Your Life-Your Choice ISSN 1488-0253 February, 2001 Issue 69 Letter From the Editor Welcome to our first issue for 2001. I want to first apologize to everyone for the ordeal you all recently had to endure. Between volumes of email and virus attacks, it was a frightening and frustrating time for all of us. In all the mass confusion some e-mails may have been lost. If you wish to be unsubscribed or if you are receiving this newsletter in error, please mailto:unsub@life-choices.com and your request will be honored immediately. What happened? It suffices to say that Your Life-Your Choice was the victim of an infiltration. Without my knowledge or permission, someone remotely gained access to the e-mail address containing the YLYC subscribers for the use of spamming. This was the very beginning of the numerous emails we all received. Each time anyone replied to an e-mail it was sent to the entire list. One of the first respondents inadvertently sent out the Snow White virus which would only have affected you if you opened the attachment. As soon as we were aware of what was happening, we removed the entire subscriber list from our server in an attempt to minimize the damage. We reacted as soon as we could, however the damage was still extensive. It has taken us 6 weeks to recover and I won't even get into the havoc it has caused on our side, over and above the tremendous inconvenience to all of you. I assure you that neither Your Life-Your Choice nor Virtualife.com (who hosts our newsletter) has ever had the Snow White or any other virus. I haven't laboured over and published a FREE newsletter for 4 years just to destroy everything I've worked for. I would like to thank ALL of you who understood and stuck by us through this ordeal. Understandably we received e-mails from some angry subscribers. But we also received a great number of supportive private e-mails and phone calls. Those were terrific reminders of WHY I do this every month, and gave me the incentive to continue. I'm compiling an e-book that will include a number of natural health tips for various health conditions. Ultimately this will be offered to the public from the Your Life-Your Choice website. I haven't decided yet if I will charge for it or not. However, to show my appreciation for your support, I will be offering it to YOU, my faithful supporters, for FREE in a pre-release. Watch the coming newsletters! I'll announce it, with a link to download, as soon as it's ready. Many thanks to all of you, and to Virtualife.com who reacted so quickly and thoroughly. By the way, Virtualife.com has added additional security to our subscriber list to prevent anything like this from happening again. Until next time, the best of health to you. Brigitte Synesael Editor of Your Life-Your Choice Make it your business to be informed! No one cares more about you than YOU. http://www.Life-Choices.com =========================================== ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Breast Cancer Survivors: Encouraging Stories of Changed Lives 2. Top Dog - Stress-Ex for Prevention 3. Tea Tips - Tea Helps the Heart 4. Making the New Year Nutritious! *** Please rate this Ezine at the Cumuli Ezine Finder. http://www.cumuli.com/ezines/info/default.ldml?pub_code=alterh =========================================== Section 1 Breast Cancer Survivors: Encouraging Stories of Changed Lives by Laurel Duran, CMT http://www2.amigo.net/bluecord As a Massage Therapist I have been fortunate enough to hear the personal stories of many clients shared during hour-long massages. Over the years I have noticed a clear theme underlying the lives of women with breast cancer. This theme is the innate subject matter of the breasts and heart, namely: nurturing oneself; undergoing changes of heart through privately feeling one's negative emotions; and feelings about mother and home. Imagine this ideal scene that encapsulates what the heart and breasts are about: an infant at home cries out for her mother's nurturance until her mother picks her up, feeds or comforts her until she is at peace again. In reality, most of us can honestly admit that not all of our mother-nurturance needs were completely satisfied in early childhood. Also, some women learned from their mothers that their primary function in life is to nurture others and to forget self. Both of these scenarios can unconsciously contribute to an adult woman's difficulty with breast and heart issues. I have asked every female massage client with a history of breast cancer this question: "When you discovered you had breast cancer, did you use the diagnosis as a turning point in your life? Did you begin to nurture yourself more, and place YOURSELF on the top of your priority list?" Regardless of whether she had utilized traditional medicine or wholistic healing methods, every woman who answered "YES" no longer had breast cancer. And every woman who answered "NO", still had breast cancer. While my very informal style of information gathering does not live up to statistical research's stringent standards, I believe there is a seed of valuable truth in these women’s stories. Let’s see what your own intuition tells you. Here is a composite story of 'YES' answering women who no longer had breast cancer: "When I found out I had breast cancer I faced my own mortality. I thought 'If this signals the end of my life on earth, then how do I really want to spend my final days?' I started listening to my own heart, to my own feelings, and I wasn't going to wait for other people's approval or agreement anymore. I used to feel guilty about having my own desires, my own needs, my own feelings... many of which were different from what my partner/family/children/boss thought I was supposed to feel. I started speaking up on behalf of my own feelings and my own needs. I took it upon myself to meet my own needs rather than silently and sometimes resentfully expecting others to meet my needs. At first, it was a shock to my family/husband/children/boss if I said 'NO' to something they