Daniel Plan

In All Things, Be Joyful

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:04:00 GMT

by Rick Warren

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (Philippians 4:6 NLT)

You have a fundamental need for joy in your life. Life without joy is overwhelming, overburdened, and oppressive. Studies have actually shown that the more joy we have in our lives, the more productive we are. I read an article in "US News and World Report" that said that corporations hire "joy consultants" to build up the joy in peoples' lives so that employees can be more productive. It is true that you have more energy, more creativity, and more productivity when you have joy in your life.

In the short book of Philippians - only four chapters long - Paul uses the word "joy" 16 times. The amazing thing is, Paul didn't write this book when he was on vacation in the Caribbean. He was in prison in Rome, waiting to be executed. In the darkest days of his life, he wrote the most positive book in the Bible.

In Philippians, Paul gives us six joy-builders that will help diffuse our discouragement and lift our depression. To make them easy to remember, I've made them into an acrostic - JOYFUL. Today, we'll look at the first three.

J: Jettison all regrets about your past.

"Jettison" means "to abandon as worthless, to discard, to eliminate, to get rid of." Paul says if you want to enjoy life, there are some things you've got to get rid of because they are wearing you down and overburdening your life. The Bible says to forget your regrets, because that's what God does - he chooses to forgive your mistakes once they're confessed. The starting point of joy is letting go of the past. Philippians 3:13 says, "One thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead" (GN).

O: Omit all worries about your future.

If you're going to enjoy the present, you must omit all worries about your future. Worry, hands-down, is the greatest killjoy of them all. You cannot be joyful and worried at the same time. Paul's antidotes are these verses: "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done" (Philippians 4:6 NLT). You can either worry or you can pray.

Y: Yield yourself to God's purpose.

If you're just drifting, if you don't know where you came from or where you're going or why you're here, of course you're not going to have any joy in your life. We all need a cause greater than ourselves for which we live. That is what brings us joy. Living for yourself does not bring joy.

Even when Paul had literally lost everything, there was one thing that could not be taken away from him - his purpose in life. Paul says in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (NIV).

If you want to have a joy-filled life, you need to get in line with God's purpose for your life. When you begin to live the purpose for which you are made, life makes sense, and joy is a lot more easily found.

Talk It Over

What are the things - people, circumstances, situations, or feelings - that are wearing you down and keeping you from living a joyful life?
What is the difference in happiness and joy?
What are you worried about? What do you need to do to release your worry?

Choose Joy Over Happiness

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

by Kay Warren
thrivingfamily.com

It's been said that opposites attract. In my marriage, that couldn't be truer. My husband, Rick, is definitely a Tigger - an optimistic extrovert and a glass-half-full kind of guy. On the other hand, I am an Eeyore, introverted and convinced the glass is half empty. As a young, dating couple, Rick and I found these differences intriguing. As newlyweds, our personalities clashed and created painful conflict in our marriage.

Does this resonate with you? Marriage is often not the fairy tale we expect. So what do we do when happiness eludes us? We choose joy.

As my perspective has matured over the years, I've learned to appreciate the personality differences between Rick and me. Especially because those differences have taught me not to equate happiness with joy.

When everything was going well, Rick and I concluded that we had joy. But when troubles came, that joy was often exposed as flimsy and undependable happiness. We quickly learned that happiness wasn't enough for us; we needed something sturdier and more reliable. We needed joy - true joy that can only come from God.

Joy is not dependent on what happens to us as a couple. It is the settled assurance that God is in control of the details of life, the quiet confidence that everything will be OK and the determined choice to praise Him. Marriage has been the best testing ground for learning that God is the only constant in a world of ever-changing economics, health, relationships and unexpected events.

I used to think life was like a series of highs and lows, but now I believe life is more like a set of parallel train tracks, with happiness and sorrow running side by side. I can easily gravitate toward the sorrow side of the tracks, while Rick more naturally veers toward the happiness side of the tracks. But we've learned that both of us are right in our perceptions: Happiness�and�sorrow are a part of our existence. Regardless of the emotion, God's joy can be present.

It's easy to let circumstances (happy and sad) steal the joy out of what God designed as a good marriage union. But when we choose joy over happiness, we discover God's hidden blessings in the good and bad of life - and in the differences between us. Joy is a choice, and I'm grateful Rick and I, as a couple, have learned to make that choice every day.��

Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church with her husband, Rick, is an international speaker, Bible teacher and author of�Choose Joy: Because happiness isn't enough.

This article appeared in the October/November 2012 issue ofThriving Family�magazine and was titled "A Quiet Confidence."Copyright � 2012 by Kay Warren. Used by permission. ThrivingFamily.com.

