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5 Ways To Shine Light On The Darkness

July 26, 2016 by Power of Positivity

A brief glance at the news gives us so many examples of darkness in our world. It’s time for us to make a difference, shine a light and bring healing when it is most needed. It’s also time for you to shine your own light, and take these tips with you wherever you go…

5 Ways To Shine Light on The Darkness

Darkness is an absence of light, so being a bringer of light is a way to improve a world where pain and hurt happen too often. Using our own conscious minds to help bring a positive change, especially when negative events have saturated the media, is a skill that we encourage others to learn and spread. Let’s look at 5 ways to help shine a light on the darkness that we see far too often.

1. Use your meditative time to send healing energy

When you meditate, you reap the benefits of reduced levels of stress, emotional well-being, healing your relationships with others, and a healthier body among other benefits. Even without consciously focusing your energy toward healing others during your meditation, you are able to create a positive change in the dark times that heals others as well as yourself.

An English study found that when as little as 1% of the population practiced Transcendental Meditation, the crime rate dropped, which shows that our consciousness can influence positive social change and bring light to the darkness. Researchers are not sure of the mechanisms of this effect, but the Global Peace Project says that ‘consciousness, at its deepest level, is a field that underlies and connects individuals throughout society.’

2. Be an example of positive change

‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’ – Mahatma Gandhi

Don’t wait for someone to fix things when you are capable of making a positive change yourself. The impact of a kind word to a stranger can be enormous if that person is dealing with the depression of not knowing that they are loved and valued. If you want to see a world filled with kindhearted, caring people, be a kindhearted caring person yourself.

3. Teach others how to be a lightworker

Lightworkers are healers who are called to help people fight off the darkness that can settle into our souls and infect our minds and bodies. When we feel a significant period of darkness, it can also distort our perceptions and make us see negativity where there is none.

If you have learned to heal your own hurt, show others how you were able to do so and guide them through the steps to release the anger, hurt, sadness, or frustration that they feel. Encourage them to find their own way of self-healing by reminding them of the resources available for replenishing their souls.

Here are some examples of lightworker healing methods:

* Spiritual connection through prayer, reading, or community groups

* Meditation

* Spending quiet time in nature

* Making meaningful connections to people

* Providing a safe space to talk openly about feelings

* Asking thought-provoking questions

* Avoiding language that is negative, belittling, judging, or blaming

* Reminding people of their inner courage

* Loving touch like a hug, an arm around the shoulder, or a hand squeeze

* Sincere words backed by real emotion

4. Practice loving forgiveness

Forgiveness is a way of healing ourselves emotionally and shining light on our own darkness. When we hurt, we may feel that someone has hurt us. The only way to truly heal is to let go of the anger and sadness that we feel and replace it with a positive emotion like self-love.

Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation, which means that we heal by re-establishing a relationship with the person who has caused us hurt. Also, by forgiving the person who has caused so much pain we certainly aren’t condoning the hurtful behavior that has caused so much darkness in our lives.

Researchers looked how incest survivors are able to heal themselves and move on after such a terribly abusive life experience. They found that a program of forgiveness therapy helped people recover from trauma. The participants in the therapy program had higher ratings for levels of forgiveness and hope, and had lower levels of anxiety and depression. The program participants also reported having higher self-esteem as a result of forgiving their abuser.

5. Share your story of positive change, perseverance, and courage

Everyone has a story of a difficult time that they have overcome that has helped them to get where they are. These stories are the inspiring ones that we read that fill us with hope. You probably have a story of your own to share that can inspire others who are dealing with a difficult loss, a broken relationship or a financial hardship.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

9 Comebacks For Dealing With A Sociopath

July 26, 2016 by Chris Butler

Sociopaths are a type of anti-social personality disorder, according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Sociopaths tend to be charming, likable, highly manipulative individuals, yet struggle to form emotional bonds with others. They lack empathy and remorse for their actions, and because of this, they will often lie, even about trivial things.

Sociopaths tend to be egocentric and feel superior to others. They want to be the center of attention and admiration.

They’ll cause drama where there is none to watch the fireworks. They will use other people to entertain themselves or to further their agenda. The best way to deal with these emotionally draining sociopaths is to cut them out of your life or ignore them. However, if you have one in your life that you cannot get rid of because you are a parent, child, coworker, or boss, you should know how to deal with them effectively with these nine comebacks.

What Is a Sociopath?

Sociopaths and psychopaths both suffer from antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Having this mental disorder doesn’t always lead to criminal activity, but it does raise the risk of engaging in illegal activities. Studies estimate that most crimes involve individuals suffering from some form of ASPD. Along with a disregard for laws and social norms, a sociopath lacks empathy for others and can’t relate to human emotions.

They also have difficulty maintaining responsibilities such as a career, family life, and school work. Most people who have ASPD will exhibit deviant behavior before fifteen.

