Free Friday: Procrastination Nation

"Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of fun until you get the bill." Christopher Parker

We all know procrastination well.  Most of us could write our own book on it, but we'd never get around to it. It's been said that it's the killer of time, the robber of success and the pillar of laziness.  And it doesn't seem to be getting better.  Modern life beckons us with distractions like television, video games, the internet and fast food.  Putting important things off becomes easier and easier year after year.  We all procrastinate sometimes, and many of us procrastinate daily.

So, how do we overcome this social ailment?  Being a procrastinator is not something we're born with; we learn this behavior.  From the many studies that have been done, experts agree that procrastinators are often perfectionists or people who are afraid of failure.  Also, many people give themselves too many things to do and become overwhelmed.  The good news is that learned behavior can be unlearned.

Many people overcome their habit of procrastination by setting goals for themselves.  These goals need to be realistic and mostly small.  If you set a large goal for yourself, it helps to break it down into chunks that can easily be managed.  Once you set goals for yourself, select a few that are easy or that you know you'll do.  Many people also find that a reward system is very motivating.  Once you begin to create new habits in smaller areas of your life (i.e. taking a half hour walk daily or cleaning the bathroom on Fridays), you can conquer another one that might seem a little bigger.

For me, procrastination has definitely created a lot of frustration in my life.  One thing I find that really works for me is to keep trying.  No matter how many times I tried to quit smoking, change my diet, start exercising, read more, etc., I always came back to it again.  Anyone who is successful at anything will tell you that they didn't get there on their first, second or third try.  They likely fell on their face many times, but they got back up.  This is the key to succeeding: keep trying!  Eventually, you have to get it right.

Mystic Merman

Therapy Thursday: Juice Fasting for Health

Fasting stretches back thousands of years in nearly every tradition including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism, but has also been used by scientists and doctors to treat diseases.  Although modern allopathic medicine scoffs at fasting, calling it pseudo-science and dangerous, thousands of people every year find relief from a wide spectrum of ailments from cancer to arthritis while doing safe fasts.

Traditionally, fasting has mostly been on water, which should always be done under the supervision of an experienced professional if done more than two or three days or in cases of severe illness or emaciation.  However, in the last century, many people have employed the benefits of fasting from solid foods on freshly-pressed, raw juices.  Dr. Max Gerson used juice fasting and other therapies to cure thousands of patients from "terminal" illnesses, especially cancer.  His daughter continues his work in Mexico (she is not allowed to practice in the US).

For most people, juice fasting is a safe and effective way to clean the body and begin a healing process.  Juice provides many of the nutrients needed by the body, but gives the digestion a rest, allowing the body to eliminate accumulated waste and freeing up energy for healing.  There are countless studies and testimonials of people who have cured themselves of "incurable" diseases.  If you are interested in trying a juice fast, I recommend trying a short fast first (one or two days).  With no experience, going longer than this can be difficult and possibly unsafe.

Over the years, I have done several juice fasts from three to ten days.  After watching the film Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead a couple of months ago, I became inspired to do a 30 day juice fast.  The first week proved to be very challenging, but I persevered.  Once I hit my 8th day, things got much easier and I started to really feel good and drop weight more rapidly.  By the end of the fast, I had lost 30 pounds, had no more inflammation in my right food, had a heck-of-a-lot more energy and had glowing skin.  This was also a good impetus for getting back on a raw food diet and starting this blog.

In order to make sure that I was getting a lot of nutrition and that my blood sugar was at a safe level, I used a lot of greens in my juice.  Here is an example of the ingredients I would put in my juice: kale, collard, celery, parsley, cilantro, mint, lemon, carrots, apples, garlic, ginger and cucumber.  You might want to start off with just a couple of greens and more carrots and apples until you can handle less sweetness.  Also, lemon really takes the edge off the bitter greens and is a great detoxifier.

The juicer I use is one of the most expensive on the market, but I believe it's the best: the Green Star juicer.  With double gears that move toward each other , the Green Star crushes the fresh food instead of cutting it, which extracts more juice than any other juicer I've ever used.  It's worth the extra cost for something you will likely use for the rest of your life.

Start a short juice fast and see what this therapy can do for you.  Happy juicing!  Be healthy!

Mystic Merman

Workout Wednesday: To Gym or Not To Gym

If you live in a place that's relatively warm all year (like San Diego), it may seem pointless to join a gym when there are so many activities to do outside.  People who live in colder climates welcome the heated gym to get exercise during the winter months.  Because I live in a warmer climate, I do prefer to spend most of my time outside.  In fact, I've joined a gym three or four times, signed the year promise and watched as they charged me every month, even though I stopped going.  I currently have a membership, which I was actually about to cancel.  However, I'm giving it another shot.

