Sing A Song!

Today I thought I'd repost something from a couple of years ago that's always a good reminder. Enjoy and keep on singing! =)

Health Benefits of Singing

 

I love to sing, I always have. But did you know that singing is good for your health? 

The research on this is quite amazing! Here's a list of some of the health benefits of singing.

Singing -

*boosts the immune system

*releases endorphins ("feel good" brain chemicals) 

*improves mood and relieves stress

*gives the lungs, abdomen, diaphragm, etc. a workout (if you sing with correct form, not just from your throat)

*stimulates circulation

*improves posture and mental alertness

*can improve sleep

Wow, that's pretty impressive! 

It's also possible that singing specific sounds can help certain functions in the body. I found the following information on one website that was very interesting. It said:

*Singing the short-a sound, as in "ahh," for 2-3 minutes will help banish the blues. It forces oxygen into the blood, which signals the brain to release mood-lifting endorphins.

*To boost alertness, make the long-e sound, as in "emit." It stimulates the pineal gland, which controls the body's biological clock.

*Singing the short-e sound, as in "echo" stimulates the thyroid gland, which secretes hormones that control the speed which digestion and other bodily processes occur.

*Making the long-o sound as in "ocean" stimulates the pancreas, which regulates blood sugar.

*To strengthen immunity, sing the double-o sound, as in "tool." This activates the spleen, which regulates the production of infection fighting white blood cells.

Other research recommends group singing for better health.

"All types of singing have positive psychological effects. The act of singing releases endorphins, the brain's 'feel good' chemicals. Singing in front of a crowd...naturally builds confidence, which has broad and long-lasting effects on general well-being. But of all types of singing, it's choral singing that seems to have the most dramatic effects on people's lives."

(from http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/singing-happy1.htm)

I haven't sung in a choir since high school. But I do very much enjoy the group singing at church when I'm able to go. When I was in junior high, once a month we had what we called a "Singspiration." On a Sunday night we'd get together and just sing for about an hour. Anyone could request a song from the hynmal or praise-book. It was wonderful! Those are still some of my favorite memories. 

I think it's important to note that what we sing is key (pun intended). =) Sometimes I catch myself singing a song with words that are not something I need to be repeating to myself. A lot of catchy tunes have untrue or negative words. So remember to sing words that are true, encouraging, and uplifting. Most people remember words that they sing much more easily than words they read or hear. So find some music you enjoy with the life-giving words that you want to have playing in your mind, and keep on singing! 

To get you started, here's one of my favorite songs. =) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qni5bIN5qmU

The Wonders of Garlic

You've probably heard that garlic is good for you, but most people don't take the time to truly gain from the benefits of garlic. Perhaps because it has such a strong flavor and no one wants "garlic breath." Or perhaps because it's easier to sprinkle garlic salt on food than to buy fresh garlic, peel it, and chop it (or press it).

But garlic is one of those simple things that has major health benefits. So with this post I hope to inspire you to go out and buy some garlic and start using it faithfully! =) 

Here are just a few of the many benefits of garlic -

For starters, garlic has antifungal, antiviral, antibiotic, and antioxidant properties.

Garlic boosts the immune system.

Garlic is good for heart health, preventing plaque from forming in arteries and promoting proper blood flow.

Garlic helps normalize cholesterol and blood pressure.

Garlic is good for the bones and the thyroid.

Garlic helps protect against cancers.

Garlic helps reduce inflammation.


Wow! Are you impressed yet? =)

The trick with garlic is in how it's used. Here are Dr. Mercola's comments on the best use:

"Garlic must be fresh to give you optimal health benefits though.
The fresh clove must be crushed or chopped in order to stimulate the release of an enzyme called alliinase, which in turn catalyzes the formation of allicin. Allicin in turn rapidly breaks down to form a number of different organosulfur compounds. So to "activate" garlic's medicinal properties, compress a fresh clove with a spoon prior to swallowing it, or put it through your juicer to add to your vegetable juice.
A single medium size clove or two is usually sufficient, and is well-tolerated by most people. The active ingredient, allicin, is destroyed within one hour of smashing the garlic, so garlic pills are virtually worthless.
You also won't reap all the health benefits garlic has to offer if you use jarred, powdered or dried versions."
from: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/09/23/garlic-health-benefits.aspx

So yes, you can use garlic in cooking, but to gain the most benefits from it, it's better to consume it raw. I've done this before, and while it's not pleasant to swallow a chopped garlic clove, it's a pretty simple way to improve health. Or you can always add it to juicing as Dr. Mercola mentioned. (An exception would be if your digestive system doesn't handle raw garlic well, in which case just eat it cooked.)

Eating garlic isn't the only way you can use it though. You can also hold a raw clove of garlic in your right hand (for about 10 minutes) to help your body fight an infection. I often do this when dealing with infections, sometimes even twice a day. It's simple and helpful.