7 Red Flags That Reveal a Sociopath

Mental health professionals don’t diagnose someone as a sociopath since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) doesn’t recognize it. Instead, the psychologist would diagnose the patient with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), including psychopathy. In general, people with these conditions have a pattern of disregard for the safety and well-being of themselves and others.

Signs and symptoms of ASPD include the following:

1. They Have No Empathy For Others.

Sociopaths don’t have the capability of feeling empathy or compassion for others. They may even laugh or smile when they see or hear about someone in pain or distress. Sadly, a sociopath only views people as chess pieces to move around to get what they want.

They might have learned this maladaptive behavior during childhood if their parents neglected or abused them. If they felt like no one would take care of them, the sociopath learned to distrust others from a young age.

So, they may seem cold and callous because they had no choice but to survive. This doesn’t excuse their behavior, but many studies show a strong link between childhood trauma and sociopathy.

2. A Sociopath Manipulates People For Their Benefit.

As we said in the first point, sociopaths can’t have normal relationships with others because they view them as a means to an end. They’re incapable of having healthy, stable bonds with people since they learned from a young age to fend for themselves. The sociopath still lives in survival mode, acting out of fear and instincts to obtain what they need.

They may act charming and cunning to reel people in at first. Before the victim knows it, they’re wrapped up in the sociopath’s game of deceit and manipulation. Sociopaths have learned how to mimic appropriate, accepted social cues to get close to others. However, the relationship remains one-sided since they’re only “playing nice” until they get what they need. They only show their true colors after the damage is done.

3. They’re Impulsive and Have Difficulty Planning for the Future.

Sociopaths have no impulse control since they’re stuck in survival mode. They act without considering the consequences first, leading to poor decision-making. For instance, instead of holding down a job to pay the bills, they may rob a bank or engage in other illegal activities to make ends meet. Their impulsive behaviors don’t just involve money; they may also suffer from substance abuse, gambling addictions, and other problems.

The future isn’t even worth considering since survival depends on what they do in the present. In other words, they can’t plan for the future when it seems uncertain due to their tendencies and learned behaviors.

4. Sociopaths Are Known For Being Aggressive and Even Violent.

Sociopaths must maintain control of people and situations at all times. They may lash out and act aggressively toward others when they feel like losing the upper hand. This could involve verbal or emotional abuse and may escalate into physically harming others.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, sociopaths are the most dangerous criminal because they are obsessed with self-gratification. Many habitual criminals, such as rapists and murderers, lack remorse and a need for instant gratification. Experts estimate that sociopaths comprise about 35% of the prison population and are responsible for 80-90% of all crimes.

5. They Show No Guilt or Remorse For Their Actions.

Sociopaths don’t live by the same laws as everyone else, so they will never admit wrongdoing. They always justify their actions somehow and have no empathy for the pain they cause. They don’t feel normal human emotions such as shame or guilt, so they cannot feel remorse.

6. They’re Arrogant and Argumentative.

To manipulate people, they have to come across as arrogant, intelligent, and superior to others. It becomes easy to gain their trust if they can project this self-confidence when talking to people. They have no problem sharing their opinions and often debate with others about politics, finance, and other topics. They’re brilliant and know a little about everything to keep their facade going.

7. Sociopaths Ignore Social Norms and Laws.

As we said earlier, a sociopath will have no regard for the law or societal norms. Since they don’t play by the standard rules of life, they do not need to follow artificial guidelines and regulations. They’re often involved in illegal activities and may break the rules at school or work. Stalking, harassment, destruction of property, stealing, and ignoring social boundaries are just ways they defy the justice system.

9 Comebacks for Dealing with a Sociopath

Here are some phrases that will stop a sociopath in their tracks.

1. “No.”

Whenever a sociopath tries to manipulate you to do something for them, say “No.” You don’t need to justify or explain yourself; say no and walk away.

2. “I’m doing great, thanks.”

Sociopaths will try to find your weaknesses to exploit your emotional states for their ends and will often ask you how you are doing or say that you look worried, upset, or tired. So unless a close friend or family member asks the question, don’t give the person an opening.

3. “I don’t believe you.”

A sociopath may come to you with gossip about a friend, spouse, or co-worker, but there is an excellent chance that what they are saying is not valid. They are trying to manipulate you and the other person for their advantage.

4. “Hey, did you see the latest episode of ____.”

Try to keep conversations with sociopaths to neutral subjects like television, news, music, and sports. Don’t be drawn into revealing personal information about you or your family or difficulties at work or home. Sociopaths feed on drama, so don’t give anything to sustain them, and they will lose interest.

5. “I bought it at a thrift store.”

Sociopaths with use flattery and compliments to ingratiate themselves with you. Defuse their insincerity by blowing off whatever they compliment as trivial or mundane.

6. “No, thank you, I’m good.”

