Spirituality -- Workplace

Bringing Spirituality to the Workplace What is spirituality in the workplace? Some companies would tell you that it is bringing your values to work and using them in everyday life. Values like honesty, integrity, and good quality work. Other companies would tell you it is treating each customer, employee and co-worker with respect and love. Yes I said "love". For yet other companies it is using prayer, meditation, in making all the small and large decisions each day. And for some it is being socially responsible for the community, enviroment, and the world. They see their companies serving the three "P's" people,planet and profit. Some key values that companies are embracing are:Key spiritual values embraced in a business context include integrity, honesty, accountability, quality, cooperation, service, intuition, trustworthiness, respect, justice, and service. More and more companies believe this approach exemplifies a balance between deeply held spiritual values and respect for the need for profit in business endeavors. With more women in the workplace than ever before (studies show that women are more concerned with the spirit) we are in a revolution in the workplace that the whole person be reflected in the workplace. How do I find a job I really enjoy? How do I find meaning in my work? Is there more meaningful work I should be doing? How does my spirituality fit in with my career? People are asking these questions of themselves and their companies. Since we spend so much of our lives working and so much of ourselves these are valid questions to be asking. Corporate scandals fill the headlines but Signs of spirituality in the workplace keep turning up: companies not only allowing but sponsoring prayer or meditation groups; company-sponsored chaplains; conferences and executive training sessions that experiment with spiritual practices or how to incorporate values into decision making; and how to use prayer as a way of making decisions. I think these headlines should dominate the headlines. There is a shift going on in business involving, going beyond maximizing profits to considering all stakeholders: employees, customers, vendors, shareholders, and the community. Now that more and more people are doing business on the internet and companies have gone global the community has expanded as has the enviroment to a global village. I believe that Joseph Campbell showed the way when he said follow your bliss. What he meant was that we should notice the things that give us deep joy and a feeling of satisfaction. People are not only looking toward following their bliss but having meaning in their work. In the agricultural age one saw the results of their work. Now so many times people only do a small piece of a large project and never see any results of the whole. So it is more important than ever that they do what they love and love what they do. We yearn for work to be a place in which we both experience and express our deep soul and spirit. What would a more spiritual workplace mean for people? It would mean that work is a place beyond earning our daily bread. A place where the whole person can express themselves. It would also mean through our creative contribution that other peoples spirit and creativity would be nourished.e Self (their aliveness). Creativity is the core of business. It will allow us to come out with new products, ideas, and services that serve other people. To realize this goal we must create enviroments where spirit flourishes. When people incorporate spirituality they work more efficiently as teams for they are living values that nuture others. By being more ethical companies are able to trust employees, employees can give up some of the fear of being scammed by employers and customers trust the company and stay with them longer. When we exercise leadership based on spiritual values, we build the character and reputation required for growth. About the author: Judi Singleton is the publisher of Jassmine's Journal you can subscribe at http://www.motherearthpublishing.com

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GO HERBAL

3 Quick Herbal Remedies

In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has
skyrocketed to the forefront of the medical field.
A 2004 government survey concluded that more than one
third of adults use alternative medicine and healing.

One facet of this burgeoning interest is Herbal Medicine.
While it may seem "trendy" to some, Herbal Medicine has
been around for thousands of years. In fact, many of
the familiar pharmaceutical medications we use today
were originally created from "natural" ingredients.

Drugs like opium (from poppies), aspirin (from willow bark),
digitalis (from foxglove) and quinine (from the
cinchona tree.) Interestingly, the synthetic version
of "aspirin" is credited with the beginning of the
pharmaceutical industry. A chemist working for the
Friedrich Bayer Company in Germany created the synthetic.
The company registered the term "aspirin" as a trademark
but Bayer lost the patent rights when the Allies seized
and resold its foreign assets after World War I.

Here are 3 herbal remedies to help with popular conditions:

1. Arthritis.

The term Arthritis literally translates to "joint
inflammation." If you suffer from Arthritis, chances are
you have taken drugs to combat the effects or tried other
"home remedies." If you haven't yet tried "Urtication,"
it might be helpful. The term "Urtication" comes from
the botanical name, Urtica dioica and dates back some
2,000 years to biblical times. Urtica dioica is
"Stinging Nettle. The treatment is to grasp the nettles
in a gloved hand and swat the sore joints with the nettles.
This may seem bizarre, but the

practice has proven to be
so effective for some sufferers of arthritis that they
now maintain a nettle plant on their window sill.

2. High Blood Pressure.

Try vegetable soup. Yes, vegetable soup. Add any of the
following: Celery, Garlic, Hawthorn, Kudzu, Onion,
Tomato, Broccoli, Carrot, Purslane (any anything else
that contains magnesium), Saffron, Valerian, Fennel,
Oregano, Black Pepper, Basil and Tarragon. Consume on
a regular basis. Eliminate pork, beef, and alcohol
from your diet. Eat more plant foods and herbs and
use a good vitamin regimen.

