Wednesday, July 21, 2010

The Best Medicine In The World Is Right In Front Of You




       Lolo Carding and Lola Caring met each other in their old age, fell in love, and decided to get married.

       Their age? Lolo Carding was 81 and Lola Caring was 79.

       One day, while walking in a mall, they passed by a big drugstore.

       Lolo Carding told his fiancĂ©, “Let’s go in.”

       They met the woman behind the counter. Lolo Carding asked, “Do you sell heart medication?”

       The woman said, “Yes, Lolo.”

       “Medicine for arthritis?” Lolo Carding asked.
       The woman nodded her head, “Plenty, Lolo.”

       “How about medicine for memory problems, back pains, osteoporosis, constipation, high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes?”

       The woman smiled, “Yes, we have all those medicines, Lolo.”

       “Do you also sell wheelchairs and walkers?”

       “We have many brands, Lolo.”

       Lolo Carding and Lola Caring smiled at each other, turned to the woman behind the counter and said, “We will be getting married in one month. Can we use this drugstore as our bridal registry.”

How You Can Avoid
Becoming A Walking Drugstore?
      
People expect that as they grow old, they’ll be taking more and more drugs.

       Why? Because that’s what old people do. 

I know of some people who take 20 tablets a day. 

That seems normal now. People take maintenance medicines for hypertension, high sugar, cholesterol, uric acid, high sugar, and heart problems. Plus, they take more medicines for the side effects. Isn’t that insane? Yet that has become normal too.
      
Friend, this doesn’t have to happen to you.

You have a choice.

There’s another path to growing old.
      
I’ll repeat my message: The best medicine in the world is God’s chosen food. Eat it and be healed.

Consult Your Manufacturer
      
If you’re phone is busted, what do you do?
      
You just don’t bring it to anyone.

If you’re wise, you bring it to its manufacturer.

If you have a Nokia phone, you bring it to Nokia. 

If it’s Samsung, you bring it to Samsung. 

If it’s an Iphone, you bring it to Apple.
Today, I want you to go to your Manufacturer.

Get yourself repaired.
      
Consult Him. 
      
What does He say about becoming healthy?
      
I’m not a doctor.
      
I’m a spiritual mentor.
      
So I’ll be showing you what the Bible says about health.

It’s amazing how science is now discovering the logic behind these ancient verses. 


99% Cause Of All Disease

Read carefully: According to immunologists, 99% of all diseases aren’t caused by germs. They’re caused by a starving, weak, malnourished immune system.
      
Your body has an incredible, God-designed, super-elite army capable of destroying any germ that tries to attack it.
      
This internal army consists of billions of cells in your body that can prevent and cure any disease in your body.
      
But that’s the problem: We don’t eat the food that God designed for us to eat. So that army is starving.
      
No wonder we get sick!
      
If you look at the Bible, it gives you very practical recommendations on what you should eat. Let’s consult our Manufacturer and find out what He says about what we should eat.
      
Let me discuss three prescriptions today.

1. Eat Plants

2. Eat Clean

3. Eat Other “Food”

1.Eat Plants
In Daniel 1:11-15, we read the fascinating story of how Daniel and his friends competed with the Babylonians in the “Who Will Be Healthier In 10 Days?” Contest…
“Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food….” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
Daniel and his friends ate “vegetables and water”.

The other young men ate “royal food” which consisted of meat and other food that was considered “unclean” by the Bible. After ten days, Daniel and his friends were healthier. The poor man’s diet won over the rich man’s diet.

The Bible says in Genesis 1:29, “I have given you every plant with seeds on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with seeds. This will be your food.”
      
The Bible tells us that plants should be our main food. And today, modern science agrees!
       If you study our bodies, you’ll find more similarities with herbivores than carnivores.
      
Go to the mirror now and check your teeth.

What do you notice?  They’re flat. (If they’re all sharp, I suggest you find a good Exorcist.) Just like the teeth of cows, goats, and sheep. 

Carnivores, like lions and tigers, have sharp teeth. 
      
Second, herbivores have very long digestive tracks. Just like ours. Carnivores have short ones.
      
Our anatomy is telling you that our major food should be plants. The reason why we get sick is because for many years (decades?) we’ve not been eating enough plants.

Objection 1: “But Bo, I Take Vitamins!”
      
Some people say, “I don’t like fruits and veggies. So I just take vitamins.”
      
Thank God you’re taking vitamins.

But that isn’t enough. Sorry, vitamin pills won’t replace the
actual fruit or veggie. 
      
They’re called supplements because they add, not replace. 

