Revive Your Life

Caffeinism: A Cause of Mental Illness?

Jacob Inman — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 23:52:32 +0000

Photo by pfv

I’ve finally made the decision to quit drinking coffee - sort of. My goal is not to stay away from coffee for the rest of my life, but instead to end my current state of dependence on the widely-used, legal drug that comes with every sip - caffeine. Once I succeed in breaking the addiction, I may consider enjoying the occasional Starbucks treat, but when that time comes, I will drink because I choose to, not out of necessity.

You might be thinking, “This guy acts like he is addicted to crack, its coffee for goodness sake!” In a sense, you’re right, it could be much worse. It’s not so much the fact of what it is that my mind and body have a dependence on, it’s the fact that the dependence which exists is detrimental to my health and sense of well-being. Caffeine has a bigger impact on our health that most of us would ever imagine.

I’ve studied some of the recent research related to the negative impacts that caffeine is known to have on our health. It’s rather astounding to take a glimpse into the theory of “caffeinism”, a term that many researchers are using to describe the myriad of health problem that have been linked to our overuse of this drug. Here is an interesting excerpt from the book authored by Nutritional Biochemist Stephen Cherniske titled “Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Dangers of America’s #1 Drug”:

If a person were injected with 500 milligrams of caffeine [less than the dosage recently discovered in some 16-ounce Starbucks brews], within about an hour he or she would exhibit symptoms of severe mental illness, among them hallucinations, paranoia, panic, mania, and depression. But the same amount of caffeine administered over the course of a day only produces the milder forms of insanity for which we take tranquilizers and antidepressants.

Wow!

So what effect does caffeine actually have on human physiology? Is there really a physical basis for caffeine addiction and my need to race to the coffee maker once the alarm clock goes off?

Caffeine has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier, similar to other drugs such as alcohol and nicotine. Because of its similar molecular structure in comparison to adenosine (a nucleotide which plays an important role in certain biochemical processes), caffeine acts as an adenosine antagonist by latching on to adenosine receptors in the brain. Caffeine does not have the power to stimulate these receptors, but its presence prevents adenosine from latching on and performing its’ usual functions. As a result, dopamine levels in the brain are increased, thereby creating the stimulating “coffee buzz” that we all know and love.

Caffeine also triggers a release of epinephrine (adrenaline), the chemical that is mainly responsible for our internal “stress response”. Adrenaline increases our blood pressure and heart rate in order to prepare ourselves for a perceived threat. Of course, in this case there is no real or perceived threat, the reaction is due solely to the fact the we chose to ingest caffeine.

Let’s take a look at some interesting connections that certain studies have made between caffeine consumption and various health problems.

Caffeine and Anxiety

Consider the physiologically stimulating effects that were highlighted above, in particular, the adrenaline response. Adrenaline plays a very important role in our instinctive process, but its continual release fueled by the growing amount of caffeinated drinks we consume is not healthy. Caffeine consumption, even in moderate amounts, is strongly correlated with the incidence of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, and even schizophrenia.

Calvin Thrash, M.D. and author of the book, “Food Allergies Made Simple”, says:

“Thousands are in mental institutions today because of no greater matter than that of the use of caffeine. Psychiatrists are now publishing articles indicating that there are numerous cases of depression and anxiety in mental institutions who need no other treatment than to be taken off caffeine. It would seem that with such a simple remedy available, many thousands of people could be returned to their full usefulness promptly. However, the use of caffeine is so traditional and firmly entrenched that it is almost impossible to remove caffeinated drinks from the diet of patients in the mental institutions. Soft drink machines, coffee dispensers, and the traditional coffee break are common pastimes in mental institutions, and with those who are mentally ill at home.”

It’s been determined that most people prone to anxiety will limit their caffeine consumption, but there are many people who don’t make the connection between their constant state of anxiety and the high levels of caffeine that they consume. Often, long-time users (me included) who are dependent on the drug fail to recognize what a negative impact caffeine has on our lives.

Caffeine, Sleep and Fatigue

I think we all know better than to guzzle a cup of java just before going to bed for the night. I was, however, surprised to find out that caffeine that we ingest in the early morning hours can impact the quality of sleep that we get the following night. This is particularly true of regular morning-coffee drinkers because, by the time they go to bed, symptoms of caffeine withdrawal (discussed below) begin to appear.

Because the half-life of caffeine averages between 4-6 hours, afternoon consumption of caffeinated beverages should be avoided as well. I know of many people who feel the need for a post-lunch boost, usually around 3 p.m., and feel that the only way to stay awake and re-energize is by drinking a cup of coffee or a caffeine-laced soft drink. While this may provide the boost they’re after, it will undoubtedly be followed by an energy crash because of caffeine’s impact on blood sugar levels. In addition, the afternoon buzz that was experienced will linger on into the late evening creating the potential for insomnia or disrupted sleep.

Remember that release of adrenaline that follows caffeine ingestion? The important point here is that this is a drug-induced adrenaline response that is repetitive based on the amount and frequency of one’s caffeine consumption. Because of this constant flow of adrenaline, it is likely that many will experience Adrenal Fatigue, an affliction that is caused by the body’s inability to respond to stress via the production of cortisol. The symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue include irritability, mood swings, anxiety, lethargy, fatigue, and cravings for sugars and caffeine - go figure.

