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Why is it so hard to improve on your instrument, even though you know you’ve practiced? Unfortunately, the adage “practice makes perfect” isn’t always true. Instead, improper practice often leads to poor results, not perfect playing. Why? Many of us simply don’t know how to practice productively.

The following overview of the fundamentals of practicing will provide you with useful ways you can create your own productive practice sessions.

1) Practice Time – When is your “prime time”? If you feel freshest in the morning, early morning practice may be for you. If you feel your energy peak in the afternoon or at night, practice then. Do you tire easily when you practice? Divide your practice time into two segments instead of having one long practice session. Whatever time you do choose, be consistent and try to practice at the same time five or six days a week.

2) Location – When you practice, find a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed. Turn off the TV, put away your CD player, and turn on the answering machine.

3) Music Accessories – Before timing every nanosecond of your practice time, gather together all of the practice materials you’ll need. Music, a pencil to note difficult passages and fingerings, and a music stand are basic necessities. If you do practice sitting down (some teachers prefer that you stand while practicing), make sure you use a chair that isn’t too soft, or it will be difficult to use proper playing position.

4) Physical Needs – Before you even begin to practice, drink some water, have some fruit or a healthy snack to rev up your blood sugar level, and change into something comfortable. If you prepare yourself physically before you start to practice, you’ll find you can concentrate easily, and you won’t be quite so tempted to interrupt your practicing for kitchen or bathroom breaks. Playing a musical instrument is not a passive experience. You need physical strength and energy to practice with proper playing position. If you practice while you’re tired, you may run the risk of slipping into poor playing habits

5) Length of Practice Session – How long you practice every day is irrelevant. How much you accomplish when you practice is what counts. It’s great to follow a scheduled practice time, but if your daily practice ritual consists of playing straight through pieces over and over while you daydream, you might be better off not practicing at all. It’s easy to reinforce mistakes when you don’t concentrate while playing or when you practice without purpose or focus. Strive for quality practice, not quantity mediocre results.

6) Productive Practice Sessions – Structured practice sessions are the key to productive practicing. The following suggestions will help you progress, instead of regress, when you practice.

7) Warm-up – Each practice session should begin by limbering up and strengthening your fingers through scales, exercises, arpeggios, or trills.

Practice with Purpose – Have one or more focused goals each time you practice. At the beginning of practice sessions, ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish today? Do I want to polish a piece? Slowly learn part of a new piece, play with heightened musicality, or fix some problem spots?” As you practice, your focus may change as you continue to analyze your playing with questions such as: “Am I playing in tune? Is the rhythm correct? What parts of the piece need work?”

9) Problem-solving – One of the most effective ways to make a piece sound better is to pinpoint the difficult passages in the piece and then work on one small section at a time. Don’t reinforce mistakes by repeating them. Identify what the problem is, then determine how you will fix it. Play the notes of a problem spot very slowly, one note at a time, until you are playing with the proper rhythm, fingering, and notes. Once it sounds correct, play that small section over and over, gradually picking up speed until that segment of music is up to tempo. It’s always simpler to begin at a slow tempo and increase your speed rather than go back and correct new errors.

10) Problem spot tips – At times, it may be useful to record yourself (tape or video) to pinpoint problem spots. If you’re having difficulty with a fast passage, playing a small section first very slowly, then experimenting with rhythmic variations, often helps. For example, if the small section you’ve identified as a problem spot contains four measures of sixteenth notes, instead of playing them all at the same tempo, try: long-short-long-short-long-short-long etc. Then, reverse the sequence and play the passage: short-long-short-long-short-long-short etc. Another practice technique for fast passages is to to quickly repeat each note two, three or four times (e.g. d-d-d-d-a-a-a-a-c-c-c-c—almost as if you were playing a bowed tremolo on the same note).

11) Musicality – Are you expressing yourself through your music, or are you mechanically repeating notes from a printed page? Musicality, the ability to interpret a piece with feeling, is what distinguishes the performance of a fine musician from that of an automated, boring performer. Need ideas? First, try following printed directions such as dynamics, style of playing, and the tempo or speed at which the music should be played. You can gain additional interpretive insight by listening to recordings of the same piece played by different performers and by researching the history of the composer or the era in which the music was composed. Then, experiment! Try different phrasing or explore variations in tone production, style, and intensity. Memorizing a piece also may assist you in achieving freedom of expression. Once you know a piece so well that you are “free” from the music, you may find it easier to interpret music on your own.

12) Fun time – At the end of each practice session, it’s always fun to sit back, relax, and enjoy playing straight through the piece. The progress made during “problem spot” practicing can be reinforced, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment hearing changes you’ve made in the full context of the piece.

So let the music-making begin! You CAN make the adage “practice makes perfect” come true for you. All it takes is a little hard work and a lot of concentration. You’ll soon find just how rewarding productive practicing can be.

For MORE information on the magical world of violins visit – www.TheViolinMaster.com

James Pender
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/master-the-violin-practice-makes-perfect-or-does-it-751422.html

Why is it so hard to improve on your instrument, even though you know you’ve practiced? Unfortunately, the adage “practice makes perfect” isn’t always true. Instead, improper practice often leads to poor results, not perfect playing. Why? Many of us simply don’t know how to practice productively.