The 10 Minute Total Body Breakthrough

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

Don't have a lot of time to get fit? Exercise expert Sean Foy gives you a workout that works in 10 minutes.

Quinoa 101: What It Is and How to Cook It

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:01:00 GMT

By�ANGELA HAUPT

Cheryl Forberg considers quinoa "manna from heaven" - miraculous food.

Indeed, once you get past the pronunciation struggles (it's keen-wah), you can move on to its benefits and versatility. In her new book "Cooking with Quinoa for Dummies," Forberg, the nutritionist for NBC's "The Biggest Loser," examines everything you've ever wanted to know about quinoa - and then some.

What it is.

Quinoa is the seed of a goosefoot plant called Chenopodium quinoa, which traces back to ancient Peru. It's a gluten-free, cholesterol-free and kosher whole grain. Quinoa is packed with all nine essential amino acids and provides a strong dose of iron, magnesium, vitamins E and B, potassium and fiber.

Click here to keep reading.

Authentic Friendships

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:04:00 GMT

By Rick Warren

But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God's Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:7-8 NCV)

In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity.

Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It's genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.

It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking and superficial politeness, but shallow conversation.

People wear masks, keep their guards up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.

It's only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, "If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other.. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves" (1 John 1:7-8, NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection and being hurt again.

Why would anyone take such a risk?

Because it's the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed" ( James 5:16a, Msg).

40 Days in the Word
This January, I will be delivering a new church wide campaign/small group study at Saddleback Church called 40 Days in the Word. My hope and prayer is that churches and individuals across the country will unite in a common desire to Learn the Word, Love the Word, and Live the Word of God like never before. This is our most significant campaign since 40 Days of Purpose, when more than 30,000 churches united nationwide. I encourage every church, pastor, or individual reading this to pray about participating. You can find more information about this at www.40DITW.com.

For church pastors or leaders, the campaign preview kits can be found here, or if you have a small group, you can get the teaching DVD and Workbooks here. James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." I hope you come along with us as we seek to live the Word of God!

Rick Warren�is the founding pastor of�Saddleback Church�in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times Best Seller�The Purpose Driven Life.� His book,�The Purpose Driven Church, was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also founder of�Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors. � Copyright 2011 Rick Warren.�

How Friendship Makes You More Successful

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

By Carlin Flora
time.com

Back in college, my dorm-mate Sofia and I invented a ritual we called "Power Wednesdays." Every week, we headed to the campus fitness center for a workout, and then to the library for four hours of hard studying. We would stride back to our dorm with a huge feeling of accomplishment. But that uplifting cocktail of virtuousness, productivity and sore muscles - rewarding as it was - wasn't what kept us repeating Power Wednesdays. Our real motivation was each other's company.

I've been immersed in the study of friendship for the past several years, and among the many things I've learned, one idea stands out: If you truly want to change some aspect of your life, developing friendships with people who aspire to the same goals as you do - like I did with Sofia 15-plus years ago - can lead to more successful endeavors than embarking on solitary efforts.

(MORE:�A New Way to Think About New Year's Resolutions)

Shortly after we make a decision to change our behavior, we often sense a softening of what at first felt like ironclad conviction. We chastise ourselves for our inability to summon motivation and return to the poor habits we're trying to break to comfort us, actively undermining our goals. What a disheartening cycle. But research shows that having friends with the same goal can interrupt that cycle.

Researchers James Fowler and Nicholas Christakis have�demonstrated�that weight loss (and gain) spreads through friend groups, most likely via a process of altered norms. For example, if you meet your friends at an all-you-can-eat brunch every Sunday, but then one pal starts to beg off after starting a diet, you might suddenly question whether the practice is best for you. It's not that you'll necessarily adopt your friend's new habits right away, but the seed will be planted. If you want to continue to feel close to her, you might even start tweaking your own routines (perhaps unconsciously) to align them more with hers.

The same type of scenario is at play with�addiction�recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. While the success of these programs is difficult to evaluate overall, those who are helped by them tend to credit the friendships they make as a key factor in success. Public health researchers often�point out�the futility of putting a drug addict back into the same social environment after treatment, where it's nearly impossible to resist getting high with the same pals in the same places. Forging new friendships with people who are also determined to stay clean, however, establishes different patterns and helps fill the emotional holes that form when one abandons a way of life.

(MORE:�How to Make New Year's Resolutions Stick)

Friends can help you reinforce individual willpower. In�The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg�recommends�replacing the cues that trigger, and the rewards that follow, bad behaviors with new, healthier ones. The cue and reward of a real person knocking on your door for a joint jog, and a stimulating talk over coffee afterwards, is a particularly alluring replacement for whatever previously sucked you into sedentary TV watching.