How Do You Know If You Are Caffeine Dependent?

Here are some questions to ask yourself. The more “yes” answers you have, the more likely you are to be dependent on caffeine (and the more you should consider reducing or eliminating your consumption).

Are you abnormally groggy in the morning until you drink that first cup of coffee?

Do you wait impatiently for the coffee maker to finish brewing a pot of coffee?

Do you feel jittery, fatigued, moody, or anxious throughout the day?

Do you require an afternoon “boost” consisting of a cup of coffee or a soft drink?

Do you have trouble getting to sleep?

Do you drink more than 2-3 cups of caffeinated beverages per day?

Kick the Caffeine Habit

So you’ve decided that you ingest too much caffeine and you want to cut back or eliminate further use. Should you just quit cold turkey? Should you gradually decrease your intake over time? Similar to any dependence, it is likely that you will experience some withdrawal symptoms, especially if you are a long-time frequent user. The most common withdrawal symptoms include headache, nausea, fatigue, and mild depression. Some people find that these symptoms are minor, while others experience them much more intensely and for longer periods of time. On average, these symptoms should be expected to last about 5-8 days and can be minimized by gradually decreasing your caffeine intake over a period of 2-3 weeks.

As of yesterday, my plan was to gradually reduce the amount of coffee that I drink per day over the next two weeks and then, quit drinking it all together for several months. Now that I am at the end of this article, and with all of the related health concerns fresh in my mind…I think I might opt for quitting cold turkey. Stay away from me for the next 5-8 days!!

Buying Magnesium Supplements? 3 Reasons To Consider Sustained Release Technology

Revive Your Life — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:19:04 +0000

Sustained Released Technology

Revive Your Life contributors have written extensively on the risks and symptoms of magnesium deficiency — heart attacks, high blood pressure, aching muscles, migraines, etc. — and the almost limitless benefits of magnesium supplementation.

But how do you choose the best magnesium supplement to buy? Let’s review.

What Forms of Magnesium are Available?

It’s important to note first off that magnesium supplements use different forms of magnesium. That’s why you see “magnesium chloride” on some labels, “magnesium citrate” on other labels, and so on. Without delving too deep into the science between the different forms of magnesium, a good rule of thumb is that if the form ends in “-ide”, it’s less tolerable and less absorbable than if it ends with “-ate”.

Therefore, magnesium oxide (by far the most common in magnesium supplements) is not nearly as good for you as magnesium taurate, citrate, malate, etc.

What Delivery Mechanisms are Available?

Now that you know to look for a form of magnesium ending in “-ate”, it’s important to note the different delivery mechanisms that are available and their various pros and cons.

1) Magnesium capsules & tablets

Pros - Easy to swallow, widely varying price range, many brands to choose from, no preparation required.
Cons - May have to take anywhere between 2 - 10 capsules or tablets a day to reach the recommended dose, which can be a lot if you’re not used to taking pills.

2) Magnesium powder

Pros - Stirred into water or tea, very rapidly ingested into GI tract.
Cons - Preparation required, over-dosing can cause diarrhea because of the immediate release into the GI tract, not many brands available, some online reviews complain about the taste.

3) Magnesium oils and sprays

Pros - Bypasses the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and absorbs directly into the bloodstream.
Cons - Relatively expensive, relatively time consuming and inconvenient, some online reviews complain of a slight burning sensation on their skin.

4) Magnesium water

Pros - No preparation required, highly absorbable.
Cons - Relatively expensive, over-dosing can cause diarrhea, not many brands available.

Why do some Magnesium Supplements cause Diarrhea?

Magnesium is hydrophillic, which means it draws water to it. When magnesium enters your GI tract, it begins to draw water into the GI tract. And your intestines can only hold on to so much water for so long. (This is basically how Milk of Magnesia — a common laxative made of magnesium hydroxide powder — works.)

3 Reasons to Consider Sustained Release Technology Magnesium Tablets

1) No diarrhea side-effects

Because sustained release magnesium tablets literally slow down the release of magnesium as the tablets pass through your GI tract, your body can more efficiently absorb and disperse magnesium into the bloodstream towards it’s final destination of cells, muscle tissue, etc. In the case of non-sustained release pills, powders, and water, it is common to experience diarrhea when taking therapeutic doses.

And it’s important to note that while all magnesium supplement delivery technologies should support regular, healthy bowel movements, ones that cause diarrhea should be avoided since diarrhea will cause you to be even more magnesium deficient.

2) Easy to use

Sustained release technology is best accomplished through the use of tablets (not capsules) comprised of natural gums (guar guam, xanthan gum, etc.) and materials that break down over time as they travel through the GI tract. Tablets require no preparation, and therefore, are the easiest for most people to stick with.

In addition, while you could potentially “simulate” sustained release technology by spacing out the ingesting of non-sustained release magnesium pills throughout the day, this is likely to be inefficient for most, and leads to an ineffective magnesium supplementation program. The beauty of sustained release technology is that you can take all the pills at once, and the release of magnesium is spread out over several hours.

