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3-D Living Newsletter - April, 2009 Issue
April 1, 2009
Welcome to the April issue of the 3-D Living Newsletter!
Be sure to visit the website at
http://www.threedimensionalvitality.com. You can now sign up for email alerts whenever I have posted a new article on ezine articles. Click on the Articles tab to do so. Also, visit the new page, A Sincere Invitation, and feel free to share it.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: I've been invited to be a speaker at an upcoming Christian web conference scheduled for June. The conference is available online for free and you can even access last year's at http://www.hem-of-his-garment-bible-study.org/Christian-Seminar.html. I will be speaking on Living a 3-D life. It will take place in June and you won't want to miss it! Stay tuned for specific times, dates and other details in next month's newsletter!
In this issue:
Ann's article: "Health or Wholeness - Is There a Difference?" Part 2. Ann continues from last month and focuses on the importance of a healthy soul and body;
Guest article: "End of Winter, Beginning of Spring: Extreme Self-Care Tips" by Dr. Annette Colby;
Nutrition Nugget: Fiber
Supplement Spotlight: B Vitamins
Featured Products: Herbal Fiber Cleanse and Daily Fiber Blend
Word to the Wise: Proverbs 11:24
"Health or Wholeness – Is There a Difference?" Part Two
There are many ways to develop a strong and healthy soul, which includes mind, will and emotions. Being aware of your self-talk, the constant stream of thoughts that go through your mind, is a great beginning. You may be surprised to realize how negative, fearful, anxious or angry those thoughts are. Even if you are unaware of them, they are deeply affecting you. You can try a mental fast. It’s similar to fasting from food for a specific period of time. You simply make it a point to become aware of your thoughts. Any thought that is negative (fearful, anxious, envious), you stop and replace with a positive thought. It is simple, but not necessarily easy. It takes commitment and effort, but it is well worth it.
A simple way to begin to build up your will is to exercise control over your appetites. That includes shopping, spending money, gambling, procrastinating, complaining - any habit you feel is counterproductive to the life you truly desire. Cravings usually only last about 5 minutes and you can certainly control your impulses for that long until they pass. Distraction is a great tool to use for that. Follow through consistently (21 days is the usual time it takes) and you develop a new habit and strengthen your will at the same time. Any time you make a commitment (especially to yourself!) and keep your word, you are exercising your will.
Emotions are trickier since they are colored by your past experiences, perceptions and expectations. You must acknowledge any emotion you want to change. Let’s use fear. Stop and acknowledge that you are afraid and name what is causing that emotion. Look at it clearly and logically. Most fears are “false evidence appearing real.” Deconstruct it and see if it doesn’t shrink away.
Last is your physical body. I’ve heard it referred to as your “earth suit.” That strikes me as a perfect description. In order to live and operate on planet earth, you must have a living, physical body. The stronger and healthier you keep this vessel you’ve been given, the more easily you will fulfill your goals and dreams on this earth. The four areas that contribute to a truly healthy body are cleansing or detoxifying, nourishing with natural, whole foods and supplements, getting adequate rest, sleep and relaxation and, of course, exercising regularly.
Each part complements and affects each of the other areas. If any one area is unbalanced or unhealthy, the other two areas will be affected. Think of a tripod holding up a camera. If one of the legs is damaged or missing, it will fall over. The same is true of us. If one area of our being is damaged or totally undeveloped, we will experience problems in the other two areas.
In John 10:10 Jesus Himself tells us what kind of life He came to make available to us. Depending on the translation you use, it is referred to as abundant, overflowing or life in all its fullness. I don’t know about you, but that is what I want. By paying attention to each aspect of your being and consciously developing it, you will begin to experience that vibrant, abundant life you were meant to live.
Please read this excellent article by Dr. Annette Colby:
“End of Winter, Beginning of Spring: Extreme Self-Care Tips”
Has your self-care taken a back seat this winter? Spring is in the air and it’s time to revamp your mind, body and spirit routine. Here are a few extremely powerful ways to say goodbye to the long cold days of winter and bring the warm sunshine and blue skies back into your life.
Eat Well
Winter’s all about keeping warm and enjoying comfort food with hearty soups and stews, chicken and dumplings, and macaroni and cheese. Now that the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming, you’ll feel better and more alive when you replace foods with little or no nutritional value with food and snacks that are rich in nutrients. There’s nothing like the bright, colorful, and crisp produce of spring. Enjoy the weather, be green, and head out to your local farmer’s market, or start your own vegetable garden. Early spring goodies include kumquats, leeks, spinach, spring onions, salad greens, oranges, and grapefruit.
Take Care of Your Feet
Springtime means trees bloom, flowers bud, and women – liberated from socks and shoes – get footloose and fancy-free in open-toed sandals and backless heels. Whether you’re a man or woman, if your feet are neglected and dry from a long spell of cold winter weather, it’s time to pamper your tootsies. Treat your feet to the spa for a footbath and a pedicure. Tender loving foot care is not only reasonably affordable, but you’ll love how absolutely good you feel when your feet are pampered.
Spring Physical Activity
Perhaps more than any other season, spring brings with it a desire to get outside into the beautiful warmer weather. If you’re used to going to the gym, shake things up by exchanging that indoor treadmill for vigorous walks around the park. And if you’ve been sedentary this winter due to months of frigid temperatures, now’s the time to get outside and get healthy. Really, it feels good to get up out of the chair and move your body. Walk, bicycle, golf, or play tennis. Choose activities that are enjoyable rather than a chore.