Because fruits and vegetables aren’t just about the vitamins. The actual plant also gives enzymes, trace elements, fiber, alkalinity, etcetera!

Let me give you an analogy.
      
If you’re my age, you probably watched Voltes V.
       For younger people who didn’t watch this Japanese cartoon, my deepest condolences. 

Voltes V consists five spaceships piloted by Steve, Mark, Big Bert, Little John, and Jamie. There was a love triangle between Steve, Mark, and beautiful Jamie and…uh, never mind. 

By themselves, the spaceships are okay. Each can shoot down enemy ships. 
      
But somewhere in the middle of the cartoon, these five spaceships connect with each other and “volt-in”.  Attached together, they form a giant, powerful, kick-butt robot with a saber sword. 

Yep, the sum is always greater than its parts.

Swallowing a vitamin pill is like getting only one spaceship
of Voltes V.   But when you eat the whole fruit or vegetable, you’re getting all 5 team members—and they volt-in!

They work together to build you up.
      
Take the case of enzymes.

You Need Workers
      
Vitamins and minerals are like the raw materials for building your body. Imagine all of the wood, steel, and cement necessary to build a home. 
But the enzymes are your laborers. Without laborers, the house won’t be built.
      
And where do you get enzymes? Not from a pill.
      
You get enzymes when you eat raw fruits and raw vegetables.

Alkaline Body
      
No, I’m not talking about long-lasting batteries.

Here’s another thing complete fruits and vegetables gives you that pills can’t: When you eat plants, your body becomes alkaline.  And germs can’t live in an alkaline environment. Cancer cells can’t live in an alkaline environment. That’s why cancer patients and other sick people have highly acidic bodies. (By acidic, I’m not talking about stomach acidity. I’m talking of the entire body.)
      
When you eat fruits and vegetables everyday, you make your body alkaline, thus making it stronger against disease.
      
Here’s another objection…
        
Objection 2: “But Bo, I Do Eat Fruits and Veggies!”

       That’s great!

Question: How much?
Some eat one fruit a day—a banana after a meal—and they pat themselves on the back and say, “I’m healthy.”

Some eat one tiny side dish of cooked veggies—perhaps buttered string beans and carrots—and they say, “I’m healthy.”
But doctors specializing in immunology will tell you that you need fifteen kinds of fruits and vegetableseveryday to be healthy.
      
Fifteen! Every single day.

       I’m not asking you to be vegetarians. 
But if you want to be healthy, make fruits and veggies your main food. Let everything else be side dishes.

Objection #3: “But Bo, It’s So Simplistic…”
      
Last month, while traveling in Shanghai, my 85-year old mother got sick. (Yep, at her age, she still travels!)
      
When she came home, she got worse. She was coughing non-stop, felt very weak, couldn’t sleep, had pain in her ribcage.
      
When my sisters brought her to the clinic, the doctor gave her top-of-the-line antibiotics. They were expensive and powerful. She took one tablet before she slept.
      
The next morning, she felt terrific. “It’s a miracle,” she said, “I feel so good. The antibiotic worked.”
      
That day, my health mentor visited us (I have a mentor for various areas of my life). He looked at my mother, and said, “Mommy, I want you to take a megadose of vitamin C.”
      
My sister asked, “What brand?”
      
My health mentor laughed. “When I say megadose of vitamin C, I don’t mean swallowing a pill. I’m talking about eating fruits and drinking fresh fruit juices.  Liquefy them. Drink juices many times everyday!”
      
Here’s what happened. 

My mother didn’t listen to him. Nor did any of my sisters who were staying with her.
      
Why? Because the antibiotic was working.
      
Or so they thought.

The next day, the “miracle” wore off and she got worse. 

Her coughing got worse. Her pains got worse. Despite taking powerful antibiotics everyday.
      
After one week, she was a wreck. 

Mom hates hospitals. But that morning, she felt so bad, she woke up and said, “Bring me to the hospital. I can’t take it anymore.”
      
But that day, my health guru visited again. 

And he asked her, “Mommy, did you take your fresh fruit juices?”
      
Mom shook her head.
      
My sisters said, “Ooops, we forgot.”
      
My health teacher scolded us, “What happened? Mommy, please take your juices, non-stop, everyday.”

Healing From Simple Fresh Fruits
      
That day, we gave her fresh fruit juices.

Many times a day. We’d take the fruits, chucked them in a blender, and poured the juice into a glass. Simple.

That was her main food the next few days.
      
And would you believe? 

In two to three days, she was cured!

Here’s our problem.
      
We don’t like simple solutions.
      