In a recent New York�Times�column, "How People Change," David Brooks�noted�that, "There's a trove of research suggesting that it's best to tackle negative behaviors obliquely, by redirecting attention toward different, positive ones." Investing in fulfilling friendships with those who have the values and habits you admire will lift you up to those friends' level more easily.

The desire to be with, be like, and be liked by friends is primal. We're all built to seek out strong bonds with friends on whom our very survival might have once been dependent. While we don't necessarily need friends to help hunt or fight off predators these days, most of us probably still feel like we can't live without them. Tap into that deep-down social motivation and you'll not only be primed for success, you'll take pleasure in the proverbial journey.

MORE:�Lessons from the Lab: How to Make Group Projects More Successful

Chef Mareya Ibrahim's Non-Traditional Mac 'n Cheese

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

Published on Apr 2, 2012
EverydayHealth

Subscribe for more: http://full.sc/MDLwT9

Watch more of this show: http://full.sc/QGw73e

Chef Mareya Ibrahim goes totally non-traditional on this classic. Watch�in detail how she uses squash to create that rich dairy flavor. She also�has some other tricks you're definitely going to want to check out!

Recipe Rehab:
Celebrity and acclaimed chefs, including Laura Vitale, Jet Tila and Aida Mollenkamp compete in a head-to-head challenge to recreate a family-favorite dish, but with a healthy twist!

Shaun T's 15-Minute Workout

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:01:00 GMT

You don't need a gym membership to get your best body back! Tone your belly, butt, arms and legs in only 15 minutes with this miracle workout from fitness guru Shaun T.�

Click here for more Oz-approved workouts.

�

Caution: Thoughts Ahead

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:04:00 GMT

By: April O'Neil

Do you often long to turn off your brain and stop thinking?� Thought after thought runs through your mind and it can be difficult to decipher what to pay attention to, and what to ignore.� Proverbs 4:23 teaches us: Be careful what you think, for your thoughts run your life.� Once again, God's word provides us with the wisdom we need to manage our thought life.

You may be surprised to learn that the average person has up to 60,000 thoughts every day.� Now that's rush-hour traffic!� Here's the good news: you don't have to believe every thought you have.� In fact, we encourage you not to believe every thought you have.� Question your thoughts.� Ask yourself: "Is this true?"� Don't be misled by thoughts that are not grounded in God's word.

This week, set a goal to memorize Philippians 4:8.� Having this scripture readily available will help you to re-focus your thoughts on God's goodness.

Philippians 4:8
New International Version (NIV)
⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

A practical way to combat unhealthy thinking is to enter into your day expressing gratitude.� Say good morning to God, and write down 3 things you are grateful for each day.� Try this for the next 21 days, and soon this will become part of your daily routine. This healthy habit sets the tone for your daily thought life and launches your day with a joyful intention.��

Speaking scripture will also guard your heart and mind. I love to begin each day speaking Psalm 143:8.� As I put my feet on the ground, and stretch my arms in the air, I speak this gorgeous prayer out loud: Let this day bring word of your unfailing love, for I put my trust in you.� Show me the way I should go, for to you, I lift up my soul.� Repeat as needed.

For more scriptural encouragement read:
Proverbs 17:22
Romans 12:2

Five Ways To Never Be Stressed Again

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:03:00 GMT

by�Mark Hyman, MD

Everybody feels stress and knows it intimately, but very few of us think about what stress actually is.

Stress is a thought. That's it. No more, no less. If that's true, then we have complete control over stress, because it's not something that happens�to us�but something that happens�in us.

The dictionary definition of stress is, "bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium." It is your thoughts out of balance.

The medical definition of stress is, "the�perception�of a real or imagined threat to your body or your ego." It could be a tiger chasing you or your belief that your spouse is mad at you (even if he or she is not). Whether it is real or imagined, when you�perceive�something as stressful, it creates the same response in the body.

A cascade of adrenaline, cortisol, and other stress hormones floods your system, raising your heart rate, increasing your blood pressure, making your blood more likely to clot, damaging your brain's memory center, increasing�belly fat storage, and generally wreaking havoc on your body.

The operative word here about stress is that it is aperception, also known as a thought or point of view. There are objective stressors, to be sure-war, death of loved ones, financial troubles, starvation, dental work. But how these affect us determines our body's stress response. Imagine Woody Allen and James Bond, each with a gun pointed at his head-same external stressor but entirely different responses.

