There’s a rumour going around: electrical gadgets emit harmful radiation which affect our health. Since we’ve been doing The 2010 TV Detox here on Live Lighter, Emmanuel (movie & TV lover), asked that we finally settle this dispute in a post. Here it is!

Like chemicals, electromagnetic radiation occurs naturally as well as from man-made products. We receive radiation from the sun, earth, our own bodies and of course, all our electrical devices.  It’s all around us!

What is radiation exactly? Click here to find out.

From the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA):

Man cannot escape exposure to some radiation. We are surrounded by natural radioactivity in the earth and by cosmic rays from outer space. This is called background radiation and cannot be controlled. We are also exposed to manmade radiation, which can and must be controlled.

There are different types of radiation along the radiation spectrum, some more harmful than others. According to RADTown U.S.A. the radiation that comes from x-ray machines are “a form of ionizing radiation, which is capable of removing electrons from atoms and damaging living cells and the DNA of those cells.”

Man-made non-ionizing radiation includes: lasers, televisions, computer monitors and wireless technology. However, televisions and computer monitors that use a cathode ray tube (CRT) can potentially emit low-level x-ray radiation.

So easy enough, to reduce your exposure to harmful radiation from your TV or computer, buy flat screens!

But wait, that’s not all…

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It’s officially December and although there’s no snow yet here in Toronto, Canada, the lights are up and people are humming cheery tunes. It’s beginning to feel a lot like the Holidays! This is the best time to get a jump start on your holiday planning.

Every year we have the best intentions of making the holidays extra special but what usually happens is we overload ourselves and end up stressed. By the time the holidays actually roll around, we’re frazzled, broke and looking for the nearest alcoholic holiday bevvy or calorie-rich treats to calm our nerves.

However, you can actually enjoy the entire month of December with just a little forethought, planning, organizing and a healthy dose of reality!

To help you get started in your holiday planning, here are my 5 handy lists:

1. Holiday Plan. This is the BIG picture. Try visualizing the perfect holidays. Do you see people opening up cards from you and smiling because you cared enough to let them know you’re thinking of them this holiday season? Are you and your family gathered together?  Where are you? What have you brought with you to share in the festivities?

   Now it’s time to work backwards! You’ve got your vision, how will you get there? I divided the page up into the 5 weeks of December and looked to my calendar for holiday parties. I plugged my planned events into each corresponding week and then created weekly goals based on my vision. For instance, this week I have listed: 1) Finalize plan & fill out lists; 2) budget; 3) Send out cards; 4) Finish hanging lights & decorating; and 5) Purchase cookie ingredients & other holiday necessities. Read the rest of this entry

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Ever wonder how some discipline and criticism is helpful while other times it feels like the sting of a thousand wet noodles across your face? Some days we’re just sensitive and take things personally. Other times, however, it’s all in the delivery.

Why? Well, many wise parents and managers already know the secret to constructive discipline and criticism, but for everyone else you might be surprised to know it has everything to do with self-esteem!

The One Minute Manager is a highly effective, easy-to-use management technique that focuses on people. You can find a plaque on the 1-minute manager’s desk as a reminder:

“People Who Feel Good About Themselves Produce Good Results”

So to be a good leader, parent, teacher, manager or all-around great person and communicator, it’s important to phrase your words in such as a way that criticizes the behaviour or results and leaves the person intact.

In other words, you can share your thoughts and feelings about people’s mistakes or performance but make certain to let them know that you still value them as a person.

Why is it important to choose your words carefully?

In a perfect world, no one would have self-esteem problems. Unfortunately, `constructive criticism 101′ was left out of the school curriculum.

Instead, many of our caretakers who were simply trying to help us become better people, defaulted to destructive criticism. They were quick to point out our mistakes but forgot to remind us that we’re still lovable and valuable human beings.

As young children, we took everything personally because we didn’t know better. In effect, being repeatedly told we were wrong conditioned us to believe we’re worthless and unworthy individuals.

How to Give Healthy Discipline

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In this fantastic Healthygirl.ca article, “A Nation of Addicts,” Natalia suggests that the cause and cure for addiction is consciousness. And she’s not the only one. Many people today believe that we use our addictions to silence our bodies and emotions.