3) Replenish a magnesium deficiency

The recommended daily intake (RDI) for magnesium is 400 milligrams (mg), as prescribed by the FDA. And approximately 80% of the US population does not ingest this much magnesium per day. Simple logic dictates that you must take more than 400mg per day in order to replenish a deficiency. Yet achieving an intake of 400+ mg per day with non-sustained release technology and avoiding the dreaded diarrhea side-effect is virtually impossible!

In addition, there are those like Dr. Russell Blaylock — retired neurosurgeon, popular author of several best-selling medical books, and editor of The Blaylock Wellness Report — who recommend taking as much as 1000mg of magnesium each day for it’s protective effects on the brain. Once again, this task is nearly impossible without sustained release technology.

Summary

You can almost certainly benefit from adding any magnesium supplement — pills, powder, water, and/or oil — to your daily regime. It is, as described by Dr. Carolyn Dean and many others, a “miracle mineral.”

However, to get the most efficient absorption to replenish deficiency without the high risk of the diarrhea side-effect, you should consider taking a sustained release magnesium supplement.

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This post was contributed by Patrick Sullivan Jr., president & co-founder of Jigsaw Health, makers of the popular Jigsaw Mangesium w/SRT (Sustained Release Technology). Mr. Sullivan is pleased to offer ReviveYourLife readers a $5 coupon off their purchase of Jigsaw Magnesium w/SRT using the code RYL in the shopping cart.

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Singing - A Catalyst For Healthy Living

Revive Your Life — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:00:17 +0000

Singing Promotes Positive Wellbeing

You’ve been waiting all day to receive a special phone call about a potential job promotion. You can barely sit still as you work, much less concentrate on the work you need to do. As the day draws to a close, you see that particular number flash on your phone. You hurriedly answer it with great expectation. After a couple minutes, you put down the phone and shout with excitement. You’ve just received the best job promotion offered at your company. You burst into joyous song, making up the melody and words as you jump around to tell co-workers. As you ride home in your car, you sing at the top of your lungs to any familiar song on the radio. In terms of overflowing emotion, you are sailing on Cloud 9.

While this may not be your everyday experience, I am positive you can relate to this story in some way. What I find so peculiar is that we have such an awesome tendency to sing whenever we experience something that empowers us. Just think about it: a high school basketball team has just won the conference championship. On the bus ride home, what do the basketball players do? Why they sing, of course! It could be a bellowing of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen or a yelling of “Enter Sandman” by Metallica. Whatever the case, the common denominator is singing. As we can see, singing is almost an automatic reaction to heightened emotions. Singing is a catalyst to healthy living. Let’s unpack that some more.

Singing and Emotional Release

Singing is a visceral act, meaning that is has the ability to affect our bodies. It would not be a farce, then, to say with confidence that singing has a unique ability to stir emotions within us. As such, singing can be executed almost naturally when we release pent up emotion. Studies have shown that singing can reduce stress, decrease blood pressure, lower the heart rate, numb the propensity to feel pain, and elevate the immune system. Just viewing this list of benefits makes me wonder why people don’t sing more!

One of the reasons singing harbors these benefits is because it is a completely different yet exhilarating avenue for expression. When we speak, we make simple gestures of phonation (the vocal cords coming together to produce sound). When we sing, however, we institute the functions of rhythm, melody, harmony, and crescendo. Because more physical abilities are being unlocked, more emotion is able to travel out from within us. A dynamic monologue can be moving, but a powerful song can bring you to tears. When we engage in dialogue, we tend to think in this manner: “Yeah, I completely agree” or “Yeah, I know where you are coming from” or “Yeah, I can sympathize with that”. But when we engage in singing, we tend to think in this manner: “Wow, I can completely connect with this person” or “Wow, I can really feel the emotion pouring out from this person”. Singing allows emotional connection with others on a deeper level.

Singing and Community

As we connect with ourselves and with others through singing, we begin to experience the true capabilities of singing. This release of emotion may make us want to sing for joy or sing in sorrow, but whatever the case, we feel better physically and emotionally. While it may sound crazy to say that we would feel better after singing in sorrow, pay attention the next time it happens to you. Your thoughts become clearer, your focus becomes stronger, your intentions become steadfast - all signs of physical and emotional improvement. Bearing this in mind, it makes perfect sense to sing at any stage or crossroad in life.

Singing also acts as developer of community. Choral presentations, musical theater productions, church choirs, gender ensembles - they are all communities centered around the art of singing. It is a well known fact that community is a vital part of healthy living, and what better way to commune than through the already beneficial act of singing! This practice is quite common within the elderly community because it acts as an organic stimulant towards better health. Dr. Gene Cohen, a late American psychiatrist, exclaimed in The Gerontoligist that singing among the elderly resulted in fewer medical appointments, less need for medication, and even a decreased tendency towards depression. This applies not only to the elderly but also to the youthful because the organic stimulant of singing is not bound by age - all the more reason to get up and sing!

Closing Thoughts

My previous arguments all tie in to the fact that singing is a catalyst to healthy living. Don’t forgo your unique ability to express yourself through the avenue of singing. It is an anchor for the soul in times of joy and hardship, pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow. Release your emotions by singing and enjoy all the exciting health benefits along the way. Add some community and laughter to the mix and you have a potent medicine that not even doctors can prescribe. I implore you: sing and sing often, my friends!

