One of the quickest ways to reduce the intake of sugars is in making substitutions. When preparing recipes for desserts cut the sugar in half and use fruits for the other half. When purchasing canned fruits; only purchase ones which are packed in real fruit juice rather than sugar. Better to avoid the packed stuff but you get the idea!

Eat fresh fruits when it is possible, rather than pre-packaged snacks. Substitute juices or sugar free flavored waters in place of sodas; or better yet, just drink water.  Wellness and health are obtained only by consuming natural foods like the ones mentioned here. Try interspersing we talked about to break the glycemic index levels in the belly at a given time!

When you are in a party and feeling guilty to take a piece of cake with a ton of frosting or dessert or extra helping of food, just excuse yourself that you are on a health recovery to cut back on processed foods and lot of calories and so you have to excuse yourself. Do it, and you will be happy you did!

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Experts have yet to agree that eating 5 or 6 smaller meals over a day’s time is more beneficial than eating 3 larger meals in a day. There is not enough data to support either one as better than the other. but more and more leans towards smaller portions but more times a day. The idea is that the blood sugar levels are not too high or too low but mainteained at a healthy level all day. Research now suggests that it still comes down to the basics of total caloric intake and how it is spread out so as to regulate the  blood sugar levels uniformly  throughout the day!

Weight gain and loss are individual to each person as are dietary demands. It is important for each person to decide which meal plan works best and adhere to it. Small frequent meals are healthier to most people and provides good health.

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Substitute sweeteners such as Splenda and Equal pose real health hazards. Equal uses an ingredient, aspartame, which has been responsible for many different ailments according to research professionals. They suffered seizures, brain tumors, migraines, depression and various autoimmune diseases.

Splenda has caused adverse effects in research animals such as reduced growth rate, diarrhea, enlarged liver and kidneys, and a decreased red blood cell count. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame are not natural products but toxins that pose real health risks for users.

Just because you may not feel or see anything happen to you today from usage, it does not mean that all is well under the hood. Watch out for this slow poison as it comes with an welcoming sticker that it has no calories but the real problem is that the synthesized sugars cause a major confusion for the liver and pancreas that regulate the food to energy transformation. When they lose their efficiency, you get to a lot of other cardiovascular diseases. Take it upon yourself to not take such processed sugars.

Who knows what other side effects it may have?

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Massaging of the scalp right before retiring for the night can help one achieve a good night’s sleep. Adding oil and performing daily massages can yield additional benefits such as reliving dandruff, psoriasis and flaky skin on the scalp. However the most beneficial part is that it soothes the brain and sets it to and prepares it for relaxation.

Hair loss can also be minimized by massages and this action can also help slow the process of hair graying. Massaging the scalp with essential oils can also help to strengthen the roots of the hair. Simple and effective method to prevent hair loss is to massage the scalp.

Because of a whole slew of benefits massage provides, especially for the mind that seems to be so agitated all during the day, this practice is yet another simple time-tested way to rest and relax. In fact, in Ayurveda, the abhyanga massages have some sort of tapping, touching, rubbing and kneading the head and the scalp for a wonderful natural relaxation step for stress relief and rest!

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

All sounds have an effect on the body. Music and sounds can help reduce stress which helps to reduce blood pressure. At the right tempo, music can help one get a good night’s sleep, bring improvements to the immune system and help to speed learning capabilities.

Some surgeons are now using music for anesthesia to relax patients during surgery. Music as well as sounds like trickling water or that of a creek can help lower one’s heart rate and relaxes the person completely.

You are also aware of how sound is used as a healing and soothing tool for health and well-being as in chanting, whether its Hindus, Christians or others, most religions have a vocal response to their religious rituals. Some of these words are very powerful in engaging the vocal energy spectrum and even bilogically providing healing, in addition to their spiritual relevance!

Now, even science and medicine has come up with research studies to show how the vibrations, especially of a certain kind, can cause a therapeutic regimen for health and well-being!

Isn’t that amazing to see how sound energy goes through our ears and affects our energy levels for years to come?

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Just a few weeks of yoga classes can reduce chronic lower back pains. Yoga is more beneficial than just simple stretching. Doing yoga for only 10 minutes each day can be very beneficial. Different techniques are explained and many times lower back pain is healed completely; and in most cases the pain is reduced significantly.

