Secrets Of Longevity

Eat Less: Most centenarians surveyed around the world follow the "three-quarters" rule: they stop eating when they are three-quarters full. Studies have shown that a reduction in caloric intake can increase life expectancy in animals--why not humans?

Smaller Meals More Frequently: Loading up our bodies with food three times a day is a cultural habit, not a biological need. Instead, eating smaller portions four to five times a day delivers a steady stream of nutrients, blood sugar, and energy to the body throughout the day. Less taxing on the digestive and metabolic systems, smaller meals prevent overloading and excess waste accumulation. Dividing caloric intake in this way also reduces your risk of heart disease.

Eat Like A King By Day & Pauper By Night: Because of the human body's circadian rhythm, the same foods eaten at breakfast or lunch are processed differently than when they are eaten at dinner. Research shows that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you tend to lose weight and have more energy, while eating the same things at dinnertime produces weight gain, increased blood pressure, and heart disease.

Weekday Vegetarian Weekend Carnivore: Vegetarians generally have fewer degenerative diseases and cancers than their carnivore cousins. It's been estimated that a third of all cancer patients developed their disease as a result of insufficient plant fiber in their diets. However, you don't have to give up meat entirely to enjoy longevity--limiting your intake or eating meat only on weekends is a perfectly balanced and healthy approach.

Eat Fresh: There's nothing like fresh, whole, organic foods to maintain your health and well-being. Farm-fresh produce and meats go directly from the source to your table, leaving little time in between for nutrients to be lost. Many foods at your supermarket have been picked or slaughtered weeks or even months before they make it onto the shelf. These items are preserved by nitrogen or other artificial means, making them appear fresh. Moreover, foods treated with pesticides and artificial fertilizers have lower nutritional value than foods grown organically.

Sweet Potatoes & Yams: These foods contain higher amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin C than carrots, more protein than wheat and rice, and more fiber than oat bran. Sweet potatoes and yams also are a rich source of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). This is a precursor hormone--a substance that remains latent until it converts into a hormone that the body needs. DHEA can become estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, all essential for your body's anti-aging defenses to work. As one ages, however, the body's levels of precursor hormones like DHEA drop precipitously.

Less Salt: Studies show that increased salt intake is proportional to an increase in cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and bladder. Additionally, sodium has long been implicated in chronic ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Use other seasonings such as vinegar, garlic, herbs, and spices as tasty substitutes for salt.

Tea Party: Tea is the beverage most commonly enjoyed by centenarians around the world. The free radical-inhibiting property of tea is more potent than that of vitamin E, and tea is a proven preventive and treatment for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The poly phenols in tea, especially the catechins, are powerful antioxidants that help ward off diabetes and cancer.

Ginger: Besides its popular application for digestive distress, ginger has been found to contain geraniol, a potent cancer fighter. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve pain, prevent blood clots, and inhibit the onset of migraine headaches.

Wine: Resveratrol found in the skin of grapes possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce cholesterol and prevent cancer. Wine also keeps the blood from thickening in the blood vessels--preventing blood clots, stroke, and plaque buildup. One glass a day is enough. If you drink more, the harm will outweigh the good.

Garlic: Studies indicate that allicin, the active ingredient in garlic, can prevent atherosclerosis and coronary blockage, lower cholesterol, reduce blood clot formation, stimulate the pituitary, regulate blood sugar, and prevent cancer. As an antibacterial, it is often used to treat minor infections. To balance out its pungency, eat some breath-freshening parsley.

Fish: Of all animal products, fish is the healthiest, due to its high protein and low fat content. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, along with other nutrients, protect blood vessels from plaque, reduce inflammation, prevent high blood pressure, and help you maintain good respiratory health. Populations with a diet consisting mainly of fish, fresh fruits, and local vegetables experience virtually no cardiovascular disease and have a high percentage of healthy seniors.

Apple: Eating two to three apples per day results in decreased cholesterol levels, thanks to the fruit's rich pectin content. Pectin also helps prevent colon cancer, which ranks among the top causes of death in adults over the age of sixty.

Brown Rice: Research has identified a wealth of nutrients in the bran coating of brown rice. It is remarkably effective in lowering high blood sugar and therefore serves as an excellent food for diabetics. Rice bran contains more than seventy antioxidants, including the well-known aging fighters vitamin E, GPx, SOD, CoQ-10, proanthocyanidins, and IP6.

Berry: The skins of berries contain flavonoids that are more powerful antioxidants than vitamins C and E and more effective than aspirin at reducing inflammation. These anthocyanin flavonoids give cranberries their bacteria-fighting properties and are responsible for lowering cholesterol as well. The blueberry, however, has been shown to have the highest level of antioxidant activity. Blueberries have neuroprotective properties that can delay the onset of aging and age-related memory loss by shielding brain cells from damage by chemicals, plaque, or trauma.

Sea Vegetables: Containing more calcium than milk, more iron than beef, and more protein than eggs, seaweed (nori, kompu, kelp, dulce, Irish moss) is a rich source of micro-nutrients. Its healing properties include shrinking goiters, dissolving tumors and cysts, detoxifying heavy metals, reducing water retention, and aiding in weight loss.

B's & C's: Cruciferous vegetables--made up of the B's (broccoli, bok choy, brussels sprouts) and the C's (cauliflower and cabbage) are potent defenders against cancer, the number one killer in industrialized societies. Crucifers are also a good source of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, folate, and calcium, most of which are also antioxidants.

Oats: Oat bran, the outer coating of oats, contains high concentrations of soluble fibers, which help trap cholesterol and move it quickly through the intestines. Whole oats are also rich in the antioxidants that stop cholesterol oxidation, the process that enables it to stick to artery walls. Oats prevent colon cancer by binding toxic minerals and acids; they balance the body's blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of carbohydrates; and the saponins in oats increase production of natural killer cells, a critical part of the body's immune surveillance system.

Soup: A nutritious soup that is low in salt re hydrates as it nourishes and flushes waste from the body. People who eat one or more bowls of soup each day lose more weight than those who eat the same number of calories but don't eat soup, and hence have lower rates of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. Homemade is best, as canned soups are loaded with salt and chemicals.

Fat: There are three types of fat: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, sesame oil, canola oil, almond oil, flax oil and fish oil are good fats. They contain essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and gammalinolenic acid (GLA) that are critical in brain development and function, vascular health, proper immune function, skin health, fertility, and normal physical development. Polyunsaturated fats--margarine, hydrogenated safflower oil, sunflower oil, and corn oil, among others--also contain essential fatty acids. However, these fats are highly refined and contain large amounts of trans fat (created when vegetable oils are hydrogenated to make them spreadable), which is implicated in heart disease and cancer. The bad fats are the saturated fats and trans fats produced by deep frying; butter, palm kernel oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, and lard. These bad fats elevate cholesterol and triglyceride levels, increasing the chance of heart attack and stroke.