When I was very sick with chronic fatigue, barely able to work, a single father with two kids, thinking I had to go on disability, I worried constantly. I couldn't sleep and everything seemed stressful. Then, a wise man told me I had to stop worrying. I argued with him strenuously, providing a comprehensive list of all the real external events that were stressful to me. He just kept repeating that worrying was toxic; he said, what really mattered was how I viewed the situation, and he kept telling me I just needed to stop worrying.

And slowly, very slowly, I trained myself to watch my thoughts, my perceptions, and when a stressful thought came into my head, I stopped, took a deep breath, and just let go. It's like a muscle-it gets stronger the more you use it, but if you let go, it relaxes.

But of course, life takes over and things happen, all the "D's:" divorce, death, deadlines, demands, dumb thoughts, and dumb schedules. And as anyone does, I get sucked in to negative thinking, which creates stress in my body. My sleep gets interrupted, my muscles get tight, my mood gets cranky, but then I breathe and remember that stress is all in my head.� We get so attached to our way of thinking, to our beliefs and attitudes about the way things should be or shouldn't be, that it makes us sick.

This doesn't mean that I don't respond to injustice or experience intense feelings of joy, happiness, sadness, loss, or pain. I do. But I try just to be fully in them when they come, then experience the next moment, then the next and the next, and just show up with my whole self with love and attention. That's the only thing I can do.

Most people, when they look at my life, think I'm crazy and wonder why I'm not more stressed-running a medical practice; writing books and blogs; teaching all over the world; working on health policy; volunteering in Haiti, churches, and orphanages; being a father, son, brother, partner, friend, boss, and more. But it's actually quite simple. I don't worry about things much. I simply wake up and do the next thing as best I can.

And when things get out of control, which they do, I simply make a gentle U-turn. It's like a�GPS for my soul. Your GPS doesn't yell at you and call you stupid or judge you for taking a wrong turn. In the sweetest voice imaginable, the GPS reminds you to take the next possible U-turn.

Each of us has to find out how to make our own U-turn. There are some wonderful ways I have discovered that work very well for me!

Here's how I make my U-turns (and I try to pick one or more each day):

Move.�The best way to burn off the stress hormones without having to change your thinking is to move and sweat. Run, dance, jump, ride, swim, stretch, or skip-do something vigorous and lively. Yoga is also fabulous, as it combines movement and breathing.
Breathe.�Most of us hold our breath often or breathe swallow, anxious breaths. Deep, slow, full breaths have a profound affect on resetting the stress response, because the relaxation nerve (or vagus nerve and not the Las Vegas nerve) goes through your diaphragm and is activated with every deep breath. Take five deep breaths now, and observe how differently you feel after.
Bathe. For the lazy among us (including me), an UltraBath is a secret weapon against stress. Add 2 cups of Epsom salt (which contains magnesium, the relaxation mineral), a half-cup of baking soda, and 10 drops of lavender oil (which lowers cortisol) to a very hot bath. Then, add one stressed human and soak for 20 minutes. Guaranteed to induce relaxation.
Sleep.�Lack of sleep increases stress hormones. Get your eight hours no matter what.� Take a nap if you missed your sleep. Prioritize sleep.
Think Differently.�Practice the art of noticing stress, noticing how your thinking makes you stressed. Practice taking deep breaths and letting go of worry. Try�Byron Katie's four questions�to break the cycle of "stinkin' thinkin'" that keeps you stressed.

You can also try my�UltraCalm CD, featuring guided mediations and relaxation techniques.

Also, I highly recommend tapping, a technique that combines ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. Pick up a copy of Nick Ortner's new book�The Tapping Solution�to learn more. Another great stress-relief technique to try is Holosync, an audio technology designed by the Centerpointe Research Institute, which instantly (and effortlessly) puts you into states of deep meditation-literally, at the push of a button. Visit Centerpointe's�website�to find out more. Also, check out�meQuilibrium, a digital coaching system created by experts to change the way you respond to stress. It teaches specific skills to help you get a handle on all of the emotional, physical, and lifestyle imbalances that keep you from feeling your best.

Enjoy, and happy U-turns!

Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below-but remember, we can't offer personal medical advice online, so be sure to limit your comments to those about taking back our health!

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

Getting More Out of Walking

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

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Fitness Coach Tom Wilson shares exercises to add to your walking routine that impact flexibility, balance, muscle strength and endurance in this 8-minute video. Try these simple techniques to give your walk a serious boost!

Five Minute Fresh Green Beans

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:01:00 GMT

By Sally Cameron

Fresh green beans cook in just five minutes in boiling, salted water, making it easy and quick to get a fresh vegetable on the dinner table. You can use them in many other ways too!