We like it when the solution is complicated. 
      
It’s more believable.

Like costly pills.

A trip to the hospital.

An expensive medical test.
      
But when we hear the words, “Eat fruits”, we think it’s old wives tale.
      
But scientists are now telling us it’s NOT old wives tales.

Just last January, a group of food scientists proved that

Mango—in an experiment made in a laboratory—fought the
cells of breast and colon cancer.

For years, scientists have been saying that bananas are effective against hypertension, depression, digestive problem and a host of other diseases. And ripe bananas have cancer-fighting elements.

For years, pineapples have been known to have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
      
Ordinary fruits that we take for granted because they’re so available. But what do we do?
      
We’d rather eat a candybar than a mango.
      
We’d rather eat chichiria (chips) than a pineapple.
I’m not a scientist. Never was and never will be. But here’s my wild guess: I believe all fruits are powerful medicines for your body. If you follow the immunologists and eat 15 kinds of fruits and vegetables everyday, you’ll avoid many sickness.

Let me give you two very practical steps on how to apply this important food recommendation into your daily life.

Action 1: Eat Local Fruits For Breakfast Everyday

I have a simple solution for you.
      
Instead of a breakfast of hotdogs, pancakes, bacon, eggs, spam, and rice—why not eat fruits?

Here’s what I do.
      
Every morning, I eat local fruits for breakfast.
      
Pineapples. Watermelons. Melons. Star apple. Mangoes. Bananas. Guyabano. Papaya. Etcetera!
      
I try to eat 5 fruits every morning. 

When I do that, I bless my body everyday with the following:

o   I load up with natural vitamins and minerals.

o   I take in necessary living enzymes.

o   I cleanse my internal organs of toxins.

o   I give my body an alkaline environment.

Suggestion: To really get the maximum effect of the fruits, wait for an hour before you eat any other food or drink water.
Action 2: Eat Raw Veggies For Lunch And Dinner Everyday

       Most people eat veggies.

       But we eat too little of them. 

A few leaves. And we think we’re okay.

No, you’re not. Your immune system is starvingfor real food.
      
Another thing? We cook our veggies to death. All the nutrients and enzymes are gone.
      
Here’s my very strong recommendation: For lunch and dinner, eat a huge bowl of raw salads. Let that be your main meal.
      
What veggies? Sing Bahay Kubo.

Organic, if you can find them. If not, wash thoroughly.
      
For variation, you can also eat slightly cooked, slightly steamed, slightly blanched veggies.
      
I’ve got some favorite dishes: I love a bowl of hot soup filled with slightly-cooked fresh veggies with a dollop of Korean fermented chili (spicy!) sauce. Yum!
      
I’ve been eating this way for some time now and my body is thanking me for it. If you’re good to your body, your body will be good to you.    

I encourage you to study how to make delicious veggie dishes. Google it. Buy vegetarian recipe books. Make your family healthy and prevent disease! Ten years from now, you’ll be grateful you upgraded your diet.
Here’s my second prescription.

2.Eat Clean
If you read the Old Testament, you’ll find God calling some animals “clean” and others “unclean”.

Here’s one example in Leviticus 11:1-3: The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.
       
According to the Bible, cows, sheep, and goats are clean.
      
Pigs aren’t.
      
Chickens and turkeys are clean.
      
Rabbits aren’t.
      
Tuna and salmon are clean.
      
Crabs, shrimps, shells, and squid aren’t.
      
On and on the list goes.
      
In the New Testament, we no longer follow these food laws. Because as Christians, we don’t consider them spiritual laws anymore. We’re free to eat anything. 

Yes, you won’t go to the fires of hell if you eat lechon. 

Yeheey.

Instead of taking them as spiritual laws, I suggest that we take them as health recommendations.
       Because this is what I find amazing: Science is now discovering that animals labeled as “unclean” by the Bible carry more diseases and more toxins than the “clean” variety.

For example, “clean” animals have 3 or 4 stomachs and with very long digestive tracks. But unclean animals have one stomach and a very short digestive track. 

A cow takes 24 hours to digest its food. 

Aside from the fact that a pig eats anything, it also takes only 4 hours to digest its food—absorbing much of the toxins that it eats into its meat.

Vacuum Cleaner Of The Sea

I find this next passage rather fishy.

In Leviticus 11:9-10, it says, Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales.  But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to detest.

What are sea creatures without scales or fins? 

Crabs, lobsters, shrimps, squid, and all shells.

Today, we know that they’re the scavengers of the sea.

They’re garbage collectors.

They’re vacuum cleaners.