The following overview of the fundamentals of practicing will provide you with useful ways you can create your own productive practice sessions.

1) Practice Time – When is your “prime time”? If you feel freshest in the morning, early morning practice may be for you. If you feel your energy peak in the afternoon or at night, practice then. Do you tire easily when you practice? Divide your practice time into two segments instead of having one long practice session. Whatever time you do choose, be consistent and try to practice at the same time five or six days a week.

2) Location – When you practice, find a quiet room where you won’t be disturbed. Turn off the TV, put away your CD player, and turn on the answering machine.

3) Music Accessories – Before timing every nanosecond of your practice time, gather together all of the practice materials you’ll need. Music, a pencil to note difficult passages and fingerings, and a music stand are basic necessities. If you do practice sitting down (some teachers prefer that you stand while practicing), make sure you use a chair that isn’t too soft, or it will be difficult to use proper playing position.

4) Physical Needs – Before you even begin to practice, drink some water, have some fruit or a healthy snack to rev up your blood sugar level, and change into something comfortable. If you prepare yourself physically before you start to practice, you’ll find you can concentrate easily, and you won’t be quite so tempted to interrupt your practicing for kitchen or bathroom breaks. Playing a musical instrument is not a passive experience. You need physical strength and energy to practice with proper playing position. If you practice while you’re tired, you may run the risk of slipping into poor playing habits

5) Length of Practice Session – How long you practice every day is irrelevant. How much you accomplish when you practice is what counts. It’s great to follow a scheduled practice time, but if your daily practice ritual consists of playing straight through pieces over and over while you daydream, you might be better off not practicing at all. It’s easy to reinforce mistakes when you don’t concentrate while playing or when you practice without purpose or focus. Strive for quality practice, not quantity mediocre results.

6) Productive Practice Sessions – Structured practice sessions are the key to productive practicing. The following suggestions will help you progress, instead of regress, when you practice.

7) Warm-up – Each practice session should begin by limbering up and strengthening your fingers through scales, exercises, arpeggios, or trills.

Practice with Purpose – Have one or more focused goals each time you practice. At the beginning of practice sessions, ask yourself, “What do I want to accomplish today? Do I want to polish a piece? Slowly learn part of a new piece, play with heightened musicality, or fix some problem spots?” As you practice, your focus may change as you continue to analyze your playing with questions such as: “Am I playing in tune? Is the rhythm correct? What parts of the piece need work?”

9) Problem-solving – One of the most effective ways to make a piece sound better is to pinpoint the difficult passages in the piece and then work on one small section at a time. Don’t reinforce mistakes by repeating them. Identify what the problem is, then determine how you will fix it. Play the notes of a problem spot very slowly, one note at a time, until you are playing with the proper rhythm, fingering, and notes. Once it sounds correct, play that small section over and over, gradually picking up speed until that segment of music is up to tempo. It’s always simpler to begin at a slow tempo and increase your speed rather than go back and correct new errors.

10) Problem spot tips – At times, it may be useful to record yourself (tape or video) to pinpoint problem spots. If you’re having difficulty with a fast passage, playing a small section first very slowly, then experimenting with rhythmic variations, often helps. For example, if the small section you’ve identified as a problem spot contains four measures of sixteenth notes, instead of playing them all at the same tempo, try: long-short-long-short-long-short-long etc. Then, reverse the sequence and play the passage: short-long-short-long-short-long-short etc. Another practice technique for fast passages is to to quickly repeat each note two, three or four times (e.g. d-d-d-d-a-a-a-a-c-c-c-c—almost as if you were playing a bowed tremolo on the same note).

11) Musicality – Are you expressing yourself through your music, or are you mechanically repeating notes from a printed page? Musicality, the ability to interpret a piece with feeling, is what distinguishes the performance of a fine musician from that of an automated, boring performer. Need ideas? First, try following printed directions such as dynamics, style of playing, and the tempo or speed at which the music should be played. You can gain additional interpretive insight by listening to recordings of the same piece played by different performers and by researching the history of the composer or the era in which the music was composed. Then, experiment! Try different phrasing or explore variations in tone production, style, and intensity. Memorizing a piece also may assist you in achieving freedom of expression. Once you know a piece so well that you are “free” from the music, you may find it easier to interpret music on your own.

12) Fun time – At the end of each practice session, it’s always fun to sit back, relax, and enjoy playing straight through the piece. The progress made during “problem spot” practicing can be reinforced, and you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment hearing changes you’ve made in the full context of the piece.

So let the music-making begin! You CAN make the adage “practice makes perfect” come true for you. All it takes is a little hard work and a lot of concentration. You’ll soon find just how rewarding productive practicing can be.

For MORE information on the magical world of violins visit – www.TheViolinMaster.com

James Pender
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/master-the-violin-practice-makes-perfect-or-does-it-751422.html

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When you think of nutrition and eating healthy, most likely you are more concerned about the food you eat than the beverages you drink. You may think having a diet drink could not do any harm at lunch or dinner, but if you indulge too much it could add up to trouble in the long run.

But it’s a diet drink…

Perhaps you have seen on television or film a sketch where a person orders a fattening, fast food meal with a diet soda to even everything out. A diet soda has zero calories compared to as many as 300 per serving of regular soda, so you are actually doing yourself a good service, right?

