Natural Insomnia Remedy

Do you ever have trouble getting a really good night's sleep?

I bet that's the case.

You see, with most people working like crazy just to pay the bills, eight hours sleep every night often becomes a thing of the distant past.

Well, if you're suffering stress-related insomnia, I have a natural insomnia remedy that just might make all the difference...

How simple is this? To get a better night's sleep, eat a one ounce serving of fresh walnuts. Fresh means to bust them out of the shell yourself, if you can.

Then chew that one ounce serving slowly and thoroughly. Don't send the chewed nuts down the pipe until you've reduced them to a liquid.

You may be thinking, "What's the relationship between walnuts and insomnia?"

Well, walnuts are an extremely rich dietary source of seratonin, which creates feelings of relaxation and well-being in the human body. As a beneficial side effect, seratonin also tends to reduce appetite.

In addition to overcoming insomnia problems, eating fresh walnuts every day may also help you fight depression and lower cholesterol.

Nice, eh?

If the above approach doesn't rock your boat, I developed a natural insomnia aid that's even nuttier than walnuts.

It's a CD combining cat purring with natural sounds and advanced audio technology. Called Cat's Purr CD, for several years now this CD has evoked rave reviews from those using it for deeper and more satisfying sleep and relaxation!

Chet "Sleeps Like a Log" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Raspberry Vinegar Recipe

Are you sick of supermarket dressings that have an ingredient list that would be more appropriate in a college chemistry lab?

If you are, then I have a healthy, easy to make, and tasty alternative for you that I learned several years ago from Sue Ernest, who sent me the following email:

Raspberry Vinegar Recipe

Chet, I have a terrific recipe for Raspberry Vinegar that I'd like to share.

It's easy to make. All you do is half fill a wide-necked bottle with fresh raspberries. Then fill up to one inch from the top with apple cider vinegar.

Close the bottle tight and leave for a few weeks. It's a beautiful thing to have on the shelf!

When you feel that the color and the taste will have been absorbed properly, sieve away the raspberries and you have raspberry vinegar, which is delicious in salads, dressings or as a drink composed of one teaspoon to a large glass of water.

Maybe this is an obvious recipe, but it's healthy and I usually make some extra to give to friends in a pretty bottle.

Thanks to Sue for sharing this recipe.

Chet "Raspberry Vinegar" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Asian Coleslaw

Just about everybody likes coleslaw, and today I have an unusual yet delicious and healthy recipe that you're going to be making for a long time.

Even the kids will like this one. Whoa!

Asian Coleslaw

5 Tbs rice wine vinegar
5 Tbs vegetable oil
5 Tbs peanut butter
3 Tbs soy sauce
3 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs minced ginger root
1 1/2 Tbs minced garlic
5 cups thinly sliced green cabbage
2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
2 cups Napa cabbage shredded
2 red or yellow peppers, thinly sliced
2 carrots, julienned
4 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped cilantro (fresh)

In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, oil, peanut butter, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic.

In a large bowl, mix the green cabbage, red cabbage, Napa cabbage, red bell peppers, carrots, green onions, and cilantro. Toss with the peanut butter mixture just before serving. This recipe makes enough coleslaw for ten people.

Chet "Coleslaw" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Pure Fruit Cookies

If you're like me, you're always looking for a healthy snack because of your sweet tooth.

Well, today I have a great little recipe for you that's tasty, healthy, and easy to make...

Pure Fruit Cookies

3 medium size ripe bananas (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/3 cup favorite oil (I use coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup uncooked oat bran or creamy-style hot cereal
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or almonds
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped mixed dried fruits such as dates, apricots, and raisins

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease two large cookie sheets.

Mash bananas in large bowl until smooth. Stir in oil, vanilla, and salt. Add oats, oat bran, mixed fruits and nuts. Stir well to combine.

Drop by rounded measuring tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheets, spacing about one inch apart. Flatten slightly with back of spoon.

Bake in preheated oven until bottom and edges of cookies are lightly browned. Cool.

Thanks to Bev for sharing this recipe with me many, many moons ago.