Click here for the recipe.

Change Requires Making Choices

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:04:00 GMT

by�Rick Warren

"Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy." (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT)

It's not enough to want to change. It's not enough to desire to change. It's not even enough to say, "I have a dream of changing." Dreams are worthless unless you wake up and actually act on them. You're not going to change the defects in your life until you�choose�to change.

How are you going to be different in six months? Are you going to be emotionally stronger? Are you going to be mentally sharper? Are you going to be physically healthier? Are you going to be spiritually deeper?

It isn't going to happen automatically. You aren't just going to get healthier by accident in any category of your life. A lot of times we think we're waiting on God to change us. You're not waiting on God. God is waiting on you.

There is no growth in your life without change. And there is no change without loss. You've got to let go of some old stuff. And there is no loss without pain.

Some of you are stuck right now because you haven't learned how to let go. That's a choice. Ephesians 4:22 says, "Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception" (NLT).

You might say that your defects are biological or sociological. Some of them are from your circumstances or your chromosomes. But it doesn't really matter where they come from. You need to deal with it. Genetics explains your inclinations, but it doesn't excuse your sin.

Here's the good news: Once you become a believer, you have a new power in you that is greater than those old tendencies. That power is the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 2:12-13 says, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (NIV).

Does that mean you are supposed to be afraid of God? Of course not! Be afraid that you'll miss God's best and waste your life. Be afraid that you will go your entire life and never know God's purpose.

The secret to changing your life is not willpower. It's God giving you the will and the power through the Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done.

Talk About It

What do you think it means to "work out" your salvation?

How have you experienced the Holy Spirit's power in your life?

NEW! The Daniel Plan Program Overview

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:03:00 GMT

If you are considering using the�Daniel Plan�in your small group, church, or with a few friends, this is an essential resource to learn about what is coming late 2013!

Note: Resources coming late 2013 include a Church-wide Campaign Kit, Sermons, Small Group Curriculum, Book, and App.

This�Daniel Plan Program Overview�will give you a first look into the newly revised and expanded 40 day�Daniel Planexperience, including guidance from Pastor Rick Warren and the NYT best-selling doctors, Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Mark Amen, and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

This Program Overview takes you through the "5 Essentials" of the�Daniel Plan:

FAITH: Being rooted and grounded in God's love.
FOOD: Learning to love foods that love you back.
FITNESS: Discovering movement you enjoy.
FRIENDS: Building a small community of supportive relationships.
FOCUS: Being transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Click Here To Learn More

FREE! 10 Day Meal Plan

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:02:00 GMT

Our Signature Chefs have put together their favorite Daniel Plan approved recipes for you to explore and enjoy! You decide what you would like to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and choose from our appetizing list of delicious side dishes to compliment your dinner plate.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

7 Ways to Spring Clean Your Life

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:01:00 GMT

by Deirdre Imus, founder and president of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center at Hackensack University Medical Center

Like a bear coming out of hibernation, we too are beginning to emerge from winter's darkness into spring's light. And just as a bear cautiously reintroduces his body to a nourishing environment, so we must turn to healthy activities that feed our soul and give us new life in this season of renewal.

Below are the seven steps I hope you'll follow this spring to clean your body and your home:

1. Clean Your Body-With Foods, Of Course!
As the weather turns warmer, the delicious spring and summer bounties of fruits and vegetables will be available at your local farmer's market or supermarket. Throw together a fresh, organic salad comprised of leeks, dandelions, purslane, sage, mint, cabbage and watercress. Another great, green salad combination includes chicory, radicchio, cucumbers and parsley. All of these leafy delights are packed with nutrients and taste and won't weigh you down. For those chilly spring nights, consider a bean soup using dark and delicious mung beans, which are packed with antioxidants, and throw some leeks in there for good measure.

2. Drink Lots of Filtered Water
As in every other season, hydrating your body is as important in springtime as ever. Spring is the time of natural hydration for the earth (April showers, anyone?), so make sure you stay hydrated, particularly if you're taking advantage of the nice weather with a new outdoor exercise regimen. Water helps moisturize the air in the lungs, which are particularly vulnerable to pollen and other allergy irritants this time of year.

3. Shake Up Your Makeup
Just like the foods in your fridge, the makeup in your purse has an expiration date, and using makeup that's gone bad is bad news. Throw out those old mascaras, foundations, eyeliners, and lipsticks, and replace them with non-toxic brands that won't potentially cause breakouts, rashes or worse. Even better, go through all your personal care products-from lotions to shampoos to perfumes-and toss anything that might be past its prime.