Sociopaths will try to offer you things or do things for you to put you in their debt. Don’t let them. Once they have that handle, they will manipulate you into doing things for them.

7. “I got that new job weeks ago.”

If you plan to change like getting a new job, moving into another house, or starting a new relationship, don’t let a sociopath know until after the fact. A sociopath will try to dissuade you from changing things to keep you under their thumb and control. They will seek to undermine your efforts to better yourself or distance yourself from them, so don’t let them know your plans until after you have fulfilled them.

8. “Could you repeat that? Just speak directly into the microphone.”

Sociopaths will often harass you to get their way. Belittling you, putting you down, or giving you a hard time are all ways to beat you down emotionally and make you easier to manipulate. They will likely find an easier target if you show that you are documenting their bad behavior.

9. “Sorry, I’m broke.”

Sociopaths will try to use you for your money or connections to fulfill their desires for wealth or power. They will lose interest if you communicate to them that you have neither wealth nor power to exploit.

We are spirits having a human experience. There are all types of people in the world. You don’t have to participate in every argument and toxic experience. You get to decide how you act, react and teach others.

Final Thoughts on Stopping a Sociopath From Getting Under Your Skin

Sociopaths aren’t easy to get along with, but it’s important to remember that they have a mental disorder. Many aren’t even aware of their actions and how they affect others. However, sociopaths can become dangerous in certain situations, so it’s best to avoid them. If you can’t ignore them entirely, you can still set firm boundaries and disengage during conversations where you feel uncomfortable.

Sociopaths need help for their disorders, just like anyone with mental health. If left untreated, they can become a danger to themselves and society. Hopefully, we’ll continue expanding our knowledge on this condition so that they can receive the proper treatments.

5 Things To Never Expect From A Narcissist

July 26, 2016 by Power of Positivity

A narcissistic personality disorder is a severe mental condition that’s part of the cluster B personality disorder. It affects approximately 1% of the population in diagnosed cases alone. And the chances are great that you’ve met many more undiagnosed narcissists in your lifetime.

While it’s important to note that those with narcissistic personality disorder are not inherently bad or cruel, you still need to be aware of the risks. Many who are unaware that they have the condition or are on its spectrum do not seek out therapy and, as such, do not realize the extent of their behaviors. Thus, they cannot correct them.

This is why it is so vital to remain vigilant when dealing with narcissists who cannot manage their disorder. No mental illness excuses negative behavior, and you are not responsible for their actions just because they have a problem.

It’s hard to come out from under the clutches of a narcissist. However, always practice positive thinking! By being aware of these five things to never expect from a narcissist, you’re arming yourself against their potential toxicity while also saving yourself lots of heartaches.

Narcissists are only concerned with themselves.

If you’ve ever had interactions with a narcissist, then you know just how difficult they can be. Unfortunately, more often than not, their personalities have been shaped due to unhealed trauma and they haven’t recognized and healed it yet. This isn’t an excuse for their behavior, but it is important to know what you can expect from them so you aren’t the one always disappointed.

Understanding them can be both exhausting and intolerable. There is hope that some of their behaviors can be healed with recognition and willingness to seek help. However, you should know up front that there are specific behaviors that may always stick around.

Most of the time, they are egotistical and self-absorbed. They manipulate situations and people to their benefit. Be wary of anything that comes from them, because ultimately it’s about the grandiose perception until they recognize this and heal.

“You can look at individual scores of narcissism, you can look at data on lifetime prevalence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, you can look at related cultural trends, and they all point to one thing,” says W. Keith Campbell, PhD, head of the University of Georgia psychology department. “Narcissism is on the rise.”

We all know someone who is egotistical and selfish. But, what can you expect from them with these sorts of behavior?

Here are 5 things to never expect from a narcissist:

1. Never expect empathy and compassion.

Unless you are going to be giving them something in return, don’t expect sympathy. The narcissist is incapable of compassion because it would require them to get out of their own needs. It’s all about “what can I get from you?” If something doesn’t concern them, they have little interest. Your mother could be in the hospital and if you ask them for help, they will avoid you unless they can get something for helping. And, if they are empathetic, it will be for showing others what they did. They are missing an empathy and compassion gene. Most narcissists lack self-insight. In their own lack of worth, they dispose of their destructive behavior onto others.

2. Never expect them to listen.

Narcissists are not great at listening to anyone’s problems. They will listen when they need something from you, utilizing your weaknesses or traumas to get what they want. These folks are not the ones you go to in order to vent. They will hear you but never pay attention. If the conversation is not about them, then they have no use for your words. And even then, they will only hear what pertains to their greatness. Dr. Leon F. Seltzer writes in Psychology Today:

“It’s been said about narcissists that they can’t tell where they end and the other person begins. Unconsciously viewing others as “extensions” of themselves, they regard them as existing primarily to serve their own needs—just as they routinely put their needs before everyone else’s (frequently, even their own children). Since others are regarded (if they’re regarded at all!) as what in the literature is often called “narcissistic supplies”—that is, existing chiefly to cater to their personal desires—they generally don’t think about others independently of how they might “use” them to their own advantage. Whatever narcissists seek to give themselves, they generally expect to get from others, too (which is yet another dimension of their famous—or infamous —sense of entitlement).”

