The Mediterranean Diet For A Healthy Heart

Have you ever heard your heart? I did once when a cardiologist connected the stethoscope to a speaker on his computer and my heart sounded like a monster taking a mud bath! It has just been revealed that the old stethoscope is about to be made redundant! Why? Doctors have found that an Mp3 is much more effective. At a recent conference in Stockholm medics reported that the old stethoscope is quite adequate but the doctors listening to those sounds from your heart and lungs have problems in interpreting them. So, some doctors place a Mp3 device on the patient's chest and the sound quality is not only much better which means they can better interpret them but also that other doctors can listen in when there is a doubt about the diagnosis.

What are the facts you need to know when talking about a healthy heart? Most cardiologists will ask you about your diet and that is going to come under some scrutiny! Supplementing our diets may be the best approach to a healthy heart . The Mediterranean Diet has been studied not only by The American Heart Foundation but also other prestigious institutions such as The University of Harvard. I want to outline in this article what you need to know about your heart and heart disease.

If we have heart problems we can use techniques such as yoga, meditation, proper diet and make some important lifestyle and job changes so that we can still lead a dynamic life. Dietary considerations which not only help prevent heart disease, but can even reverse symptoms in those with diagnosed conditions. The Mediterranean Diet is such a diet and has gained world attention because it has proven to be a great help in the prevention of heart disease.

If your diet has too much salt and high in saturated fats plus an excess of sugary and dairy foods, then is a potential time bomb waiting to explode.

Ask your doctor to check your cholesterol. This is done with a blood test that will show the amount of cholesterol in your blood with a number. The test will also show the amount of "good" and "bad" cholesterol. Garlic and onions can also help improve your cholesterol profile. A high intake of fibre helps lower cholesterol levels.

This is just the beginning. The Mediterranean Diet has all these ingredients and lots more for a happy healthy heart with some delicious recipes.

Lonesome Dove by Larry Mcmurtry

It has been a long time since I have read a book that has been able to chill my veins or make me cry.

The Lonesome Dove is exactly what I needed. Although it is a long read, when you start you easily get hooked.

In fact it is so impressive that I actually didn't want the story to end and as I reached the last couple of chapters, it actually was depressing to realize that the fun was over.

The story has its own share of horror and heart wrenching moments. The plot of the story is a very simple one, the adventure begins when a group of out of work Texan rangers, an ex-whore, and various cow-hands of all ages are assigned the task of driving a herd of cattle across the country into Montana.

The plot is a slow one but the writing is so amazing and the characters so interesting and like-able that one does not really notice the slowish pace. The list of characters in the novel is a long one and there are many subplots so if this is not your sort of thing i wouldn't recommend it.

The book is full of horror, you learn fairly quickly to not get too attached to the characters, when they are trampled by the herd or pushed off a ridge. There is one death that left me pretty shaken up and made me think that the character was not really dead. Death comes easily and unexpectedly, add to this the desperation of these times when medicines were not exactly reliable.....

I can't really do justice to the lonesome dove, so I will just recommend that you read it for yourself. Before the text begins, a quote is given: "What they dreamed, we live, and what we dream, they lived".

Flower Meanings & History of Flowers

The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are the subject of poems and myths, and religious symbols are associated with flowers as well. Many girls are named after flowers. The main reason for the popularity of flowers though is their ability to bring good cheer.

For all fellow lovers and admirers of flowers here is some background information about flowers. This will help give your flower gift giving and buying a greater context.

Asters

There are over 600 species of asters, the most popular being the Monte Casino. Ancient societies believed that the odor of its leaves, when burnt, drove away serpents. While this might not be as applicable today, perhaps its connotation is still relevant: Giving asters means, "I am not sure whether you have been faithful to me". Be careful who you send asters to!

Meanings: charming, patience

Bells of Ireland

Although the name suggests these flowers come from Ireland, they originated in western Asia. Bells of Ireland have a spicy/peppery scent and are part of the mint family. They stand for good luck.

Meanings: good luck, whimsy

Carnations

Turn of the century dandies would not leave the house without a white or red carnation in the buttonhole of their suit. With the end of this tradition and the fact that carnations are so easily cultivated and grown, the flower has lost some of its popularity. However, carnations are not only beautiful and long lasting flowers, they also send a message: When you receive a red carnation bouquet, it means, "My heart aches for you" and when you receive white carnations the sender is saying: "I am still available."

Meanings: fascination, devoted Love

Chrysanthemum

Imagine, chrysanthemums have been cultivated in Chinese gardens for almost 3000 years! The name chrysanthemum comes from the Greek chrysos (gold) and anthos (flower). Today some of the meanings associated with this flower are: innocence, cheerfulness and loyal love.

Meanings: cheerfulness, innocence

Dahlias

The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico and this is also its birthplace. An old Aztec document states that the Aztecs used dahlias as a treatment for epilepsy. Only in the 19th century did the flower come to Europe where it was bred and cultivated into today's varieties.