The most difficult thing for me about the gym is monotony.  Pumping iron or working out on a machine feels good for a couple of days, but it eventually becomes boring and I'm not motivated to go.  A friend at work suggested that I try the many classes that the gym has to offer.  When I looked on the schedule, my membership includes yoga, Zumba, ab workouts, tai chi and several other classes.  I don't have to get my workout at the gym every day, but when I do go, I can find the variety that I need.

Finding variety is actually an important part of exercise.  If the body copies the same motions, resistance and actions every day, it becomes more rigid.  It's good to give that body something different to do every day.  Joining a good gym can help accomplish that.  At the gym you can work major muscle groups with weights, practice yoga and other flexibility training, hop on a stationary bike and more.  If you have something different to look forward to every day, the gym won't be such a bad place.  Of course, for me, it will just supplement my outdoor activity.

On a side note, I've been doing great with exercise this last week.  I've gone on two hikes, walked a couple miles on the street, took an outdoor class on a Martial Art and I'm now heading off to the gym to do an aerobics class.  Staying motivated is the key and a clean diet really helps in having the energy.  Happy workouts my friends.  Stay healthy!

Mystic Merman

Tasty Tuesday: The Benefits of Fermented Foods

People from all areas of the globe have been fermenting foods for thousands of years.  Most of us are familiar with fermented alcoholic beverages like wine, beer and ciders, and even Kombucha is gaining popularity in the West.  There are also fermented dairy foods like yogurt and kefir, which help to diminish the negative effects of eating dairy products, as well as fermented meats and fish.  Plant-based ferments, however, are the most popular, with dozens of types existing.  Asians make kim chi, tempe, miso, natto and zha cai.  The Germans are famous for sauerkraut and grain brews.  And Americans certainly love pickles, Tabasco sauce, vinegar and wine.

With all the varieties of fermented foods out there, it may be difficult to decipher which ones are healthy.  Many companies use white vinegar, harmful sugars and salts, and poor ingredients.  In fact, most pickles on the market can hardly be considered a health food.  But the benefits of fermented foods are undeniable.  As long as the alcohol is very low, fermented foods provide a host of probiotics, which help keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy and enhance digestion of nutrients.  In addition, they increase the bio-availability of amino acids, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.  They are also known to decrease certain toxins like oxalic acid, which is found in many vegetables.

The best way to get all the benefits of fermented foods is to learn how to make them yourself.  I highly recommend the book Wild Fermentation by Sandor Ellix Katz.  Although this book is not completely vegan, he does give some of the best advice and recipes for making fermented vegetables like sauerkraut, kim chi, pickles and miso.  The process takes a while to learn, but it's fun and you can creatively ferment just about any vegetable. Once you learn how to ferment foods, you will be amazed at how much food you can create and preserve for very little cost.  Fermenting foods is a great way to eat healthy and save money.

While I am new to the process of fermenting foods, I've decided to jump right in and try several things.  I have a jar of pickles going in my kitchen right now (I found heirloom gherkins from a local farmer).  I also finished a batch of hot carrots with onions, jalapeños and heirloom eggplants.  These turned out okay, but I'm definitely still a novice.  I also have a good-sized batch of sauerkraut going on its third day.  This is the most basic recipe, and I recommend starting with it:

3 heads of cabbage (save some outer leaves)
1 tablespoon of good sea salt (Celtic or Himalayan are the best)
1 glove of garlic

Chop or grate the cabbage finely and place into a large bowl (you can do one head at a time if you don't have a large enough bowl).  Add the salt and begin to mix in with hands.  Continue to do this, squeezing the cabbage firmly.  This will begin to create a brine.  Once you have enough brine, put about a cup of it in a blender and blend it with the garlic and a few cabbage scraps.  Poor the brine back into the cabbage and mix again with hands.  Once you have a lot of brine, place the entire contents into a glass jar and press down with fists.  Make sure enough brine comes to the top to cover the cabbage.  Top off with some of the saved outer leaves of the cabbage and place a plate or heavy item on top.  Set on your counter top for three to seven days.  Check every day for a sour smell.  In the summer, the fermentation will happen faster than the winter.  Also, adding more salt slows down the fermentation process.  Once the kraut is ready, store in the refrigerator and enjoy.

Here is my favorite video on making fermented veggies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NAdNxTDJ1k

Happy fermenting!

Mystic Merman

Manic Monday: Stress, the Big Killer

While hiking with my best friend this weekend, we were discussing the different factors that contribute to degenerative diseases like cancer and heart disease.  Dozens of factors certainly contribute to life-threatening diseases, we agreed, but there is one that acts as a trigger for most people: stress.

Life is full of stressful situations.  We all have to deal with difficult people, concerns over finances, driving, family and marital challenges, stressful jobs, and the list goes on.  However, being in a stressful situation doesn't mean that stress is present.  The inability to adapt or adjust to the situation creates stress in the organism.