3. Never expect anything for free.

When a narcissist does you a favor, he/she will reclaim it quickly. They keep tally on all that they do for others. Unless they can get something out of you, don’t expect them to do it out of the kindness of their hearts. If it doesn’t benefit them, there is no point in doing anything for you. Don’t expect generosity without signing your soul to the devil. The narcissist will lie and cheat to get what they desire for their own benefit. So, if they are doing something for you, except that it’s all about them.

4. Never expect an apology.

A narcissist does no wrong. If something goes wrong, it wasn’t their fault. They have no problem turning that against you. You can’t expect them to feel sorry for anything because they are perfect. Any misunderstandings are all on you. They couldn’t possibly have done anything to upset you. Narcissistic people are bullies, and they have no problem turning things around to hurt others rather than take responsibility for their actions. The narcissist is self-righteous. They are entitled and deserving of anything, therefore, they are never in the wrong.

5. Never expect gratitude.

The egotistical person will never share the things you have done for them, only those things that you haven’t done. They focus on the negative and the things that are missing at the moment. Do not expect gratitude…ever. They are incapable of taking attention off of themselves. However, they will claim and retell all that they have done for you without a problem and expect gratitude. Dr. Pavel G. Somov writes that “As a narcissist, perhaps the only way for you to feel special is to command special treatment, to insist on unquestioning compliance with your wishes from others, to demand nothing less than perfection from others.”

Narcissists cannot give of themselves for the sake of giving without expecting recognition, admiration and appreciation. They are manipulators of time and effort. They bulldoze through people and their emotional needs for their benefit. Perhaps the most frustrating thing about narcissistic personality disorder is that it’s difficult to treat with therapy, as clients are unwilling to see they have an issue. In relationships of any kind, it’s even more difficult to acknowledge since the narcissist doesn’t see a problem with themselves. The best way to deal with a narcissist is to have no expectations.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

This Simple 3 Step Technique Can CLEAR Your Sinuses Immediately

July 25, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Our sinuses comprise a connected system of hollow cavities within the skull. Most sinus areas are quite small, except the maxillary sinuses in the cheekbones. Here is some additional information that you may find helpful reading through the article:

– Sinuses are pairs – one on each side of our head, close to the nose.

– Maxillary sinuses are the largest and are located in the cheekbones.

– Ethmoid sinuses are located between the eyes.

– Sphenoid sinuses are located within bones behind the nose.

– Sinuses are normally empty except for a thin layer of mucus.

– Lining the sinuses are a thin, soft, pink tissue called mucosa.

Interestingly, those that study the anatomy are uncertain as to why it is that we have sinuses. There are, however, two predominant theories: (1) they aid in the humidification of breathing, and (2) they aid in voice enhancement.

Sinus Congestion

Aside from several sinus conditions that cause congestion, such as sinusitis, congestion of the sinuses is a prevalent, but acute, condition. Sinus congestion is defined as: “the blockage of the nasal passages usually due to membranes lining the nose becoming swollen from inflamed blood vessels.” Other terms used are: nasal blockage, blocked nose, stuffy nose, plugged nose and nasal obstruction.

Nearly everyone has experienced sinus congestion at one point, and nearly everyone can agree on this: it is painful, annoying and uncomfortable. The condition can interfere with speech, hearing and sleep. In severe (rare) cases, sinus congestion requires surgery to correct. Children in particular are susceptible to complications that may require removal of the adenoids and tonsils, and may manifest into problems later in life.

The most common causes of nasal congestion are allergies, cold, flu, and sinus infection. These conditions are ones that are most often able to be corrected through alternative home remedies, such as the one that we will discuss below.

Here’s How To Clean Out Your Sinuses Immediately

The technique that we lay out here is simple, quick and effective. Ready to begin? Here are three quick steps to help alleviate sinus congestion:

(For the most effective results, it is recommended to sit comfortably.)