wanted from me that I did not want to provide for them. But I realized it wasn’t healthy for me to only feed others until my own well had run dry, leaving nothing for me. Even though I had been taught I was only allowed to give my energy to others, I realized that behavior was no longer good for me. I speak up for myself more now. I reserve empty time and space for me to meet my own needs, regardless of whether or not others approve. I’ve changed and in fact, my husband/children/family/boss have changed as a result. They realize that they almost lost me, and now they leave much more room for me to be myself than they used to. My family has even started taking care of many of their own needs now. I feel this new-found self-sufficiency is actually good for them, as well as relieving me of the burden of meeting their every need. Also, before the breast cancer I felt guilty about receiving such complete nurturance through massage. Today I can truly enjoy letting myself relax, be pampered and receive complete nurturance from massage." Here is a composite story of 'NO' answering women who still had breast cancer: "I have so many responsibilities to others that I don't have time to nurture myself. I have children and family to take care of/a husband to take care of. I have a very demanding job/ boss/community service I must do, regardless of how I feel. My many responsibilities to take care of others leave me with no time to do anything for myself. There is a history of breast cancer in my family and my mother and grandmother taught me that as a woman/wife/mother I am supposed to take care of others and not be selfish by thinking of myself. My doctor has prescribed medication that would keep my feelings from inconveniently surfacing and getting in the way of my many responsibilities to others. Actually, I feel guilty about taking this time out for massage. I'm only here because I don't want to waste this gift certificate. I really should be working and not wasting time on myself." Can you intuitively see a theme here? It is never too late to have a change of heart, and to rediscover that you deserve to nurture yourself! ----- Read about Laurel Duran on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ******************************************* Our sponsors make this newsletter FREE to subscribers. Please take a moment to visit them. ******************************************* Howard Hughes was famous for his wealth, but lost his health, and spent the remainder of his life trying to buy it back. Why is it that most people take their health for granted until they lose it?...then will spend every dollar and every minute trying to stay alive... one more day! At the end of your life, will you be a burden to your family because you failed to take the best nutrition available... today? How much is your health worth to you? http://www.nearpoint.net/bodybalance ********************************************* Shingles? Post Herpetic Neuralgia? For just a small cost for shipping and handling, get a full size tube of PainBreak®, absolutely FREE! PainBreak® is a new, proven, topical analgesic that is effective in relieving the pain of Post Herpetic Neuralgia (PHN), and other chronic pain. To find out more, go to http://www.painbreak.com ********************************************* Section 2 Top Dog - Stress-Ex for Prevention Pets each have their own personality and temperments. They, too, can suffer from conditions such as stress. We need to relax our pets to ensure that they benefit from necessary sleep and prevent other health issues that can be stress related. Stress-Ex is a formula that I would give to an animal the day before going on a trip. For hyperactive breeds I would put drops in the pets water everyday to slow them down just a bit. There are seven herbs in the formulas that support the nervous system. St. John`s Wort also is effective for some nervous problems. Vitamin E supports the nervous system and Lecithin helps to strengthen the myelin sheath thus helping nervous disorders. Wood Betony relaxes muscles and nerves which is excellent for all head and face pains. Herbs that will help improveme sleep quality are Valerian, Lobelia, and Skullcap. Lady's Slipper is a tonic for the nervous system improving circulation and supplying valuable nutrients to your pet. ----- Do you have a specific question about your pet's health that you would like to have an answer to? Talk to our TOP DOG. http://www.life-choices.com/cj/pet.html *************************************** Section 3 Tea Tips- Tea Helps the Heart In a recent study, a research team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston has found the heart-attack risk in people drinking one or more cups of tea per day was about half that of those who drank no tea. The team's findings "suggest that tea may be beneficial because it contains flavonoids which reduce platelet aggregation and inhibit LDL-cholesterol oxidation," according to Peter Wehrwein, in his article "More evidence that tea is good for the heart," in The Lancet. "All teas are not equal," Mr. Wehrwein reports. "Last year (Gary Beecher of the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service) reported on catechin (flavan-3-ol) concentrations in different forms of tea. Although several brands of black tea had substantial amounts of catechins, there were reduced amounts in decaffeinated black tea, and catechins were undetectable in herbal teas." Source: The Lancet, Jan 30, 1999 Thousand Cranes Tea http://www.life-choices.com/cj/tea.html *************************************** Our sponsors make this newsletter FREE to subscribers. Please take a moment to visit them. *************************************** Free Super Spectrim - For Youth, Health, Vitality and Happiness - the world's most scientific and nutritionally advanced supplement available. Based on Dr. Anthony Pescetti's ("the Father of Time Release" and Nobel Prize Winner) original formula. 