Chew It Up: Each time you take a bite of food, chew at least thirty times before swallowing. When you do, your food is predigested in the mouth by the enzyme ptyalin, found in your saliva. As a result, the stomach doesn't have to work as hard, and absorption of important vitamins and nutrients occurs more readily. Eating too quickly also contributes to an increased production of acid, resulting in the common problem of heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).

Don't Kill Your Food: High heat cooks away many important nutrients. Boiling, for instance, can destroy half of the vitamins found in vegetables. Deep-frying yields fatty foods and produces trans fat, which can clog your arteries and increase your risk of cancer. Similarly, your cancer risk will rise if you eat barbecued or grilled meat that is burnt or blackened. Try not to kill your food in too much fire. Instead, lightly steam, quickly stir-fry, or broil foods to preserve their nutritional value.

Anti-Rust Nutrients: Aging causes oxidation, which literally means rusting. As you get older, rust forms everywhere in your body in the form of waste buildup--uric acid from digesting protein, lactic acid from muscle use, carcinogens ingested or inhaled from the environment--resulting in creaky, painful joints and clogged arteries. Antioxidants are anti-rust nutrients that neutralize and remove the free radicals that cause oxidative damage. Among the many antioxidant nutrients, glutathione is considered the master antioxidant. A naturally occurring compound found in asparagus, avocado, walnuts, and fish, it is composed of three amino acids: glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine. Glutathione regulates immune cells, protects against cancer, aids DNA synthesis and repair, assists in detoxifying, and inhibits the activation of dormant HIV virus. A deficiency in glutahione can be a factor in diabetes, low sperm count, liver disease, heart disease, and premature aging.

Nuts & Seeds: Arginine is an amino acid found in soy and other beans, seafood, whole grains, eggs, dairy, brewer's yeast, and especially abundantly in nuts and seeds. It is a nonessential amino acid, a substance our bodies produce in the liver and deplete during times of stress. Arginine is helpful in fighting heart disease, impotence, infertility, and high blood pressure as well as facilitating the healing process. Its anti-aging properties lie in its stimulant effect on the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. The pituitary releases growth hormone, which declines rapidly in humans after age thirty-five. Lower levels of growth hormone contribute to symptoms of aging such as fat deposits, decreased muscle mass and strength, cognitive decline, and sexual dysfunction.

Sesame: Sesame is a kidney and liver tonic, a blood builder, and a bowel protector and regulator. Sesame is rich in phytic acid, an antioxidant that prevents cancer. The oil of one variety, lignan sesamin, was found to drastically reduce cholesterol levels in the liver and bloodstream.

GABA: Human growth hormone (hGH) has moved to the fore-front of anti-aging treatment, dramatically improving many elderly patients' lives. Primarily used to treat children with delayed growth, hGH also aids the frail by improving healing, tissue repair, brain function, bone strength, energy, and metabolism in general. Its benefits, however, come at a high price: an increase in the risk of cancer. An excellent substitute for growth hormone, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a nonessential amino acid found in soy and other beans, seafood, whole grains, eggs, brewer's yeast, nuts, and seeds. Especially after exercise, eating GABE-rich foods stimulates the pituitary to secrete hGH.

Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has been a part of the health regimen of centenarians throughout the world. Its acetic and butyric acids promote gastrointestinal health by balancing pH and encouraging friendly bifido bacterial growth. Vinegar has antiseptic and antibiotic properties; it also helps reverse atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and dissolve gall and kidney stones.

Honey: Long known for its antibiotic properties, honey is also much more nutritious than refined table sugar, which lacks the vitamins and minerals natural honey contains. Honey-soaked gauze used to bandage burns and wounds can also aid in healing. Honey also stop the growth of H. pylori, the bacteria responsible for most gastric ulcers. The caffeic acid in honey also prevent colon cancer. Because raw honey can harbor botulism spores, never give it to a child under one year of age.

Mushrooms: There are more than 100,000 varieties of mushrooms, about 700 of them edible. Many mushrooms, particularly shiitake, maitake, reishi, and wood ear, have superb anti-aging properties. Depending on the type, they may contain polysaccharides, sterols, coumarin, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that boost immune function, lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and protect the body from virus and cancer.

Burdock: Recently categorized as an adaptogen (a natural substance that aids the body during stress and environmental changes), the root of burdock has been used as both food and medicine in Asia and Europe for thousands of years. Traditionally made into a nourishing tonic to speed recovery from illness, it has also become popular for functional support in rheumatism, liver disease, and cancer.

Pine: A potent antioxidant in pine called pycnogenol protects endothelial cells (which make up the lining of the blood vessels and heart) from free radical damage, serves as an anti-inflammatory, and preserves healthy skin structure. It is one of only a few antioxidants that cross the blood-brain barrier, protecting brain cells from the ravages of free radicals in the blood. Pycnogenol is available in dietary supplement form, but the same beneficial flavonoids can be obtained by eating pine nuts.

Tomato: Eaten in high quantities, tomatoes can lower the risk of prostate, stomach, colon, and rectal cancer. Tomato's red pigment, called lycopene, also inhibits the development of cancer cells in the breasts, lungs, and uterus. A rich source of beta carotene and vitamins A and C, tomatoes are also known to reduce heart disease and prevent cataracts. Caution: people with arthritis and other autoimmune disease symptoms may be aggravated by eating tomatoes.

Sea Salt: Sea salt contains nearly sixty trace minerals essential for the formation of vitamins, enzymes, and proteins that keep our bodies going. Salt aids in general detoxification, and its alkaline quality helps balance the overly acidic pH environments that breed degenerative and cancerous conditions. Common table salt, however, is refined to nothing but sodium chloride and is devoid of all other essential minerals. But salt should be used only in moderation, especially for those with hypertension. It is also important to balance salt intake with potassium to ensure proper nerve and muscle function; potassium-rich foods include leafy vegetables, soy, whole grains, potatoes, bananas, and most fruits.

Water: Centenarians on every inhabited continent swear by their native water as the source of their long lives. Scientists agree that these particular waters may contribute to the local inhabitants' health and longevity. One thing they all have in common is purity: no chemicals, no toxins. And it's no surprise that these Shangrilas are all located far from any city. Tap water in urban areas contains pesticides, industrial pollutants, chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals. Well water and mountain streams in some parts of the countryside fare no better due to acid rain and toxic levels of minerals present in groundwater. There are many filtration processes that remove contaminants. The best kinds employ activated charcoal, which removes the impurities but leaves the water-soluble minerals. Avoid water softeners, which remove essential minerals, and do not store water in plastic containers, as the poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) leach into the water.

Evening Primrose: Evening primrose has been used by American Indians and Asians for centuries to ease the ills of arthritis, stomach disorders, sore throat, hemorrhoids, and bruises. Evening primrose oil contains a rich supply of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that aids in reducing inflammation; thus it helps combat rheumatoid arthritis, nerve damage, and Alzheimer's induced memory loss. Because GLA aids the transmission of nerve impulses, it may also be helpful in multiple sclerosis. Evening primrose comes in capsule form or as an oil.