Sit down and position the head and body at a 45-degree angle. Turn your head sideways and massage the sternocleidomastoid muscle in a downwards direction 5 times. This muscle is located immediately beneath both ears and runs down the neck perpendicular to the collarbone. Repeat this technique on the other side of the neck. The overlapping purpose of this exercise is to relax the neck, to make the remaining steps more effective.
Using the index fingers, locate the hard and boney part of the nose, which runs about halfway down the length of the nose. Now, move the fingers down until you locate the soft part of the nose where this bone ends. We’ll focus this technique on the area between the soft, fleshy part of the nose and the bone. Using a circular motion, massage this area with a firm but comfortable pressure for approximately 20 to 30 seconds. After this is completed, massage the muscles down the side of the nose towards the cheekbones – this will help to relax this area of the face.
Once again using the index fingers, locate the upper orbit bone. This bone is in the area above each eye. Now, we’re going to locate the super orbital notch – a slight indentation above the eyeball’s center. Using a circular motion, massage this notch with comfortably firm pressure for about 20 to 30 seconds.
Finally, with both hands, locate the center of the forehead. Using a circular motion with comfortably firm pressure, slowly massage outwards until reaching the temples.

A final note:

You should experience some degree of relief from this practice. The degree of this relief, in a general sense, depends upon three factors: (1) effective execution of the steps above, (2) severity of nasal congestion being experienced, and (3) personal (involuntary) receptiveness of the above techniques.

You may discover that you need to repeat or slightly alter this practice to experience the best results. After repeating this exercise two to three times, a noticeable improvement should be the outcome.

As a bonus, here are some ways to help prevent nasal congestion:

Don’t smoke: Cigarette smoke and nicotine can irritate the sinuses and exacerbate any sinus condition.
Eat healthy: Design and maintain a well-balanced diet. As with myriad health conditions, consuming and digesting foods high in nutritional value can be the “x-factor.” A healthy diet promotes a healthy immune system – an important defense mechanism that may prevent health complications.
Get active: It isn’t necessary to become a gym rat, but physical activity is essential to achieve an optimized immune system. Aim for a minimum of 30-minutes of physical activity, three times per week.
Hydrate: Water’s health-promoting properties are almost too numerous to count. Dehydration causes many health conditions, On the other hand, proper hydration – a minimum of 5, 12-ounce glasses of water daily – can prevent and alleviate many issues.

Practicing a healthy lifestyle and committing to health-promoting activities can go a long way to reducing nasal congestion; not to mention a number of other health complications.

Do You Recognize it? The Most Powerful Natural Medicine Known to Man

July 25, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Nature has provided many remarkable natural plant sources of healing, and this one that you may not recognize is one of the most potent natural medicines known to man. This lesser-known natural remedy has been reported to fight cancerous tumors, free radicals, and help with many chronic illnesses. Let’s look more at how this one powerful natural medicine can be used to help you heal yourself and even prevent further illness.

Do You Recognize it? The Most Powerful Natural Medicine Known to Man

Those who enjoy the diverse food offerings of the Near East may recognize this powerful medicine with its mustard brown color, which is used as a flavoring spice in many Indian dishes. Turmeric is a spice and food preservative used primarily on Indian and Asian cultures, but its excellent health benefits are becoming more widely known in the Western world.

Turmeric looks like the root ginger, and its powerful medicine has been used as far back as 2500 BCE. Some Hindu communities believe its healing power extends to the spiritual realm and may wear a piece as a protective amulet. Turmeric is also used as a dye for cloth, giving the fabric a golden yellow color.

Ayurvedic medicinal practices use turmeric to help patients heal from various diseases. In some cases, the herb is revered as sacred and used in spiritual religious practices.

Health benefits of this powerful natural medicine

Curcumin is the component of turmeric that has gotten the most attention for its numerous medicinal properties. Researchers looking at the health benefits of this powerful natural medicine say that the curcumin of turmeric has the following remarkable properties:

Anti-inflammatory
Antibacterial
Anti-carcinogenic
Anti-fungal
Anticoagulant (blood thinning)
Antioxidant
Antiviral
Anti-diabetic (decreases blood sugar levels)
Antivenom

The researchers say ‘Curcumin is a non-toxic, highly promising natural antioxidant compound having a wide spectrum of biological functions. It is expected that curcumin may find applications as a novel drug shortly to control various diseases, including anti-inflammatory disorders, carcinogenesis and oxidative stress-induced pathogenesis.’

Current known health problems treated by this powerful natural medicine:

Wound treatment
Swelling caused by sprains
Cough
Anorexia
Liver problems
Rheumatism
Arthritis
Sinusitis
Insomnia
Acne
Shingles
Nausea
Glaucoma
Cataracts
Bruising
Ulcers
Diabetic wounds
Diabetes
Protect from cancer
Reduce digestive gas
Crohn’s disease

Much of the focus on the benefits of turmeric comes from its effect on reducing inflammatory diseases in the body. Many of the above listed diseases come from inflammation and the reaction of the body’s immune system to fighting off irritants from our diet and environment.

Inflammation causes swelling of the body’s tissues, causing pain, itching and pressure that is uncomfortable and can cause significant pain and discomfort. Having access to a natural medicine that reduces the inflammatory response in the body is a good way to reduce health problems that are caused by an overactive immune system.