If you have a healthy cookie recipe you'd like to share, please click on the "Comments" link below and start typing.

Chet "Pure Fruit" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Anxiety Relief Tips

Although it's not much fun or something most of us enjoy, a certain level of anxiety is appropriate and healthy under various circumstances.

With that said, here's a disturbing statistic -- it's estimated that 18% of the adult U.S. population (over 40 million of us) suffer from anxiety.

Well, the next time anxiety is messing up your life, try one or more of the following five tips.

Slower Breathing

Most people who suffer anxiety or panic attacks breathe very shallowly. So when you feel anxious, inhale slowly and deeply and then exhale slowly and deeply. Continue slow breathing like this until you feel less stressed.

Look Up

Interestingly enough, a scientific study confirms that when you look down, you dive deeper into your feelings, and plenty of anxiety and panic lives in feelings. So to overcome anxiety, keep your head steady and look up for a bit, without straining.

Slow Down that Brain of Yours

If you, like most modern people, think in rapid bursts, consciously slow down mentally and formulate your thoughts in complete sentences. If you're speaking, slow the flow of words bursting out of your mouth and lower your voice to a deeper, calmer tone. You'll be surprised at the calm and peaceful mental state that comes from practicing these two simple tips.

Exercise Your Body

Everyone already knows this, but, alas, most people don't do it. So if anxiety's messing up your life, make time and start a regular exercise program because exercise endorphins will reduce muscle tension, lower stress hormones, and improve the quality of healing sleep.

Change Your Perspective

This one is so simple most people will dismiss it as being irrelevant. Big mistake. The tip works, so try it. The next time you feel anxious or panic, mentally scream in your mind "Switch off!" and take a long, slow deep breath. By the time you finishing inhaling, the anxiety will be greatly reduced or gone altogether. With consistent practice, this tip provides amazing results.

Okay, that's it for today. If you have a natural anxiety relief tip you'd like to share, click on the "Post a comment" link below and start typing.

Chet "Anxiety Free" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Oatmeal Pancakes Recipe

I'm practically a drooler for delicious and healthy oatmeal pancakes, and you're going to be one too once you try today's easy-to-prepare and delicious recipe for...

Chunky Apple Oatmeal Pancakes with Maple Cream

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup rolled oats
2 Tbs oat bran
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped apple
1 cup apple juice

Combine dry ingredients. Add raisins and apple. Gently stir in juice until dry ingredients are completely moistened.

Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a nonstick skillet or griddle. Cook until bottom is brown and spatula slips easily underneath. Turn and brown other side.

Maple Cream Topping

For a tasty and nourishing pancake topping, mix together equal parts of pure maple syrup and plain yogurt.

The above recipe only makes eight pancakes, so you better double or triple it!

If you have a healthy and tasty pancake recipe you'd like to share, please use the "comment" link below to post it right now.

Chet "Pancake Lover" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

How to Stop Snoring Tip

Here's a simple tip on how to stop snoring that anyone can use to end at least some of the nightly nose noise that's driving your partner crazy:

Warm Beverages Before Bedtime Help to Stop Snoring

Drinking a warm beverage just before bedtime has proven to be effective for a number of snorers. Adding a small amount of honey to the water can help coat the walls of the trachea. Some people have even found that combining honey, warm water, and apple cider vinegar creates a rather potent, yet non-addictive and non-fattening anti-snoring drink.

Herbal tea, particularly the kind labeled "Breathe Easy" (or anything that promotes an unclogged airway) can help prevent snoring. Some of these teas can also contain chamomile or other herbs that promote sleeping.

Bear in mind, however, that if the snorer becomes too relaxed, then while sleep may occur quite readily, it's important to remember that sleep isn't the problem: snoring is the problem!

So don't necessarily choose herbal teas that promote drowsiness or "sleepiness"; for snorers, any herbal tea that will clear the airflow/trachea should help alleviate some snoring.

If you found this tip useful, you'll want to click here to check out my very popular 34-page special report How to Stop Snoring without Surgery.

Chet "Stop Snoring Tip" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

P.S. If you have a stop snoring tip you'd like to share, please click on the "comment" link below and start typing.