Cherries: The antioxidant compounds that impart the dark pigments to cherries, grapes, and berries have been found to increase insulin production in the pancreatic cells. Known as anthocyanins, the compounds also protect you against heart disease, cancer, and arthritis.

Olive Oil: Studies show that olive oil intake is inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Translation: consuming more olive oil is linked with lowered blood pressure.

Carbonation: Beverages with bubbles contain phosphoric acid, which is harmful to calcium metabolism and diminishes bone mass. This means that drinking sodas and carbonated water increases your risk of osteoporosis. If you're going to live a good long time, you'll need healthy bones, so it's best to choose teas, light juice blends, and flat spring water to quench your thirst.

Decaf: When you experience stress, anxiety, a racing mind, or insomnia, you already know what to do: cut out the caffeine. It's a central nervous system stimulator that works against your attempts to relax the body and calm the mind. If you still enjoy the taste of coffee, you might turn to the decaffeinated version--but beware. Many commercial coffees decaffeinate with methylene chloride, a chemical that interferes with the blood's ability to deliver oxygen. This causes the heart to work harder in an attempt to supply the needs of all the cells. If you have angina and have switched to decaf to avoid triggering symptoms, you'll want to be sure your brew has been swept (97 percent) clean of caffeine using a water process.

Orange Rind: Orange peel has been traditionally used to improve digestion of fatty and rich foods. Studies show that compounds called poly-methosylated falvones (FMFs), found in pigments of oranges and tangerines, reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) without altering the level of good cholesterol (HDL).

Overeat: When you overeat, you tax every system of your body and increase the burden on your cardiovascular system. When the stomach distends from excessive food volume it compresses the aorta and the arteries around the upper abdomen and pushes up against the diaphragm. This restricts both lung and heart movement, potentially leading to serious heart disease.

Herbs & Spice: The natural reaction to eating spicy food is redness in the face, increased body temperature, and perspiration. These are signs that your blood vessels are dilated and blood flow is accelerated. Many spices, especially garlic, onions, cayenne, and turmeric, have been clinically shown to prevent blood clots and improve circulation. Without healthy digestion, malnutrition may occur and toxins can build up in your body, causing rapid aging and degenerative diseases. Symptoms of poor digestion include bloating, gas, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and fatigue. Many common cooking herbs and spices are helpful in aiding proper digestion. These include dill, oregano, basil, coriander, rosemary, bay, ginger, fennel, anise, cardamom, and others. Use them in your cooking or steep them as tea to drink after meals.

Fiber: Plant fiber, called cellulose, acts like a broom to sweep the intestinal tract of toxins. It also inhibits the liver from producing cholesterol and draws out built-up bile, which can cause stones and jaundice. Three foods rich in fiber are oat bran, soy, and grapefruit.

Food Additives: The three most common food additives used to preserve color, prevent spoilage, and enhance flavor in packaged foods are sulfites, nitrates, and MSG (monosodium glutamate). Sulfites can cause severe allergic reactions like asthma. Nitrates combine with amines in foods to form nitrosamines, which can lead to neurological damage or cancer. Headaches are commonly associated with MSG, and high levels of the substance induce blindness. Other additives such as artificial colors and flavors also cause cancer.

Organic & Free Range: Conventional meat, poultry, and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones, and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health. Add the risk that your meat comes from diseased animals raised in stressful, inhumane conditions, and you have a good case for converting to vegetarianism. Whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range animals for your health, peace of mind, and well-being.

Broccoli & Apple: For the majority of people living in or near metropolitan areas, traffic and second-hand smoke vastly accelerate loss of breathing capacity and increase the incidence of lung cancer. However, antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits such as broccoli and apples can help mitigate these effects. One study revealed that subjects who ate more than five apples a week had better lung function than those who ate no apples. It's also been shown that the antioxidant isothiocyanates in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli substantially reduce lung cancer risk.

Orange Juice: Bone loss, a slow, inevitable part of the aging process, can lead to life-threatening bone fractures if it becomes excessive or progresses too rapidly. Calcium and vitamin D are both crucial to bone health. Traditionally, cow's milk has been touted as the ideal food for strong bones, but many people react adversely to lactose. Now studies show that your body is capable of absorbing vitamin D and calcium from orange juice as readily as it does from milk. Besides being good for your bones, orange juice is also full of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant.

Spinach: Spinach is full of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect the retina from age-related macular degeneration. And since fat increases lutein absorption, don't forget to saute your spinach with a little olive oil.

Sorghum: Sorghum contains more antioxidants, including vitamin E, than brown rice. Additionally, sorghum's bran layer has more insoluble fiber than wheat bran. Many centenarians eat sorghum as the main element in their diets.

Artichoke: Artichoke is a potent liver protector due to a flavonoid called silymarin. Silymarin has strong antioxidant properties, and studies indicate that it may protect against liver toxicity and cancer.

Fat: High-fat animal-derived foods have been correlated with cancer: studies show that men and women who eat meat every day, or consume butter or cheese products three or more times a week, are three times as likely to develop breast cancer and prostate cancer. Your body needs fat, so treat it to the good kinds. These include fats and oils from legumes, beans, and other vegetables as well as nut and seed sources.

Protein: During protein metabolism, your kidneys must excrete the excess components of protein, namely amino acids. To complete this process, the kidneys neutralize the acids by binding them to calcium, depleting your body's store of this essential mineral. Reducing protein intake will decrease your risk of osteoporosis and kidney failure as well as extend your life span.

Eat Low On The Food Chain: Since the Industrial Revolution, man-made chemicals and toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, and radioactivity have been polluting our environment and finding their way into our food supply. The higher you go on the food chain, the more concentrated these toxins become and the greater the danger they present. For example, in the ocean the creatures at the top of the food chain are large fish such as swordfish and tuna, which eat smaller fish that eat even smaller fish, and so on. At the end of the chain, the tiniest fish eat plants such as algae and botanical plankton. The toxins in each fish's body become condensed in this process, and thus the large fish contain the highest levels of these poisons. For land animals like ourselves, the best idea is to eat at the very bottom of the food chain: beans, legumes, fruits, nuts, seeds, and other plants, making sure they're organic.

Oil: Oils from vegetable, nut, and seed sources provide us with essential acids that are critical for nerve and brain functions. Typical vegetable oils bought at supermarkets, however, are not only potentially filled with pesticides but have been subjected to chemical and heat processing that reverses their value--extraction, distillation, cooking, refining, bleaching, defoaming, and the addition of preservatives--as well as exposure to light and air. All of this destroys the quality of the oil and causes the formation of free radicals, which completely defeats the purpose of consuming essential fatty acids. Buy organic, cold-pressed, minimally processed oils at your local health food store, and make sure that you consume it within three months. Olive oil, walnut oil, flaxseed oil, and soy oil are excellent choices. Store your oil in the refrigerator and dark glass containers to prevent rancidity.

Sugar: Most of the excess sugar is stored as fat in your body, which elevates cancer risk and can suppress you immune function. When study subjects were given sugar, their white blood cell count decreased significantly for several hours afterwards. This held true for a variety of types of sugar, including fructose, glucose, honey, and orange juice. In another study, rats fed a high-sugar diet had a substantially higher rate of breast cancer compared to rats on a normal diet.