Not exactly. Regular sodas are highly caloric because they contain sugar, whereas diet sodas are manufactured with artificial sweeteners – one of the most popular being aspartame. The validity of aspartame as a health risk has been debated for many years – some claim the sweetener may contribute to increasing toxicity levels and risk of various illnesses, while other dismiss such charges.

What we do know for certain is that aspartame contains phenylalanine, an essential amino acid that does occur naturally in certain dairy foods and green vegetables. On the other hand, one byproduct of aspertame is formaldehyde!

When you shop for “diet” foods it is always a good idea to check for this ingredient on the labels so you know exactly what you are eating and how much.

Too much caffeine?

Just because a diet soda is free of calories, doesn’t mean it is devoid of other questionable ingredients. For example, not all calorie-free, sugar-free sodas are caffeine free, check the labels! Did you know, for example, that there is more caffeine in one can of Diet Coke than in regular Coca-Cola? There are almost 46 milligrams of caffeine in this diet soda, and while it’s not as much as coffee (which can top 200 milligrams), the tendancy to want to drink more diet soda can contribute to a caffeine overload. You will have energy yes, but will be driven on empty calories and sweeteners instead of something nutritious. You may lose sleep, and suffer incredible headaches through caffeine withdrawal. Caffeine is highly addictive as well, and could lead you on a cycle that is difficult to break without some good will power.

Water, the best “diet” drink

A good percentage of our bodies are water, so it would make sense to constantly replenish your body with the very same substance. Imagine, if you replaced a glass a water for every soda you drink, think of all the calories you save, the less toxins in your body, and the greater improvement to your health. It’s the best diet drink there is.

Eight glasses a day…no doubt you’ve heard it from everybody – your parents, your doctor, talk show professionals. The road to wellness is actually a river of pure, clean water, and while to drink sixty-four ounces daily seems like an impossible task, it is actually one of the simplest steps you can take to starting a sound weight loss program. After all, our bodies are approximately sixty percent water, so it is only natural that we constantly replenish ourselves in order to feel good.

Kathryn Lively
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/is-diet-soda-good-for-your-diet-76284.html

What does that mean? I’ve been learning more and more about this. It sounds scary but it’s really easy to do. We touch and eat toxins that get absorbed into our bodies. The fat cells then cling onto those toxins meaning the fat stays on our bodies and it gets harder and harder to lose.

I’ve tried several different products that claim to detox your body. I’ve found one that I feel really works.

It’s Coral Calcium 02, it’s delivered in a pure ionic form, which means it is immediately bioavailable to the body. Meaning it can help with other issues we have with our bodies.

This helps absorb vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat and the supplements you take combats arthritis and heart disease, cleans the kidneys, intestines, and liver, protects our bodies from free radical cell damage from everyday life, increase muscle and joint mobility, increase your oxygen levels, control digestive problems, regulates blood sugar, manages blood pressure, neutralizes harmful acids that lead to illness also helps fighting the battle against cancer and other diseases.

Revitalize means Alkalinity equal good health. Coral Calcium 02 transforms your water into a powerful alkaline beverage, which fights against the physical stress caused by today’s fast paced lifestyles.

As your body becomes more acidic, your internal environment becomes inviting for harmful bacteria to grow and proliferate. Cleansing your body of these microforms and their toxic waste is vital to regaining a healthy balance within your system. NuCleanse will help cleanse and detoxify the whole body including the colon, blood, lymph, tissues, interstitial fluids, liver, and kidneys. Cleansing with NuCleanse will help eliminate negative microforms and excess acidity thereby getting your body’s ph in balance more quickly, purifying it from years of damaging toxic buildup.

NuCleanse is made of 20 all natural herbs. These herbs break down the foods that we eat and pass them through the body more easily without leaving toxins. NuCleanse, if taken as directed, is designed to cleanse the colon making your digestive system run more efficiently.

You should start to see results within 1 to 3 weeks. Years of toxic build up may not disappear at once. That’s why we recommend maintaining your NuCleanse regiment for at least three months to assure a more complete system purging. You may even see certain manifestations of toxic build up leaving your body.

Once toxic mucus and meat residue is out of your system, you may wish to continue using NuCleanse on a daily basis to maintain a healthy colon and to promote good digestion. According to the American Dietetic Association, an average person should consume at least 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day, but Americans only eat about 5 to 20 grams a day.

Did you know that the average person contains 5 to 25 pounds of waste buildup in their colon? This may lead to increased bacteria and toxins that contaminate our system causing common sicknesses and diseases.

Approximately 90% of all disease and discomfort is related to an unclean colon. Internal cleansing is essential for a healthy, active lifestyle, especially in this fast paced, fast food society.

Stop fighting the diet and body cleansing battle and discover how NuCleanse flushes the excess waste build up, and deadly toxins out of your body, resulting in rapid weight loss and better health.

Ionic Bentonite
NuCleanse contains ionic bentonite clay. Bentonite aids in detoxification because it contains a large and varied mineral content. Bentonite has a negative electrical attraction for positively charged particles such as toxins and harmful bacteria.