Tibetan Monks Diet

I have a diet for you today that you should find quite interesting!

I've lifted the description of the diet pretty much verbatim from a fascinating little book originally titled The Eye of Revelation, which is more popularly known as The Five Tibetan Rites.

If you'd like to lose some weight and gain some energy, give this dietary program a try for two weeks.

You'll find it an interesting and fun adventure in natural health.

Without further ado, I give you...

The Tibetan Monks Diet

By Peter Kelder and Colonel Bradford
Excerpted from The Five Rites
http://fivetibetanrites.com

... after the tenth week Colonel Bradford no longer attended each weekly meeting. However, he still kept up his interest in the "Himalaya Club," and from time to time would speak on various subjects which would aid them in their work.

Sometimes the members requested him to advise them on some particular subject. For instance, we discussed among our selves one night the tremendously important part that food played in our lives. How the right food would make us more alive and vigorous while the wrong food would make us sluggish and dull.

None of us knew much about the subject, however, so we requested the Colonel to advise us at our next meeting as to the Lamas' policy regarding food.

"In the Himalayan Lamasery where I was a neophyte," said the Colonel, in addressing us the following week, "there are no problems concerning the right foods, nor in getting sufficient food...

"Now it is true that the Lamas are vegetarians, but not strictly so. They do use eggs, butter, and cheese in quantities sufficient to serve certain functions of the brain, body, and nervous system. But aside from this they do not need meat, for all who are strong and virile, and who practice Rite Number Six have no need of meat, fish, or fowl.

"Most of those who join the ranks of the Lamas are men of the world who know little about proper food and diet. Yet they are only in the Grand Retreat in the Himalayas a very short while when they begin to show wonderful signs of physical improvement, due no doubt to the diet in the Lamasery.

"No Lama is choosy about his meals. He can't be because there is little to choose from.

"A Lama diet consists of good, wholesome food but as a rule it consists of but one article of food to a meal that in itself is a secret of health. When one eats just one kind of food at a time there can be no clashing of foods in the stomach. Foods clash in the stomach because starches will not mix with proteins. For example, bread, which is starchy, when eaten with meats, eggs, or cheese, which are protein, sets up a reaction in the stomach which often causes not only immediate physical pain, but which contributes as well to a short life and a not particularly merry one.

"Many times in the Lamasery dining hall I have set down to the table along with the Lamas and eaten a meal consisting solely of bread. At other times I have had nothing but fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, while at still another meal I ate nothing but cooked vegetables and cooked fruits.

"At first I greatly missed the large variety of foods to which I had been accustomed; but after a short while I could eat and enjoy a meal consisting of nothing but dark bread or some one particular fruit. Sometimes it would be a feast of one vegetable.

"The point I wish to bring out to you gentlemen is not that you should resign yourselves to a diet of one kind of food to a meal but that you should keep starches, fruits, and vegetables separate from meats, fish, and fowl at your meals.

"It is permissible to make a meal of just meat. In fact, you could have several kinds of meats to a meal. You can have butter, eggs, and cheese with the meat meal, and dark bread, and, if you wish, coffee, or tea, but you must not end up with anything sweet or starchy. No pies or cakes or puddings.

"Then again, your meal can be strictly starches. Then you can indulge in all the sweet fruits, all the bread, butter, pies, cakes, puddings, and fresh or cooked vegetables you like without feeling any ill effects. But keep these meals separate.

"Butter seems to be a neutral. It can be used with either a starchy meal or with a meat meal. Milk, however, agrees better with starch meals. Coffee and tea should always be taken black, never with cream, although a small amount of sweetening will do no harm."

If what you just read was interesting to you, you'd enjoy reading and learning from Supercharge Your Energy with Five Secret Tibetan Rejuvenation Rites, which can be found at http://fivetibetanrites.com

Chet "Monks Diet" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

How to Unwind

When you find yourself getting all wound up and hot and bothered about one thing or another in the hectic life most of us live these days, try this simple technique to unwind and chill back down.

First, if possible, go outside.

Once outside (and this can be done inside in a stairwell or hallway if you can't go outside), look at your watch and start walking, slowly at first.

