Tag: Lifestyle

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Stress – Friend or Enemy ?

Physiological and/or biological stress is an organism’s response to a stressful event during which the body’s sympathetic nervous system is engaged resulting in fight-or-flight response. Much like in the rest of nature, most biochemical processes of the human body are designed to converge towards and maintain a steady state called homeostasis, often simply referred to as equilibrium. Despite a persistent desire of the body to achieve this state, stressors such as environmental factors and internal as well as external stimuli continually disrupt the homeostasis, introducing deviations and oscillations to the body’s functions.

Stressful events have historically posed a direct threat to one’s survival and were short-term in their nature, while majority of present day stressful events do not pose direct threat to survival, tend to be long-term in nature and are a result of the modern human society and lifestyle.

Examples of common stressors:
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  • Physical Stressors: lack of sleep, poor diet, excess caffeine, illness, chronic pain, bacteria or parasites
  • Job Stressors: commuting, time pressures, job insecurity, excessive working hours, workaholism
  • Family Stressors: caring for a chronically ill relative, relationship difficulties, arguments with children
  • Social Stressors: fear of crime, living in an urban area, poverty, low social support
  • Environmental Stressors: pollution of the environment (air, water, etc.)

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While the body is able to deal with short-term stress successfully, long-term daily stress exposure will lead to chronic imbalances and problems. Body’s shift to persistent fight-or-flight response leads to permanently activated state, with the parasympathetic system turning off, leading to substantial physical and chemical consequences. Such conditions often result in adrenal exhaustion, subsequently leading to symptoms such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and/or weight gain (due to high cortisol levels). The severity of the condition is often compounded by bad dietary habits like consumption of coffee, caffeinated/energy drinks, soft drinks, sugar, artificial sweeteners as well as highly processed foods.

So how can stress be managed? Wake up with a smile, formulate realistic daily schedules and respect them as much as possible, take breaks, smile, have a laugh, allow time for enough sleep, relax, replace junk food with whole foods, fresh vegetables and fruits, take a walk outside, increase physical activity, exercise, go on vacation, meditate, visit a spa or yoga studio, get a massage or try acupuncture and biofeedback.

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Acne & Other Skin Problems

Being part of the integumentary system, skin is the largest organ of the human body and accounts for approximately 15% of the body’s weight. The skin is involved in multitude of functions, including detoxification, temperature regulation as well as protection and isolation from the external environment. Skin is also actively involved in the body’s natural vitamin D production process, which is an important element of our immunity and plays a significant role in numerous chemical processes within the body. The built-in sensory receptors of the skin in conjunction with automated responses make up a mechanism for balancing the body’s state with respect to the surrounding environment. For example, sweat is induced upon consumption of hot meal or exposure to external heat in effort to cool body’s core temperature. In addition, skin plays a critical role in detoxification and the skin’s surface condition serves as a very good indicator of body’s internal environment and general health. Conditions such as acne, dryness, sensitivity, blemishes, eczema, rashes, burns, dandruff, psoriasis and allergies might be an indication of deeper rooted problem(s) within the body. Skin is a sensitive organ and there are many factors that affect its performance, such as internal/external hydration, sun exposure, smoking, sugar, coffee & other stimulants, clothing, stress, birth control pills, toxins from variety of personal care products (parabens-preservatives, sodium laurel sulphate-foaming agent, etc.), free radicals and more.

Acne in particular poses a serious issue today, having become an epidemic affecting nearly 85% of the population in western countries. What has once been a condition generally experienced by individuals in their teenage years, is now affecting people of all age groups. According to research, there are multiple causes that might be behind the acne problems including over-activated TOR C-1 enzyme, inflammation hormonal imbalance, excessive sugar, carbohydrate and alcohol intake, stress and cortisol imbalance, body pH imbalance (acidity), smoking, impaired digestion, assimilation and elimination, gut dysbiosis and candida overgrowth.

Other troublesome skin problems include eczemas, rashes, dandruff and psoriasis. Eczemas and rashes are often experienced by individuals across all age categories, ranging from early childhood to late years. These problems are generally linked to allergies, intolerances and sensitivities that can be very subtle and therefore more difficult to detect. Dandruff might be linked to problems with skin oil production, sensitivity to hair care products or yeasts like fungus. Psoriasis on the other hand does not have a known cause, however hypotheses link it to autoimmune problems and genetic inheritance. Despite not having a known cause, psoriasis conditions often tend to worsen under stress exposure.

Although every case of a person with particular skin problems needs to be assessed and resolved individually, the general guidelines to improving any one’s skin conditions include paying close attention to lifestyle, elimination of processed foods, simple sugars, milk/dairy, coffee & other stimulants along with elimination of stress in daily life. Whole foods rich in fiber and lean meat, salads, stews, soups, vegetables and fresh fruit should be added to the diet.

We are all meant to have a beautiful skin and not suffer from skin problems which often lead to impaired self-confidence as well as separation from society causing myriads of stress to the individual.

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Who Is In For a Makeover

MAKEOVER – MAKEOVER – MAKEOVER

Hello Everyone!

Are YOU TIRED of BEING TIRED?

Would you like to BECOME a completely NEW PERSON?

If yes, you are ready for a MAKEOVER!

We are starting our new MAKEOVER program starting in September 20, 2013!