Thomas Griffin is a full time college student pursuing degrees in Business Management, Project Management and Computer Information Systems. He serves as a worship pastor in a local community church in his college hometown. He has developed a passion for helping others learn how to sing better. He has also developed a passion for studying, understanding and teaching proper vocal technique and relating vocal technique to health in general. Feel free to visit Thomas’s website at http://foreversinging.com

Constantly Arguing In Your Relationship? A Breakup May Be Inevitable

Paul Bremer — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:00:08 +0000

Photo by skedonk

Most living, breathing human beings can attest to the crippling effects that the fear of failure can have on their egos. Presumably, failing is regarded as an embarrassing handicap in a person’s ability to successfully complete something. In order to avoid dissatisfaction and disappointment within themselves, people sometimes exhaust all efforts choosing not to surrender to an impossible task.

Those involved in serious relationships, friendship or otherwise, often remain committed to their significant others despite frequent arguing that ultimately prevents the relationship from moving forward healthfully. While arguments can sometimes be a useful tool for conflict management and intellectual understanding, one must examine the dynamics of the relationship in question to determine if the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight.

In other words, one must decide for themselves when and if it’s time to sever the ties when fighting has consumed their relationship. While it can be difficult and painful to contemplate letting go of something you’ve worked hard and cared so much for, the risk of damage to your self-worth and mental health can be a serious concern if all options aren’t considered.

Understanding that most relationships have a tendency to experience an argumentative phase once they become more physically or emotionally intimate is crucial. As you progressively become closer to someone, the walls come down and arguments are bound to ensue. But if you find yourself in a perpetual state of fighting with no positive results, it may be time to consider an alternative course of action.

First and foremost, both parties have to be dedicated to the same cause; making the relationship work. When it comes to arguing and reaching some kind of resolution, compromise is almost always called for. All relationships exist because both participants are getting something positive from one another, so it’s important to continue the give and take mentality when it comes to arguments.

When one partner refuses to share any shred of blame and be proactive for the sake of the relationship, it demonstrates a lack of dedication to the other person. Reluctance to admit fault may be a sign of immaturity and/or selfishness and show that the person is not yet ready to be involved in a relationship in which they have an emotional obligation to another. If you have respect for someone, the issue at hand isn’t about determining who is right or wrong, but rather seeing the mutual efforts contribute to the good of the relationship.

Don’t expect to stick the relationship out in hopes you can change the other person. Many who find themselves in unstable or unhappy relationships convince themselves that in time their partner will miraculously morph into the perfect friend or lover. In reality, this rarely happens and really shouldn’t need to happen anyway. This isn’t pottery class. If you are with the right person, there should be no need to change who they are in order to fit the idea of your perfect match. At this point, you are merely trying to force compatibility and chemistry that just may not be there.

However, you can help change the perspective they have on the relationship and the manner in which they handle conflicts. It’s alright to enter a relationship green and be unfamiliar with appropriate ways to handle situations. But as a learning process, it is the responsibility of both parties to recognize when things aren’t working and together discuss the proper actions that should be taken.

Weighing the good times with the bad is a simple, stripped down way in which to examine your satisfaction with the relationship. Create a mental or written list of all the rewards you’ve received from the other person. Think about the things they’ve taught you, the places you’ve gone together and the fun you’ve had. Does it outweigh the stress and frustration of arguing? If it does, it may not for long. This just means you still have enough steam to keep you going for a while more.

Have a practical outlook on your relationship and throw idealism out the window. We all have an outline, certain characteristics or attributes that we expect to find in another person as well as a preconceived rulebook that will come in handy when we start to become serious with someone. But it’s unrealistic to enter any commitment with somebody when you’ve already strategized. Things won’t always work out the way you planned, and remaining in a relationship in pursuit of that romanticized tale you’ve constructed is counter-productive.

At the end of the day, ending a relationship is an extremely personal decision with no clear-cut guidelines instructing how or why. When arguing is a significant part of all communication, you need to reassess what it is that will make you happy. Understand that it isn’t a cowardly or weak decision indicating defeat. It’s simply practical to acknowledge when someone’s presence in your life is destructive to your overall well-being.

If you can leave the relationship knowing you had tried your hardest to make it work, then there’s no reason to feel like a failure. You’ve learned from the situation and have granted yourself the right to be somewhat selfish.

Grocery Bill Out of Control? Buy More and Stay Healthy!

Erin Giebler Hill — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:00:38 +0000

Photo by AlaskaTeacher

Normally, the word wholesale isn’t the best word to inject into a conversation about healthy eating, but it always seems to be the best tip when trying to save money on groceries. Why not put the two together and search those big box wholesale stores for healthy foods that keep your wallet large but not your waistline?

A major factor in watching your diet is proper portion control. When you bring home a huge box of cereal from one of these wholesale stores, it’s so easy to chow down like there’s no tomorrow because you have a plentiful stash. One of the top tips to take away from this article is to take advantage of your freezer, food storage bags or containers made for freezer storage, and a food scale. It is much easier to take a single serving, enjoy it, and move away from the table.