How this powerful natural medicine works in the body

In the stomach, turmeric helps protect against ulcer formation. Inside the intestines, turmeric reduces digestive cramps and spasms and reduces gas production. In the liver, bile production increased with turmeric, and in the pancreas, plasma secretion increased with the use of turmeric.

In the heart, the curcumin from turmeric reduced cholesterol in high cholesterol rats. Also, turmeric showed that it protected against heart damage caused by a heart attack. The antioxidant properties of curcumin also protect against the damage of vascular dementia that affects the nervous system.

Other possible health benefits of the most powerful natural medicine known to man

Researchers studying baby mice and hamsters with cystic fibrosis found that curcumin showed the effect of correcting the cystic fibrosis defects which are mutations of the genes. Turmeric may also help improve mood problems such as anxiety and minor depression.

Turmeric may be as effective as the typical aspirin and ibuprofen for thinning the blood and preventing clotting. It is also believed that the curcumin of turmeric is an effective painkiller by activating the opioid pain receptors in the brain, similar to morphine.

Caution with this powerful natural medicine

Use some caution when considering turmeric supplements. For example, turmeric has been shown to work as a contraceptive when fed to rats. Although this impact on fertility has not been shown in humans, those trying to conceive should be aware of this potential impact. Also, chromium and curcumin have been shown to cause DNA strand breaks in human lymphocytes and gastric mucosal cells. Avoiding chromium supplements while taking turmeric is recommended.

5 Foods to Avoid That Are Toxic For Your Skin

July 25, 2016 by Power of Positivity

“As expected, skin care is not slowing down. The global skin care industry is estimated to reach $121 billion in 2016. And in 2018, the U.S. skin care market will reach nearly $11 billion.” – GCI Magazine

Skin is the largest organ of the human body by a wide margin. It is also a prime indicator of one’s health and well-being. Healthy skin and pores are arguably the most important factor in beauty, as well.

Beyond health and well-being, skincare is a priority for many of us. Without proper care, it is prone to a number of adverse dermatologic symptoms. Skin that is not cared for can be unhealthy and, not to mention, unsightly.

Contrary to popular belief, the food we put into our bodies strongly influences our overall skin health. We’re going to discuss some popular foods that: (1) clog skin pores and contribute to unhealthy skin, and (2) help to develop healthy skin.

Here are 5 food types that clog your pores:

1. Alcohol

While alcohol doesn’t contribute much to acne, it is indeed unhealthy for our skin. It is worth mentioning that some people can drink alcohol and never experience acne. However, here are some important things to remember:

– Alcohol alters hormone levels, which is a direct cause of acne and unhealthy skin.

– Alcohol will shrink pores and increase the likelihood of clogging. This may aggravate a current conditions or cause a breakout.

2. Dairy

Many people that have given up (or drastically reduced) dairy products will tell you it had a marked improved on skin health. It is well known that dairy products can exacerbate an existing case of acne; what may not be as well-known is that – in some people – dairy products may cause acne.

“Most of my youthful-looking, amazing clients have one thing in common: They do not have any dairy as part of their diet,” says Registered Dietitian Maria Bella, “There is a very strong correlation between consuming dairy products – such as milk – and acne, skin breakouts and aging.”

3. Sugar

Not much of a surprise that sugar makes this list – it is bad for skin in almost every conceivable way. Sugar not only contributes to clogging of the pours, but also causes inflammation, wrinkling, drying, and scaling.

It is also worth mentioning that all unhealthy carbohydrate-laden foods – not just simple sugars – can be bad for our pores. Some of these foods: rice, bread and pasta. If you wish to indulge anyways, be the wiser and choose whole grain items.

4. Salt

Salt is the rare (only?) compound that can be terrific for skin health when applied externally, and devastating to health when consumed. (Last time we checked, applying sugar or dairy to the skin doesn’t result in many skin benefits.)

On a serious note, salt can indeed cause higher amounts of clogged pores. Consuming salt also has the tendency to dehydrate us; this makes it more difficult to moisturize. Over-consuming salt can lead to dry, wrinkled, and aging skin, as well. Finally, consuming salt can aggravate acne conditions and cause inflammation of the body – including the skin.

5. Flour

High-glycemic foods (e.g. white bread, pasta) effectively convert to sugar. As such, high-glycemic foods mimic many of the same adverse effects. Inflammation, wrinkling, drying, and scaling are potential complications that result from consuming flour.

The good news is that many of these foods are available in whole-grain varieties. Whole grain types of bread, rice and cereal, for example, are markedly better for skin (and overall health) than the high-flour types of these products.

Healthy skin foods

The foods (and food types) listed above truly are exceptions to the rule. In terms of number and variety, there exist far more that are beneficial to skin health. Here are some:

– Tomatoes: helps prevent sunburn and sun damage.

– Dark chocolate: enhances smoothness and improves appearance.

– Walnuts: helps to improve elasticity and increases collagen production.

