Enjoying the little Pleasures in Life (Bridging the gap between Vices and Good Health)

So you have a vice and you can't quit to save your life.
Many people quit only to put themselves in a physiologically vulnerable position and end up returning to the vice with unexpected repercussions.

Instead of being so Black and White about life why not find the grays that you can deal with on a realistic level. You know you might drink, smoke, eat a little more than you should of certain things that throw your body in a more toxic state. In knowing this, understand how to return to cleaner state.
Here's how:

First we must visualize how we see ourselves being in that clear state. I personally see myself as a Buddhist monk/Ninja walking around cool and collected. In reality I may not be so but at least I'm visualizing a positive state. For example, after having a cup of coffee, which was especially tasty, brush my teeth and drink a fair amount of water and then visualize the image I desire to be and switch to something that a Monk/Ninja would enjoy like a Jasmine tea or Oolong tea. Or even grab a Kale juice and the local juicer. Making a conscious physical switch to a cleaner state puts you in the right direction. Often this is difficult to do and sometimes you just need to sleep on it and start the day fresh.

These 'vices' as we call them usually are of an acidic nature. We need to learn how to return our bodies to a more alkaline state. This can easily be achieved by consuming dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale etc. Whoever gave us Popeye had the right idea. Let's take a hint from the Sailor Man! And Sailors drink like fish, or so goes the reputation. Just read that Australians are drinking less beer and more wine. Sure compromises the 'Bloke' reputation.

In Asia the natives are constantly consuming alkaline teas such as Jasmine, Green and Oolong. While it may be difficult for a aggressive business man/woman to exist on the Buddhist Monk influenced diet of  rice and tofu, even though the japanese salaryman has been doing it quite gracefully since WWII, their diet is already well within the alkaline parameters.

As I sit here on this train underneath the streets of Tokyo everyone is taking a nap. Sleep is the most body generating exercise of all! Oh to be able to go in-and-out of that state and the drop of a hat. Sounds like a good theme for the next Blog entry.

On the other hand the Western diet, with it's red meat and processed bread dishes, is already acidic and we wash it all down with even more acidic drinks like coke or coffee. The repetition of an already negative state just propagates takes farther from where we want to be.

If we decide we can accompany that delicious burger with a vegetable that can help break down and balance the already Yang energy of the red meat like a raw spinach salad or even some raw vegie sticks and even a glass of red wine then we can enjoy the meat without worrying about any serious repercussions.

Getting the right Ginseng for you

Make sure you have ascertained which constitution you are.

If you are Fire and you take the most popular and recommended Ginseng, you will over heat, especially if you are taking it in the summer.

The various Ginsengs available each have their own energy. Some are heating and assist in multiple maintenance programs including improving circulation.

There are also the Cooling Ginsengs i.e. American Ginseng which nourishes Yin and assists in those who are burned-out.

Additionally, we have Rheumatism Ginseng and Tienchi Ginseng which have altogether more specific powers.

In conclusion, YES, enjoy taking Ginseng but make sure it's the right one for you!

intake form

testmoz.com/114036

Know thy tongue!

Tongue Analysis:

Tongue Colour: Normal colour is pale - red.
	Pale:	Deficiency of Yang or deficiency of Blood. If a Yang deficiency, tongue will be swollen and slightly wet. If a blood deficiency, tongue will be somewhat dry.
	Red:	Always indicates heat. If predominately on the tip = Heart. If predominately on the sides = Liver or Gall Bladder.
	Purple:	Stasis of Blood, circulation disorder.
Tongue Shape:
	Thin:	Indicates either a Blood or Yin deficiency and a chronic condition.
	Swollen:	Indicates retention of fluids.
	Long:	Indicates a tendency to Heat in the Heart.
	Short:	If pale and wet = Interior Cold (Yang deficiency). If red and peeled = Interior Heat (Yin deficiency).
	Cracks:	Indicate either Heat or a Yin deficiency: Short, horizontal indicates Stomach Yin deficiency. Long, deep midline reaching to the tip indicates a Heart disharmony. Shallow, midline, not reaching tip, indicates a Stomach Yin deficiency. Short, transverse on sides of middle, indicates a Spleen Qi deficiency.
Tongue Coating: A thin, white coating is normal and indicates that the stomach is digesting properly.
	Thick:	Indicates the presence of a pathogenic factor.
	None:	Often called "peeled". Indicates a Stomach or Kidney Yin deficiency. If peeled and red all over, indicates deficient Kidney Yin.
	White:	Indicates Cold (Yang deficiency).
	Yellow:	Indicates Heat (Yin deficiency).
Moisture: A normal tongue is slightly wet.
	Wet:	Indicates a Yang Qi deficiency.
	Dry:	Indicates a Yin Qi deficiency.
	Slippery:	Or sticky, indicates retention of dampness.

republicans are "yang"-democrats are "yin"

back to bananas

radical diet change to whole grains almost 100%.

before excrement was liquidy and often.

now it's once a day, more solid and banana shaped.

i've also cut back on alcohol so we must factor that in.

i haven't completely stopped. just trying to partake

in more controlled amounts.

it may seem unusual but you can learn how healthy you are

by your own stool. there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

who else is usually in the toilet with you anyway???

also, floating stool also shows it has been sufficiently

oxygenated. if your stool sinks....you may be sinking as well!

The Beauty of Beans

In these economically challenged times finding ways to eat

cheaply and wisely is part of the game.

Larger continental cultures i.e. Africa and South America

go to the bean to provide nourishment.

Living in Japan, beef is not the most financially feasible

choice. In fact it's considered a delicacy to an extent.

Beans are more eco friendly as well. Not giving off enormous

clouds of methane, nothing against cows mind you.

My best friend is one.

Why do cultures in the southern hemisphere eat more beans

than those in the north?

Is more land mass exist in the Arctic than the Antarctic?

If so, it is said that the hunters/gatherers, mostly from

the northern territories, rely on meat for nutrition and stamina.

Those in more equatorial regions can do without due to less severe

weather conditions.

Also, blood type Os, northern Europeans, far Northern-Hemisphere

ancestries and those living in cold climates need a substantial amount

of meat regularly due to their hunter/gatherer ancestry which is

essential for building blood and energy.

Legumes regulate certain aspects of metabolism such as water

and sugar and promotes balanced sexual activity and proper growth

and development of the body. Chinese medicine files the bean as the

proper food for the kidney-adrenal functions.

They are drying and diuretic and generally not suitable for deficient

persons so Ayurveda combines with oily foods.

Legumes also balance the excessive, strong, and robust person

with signs of overweight, heat, or damp conditions such as yeasts or edema.

Chinese traditions assign healing value to the Five Element Color:

Fire Element, heart, and small intestines - (red legumes)aduki bean, red lentil, and kidney bean.

Earth Element, spleen pancreas, and stomach - (yellow legumes)garbanzo bean,

yellow pea, and soybean

Metal Element, lungs, and large intestine; (white legumes)lima bean and navy beans

Water Element, kidneys, and bladder - (dark, black, and brown legumes)black bean,

black soybean, and brown lentil

Wood Element, liver, and gall bladder - (green)mung bean, green pea, and green bean