Psyllium Fiber
NuCleanse also contains psyllium husk powder, which is a great fiber source as well as a natural laxative. Psyllium contains mucilagins that are beneficial as both a laxative and anti-diarrheal. Psyllium is useful in restoring normal bowel functions and promoting healthy colon functions. The nutritional benefits of psyllium are great for cleansing the large intestines, expelling toxins from the body.

Cleansing Herbs
The herbal blend in NuCleanse (Senna Leaf, Cascara Sagrada, Burdock Root, Parsley Leaf, Alfalfa Herb, Fennel Seed, and Licorice Root) also help remove toxins and wastes from the colon.

Did you know it takes 32 glasses of alkaline water to neutralize the acid from one 12 oz soda? Each time you drink acidic soda, coffee, tea, and energy drinks your body uses its own buffers (from bone and dna) to raise the body’s alkalinity to maintain your healthy blood pH level of 7.35 to 7.45.

The Facts:
More than 1 in 5 Americans unknowingly drink tap water polluted with feces, radiation or other contaminants. Nearly 1,000 deaths each year and at least 400,000 cases of waterborne illness may be attributed to contaminated water. The New York Times June 2, 1995 Clean your water with 02.

There is an answer to easily change the affects of the world on your body. Just by adding this to our water, it helps regulate our bodies and keeps us health. By keeping us healthy we are able to fight off illnesses.

Angie Hembree
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/detoxifying-your-body-72006.html

Burn Your Fat Pants

7 sure fire ways to lose weight, drop inches, and burn your fat pants forever. Most of us have been there, broken down and bought a pair of pants that were bigger, because we got tired of squeezing into our smaller ones. I’m going to give you 7 fitness tips that will have you in your skinny jeans before you know it. Never wear fat pants again!

1. Set realistic goals: Take it slow, don’t go all out only to burn yourself out after a couple of weeks or months. Start off by making small changes to your lifestyle, and eventually you will move on to bigger changes. Write down specific short term goals and aim for them.

2. Meals: Preplan all of your meals. When you are prepared you make healthier food choices, and don’t just fly by the seat of your pats and go through whatever fast food resturant is closest.

3. Spread your meals out: try to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks everyday. This keeps your blood sugar levels even, and helps to avoid overeating. There are 3500 calories in one pound of fat, if you can burn 500 more calories then you consume everyday of the week, you will lose a pound a week.

4. Drink lots of water: drink at least four 16oz. Glasses of ice water a day, and you will burn an extra 100 calories a day. Water is a natural fat burner, and has several other health benefits, like healthier skin, improved energy, and it helps to remove toxins from the body.

5. Exercise: 30 minutes a day in some sort of continuos physical activity. Walking, running, cleaning, house cleaning, mowing the lawn, lifting weights, etc. Walking 4 days a week, and weightlifting 3 days a week works best. Resistance training helps your body to burn calories easier, the more muscle your body has the better you will burn calories.

6. Fitness Plan: Make you fitness plan easy, and non-intimidating. I see a lot of people that go over board with their fitness plans, and burn out. Make your fitness plans flexible, so that they fit into your schedule and busy life. Any exercise is good exercise as long as you are not sitting down watching television, and eating.

7. 3 Hour rule: If you are going to be very active after a meal then feel free to eat more calories, but if you are going to be sedentary then consume less calories. Always think about what you will be doing up to three hours after you eat.

Follow these 7 sure fire ways to burn your fat pants forever, and never wear then again. Remember set realistic goals, and see them through. Your body, mind and soul will thank you for it.

Written by Andy Salazar C.P.T.
Owner: Empower Fitness Training
218 N. Conyer St. Visalia, CA 93291
(559)636-3488
www.empowerfitnesstraining.com

Andy Salazar
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/burn-your-fat-pants-74963.html

Anyone over 50 can probably recall what an old person was like 30 or 40 years ago. They usually moved slowly was one characteristic. We never heard of the term anti-aging system back then either. People over 50 were old then, but not now. Most baby boomers no longer consider themselves old, which is quite credible, with life expectancy going up year after year.

The terms anti-aging systems and baby boomers are easily related to each other. I know when I think of either term I often think of the other phrase as well.

But we need our health to assure us of a quality of life, that we want, into our sixties, seventies and beyond.

Here are some really fresh tips to consider in order to age gracefully and healthfully. Call these tips for your anti-aging system. Here are some tips that will help you live a longer life. And feel good about it.

Use any of these anti-aging system tips regularly. If you do it over and over it becomes habitual. Utilizing any of these actions on a perpetual basis will benefit you in the long run. Then the anti-aging system becomes part of your life style.

1. Keep away from smoking. Hey there’s a shocker. The most important general tip. We have all heard the many reasons not to smoke and to stay away from others’ smoke. I cannot stress this anti-aging system tip enough.

2. Keep the weight down. Leanness is high on the list because fat cells have several bad effects – weight, hardening of the arteries and a propensity to concern type 2 diabetes.

3. Take supplements. Particularly alpha-lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine. These boost the energy output. One of my favorite anti-aging system tips.

4. Skip a meal each day or fast a day each week. Digesting less food appears to conquer tissue wear and tear from excess blood sugar, inflammation and free radicals. Drink plenty of water to replace the meal.