– Berries: helps improve texture and inhibits wrinkle growth.

Here are some others: spinach, oatmeal, soy, red wine, kiwi, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, kale, green tea.

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Science Explains What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Lemon Water With Turmeric Every Day

July 25, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Drinking water is, of course, essential to good hydration. But the benefits of adding lemon and turmeric are incredible for your body.

Water is recommended for those looking to lose weight as the first thing to try when feeling hungry. That’s because it can give us both that feeling of fullness in our stomachs and also eliminates the possibility that we might just be thirsty, not hungry.

Our bodies need water to survive and thrive. So getting plenty of fresh, clean water daily is good for us. Water gives our cells extra volume and makes it possible for the nutrients that we need to be dissolved and used by our cells.

How much water we need daily can vary by the climate we live in and our activity levels. However, a good rule is eight ounces of water eight times per day.

This equals roughly half a gallon of water or two liters. You may need to drink even more in dry climates or with heavy perspiration.

This article will examine the benefits of these two essential ingredients that you can add to one or more of those eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day and what happens in your body when you add lemon and turmeric.

These Things Happen To Your Body When You Drink Lemon Water With Turmeric Every Day

Benefits of adding turmeric to your drinking water every day

The benefits of turmeric are incredible, and if you are considering an herbal supplement, it is one of the best you can start with.

Turmeric is a wonderful help to your body because it is a powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer agent.
With all this illness-fighting power packed into one golden yellow spice, turmeric should be a household illness-fighting staple that has earned a place in the medicine cabinet.
Turmeric has been used for centuries to treat everything from acne to diabetes, gas to high cholesterol. Moreover, it does all of this with very few side effects or potential health risks to your body.
However, if you are trying to get pregnant, talk to your medical professional before using turmeric, as it may help to prevent pregnancy.
Although the health benefits of treating disease are huge with turmeric, the health prevention properties are also a very important reason to add this spice to your drinking water daily.
For example, researchers have found that turmeric has helped prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The research shows that turmeric prevents the degradation of neurons in the brain. That benefit helps to prevent the symptoms of dementia and memory loss.

Benefits of adding lemon to your drinking water every day

Drinking lemon water with turmeric can be done on ice, hot like tea, in the morning and evening, with or without a meal. Your body will absorb the benefits no matter when or how you take in this interesting flavor combination.

The bright yellow, sunny appearance of lemon is similar to the feeling your body gets when you add freshly squeezed lemon juice or even just a slice of lemon to your water.
Your body feels more alert, refreshed, and vibrant. The burst of tart flavor is like liquid sunshine invigorating your body’s systems.
Lemon and all citrus fruits are high in Vitamin C, which is excellent for your skin’s health.
Lemon juice also gives you soluble fiber, potassium, folate, calcium, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and a variety of phytochemicals, which are all critical for our health.
Citric acid helps digest food better due to the added breakdown in your stomach.
This leads to less gas, constipation, and bloating and helps absorb nutrients from your food. Researchers looking at heart health and lemon found a significant association between vitamin C intake and protection against cardiovascular mortality.
Vitamin C intake is also associated with bone mineral density, which can help prevent osteoporosis. The researchers also have found that lemon water helps improve mental functioning as we age. They found that ‘Older subjects with greater intakes of fruits and vegetables, and the corresponding nutrients vitamin C and folate, have been shown to perform better on cognitive tests.’

How to mix turmeric and lemon in your drinking water every day

So how much turmeric to how much lemon should you add to your water every day? As little as a teaspoon of turmeric is enough to get benefit from this remarkable spice. However, you can drink more than that if you would like. Add the juice from half of a lemon and mix both in an 8-ounce glass of water.

The result will be a brownish-yellow liquid that you can drink. Some people are not a fan of the flavor combination. So if that is the case, add some honey or cinnamon to the mixture to give it a different flavor. Alternatively, try some fresh mint to give it a refreshing taste.

Warm water will help the turmeric dissolve better, but you can let it cool before drinking it. Enjoy this healthy drink every day for some incredible health benefits.

Final Thoughts on Drinking Turmeric and Lemon Water Every Day

Turmeric and lemon, when consumed separately, provide multiple healthful benefits. Of course, water is the essence of life. When you combine these three things into a single potent drink, you are boosting your health, preventing ailments, and increasing your hydration–that’s the key to a long and healthy life.

Angelic Nurse Cat Takes Care of Other Animals In A Shelter

July 25, 2016 by Power of Positivity

When you come home from a long day at work, you might have your own little angels come to greet you and give you comfort when you need it most. In Bydgoszcz, Poland, they have their own angel that helps other animals at a veterinary clinic get better. Radamenes, a heroic black cat that suffered from a severe respiratory infection, now helps other animals improve their health after surviving his own traumatic experience.

The veterinary center helped him recover from his infection and give him back his life, and now, he cuddles with the other animals, and even helps to clean and massage them.