3. Dandruff.

Create an herbal scalp rinse. Add one teaspoon of Potassium
Chloride (find in salt section at the supermarket) into
6 cups of water. Heat until the Potassium Chloride
dissolves. Chop four ounces of fresh Celandine (if
fresh is not available use a half cup of the dried
herb instead).Add Celandine to the solution. Allow to
stand for two hours. Then boil slowly for 20 minutes.
Strain out the plant material, and simmer reducing to one
and one half cups. Add eight ounces of glycerin and
continue simmering reducing the liquid slowly to two cups.
Strain the result and bottle it. Store in cool place.
Use once or twice a day as a hair rinse.

Lastly, make certain that both your physician AND your
herbalist are fully aware of all medications and/or
herbal treatments you are using.

About the Author

Tony Newton publishes the popular health and wellness
website - http://www.1st-for-health.com
With lots of informative articles on low carb diets,
hair loss, arthritis pain relief, acne and lots more.

HAIR CARE

15 Hair Care Myths - The Truth and The Lies Everyone has a favourite myth about hair care – and we usually never let the truth get in the way of a good legend! This article examines some of the most widely known - and the reality behind the myths. 1. Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss/dryness. FALSE: Frequency of washing doesn’t harm hair. Wash it as often as you like, although the recommendation is three times a week. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair. 2. More shampoo = cleaner hair. FALSE: Don’t waste your shampoo! A dollop of shampoo, about the size of a quarter is usually enough for long hair. Very long hair may take a little more. 3. Conditioner helps repair split ends. FALSE: No conditioner can "repair" damaged hair. What it can do is smooth down the cuticle and make hair seem in better condition. A good conditioner can also prevent damage from occurring in the first place. 4. Blow-drying produces hair loss. FALSE: Blow-drying can damage, burn or dry hair, which can cause it to fall, but the hair will grow back immediately. This is not permanent hair loss. 5. Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus. FALSE: Scalp or fungal diseases can’t be caught from sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children, whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections. 6. To get your hair to grow, brush 100 strokes each day. FALSE: Brushing that much can damage the hair cuticle. NOT recommended! Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage. 7. Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases. TRUE: Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools. 8. Cutting hair makes it grow faster and/or thicker. FALSE: This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so shorter hair appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment. 9. Color treatment causes hair loss. FALSE: Most hair coloring products contain chemicals that can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used, but it wont instigate hair loss. 10. Salon products are identical to drugstore products. FALSE: Although there are exceptions, salon products generally contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results. The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in drugstore brands. If in doubt – read the labels. 11. Long sun exposure favors hair loss. FALSE: Your hair acts as a shield against the sun. Hair loss appears at the follicle level and so the sun would have to penetrate at this depth to do any damage. 12. Diet is related to hair loss. TRUE: it's important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. However, no individual food has been proven to be beneficial or detrimental to hair. 13. Stress causes hair loss. TRUE: Severe stress (e.g. surgery or a death in the family), can shut down hair production, causing temporary hairloss (alopecia areata). The scalp usually recuperates, though, and hair grows back 14. Wearing tight braids, ponytails or buns causes baldness. TRUE: Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that is quite common amongst older African American women. It results from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser styles that minimize scalp tension. 15. Smoking causes gray hair. TRUE: According to J. G. Mosley of the Leigh Infirmary in Lancashire, England in an article in Science News (January 11, 1997) smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers. Even worse, smoking has been conclusively linked to accelerated hair loss. SUMMARY Heard another myth about hair? Do your research – ask an expert! This doesn’t include your grandmother, best friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act on any hair myths – you owe it to your hair. (With thanks to Daniel Mcullough and Karen M. Shelton) About the Author Michael Barrows is a web publisher specialing in niche marketing. Pick up his FREE ebook "(Nearly) Everything You Should Know ABout Hairstyles and Hair Care" at his website; http://www.great-hairstyles.com

