Tuesday, August 28, 2012

How Keep Living Well as We Live Longer


How Keep Living Well as We Live Longer
 By Brian Cairns

 With the recent advances in medicine, Americans today are living longer than ever. As we plan to live longer, our focus needs to shift on what to do now so we keep living well long into our senior years. Below are some great tips to follow. The Anvanca® programs offer a number of tools that may be able to help

  Living Well Tip #1: Stay Active The best way to keep you organs working well is to ensure that they have sufficient blood flow to deliver the nutrients they need and remove the wastes that can build up. Nowhere is this more important than in the brain. The brain is very sensitive to changes in blood supply, and any disruption can lead to impairment. Unfortunately, the brain’s ability to heal itself is very limited, so once the damage is done, it is often very difficult to fix.

  Living Well Tip #2: Stay Alert When it comes to our brains, the old adage, “use it or lose it” definitely holds true. Keeping your mind active and alert is critical to fighting off age related mental decline. Challenging yourself to learn new things can really help. Learning a new language, musical instrument, or a new hobby are all good choices.

  Living Well Tip #3: Eat Well A diet full of fruits and vegetables has been shown time and again to yield benefits in staving off age related declines. There are dozens of studies which have shown the benefits of consuming foods high in antioxidants, on maintaining healthy brain and cardiovascular functioning.

  Living Well Tip #4: Keep Your Blood Pressure in Check Elevated blood pressure causes strain to the cardiovascular system. If the system is taxed, then it does a poorer job in delivering nutrients and removing waste.

  Living Well Tip #5: Maintain a Healthy Blood Sugar Fluctuations in blood sugar can adversely affect the brain. As in tip #1, maintaining normal brain function is a balance between nutrients and waste removal. If either side of the equation is defective, the brain will not function as well. For more helpful information on weight loss, diet, nutrition, and exercise, visit us on www.anvanca.com or register to my RSS feed.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

JOKES


A disgruntled school teacher handed in her resignation with the following comment: “In our public schools today, the teachers are afraid of the principals, the principals are afraid of the superintendents, the superintendents are afraid of the board, the board members are afraid of the parents, the parents are afraid of the children, and the children are afraid of nobody.” * * * * * “If we get married, will you give up smoking?” “Yes.” “And drinking too?” “Yes.” And will you stop going to your club in the evening?” “Yes.” “And what else are you thinking of giving up, darling?” “The idea of getting married.” * * * * * Three professors at Mumbai C.S.T. station were outside a train leaving for Delhi. They were discussing percentages. They were so busy they did not notice the train moving. Suddenly they noticed and ran and caught it. Two got in and one was left behind. A lady standing by said, “Never mind. Two out of three got the train, that’s a good percentage.” “Yes,” replied the professor. “But those two came to see me off.” * * * * * Teacher: Ramesh, why didn’t you come to school day before yesterday? Ramesh: My mother washed my underpants so I could not come. Teacher: And why didn’t you come yesterday? Ramesh: I started for school, Sir, and as I passed your house I saw your underpants drying on the line, so I thought you would not be going to school. * * * * * Mummy, teacher was asking me today if I have any brothers and sisters who will be coming to school.” “That’s so nice of her to take an interest in the members of our family. What did she say when you told her that you were the only child?” asked mummy “Nothing. She only said, ‘Thank God for that’.” * * * * * An absent-minded professor at home answered the door bell. “Do you come here often?” “Iam your wife, stupid!” * * * * * Ashok: I have a strong suspicion that our school is haunted. Seema: Why do you say so? Ashok: Our principal is always talking of our school spirits. * * * * * Door-to-door salesman to Housewife: I’d like to show you a little item your neighbours said you couldn’t afford. * * * * * When a famous artist was asked how it was that all his portraits turned out so beautifully, he replied: “The secret is... I never show the bad ones.” * * * * *

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

THE TEST OF FAITH


THE TEST OF FAITH George Muller was a man of unflinching and ardent belief. He rendered service to humanity in a spirit of selflessness and self effacement. He had organized an orphanage in which children were fed, clothed and educated. He used to say that if we serve with faith, love and selflessness, Lord’s Grace would surely smile upon such endeavors. He believed firmly that prayer offered unto the Lord in faith can never go unheard. One day he was sitting in the office when the Manager of the orphanage came and said,” Today, we just do not have anything whatsoever to feed the children. What should be done?” Max Muller replied, “Recite the Name of Lord and attend to your duties. At the scheduled time of the lunch, place plates and other utensils for the children as per usual routine.” The Manager was surprised and gazed at his face in wonder. The order was obeyed and tables were set for lunch. The Manager asked Muller whether the lunch bell should be rung. Muller gave his assent. Radiating confidence and faith, Muller said, “We have done we ought to do with full faith. Now, let us leave His work unto Him, the Lord.” Muller closed his eyes and started reciting the Name of the Lord. The bell was rung. Children rushed in and took their seats. Just at that time, a lorry drew in with cooked meals ready to serve. The individual coming in said that a certain Lord has arranged a grand feast in the hotel but for some unknown reason, the feast was cancelled. To ensure that such a delicious meal should not go waste, he directed us to bring it here with his good wishes.

THREE QUESTIONS

THREE QUESTIONS BY LEO TOLSTOY One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter. The three questions were: What is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times? The emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom, announcing that whoever could answer the questions would receive a great reward. Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer. But no answer could please the emperor; therefore, no reward was given. After several nights of reflection, the emperor; therefore, no reward was given. After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit, who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. The hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor. So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and climbed the mountain alone. On the mountain, the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut. When the elderly hermit saw the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig. The emperor approached him and said, “I have come here to ask your help with three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?” The hermit listened attentively, but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging. Seeing the old man tired, the emperor offered his help in digging the ground. The hermit thanked him, handed the spade to the emperor and then sat down on the ground to rest. After he had dug two rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions. The hermit still did not answer. The emperor continued to dig till the sun started setting. The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, “I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can’t give me any answer, please let me know so that I can go back.” The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor, “Do you hear someone running over there?” The emperor turned his head. They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods. He ran wildly toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground. Opening the man’s clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep wound. The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it. At last, the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for water. The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water. Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold. The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit’s bed. The emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit’s bed. The emperor was worn out from the long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden. Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep. When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain. He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man staring at him intently. He said in a faint whisper, “Please forgive me.” “But what have you done that I should forgive you?” the emperor asked. “You do not know me, your majesty. I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property. When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to take revenge. But instead of finding you, I came across your attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran here. If I hadn’t met you I would surely be dead by now. I had intended to kill you, but, instead you saved my life! Iam ashamed and grateful beyond words. If I live, I vowed to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren do the same. Please grant me your forgiveness.” The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy. He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man’s property, and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed. After ordering his attendants to take the man home. The emperor returned to ask the hermit the answers to his questions. He found the hermit sowing seeds in the each they had dug the day before. The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor: “But your questions have already been answered.” “How’s that?” the emperor asked, puzzled. “Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home. Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me. Therefore, the most important time was the time you were digging in the beds, the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me. Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him, he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him. Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of this wound. Remember that there is only one important time and that is NOW. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future. The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at your side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.