Do What Matters Most
In life there are always a thousand and one things to do each day. Exhausted and sleep-deprived from non-stop activity, many people barely have enough time in the day to do everything on their never-ending to-do lists. Now that spring is in the air, slow down and do what really matters. Look beyond the obvious and focus on what matters most to YOU right now. Choose to live a life that matters by directing your energy into personally valued activities. At the end of each day, you will feel the satisfaction and peace of a day well-lived.
January may be a time for New Year’s resolutions, but spring is when new energy fills your body, lifts your spirit, and inspiration flows. Take advantage of the higher motivation that spring offers and use it to your benefit. I challenge you to generate a plan for nurturing your physical, mental, and physical self. Relax into life, live your values, and share the joy that you are into the world.
(c) 2008 Dr. Annette Colby, RD
About The Author
Dr. Annette Colby, RD can help you take the pain out of life, turn difficult emotions into joy, release stress, end emotional eating, and move beyond depression into an extraordinary life! Annette is the author of Your Highest Potential and has the unique ability to show you how to spark an amazing relationship with your life! Visit www.AnnetteColby.com to access hundreds of content filled articles and sign up for a Free subscription to Loving Miracles newsletter.
Nutrition Nugget: Fiber
Fiber is a specific type of carbohydrate that is critical for digestive health. There are two kinds of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Neither is digested or absorbed, and they each provide a different health benefit. Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids and forms a type of gel, slowing digestion and regulating the release and absorption of sugar. Insoluble fiber absorbs water, passing through your body intact, adding bulk to your stool, promoting regularity and sweeping toxins like a broom.
Fiber is present in all plant foods to some degree. Most high fiber foods contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, so rather than worry about which foods contain which type of fiber, simply build your diet around fresh, unprocessed, whole foods, focusing on fruits, vegetables (including edible skins), whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes.
Fiber not only keeps you regular, it lowers blood sugar, cholesterol and systolic blood pressure; increases satiety – because it takes longer to digest, you feel full longer; sweeps toxins out of your body; lowers the glycemic load of a meal – slows the rate at which carbohydrates are absorbed and makes your body work harder to digest your meal. Fiber is a dieter’s best friend! Recent research shows that for each 10 grams of fiber ingested daily, risk of death from heart disease drops 17% and death from any cause is reduced by 9%.
It is recommended that you aim for 25-30 grams of fiber daily. Begin adding fiber to your diet gradually, being careful to also drink adequate water. This is particularly important when you use a fiber supplement, otherwise rather than helping promote regular bowel movements, it could cause constipation.
Supplement Spotlight: B Vitamins
B Vitamins are water-soluble, essential vitamins. Water-soluble means that they are not stored in fat cells. B-complex vitamins are energy nutrients which activate specific enzymes. The B vitamins work as a team, each one enhancing the function of the others. This is why it is best to eat whole foods high in B vitamins and supplement with whole food B-complex that contains all the B vitamins. Since they all work together, a deficiency in one can often indicate a deficiency in another.
B vitamins maintain the health of your skin, eyes, hair, nerves and liver. They act as co-enzymes. That means they help enzymes react chemically with other substances in order to produce energy. The eleven B vitamins include B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin, Nicotinic Acid and Niacinamide), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pyridoxine), B12 (Cyanocobalamin), Biotin, Choline, Folate, Inositol and Para-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA).
B vitamins are also helpful in alleviating depression and anxiety. Taken together with a whole food form of vitamin C, they help with stress management – creating a natural tranquilizer! Most whole grains are rich in B vitamins as are eggs, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, meat, poultry and legumes.
Featured Products: Herbal Fiber Cleanse
Springtime is the perfect time to detoxify your digestive system. Despite your best efforts, stress, dehydration, travel and poor diet all contribute to an unbalanced digestion. While there are many cleanses out there, Herbal Fiber Cleanse contains natural herbs and fibers which all work together gently, without causing gas, bloating or diarrhea, yet cleanse, detox and purify your system. Gentle enough to use periodically to maintain balance.
Daily Fiber Blend
This is the most effective, gentle, naturally-acting fiber blend on the market today. As the name implies, it's a supplement you can include daily to keep yourself regular. There are so many benefits! It includes digestive aids to reduce gas and bloating as well as Glucomannon, which helps trap excess fat and starch that would otherwise be converted into fat cells!
To order these excellent products, you may either visit http://www.phporder.com/11379 or call 1-888-747-6733. **Be sure to use this referral code (11379) and request the 20% discount when ordering. Once you place the first order in this way - all subsequent orders will automatically get the 20% discount.
Word to the Wise
Proverbs 11:24 Message Translation
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller." Especially in these days of economic upheaval and instability, we have to guard against being stingy people. When you talk about generosity, most people think immediately about money. But you can be stingy with your time, talents, expertise, love, understanding or kindness. Generosity is an attitude of the heart. Particularly now, during these difficult times, I believe it will only make the world I live in a better place if I purpose in my heart to be generous with what God has given me. What do you think?
As always, if you have any comments or questions, do not hesitate to email me at ann@threedimensionalvitality.com. I value your input.
Until next month I wish you health, joy and blessings!
Ann
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