Increase your pace until you're moving at full stride.

Continue to walk, covering as much ground as possible for two minutes.

At that point, turn around and stride back to where you started.

As you return to where you started, listen to the sounds around you.

Put your eyes to work and look carefully at every detail. Focus and see.

Become aware of the moment.

As your visual and auditory awareness sharpens, let your stride naturally slow down, almost as if gliding back to where you began.

When you arrive at your starting place, come to a complete stop for a minute and just stand there.

Consciously relax your muscles.

Gently arch your back and glance up at the sky while taking a long, slow, deep breath. Slowly exhale while returning to an upright posture.

Repeat the deep breath and back bend twice more.

You're not wound up anymore, are you?

Now you now how to unwind better than most people living hectic lives on this crazy planet.

Chet "Unwound" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Soothing Cucumber Peel

Hey, the next time you're in the kitchen peeling cucumber, I have something for you to try.

If you're like me, you generally peel your cucumbers and then toss the skins in the bin for the compost heap or the garbage pick-up.

Well, next time, before you throw the peelings away, stop for a minute or two and run the inner sides of the peel over your face, hands, and arms for a soothing, refreshing, and very inexpensive skin treatment.

They'd charge you $78 or more in a European spa for a similar but most likely less natural skin softening procedure.

No baloney.

And a Hollywood star or Washington politician would pay even more because the spas these monied individuals frequent double or triple the prices of the European spas here in rural North Carolina.

And, yes, that was a joke.

There are no European spas in rural North Carolina.

Chet "Keep Peeling" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Fresh or Frozen Veggies

I recently had a good letter from a 21 Days to Health & Beyond participant asking me if canned or frozen vegetables were okay to eat while on the program.

That's a good question, as well as an easy one to answer.

First, fresh organic vegetables are always the best choice.

Second best would be frozen vegetables without any additives like sugar, salt, or preservatives.

Canned vegetables would be better than no vegetables in some cases, but be very careful with canned vegetables because many of them are loaded with additives.

Bottomline: Go with fresh organic whenever possible and as a second choice read all labels carefully and make your best decisions from there.

Oh, one more thing. Although you want to eat plenty of uncooked vegetables for superior health, it's also important to have some steamed veggies.

Interestingly enough, some nutrients in vegetables aren't as readily available raw as they are when cooked.

As usual, the key concept is to listen to your body and to strive for balance rather than extremes.

Chet "Likes His Veggies Fresh" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Healthy Bones Smoothie

Let's start 2008 off with a natural method for building healthy bones without resorting to expensive and side-effect ridden drugs or questionable calcium supplements.

The healthy bones smoothie recipe that follows was designed by Dr. Ben Kim, whose commitment to natural health is beyond compare.

Dr. Kim's Healthy Bones Smoothie

Large handful romaine lettuce (torn into pieces)
1 raw, organic egg
1 Tbs super green food powder
1 ripe banana
1 orange
1-2 tsp acerola cherry powder
1 Tbs cod liver oil
Water

Blend all ingredients together in a strong blender. Add water slowly until desired consistency is reached.

Notes: If you don't use a super green food powder, include an extra handful of romaine lettuce.

Thanks to Dr. Kim for permission to reprint his recipe. You should visit his fantastic natural health site by clicking here because Dr. Kim's site has one of the best collections of natural health articles and recipes on the entire Internet.

Oh, one more thing... this smoothie for healthy bones also tastes great!

Who could ask for more this cold winter day in January of 2008?

Chet "Healthy Bones" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Quick Energy

It's the holiday season as I write this entry and, as usual this time of year, most people are looking for some kind of quick energy boost because they're worn out from dashing around like crazed chipmunks trying to get ready for Christmas.

Well, I have a quick energy tip for you today that's a whole lot healthier than caffeine, energy drinks, or prescription drugs!

I learned this natural health energy booster secret several years ago from Carol, a reader of my daily health tip newsletter. Here's Carol's letter from February of 2005:

Spinach Power for Quick Energy

Hi there Chet!