They’re bottom-feeders, eating fish droppings and dead creatures.
Because of this, they purify the water. 

Good for the water. But bad for them. And bad for those who eat them.

High concentrations of germs and toxins are in their meat.
      
In fact, if scientists want to know the toxicity level of a lake or lagoon, he’ll get a shrimp in that water and measure the toxins in its meat.
       
And what’s so important about scales anyway? 
      
Today, science has discovered that scales are important because that’s what fishes use to release the toxins from its body.  
      
My recommendation?
      
Avoid pork.
      
Avoid crabs, lobsters, shrimp, squid, and all shells.
      
At the very least, minimize eating them. 
      
Because if you eat them regularly, you’ll have a more difficult time preventing disease in the future.
      
Let me now go to my last prescription…

Prescription #3: Eat Other “Food”
      
Food isn’t our only food.
      
Your body requires other kinds of nourishment.
      
Let me mention four of them today very quickly.
1. Oxygen

God formed Man out of dirt from the ground
and blew into his nostrils the breath of life
–Genesis 2:7
Your cells are starving of fresh oxygen. 

Germs can’t live in a highly oxygenated environment. 

Take deep breaths everyday. De-stress yourself at different times of the day.

This naturally happens when you follow the next “food”…

2.Movement

Physical exercise has some value…
–1 Timothy 1:8
Find an exercise that you enjoy. 

Personally, I love walking. 

It’s the simplest exercise. 

When you walk, you go outdoors, you get sunlight, you oxygenate your body, you get an emotional lift, you lessen your stress, and you cleanse your lymphatic system.

And speaking of sunlight…

3.Sunlight

The light is pleasant,
and it is good for the eyes to see the sun.
–Ecclesiastes 11:7
Many people are sick because they lack Vitamin D. 

Because Vitamin D prevents osteoporosis, prostate cancer, breast cancer, depression, diabetes, and obesity. (No one is marketing sunlight because we can’t bottle sunlight and earn from it.) Mothers who expose their babies to the sunlight know what they’re doing. But what’s the difference between the baby and an adult? Get 30 minutes of sunlight everyday.

4.Sleep

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in
vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman
stays awake in vain…; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
–Psalm 127:1-2

Many people don’t sleep enough. 

If you want to be healthy, listen to your body. Your body will
tell you how many hours of sleep it needs. 

For example, I’ve noticed that vegetarians need lesser hours of sleep—because digestion takes a huge amount of energy. But most people will require 8 hours of sleep to be fully totally restored.

But at the end of the day, I believe that real sleep doesn’t
come from sleeping pills or an expensive bed.

I believe real sleep comes from God.

Do you trust in the Lord for all your worries?

When you trust Him deeply, you can sleep!

— 0 —

By the way, didn’t you notice that the four elements above
oxygen, movement, sunlight, and sleep—are free? Health isn’t expensive.
Cleanse Your Soul, Cleanse Your Body

Let me end with two true-to-life stories.
      
I know of a woman who was almost a vegetarian for ten
years. But recently, she had cancer.

People around her were aghast. How could someone whose
diet was so healthy have cancer?
      
The answer came from those who knew her predicament:

Last year, she discovered her husband was having an
affair. It was such a painful experience for her. Her heart was filled with rage and bitterness.

 In my ministry, I’ve talked to so many people with
cancer. I’m no longer surprised when I find out that it coincided with a highly stressful, very painful event in their lives.

Why am I sharing this to you?

To remind you again that we’re not just biological creatures. We’re spiritual and emotional beings too. And eating the right food is crucial for our health, but that’s just one part of the equation.

 Let me now share with you my other story.

 My friend had breast cancer 7 years ago.

 Prior to this, she too discovered her husband had an
adulterous relationship. The family was torn apart. Bitter rage filled her heart.

 But she knew the deadly poison of resentment. And so
daily, she let go of her anger. She surrendered her husband to God.
  
 And in prayer, she was led not to go through any
chemotherapy or radiation. 

Instead, she became a pure 100% vegetarian. Her goal was to remove all emotional and physical toxins in her body.

 She was successful.
      
 Because today, my friend is totally free from cancer.

 I pray that the same miracle will happen to your life.
      
 Go ahead.
      
 Cleanse your soul.

 Cleanse your body.
      
 May your dreams come true,

      Bo Sanchez 

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Filipina maid inherits millions from Singaporean employer


SINGAPORE-- A devoted Filipina maid inherited six million Singapore dollars (more than four million US) from her late employer after more than 20 years of service, a newspaper report said Wednesday.