4. Wade Through Your Wardrobe
You know that sweater you haven't worn in three winters, or the coat that's been nesting in the back of your closet since 1998? Yeah, it's time to get rid of those. But rather than throw them out, put together a bag to donate to goodwill of not just yours, but your entire family's excess clothing. Or if you've been eyeing that chic cardigan your friend hasn't worn in years, invite some pals over for a good old-fashioned clothing swap! What's old will suddenly be new again, and you'll have lots of fun while you're at it.

5. Weigh-In
I step on the scale four times a year-at the beginning of fall, winter, spring, and summer. I believe if you exercise, eat well, do what you love, and have a deep sense of purpose in life, the tedium of counting calories, eating "diet" foods, and weighing yourself should be obsolete. Weight fluctuates for many reasons, often because of changes in weather, temperature, food cravings versus food availability, and activity level. Keep a journal tracking how much you weigh each season, and look for trends that might help you achieve optimum health.

6. Get Your Vitamin D3 Levels Checked
Most of us spend the winter months indoors-I know I do. If that's the case, you're receiving scant amounts of the very important Vitamin D3, if you're receiving any at all. Vitamin D3 contributes to overall immune system support, bone health, eyesight and energy, and it's even been shown to fight depression and prevent cancer. Knowing your levels is the first step to improving your overall well being. After that, talk to your�healthcare professional�about whether supplements might be necessary, and how much is the right amount for you to take.

7. Green Clean Your Home!
If you haven't already done it, now is the time to rid your home of any and all toxic cleaning agents. Only use green products that disclose ingredients and are free of petroleum, synthetic fragrances and other chemicals that are known or potential carcinogens, teratogens, neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors. Need to clean those cute spring dresses that have been in a pile on the floor since September, or get your sweaters ready for long months of storage? Make sure to use a green dry cleaner-they'll treat your clothes using more environmentally sound methods, and expose you to fewer harsh cleaning chemicals. Once you stow your favorite winter items away, use cedar sheet, cedar-lined shelves, or cedar balls and blocks (rather than moth balls) to keep them smelling fresh and free of holes.

Whether you heed all seven of my steps, or just one or two, a commitment to�better health�this spring will have you feeling better come summer, fall and even next winter. So open up those windows, let the fresh air in, and get on the road to a cleaner, healthier life!

Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental�Health�CenterTM at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer�. Deirdre is the author of four books, including three national bestsellers. She is a frequent speaker on green living and children's health issues, and is a contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com. For more information go to www.dienviro.com.

This blog originally appeared on�FoxNewsHealth.com.

Hope Returns When We Remember God's Unfailing Love

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:04:00 GMT

by�Rick Warren

"Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope." (Lamentations 3:21-24 GNT)

Pain is a natural part of life. You can't escape it. Broken relationships, missed opportunities, and rough seasons of life will always be with us. When they do come, you can either become bitter or hopeful.

The choice is yours.

Jeremiah faced the same choice. When his world came apart after Jerusalem was sacked in 586 B.C., the prophet wrote the book of Lamentations to share his honest frustrations with God. But he didn't settle in his bitterness and stay there.

In Lamentations 3:21-24, after sharing his bitter feelings, he wrote, "Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope" (GNT).

In the midst of a terrible situation, Jeremiah changed his perspective. It's healthy and good for us to be honest with God about our feelings, but you have to eventually change your perspective. As long as our minds are on our pain, we won't solve anything.

Instead, like Jeremiah, we need to recognize God's great love for us. Jeremiah changed his perspective and recognized the enduring mercies of God. No matter what the problem, no matter how much anger you've spewed at God, he still loves you. It's a constant you can depend upon - no matter what.

The longer you focus on what depresses you, the longer your depression will last. Bitterness keeps you caught in your own pain. In Lamentations 3, Jeremiah gives you a simple cure for bitterness: change how you think.

In the midst of a depressing tirade, Jeremiah says, "Yet hope returns ."

How can you have hope even in your darkest days? You remember, "The Lord's unfailing love and mercy still continue."

You can count on that! His mercies are as fresh as the morning and as sure as the sunrise.�

Talk About It

What makes hope a choice when we're going through troubles?

What practices can you make a part of your life during difficult times that'll keep hope at the forefront?