You can also use garlic as a tool for decontaminating things. You just peel the garlic and set one or more cloves on the object (depending on its size). Leave the garlic for about 15 minutes, then throw it away, and you'll be amazed how much less toxic or smelly the item will be!
I've used garlic to remove cat urine smell from things (when I was staying with a friend who had a cat).
I've used it to absorb mold/mycotoxins that got on objects. (We've had a lot of those since we got mold in our house last year. Many things we threw away, but some things we were able to save by putting garlic on them, yeah!)
You can use it to detoxify a new mattress or other new furniture (which are usually loaded with chemicals, especially flame retardants).
It's great for absorbing things like smells, mycotoxins, flame retardants, etc. If you're not sure if it'll help with a particular item or smell, give it a try anyway, there's nothing to lose. =)

Well, I hope all this information has amazed you with the wonders of garlic! I hope you'll go buy some (preferably organic) and give it a try. =)

The Brain, Thoughts, and Health

"God designed the human mind with an absolutely breathtaking ability to change itself. We have a responsibility to use this power of free will well, to glorify him through the stewardship of our bodies and the rest of creation. To be made in the image of God, with the creative power of choice, is not just a nice idea to make you feel good about yourself, but a serious RESPONSIBILITY, an immense act of love on the part of a magnificent Creator." -Dr. Caroline Leaf

I've mentioned before how much I appreciate Dr. Caroline Leaf, a brilliant brain scientist and dedicated Christian. She now has a TV show where she covers so many helpful topics such as stress, toxic thinking, handling emotions, etc.

I love listening to her! I always come away with greater awe of God and greater hope for my own situation.

Here's the website where you can select past episodes of the show to watch. I think it's on TV every Wednesday in the USA, and air times are listed on the site for other countries as well.
http://drleaf.com/broadcast/

I encourage you to take the time to watch one episode a week if you can. And please pass this great resource along to others!

Dr. Leaf also has a facebook page you can follow if you want to.
https://www.facebook.com/drleaf/?fref=ts

Our brains are amazing! I hope you'll be encouraged and inspired as you learn more about how to use your brain for good.

Healthy Hand Soap

Hand soap is one of those products that most people don't even think about. But it actually can have a big impact on health. If you think about how many times a day you wash your hands, you'll get an idea of how much toxic exposure that adds up to if you're using a chemical-laden hand soap.

First of all, beware of hand soap that is "antibacterial." That means it has some form of antibiotic in it. With the overuse of antibiotics today, many strains of bacteria are becoming resistant, and using "antibacterial" hand soap contributes to this problem. Not to mention it's yet another toxic chemical your body will have to detox.

Another thing to watch for is hand soap that is made in China! Almost every product made in China contains high levels of toxic chemicals. You definitely don't want to be washing your hands with toxic soap.

For the last several years I used baking soda exclusively for washing my hands. It's worked fine for me, though I realize many people prefer an actual soap. Several months ago I began looking for a natural bar or liquid soap that I could use instead of baking soda. I was shocked at some of the ingredients I found while reading soap labels. Here's just one example, a list of ingredients for a name brand hand soap (I didn't even include them all):

Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Calcium Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Isostearamidopropyl Morpholine Lactate, Peg-18 Glyceryl Oleate/Cocoate, Fragrance (Parfum), Cocamide Mea, Polyquaternium-7, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Dmdm Hydantoin, Tetrasodium Edta, Acrylates/Aminoacrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Peg-20 Itaconate Copolymer, Yellow 5 (Ci 19140), Blue 1 (Ci 42090).

I'm not sure what happened to the soap industry that they can't just make plain soap anymore. It's sad. Thankfully, after much research I finally found two options that are completely natural. One is Olivella fragrance-free bar soap. The other is Fiji Coconut Oil bar soap, fragrance-free. My local health food store carries both brands, or you can find them online.

There are some other natural companies now making soaps with various essential oils. Some of those might be ok for most people. Personally I try to stick with the fewest ingredients possible, which is why I selected the two soaps above.

For those who prefer a liquid soap, I found a recipe online where you can turn your natural bar soap into a liquid. It sounds fairly simple and is very cost-effective.
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/homemade-non-toxic-liquid-hand-soap-2

Keeping hands clean is important for good health. But so is using a non-toxic soap. I hope this info is helpful. Let me know any comments or questions you have, or any suggestions of a non-toxic soap you have found. =)

Miracle Trip

Last week I actually got on a plane and flew to TX! It was the first time I've been on a plane in about 10 years!

I stayed in a hotel and I did fine! I attended an amazing conference with other Christians in media and received so much inspiration and encouragement!

God blessed me with a roommate who understood my needs and was fragrance-free for me, praise God! The rest of the people weren't fragrance free, but I did really well with the various challenges that came up.

I praise God for how far He's brought me in the last 7 years since my health first started its slow recovery. Some days it felt like even though I was making progress, I'd never reach that goal of "well." But faithfully using all the good health tools I've found, and perseverance and prayer have indeed brought results, praise God!

