MINDSET MATTERS

Somewhere in the Middle

Here we are, half way through the year, and it made me realize how important, yet sometimes overlooked, the “middle” is. Let’s take a deeper look…

One approach to this midpoint of the year is in the Buddhist philosophy of the “middle way” or “middle path”. Jack Kornfield describes it this way: “When we discover the middle path, we neither remove ourselves from the world nor get lost in it. We can be with all our experience in its complexity, with our own exact thoughts and feelings and drama. We learn to embrace tension, paradox, change. Instead of seeking resolution, waiting for the chord at the end of a song, we let ourselves open and relax in the middle. In the middle we discover that the world is workable.”

The summer solstice is another reminder for me that we have reached the half-way point in the year and it provides us an opportunity to bring ourselves back into balance. I also like to think of this point in time as one to recalibrate, reset, and refocus. Following the latest voyage of the sailing canoe, Hokulea, I was intrigued by their ceremony as they reached the equator on each voyage. It is a moment where they stop sailing to pause and reflect, to look both backwards and forwards to the change that has occurred within themselves. This time of year is where we reach our “equator.”

What in your life might need a recalibration or reflection at this midpoint in the year?

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WELLNESS MATTERS 

Water is LIfe

Water is of major importance to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90% of their body weight comes from water. Up to 60% of the human adult body is water. According to research, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water, and the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are watery: 31%.

Water serves a number of essential functions to keep us all going:

• As a vital nutrient to the life of every cell, it acts first as a building material.
• It regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration.
• The carbohydrates and proteins that our bodies use as food are metabolized and transported by water in the bloodstream;
• It assists in flushing waste mainly through urination,
• acts as a shock absorber for brain, spinal cord, and fetus,
• forms saliva,
• and lubricates joints.

So how do we keep our bodies hydrated? Here are a few ideas…..

Get a Cool Water Bottle 

The first step to increasing your water intake is to make it available to you at all times. The easiest way to do this—carry a water bottle wherever you go. If you don’t have a bag that you carry around, just make sure that you have a bottle in the places you spend the most time each day. This cool water bottle can be found at Family Roots SD on Etsy!

There are lots of delicious ways to add more water to your diet without actually drinking more water. If you’re struggling to get enough, try adding some water-based foods into your meals. Chop up a couple stalks of celery and add some pieces into your salad, or place a few slices of cucumber onto your sandwich. 

One sure fire way to drink more water throughout the day is to mark up your water bottle with time goals (you can even buy them already marked). The Institute of Medicine says men should be drinking about 3 liters of water each day, and women should drink about 2.2 liters.

Adding extras to your H2O can make it easier to sip and stay hydrated. You can make your own flavored water with a few simple ingredients:

• Cucumber and mint – thinly slice a cucumber into a gallon of water and add ½ cup of chopped fresh mint leaves.
• Strawberries and lime – slice 2 limes and 3 cups of strawberries and add to a gallon of water. Add extra lime juice to taste.
• Watermelon and basil – Chop 1 small seedless watermelon into small cubes and add ½ cup of roughly chopped fresh basil leaves to a gallon of water.
• Blueberry and lemon – Lightly crush 3 cups of blueberries and 2 thinly sliced lemons to a gallon of water. Add more lemon juice to taste.

You can add even more extra benefits to your water with a nootropic (brain food) flavored drink mix –Axio! Why Axio?  Nootropics are naturally derived substances that can boost brain performance. They are sometimes called cognition enhancers or memory enhancing substances. They work with the systems your body already has in place. While there are plenty of nootropic options to choose from, AXIO is designed as a smarter energy solution. That’s because AXIO® takes a much different approach to energy – one that’s designed to energize your mind as well as your body. When you feel sluggish, your brain needs a pick-me-up, not the extreme rush typical energy drinks provide. And AXIO® helps with quality ingredients that work to “wake up” your brain with the right kind of energy.

Here’s are just a few of the benefits AXIO® delivers:

• Improves mental endurance and mental acuity, concentration and memory retention*
• Enhances neurotransmitter function and the brain’s resilience to stress*
• Reduces mental fatigue and brain fog*
• Increases physical and mental energy while improving positive mood*

AXIO is also available in five delicious caffeinated flavors (Green Grape, Dragon Fruit, Sour Cherry, and Strawberry Splash, and Lemonade), as well as three decaf flavors (Red Raspberry and Purple Grape, and Peach/Nectarine). But no matter what flavor or formula you choose, you’ll always get a clean, low-calorie, low-carb, vegetarian formula that is BSCG approved and free of artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners, added sugars, GMOs and gluten.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.

Remember, Water is Life, for all of us here on earth! 

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THE ALAKA’I BOOKSHELF

This month’s excerpt from Under a Full Moon and a Guiding Star …

“The Sea…Kai is one of the Hawaiian words for the ocean which is one of the places that connects with me in special ways. Born in Hawai’i, the beach was a place where as a baby, even without my memory, it became a connecting place for me. As a young child I learned to swim holding my father’s hand and diving through a crashing wave, learning to respect the power of the ocean as well as enjoy its capacity for joy. As I grew older it took on a social significance as I spent hours in the water with friends and family. Further along I began to understand my role in protecting the ocean and all that lived there.”

How do you connect with water? How do you protect this important element for our planet?

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YOUR HEALTH MATTERS

Shake Off the Rust

As your cells lose the ability to fight free radicals and oxidation over time, cells break down and aging sets in. Fortunately, there’s some good news. 

The oxidative stress theory of aging is relatively easy to understand because there is an apt metaphor to help explain it. 

Oxidative stress, in essence, is like the accumulation of rust on a car. Through the years of wear and tear, rust slowly begins to show. First a little here, then a little there. Eventually, rust begins to overtake the entire thing. 

Your cells act in a similar way. Researchers found early on that as you age, you begin to accumulate free radicals and other oxidants. This can come from pollutants in the air you breathe, the food you eat, your own metabolism, and even the simple act of living in an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The very act of living and interacting day to day introduces these free radicals and toxins into your bodies. If left unchecked, this can impact cell health and function. This is oxidative stress, the actual oxidative damage where oxidants (or these free radicals) are attacking the structures inside your cell. 

Amazingly, your body has the ability to fight oxidants and free radicals. It’s encoded directly into your DNA and more specifically your genes. These antioxidant and detoxification enzymes, however, need to be turned on in order to do their job. One of the proteins responsible for doing it is called Nrf2. 

Learn more about activation https://lanialmanza.lifevantage.com/us-en/blog/shake-off-the-rust-the-oxidative-stress-theory-of-aging 

First-time orders will receive an additional thank you gift once the order is confirmed.

https://lanialmanza.lifevantage.com/us-en/ 

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Subscribers ONLY

Summer Special – Two lucky winners will receive the Subscriber Giveaway to help you on your wellness journey! In addition, any current subscriber who refers a new subscriber will receive an additional gift!

You can also contact me to schedule a free one-on-one Discovery Call to make an individualized plan for wellness.

#LiveAlohaLiveWell