5. Get a pet. Pet owners tend to visit the skin specialist less, survive longer even after a heart episode, and suffer less from depression and high blood pressure.

6. Get medical improve for chronic pain. If you are in pain, get it seen to. Chronic pain dampens the immune system, can force depression and tends to elevate levels of the noxious stress hormone cortisol.

7. Move around. Through age, blood vessel walls tend to harden and exercise keeps blood vessels pliable. Light exercise also reduces the likelihood of diabetes, cancer, depression, dementia and even aging of the skin.

8. Downgrade arguments. Arguments and bickering increase the risk of clogged arteries. Rather than allow arguments to simmer, agree that it is OK to have differing points of view.

9. Live around plants. Having a garden or greenhouse to grow plants in is a wonderful way to decrease stress or recuperate from illness. Just being able to scan plants in a room or through windows has been proven to be beneficial to bed-ridden patients.

10. Do some weight-training. Strength training is almost as meaningful as cardio exercise to the aging body. This is because from 40 on the body can lose a quarter-pound of muscle each year which is replaced with fat. Lifting weights 3 times a week for a half-hour can easily replace that lost through natural aging.

So there you have it. Some tips on anti-aging. A system that is safe and easy to use. Using all of these tips will do wonders for you.

Feel free to pass this on to those people you care about.

Aron Wallad
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-antiaging-system-that-you-can-live-with-74154.html

For some people, the phrase healthful diet is enough to send their mood tumbling. “Guess I’ll have to give up everything I enjoy, like chocolate and hamburgers and french fries,” sighed one patient. “That’s enough to make me even more depressed!” But healthful need not be equated with unappetizing or boring. Different, perhaps, and for some people a change to a more healthful diet requires big adjustments — in the foods they buy, where they eat out, and how they prepare their choices. The rewards, however, are many, including improved mood, more energy, enhanced immune system, better concentration, and invigorated sex drive, to name but a few.

I’ve found that laying down a few basic but critical guidelines for a healthful diet, and then tweaking them for individual patients, works much better than expecting people to follow a complicated program that involves counting grams of carbohydrates or protein, weighing foods, referring to charts, or combining certain items in complicated ratios. That being said, here are my lists of “Positive Foods” and “Foods to Avoid.”

Positive Foods

Sweets. In moderation, natural sugars such as rice syrup, date sugar, pure Vermont syrup, unsulfured blackstrap molasses, and unfiltered honey are all acceptable. An herbal sweetener — that has nearly no calories — is stevia, which can be found in health food stores and increasingly in mainstream grocery stores.

Fats. Some fats are healthy and instrumental in maintaining mental health, especially omega-3 fatty acids. When you choose oil for cooking, your best choice is probably cold-pressed olive oil. Butter and other saturated fats (like coconut oil, but not margarine that contains transfatty acids) may be used in moderate amounts. I suggest you avoid fried foods (especially deep-fried).

Whole fruits and vegetables. Whenever possible, choose fresh, organic fruits and vegetables and eat at least five to seven servings daily. To derive the most benefit from these rich sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates, eat them in as pure a state as possible, preferably raw or lightly steamed. (Sorry, deep-fried potatoes and onion rings don’t count as servings of whole vegetables.) Fruit and vegetable juices are good as well, and if you have a juicer, please learn how to make your own fresh juices, remembering to drink the pulp as well!

Whole grains and cereals. Whole grains and cereals (organic if possible) are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates. These foods include whole grains, brown rice, and unprocessed cereals. Complex carbohydrates break down gradually and provide a more steady supply of glucose — brain fuel — thus helping maintain an even or calmer mood. Simple carbohydrates, however, such as those found in sugary foods or those made with white flour, metabolize rapidly, contributing to and causing mood swings and energy highs and lows. Also, be aware that some grains and even other whole-food starches may be problematic for some people.

Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Choose organic foods in this important category as well. Foods in this group are excellent sources of protein, especially for people who want to reduce or eliminate animal protein. Beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds are also high in fiber and many nutrients. Also in this category are tofu and other forms of fermented soybeans (miso, tempeh) and flaxseed.

Eggs and dairy. Eggs and dairy foods — milk, cheese, butter, cream, and yogurt — are good sources of protein, calcium, and other important nutrients. They are also rich sources of saturated fat, which may be fine for many people. The major concern I have about eggs and dairy relates to whether hormones were used in raising the animals; whether or not they were given foods containing pesticides, antibiotics, toxic minerals, or other chemicals; and whether the animals were confined to inhumane cages. Soft-boiled eggs are best because heat is applied without exposure to oxygen, thus reducing free radical damage. I recommend organic eggs and dairy products and prefer nonhomogenized milk. Although pasteurization of milk products is the norm today in order to eliminate harmful bacteria, certified raw milk is preferred in areas where it is available, provided the cows are clean and hygienic principles are used in caring for them. If you are lactose-intolerant because of a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, or you choose not to consume dairy items, nondairy foods may be used. These include products made from soy, rice, or nuts, such as soy milk, rice milk, and almond milk; cheese made from these “milks”; and nondairy desserts. These “dairy” foods are also good sources of protein.