Sweeteners: Artificial sweeteners (like those in diet sodas) pose dangers to one's health and longevity--sacchrin, for example, has been found to be carcinogenic, producing bladder cancer. Most people mistakenly think that these calorie-free substances will help them achieve their weight-loss goals, yet no studies demonstrate that artificial sweeteners make any at all in weight management.

Celery: High blood pressure is the root cause of stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure. One to two large glasses of celery juice daily can help prevent high blood pressure or restore it to normal in those already affected. In addition, celery seed is renowned for preventing gout and other types of arthritic conditions. Studies show that this stalk contains more than a dozen anti-inflammatory agents, including one called apigenin, a cox2-inhibiting compound similar to some anti-inflammatory drugs--but in a natural form, without side effects.

Pearl: Pearl powder is traditionally used in herbal remedies and in ointments and massaged into the skin to prevent premature skin aging, clear surface inflammation and acne, improve vision, calm the mind and spirit. Rich in amino acids and minerals, natural pearl has much more to offer than its beauty as an adornment. A typical dose is 1 gram of pearl powder taken by mouth, mixed into water or tea, twice weekly.

Prune: Prunes are rated by the USDA as having the highest oxygen radical absorbence capacity (ORAC) score on the scale. The ORAC scale was developed to assess the antioxidant content of food: the higher the score, the better the food's ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that lead to cancer. Raisins, blueberries, and blackberries also score high on the ORAC scale.

Chicory: Chicory contains a compound called inulin that has been found to be useful in preventing and treating congestive heart failure. Chicory can slow a rapid heartbeat. It also helps lower cholesterol and slow the progression of hardening of the arteries. So in addition to eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet and leading an active lifestyle, drink chicory tea to keep your heart pumping strong.

Asparagus: Asparagus is rich in potassium and vitamin A as well as folate, an important protection against cancer. Studies have also shown that asparagus is an effective preventive as well as treatment for urinary tract infections and kidney stones. Asparagus is very high in glutathione, an amino acid compound with potent antioxidant properties that is known as a cancer fighter and aging deterrent.

Apricot: Research shows that apricots have the highest levels and widest variety of carotenoids of any food. Carotenoids are antioxidants that help prevent heart disease, reduce bad cholesterol levels, and protect against cancer. Apricot kernels tone the respiratory system, cure coughs and asthma, and contain high levels of essential fatty acids. One caution: the tip holds a concentration of the chemical laetrile, which can upset the system. To reap their benefits safely, remove the tips of the seeds before eating and limit your intake to five a day.

Elemental Colors: There are five elemental energies in our universe as well as within our bodies. These energies are represented by Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each of these symbols also corresponds to a color (wood = green, fire = red, earth = yellow & orange, metal = white, water = black/blue/purple). Health and longevity depend on a balance of all five elemental energies. So it's best to eat a diet that includes the five elemental energies every day. For each category of food you should eat all the corresponding colors. For example, your daily vegetables should include something green, something red, and so on. Your daily fruit, nut, bean, and grain intake should each contain all five colors as well.

Phosphatidylserine: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a well-documented nutrient used to reverse age-related dementia and memory loss. PS is a compound made naturally by the body, and studies have shown that it lowers one's stress response. The substance can be found in fish meat, but is most abundant in animals' brain and innards such as heart, liver, and kidney.

Coenzyme Q-10: Coenzyme Q-10 is a popular supplementary treatment for various heart conditions. The compound is a powerful antioxidant that occurs natually in all the cells of the body and helps the heart function more efficiently during times of stress. Due to its importance in cellular energy production, it is an essential nutrient for degenerative conditions, fatigue, and muscle weakness. It has also been found to prevent premature aging of the skin. Rich sources of Coenzyme Q-10 include pork heart as well as mackerel and herring heart. Cooking by frying reduces CoQ-10 significantly.

Turmeric: Turmeric is traditionally used as a blood activator, a pain reliever for joints, and a liver and gall bladder cleanser. Studies show it helps prevent blood clots and cancers, reduce inflammation, increase bile secretion, and lower cholesterol. If you are taking the anticoagulant medication coumadin or warfarin, you should avoid turmeric so levels in your bloodstream will not get too high.

L-carnitine: An amino acid manufactured in your liver, L-carnitine helps facilitate fat metabolism, increases energy production in muscle cells, promotes fat loss, and increases circulation in the brain. The substance also helps reduce triglycerides and increase good cholesterol, thereby protecting the heart. Because it also prevents fat oxidation in the brain, it shows some promise in preventing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Rich sources of L-carnitine include meats, fish, poultry, wheat, avocado, milk, and fermented soybeans.

L-cysteine: The powerful antioxidant and detoxifier L-cysteine can help protect your body from the harmful effects of pollution, heavy metals, chemicals, radiation, alcohol, and smoke. This naturally occuring amino acid may also help boost the immune system, protect against heart disease, build muscle, and decrease fat buildup. L-cysteine is also useful for combating inflammation and promoting healthy hair and nail growth. The substance is found in eggs, fish, almonds, sesame seeds, soy, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, legumes, avocados, bananas, whole grains, and brewer's yeast.

Chromium: Chromium helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, metabolize amino acids and fats, and lower bad cholesterol while increasing the good. These properties make it useful in controling diabetes and hypoglycemia and preventing cardiovascular disease. Chromium, however, is a difficult mineral to absorb, as most of it is eliminated through the bowels and kidneys. As you get older, your body stores less and less of the mineral, which may be why age is a risk factor for diabetes. Foods rich in chromium include brewer's yeast, broccoli, beets, legumes, mushrooms, nuts, whole wheat, black pepper, blackstrap molasses, meat, and cheese.

ALA: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a very special compound because, unlike other antioxidants, which only work in either water or fatty environments, this one functions in both. When the body uses up vitamins C and E during times of stress, ALA converts the by-products into new antioxidant compounds, thus recycling the vitamins. ALA prevents the type of nerve damage seen in diabetes and aging-related ailments such as Parkinson's and Alsheimer's diseases; it also helps ward off cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and diabetes. Foods rich in ALA include kidney, heart and liver meats as well as spinach, broccoli and potatoes.

DHEA: Because Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can generate so many hormones in response to our bodies' needs, it is often considered the mother of all hormones. It is a potent immunity booster, yet also helps to control autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissue. It has also been shown to possess powerful anti-cancer properties and to prevent DNA damage such as UV effects on the skin. The steroid helps protect against arteriosclerosis, lowers blood pressure, reduces inflammation in the brain, prevents fat accumulation, and improves heart function. Maintaining a sufficient level of DHEA can slow much aging-related degeneration, but because it is a hormonal precursor, anyone suffering from hormone imbalance should consult a doctor before taking it in supplement form. Better yet, eat lots of sweet potatoes and yams for their rich, plant-source DHEA.