"I am the luckiest maid in Singapore, with or without the money," the 47-year-old single woman -- identified only by the pseudonym "Christine" -- told the Straits Times in an interview.

The maid refused to be named in public for fear of possible threats to her life in the impoverished Philippines, where wealthy people have been kidnapped for ransom and some killed by their abductors.

The windfall, including cash and a luxury apartment near the Orchard Road shopping belt, came from the estate of her employer Quek Kai Miew, a medical doctor and philanthropist who died last year at 66.

The maid had also taken care of the doctor's late mother, and was told that she would be a beneficiary of her employer's will when it was drawn up in 2008.

"There were no secrets between us. I was not surprised at all when she told me how much I was going to get," the maid recalled.

"Christine" was devastated when Quek died a year ago, as the two were inseparable, and temporarily moved in with the doctor's nephew for solace.

"It was heartbreaking for me as I saw more years with Doctor Quek than with my own mother. I would break down every time I thought about her. I could not be by myself," she said.

"I was always beside her. Wherever she went, I was with her."

The maid, who is now applying for permanent residency in Singapore, said her newfound wealth had not changed her lifestyle.

"I do not really think much about the money I got. I just live my life as I did before, and not as a rich person," the maid, dressed simply in a blouse and slacks with short-cropped hair, was quoted as saying.

"I am still who I was before. I cannot behave differently because I have money now. Even my Filipino maid friends here still treat me the same."

Nearly 200,000 foreign maids, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia, work in affluent Singapore, which has a population of five million.



Friday, July 16, 2010

What OFWs need to do



By Karen Galarpe

WHILE ON a recent trip to Japan, I heard a story about an OFW driver who nearly wasted away his earnings. He worked in Japan for close to 30 years, and at one point was earning an equivalent of P400,000 a month with overtime pay. He had a wife and child back home in the Philippines and was able to send his child to school. However, he was always out drinking at bars in expensive Tokyo while having several relationships with other women. "Puro good time," they say.

Well the guy was no€™t able to hold on to his job due to his drinking problem. His employer asked him to resign, and he was given an equivalent of P2 million as separation pay.

His Filipino friends could only shake their heads in disbelief at how he wasted away the opportunity to have a well-paying job, and how he was not able to save any money to make his life better. Last they heard, he was back home, bought himself a tricycle which he drives for a living, and is staying with his parents since he could not afford to buy a house of his own.

Filipinos who leave the country to work overseas do so to earn more money in order to help support their families back home. However, not every OFW gets to lay out a stable financial future.

The problem, says Raul D. Dimayuga, senior vice-president and head of the global remittance division of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, is “initially a lack of awareness of what to do. For many of [OFWs], it is the first time that they are able to receive a larger amount of money than what they used to and if they are not properly advised, they would tend to use the funds for consumption.â€

This is why BPI has embarked on providing a financial literacy program to its clients, especially OFWs and their beneficiaries. It has conducted the BPInoy Learning Series caravans in Iloilo, Cavite, Dumaguete, Davao, and most recently, in Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro, among others. The series seeks to show that financial control is possible even away from home. By using interactive modules, participants are taught how to save, invest and make use of available technology to do banking transactions. BPI services and products designed specifically for the global Filipino are also introduced, such as the BPInoy Remittance, BPInoy Savings Account, BPInoy Save-up (build up savings account with free life insurance), BPInoy loan products, and Credit Card.

Dimayuga says these are the basics that an OFW must have to be on the road to financial stability:

1. An account for himself separate from that of his beneficiary. €œThis way he is able to segregate his savings from his transactional account, i.e., funds needed by his beneficiary for day-to-day expenses.”

2. A plan for himself in terms of how much to save and set aside as budget for the family expenses which he agrees on with his beneficiary. €œThis way his plans are aligned with that of his family and the road to financial stability becomes a family affair. Ideally, he should be saving between 10 to 20 percent of his monthly income.€

3. An investment plan.

€œOverseas Filipinos contribute substantially to our country'€™s growing economy. As a bank, we want to provide financial education to empower our global Filipinos to fulfill their dreams that fueled their decision to go abroad, adds Teresita B. Tan, head of overseas banking and channel services group of BPI.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Peppermint tea helps treat nervousness, insomnia, cramps, coughs, dizziness

By Cory Quirino 

HERE ARE ANSWERS TO some of your pressing questions on how to improve the quality of your life. And if in the process we can successfully delay the aging process, why not?

Q: Is anti-aging an exaggeration?