Organic meats and poultry. Despite a push for people to eat more fish, meat and poultry continue to be major sources of animal protein for many people. For patients who eat meat, I recommend organically raised products, which are virtually free of hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, and other unnatural additives, all of which can have a detrimental effect on mood and general health. Such meat and poultry choices are slowly becoming more accessible and typically are available in natural and whole-food stores. Meats and poultry are sources of methionine, which is critical for methylation; this amino acid is difficult to get from plant-based sources.

Fish and shellfish. Fish and shellfish can be excellent sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, if you make judicious choices. I’m calling for “judicious choices” because of the persistent and very real problem of mercury, pesticides, PCBs, and other contamination of the fish supply. Fish that I tend to recommend that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, but relatively low in mercury, are wild Alaskan salmon and sardines. I am wary about farm-raised fish because some studies indicate that they are high in PCBs and other contaminants. The smaller the fish (say, sardines), the less likely they are to accumulate mercury. But if you eat fish fairly frequently, I recommend that you have your blood mercury levels checked, because there is no way to guarantee the fish you eat regularly is not contaminated. Everyone whom I have checked for mercury who eats sushi more than once a week is quite high in it. Swordfish, king mackerel, shark, and most tuna tend to be quite high in mercury.

I would like you to consider two factors when choosing foods from this list. One, do you have any reactions to these foods that may be contributing to or causing your depression? Two, do you have any specific food preferences based on religious, ethical, and/or moral beliefs? If you are a vegetarian, for example, you will not select meat, poultry, or fish, so you will need to choose other protein-rich foods such as soy products, legumes, beans, seeds, and, depending on the type of vegetarian diet you follow, eggs and/or dairy.

Foods to Avoid

Most of the foods included in this list should come as no surprise to you. In most cases, foods on the “Avoid” list have been highly refined and processed. Fortunately, for every food you should avoid, there is a healthy alternative on the “Positive Foods” list. You may find that the “Avoid” list reads like your current grocery list; or you may discover that only one or two categories apply to you. Next time you’re in the grocery store, here are the items you want to skip:

Sugar. Avoid all foods that contain added sugar, such as soda, candy, cakes, ketchup, some breakfast cereals, and so on. Become a label reader. If sugar (or one of its companions, such as corn syrup) is one of the first few ingredients, put the item back on the shelf! Sugar can give you a burst of energy, but in the long run it can leave you depressed and tired.

White-flour products. Just say no to white bread, white pasta, and other products that use white flour, including many crackers, rolls and bagels, refrigerator biscuits, pizza dough, and baked goods. Also avoid white rice. These overly processed food products have been stripped of their nutritional value, and then they are “enriched” with some nutrients, along with synthetic additives.

Alcohol. This includes beer, wine, and liquor. People often forget that alcohol is a depressant, even though it provides an initial kick. Drinking alcohol can also disturb your sleep, which is a problem with many people who are depressed.

Caffeine. Avoid coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate. (Okay, you can have a limited amount of organic dark chocolate on occasion.) If you must have coffee, choose an organic coffee, since most coffees are high in pesticides. Decaffeinated coffee is fine for most people, provided that it is organic and does not use toxic chemicals in processing.

Hydrogenated fats. Hydrogenated fats are oils to which hydrogen atoms have been added in the factory in order to harden them and improve shelf life. These hydrogenated oils or fats contain high concentrations of trans-fatty acids, which have recently been clearly shown to disrupt fatty acid metabolism in the body and cause serious disease. Hydrogenated fats are found primarily in margarines, snack foods (potato chips, corn chips), crackers and cookies, baked products, and fast foods. When you read ingredient labels, look for the words hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, margarine, or shortening, which indicate the presence of trans-fatty acids, or look at the nutritional panel for the percentage of trans-fat in the product. Beginning January 2006, food manufacturers were required to list trans-fat content on labels.

Chemical food additives. To avoid artificial preservatives, flavorings, colors, and sweeteners, you need to read labels. Not all labels list all the chemicals in the food item, but the general rule is: If the product has been processed, it probably contains chemicals. For example, artificial preservatives such as BHA, BHT, nitrites, monosodium glutamate, and nitrates are often seen in cereals, breads, frozen dinners, boxed meals, and crackers. All foods containing artificial colors (such as red dye 40) or artificial flavorings should be avoided. Artificial additives can cause various adverse reactions, including mood swings, depression, fatigue, headache, rash, aggression, irritability, and attention difficulties, among others. I believe all artificial sweeteners, including saccharine, aspartame, and sucralose, should be avoided. In particular, avoid diet sodas containing aspartame.

Fluoride. Do not drink fluoridated water or tap water (unless filtered) or use fluoridated toothpaste. Despite the popularity of fluoride dental treatments for both adults and children, I strongly recommend you not get them. Also, avoid fluoridated vitamins for children. There are a number of excellent books and websites that clearly document the lack of efficacy and dangers of fluoride ingestion and fluoride use. If you live in an area where the tap water is fluoridated and you want to drink the tap water but not the fluoride, you need to use a water filter with a reverse osmosis component; carbon filters will not remove fluoride.

Chloride. Do not drink chlorinated water (unless the chlorine has been filtered out), as chlorine is toxic. A simple carbon filter will remove chlorine from tap water.