�

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Rick Warren�is the founding pastor of�Saddleback Church�in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller�"The Purpose Driven Life."�His book,�"The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of�Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Even the Aroma Aids Weight Control

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:03:00 GMT

Written by�Tana Amen, BSN, RN�on Monday, 15 April 2013.�Tana's Blog,�Nutrition

One of the most ancient healing foods, olive oil was so prized by the ancient Greeks that Homer called it "liquid gold." Study after study has uncovered a treasure trove of health benefits, from quelling inflammation to protecting against heart disease and even cancer.

Not only is extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, but even smelling its aroma has surprising weight-control benefits, according to a new study by German scientists.

The researchers found that compared to other types of fats, EVOO is the most beneficial for warding off extra pounds. Meals that include EVOO are more likely to leave people feeling pleasantly full than those that include comparable amounts of butter, lard, or rapeseed oil.

Participants were randomly divided in 5 groups. They weren't told which fat they would be eating. One group received food supplemented with EVOO and others were given food that contained lard, butter, or rapeseed oil. Each group was told to eat this food daily, in addition to their usual diet. A control group received fat-free food. Participants were tracked for three months.

The group who ate EVOO showed the greatest increases in serotonin, a feel-good brain chemical linked to satiety and reported finding the food very filling. And despite being given extra food, they adapted their eating habits--and none of them gained any weight. Conversely, the groups who ate food with lard or rapeseed oil packed on extra pounds.

The control group had the lowest level of serotonin in their blood. Basically, they weren't satisfied by the fat-free food, remained hungry, and therefore overate, leading to weight gain.

This finding mirrors a frightening trend I discuss in my new book,�The Omni Diet: The Revolutionary 70% Plant + 30% Percent Protein to Lose Weight, Reverse Disease, Fight Inflammation, and Change Your Life Forever,�now available.

In the US, where obesity rates have more than doubled since the 1980s, the decade in which our national fat-free craze started to take off. As the book explains, that's not a coincidence. Ironically, as the public began gobbling up everything from fat-free cheese to fat-free cookies, Americans started getting fatter instead of thinner.

Currently, nearly 36 percent of Americans are obese--and the rate is expected to skyrocket to 44 percent by 2030 if current trends continue. The dirty little secret I expose is that to make fat-free food palatable, manufacturers have added huge amounts of sugar, fillers, and chemicals that leave people feeling so unsatisfied that they overeat. Indeed, many fat-free foods contain up to 30 percent more calories than the full-fat versions.

In the study, the researchers decided to explore why "liquid gold" was more effective at curbing appetite than the other fats studied. "The findings surprised us because rapeseed oil and olive oil contain similar fatty acids," study author Professor Peter Schieberle reported�in a statement�issued by Technical University of Munich.

To solve this mystery, the scientists analyzed the effects of two aroma compounds found in EVOO. In a second phase of the study, participants were divided into two groups. One group ate food flavored with olive oil aroma extracts, while the control group ate plain fat-free food.

The results revealed the remarkable role that aroma plays in weight control. Food with the aroma compounds stimulated the participants' brains to produce more serotonin, and they felt satisfied, while the control group wolfed down an extra 176 kilocalories a day.

The scientists report that olive oil aroma compounds appear to slow down the rate at which liver cells absorb sugar in the blood. The faster blood sugar from food is absorbed, the sooner a person is likely to feel hungry again, explaining why it's so easy to pig out on sugary foods like donuts.

These intriguing results may help explain why slowly absorbed foods, such as fresh organic greens drizzled with fragrant EVOO, keep our brains happy and our bellies pleasantly full, without fear of weight gain.

Spaghetti & Meatballs Made Better

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:02:00 GMT

By eatcleaner.com/ (RECIPE)

How do you get more nutrients onto your plate? Veggie pasta ribbons and more to your meatball!

�

Makes 6 servings

1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey (substitute tempeh for a vegan/vegetarian alternative)
� C soy chorizo
1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 Cup finely grated carrot
2 large cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
Non-stick cooking spray
2 lbs zucchini and yellow squash, shaved into ribbons with a carrot peeler
Fresh Pecorino cheese

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except squash and shape into 1 1/2" balls using a small ice cream scoop or spoon and hands. Heat skillet and spray with non stick oil. Brown meatballs for about 5 minutes and stew until done, about 10 minutes, in prepared marinara sauce.

In a separate pan, boil squash ribbons for about 2 minutes or until al dente. Drain and spoon into a bowl. Top with meatballs and sauce and a shaving of fresh Pecorino.

�

4 Disturbing Facts about Pesticides

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:01:00 GMT

By EMILY MAIN
http://www.rodale.com/

When you see an airplane spraying a field with a cloud of pesticides, or when you squirt a roach with an over-the-counter insecticide, you'd like to think that someone, somewhere has studied the ingredients to make sure they're safe.