Nucleic Acid: The wear and tear of aging depletes your storehouse of nucleic acids, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA in every cell of your body. Replenishing your stock of these nutrients may slow down the aging process. Studies have shown promise for increased life span and other quality-of-health measurements such as increased energy, healthier skin, and reduction in age spots. You can now take nucleic acids in supplement form or simply load up on nucleic acid-rich foods such as sardines, mushrooms, asparagus, wheat germ, salmon, and spinach.

Ginseng: Commonly considered an adaptogen, ginseng enhances body functions and the immune system to help people adapt to the negative effects of physical and environmental stress. Ginseng helps improve coordination and reaction time as well as increase endurance and decrease fatigue. It boosts energy gently, rather than stimulating the central nervous system, as coffee does. Ginseng also helps the body fight off infection, protect liver and heart health, normalize cholesterol and blood sugar levels, regulate the function of hormones, and improve memory and cognitive functions.

Schisandra: Schisandra (Magnolia Vine) contains several vitamins and flavonoids that possess antioxidant and immune-boosting properties. It is an energy tonic that enhances both physical endurance and mental concentration and at the same time soothes the nerves, taking the edge off anxiety. As a beauty treatment, schisandra promotes radiant skin tone. It has been used as an adjunct support for immune function in patients undergoing chemotherapy and helps to protect the liver and kidneys.

Lycium Berry: Lycium berry (wolfberry) contains poly-saccharides, which stimulate the immune system and signal the pituitary to secrete human growth hormone. A good source of vitamins B and C, zinc, calcium, germanium, selenium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals, lycium also has the highest concentration of carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, of any plant in the world and is thus a powerful antioxidant. The berry is traditionally used with other tonic herbs to increase sexual potency and fertility.

Astragalus: Astragalus (milk-vetch/locoweed/goat's thorn) has been used for thousands of years to strengthen vitality and prevent illness, especially colds and flu. It has been found to stimulate the body's own production of interferon, a powerful immune protein that increases your ability to fight infectious disease. It restores healthy immune function despite physical, chemical, or radiation damage. Cancer patients taking astragalus during chemotherapy and radiation treatments tend to have far fewer side effects and recover at a faster rate. The herb is also beneficial for the skin and speeds the healing of wounds and infections on the body's surface. It can also increase sperm production and motility, helpful in treating male infertility.

Royal Jelly: Rich in vitamins and collagen, royal jelly is used to feed queen bees. When given the same diet as the worker bees, a queen bee lives the same life span, seven to eight weeks. In nature, however, the queen bee is fed exclusively on royal jelly, and lives for five to seven years. Royal jelly enhances energy, virility, and immunity. It also fights tumors, especially the sarcoma type. An anti-bacterial protein in the substance, called royalisin, is effective against certain bacteria, including streptococus and staphylococcus.

Bee Pollen & Propolis: Bee pollen contains a rich supply of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids. It protects the liver from toxins, benefits men with enlarged prostates, and boosts energy and vitality. The bees use propolis, consisting mainly of tree resins, to seal cracks in hives and act as a protective layer against invading microbes and other organisms. It is rich in favonoids with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Propolis also contains terpenoids that possess anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-protozoan agents. Like some prescription antibiotics, it prevents bacterial cell division and breaks down the invading organism's cell walls and cytoplasm. The substance is available in capsules or in propolis-enriched honey.

Cordyceps: Olympic runners have used cordyceps to vastly increase their performance. The same vitality-enhancing properties that aid athletes to achieve feats of strength and endurance can help you live longer: cordyceps helps increase cellular energy metabolism, boosts adrenal functions to adapt to stress, modulates immune function, increases capillary circulation, and improves oxygen utilization.

Ginkgo: one of the most studied plants, ginkgo has been confirmed to boost circulation to the brain and other organs, improving memory and cognitive functions. In addition, ginkgo has been widely used as a longevity tonic in Asia and Europe. The leaf, in teas and herbal extracts, is the best-known and most commonly available form, but ginkgo nut, used in the culinary traditions of China and Japan, also has therapeutic properties and is said to strengthen lung function.

Hawthorn: was traditionally used as a digestive aid for heavy meats and rich foods as well as a potent activator of the circulatory system. Recent studies of this bioflavonoid-rich plant have confirmed its cardiovascular benefits, including lowering blood pressure during exertion, strengthening the heart muscle, and improving blood flow to the heart and throughout the body. Additionally, hawthorn has been found to lower cholesterol and balance blood sugar.

Botanical Detoxifiers: To give our cells the best chance of functioning smoothly to keep us young, we need to remove toxins that accumulate in the body. A traditional formula for interna cleansing consists of chrysanthemum flower, mint, cassia seed, and dandelion to help clean the liver and clear the head; hawthorn berry to clear the arteries of fats and cholesterol; and cocklebur fruit, which opes the sinuses and expels mucus.

to be continued

Attraction Secrets (Final Part)

Attract Peace

There is an old Vietnam-era movie made in 1970 called Suppose They Gave A War And Nobody Came. It was actually a cute comedy about how an army base had a feud with the citizens of a nearby town. But I always loved the title and often wondered what would happen if both sides of a war had no recruits and just wouldn't go. Would the world leaders be forced to fight their own battles? You may be surprised to learn that the leaders, while they're certainly responsible for their own actions in voting for and waging aggression, are really fed by the energy of the people around them--the citizens who support them and the citizens who oppose them. In order for any vibration to manifest itself, it has to have your focus. And focusing on negative thoughts only helps to bring them into reality. The universe receives strong vibrations of a positive or negative nature and then sends them back to us full force. Take the current situation of the war in Iraq, for example. There was no middle ground among the people on this issue: folks either backed the war unconditionally or were vehemently opposed to it. So guess what? The extreme amount of energy surrounding the prospect of the war brought it to fruition. So what can we do to avoid being led into a similar situation the next time around? Should we just ignore our leaders and let them run amok? No. We'll be better off if we learn to focus on positive, peaceful resolutions all the time--not only in times of international conflict. When we, as a mass of citizens, can learn to make optimism and constructive thought the center of our collective attention, then we can avoid future wars, and no one will have to show up to fight them.

Peace will only come through compassion and open-heartedness and forgiveness. It might feel good to stir up a crowd by whipping up some anger and righteous indignation aimed at the President and other leaders, the ones who keep making the same mistake of using wars and violence to solve problems. And there might even be a place for expressing anger, for people who need to work those feelings out. But the wisest among us know you can't fight fire with fire. You only escalate the damage that way. In the same way, you can't fight for peace. Anger, ultimately, won't get you there. If you want peace, you must be peace. So when you're planning a peace rally, keep in mind that you want to affirm the value of being at peace. Start with a meditation, or a silent circle to remember the dead. Take a moment from time to time throughout the event to hold a space for breathing and feeling compassion for those who are caught up in war and opposition. And even though there may be some firebrands who want to create a frenzy of emotion and energy at the rally, be sure to plan on bringing the energy back down at the end with a candlelight vigil or procession or prayer. Don't protest war. Advocate peace instead. Attract peace to you by bringing it through you.