While there are different levels of adaptation and some people are better at it than others, the best way to tell how you are adapting to a stressful situation is to pay attention to your body.  Everything from slight agitation to rage affects your body's chemistry.  Depending on the level of stress, breathing speeds up or becomes restricted, muscles tighten, the heart rate increases, and some people even become dizzy or nauseous.  Consequently, the body releases cortisol and other stress hormones. Numerous studies have been conducted by public and private groups indicating that stress and stress hormones are a big factor in immune suppression and the onset of disease.

The key, of course, lies in coping with stress.  The easy way (and eventually deadly way) to deal with stress is to take a shortcut like drinking, drugs, overeating, oversleeping, escaping with television, etc.  But these only get the mind off of stressful things temporarily and create their own long list of health issues.  If we want to follow the path of health and vitality, we must learn to recognize our reactions to stressful circumstances while they are happening and determine how to control them.  In addition, we must learn healthy ways to release stress and tension from the body.

One thing I am learning about myself is that reacting negatively to situations I perceive as negative or stressful has become a habit, even an addiction.  If you look up "drama queen" in the dictionary, I'm sure you'll see a picture of me.  I love to turn something small into a big deal.  Fortunately for me, I am learning to recognize this in myself while it happens.  Over the last couple of years, I have become better at stopping myself from reacting, blaming, and mocking.  My life and health are too precious to let life's inevitable bumps damage them.  Also, the changes in my diet and exercise profoundly control my stress and tension levels.

My goals for managing my stress include becoming more aware of how I react to life's challenges, paying attention to my body when I am under pressure, breathing more, exercising daily, and taking time to still my mind each day.  This is important to my mental and physical health, and I'm important enough to meet the challenge.  May you have a stress-free day.

Mystic Merman

Superfood Sunday: An Antioxidant Powerhouse

There are so many great superfoods, so it was difficult for me to decide which one to showcase first.  For me, a superfood should have properties that benefit one's health on many levels.  While considering which one has benefited me the most, one specific food continued to come to mind: the Camu Camu berry.  

Indigenous to the Amazonian rain forests of Peru and Brazil, the Camu Camu berry packs more vitamin C than any other available food in the world.  In fact, many people have stopped taking synthetic vitamin C because of the potent amount of C in this berry.  Additionally, Camu Camu has a decent amount of amino acids, bioflavanoids, and other phytochemicals that are known to strengthen the immune system, enhance the mood, and support the eyes, sinuses and heart.  Several experts on herbs, including Gary Null, place Camu Camu high on their list of the most effective herbs.

When I was first introduced to Camu Camu, I had battled with serious sinus issues for years.  Breathing through my nose had nearly become impossible, disturbing my sleep and giving me a perpetual dry throat.  Although a change in diet helped, it wasn't until I started taking Camu Camu regularly that my sinuses cleared up completely. Also, there is no superfood that has strengthened my immune system more than this magnificent berry.  Although there is little research done on it, I believe Camu Camu will be recognized as a powerful, natural medicine in the future.  I highly recommend researching and trying it.

Because of the high vitamin C content, Camu Camu is a sour fruit.  It has a deep red skin and a bright yellow pulp.  Most people add the powder to their smoothie or a glass of water.  I find that it's best to take Camu first thing in the morning with MSM (natural sulfur).  As always, check the source of the product before you make a purchase.  Sunfood (www.sunfood.com) sells the best quality I've ever tried.  Be healthy!

Mystic Merman

Sexy Saturday: Looking good at any age

Everyone wants to feel good about how they look, no matter what age or gender.  In my 10 years of experience in the natural health industry, this has always been one of the main goals of most people I have come into contact with.  And there is no better way to keep the body, skin, eyes, hair and vitality young than a clean diet and positive outlook.  On Saturdays, I would like to discuss topics relating to this field.

The skin is the body's largest organ and reflects one's health to the world more than any other organ.  When I see young people in their teens and twenties that have poor skin, dark circles under their eyes and too much fat around their middles, it saddens me.  Their diet most certainly is a major factor in how they look.  The Standard American Diet (SAD) creates toxicity that finds its way to the skin.  By eating more fresh, raw, organic plant foods, learning more about superfoods and feeding our skin with natural oils, we can all look and feel sexier.

My personal goals in this area include taking better care of my skin, hair and nails with a more natural lifestyle, reaching and maintaining my optimum weight, learning more about beauty and longevity secrets from around the world, and creating a positive outlook and confidence that will appear in the way I present myself to the world.  Blogs on this topic may include eating the right foods for skin health, oils and gels that improve the look of the skin, natural hair care, getting a safe and healthy amount of sun, weight-loss plans, and creating confidence and positiveness.

Join me every Saturday as I discuss a different topic on looking good and feeling sexy.  Be healthy!

Mystic Merman