Meditation Is Good For Your Health

Some people are afraid of meditation because they think it is going to make them become lost in thought and not know where they are. I have heard that some people think that they will put themselves in a trance or shut themselves off from reality. I consider these old wives tales.

Mediating will help you to be more alert, calm, more focused, and you will not worry as much. It is really pleasant. Meditation is good 4 your health.

Some of the benefits you will get from mediating are:

•You will be more optimistic and have more self-worth.
•It will decrease stress, tension, anxiety & depression.
•It improves the immune system and improves your health.
•You will feel more spiritual.

Suggested Meditating Positions

You may sit with your back straight, lay down, or lotus position (sitting with legs crossed) you must be comfortable or it will distract from you meditation. If you sit in a chair, make sure your feet are flat on the floor. Place your hands on your lap palms down. It is very important that U do not slouch down. Make sure your clothes are loose and comfortable and the room is well ventilated. Breath through you nose if physically possible. It is good to meditate in the morning and at night. If you need to meditate in the middle of the day, then do it. It really is up to you.

How To Begin Meditating

Sit comfortably. Close your eyes. Feel your body start to relax. Listen to your breathing. If your mind starts to wander, just concentrate on your breathing and this will bring you back. Try to concentrate on words like peace, tranquility, calmness, love. It is suggested that you meditate at least 20 minutes. If this is not possible, do less. You may need to set a timer when you first try this. As soon as you are done meditating, open your eyes and slowly start moving. It takes time to get used to meditating, so be kind and patient with yourself.

The first time I meditated, I was so tired that my mind wandered so bad that I had to really concentrate on my breathing. I fell asleep and did not realize this until I woke up an hour later. I said to myself, I just won't wait so long to meditate. Meditating is really good for you. I noticed that I had more energy, I felt more hopeful about my life. I had a better outlook on things. I actually slept better. I listen to guided meditation every day now.

I found out there were different kinds of meditation. There is guided meditation, trans dental meditation, mantra meditation, Qi gong, Tai Chai, and the most current one I came across was holosync meditation. Yoga has been mentioned to be as calming as meditation as it has breathing and movements that calm the mind. I will do a separate post on these different kinds of meditation.

Meditation is so good for you that it has been known to help people suffering from allergies, high blood pressure, fatigue, asthma, and cancer. I find this totally amazing.

Good and Healthy Fats

Fat is an essential part of a healthy diet. Without fat, people couldn't absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K which need dietary fat to propel them through the walls of the digestive tract and into the bloodstream. Fat is a beauty essential to keep nails, hair and skin from drying out. The type of fat is more important than the amount.

There are different types of unhealthy fat that can be found in your diet.

Saturated fats: This type of fat comes mainly from animal sources. Saturated fat has a negative effect on your cholesterol levels, and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. These fats can be found in pizza, cheese, hot dogs, lard, and butter. It is essential to try to limit the intake to no more than 10 percent of your total calories which comes to about 22 grams of saturated fat a day.

Trans fat. These fats are mostly obtained from processed foods that undergo hydrogenation. Most hydrogenated fats come in a solid state at room temperature such as snacks, cookies, desserts, cakes butter and lard, and shortening. It is better to limit your intake to less than 2 grams a day.

The healthier fats in your diet.

The monounsaturated types. This type of fat is found in olive oil, canola oil, nuts and seeds. Eating foods rich in monounsaturated fats can improve blood cholesterol levels and help control insulin levels and blood sugar control.

The polyunsaturated kind. These can be found in vegetable oils such as safflower, corn, sunflower and soy oil. Another good source is nut oils such as peanut oil and in poultry, nuts and seeds. Eating food rich in polyunsaturated fats can help improve cholesterol levels and maintain blood sugar level. One type of polyunsaturated fats is the omega-3 fatty acids that are found in some fish and flaxseed oil and hempseed oil. These types of fats appear to help decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.

Cholesterol. Cholesterol is essential to your body and is the precursor of certain hormones. Your body manufactures enough cholesterol thus cholesterol from dietary sources should be limited. Excessive cholesterol in the diet can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Most food containing saturated fats contain cholesterol. It is a good choice to try to avoid or cut back on those foods. A healthy diet containing good fats, vegetables, fruits and lean meat or poultry is the best choice for your family