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HEALTHY DIET

A Heart Healthy Diet Makeover Heart Disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. among both men and women. Part of the problem is it is truly a silent killer. There are few warning signs of a heart attack and the signs that are there don’t necessarily make us feel bad. The good news is there are many lifestyle changes you can make to significantly decrease your risk of heart disease. Here are 9 simple steps to make over your diet for heart health. 1.Use the right fats: The good fats are found to preserve HDL (protective cholesterol) and lower LDL (Bad Cholesterol) levels. The good fats are found in foods such as olive, canola, and peanut oils as well as nuts, avocados and olives. 2.Decrease the Saturated Fats: These fats tend to increase the cholesterol made by your body. They can increase your total and LDL (Bad) cholesterol levels. Saturated fats are found in animal products such as dairy, poultry (especially the skin), meats, butter and cream based sauces and dressings. It is not necessary to omit these foods, just choose leaner options and have the higher fat foods once in awhile. 3.Remove all Trans Fats from your pantry! : Trans Fats are oils that have been hardened by the hydrogenation process, such as stick margarine and shortening used to make commercial baked goods, chips, and fast foods. Like saturated fats, these fats increase total blood cholesterol and LDL (Bad) cholesterol levels and may even lower HDL (Good) cholesterol levels. Food labels will be required to list the amount of Trans fats in a food product by 2006. Until then, if the ingredient list on the food label includes the term hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated, it contains Trans Fats. Avoid these products! 4.Increase Your Fiber! : Soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood by binding to cholesterol in the intestine so it cannot be absorbed by the body. Good food sources of soluble fiber include beans and legumes, oranges, apples, prunes, broccoli, carrots, oat bran, oatmeal, and some cereals. Use whole grain products in place of their white counterparts. Eat at least 20-40 grams of fiber a day. (Most Americans only eat around 12 grams of fiber a day.) 5.Omega-3 Fatty Acids every day: Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fatty acids meaning we have to get them from our diet. These fatty acids may reduce the risk of blood clotting, decrease inflammation, lower triglyceride levels, normalize heart rhythms and improve the immune system. Consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids daily may reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death by 50-70%. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in: fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, lake trout, halibut, and sardines. Other sources include ground flax seeds, soybeans, canola oil, and walnuts. 6.Five To Eight Fruits and Vegetables a day: Eating fruits and vegetables can help to decrease your risk of heart disease, cancer, cataracts, and can help to lower blood pressure. Fruits and Vegetables are loaded in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. The more fruits and veggies you eat, the more antioxidant activity in your body. How do antioxidants work? Every day we are exposed to free radicals from our diets, sun, chemical exposure, pollution, etc. These free radicals promote the plaque build up in our arteries leading us to increased risk of heart disease. Antioxidants work by neutralizing these free radicals before they can cause damage to our bodies. 7.Folic Acid: High levels of an amino acid called homocysteine in the blood have been associated with damage to the blood-vessel walls, increased blood clotting, and overall increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Folate is a B vitamin which has been shown to decrease these homocysteine levels in the blood. Good food sources of Folate include green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, beet greens, and chard as well as legumes, asparagus, broccoli, oranges, orange juice, whole and fortified grains, walnuts and peanuts. 8.Add some almonds! Studies show that eating an ounce of almonds a day can help to lower your cholesterol. A matter of fact, a recent study published in Journal of the American Medical Association found that eating a diet that included plant sterol margarine (such as Benecol or ProActiv), soy products, almonds and increase fiber was able to lower cholesterol levels as much as the statin drugs and in just 2 weeks time! Have an ounce of almonds as a snack, or sprinkle them in your cereal or salad. 9.Have a little soy: Soy has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Using soy on a weekly basis is a great step towards protecting your heart. If you are not a tofu fan, try soy milk or yogurt, garden burgers, edamme (soy beans), or soy sausage patties. There are all kinds of ways to include soy in your diet! Sample Heart Healthy Meal Makeover: Sample day Before: Breakfast: - glass of orange juice - 2 fried eggs - 3 slices of bacon - 2 slices white bread with 3 tsp butter Lunch: - roast beef sandwich on white bread - potato chips Snack: - 1 cup Cheez It crackers Dinner: - fried fish strips - 1 cup mashed potatoes cooked w/whole milk and butter - ½ cup corn Diet make over: Breakfast: -glass of calcium fortified orange juice - scrambled egg beaters - 1-2 slices of whole grain bread with 1-2 tsp Benocol or ProActive spread - 1-2 slices soy bacon or sausage links Lunch: -½ turkey, lettuce, tomato, and avocado sandwich - 1 cup vegetable soup - 8 oz vanilla non-fat yogurt with 1/3 cup of berries added Snack: 1 ounce almonds Dinner: -3 ounces baked or broiled salmon - ½ cup broiled red potatoes with olive oil - ½ cup broccoli - 1-2 cups of salad with cut up pears and toasted walnuts with 1TB olive oil vinaigrette salad dressing Results: Day 1 = 2300 calories and 114 grams fat; 98 grams sat fat; 45% calories from fat Day 2 = 1800 calories and 58 grams fat; 14 grams sat fat; 29% calories from fat. Making small changes can go a long way to improve your heart health! What changes can you start making? About the Author Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has developed two online weight management programs, The Mini Diet Makeover and The Ultimate Diet Makeover, which focus on a healthy, non-diet approach to weight loss. For more information or to sign up for our free newsletter, visit www.reallivingnutrition.com.