Meat and Poultry

One of the largest meat sections you’ve ever seen awaits you at a wholesale grocery store. Refrigerator cases usually lining an entire side of the store are filled with chicken breasts, pork and lean beef in packages of three pounds or more. However, most recipes require just a pound of these proteins. When you come home from the store, portion out one pound servings into large food storage bags, placing what you plan to use within the week in your refrigerator and the rest in the freezer. Then, you’ll have what you need for your planned menus and some for the next week or two.

You’ll find meat in the freezer section, too. Most of this meat has been individually frozen so you can still easily portion out servings. Look for boneless, skinless chicken breast or tenderloins, lean ground beef, pre-made hamburger patties made from lean beef, ground turkey breast, seasoned pork tenderloins, pork chops and other leans meats. Make sure you check the nutritional information because what seems healthy, for example ground turkey–not turkey breast–might not be.

Deli meat and sliced cheeses are available at wholesale food stores in large containers. If a container has more than one kind of meat or cheese, they’re usually separated in their own packaging. Decide what deli meat and what cheese you’d like to have that week and place the rest in the freezer. If you like the variety, open up and portion out what you’d like for the week and put the leftovers in food storage bags and into the freezer.

Produce

It might be a little overwhelming to see the large produce sections wholesale stores have and it might be easy to pass by thinking you would be more of a waste than a savings, but think again. Apples and pears will last longer than berries. Carrots and asparagus will last longer than tomatoes and cucumbers. Just think about what you’re buying in this section and make sure you will use what you buy within the week and that the items you pick are not fully ripe. Other fruits and vegetables that might only last a few days should be bought in smaller quantities to avoid spoilage. Unless you have a large family, it’ll be difficult to consume a six pack of tomatoes before they go bad.

Also, take a look at the bagged salads and lettuce. These packages have freshness dates on them. Again, if you think you can eat three pounds of romaine before the due date, go right ahead and save on that bag. With produce it is very important you store the things you buy properly. The refrigerator is a good place to slow down the ripening process on some fruits and vegetables and putting produce in resealable storage bags will help it last longer.

Breads and Cereals

At a lot of wholesale food stores, bread loaves are sold by twos for a discounted price. Take advantage of these deals by putting a loaf in the freezer and one in the refrigerator. The bread tastes no different after it’s been thawed and keeping the loaf you’re using throughout the week in the refrigerator will help it last longer. English muffins and bagels are also often sold the same way as breads. Take advantage of the choices you have and grab up two varieties of English muffins or bagels and split them up so you have a variety for the week in the refrigerator and the same variety for the next week or later in the freezer.

Popular cereals are available at wholesale stores and come in boxes with two or sometimes more separate bags. The bags are the same size as the single bags you buy at a regular grocery store. As long as you keep the bag you’re not using sealed, they should last until the date on the package. Make sure you read the labels and pick cereals that are low in sugar and offer some dietary fiber. Oatmeal and other hot cereals are available in larger containers and instant oatmeal and cereals are available in larger boxes with usually double (or more) what you’d buy in a regular store for less than double the price.

Canned and Boxed Items

If you read the labels carefully, you can find healthy choices in the middle aisles of wholesale food stores. Canned vegetables and fruits are good choices, but watch for added salt. Also, you’ll most likely find pasta sauce, canned tuna and chicken in these aisles along with some healthy soups. Don’t forget the giant bottle of salsa!

Beverages

Wholesale food stores are great places to get your bottled water. Typically, they come in much larger packages for much less than regular stores like all the other items at bulk stores. Also, you’ll find juice in bottles and in individual juice boxes in many varieties.

Snacks

Yes, snacks! Pretzels and nuts are healthy options available at wholesale food stores, but sometimes you just have to give into your cravings. If you want chips and allow yourself ONE serving when you want them, you likely won’t go crazy from deprivation. No where is portion control more important than with snacks. Read the label to see the nutritional information and servings size and deal out that much in individual bags. Then, have it in your mind that one bag is it, and you’ll satisfy your cravings without sabotage. Do this also with bags of candy that aren’t already portioned out, but avoid the large packages of full sized candy bars. Nothing good will come out of that purchase.

Health and Wellness Items

Wholesale food stores also carry vitamins and other health and wellness products. Make sure you check the expiration dates on these before you throw the two-pack of vitamin E caplets in your cart. If you don’t think you’ll take 1,000 capsules by around when the due date is, it’s not worth it.

What to Avoid

Usually any prepackaged meal. These are typically found in the freezer section in huge boxes. There are several portions in each box that contain a lot of calories, fat and sodium. Use the tips above and make your own chicken parmesan or stir-fry and you’ll be much better off.

The snack bar! You’ve spent so long in this store reading labels and doing your math that you have to be famished, right? Well, keep on walking. Giant sodas and 99 cent hot dogs are NOT recommended purchases at wholesale food stores!

Bulk food stores are a great place to shop to save money on groceries. The cash outlay is more initially, but when you do the math, it’s cheaper in the long run. Read the labels, choose wisely and portion out your servings right when you get home. You’ll be contributing to your healthy lifestyle and saving money!

A Free Ride - Should I Pay for My Child’s Education?