A Healthier Environment

If you worried about everyting you ate or every dust particle in the air, you wouldn't need to attract anything in your life because you wouldn't have the time to enjoy it. Warnings and cautions are for the best interest of the population, but focusing our worry and anxiety on every possible microbe or gram of fat in our food and environment only makes us that much more susceptible to their potential ill effects. Hypochondriacs are convinced that they are sick, when in fact there's nothing medically wrong with them. The more you try to convince them they are alright, the more positive they are that they are dying. We see what we choose to see and focus our thoughts in that direction. So instead of kicking yourself for eating that burger, and saying, "I'm killing myself!" say instead, "From now on, I will eat more healthy foods and improve my health by doing so." The key is, have an understanding of certain conditions but don't torment your conscience or you will make yourself sick and tired. Pay attention if you are told by reliable sources that something is not healthy or is a risk to the body and the environment. But take that information and look at ways to neutralize or negate the potential harm. That's taking action in a positive way.

Taking action is a marvelous thing to do when you're concerned with peace and environmental issues. But it needs to be something you take joy in, or else you are going against that feel-good energetic thing. If you participate in a group or organization that has a positive view about how to make changes to prevent global warming, for instance, and you are forcing yourself to go, that means you are not attracting better health to the planet. You're attracting the status quo or even a worsening of the situation. You may not even realize it, but if you are doing something you feel you are forced to do, you are sending out negative vibes to all the others and to the universe that you don't want to be doing this. The universe will send you back a real whammy in the form of a worsening situation. And perhaps just as bad, because others are picking up on your vibe, you may be influencing others to keep their distance from the planet crisis, too. Find another activity that makes you happy, or give money to an organization that works to heal Earth.

Healing Rituals For Mother Earth

Some Native American tribes would perform rituals (like dance, fire ceremonies, or prayer) to bring forth rain, bountiful crops, and a multitude of other necessities that came from Earth. These rites were designed to bring up the consciousness and belief of those who were involved in them. It was a collective effort to ask for what the community wanted and to believe it was going to come forth. You can conduct your own ritual to heal the planet if you want to. Here are a few rituals you might want to try to help the planet help itself:

• Send the planet love by visualizing it encompassed by a healing light. Some may see it as blue or green; others might see it as white or golden.
• Pray for the protection and the positive evolution of the planet and those people and situations that are not positive. Feel an upward shift and be happy when praying, not concerned or somber. Use words like, "May the planet be evolving in a positive cycle."
• Draw or find a picture of the planet and write the word PEACE on it. Every day just take a quick look and give it a thumbs-up or a big smile, and know it's already starting to happen.

Do Groups Attract More Quickly?

There is absolutely nothing like teamwork, people working together toward the same goal. In theory, you'd think that when people get together, the vibrations would be very strong. After all, the desire, excitement, and anticipation of so many should be able to give the vibration a huge boost. Although this sounds like a great idea, especially when it comes to the law of attraction, in practice it rarely works. Because no matter how much camaraderie exists within a group, no one can feel exactly what you are feeling. Have you ever been with someone who is very much like you, and yet she has certain opinions and feelings about issues that you completely disagree with? Everyone has his own unique guidance system or inner self. And his inner self tells him something different from what your own inner voice tells you. That's the benefit of being human. We think for ourselves and we each feel what we feel. There's no right or wrong, it just makes us different from one another. And the universe responds to each of our unique vibrations in its own way. When a group works together in a way that is more physical than emotional--say, planning a charity event--the vibrations are more general and unified and tend to work well. It's when a group tries to ask for abstract things, like world peace, that the varied vibes of the group are all over the map; hence, success is unlikely. It's alright to talk with others about the law of attraction. You can discuss books and other tools that help you learn this universal law. But at the end of the day when it's time to get into asking mode, you need to stay independent. Focus your energy on your own intent and you'll have a better chance of success.

Help Others

You may be wondering how you can know whether you should lend a helping hand or stay out of another person's trouble. You can't help every person you run into, or go running to a complete stranger's house when a friend of a friend tells you about this person's sad plight. You certainly don't want to offer pity, because that only adds to the negative vibe of the situation, but what else can you do in these situations? You have to check to see how you reall feel about it. The asking doesn't work if you don't feel it. So if there is someone you think you might like to help but you still aren't sure, you can take time to assess what your actions should be. First, simply think of the person and ask yourself how you feel. Do you feel sad for him or do you feel happy because you may think there is something you can do? Now you may feel blue at first, but then you might feel great joy when you actually think of the assistance you can give. However, if you feel that he is already in a situation that is hopeless and you aren't feeling confident that you can help, you probably can't. Don't scold yourself for the way you feel. You can't fake it. The best you can do is be honest about your emotional inner self and what it's saying. Your source may be telling you there is someone who can offer more assistance and if you get involved you would make matters worse. If, on the other hand, you sense that you can do something to help, but aren't sure what that is exactly, then use the law of attraction to ask for clarity on what you can do to help. When you allow or receive your answers, take action with a positive attitude and with love. If the person you've helped is going on and on about how wonderful you are to have assisted him, he may still be focusing on the problem, which should by now be in the past. Give him a gentle reminder to leave those hard times behind and concentrate on a positive future.

A forceful way to help someone on any level is to use visualization. In your mind, just picture the person you are concerned about in a better state of being. If she is sick, see her healthy. If she is in need of money, see her debt free. If she requires something important in her life, see her with the things she needs. Every morning, take a few seconds and "see" the person the way you want her to be. You don't have to make it a drawn-out process; just stop while you're having coffee, for example, and think she is already healed, secure, or whatever it is she is trying to achieve. In your thoughts you should not envision the person the way she is in her present situation. Instead, see her as you want her to be--that's the believing part of the process. Even if you meet someone for only a few moments and you wish you could help him right there and then, simply visualize the person being in a better situation. You don't have to know his name or his history. Your higher power knows who you are thinking about. If you visit a friend in the hospital, don't look at the surroundings and fall into the "It's really too bad" mindset. Rather, think about the joy he will have when he is discharged. See him in the car going home and back to his normal life. Talk to him about what he is going to do when he gets out. Don't discuss all the other sick people and how so-and-so in the bed or room next door is even worse off.

Seeing people in an absolutely positive status in their lives is an exceptional way of assisting them. Not everything is judged in dollars and cents. Even when we have little in the way of material goods to give, we can do a lot for others with our mere thoughts. If you were to stop and send good thoughts to everyone you see on the street, it would be overwhelming. So visualize well-being for those who you really feel you are led to. Even when you're able to go way beyond anyone's expectations, don't make a show of it or look for accolades. By centering your thoughts on how you helped those who have nothing, you are focusing on what they don't have. By telling others and expecting applause and recognition, you are, in essence, asking others to focus on the situation you helped the person out of--and thus creating more of the same.

