of a woman can mean better sex

To find out why so many chances that a woman has an orgasm, just see the shape of your lips. And is that according to a recent investigation, the small bump that forms right in the middle of the upper lip, says a lot about your sex life.

Stuart Brody, a professor of psychology at the University of West Scotland, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine a study entitled "Vaginal Orgasm Is More Prevalent Among Women with a Prominent Tubercle of the Upper Lip". The researcher referred to him as the labial tubercle, which is a central prominence of the upper edge of the area crimson mouth. According to Brody, women have more pronounced this tuber are more likely to have experienced a vaginal orgasm during their lifetime.

Msnbc.com published an article with the results of a study of 258 Scottish women, 27 years on average. The author of it, had the opportunity to question Brody about their findings, and one of the questions put to him had to do with respect to the relationship between the labial tubercle and sexual attraction. As explained by the psychologist, in his study which revealed no indication that this lump on the lips more attractive to men and therefore this implies greater opportunities for women to have sex.

According to the report of Brody, anatomical studies have indicated that for the week 17 of gestation, the human fetus may already have developed the tubercle on the upper lip. Either way, there is no other reference to the relationship between the tuber and the female sexual response, rather than the survey conducted by Brody himself.