I do hope that everyone who reads this has a faster recovery than I've had. But wherever you are, please be encouraged that recovery is possible! Keep doing what you can, one step at a time. Don't give up! Celebrate every victory and every step of progress. And know that God does hear and will answer your prayers - not always as we want or expect, but always what is ultimately for our good.

Thank you for your prayers for me through the years, and for celebrating this amazing moment in my journey!

Here are a few pics from my trip. :)

 at the airport

 

on the airplane, met a fellow Jesus-follower and encouraged each other

 with my roommate, an amazing lady from Ethiopia

 all dressed up for the fancy dinner =)

warming up for the evening session

After the conference I stayed two nights with a wonderful couple who's kids are missionaries. I wish I'd gotten a photo with them, but I didn't think of it until too late. I'm just not in the habit of using the camera on my phone. I met so many amazing people, but didn't think about getting pictures with them. But anyway, at least I had these few, to give you a little glimpse of my miracle trip! =)

When Life Makes Sense

Life is hard. At times it's plain impossible, especially when living with chronic illness. Besides the physical challenges we face, we also deal with relational difficulties from people who don't understand our situation.

If you've struggled with this, you're not alone. In fact, I haven't met anyone with chronic illness who had total support from friends and family members. There's usually at least a few people who show compassion, but there's always some or many who don't. And the responses of those people can range from simple disbelief to outright verbal attack.

There's no excuse for unkind behavior. Yet all we can do is rely on God's power to forgive them. We can't afford to hold onto bitterness for someone else's wrong response. And for the others who just don't understand us, I'm finally learning to accept that that's just the way it is.

While I wish every person could demonstrate compassion to us regardless, the reality is that if they haven't experienced it, they just can't relate. When they look at us from the perspective of their knowledge and experience, our lives don't make sense.

As I was pondering these things the other day, I heard a worship song by Robin Mark, and the words spoke exactly to my need. As he sang praise to God he said, "You're the only who satisfies, the only one who makes my life make sense."

I started crying. Because in that moment I realized that it's ok if my life doesn't make sense to someone else. Sometimes it's hard for me to make sense of it myself. But to Jesus, it always makes sense.

First of all, Jesus understands.
Isaiah 53:3 says of Jesus,
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised and we held him in low esteem."

When Jesus died on the cross, it didn't make sense to anyone (except maybe his enemies). Even His own followers were confused and devastated. They didn't fully understand who Jesus was or why He came. Yes, Jesus knows what it's like to be misunderstood, rejected, despised.

But secondly, Jesus doesn't just understand - He makes our lives make sense.

Three days after His "senseless" death, Jesus came out of the grave! Death was turned into resurrection! And now we can live everyday with the hope of eternal life in Him!

Romans 8:28 says,
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

No matter how difficult or ridiculous our lives may seem to others, or even to us, God still has a plan. He makes our lives make sense.

May He give us faith to believe it. May He give others eyes to see it.

Respect The Signs

When I lived in Mexico there was one particular road sign that amused me and my friends. Instead of the normal speed limit, speed bump, or other signs, this specific sign said (in Spanish) - "Respect the Signs".

It seemed funny to have a sign telling you to respect the signs. =)

But on deeper reflection, I can see its value. How easy is it to drive the same roads every week and start to ignore the signs? Drive a little faster. Barely slow down for the bumps. Forget to watch for falling rocks....

The problem is that when we don't respect the signs, we do so at our own risk! I think the same is true with our health. God created our bodies in an amazing way! When the body has a problem or a need, it sends you a message, or a sign, in some way. If you make a habit of ignoring those signs, you put yourself at risk.

So what are some of the "signs" your body may be showing you?

1) Unusual fatigue.
This sign could mean that you need to slow down and rest more. Or you may have an infection and your body needs extra energy to fight it. Or perhaps something is wrong and your body is using energy to try to address the problem. Or other things.

2) Ongoing pain.
This sign is your body's way of getting your attention about a problem area. The sooner you find the root issue, the sooner you can address the problem and resolve the pain. Just ignoring the pain or taking pain meds usually prolongs and worsens the root issue.

3) Allergies.
This sign indicates that your immune system isn't functioning well. Finding ways to improve your immune system is so important. Allergies are your warning sign that your immune system needs help.

4) Digestive issues.
This sign is vital to pay attention to. Good health begins in the gut. Anything you can do to improve gut health will improve overall health.

5) Mental/emotional symptoms.
This sign is probably harder to recognize but very significant. When the body is under stress and working hard to still maintain basic functions, there is often no energy left over for mental focus and concentration or for emotional stability. If negative emotions or "brain fog" are frequent problems, these are big signs that your overall health needs much help.

There are other signs the body uses to get our attention, but I think these are the basic ones that most people experience.

The important thing is for us to learn to "Respect the Signs"! When we pay attention, we can more quickly recognize what our bodies need and take action to move toward better health. 

So what sign from your body do you need to listen to this week?