Not at all. Decades ago, scientists had already discovered why the human body deteriorates—visibly seen through wrinkles, age spots. It is because of genetics, disease, stress, environmental factors such as pollution, smoking, diet. Blame it on the molecules called free radicals that attack our healthy cells. The truth is it’s all part of normal cell metabolism, which converts carbohydrates and fat into energy that gives power to our cells. With every breath you take you generate free radicals. And yet, if we can control reactions caused by free radicals, then we could maintain healthier cells. For example, it is believed 40-50 percent of all the proteins in an older person may be damaged by this natural phenomenon. Laboratory studies indicate that damaged proteins shorten the life span of lab animals. What’s the solution? Millions of free radicals bombard the cells daily. The reason we don’t feel its immediate effects is due to the natural free radical fighting army of the body. While the body produces its own natural antioxidants, it is not enough to combat modern-day civilization’s stresses. For example, our body wasn’t designed to withstand the damage caused by air pollution, high-fat diet, excessive alcohol intake and constant exposure to life-threatening viruses. If left unchecked, these could accelerate aging leading to Parkinsons’ disease, cataracts, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s.

Natural regimens include:

Monthly detoxification through colon cleansing/enemas, 10 capsules of cod liver oil or 2 tbsp of the liquid form daily. This will deeply moisturize your skin from the inside.

Take natural antioxidants like Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene and selenium.

Eat more garlic or take 2 capsules of garlic oil daily because they prolong the life span of normal skin cells and guard against heart disease, lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and regulate sugar levels.

Contact Dr. Omar Arabia for detailed instructions. His success stories from positive health testimonials are numerous. Call 2151953 or Biosafe at 4119168. Dr. Irene Lim has detox regimens which have helped many patients get well.

Take in more protein. Good sources are fish, nuts, chicken, mushrooms. But keep it lean.

Exercise daily even if it’s only 30 minutes of cardiovascular workout. The benefits are astounding.

Look on the bright side. Having dark thoughts bring out angry feelings thereby raising the acidity level of the body. Staying in a state of acidity welcomes illness.

Load up on berries like blueberries and the potent ACAI whose ORAL value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is one of the highest in the world. Call World of Wellness at 7233878, 3323864, 0922-8689751.

Pop a glutathione pill or take it from natural sources: fruits and vegetables.

Q: Why is L-Carnitine a health craze?

Because it does the job! This is an amino acid which has the potential to extend your life and boost the heart. As a diet therapy it converts stored body fat into energy. Many athletes use it for prolonged workouts. Natural sources: meat and dairy. Take 500 mg once a day to keep your waistline trim, especially when combined with exercise. Also, ask your dermatologist about injections. Call Zen Institute’s Dr. MJ Valdecanas at 8562027.

Q: Please recommend a natural remedy for headaches.

Most headaches maybe caused by dehydration and a deficiency in minerals. Take a glass of water every hour without fail. Sip a cup of peppermint tea, an antispasmodic which treats nervousness, insomnia, cramps, coughs and dizziness. Its leaves are so potent; it can work as well as aspirin or a mild painkiller—with no side effects. Try nature’s tranquilizers—calcium and magnesium (ratio is 2:1) For migraines, try niacin 100 mg three times daily or gingko biloba 60 mg twice daily plus 100 mg B complex twice daily. Source is Dr. Earl Mindell, Vitamin Bible for the 21st century.

Q: I want to raise my calcium levels but refuse to take dairy. Help!

In order for calcium to be absorbed, the body should have enough Vitamin D. Natural sources include leafy green vegetables, broccoli, sardines (with bones), salmon, sunflower seeds and dried beans. Take a Vitamin D supplement if you don’t get enough morning sunlight or include 400 IU fish liver oil to your health regimen.

Beauty mix

Mix 1 cup goat’s/cow’s milk, juice from ½ lemon, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil. Shake. It’s great after a bath.

Affirmation: “I am a blessing to others.”

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.

Love and light!

Quotable Quotes: "Man's way leads to hopeless end.....God way leads to an endless hope".

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Ways to remove environmental and dietary toxins from the body

By Emmarose Policarpio 

AS WE GO ABOUT our day-to-day activities, our bodies are exposed to various toxic chemicals and pollutants. Certain body organs, specifically the liver and lymph systems, are under constant attack and may have difficulty eliminating accumulated toxins.

To help get rid of these harmful body contaminants, spas now offer detoxification programs and treatments to effectively and thoroughly remove environmental and dietary toxins from the body. Among its benefits, according to health gurus, are having strong immune system, more energy and more efficient digestive system. There are also claims that detox can help in reducing weight.