I e-mailed you about this once before, but after reading the recent newsletter about the lady who boosted her energy by eating baby spinach leaves, I thought I would mention it again.

You wrote about how good the baby spinach leaves are, and I agree.

However, I don't think that they taste all that terrific plain, so I put them in a blender with unsalted V-8 Juice, and... WOW... talk about a healthy pick-me-up. This stuff is dynamite!

Sure beats the "cup o' joe" or "liquid candy" cola!

Over the years I've had a lot of readers write in about the quick energy boosts they get from eating baby spinach leaves or from blending them in various concoctions like the one Carol has shared with us.

If you're looking for an energy jolt that's both natural and healthy, give spinach a try!

Chet "Quick Energy" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Healthy Fudge Recipe

It's the holiday time of year and if you're like most people, you're thinking about fudge.

Isn't it a shame that most fudge recipes are so sugar-laden and unhealthy? I mean, seriously, it's an insult to life that fudge isn't good for us!

Well, today I want to share a recipe I found on Dr. Ben Kim's amazing natural health site for a truly healthy fudge that you can eat without guilt and without adding a lot of extra pounds to the old waist line.

Easy Healthy Fudge Recipe

By Margaret Chuong-Kim

This easy and delicious fudge recipe calls for protein-rich almond butter and antioxidant-rich raw chocolate powder, making it a decadent treat that is much healthier than conventional store-bought fudge.

Although this fudge is made with all-natural ingredients, it is best to eat only one or two small pieces at a time, as eating honey-rich foods can stress one's blood sugar-regulating mechanisms.

Ingredients:

2 cups almond butter
1/4 cup raw cocoa powder, sifted to remove any lumps
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons liquid honey
1 heaping tablespoon coconut oil, melted (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until well incorporated.

Spoon the mixture into a pan and flatten with the back of a spoon. Place in the freezer for an hour or so, then take it out to cut into bite-size squares or rectangles. Transfer the pieces onto a plate. Keep these covered and stored in the freezer.

An alternative is to spoon the mixture into candy molds; pop them out when they are thoroughly frozen. They have a chewy texture when frozen.

These must be kept in the freezer, otherwise they will become soft and mushy, to the consistency they were at before freezing. So if you take them out to eat, eat them quickly! Also keep this in mind when cutting the fudge; work quickly.

Adapted from a recipe found in: Raw Food/Real World: 100 Recipes to Get the Glow

Thanks to Margaret Chuong-Kim for permission to share this great recipe.

If you have a healthy fudge recipe you'd like to share, click on the "comment" link below and plug it in!

Chet "Fudge Lover" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Apple Peanut Butter Cookies

As I write this entry, we're less than a week away from Thanksgiving, so today I thought I'd share a relatively healthy cookie recipe that's generated a lot of positive comments over the years.

Apple Butter-Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup apple butter, preferably without sugar
1/2 cup natural style chunky peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup nonfat powdered milk
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt, if peanut butter has no salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins

Prepare cookie sheet with oil or lecithin/oil. Preheat oven to 350F.

In a large bowl, beat apple butter, peanut butter, and vanilla. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together the powdered milk, flour, salt, cinnamon and raisins. Add dry ingredients to apple butter mixture and mix well.

Drip by teaspoon onto prepared cookie sheet. Flatten with fork dipped in ice water, making a criss-cross pattern on top.

Bake at 350F for 10 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate until well chilled because doing so will intensify the peanut flavor. Oh, good!

Serve cold. These freeze well. This recipes makes 32 cookies.

Make plenty of these cookies because they'll go fast, holiday or not!

Chet "Peanut Butter Cookies" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

P.S. If you have a healthy cookie recipe you'd like to share, click on the "Comment" link below to add it to the blog. And if you love cookies as much as I do click here to sign up for my weekly amazing cookie recipe newsletter.

Red Bean Burgers

How about a recipe with a bit of a kick to it today?

Oh, I thought you'd go for that.

Keep reading...