From the book WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT DEPRESSION: The Breakthrough Integrative Approach for Effective Treatment by Michael B. Schachter, MD, with Deborah Mitchell. (Published by Warner Wellness; November 2006;$14.99US/$18.99CAN; 0-446-69494-0) Copyright (c) 2006 by Michael B. Schachter, MD, and Lynn Sonberg. Reprinted by permission of Warner Books, Inc, New York, NY. All rights reserved.

Michael B. Schachter, Md, With Deborah Mitchell
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/basics-of-a-healthful-antidepression-diet-73089.html

Noni Juice is very much a hot topic. Noni Juice is reddish brown in color with a distinctive smell and taste. Noni juice is said to improve or cure arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, impotence and so on. The Noni fruit and Noni juice is safe to eat and drink

Various works of research on Noni juice are explained on our website. One of the most important benefits of Noni Juice is the fact that it can help your cells to regenerate. Noni juice is produced from the fruit of the plant Morinda Citrifolia. Morinda citrifolia used to produce Noni juice is widely distributed throughout Polynesia. Making Noni juice is a time honored tradition in the Pacific islands. Noni Juice is an amazing product that contributes to your overall well-being. As Noni Juice is slightly bitter in taste, some people may prefer Noni capsules.

There are only 12 known adaptogens; of these 12, Noni Juice is said to be the “premiere” adaptogen. Noni juice is recognized as one of nature’s super foods as it is rich in vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, amino acids, antioxidants and enzymes. Noni Juice is juice from a mulberry plant found in Hawaii and other tropical locations. Noni Juice is good for you. Noni juice is recommended to remove parasites, to cleanse the digestive tract and improve digestion, and to control weight.

Noni Juice is a fundamental part of traditional Polynesian medicine. Noni Juice is a Tahitian elixir that dates back some 2000 years. Perhaps the most amazing thing about Noni juice is how fast it works. Noni juice is comprised of many different properties that can help your body and your health. Noni juice is aged juice from ripened fruit. In most Pacific Island cultures, ripe Noni fruits are hand harvested, washed, and carefully aged.

Noni juice is a superior antioxidant that helps to rid the body of harmful free radicals. Fortunately, if Noni juice is taken on an empty stomach, the critical proenzyme escapes digestion in the stomach and enters the intestines. Noni juice is a natural fruit juice and it is impossible to overdose on noni. A daily dose of noni juice is also quite beneficial in improving your everyday life. I am grateful because noni juice is really helping with my acne problem. Noni juice is natural and doesn’t cause the other negative side effects that prescription drugs often do. The science behind the noni juice is still being actively researched. Noni juice is used to prevent premature aging, build bone strength, normalize hormones, balance mood swings and promote cardiovascular health.

Noni juice is a health food, not a drug. Noni Juice is a product that has already obtained world recognition. Noni Juice is truly one of nature’s miraculous health aids. One ounce of noni juice is equivalent to three capsules per day. With so many people looking for ways to look younger and healthier, it’s no wonder noni juice is so popular. Noni Juice is now being consumed by millions of people around the world. It appears that noni juice is as safe as other common fruit juices. A lot of people say that noni juice is very good for health. Noni juice is known to contain many different types of phytonutrients. Noni juice is a powerful antioxidant; it reduces modification of low-density lipoprotein that lessens the onset of arteriosclerosis. Noni juice is now available world wide and can make a difference to your health.

Herbal medicine using noni juice has now made a mark in the weight loss field. I have come across quality and effective alternative herbal medicine in my time. Herbal Medicine has proved to be very useful for curing many diseases. Patients in general understand ancient remedies or herbal medicine more than their modern counterparts. Noni juice is a large part of holistic alternative herbal medicine, complementary natural health therapies, longevity research and news. Use of noni juice is a blend of current scientific research and traditional herbal medicine.

Perhaps future research will give us additional clues to the potential therapeutic benefits of using noni juice or noni powder. The benefits of noni juice are wide spread. The Noni plant has brought hope and helpful benefits to people for the past 2000 years. There are many suggested benefits to Noni Juice. Over the last twenty years, the modern alternative medicine community has recognized a number of benefits of Noni Juice. While Noni has been around for hundreds of years, science is just now beginning to discover some of the amazing benefits that Noni juice provides.

Noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit has been used for thousands of years by the native Hawaiians for it’s many unique health benefits. Capsules contain many of the health benefits of noni juice, without the strong taste. Suggested Use: 2 capsules per day, preferably on an empty stomach, for maximum benefits. The benefits of Noni Juice and Noni capsules include antibiotic, anti-tumor, analgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory and immune enhancing. Most of these benefits have been documented in modern clinical literature. Many have experienced tremendous health benefits on several levels. Today, millions of people around the world are enjoying the healthful benefits that come from drinking all-natural Noni juice. Juice benefits include: Improved digestion, cold and flu recovery and relief from pain and inflammation. It is no surprise that many people are skeptical about a berry claiming to have such dramatic health benefits. The benefits Noni juice apparently contain, include pain relieving effects, immune enhancing effects, and anti-inflammatory properties. With the benefits Noni Juice has to offer, both remedial and for personal well-being, shouldn’t you be looking after yourself better.