 

For more information about the program, schedule and pricing contact us at: info@thebiosphere.ca

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Diet And Season

With upcoming summer we are to experience a change to the diet. Switching in between cold and warm weather can be sometimes tricky for our body that needs some time to adjust. When we are thinking about the diet suitable for summer we might also think about the law of opposites and it’s application. Typically when there is hot outside we are inclined to eat diet rich in fruits and vegetables with as little cooking as possible. This diet typically includes plenty of raw vegetables, fruits, salads, dips, cold soups, fruit and vegetable juices. During summer months the meal preparation time also shortens. With little meal preparation time we preserve and deliver rich nutrient in the most natural state of being to the body.  Fresh fruits and vegetables including cherries, apricots, nectarines, melons, grapes, various berries, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, variety of lettuce and greens, deliver abundance of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes and water rich in electrolytes that cools down the body and helps to adjust to summer heat.  For a summer breakfast  you can try to make a quick fruit salad mixing strawberries, blueberries and peaches and top them with a little lemon juice and maple sirup. For a quick summer lunch a quinoa salad with peppers, tomatoes, sesame seeds, lemon juice and cilantro makes a refreshing addition to a side of beans.  And what is better than to enjoy a warm summer night on a patio or terase with friends and family over a light gaspacho soup followed by a steamed fish with fresh salad and tiramisu.

 

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Being Healthy Means To Be Balanced

To get into better shape we need to be  motivated and energized. I do not mind to share some of the ‘recipes’  on how to:
– We always need to keep in mind that each of us is different by genetic construction with individual food sensitivities, metabolic rate, life style, etc.
Based on this facts, our diet can be different and vary from time to time.

– In our body are constantly running biochemical processes with goal to maintain homeostasis of our body and mind.
– Not only what to eat, but how to eat seems to have certain importance.
– There are three macronutrients (energy nutrients): carbohydrates, fat and proteins and three micronutrients: vitamins, minerals and water that need to be supplied in proper rate into the body and kept in balance.
– Try to avoid consuming of the following stimulants (not nutrients):
Coffee, tea, milk chocolate, white sugar, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, salt and Tabaco
– If the goal is weight loss, separation of carbs and proteins perhaps can be helpful speeding up digestion and make it more efficient. The animal protein is heavier and it takes longer time to digest compare to vegetable protein. Proper food combination produces less toxins giving more opportunities for body to absorb nutrients, improve cell waste and better maintain homeostasis.
– Moderate consumption of the fresh fruits one hour before the main meal seems to be good option.
– Do not eat in the late evening hours
– Read a book before you get a sleep
– Keep good regular sex life
– Do not sleep in near to electrical equipment and electronic devices that are turned ‘ON’
– Exercise at least one hour, three times per week (keep emphasis to endurance and flexibility)
– Exercise your mental and motoric skills
– Avoid stereotypical life style
– Reduce stress
– Detoxify your body and mind
– Keep positive thinking
– Keep in mind: being healthy, means to be balanced

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Cravings, law of opposites and balance

I had an interesting discussion with my friends about a law of opposites and how is it connected to our daily life. Have you thought how what you eat determines your health, your well-being and the quality of your life? About quantity and quality or a lot and a little? Have you thought about the law of opposites? Let’s say, you had a pizza with coke. How did you feel? More likely good. Diet high in salt forces one to eat food high in sugar and vice versa. I often hear people to say: “I’m not sick but I feel somehow off balance” A feeling that is vague but describes what majority of us experience. In order to understand this we need to remind to ourselves the basics. Day alternates with night, sun with rain, heat with cold, joy with sadness, noise with stillness, ……. According to the natural law everything moves as a pendulum between the opposites from one extreme to another without one or the other being better or worse. In chinese philosophy these opposites were categorized into two groups: “yin” and “yang”. For some this might be a little confusing, however when we look at life, we can see how everything comes through various stages of development from buildup and breakdown, expansion and contraction. These opposite characteristics are also recognizable in food. Food can heat or cool, acidify or alkalize …. and our body always responds. When “off balace” a feeling that we recognize as a cravings comes giving us signal that we need to deal with an extreme condition and we do one way or the other. It is important to listen to body to keep the balance. When in balance, we do not feel awkward or off, we just simply feel right.

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Food, Diet, Lifestyle & Aging

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How to be healthy and be able to maintain youth to live long active life? Question, that has been triggering studies involving many scientists all over the world.

There have been many studies proving that a human life is not limited to 60-70-80 or 90 years.

Generally all studies indicate that main triggers of the body deterioration & aging are stress and lifestyle related issues. Consequently if the human being is able to reduce stress and maintain healthy lifestyle including healthy diet the life expectancy increases.

People of various cultures around the world follow very specific lifestyle and diet adjustments to maintain health, provide for healthy, fulfilling lifestyle and delayed aging.

It has been discovered that diet rich in natural food close to the food source, almost non existent food processing providing for food low in artificial sugars and fats together with regular physical activities have positive effects on aging process.

There have been studies done on various food articles that claim to be better than others to slow down the aging process. The food articles were divided into four groups:

  1. Berries – rich sources of vitamin C and antioxidants
  2. Onions and Garlic – with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties
  3. Green Leafy Vegetables – with anti-inflammatory properties full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and rich source of chlorophyll (plant blood)
  4. Nuts and Seeds –  rich sources of good fats and vitamins and minerals