Jalapeno Red Bean Burgers

1 yellow onion, chopped
1 Roma tomato, chopped
1 jalapeno chili pepper, seeded and chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp chili powder
1 16-oz can kidney beans, drained
4-6 Tbs barbecue sauce
1/3 to 2/3 cup bread crumbs

Put onion, tomato, pepper, and garlic in skillet and stir-fry until beginning to carmalize. Stir in chili powder and remove skillet from heat.

In a bowl, mash the beans. Add onion mixture and barbecue sauce, to taste. Add bread crumbs, enough so the mixture can be formed into patties that hold together.

Grill or fry in lightly greased pan.

If you have a bean burger recipe you'd like to share, click on the "comment" link below and have at it.

Chet "Bean Burger" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Office Exercises

Today I want to share a few simple exercises you can do at home or in your office.

If you work a typical 9-5 day, you can do a lot for your health with a simple 2-minute exercise routine every hour, on the hour -- lunch excepted!

So, try this. Before you start your daily grind at your job, do two minutes of exercise, and then repeat every hour until lunch. Ditto for every hour after lunch.

Here are some simple exercises to include in your routine:

• go up and down a staircase for two minutes, if one is available
• drop to the floor and do pushups and variations for two minutes
• try 120 seconds worth of forward, reverse, or walking lunges
• do a minute or two of bodyweight squats
  

The above list is hardly comprehensive, but it will get you started.

If you want to learn more on this topic, check out our collection of abdominal exercise articles.

Chet "I Like Bodyweight Squats" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Super Learning Technique

Here's an interesting and powerful self-hypnosis technique you can use for the most fabulous study or reading sessions you've ever had.

First, sit in your most comfortable chair with the book or material you want to learn in your lap. If you need a light to read with, make sure it's turned on before continuing with this technique.

Wiggle around until you're comfortable and relaxed. Take a long, slow, deep breath and hold it for a second. Exhale gently and visualize your muscles relaxing throughout your body as you slowly release the air.

Repeat this deep breathing until you feel totally relaxed and at peace.

Now, here's the fun part.

Visualize a stairway leading into a basement.

It's a long stairway with 103 steps.

Visualize yourself walking down each stair. You can mentally count off each step, if you want, though that's not necessary as long as you visually see yourself going down each step.

When you reach the bottom, you find a beautiful wooden door with elaborate carvings etched into it.

You pause at the door for a moment to admire the carvings.

Then you turn your attention to the doorknob, which is made of beautiful brass. It feels cool in your hand as you turn the knob.

You open the door and walk into a beautiful study, a room lined with books, books, and more books.

This study is so lined with books, it's utterly sound-proof... a perfect place to read and think deeply.

You close the door. As you do so, a deep and peaceful silence falls over you, an atmosphere utterly conducive to reading and thinking.

In the center of the study, there's a reclining chair.

You sit down in the chair, adjust it to your favorite comfortable position, and open an imaginary book that's resting on the mahogany table right next to the recliner.

Now, while still visualizing yourself in your deep basement study, open your eyes and start reading the real book you have in your lap.

When you finish with your work, close your book and close your eyes and repeat the deep breathing exercise.

Now, visualize yourself getting out of the recliner, opening the door, and slowly walking back up the stairs.

Once at the top of the stairs, open your eyes once again, stretch as you take a few deep breaths, and then resume your normal waking consciousness.

Done properly, this technique results in a depth of concentration and degree of retention that you'll find hard to believe, at first.

Keep in mind, too, that you can use variations of this technique for writing and memorizing, as well as reading.

Chet "Super Learning" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com/blog

Memory Improvement Liquids

Today I'd like to share with you four liquids you can use on a regular basis to help improve your memory.

I've lifted the information you're about to read about these memory boosters from Karen Railey's comprehensive special report Memory Decline and Nutrition.

The first magic liquid for memory improvement isn't a surprise.

It's water.

And you should drink pure filtered water to avoid heavy metals and toxins such as chlorine that may remain in tap water. According to one memory researcher, lack of water in the body has an immediate and deep effect on memory; dehydration can generate confusion and other thought difficulties.

A good guideline is to drink about 48 ounces of water per day. For optimum benefit, add electrolytes, fresh lemon juice, or raw organic apple cider vinegar to your drinking water.