Turns out, that's not always the case. A�new report�from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has revealed that, for the past 40 years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has relied heavily on a fast-track pesticide approval process that requires no safety data or testing whatsoever.

The process is called "conditional registration," and it was introduced in 1972 by Congress as a way to get pesticides to market quickly without manufacturers needing to do full health- and environmental-impact studies, with the understanding that the data from those studies would be submitted soon after the conditional registration was granted. The process was supposed to be used sparingly, and only in the event that the chemical would cause no adverse health effects or that use of the chemical was in the "public interest," for instance, to deal with a bedbug outbreak.

9 Crazy Things Pesticides Are Doing to Your Body

But, not surprisingly, the process has been woefully misused, says Jennifer Sass, senior scientist at NRDC and author of the report. "Everybody expects that pesticides are regulated and reviewed," she says. You can buy any number of products containing active ingredients listed as "EPA Registered," but, says Sass, "we don't know whether the EPA had, or has, all the data required to approve it."

As Sass was digging through EPA pesticide approval databases, she turned up some more disturbing facts about pesticides:

#1: A majority of new pesticides have been approved without proper safety reviews.�According to NRDC's report, a full 65 percent of the roughly 16,000 pesticides approved since 2010 have been approved under conditional registrations. This includes some highly toxic materials including nanosilver, approved in 2011. These microscopic particles of silver are antimicrobials and can kill bacteria in soil and water, which is why they're considered pesticides, but they've been added to more than 1,000 consumer products, including�"anti-odor" workout clothes, towels, and bedding, and even baby blankets, despite the fact that they're known to damage cells in the brain, liver, stomach, testes, and other organs, as well as pass from pregnant mothers to their developing fetuses. Research has shown that nanosilver leaches from clothing into wash water and can be absorbed by the skin.

Protect Yourself:�Avoid any products advertised as antibacterial, antimicrobial, or anti-odor because they could contain nanosilver or other unhealthy antimicrobial chemicals.

#2: EPA assumes that "different" equals "safer."�One of the major uses of conditional registrations, Sass says, is with new pesticides that can take the place of older ones that are considered unsafe. For instance, organophosphates, a class of chemicals widely used on food, have been linked to lowered IQ and increased rates of ADHD in children. "Now the EPA is conditionally registering everything that is claiming to be an alternative to organophosphates. Just because it's an 'alternative,' it's considered to be safe." Why is that bad? One of the "safer" alternatives approved as an organophosphate alternative is clothianidin, which belongs to a class of chemicals called neonicotinoids that are�strongly linked to the massive die-offs of bee colonies, called colony collapse disorder, that are driving up food prices; bees are responsible for pollinating 80 percent of U.S. food crops. This past winter, nearly 55 percent of commercial beehives died off, and environmentalists and food activists are now demanding that the EPA ban these toxic pesticides.

Protect Yourself:�Neonicotinoids�are systemic, meaning they're absorbed into the tissue, roots, pollen, and nectar of a plant. Eat organic food to avoid them and dozens of other bee-killing pesticides.

#3: Conditional registrations lead to serious problems.�In addition to massive bee die-offs, the public can thank conditional registrations for a recent calamity involving dead evergreen trees. A pesticide called�Imprelis, made by DuPont, was conditionally approved based on the "public interest" of controlling nuisance weeds-think dandelions and clover-in lawns, school athletic fields, and golf courses that "no currently registered pesticides control," according to Dupont's application. Thousands of homeowners and landscape professionals bought the herbicide, only to find out that it kills white and Norway spruce trees. The company faced a class-action lawsuit in 2011 from angry homeowners who claimed it killed thousands of trees nationwide. The EPA subsequently banned Imprelis.

Protect Yourself:�Opt out of the flawed EPA process with organic lawn management so you don't find yourself killing trees (or worse) with improperly approved pesticides. We've compiled a list of easy�organic lawn-care tips.

5 Surprising Ways to Dodge Pesticides

#4: Even the EPA admits its process is flawed.�In 2011, the EPA conducted its own review of the conditional registration process, in response to NRDC's requests (Sass began looking into the issue in 2010) and concluded that conditional registrations were misused 98 percent of the time. "Even EPA's staff was surprised at how much was going through the conditional registration process," Sass says. Part of the problem, she adds, is that the databases that track pesticide approvals are so disorganized and user-unfriendly. In fact, she adds, when asked, the agency couldn't provide her with information that details which conditionally registered pesticides had, eventually, been officially approved after all the health and environmental safety data had been submitted.

Protect Yourself:�Practice nontoxic pest control around your house with our tips for natural insect control.