Spas with detox programs target four kinds of toxicity. These are the body’s own metabolic waste products; dietary toxins such as alcohol, caffeine and white sugar; psychological toxins like stress and worry; and environmental pollutants.

There are two basic types of detox choices available at spas—one treats the body from within, while the other works from the outside.

Cleansing from within is usually administered over a few days and is best enjoyed in destination spas that offer relaxing accommodation and tranquillity to rejuvenate not just the body but the spirit as well. The program might include dietary detox treatments such as juice fast or diet high in fruits and vegetables. Colon hydrotherapy or herbal enema is also likely to be included in the cleansing regimen.

The other type of detoxification treats the body from the outside to assist in eliminating waste. One way to do this is through a lymphatic drainage massage or with a detoxifying body wrap. Lymphatic drainage massage uses a gentle pumping technique to stimulate lymphatic circulation to reduce water retention and remove toxins. It can be done through manual massage or hydromassage and may be performed on the face and neck or body.

Body wraps, on the other hand, have gained tremendous popularity because it is also believed to help remove excess inches and pounds. The body is first exfoliated using a mixture of clay and salt to draw toxins out through the skin. Then the body is wrapped using bandages soaked in a solution containing clay and mineral salt, and covered in thermal blanket to let the body sweat as the wrap does its work. Aside from getting rid of toxins, body wraps also leave the skin silky smooth and refreshed.

Cancer education

Aside from these popular treatments, detoxification has also been linked in preventing the development of cancer cells and other diseases. Dr. Tam Mateo, the first Filipino naturopathic doctor and a staunch health crusader, specializes on cancer education the natural way. As a neuropath, Dr. Mateo recognizes the healing ability within the system.

In tracing the root of the disease, Dr. Mateo underscores the importance of eliminating harmful elements within the body through detoxificaton. He has his own line of herbal drinks aptly called Dr. Tam’s Miracle Tea and Live Green, which fortifies the body’s organs and cleanses the digestive track. It’s a healthy combination of herbs such as cinnamon bark, peppermint, Jamaican sarsaparilla, ginger-rhizome and other organic ingredients. Dr. Tam holds clinic in Metrowalk in Pasig City.

With the health benefits one can derive from detoxification, it is equally important to bear in mind some precautions before undergoing a detox program. One major consideration is making sure the program is administered under medical supervision particularly when undergoing a dietary regimen. Juice fasting, for instance, is not easy and not for everyone. It is best to consult the spa first and find out as much about every treatment before deciding on the appropriate detox program to take.

Detoxification has indeed become a staple in the spa industry. However, it should not be treated as a short-term program. Always remember that detox is all about maintaining a healthier lifestyle through better food choices, reducing exposure to chemicals, and minimizing stress.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Virgin coconut oil helps cleanse mouth of bacteria, toxins

By Cory Quirino 

Philippine Daily Inquirer

“A man cannot be comfortable without his own approval.” —Mark Twain
LET’S CORRECT YOUR PERception of or belief in yourself to the world. According to Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, author of “The Power of Intention,” your pessimistic view of the world reflects your own pessimistic view of yourself. So why not realign your thoughts now? Do this powerful exercise.

Look into a mirror everyday. Make a strong connection with yourself and say “I love me.” Silly as it may seem, it is a potent regimen that can re-establish your ties with yourself. Immediately, your confidence level goes up. This is not regarded as an ego statement, rather an act of self-respect. Also tell yourself: “It is my intention to respect myself at all times.”

Respect your body

No matter what size or shape you have, be proud that your body houses your spirit. And because of this, your body deserves the best. Honor the spirit within by respecting its temple through good nutrition, exercise, rest, prayer/meditation.

So do you need another diet to tell you that the last one didn’t work? No. Be one with yourself and proceed from love and respect. You know what’s good or bad for you.

Be your own teacher and trainer. Maybe you are guilty of under-exercising, overloading your body with junk food, always giving in to sugar cravings or food bingeing, overstimulating yourself with drugs/toxins. You could be depressed, bloated, and overweight or beset with illnesses. That’s okay. Your body has the ability to heal itself. Let the healer within take over.

Simple therapies

Beg off on sugar and salt.

Every other day, eat only fish.

Add more green, leafy vegetables to your meals.

Juice fresh vegetables and drink up. Combine romaine lettuce, apple, ampalaya, garlic, cucumber, etc. Make your own concoctions.

Drink 15 glasses of water daily.

Eat fresh fruits in season preferably only during the day. (You need fructose natural sugar for energy to keep you going.)

Eat your lightest meal at dinner.

Sweat it out.

Adopt a joyful attitude in life. This cleanses the heaviness inside you. It lightens the heart.