Meanings: dignity, elegance

Iris

Did you know that there are so many different varieties of iris that they can be grown wild year round, in water and on land? Iris was most significant in history as the emblem of France -- Fleur-de-Lis -- established in the 11th century by the king of France. Today, it is the state flower of Tennessee and its meanings are faith, hope and wisdom.

Meanings: faith, hope, wisdom

Lilies

Lilies have been associated with many ancient myths. They are mentioned in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, and symbolize chastity and virtue. Even today, lilies are associated with purity and faith.

Meanings: purity, faith

Peruvian lilies or alstroemeria are named after the Swedish botanist Baron Klas von Alstroemer. He brought the flower seeds back from a trip to South America in the 18th century.

Meanings: friendship, devotion

Calla lilies were first imported from South Africa to America in the mid-nineteenth century. The waxy white blooms and spearheaded leaves of the calla lily stand for radiant beauty and sophistication.

Meanings: sophistication, beauty

Lisianthus

Lisianthus may sound like a Latin name, but it is one of several common names associated with this plant. It is also referred to as Prairie Gentian, Prairie Rose or Texas Bluebell. The flowers existing today are derived from an American wildflower that is native to prairies ranging from Colorado to Nebraska and down to Texas.

Meanings: outgoing, thoughts

Orchids

During the 19th Century, orchids were widely collected. With nearly 25,000 varieties, some orchids are among the most exquisite and expensive flowers available. In antiquity, orchids were correlated with love and fertility. It was common knowledge that they would protect against diseases. Given as a gift they stand for preciousness and seduction.

Meanings: seduction, preciousness

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are an old decorative flower, widely used by the Romans. From its origin in southern Spain the cultivated form was spread throughout the whole Roman Empire. Nowadays remnants of this original population which all belong to the species Antirrhinum majus are found among Roman remains like temples in southern France, Malta, and Italy. The flower, also called "gracious lady" stands for deception.

Meanings: desire, strength

Roses

With their far-reaching popularity, roses are the queens of flowers. After buttercup, the roses are the second oldest variety of flowers on the planet. Biologists can trace roses back some 200 million years! Although there is a huge number of meanings and symbols associated with roses, the most common of course is love, which originated in Greek mythology. When Aphrodite cried about the death of her lover Adonis, she had red "Adonis Roses" grown with his blood, - thus red roses are the symbol of never-ending love. Important to mention are the roses' thorns, of which we all probably have some painful memory. Symbolically, love can be painful and full of suffering when not treated carefully.

Red roses: I love you, unconscious beauty

White roses: spiritual love, purity

Yellow roses: joy, gladness

Orange roses: fascinated, enthusiastic

Pink roses: grace, gentility

Tulips

Originally from Persia, tulips were introduced to Western Europe and the Netherlands in the 17th century. When growers started to hybridize the flower, they found ways of making it even more decorative. Hybrids of the flower were a scarcity at the time and a symbol of high status. Soon tulips became very popular as a trading product and bulbs were traded at the highest prices. The months of late 1636 to early 1637 would make history in the Netherlands as "Tulipmania". A bed of tulips was worth up to $5,000, the value of a small house in Amsterdam. The bulbs became currency, and their value was quoted at the stock market.

Meanings: perfect lover, fame

Sunflowers

Sunflowers turn their heads toward the sun and this how they got their common name. They originated in Central and South America. Sunflowers are not only pretty to look at but sunflower seeds are power-packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamin E - all important to the nutritional quality of your diet. Wait! That doesn't mean you're supposed to eat the seeds out of your sunflower bouquet.

Meanings: adoration, sunshine

Florida DUI Offences

Driving under the influence of alcohol is considered an offense irrespective of the country it is committed in. In the US stringent road-laws are enforced, and driving under the influence (DUI) invites a very harsh punishment depending upon the nature and the degree of the offense.

Florida has one of the highest numbers of DUI arrests in the country. As a result, Florida roads among the most unsafe particularly in Dade, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Pensacola, Pasco, Jacksonville and Broward, where the rich and famous live.

The State Police Department and the Motor Vehicle authorities in Florida are trying to arrest the DUI situation by laying down stiff penalties starting at $250 up to $500 for first time offenders; $500 to $1000 for second time offenders; and a stiff fine and jail time for third or more time offenders. Depending upon the seriousness of the offense jail-terms vary, from a minimum of 6 months to 30 years for driver's involved accidents and vehicular homicide. Accused DUI drivers may also have their vehicles confiscated and license suspended for an indefinite period. In most of the cases, the court orders mandatory community-service that is usually a minimum of 50 hours.

The growing alcohol problem among Florida drivers, does pose a big headache for law-enforcing authorities. Florida police officers and the Division of Motor Vehicles are trying a marketing plan to drive home the message that, "drinking and driving are two separate activities and should be enjoyed separately."

Social scientists however, point out that DUI offenses are not individual happenings on the road. The life style of the rich and the famous, their growing indifference to the lives and properties of others, the disintegration of family-bonding and lack of proper education are a few contributing factors to this menace. A concerted effort on everyone's part has to be made to get to the bottom of the DUI problem and what can be done about it.