The consumption of distilled water should be avoided unless electrolytes are added to it. Plain distilled water is dead. Having no minerals of its own, it may draw precious minerals out of the body. This can be extremely detrimental, particularly for those who already have low mineral reserves or mineral imbalances.

Fresh vegetable juices contain a myriad of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids as well as enzymes. Because they are juices, containing no fiber, they are easily assimilated and go to work in the body via the blood stream in a matter of minutes. Juices are very cleansing and aid the body in expelling unwanted toxins.

Fresh vegetable juices can be healing and are good liver builders and cleansers. Carrot, beet, cucumber, and greens make a good combination. Carrot juice mixes well with many other vegetable juices. It is best to take some oil, flax or fish, along with vegetable juices. Beta-carotene cannot be converted to vitamin A in the body without the presence of fat.

Fruit juices are not recommended for daily, consistent use as they contain extremely high amounts of sugar.

Vegetable juices also contain natural sugars and in some cases, people with candida or blood sugar imbalances cannot tolerate consuming large amounts. Take care not to overdo juice consumption.

Recommended Servings of Vegetable Juices:

One or two 4-ounce glasses of fresh juice every day for about a month. After that every other day or so should be sufficient.

Green Tea is a powerful antioxidant containing polyphenols such as catechins and quercetin, which can increase antioxidant activity in the blood by as much as fifty percent within a half-hour of drinking the tea. Green tea also assists the liver by improving the efficiency of its enzyme detoxification system. This is important for excreting toxins before they damage cells.

Green tea is also rich in flavonoids and is relatively low in caffeine. If not over consumed caffeine can be beneficial for cognitive function; however, no more than 100 mg of caffeine should be consumed in one day. (Khalsa, 1997:266) Green tea typically contains 20-45 mg of caffeine per cup.

Decaffeinated green tea is also available and a decaffeinated concentrate, Herbagreen Tea, is available from HerbaSway laboratories (available in health food stores). This eliminates the tea bags and also the concern about the substances used to bleach them.

Ginger Tea: Ginger has been used in China for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. The herb contains antioxidant properties, aids the digestive process, supports the cardiovascular system, and inhibits the inflammatory process.

Ginger is available in a tea, named Rubus-Ginger Tea, also from HerbaSway (available in health food stores). This tea contains ginger, green tea, and blackberry. The blackberry in this tea adds the benefit of nourishment for the liver and kidneys and is anti-inflammatory as well.

In closing, if you're having memory problems, Karen Railey's information-packed, 78-page special report Memory Decline and Nutrition provides a multitude of natural solutions. Click here to learn about her report.

Chet "Memory Improvement" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com

Panic Attack Tips

Panic attacks are no fun. Anyone who's ever had one will testify to that.

Prescription drugs as a solution to panic attacks aren't any fun, either. Those who have suffered the various side effects will testify to that.

Happily, there are many natural alternatives you can put to use when a panic attack strikes. I want to share three of them with you today.

The first technique?

Use your nose and sniff something that reminds you of when you were a kid. Baby powder works well for many people because its smell evokes happy memories of childhood. This kind of aroma therapy works because bringing back happy memories results in relaxation where fear has less power. Other suggestions for relaxing smells include cookies right out of the oven, freshly cut flowers, and various essential oils.

Second, when a panic attack strikes, consciously slow down your breathing. Here's an easy technique to do just that:

Take a deep breath. Hold for a second. Exhale slowly and start to focus inwardly. Repeat several more times until you feel yourself relaxing.

When you're quiet and still, stay that way, with no thoughts of anything other than breathing in and breathing out.

Just be like the space between your breaths: silent, still, and blissful.

Finally, if you suffer panic attacks, stop consuming coffee and other liquids and foods that contain caffeine -- tea, chocolate, colas, energy drinks, and all the other so-called "power boosters" on the market today. If you want extra energy, eat less and exercise more.

The techniques you just learned about will dramatically ease panic attacks IF you put them to use.

If you have a panic attack tip you'd like to share, click on the "comment" link below and start typing! :)

Chet "No Panic Attacks" Day
Editor, The Natural Health Circus
http://chetday.com