The locals consider Radamenes a hero, and many come to visit him because of his inspiring story and sweet nature. Here are some photos of this angelic cat that will remind you just how amazing and caring animals can be.

Angelic Nurse Cat Takes Care of Other Animals In A Shelter

Radamenes survived a serious respiratory infection and now helps other animals get better themselves

His owners thought he wouldn’t make it since he was so sick

The vets wanted to try to save him anyway

He surprisingly got better, and then decided to cuddle with the other animals and help them to improve, too

He gave the most attention to animals that had to undergo serious treatment or surgery

The vets at the animal shelter call him a full-time nurse because he constantly checks on the other animals and gives them love and care. He truly shows us how love, compassion, and care can transform lives, and how our own battles can help others!

You can read more from the original news report, here.

Do You Get Anxiety? Here’s Why It Might Mean You’re A Genius

July 24, 2016 by Power of Positivity

In the world we live in today, we have a lot on our plates. With the economy crashing worldwide, people struggling just to survive and pay bills, violence and riots increasing everywhere, and everyone wondering how we will survive all of this, of course this will produce fear and worry among us all.

Of course, some of us worry more than others, and we can’t really help it. We have worry etched into our DNA, and contemplate every decision and outcome thoroughly. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry; it might just mean you’re a genius, and here’s why.

If You Worry or Have Anxiety, Here’s Why It Might Mean You’re A Genius

Many of us worry in general about how we will take care of ourselves, pay bills, and all of those lovely adult responsibilities. However, worrying about a specific problem and thinking about the impact of our decisions might mean that we have a high level of creative intelligence.

This indicates great problem solving skills, higher thinking, and empathy.

A recent study discovered a strong correlation between excess worry and anxiety, and high intelligence. Personality Neurobiology expert Dr. Adam Perkins, says this about our thoughts and how it relates to intelligence:

“It occurred to me that if you happen to have a preponderance of negatively hued self-generated thoughts, due to high levels of spontaneous activity in the parts of the medial prefrontal cortex that govern conscious perception of threat and you also have a tendency to switch to panic sooner than average people, due to possessing especially high reactivity in the basolateral nuclei of the amygdala, then that means you can experience intense negative emotions even when there’s no threat present. This could mean that for specific neural reasons, high scorers on neuroticism have a highly active imagination, which acts as a built-in threat generator.”

To put it simply, Perkins means that if we think more negatively the majority of the time, this doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. Rather, people who worry and have anxiety might just have higher intelligence and creativity because they can spot problems before others do, and work on solving them.

This makes sense when you look at the world at large. Although it might seem very backwards on the surface, think about how many products out there strive to make our lives better. With smartphones, innovators saw that society had a need that they didn’t even know about. They wanted to have the ability to take pictures with the click of a button, connect with their friends on the go with social media, and have access to the Internet wherever they went.

Self-help novelists and speakers see that people have a need to develop themselves and become better in every aspect of life. They saw a problem, and created techniques to solve it.

Worry and anxiety help to transform society and make it better. Without worry, we would have nothing to solve, and would remain stagnant and complacent.

Dr. Perkins also had this to say:

“Cheerful, happy-go-lucky people by definition do not brood about problems and so must be at a disadvantage when problem-solving compared to a more neurotic person. We have a useful sanity check for our theory because it is easy to observe that many geniuses seem to have a brooding, unhappy tendency that hints they are fairly high on the neuroticism spectrum. For example, think of the life stories of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Vincent Van Gogh, Kurt Cobain, etc. Perhaps the link between creativity and neuroticism was summed up most succinctly of all by John Lennon when he said: ‘Genius is pain.’”

Even though positive thinking can help people to revolutionize their life, negative thinking also serves its purpose. It helps us to ponder new opportunities and ideas, and decide how we will approach a problem.

Don’t think of a negative thought as inherently bad – think of it as a tool to help you build a new possibility. The worry can help us to identify a problem and come up with a better way of approaching it than we did before.

The only reason you should worry about worrying too much is when it affects your life in such a way that you can’t focus on your work or the people you love the most. When worry and anxiety consume you, then they become a problem. However, when you use these tools in order to create, learn, and analyze a situation or problem, and use them sparingly, then feel free to worry away!

Worry can either act as fuel to the fire, or a barrier keeping us from our best selves. You get to choose how best to utilize this emotion, and hopefully, you will use it to improve yourself and the world around you. Worry can definitely paralyze you, but it doesn’t have to. You can transcend the fear and use it to take you to the next step in life.

Creative geniuses help us to advance in society. Without them, we might still live without modern irrigation, television, cars or phones. A creative person looks at the details of the world, and ponders how everything might work together as a whole in order to have a better functioning society. They might live in their heads a lot, but they sure do creative beautiful things out of their imagination, and we should thank them for it.

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