by Cynthia Bischoff | Jan 17, 2016 | Heartliving
While a healthy diet and adequate rest are beneficial in building your immune system, a number of natural ingredients can help you prevent or heal a cold should you get one. I learned these ideas in trainings I have taken in healing and health. Here are a few tips:
- Get plenty of zinc in your diet (most often found in whole grains).
- Pack your meals with foods that are rich in Vitamin C & D.
- Remember that caffeine is dehydrating, so if you are losing body fluids as a result of a cold, choose herbal, caffeine-free teas.
- Drink fresh fruit juices. Grapefruit, orange, and lemon juices are antiseptic and cleansing.
- Eat soups, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.
- Inhaling the smell of eucalyptus can soothe your respiratory system.
- Adding garlic to your diet increases antibacterial action and builds your immune system to fight infection.
- Honey can relieve sore throats and coughs.
- Ginger made into tea is considered both an antiseptic and expectorant.
- Echinacea and olive leaf can strengthen the immune system and shorten the bout of flu or cold.
Remember if at all possible to reduce your stress and to get enough sleep since it boosts your immune systems and allows you time to heal.
Here’s to your excellent health!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jan 10, 2016 | Heartliving
Do you want to ignite your New Year with a bolder new YOU? Then join me on Saturday, April 23, 2016, for my new Heartliving Workshop, “Ignite Your Life!” Are you ready to explore and find direction for your life? Do you have desires and dreams but wonder where to go with them? In this seminar, you will be guided to understand your potential and you will be challenged to see your life as your most precious gift. Through discussion, insightful questions, thought-provoking exercises, and energy techniques, you will: Dare to dream and embrace positive action no matter your age or stage of life; Explore the options your strengths present and identify concrete possibilities; Move through any obstacles and work on solutions; Decide how to be the BEST version of you; Move forward with a plan of action to ignite your life! If you need clarity, motivation, and forward action in your life, then you must attend this workshop! Ignite Your Life! will be held 9:00-5:00 on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel & Conference Center on the Chesapeake Bay. Enjoy an Early Bird Special program fee of $150.00 (until March 15th). Regular program fee is $165.00 and conference space is limited so sign-up now to secure your spot. Ready to change your life? Click here to register: REGISTER
by Cynthia Bischoff | Jan 2, 2016 | Heartliving
Your thoughts create your reality. One of the major problems with unconscious fear is that the brain can be in a state of constant anticipation of negative things. We then focus our attention to look for ways to validate these fears. From an evolutionary perspective, this act was meant to protect us. Fear is the gatekeeper of our comfort zone.
In modern times, these primitive fears keep us bound and are no longer helpful. What is helpful is to begin to think and respond differently, to hold a positive outlook.
The Benefits of Optimism:
- Research shows that optimism leads people to better overall health.
- Optimistic people are generally “luckier,” more successful, and regarded as more appealing.
- Based on the Law of Attraction (Like attracts like), by being optimistic, you will draw positive outcomes to yourself.
- Studies have shown that imagining positive outcomes releases fear.
- The more optimistic you are, the more you create a pattern of response that perpetuates your positive feelings.
Here are some steps to bringing about more positive thinking:
- Recognize what is NOT happening in your life that you would like to have happen.
- Identify what you CAN do to make it happen and focus on that.
- Fear and optimism cannot occupy the same space, so the more optimistic you can be and feel, the less fear you experience.
- Focus on one thing that makes you happy, that you are grateful for, and bring this into your mind whenever you experience a fearful thought.
You may be surprised that small steps toward optimism can bring about big changes.
by Cynthia Bischoff | Dec 20, 2015 | Heartliving
The holidays are a wonderful time to celebrate and to connect with family and friends. Yet this is also a time when your balance of body, mind, and spirit can be greatly affected because of changes in routine, extra duties, and feelings triggered by old memories.
Here are a few suggestions toward keeping your life together this holiday season:
- Stay organized. Write down things you’d like to accomplish and then create a prioritized approach. Would you like to give neighbors homemade baked gingerbread? Of course you would. Is there really time to do this in your schedule this year? Just be sure you have enough time or are simply realistic in regard to your energy as well.
- Ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by certain tasks that have to be performed, be sure to ask others to pitch in. For example, holiday meals can be pot luck. Young children can help by doing activities that are easier, like dusting, vacuuming, or helping with a pet. You can ask a neighborhood teen babysitter to take your kids to a matinee so that you can complete certain holiday preparations.
- De-emphasize perfection. Set realistic expectations for yourself. We are bombarded by magazine images showing gorgeous decorations and incredible meals. Remind yourself that a staff of people both designed and prepared those glossy stories! Sometimes “more is less” and simple ideas can be very heart-felt, even more heart-felt than elaborate ideas.
- Stay connected. Take a break from your holiday routine by meeting up with or calling a friend to chat briefly. Letting out your feelings to a supportive friend can greatly help you relieve holiday stress and anxiety. This can be great for both of you. Also, if you are feeling lonely or suspect that you will be, set up a way to stay connected and supported.
- Restore yourself. Don’t leave off your list a healthy walk or simple exercise or a nice healthy meal. Even a moment or two of quiet can be helpful–listen to a meditation tape or a favorite CD, practice yoga poses, or take a relaxing bath.
- Let it Go. Hold a witness perspective if an issue arises. It helps if you remind yourself that the things you were concerned about last year, the year before, or the years before that, are faint or nonexistent memories. So take a deep breath, fast-forward to your 85th birthday, and ask yourself, “Will I even remember this issue then?” Probably not. So enjoy the good things and let go of the rest!
by Cynthia Bischoff | Dec 13, 2015 | Heartliving
When the desire to eat becomes overwhelming, you can overcome emotional eating by staying conscious of your choices.
OPTIONS:
1. Talk to yourself. Tell yourself, “This feeling will pass whether I eat or not.” The discomfort will not last forever.
2. Take time out. For ten minutes, resist the urge to eat and ask yourself what is going on. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and even to write about them.
3. Call someone. A brief phone call to a friend or relative may provide the emotional connection that you need.
4. Create a list of alternative activities and post it on your refrigerator. When the eating mood strikes, refer to your list.
5. Plan to have healthy snacks available, already prepared. Remember to choose what you eat consciously and remain in control of your choices.
6. Feed your heart. How are you doing? Indulge in a massage, a walk in nature, a group event, or some other satisfying way to stay in touch with your heart and to celebrate yourself!