Negative Vibes

Sometimes people suddenly start to worry again about what they don't have because they have a fear of success. To those who are not used to getting what they want, when it suddenly starts to happen, it may be so unbelievable that they unintentionally sabotage what they have started. Maybe they feel unworthy, or maybe they're scared of the power of the universe ... Whatever the reason, they put out a negative vibration that comes back to them, despite the fact that they're also concentrating on positive thoughts. When success comes a-knockin', open the door and allow it it. Don't think about the things that haven't come into your life thus far, and don't think about how success is going to change everything. Focus on one thing at a time, or you'll never go anywhere or get anything you want. You'll never be able to get back the time you've spent worrying about possible negative outcomes or not focusing on the things you want if your life. But you can save time in the future by not continuing to make these mistakes. Don't lament the fact that you didn't begin using this process sooner; be happy that you've found it now. As long as you still have breath in you, it's never too late to start using the law of attraction to fulfill your hopes and dreams.

Whenever you start to have a thought or a daydream about something negative, say to yourself, "Cancel" (or "Stop," "Halt," "Delete," whichever works best for you). It's like a thought starts to float up from your brain that is pessimistic, and by saying, "Cancel," you grab it and stop it from going out to the universe. In other words, you are taking back your thought before it goes too far. Sometimes people like to repeat the word two or three times in a row: "Stop, stop, stop." This may depend on how strong and negative the thought is. Do whatever works for you. Just try not to use an entire phrase, like, "Wow, I wish I could stop thinking such sad thoughts. They really bring me down and make me wish I was happier." You are not accomplishing anything there except for making yourself feel worse. One-word cancellation thoughts are the best, as they are fast and to the point. Don't think you have to monitor every thought, or you would be "cancelling" all day long. Use this method when your thoughts trouble you.

Attraction Secrets (Part III)

Find The Right Line Of Work

Before you can define what kind of work or career you would like to have, take a minute to reflect on where you are now career-wise, and write down in your journal what you have learned from your experiences. Include the positives and the negatives. Here's an example: My job/career has shown me that: _I'm not a people person and would be better working by myself, either in a stockroom or behind a cubicle wall. _I like working in the mornings as opposed to the evenings. _Working with people I like energizes me; working with people I don't care for drains me ... There is no right or wrong way to fill in your ideal job criteria. Be completely open and honest with yourself and write what you feel. Don't analyze it and don't try to write what you think you should feel. You'll end up exactly where you started: confused, frustrated, and stuck in a rut. As you read back on your responses, remember that whatever you have been through on the job has been a learning experience. Have gratitude for those experiences, even if they weren't exactly happy moments. Gratitude is an essential part of attracting goodness and happiness into your life. No matter how terrible an experience has been, acknowledge that it has contained a life lesson. Each experience has made you who you are today and who you will be tomorrow--and that's something to be grateful for. Now re-read the things you've listed about your current workplace and the lessons you've learned. It's good for each of us to narrow down our "wants," so long as they're charged with positive energy. Is there anything on that list that's within your control to change by enlisting positive energy and a more positive viewpoint? If you were able to change one or two things, might you enjoy your current job more?

If you spend all day at work thinking about the reasons you don't like your job, focusing on your dislike of your co-workers, wishing you could sleep in a little later, hoping that everyone around you will disappear so you can work in peace and quiet, can you really expect things to get any better? No way! That negative energy is a magnet for more negative energy. When you focus negative energy on another person, you may actually be helping his/her cause. Whenever the universe receives a boost of energy surrounding a particular person, it sends back a boost of energy. Your thoughts about your irritating co-worker might be feeding his success. Let's say you've always been good with numbers and you find yourself working in an accounting office. It's a job you should theoretically enjoy, but you can't stand your cube-mate. He's a real schmoozer, a trait you despise. You also believe he's earning more than you are, because he just bought a flashy new car and he's always happy. You just know that you'd be happy, too, if you were earning what he's making. Can you see how this situation is plagued by negative energy? How might you change things? For starters, take your focus off your cube-mate and put it on yourself. Think about what you want to achieve and then go after it. There's no reason in the world that you can't be as happy and successful as this guy--it's just a matter of where your intent is. Once you take your focus off despising your co-worker and place it on your own desires, you'll find a new kind of peace and tranquility in the workplace. Maybe it's still not the perfect job for you, but it will be easier for you to have some gratitude for this experience and take that along with you into your next job.

Advance Your Career

At some point, most of us want to advance in our line of work, whether that means landing a job promotion, or finally getting that part in the new movie, that will put your acting career on the fast track. Part of moving forward in a career field is acknowledging that new doors will be opening up. If you don't truly want what's behind those doors, the universe will feel that vibe and answer in kind. Before you set your eyes and energy on some "ultimate prize" of a job, make sure it's what you truly want. Fighting the universe to secure a position that goes against your true desires (or even your true nature) is a losing battle.

So how do you know which career paths work with your true nature? Break down your desires. Here are some examples: I would like a job/career that would: allow me to travel, put me in the public eye, gross six figures from working at home, enable me to meet interesting people but still maintain a low-key lifestyle ... Mention children, pets, the ballet, and anything that you like that you have a passion for, whether it's eating doughnuts or planting flowers. Consider working inside or outside, in a big city or small town. Be as specific as you can. Through this exercise, your thoughts should be beginning to take shape and bring a bit more clarity to your goals. At this point, if you can't conclude what you want to do, you should at least have figured out what you like. At a bare minimum, you are narrowing down the field. Don't be afraid to write down something even if you think it is nearly impossible.

Write in your journal about a perfect day in your work/career life. It might read something like, "I see myself in a tall office building with a view of the mountains. I'm dressed like an executive and I'm busy but I'm happy ..." Add this page to your journal and complete the sentence: My perfect day on the job would be ... Now take a minute and consider how it makes you feel when you just think about your dream job--but run through a typical day in your mind. You might be surprised to discover that the "perfect" job makes you squirm. It's okay to have positive and negative thoughts about your ideal line of work. However, whenever possible, try to take negative vibes and re-work them to the positive side. For example, instead of saying, "I don't want to work for anyone else," say, "I want to be my own boss."

The law of attraction isn't like a fast food drive-through. You don't simply say, "I want this, this, and this," and have it hand-delivered to you in three minutes flat. You have to be patient and let the universe work everything out. To help stay focused on your goal, keep track of the things you're doing to send out those positive vibes. For example, if you're interested in working aboard a cruise ship, you might write the following in your journal: _Day One: Got the phone number of the cruise line recruiter to inquire about applying for a position. _Day Two: Called the cruise line and talked to X, the Human Resources director, about the qualifications I would need for various positions. _Day Three: Visualized myself working on a cruise line, from the beginning of a workday to the end. The idea excites me. _Day Four: Focused on the picture of the cruise line I keep on my bulletin board. I really think I would feel at home on a ship. Don't forget to use pictures or drawings as a way to help you visualize. You're creating an air of expectation, which boosts your positive energy and put your request right into the universe's ear, so to speak. There is no set time period to take action for your goal. Set a time frame that is comfortable for you. Try to have some type of set schedule where you focus on your desires, like every morning or every other day.