While surgery is an option some people take, but this does not cure the problem besides all the complications. Medication does not cure the severe back ache problem but can add to other problems due to toxicity and imbalances.

Recently, in my yoga class, my teacher said that abdominal workout is key for many benefits, one such being that it supports the back. I would recommend anyone from mild back pain to severe back pain to take up yoga! You will love me for this suggestion and love yourself for ridding yourself of this universal epidemic for most people!

A strong but supple and flexible back is a key indication of good health! I have talked about simple best back stretches and bends anyone can do in less than few minutes for best of health.

Practicing yoga exercises correctly can bring much relief for those suffering lower back pain. Yoga can also bring relief to diseases such as scoliosis. Yoga helps to keep the mind fresh and the body flexible, leading to good health in no time.

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Lavender oil has a very calming and soothing sensation when applied almost anywhere on the head. It has also been a favorite fragrance in soaps and cosmetics for years because of its soothing effects. Additionally, recent studies show that there are other health benefits associated with lavender oil. It can help those suffering from insomnia get some much needed rest. Apply a drop or two on your forehead and temple areas and you will know what i mean… No prescription or drugs needed with this amazing  way to even fall asleep instantly!

Lavender oil has also helped some people who lost hair due to Alopecia Areata, to regrow their hair! Another benefit that has recently been researched is this essential oil’s ability to help decrease pain. Wellness and good health using lavender oil is to be expected now….

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

A relaxation retreat can work wonders and offer many amazing benefits for the whole being. Retreats offer a break from a hectic, consuming lifestyle. There are many different types of retreats such as yoga, health specific, meditation, or self-growth.

I have attended one, called the Holy Yoga Retreat, run by couple of dynamic young women, Dawn Rutledge and Jenifer Miller at the Center for living well. I enjoyed the good work they put together, especially full blown yoga practise designed specifically for the christians, so that they feel welcome when chanting the christian holy words instead.

Retreat personnel will help guests learn how to relax and then how to use relaxation techniques at home. These activities can help lower blood pressure, bring balance to body systems, become fit, or lose weight. Overall relaxation retreats are specially designed to improve a person’s health. If you take vacations, they are great to relax and rest, but if you can take a relaxation retreat, you could take that rest and relaxation back with you, when you get back to rigours of life and work!

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Potatoes and pastas were very popular with the gym workout enthusiasts in the early 90′s but not anymore! It may sound like a reasonably good food as it a good vegetable after all. However, since they fit into a high glycemic index, they can be a poor choice, especially if you consume a bunch of them. Worse, if they are fried!  Their composition is mostly starch which means that when they are digested they translate into sugars.

We now know what sugars do to our bodies and especially excess of sugars. My belief is that one of the biggest overdoses of a mid life busy professional is that they overdose on carbohydrate derived calories. The excess of sugars in the body, either simple sugars or complex carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes and pastas, they all add to already excess of carb calories and this in turn leads to metabolic syndrome, which in turn leads to all CVD, diseases such as diabetes, blood sugars, cholesterol, blood pressure, clogged arteries and heart attacks.

So, if i were you, i would watch all calories, especially excess of carbohydrate calories. This simple step can avoid over a major list of cardiovascular diseases.

This can raise a person’s glucose levels significantly. Plus, because of the starch content potatoes can contribute to unwanted weight gain. Potatoes are not “bad” for you, but they are not the healthiest choice for most people.

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!

Consuming greasy foods is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, various kinds of cancer, degenerative arthritis and many other serious medical conditions. It is important to remove these types of foods from the diet. We all know this, yet what is the chllenge? Is it convenience? Is it laziness? Is it that not enough importance is given to our own health? Or are we taking for granted how bad our health is, eventhough every thing seems be OK at the higher level.

So, how can you avoid and reduce greasy foods?

First and foremost, you might want to  make it a goal, a super-goal and a high priority to not eat greasy food as much and as often. If you make this a goal, hold yourself accountable and or get yourself a partner that helps you to be strong in following through. Having a coach is excellent for lifestyle changes as well… If you are serious, you could consider that option.

Best Wishes and Cheers…

Bringing you simple healthy habits for a lifetime of benefits!

Linus “the marvelous” Eugene

Health Consultant, WYSSYR

(with some assistance from David Prakash, Physiotherapist)

Vibrant Health and Well-being from simple lifestyle changes!