Spiritual leaders like Eckhart Tolle teach us the benefits of mastering the art of creating peace and how to activate the power of Now. For quick reference, straight from the Live Lighter vaults, here are 27 tips to bring you into the present moment so you can break the cycle of addiction:

1. Drink water.
2. Breathe! Most of us breathe from the tops of our lungs. Try filling up your lower lungs with longer inhales/exhales.
3. Run up and down a few stairs.
4. Get on the floor and do some core exercises.
5. Ask yourself: “Right now, do I really want this insert addiction here?”
6. Call a buddy who’s overcome the same addiction or who’s also trying to raise their consciousness level.
7. Yoga.
8. Stretch.
9. Make some tea.
10. Ask yourself: “Why am I better off without insert addiction here?”
11. Do some dishes.
12. Organize papers.
13. Brush your teeth. Read the rest of this entry

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Add in an apple a day and you’ve got a sure-fire way to avoid the doctor’s office and live a longer, happier life. But why walk when you can run?

While this post will be especially useful for those just joining the healthy living bandwagon, walking is for EVERYBODY. Here’s why:

1. The easiest way to make activity a habit. We all know diets don’t work. Or if they do, the results don’t last long after the diet ends. What does work is healthy living which includes (mostly) exercise and good nutrition. Walking is a low impact, enjoyable activity that you can do everyday as part of your commitment to taking better care of your body.
2. Helps you lose weight. Many people at the beginning of their health journey (including myself!) make the mistake that going harder will give you faster and better results. This is a false belief that will actually do you more harm than good! Your fat burning zone is 50-60% of your maximum heart rate which translates into a walk that you’re just about to break a sweat and can still comfortably carry a conversation.
3. Will help you stay sane. Walking is a meditation exercise, if you choose. Walking outdoors, whether it’s your tree-lined neighbourhood or nearby park, is even better because it provides the added benefit of nature. Nature is known to having a calming effect on the nervous system, reducing stress. Read the rest of this entry

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Negative emotions are toxic. Although they are an important part in the human experience, if we neglect to fully process them, they fester within our bodies and create dis-ease. Eventually, they manifest as illness.

Ever wonder the secret of those who seem untouched by negative circumstances? You know who I’m talking about. They are usually healthy, exude an almost unwavering positive attitude and rarely allow others to affect them.

If they are not among the emotionally detached (those who display apathy rather than understanding and acceptance), then I would bet my bottom dollar that they view the world with a spiritual perspective.

Spiritually-inclined individuals have mastered the art of non-attachment, which is very different from detachment. From Transcending the Levels of Consciousness by Dr. David Hawkins:

`Detachment’ is an ongoing process that, unfortunately, can lead to apathy and emotional flatness, noninvolvement, and indifference.  It can also result in passivity and loss of interest in life. There are misunderstandings of spirituality that teach that even love is an attachment, which is a misconception, for love is an aspect of God; possessiveness is an aspect of ego.

Rather than cutting themselves totally off from emotion, the spiritually-minded simply do not get upset over anything for very long. They feel but do not wallow. They know negative emotions (pity, shame, guilt, hatred, grief, fear, desire, anger or pride) cause them harm in the form of stress.

And not the good stress that helps us grow.

Non-attachment means less personal suffering because emotions are simply emotions and earthly pleasures are fleeting. A spiritual individual does not attach their feelings to any internal or external aspects of life, whether it is personal identity, an object, relationship, social quality, or any other aspect of physical life.

The spiritual person allows themselves to feel but knows that true healing comes from working through their negative emotions in order to replace them with positive emotions (courage, trust, optimism, forgiveness, understanding, love, joy, reverence and peace). It’s like eradicating the dark with an infusion of light.

But how many of us, with good intentions, have been fueled into action by negative emotions? If the end result is positive, are the self-damaging effects worth it? What do you think? Please let us know in the comments below!

Yesterday’s post was a teaser and illustrated some amazing health results I’ve achieved in just a few weeks. This post is the second half of my first USANA products review and reveals exactly what I did to regain control of my life.

At the end of June, I started a supplementation regimen:

USANA’s HealthPak 100™ – More than a multivitamin

The HealthPak 100 delivers a full-body approach to supplementation, designed to provide a comprehensive balance of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to support the function of various tissues and organ systems in the body.

One box contains a 4 week supply of 56 individually wrapped packets, 6 tablets in the morning and 6 at night:

• the full daily dose of the USANA Essentials™ (Mega Antioxidant plus Chelated Mineral)
• Active Calcium™, a core USANA Optimizer
• USANA’s unique AO Booster™ for added antioxidant protection (contains, among other bioflavinoids, a full daily dose of the grape-seed extract found in Proflavanol® 90).