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YOUR HEALTH -- WE TAKE CARE

Health Insurance and health care by: Mike Yeager Health insurance is something that everyone needs today. The rising cost of visiting a health care provider or a hospital stay makes it imperative that everyone have some type of health care coverage. Government statistics estimate that over 40 million people in America are not covered by any type of health insurance on any given day. That's an enormous number of people who really are taking a financial risk. Even if you're on a tight, limited budget, it's very important that you pick up some kind of affordable health insurance. Even if you only have a plan that covers unexpected hospitalization, your peace of mind will be greatly enhanced. Keep in mind that a catastrophic health insurance policy can come with a high deductible before their coverage kicks in. They don't pick up the cost of preventive physician visits or emergency room visits to get a few stitches. Some questions to ask when considering affordable health insurance. 1) Can your and/or your family afford to pay ALL your medical expenses if you're sick or injured? 2) How much is the deductible? 3) How much are the premiums? With a little searching and comparison shopping you find the best rate for your personal affordable health insurance. About the author: Mike Yeager Author/Publisher http://www.a1-healthinsurance-4u.com/ Circulated by Bandoni Media

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COOKING TIPS

14 Easy Cooking Tips for Meat and Poultry Slow Cooker Recipes The first Christmas we spent with my in-laws in their new country home, my mother-in-law wisely gave me a slow cooker. Her thoughtful gift helped Dan and I enjoy the most convenient of all cooking methods, even with our long work days and commute. I'll always treasure the memories of delicious aromas wafting through the front door as we stepped into the house after a long day at work and a nerve-jangling commute in heavy traffic. Most of the slow cooker recipes I used were based on meats and poultry. Here are 14 easy tips to make your slow cooker recipes tasty and safe: Tip # 1 - According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, bacteria in food are killed at a temperature of 165°F. Meats cooked in the slow cooker reach an internal temperature of 170° in beef and as high as 190°F in poultry. It is important to follow the recommended cooking times and to keep the cover on your slow cooker during the cooking process. Tip # 2 - It is best not use the slow cooker for large pieces like a roast or whole chicken because the food will cook so slowly it could remain in the bacterial "danger zone" too long. Tip # 3 - Always defrost meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Tip # 4 - Meats generally cook faster than most vegetables in a slow cooker. Tip # 5 - Trim all fat from meat and poultry. Fat can increase the temperature of the liquid in the slow cooker and decrease the cooking time. This will cause the food t be overcooked. Fats will also melt with long cooking times, and will add an unpleasant texture to the finished dish. Tip # 6 - Cooking at higher temperatures will generally give you a tougher piece of meat. for all day cooking or for less-tender cuts of meat, you may want to use the low setting. Tip # 7 - The slow cooker recipes are best used with the tougher cuts of meats. Tip # 8 - For the best color and texture, ground beef is best browned before using, except in meatloaf or other similar dishes. Tip # 9 - It is not necessary to brown meat before slow cooking, but it gives more depth of flavor in the food and removes some of the fat, especially in pork, lamb and sausages. If the meat is lean, well trimmed and not highly marbled, it doesn't need to be browned. Tip # 10 - For roasts and stews, pour liquid over meat. Use no more liquid than specified in the slow cooker recipes. More juices in meats and vegetables are retained in slow cooking than in conventional cooking. Tip # 11 - Dark meat takes longer to cook, so if a whole cut up chicken is used, put the thighs and legs on the bottom. Tip # 12 - The slightly coarser texture of corn-fed, organic or free-range poultry is ideal for slow cooker recipes. Tip # 13 - Most meats require 8 hours of cooking on LOW. Use cheaper cuts of meat - not only do you save money, but these meats work better for slow cooker recipes. Cheaper cuts of meat have less fat, which makes them more suited to crockpot cooking. Moist, long cooking times result in very tender meats. Tip # 14 - Farberware FSC600 6-quart Oval Slow Cooker oval design accommodates oversize roasts, whole chickens, hams, and/or ribs. It features a large, 6-quart capacity stoneware liner, which nests inside a chrome slow cooker base and the auto setting switches to a lower 'keep warm' setting after cooking food. For those who are not concerned about cooking in aluminum the West Bend Versatility 6-quart Oval Slow Cooker will work well to cook meats. It has a removable aluminum insert that can be used on the stovetop to brown meats and caramelize onions before slow cooking. The bottom unit can also be used on its own as a small griddle. Its dishwasher-safe insert has a nonstick interior and an included roasting rack. About the author: Anjali Dawson has 45 years of experience in cooking, from exotic Indian cuisine with her family in Nepal and India, to home-style American cooking with her mother-in-law in Alaska. She refined her gourmet talents working with her chefs as a Restaurateur. Visit Anjali's slow cooker recipes site for free recipes and tips. http://www.easy-slow-cooker-recipes.com/