12-hour time release. Experience the difference today! Visit us at www.superspectrim.com *************************************** SLMSeniors.com - We're not just another seniors web site! With special channels for Home, PC Help, Senior Resources, Special Offers, Fun and more, SLMSeniors.com will be your Favorite place on the World Wide Web. Join seniors 50+ and signup for your Free membership to the SLMSeniors.com online community. New members-only contests every month. http://www.slmseniors.com *************************************** Section 4 Making the New Year Nutritious! by June Kaminski, RN MSN http://www.visionsofadonai.com It's the beginning of a fresh New Year early in a brand New Millennium. What better time to decide to create a balanced nutritious lifestyle for yourself and your loved ones? It's a well-known fact that nutrition is a cornerstone of health. There's no better place to start if you're serious about high-quality self maintenance. You can really help yourself by being aware of the principles of healthy nutrition. Research shows that people in general are still eating too much fat, cholesterol, salt, sugar and empty calories. 2001 will be a much happier and healthier year if you bone up on your nutrition principles and learn to meet the demands of daily living running on the fuel of a well balanced nutritional daily diet. The first step in adopting a consistently nutritious lifestyle is to create the right motivation. Looking and feeling good are great motivation but just as important are good self-esteem, a sense of self-worth, self-respect and protection and freedom from illness. It's also important to examine your beliefs and values about foods. What does food mean to you? Is it seen as a source of fuel and building materials to keep your body and mind healthy and strong? Is it a source of comfort used to substitute for a lack of support, love or self-respect? Is it something you can't get enough of with cravings for foods rich in sugars and fats? Or is food seen as a social event - something to draw you closer to loved ones and friends or community? Many of our common food habits stem from one or more of these views about food and its importance in one's life. The first view is obviously the most balanced and healthy and can help you make wise decisions about foods without feeling deprived. The second step is to assess your current nutritional status and food habits. Spend a day or so, better yet - a week keeping track of what you eat each day. Write it all down without analysis for the seven days, then sit down with your data and take a peek at your nutritional history. Do you see any patterns? Are all of the five food groups adequately represented? Anything in excess? Anything lacking? Next, learn the basic recommendations for the various nutrients. In a nutshell, official guidelines recommend a daily intake of: Fats, sweets and oils used sparingly 2 to 3 servings of milk, cheese or yoghurt foods 3 to 5 servings of vegetables 2 to 4 servings of fruit 8 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta foods 2 to 3 servings of meat, poultry, beans, eggs and nut foods 8 eight ounce glasses of water. Some great online resources are available to help you plan and work towards your nutritional goals. Two of these include: Cyberdiet.com at http://www.cyberdiet.com offers interactive self assessment tools such as the Nutritional Profile, Risk Assessment, Nutrition Diary, Body Mass Index and Body Fat Distribution Assessment tests. An online version of the USDA Food Pyramid Guide booklet can be viewed at http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/food/food-pyramid/main.htm Straight forward guidelines for gaining awareness about hidden sugars and fats along with directions in eating a balanced diet are given. Make this Year the beginning of something truly beautiful. By slowly but surely working towards the adoption of a balanced vibrant diet, you empower yourself to enjoy life to the fullest. Your tastes change - you come to crave whole nutritious foods. If your diet hasn't been the greatest, this may take time. But time well-spent! //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Disclaimer All material appearing in this newsletter is provided for educational purposes only. It is provided with the understanding that authors and contributors are not offering medical advice or services. We strongly encourage you to consult with your own physician regarding any recommendations with respect to your own medical condition. Advertisement in the Your Life- Your Choice newsletter does not indicate endorsement on our part. The opinions expressed by our sponsors do not necessarily reflect our own. **************************************** Share Your Life-Your Choice with your Friends! * This newsletter can be forwarded in its entirety only. * Remember to discuss these options with your Health * Care provider before implementing them. * ********************************************* Read back articles of Your Life-Your Choice in our Library of Archives and the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.life-choices.com/jarchive.html You are asked to acquire a username and password, but this is for internal use only. Entrance is FREE and you will not receive any additional e-mail as a result of registering. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// To advertise in Your Life-Your Choice newsletter, visit: http://www.life-choices.com/sponsor.html or mailto:admin@life-choices.com SUBJECT: Send Your Choice Advertising Rates //////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Subscribe: You can subscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.life-choices.com/subscribe.html or mailto:admin@life-choices.com with "Subscribe" in the subject or the body. Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.life-choices.com/subscribe.html or mailto:admin@life-choices.com with "Unsubscribe" in the body. Copyright 1997-2001 by Brigitte Synesael All rights reserved ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// This Ezine Is Listed At FreeZinesOnline.