I’ve researched USANA and trust they produce quality nutritional supplements. They are up-to-date in all the latest clinical studies on nutrition and take into account the bioavailability of their supplements. With a well-balanced, healthy diet, USANA’s HealthPak 100™ can help deliver essential nutrients missing  in even the most nutrition-conscious individuals.

After a week, I implemented USANA’s health program:

USANA’s RESET™

This 5-day, high-fiber cleanse program is designed to reset your metabolism and stabilize your blood sugar. It helps you kick your carb cravings, lose weight and guides you on a path to healthy eating. The kit includes: Read the rest of this entry

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This first USANA Health Sciences product review required me to step back and really evaluate how I’ve been feeling lately. I got a great bird’s eye view and what a surprise!

I’ve been rocking my world over the past 6 weeks and to give credit where credit is due, I’m convinced USANA has been a major contribution to this enhanced, effective state. This post will explain what lead me to try USANA and the positive results showing up in my life.

Background

We’ve been questioning the quality of our current food supply and wondering just how damaging our hectic lifestyles are in these Live Lighter posts:

• Are Nutritional Supplements Necessary?
• Processed O.J. v.s. Fresh-Squeezed
• I Vote For Nutritious Food!

Although I lead a healthy lifestyle (as much as I can at any given time) and am generally very healthy, since September of last year, life’s been harder than it was when I started Live Lighter. I’m imbalanced again. *sigh*

If you’ve been following Live Lighter, you’ll know that my imbalance has been showing up as health issues, including digestive trouble and addiction. Both of which negatively affect nutrition (further complicating the imbalance) and therefore hormones and mood.

A general list of health complaints

Although I still enjoyed good days, by the time June rolled around the not-so-good days were becoming more frequent. To give you an idea of how I was feeling at the time, here is a general list of my symptoms varying in severity and time: Read the rest of this entry

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Sex is a natural instinct. Sure, we can live without it, just like we can also technically survive without much exercise or whole foods. But when you start fulfilling these basic needs for your body, you quickly discover why healthy living is worth the effort.

Whether you are flying solo or with a partner, here are a few of the health benefits of regular sex from The Hormone Diet by Dr. Natasha Turner:

Note: most of the following arise from increasing and/or balancing sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen) or from the general benefits of exercise. To reduce repetition, benefits without further explanation are attributed to these factors.

1. Enhances libido. Our sex drive naturally lowers as we age. But if we keep using it, like lean muscle mass, we won’t lose it!
2. Adds fire to sexual desire.
   
3. Gives us more sex appeal.
4. Improves mood, motivation and memory.
5. Increases fat burning, bone density, muscle mass and strength.
6. Indirectly supports fat loss and can prevent abdominal fat.
7. Depending on your effort in the session, improves the fitness of the heart.
8. Curbs appetite and food cravings. “Apparently, the dopamine pathways in the brain involved in stimulating desire for both sex and food are shut down by the hormones released immediately after we have an orgasm.”
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Editor’s note: This is a guest post by holistic nutritionist and health counselor, Natural Neda.

You can’t turn on the TV, drive down the road or go to a party without being confronted with America’s hottest obsession: weight. Diets are a billion-dollar industry; companies spend millions and millions luring you to try the latest diet (low carb, high protein, low fat, no fat, you name it) with promises that this will (finally!) be the solution-your shortcut to a thinner body. Advertising efforts also deeply affect our children, who develop distorted body images and are often on diets as early as nine or 10 years of age.

Our culture touts diet pills, celebrity workouts, convenience foods and trendy diets to help us achieve our desired weight, but these quick-fix solutions have backfired. America’s populace has reached its highest weight in history. About half of Americans are overweight; one-third are obese. Diets steer us away from our common sense and dip deeply into our pocketbooks while eliciting few, if any, lasting results.

Diets don’t work because each person is unique, with different needs based on gender, age, ancestry and lifestyle; how could one diet be right for everyone? Diets don’t work because they are extreme solutions. As in physics, if a pendulum swings to one extreme, it has to swing equally to the other. A diet might work for a short amount of time, but research shows that almost all diets result in a 10-pound gain once off the diet. Diets don’t work because they are too restrictive. People who fail on diet plans are not flawed and weak. Diets by nature require discipline and restriction at levels that are unsustainable by a healthy human body.

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