Discover the many benefits of Noni. The mental benefits have been a delightful surprise addition to the physical benefits I have experienced since I started drinking noni juice. Noni juice lowers blood fat (antilipidemic), has anti-tumor benefits, cancer prevention, lowers blood pressure, and lowers blood sugar. Losing weight has hidden health benefits. Furthermore, another couple of benefits I received from taking the Tahitian Noni Juice, were an significant increase of energy and a little weight loss. Scientists and doctors have studied the many different health benefits of noni juice.

After using Noni, my weight loss problems are gone. It is not just for weight loss it is how we should eat every day. The ultimate weight loss pill with a kick. Weight loss should be this good and this easy. Looking for an easy weight loss solution. As a weight loss product, noni juice can produce dramatic results. It’s the solution that will bring you permanent weight loss and improved health.

Noni Juice is very much a hot topic. Noni juice is said to improve or cure arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, impotence and so on. The Noni fruit and Noni juice is safe to eat and drink. All you need to know about Noni juice is available on this website. Various works of research on Noni juice are explained. One of the most important benefits of Noni Juice is the fact that it can help your cells to regenerate.

Noni juice is not hepatotoxic (does not damage liver). Noni juice is an amazing product that contributes to your overall well-being. As Noni Juice is slightly bitter in taste, some people may prefer Noni capsules. Noni juice is recommended to remove parasites, to cleanse the digestive tract and improve digestion, and to control weight. Noni juice is comprised of many different properties that can help your body and your health. Perhaps the most amazing thing about Noni juice is how fast it works. Noni juice is a superior antioxidant that helps to rid the body of harmful free radicals. Noni juice is known to lower blood pressure. Noni juice is a natural fruit juice and it is impossible to overdose on noni. A daily dose of noni juice is also quite beneficial in improving your everyday life. Noni Juice is truly one of nature’s miraculous health aids.

Noni Juice is recommended as a way to maintain overall health. Noni juice is said to alleviate everything from headaches and arthritis to diabetes and multiple sclerosis – quite a claim. Noni juice is a powerful antioxidant; it reduces modification of low-density lipoprotein, which lessens the onset of arteriosclerosis. Studies have shown that drinking Noni Juice is safe, so why not give it a shot. All you need to know about Noni juice is available at www.noni-morinda-citrifolia.com.

John Bizman
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/benefits-of-noni-juice-73163.html

Aging, a steady decline:
The History of the world is filled with stories of individuals trying to find eternal youth. Wealthy people going to private centers for magic elixirs. Many individuals taking megadoses of certain vitamins, drink green tea, use coenzyme Q10 etc, hoping to find the “fountain of youth”. Lets take a closer look and see what happens to our bodies as we age.

Time,our worst enemy:
Growth Hormone declines steadily at the age of 31 and at the rate of 14% per decade. Along with aging, we become vulnerable to diseases. Our ability to fight illness declines, the body’s ability to metabolize sugar, handle cholesterol, and clear the kidneys of toxins, becomes more and more difficult. Ultimately, the slow deadly disease of aging creeps in.

As a person ages, hormone levels fall. Decreasing levels of certain hormones shows symptoms such as:

-gray hair
-wrinkly skin
-reduced skin thickness
-forgetfulness
-low sex drive
-weight gain
-bone or joint problems
-immune system weakens
-decreased muscle strength

These symptoms can be the possible result of, reduced Human Growth Hormone. Until age 21, Human Growth Hormone is abundant in the body being solely responsible for muscle building, bone growth, skin elasticity, increased energy, lean body mass, and sexual vigor.

Graying Hair
Gray hair is caused by the slowing production of melanin over time within the hair follicles. When this happens, the hair follicles produce less and less melanin, and the result is a loss of hair, color and strength.

The Skin
Hormonal breakdown and free radicals is the major contributor of skin aging because of the reduction of the body’s Hormone production or lack of. Hormones such as Human Growth Hormone and testosterone are only produced in noticeable quantities up to the age of 20. These Hormones are responsible for physical fitness, regeneration and the immune system. Due to a declining Hormone level, the breakdown of organs, tissues and cells begins.
Another factor are free radicals. These are parts of molecules that are found in the Human Body. As a result of external factors such as ultraviolet light(too much sun), smoking or unhealthy eating habits, under these circumstances free radicals are inclined to react. Meaning that they are in search of other chemical substances to bond themselves with. Ultimately, the breakdown of the skin begins. The body protects itself against these aggressors with naturally occurring anti-oxidant’s. Until you reach the age of twenty and onwards, this natural defense mechanism slowly declines, until eventually the skin can no longer defend itself.

What can be done about aging?
Well,about your actual age nothing, but could a healthier lifestyle, proper diet, or maybe vitamin and supplement intake, would that help turn back the aging clock? Is there something out there that could:

-Alleviate menopausal and premenstrual symptoms
-Reduce body fat
-Restore gray hair
-Increase energy
-increase sex drive enhancement in both men and women
-Restore the function of organs and glands
-Improve memory
-Improve vision
-Enhance one’s spirits
-Stabilize blood pressure
-Enhance the immune system

Well quite possibly, there just might be! Read below…

Andy Casasanta
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/the-fountain-of-youth-3482.html