Paul Bremer — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:00:29 +0000

Photo by Richard Lawrence Cohen

In an economy driven by the almighty buck, you can only hope to get what you’re willing to pay for. We live in a “show me the money” world where luxuries and necessities alike are attainable only when we have the cold hard cash to fork over. As a society, we have no choice but to accept the dire situation we’ve been placed in despite lamenting the fact that something such as the human right to quality healthcare is now a privilege that over 46 million Americans are unable to afford.

The harsh reality is that nowadays, nothing comes without a price, and if you want something bad enough it has to be earned no matter how entitled we may feel.

A college education can be likened to healthcare in the sense that many firmly believe it should be free. Unfortunately, it costs to provide such services, and for now we must learn to deal with it. However, thousands of college students are in fact receiving their education at no charge to them, but rather at their parents’ expense.

The National College Board reported the average cost of tuition for 2008-2009 was approximately $6,500 annually for a public institution, a 6.4 percent increase from the previous year. With room and board, one can expect to pay roughly an additional $7,000.

As parents begin sending their children away to school on their own dime, they naturally may start to experience financial hardships, especially given the current economic crisis. But is this strain simply the price of having a child and providing the necessary outlets to ensure a fulfilling and successful life for their offspring? Or is it time for students to step up the plate, accept the responsibilities associated with adulthood, and alleviate the pressures on their parents?

Of course each individual family’s financial situation will vary greatly, but allowing a child a free ride to school seems as though it can be potentially detrimental to the maturation process from child to young adult. True enough that a parent is expected to provide for their child. But at what point do you allow your child to provide for themselves?

Many who attend college via a free ride from their parents either expect the financial support as a given rite of passage or believe they can’t balance a job and their studies successfully. Part of the problem in regards to the former is how these students view college.

For the most part, this is the first time in their lives when education is a choice. If they decide to attend college, it is clearly something they want for themselves. And no matter what the reason may be, everyone should be expected to work for what they want. With all things in life, the true value of any possession is not what you paid for it, but having the satisfaction of knowing you earned it. Writing your child a blank check for school not only prevents them from valuing their education as something that is inherently theirs but also encourages a sense of entitlement by offering a full blown hand-out that they’ll grow to expect for everything they want in life.

That’s not to say students shouldn’t accept help from their parents or other sources. It’s a matter of taking a proactive role in your status as student and adult, and not sitting back while enjoying the free ride. Simply put: get a job. Saying there is no time to work and efficiently manage your studies is an excuse. On campus employment can be a great way to earn money while demanding relatively little of your time. Part-time work is also always available. Between the $143 million of financial aid available to students as well as their own earnings, they should be able to contribute, even minimally to their own living and educational expenses. If students can find the time to drink and attend parties, there is surely time to work and make money to support such habits.

The ultimate question I suppose is can it all be done without parents’ help? The answer is an undeniable yes. Is it difficult? Absolutely. If you are willing to work hard for it, the goal is in reach. There may be terms when a student is forced to drop to part-time status in order to work more to afford it. Even if it takes longer than the standard four years, students should pride themselves in being able to earn their education by exhausting all options.

There’s no shame in accepting help. However, it should never be the crutch to lean on because it may not always be there. As adults, it is one’s own responsibility to take care of him/herself. The fruits of hard labor will be that much sweeter.

Is Big Food Profiting at the Expense of Our Health?

Jacob Inman — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:00:06 +0000

Photo by rcoder

The health of America is failing dramatically. On average, adults are gaining weight at an alarming rate. Children are now being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes -a disease previously reserved for middle-aged, overweight adults. We’re all aware that the poor nutritional-quality food we eat each day lends itself to these disturbing trends. Considering this fact, should we rely on the food producers and our government health agencies to change the detrimental products and policies that they’re pushing, or are we on our own?

Unfortunately, the largest food producers and related organizations, often referred to as “Big Food”, play a critical role in the cost, quality, and amount of the foods eaten in the U.S. each day. Even more unsettling is the fact that Big Food uses its strong lobbying power to influence food legislation that is meant to protect the health and welfare of the general public. Food industry lobbying groups are asked to participate in professional nutrition conferences, attend Agriculture Department meetings, and provide insight into recent legislation surrounding childhood obesity and the responsibility of schools. Big Food also uses their heavy hand to influence the outcome of nutritional research and to control more localized policy setting efforts such as those taking place in our schools.

Those products that you and I consider “junk food” represent pure gold for the food producers - high profit margin products which can be sold en masse. The organizations that comprise Big Food have mastered the art of pitching junk food to a very specific consumer demographic - children and teenagers - in much the same way Big Tobacco has in the past. It’s been estimated that the food industry spends in excess of $10 billion per year to influence the eating behavior of children. On average, children see thousands of food advertisements per year with the vast majority (95%) marketing candy, fast food, soft drinks, and sugary cereal.

Big Food argues that not enough research has been done to prove that the childhood obesity epidemic is a direct result of the increased consumption of junk food. Instead, they suggest that the most likely cause of childhood obesity is the lack of physical activity. While research indicates that children have become more sedentary over the years, this blame shifting tactic would be akin to Big Tobacco blaming the rise in lung cancer deaths on air pollution. Junk food is an obvious contributing factor to the ill health of our children in America today.