I Have Fibromyalgia - Why Am I Sad In Winter?

Some people, and this number may actually be larger than once supposed, do not do well in the winter. They develop a severe mood disorder that has been referred to as seasonal affective disorder. SAD may be more common in patients already suffering from fibromyalgia.

Modell and colleagues studied 226 patients with SAD and found that it actually was a syndrome consisting of multiple symptoms (Modell, JG, et al. Biol Psychiatry. 2005; 58: 658-667.) These consisted of depression, fatigue, social withdrawal, anxiety, feelings of guilt, carbohydrate craving, insomnia, increased appetite, weight gain, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The onset of these symptoms may simulate a fibromyalgia flare. And in fact, there is very little difference from a clinical viewpoint. Symptoms begin in the late fall and continue through the end of March with January and February being the worst month for symptoms.

SAD is felt to be due to abnormal functioning of the pineal gland at the base of the brain. The normal circadian rhythm is regulated by the pineal. The pineal gland secretes melatonin in the evening and shuts off melatonin during daylight hours. Dysregulation of melatonin secretion, both in the amount as well as the timing appears to be the major glitch. Srinivasan proposed that the morning fatigue- non-restorative sleep- occurring with SAD could be due to prolonged melatonin secretion in the morning (Srinivasan V, et al. J Biol Psychiatry. 2006; 7: 138-151.)

Treatments for SAD should be familiar to fibromyalgia patients. The first involves use of a light box for 30 minutes in the morning. Theoretically, this should shut off pineal secretion of melatonin because of the light exposure on the eyes. A light box has to be high intensity emitting at least 10,000 lux. A variety of these "sun boxes" are available. They cost approximately $400-600. The light box should be used after consulting with your medical specialist. Careful adherence to instructions will help prevent eyestrain and headaches.

Alternatively, selective serotonin reuptake inhibiting medicines (SSRIS) may also be used. The drug that has been studied the most is Prozac. While usually well tolerated, it does have potential side-effects including palpitations, sleep disturbance, and loss of libido.

Melatonin taken in a small dose (0.1 mg) in the late afternoon may also be effective for SAD. This dose is small enough not to cause drowsiness but is enough to make the pineal gland reset the body's biological clock. Since the usual over-the-counter dose is 3 mgs, a patient may need the help of a compounding pharmacy to be able to get the tiny 0.1 mg dose.

Combining the low-dose melatonin with a light box also seems to be effective.

Exercise is another treatment that is useful. Non impact aerobic exercise helps stimulate blood flow, increases energy, and stimulates endorphin production in the brain. All of these help with the fatigue and mood problems that occur with both SAD and FM.

Finally cognitive behavioral therapy should not be neglected. It is a cornerstone of FM care and also is beneficial for SAD.

What Teachers Might Learn From Sales People

Since surveys in most of the western world consistently rank used car salespeople as among the least trusted of all professions, it is little wonder some people extend that reputation to all sales people. Teachers, on the other hand, are held in high esteem. So what could a teacher possibly learn from a profession so low in the public trust?

To answer that question we begin by looking at an age-old sales technique - stress the features of the product. As an example, in the 1950's when large mainframe computers were penetrating the business market, some sales people entered a potential customers office armed with every tiny detail of what their systems could do. Product features are the technical details of what the product does and how it does it. With the exception of the company that was to dominate the market - IBM - computer sales people rarely talked about what their product could do for the customer.

Today, the sales bible has changed and now effective sellers stress not the features of a product, but its advantages and benefits to the customer. Effective sales people see themselves as selling solutions to customer problems. They only talk about product features in terms of how those features will benefit the customer and work to their advantage.

In many ways, traditional lecture methods are similar to sales people selling the features of their products. Indeed some teachers, experts in their field, relish the opportunity to dazzle their learners with every conceivable detail of their content expertise, without ever considering how learning the content might benefit the learner. There is no felt need to "sell" the students on the idea they would benefit in some way from learning whatever content the teacher happened to be presenting.

These teacher presentations lacked the same ingredient an old time sales person's pitch lacked - relevance. Educational theorists have long suspected people learn best those things that are directly relevant to their own life experience. Today, scientific research on how the brain learns appears to support that belief.

Search the Internet for information on effective selling techniques and it would be hard to find an article that does not mention the importance of stressing benefits, not just features. To get customers to make a purchase decision, sales people know they need to demonstrate the relevance the product has to their business, either now or in the near future.

Why can't teachers do the same? This kind of thinking should permeate any instructional methodology. In an effective sales presentation, any mention of a product feature is accompanied by a corresponding benefit.

Some teachers recognize the importance of relevance and begin a class or seminar with statements of how learning the content of the class can help learners in their future lives. And then these same teachers promptly forget to reinforce the learning benefits throughout the entire course, not just at the beginning.

In effect, stressing benefits is a way of thinking, not just a technique.