Rituals

Nasal douching. In Ayurvedic medicine, inhaling salt water can remove toxins in your sinuses. A disinfectant that works fast, mix ½ tsp of salt in a cup of warm water. With a dropper or syringe (minus the needle), flush one nostril at a time and allow the water to drip out the other nostril. Repeat on the other side.

Oil pulling

From India, here’s another perfect mouth cleanser that literally pulls out the trapped bacteria, viruses, toxins from the mouth that have been building up overnight. Get one tbsp of virgin coconut oil or sesame/olive oil. VCO is best because of its transparency. You can actually see the toxins in various colors through your phlegm expelled. Swish the oil in your mouth for at least 10 minutes. Spit it out. For first-timers, you may feel a healing crisis—detox symptoms like headaches and sensitivities—but it goes away in two days.

Detox bath

In a tub of warm water, add 5 tbsp of VCO, 1 cup of sea salt, 3 drops of peppermint, 5 leaves of lemongrass. Relax. Close your eyes. Have beautiful thoughts.

Affirm today: “I am God’s perfect creation.”


When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs.



Love and light!

Quotable Quotes:  "Give God what's right.........not what's left".

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

How to maintain your green card while outside the US

By Lourdes Santos Tancinco
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CALIFORNIA, United States—After more than 15 years of waiting for their priority date, Luis and his family were finally issued a United States immigrant visa.

The family traveled to the US and stayed with a relative while looking for a place of their own. Luis’s children, however, were all still in high school and soon wanted to return to Manila to finish their education. After serious consideration, Luis allowed his wife and children to return to Manila while he stayed behind to find work.

After several months, Luis realized that it was not that easy to find a job. In fact, he personally knew relatives and friends who lost their jobs and their homes. Frustrated and missing his family, he obtained a “re-entry permit” and departed for Manila to resume his employment and attend to the family businesses.

Luis had no plan to return to the US in the next two years. His wife, Rhea, is very apprehensive about the status of their green cards if they do not return to the US.

Time spent outside the US

Entering the US then returning to Manila after a few weeks gives rise to the issue of abandonment of residence.

Some green card holders are under the impression that they will be able to maintain their permanent resident status as long as they enter the US “at least once per year.” This may be a mistaken belief about what actually constitutes abandonment.

A returning resident is one who is returning to the US from a temporary visit abroad. If the stay abroad is protracted, this should be caused by reasons beyond one’s control.

What constitutes a “temporary” stay abroad will actually depend on the circumstances of each case and not necessarily the length of stay. How long one has stayed abroad is an initial point of reference for the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors at the airport and they are not prevented from inquiring further into the “intention of the green card holder.”

Generally a permanent resident returning to the US after an absence of six months or less will be treated as if he or she never left the country. This is the “less than six months” rule.

If returning to the US after six months but less than one year, the green card holder bears the burden of the presumption that he or she never intended to abandon his or her residence. He or she is deemed to be seeking admission.

If the stay abroad has been for more than one year, a re-entry permit or a returning resident immigrant visa is expected to be presented to the CBP inspector at the airport.

No abandoning acts

The fact that the “less than six months” rule is generally applied does not necessarily mean that a green card holder should return every six months. The pattern of entry and departure could become a critical issue. If the CBP inspector, through the database available to him or her, determines that more time is spent in Manila than in the US, then the question turns into identifying the immigrant’s principal place of residence to determine whether or not he or she is indeed maintaining his or her US residency.

Most abandonment findings are a result of a green card holder’s committing “abandoning acts.”

Intent to maintain green card status must be supported by (1) the purpose of a trip outside the US; (2) the nature of the employment—whether it is temporary or indefinite; (3) filing of US taxes as a resident; (4) ties in the US such as house, bank accounts, credit cards, state identification card, or driver’s license; and (5) residence of immediate family members.

If an individual has a protracted stay outside the US and still wants to maintain his or her green card, he or she must show that the principal place of residence is in the US. A re-entry permit should be obtained. Preparing documents to prove ties in the US and carrying them during the return to the US are likewise advisable.

Should there be a finding of abandonment at the airport, the individual may be asked to appear before an immigration judge. Or, this individual may be asked by the CBP inspector to sign a Form I-407 abandonment of permanent residency status. (If there is no intention to abandon, the individual should not sign this I-407 form.)

Considering the difficulty of obtaining green cards or US residency status, those who are now afforded the opportunity to live and work in the US should know how to maintain their status. While circumstances differ for each individual, it is important to realize that nothing is permanent, including the green card. It is either you “use it or lose it.”