The food producers also downplay the destructive nature of their junk products with a ploy which claims that there are no “good” or “bad” foods, but rather it’s the dietary balance of all foods that matters. Clearly, balance matters, but pretending that sugar-filled soda, candy, and trans-fat laden fast foods are “good” is just ludicrous. If Big Food really believes their claim, why don’t they “balance” their advertising toward children to include healthy food items? Have you ever seen a frozen spinach commercial during Saturday morning cartoons? Instead, Big Food lines the pockets of the health organizations and agencies that are meant to educate and protect consumers as a way to keep the pressure off of themselves.

So what steps can you take to help in the fight against Big Food?

1. Educate yourself. Start reading food labels which list the ingredients to understand exactly what it is you’re eating.

2. Make wise nutrition choices for you and your family by steering clear of processed, low-quality foods.

3. Get involved. Support the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act. This bill is meant to limit or eliminate the power of Big Food in our local school systems.We all have the freedom to choose the amount and types of food we eat. Let’s make sure that future generations have the education necessary to choose wisely. This starts by wresting the control away from Big Food and giving back to ourselves.

Stop Complaining! A Conversation Hostage Plea

Paul Bremer — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:00:37 +0000

Photo by a God's Child

Perhaps the only thing more useless to anyone than inclement weather on a leisurely day off from work is the time wasted bemoaning mother nature’s cruel agenda. Yet as the rain falls ceaselessly in maniacal water bombs that flood your yard and dampen your mood, you feel compelled to share with anyone in close proximity your overwhelming hatred for spring showers and how you can never seem to catch a break.

Not exactly stimulating conversation for either party, complaining manages to compose much of the discussions we have with people throughout our day. Whether storms have forced a beach trip cancellation or you’ve been cut-off by a highway road rager, people tend to lose their cool when things don’t go their way. Instead of making lemonade from lemons and brushing off such misfortunes as normal daily hazards, we insist on spreading the word of our misery for all to hear.

Complaining most likely stems from an inherent human need to externalize things that drive us crazy so we don’t feel isolated in our own silent anger. Similar to therapy, expressing such feelings to a captive ear cleanses your mind of the irritant so you can begin to move past it. But we’ve all known or been that person who seems to have nothing to say if they don’t have something to complain about.

One can’t help the occasional rant with a friend when a frustrating situation arises, however, at what point does complaining simply become an adults excuse to whine? And furthermore, does complaining ever have a legitimate place in social conversation beyond the casual side remark?

There seems to be a hazy line drawn between complaining as a form of tension release and as a method of socialization. Often times, complaining is simply a way to obtain validation from others. People want to find a common thread with those in their lives and it feels better to know you’re not alone in your feeling of frustration or resentment. After all, misery does in fact love company.

Many will consequently discover a bond over the things they complain with one another about because the act itself puts everyone on the same mental level regardless of differences or similarities in personality. Complaining, you could argue, is universal.

Being pessimistically critical about situations that annoy you can also have an empowering effect. When people complain, they often do so about things that they couldn’t themselves control. With egos as big as some have, many can’t bear not having control over events that can make or break or their day. When they choose to “vent” to someone else about it, it’s almost their way of reclaiming power in the scenario.

Vocalizing their distaste for such things in order to feel better is similar to the classic high school bully syndrome. Those who bully others often do it out of insecurity and forcing negative focus on another makes them feel in control and powerful. Complaining is a way for many to fight back against what has fallen upon them so they don’t really have to deal with the issue that bothered them in the first place.

So are these legitimate reasons to open the floodgates to release all things you deem obnoxious? As adults who rely heavily on social interaction in our personal and professional lives, we need to exercise caution when choosing to complain to others.

If you happen to be the kind of person who finds themselves complaining out of boredom or any other of the above listed reasons, you risk damaging your credibility as a reliably intelligent conversationalist as well as your overall reputation. The truth is, most people can tolerate others’ complaints to some degree. However, chronic complaining will wear thin on most people very quickly.

People have enough to worry about in their own lives without being held hostage to someone else’s trivial issues. What a mature, resourceful adult does when faced with situations that upset them is take measures to either avert the problem in the future or find a way to change how they feel about it now. At times, it may be necessary to share your complaints with a co-worker, friend, or family member that can offer guidance on how to rectify the situation. It’s acceptable to complain to these people about things that are actually in your control to change provided you take the initiative to do it.

But almost no one wants to hear constant complaints over weather trends, the flat-tire you got on your way to work, or the price of gas. Beyond a one-time empathetic “I know how you feel,” people will rarely remain invested because they recognize these annoyances as unavoidable bumps in the day’s road. Past that point, you’re no better than a child whining “are we there yet” in the back seat.

Everyone has moments when they curse the world and want to rage against the machine. Things will bother us, and we’ll feel the need to rope in a team of people to participate in a “life-sucks” discussion. However, let it all out quickly and move on. Take it with a grain of salt, get over it, and focus your efforts on deciding what is actually worth complaining about and what you can do to change it.

Winner of the Self-Improvement Book Bundle

Jacob Inman — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Photo by TuTuWon

Congratulations to Maureen Ruble - the winner of the Self-Improvement Book Bundle!

Thank you to all who entered this contest and to those who have provided positive feedback on the site in the process. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed your interaction with us here at Revive Your Life - we will strive to continue delivering useful and interesting content.