Up Your Standard Of Living

The law of attraction works by focusing on what you want, not what you lack. So don't think, "I don't have any money and I wish I had more." Think, "I'm going to attract extra capital into my life ... after all, there is plenty for everyone." Let's say you want to attract $1,000,000: _Take out a piece of paper and write $1,000,000 on it. Next to it, write down the date you expect to have it. Put the paper in your wallet. _Three times a day or more, take a peek at that paper and think about how you will feel if you get that $1,000,000. Here are a few other ideas: _Take a deposit slip from your checkbook and write $1,000,000 in the cash or check area and set it on your desk or dresser. Look at it daily. _Every morning wake up and say, "That extra $1,000,000 is coming my way!" _Find something you want to buy for $1,000,000 and think about it often, draw it, cut it out of a magazine, print it off a website ... Just know you will have the extra money for the purchase.

Buy It Now

You don't have to break the bank, as they say, to buy a few things that give you the feeling you are already on your way to your goal. By bringing in just a few material reminders into your life now, you'll reinforce the feeling that everything is going along as it should be and it's only a matter of time before your desires come to fruition. Buying something small can help you get something big. The buying bit is sending out a vibration that says, "I already have what I desire, so I need this other item to go with it." The universe says, "You already have the accessories? Oh, my, I better send that big item out fast before you notice you don't have it."

Let's say you don't have a date planned and you haven't had one in three years. You have put the law of attraction to work to find a mate. It's time to buy a new outfit. Start your potential date off with something new so that you don't have any old energy attached to your clothing. You know the pieces of apparel you think work well for you, but put them on the back burner for a while. They might include: your lucky shirt, the blouse that always draw attention, the dress you wore when your ex proposed, those sexy shoes no man can resist ... Don't get rid of these items; just don't use them to start your new dating life. These items have your old energy attached to them. It's not like a tag hanging off the side of your pants, but it's very real, and it affects the way you feel and the way you behave. And if you haven't had a successful relationship in many years, then it's time to start thinking about how your behavior affects your energy, and vice versa. Even if the dress you were wearing when your ex proposed is something you've worn on other occasions, even if you had that dress long before you met him, even if you receive numerous compliments when wearing it, just buy something new. The mere fact that you can simply look at a dress and associate it with an old romantic attachment is enough to doom your dating future, at least as long as you're trying to woo someone new while wearing it. Pack it away and try a new look for a new mate.

If you are trying to attract a new dream kitchen and you have asked, believed, and are now in that allowing or receiving mode, you may as well look for a few kitchen items you can buy now. This is not frivolous at all. You need pots to cook food. Food keeps us alive. So new gourmet pots, new dishes, and so on are all part of your dream. You may not need all of them, but there must be something new for the kitchen you've had your eye on. Make at least one small purchase and pack it away in a special place or box labeled "New Kitchen." Visualize how that plate or vase will look on your new counter. Is there a batch of fresh-baked cookies on that plate? Are there flowers from your garden in the vase? How do you feel when you see them in your new kitchen? Use that positive feeling to focus on your belief and allowing. Keep your focus on what you want, not what you're lacking. Positive energy reinforces your request and helps to bring it to fruition.

Let's say you're a size 12 and you're hoping to slim down to a size 8. Go ahead and buy those skinny pants--you know, the ones without elastic that you're afraid to wash, in fear they may shrink. Get the style and color you want. Once you lose the weight your favorite store may not have the look you love so much now. Hang those pants in your closet so they are the first things you see when you enter. Fold them and put them on your dresser, well in view. Hang them on a hook where you look at them every day. They're a visualization tool. Close your eyes and think: How will losing weight affect my health? My mood? My opinion of others? Can you feel those changes? Can you direct that positive energy into the universe as you ask for a slimmer figure?

Take Action

What would your friends do if you told them to come over to your home to celebrate something, but kept the celebratory event a secret? They would probably show up with champagne and congratulation cards. They enter your home where balloons and a big cake are the focus of the dining area. There you are all dressed up in your best attire, touting a big smile and glowing. They would be happy for you, no doubt about it. Then comes the question: "Well, why are we here today?" As you begin to speak, they all draw near and put their glasses down in anticipation of a hand-clapping frenzy, and you say: "We are celebrating my future promotion!" Future? They will assume you already got this new position but aren't starting for a month or two. No, you tell them, you are just anticipating it will happen. Why wait to celebrate? The crowd will be scratching their heads, and giving you lots of funny looks. Of course there might be one or two who will cheer you on and say this party is a great idea. If you have sincere friends who really wish you well and can get into the celebration-before-the-goal mode, you'll be able to create a vibration that will be contagious. By the end of the night they will all start feeling that you have indeed secured that promotion. Whenever you celebrate anything in the present or something that will take place in the future, and it brings you cheerfulness, then you are creating more cheerfulness for the very thing you will be achieving. Like attracts like. One celebration focused on future success certainly has the potential to attract another.

If you go into a new house and see one sink in the master bedroom, it tells you one of a few things: the owner is cheap and won't spring for a second sink, the builder made a mistake, there is another master bathroom on the other side of the bedroom, the person is single and intends on staying that way. What do a single sink and the law of attraction have in common? They have a lot in common if you are building a new home. This tells us where your mindset is. If you want a relationship, think duo. You can take the duo principle in all sorts of directions while you're waiting for your mate to come along. Buy a king-size bed. Clear out one side of your closet. Empty a dresser drawer ... Make room for him/her.

See It & Make It Happen

Here are some quick ways to see yourself thinner with the mini-visualization technique. Try a few of these methods at least three times a day. It doesn't matter if you repeat the same one or pick a new one each time.

• Before you get on the scale, take a few seconds to look at the wall in front of you and visualize your ideal weight as it would look on your particular scale. In other words, see the number itself, whether it's 120, 150, 180 ...
• Daily glimpses of that scale can make a bad situation worse, making you think, "I'll never lose this weight!" That, of course, sends a pretty strong message to the universe and guess what happens? Try weighing yourself just a couple of times a week and stay positive, no matter what the numbers say.
• If you are waiting for someone and watching the passers-by, imagine yourself walking where they are walking in the size and shape you are trying to attract.
• Take a "before" picture of yourself and put it away. Know that in a few weeks or months, the "after" picture will be spectacular. What will you be wearing in the after picture, what will your hair look like, and where will you take it?
• Cut out a picture from a magazine of someone who looks similar to you at the weight you want to attain. Post it on your refrigerator or put it anywhere you will look at every day. Soon you will be replacing it with your own picture.
• Email a friend or relative you haven't seen for years and tell him/her how you are really kicking off the pounds and how you did it. Then instead of sending it, save the message until it comes true.
• Think about what you are going to do with your big clothes after you lose weight. Who will you give them to? Make a choice and see yourself dropping them off.

Above all, have compassion for yourself in your visualization. Don't go down the self-pity road or the universe will see to it that nothing changes. Attracting weight loss is really only a thought away. Quickie visualization routines, used consistently throughout the day, are excellent ways to attract what you want in your life. Plus, they're a great diversion from your daily life. It provides you with the sense that you are doing something to help create what you want.