This was our second contest here at Revive Your Life, both of which were very successful. We plan to offer more exciting giveaways over the coming year, so please subscribe to receive free email updates which will include these contest announcements.

Haven’t had time to look around the site yet? Check out these interesting and useful articles that our readers have given the thumbs up!

4 Healthy, Quick and Easy Breakfast Recipes
Get Ripped And Build Strength Without Weights
How Boredom Can Screw With Your Life and Happiness
10 Must-Read Articles That Will Revive Your Life

iPhone and iPod Apps to Make You Healthy

Erin Giebler Hill — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 09:00:30 +0000

Photo by Don Hankins

An iPhone App that can make me healthy? No way. Impossible.

Well, you’re right - you need to take some action and put these Apps to use to actually see any health benefits. You can browse all the health and fitness Apps in iTunes by searching the Healthcare and Fitness App category, but be sure to check out these free or inexpensive, but totally beneficial, Apps:

Workout Apps

iFitness ($1.99) is one of the most popular healthcare and fitness Apps on iTunes, iFitness provides you with over 200 exercises complete with instructions, images and video to help you through your workouts using free weights, cables, gym equipment or no weight at all. You can choose from these workouts to create your own custom workouts or use the routines provided with the App, including full body workouts and targeted exercises. You can also track and view your progress. If you don’t feel like looking at your device for each new exercise, you have the ability to print out your workout on a computer by e-mailing it to yourself. iFitness provides you with all the important tools you need to workout anywhere.

With Yoga STRETCH ($0.99), which uses the Vinyasa flow, you can predetermine the length of your workout by choosing and organizing your favorite poses into a practice. You even get to choose what music accompanies your practice. Each pose has an image and a description and it’s up to you whether you want the instructor to guide you throughout your practice or not. This App is so helpful to those who like a class setting and aren’t too familiar with yoga, but will eventually grow in their practice without the need for too much guidance.

GymTrainer ($.99) provides you with over 30 workouts with videos and instructions. You can also enter your own workout if you’ve found one you like outside of the App and use the App to track the sets, weight and repetitions you perform. No more big notebooks and pencils to get left behind at the gym.

Tracking Apps

WeightTrack ($.99), if you can believe it, tracks your weight. Actually, you can track more than one person’s current weight and other information, such as starting weight, goal weight, starting date, BMI, weight lost so far, how much is left to be lost and how many days are left to your goal based on a deadline you enter. The App is extremely easy to use and takes seconds to enter in your weight and see your progress. If you join the Web site, OKCMillion.com, you can view a chart that maps your progress.

Lose It! (free) will help you keep your diet on track by being your pocket food and exercise log. Simply enter in your information, starting and goal weight, height, and birthday, and select a plan to maintain your weight or lose a certain amount each week - no more than two pounds a week. The App tells you how long it will take you to reach your goal weight and the total calories you should consume in a day.

The food log is easy to use and allows you to enter your food eaten by day and meal type. The search is very detailed allowing you to enter the actual brand of whatever food you ate to ensure accuracy. Food you’ve previously entered is saved so you don’t have to search for it again and you can add recipes right into the App so you can track meals containing more than just one ingredient. You can view your log by day or week and track other nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fat and protein. The log shows how many calories you can eat and the count adjusts to what you’ve entered so far. You can also track your exercises and the contribution of each to the amount of calories burned.

Let’s not forget RunKeeper Free (free) and Fitino ($1.99). Using the GPS in your device, if available, these Apps help you track any of your outdoor fitness activities where you’d want to record your distance, such as running, walking or cycling. They’re much more than a tracking device, though, as these handy Apps can measure your average speed, total miles, total time, average pace and calories burned. Use the Apps or go to runkeeper.com or fitnio.com to view past workouts and see your progress.

With RunKeeper Free, you can even see your route using the map functionality.

The Fitino App has the added feature of setting up a playlist using the music on your device so you can use the App and listen and skip through your music at the same time. The App separates activities - walking, running, cycling - and tracks how many of each activity you’ve done for easy reference. It also offers you the ability to enter in an emergency number or just call 911 with a screen tap without having to exit the App and dial a number.

Health Reference Apps

Wellness (free) is a handy and powerful App. What happens if you’ve gone to a Mexican restaurant and you must have the tortilla chips and salsa while waiting for your meal? With the Wellness App, you can search for the nutritional value of the chips and salsa before you dive in to see how much you really can allow yourself. This App eliminates this common diet nightmare and the shock you realize when you get home and look up how many calories you’ve actually had before the main course arrived. In these kinds of situations, search for something general (tortilla chips), and you get a list of choices (plain, baked, salted, flavored, etc) allowing you to view the nutritional information you’re interested in. If you’re at a chain restaurant, you can easily enter the name of the restaurant and many of the menu items are available. The App gives you the typical serving size or you can enter your own. You can also save the food you eat often to your favorites.

With these and many useful Apps available, how can you possible say you don’t have the time or resources to fulfill your goals with a straight face? There are many more tools out there on iTunes and more are added all the time. So, go out there and search for whatever interests you. You’ll most likely find it and a lot more to download onto that wonderful gadget of yours. Allow it to pay you back in good health!