Archives April 2013

For many years, doctors have warned us about the negative effects of coffee.

We’ve heard how it can encourage ulcers, heart disease and Osteoporosis.

We’ve also heard how it can be beneficial to our health. Plus, it tastes soooooo darn goooood.

So which is it — good or bad for you?

Celebration time…

If you’re a coffee lover, I’m about to make your day – because a number of recent studies indicate that coffee may not be the ‘devil’s drink’ after all.

In fact, it’s beginning to look like coffee— in moderation—may have a number of previously unrecognised health benefits.

Whoop whoop!

So put the kettle on and let’s jump into a quick summary of the benefits of your daily cuppa.

Type 2 Diabetes

A 2010 study has revealed that coffee consumption encourages a protective effect against type 2 diabetes.

Cancer: colon, liver + kidney

A Japanese study found those who drank a cup of coffee daily, had about half the risk of liver cancer, than people who never drank it. Reduced rates of colon cancer in women and kidney cancer have also been linked to the anti-oxidant-packed little bean.

Stroke

A 2011 study found that women who drank more than one cup of coffee per day had about a 25% lower risk of stroke than women who didn’t drink any.

Parkinson’s

Coffee significantly cuts your risk of Parkinson’s disease. In fact, coffee is so preventative against Parkinson’s that drug companies are designing experimental drugs that mimic coffee’s benefits.

Gastrointestinal Flora

A study in 2009 showed coffee produced an increase in the metabolic activity and numbers of Bifidobacterium. These are the ‘good guys’ in bacteria world. Typically, the closer you are to your healthy weight, the more of these guys you have in your tummy, and if you’re overweight, chances are, you have very few of these good guys in yours.

Alzheimer’s

A 2011 study revealed that coffee protects you from Alzheimer’s disease.

Good or good?!

As in all things, moderation is the key. If you already drink a cup of coffee each day, these studies indicate you should keep doing what you’re doing.

However, if you frequently find yourself starring at the rafters every night, feeling anxious or irritable and you’re drinking, say, four to seven cups of coffee a day — you might want to moderate your daily dose.

As always, thanks for reading. I’m off to put the kettle on…

Love etc, Avril

PS: We all have our little habits – some support good health, some, not so much. If you know you’ve got some habits that are keeping you unhealthy, hypnotherapy can help. Together, let’s get you to the shape and size you choose to be. C’mon over – let’s chat

Once upon a time, daydreaming was considered a lazy person’s pastime. It was frowned upon, considered a waste of time.

Who can’t recall that kid in class whom the teacher was constantly deriding for being “away with the fairies again?”

Turns out, that kid was a jump ahead of the rest of us, with research now confirming that daydreaming is a very, very constructive habit.

Permission granted to daydream

In a massive study, therapist Dan Jones studied entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, geniuses including Albert Einstein and Leonardo Da Vinci, and creative types like Beethoven and Walt Disney.

What he found, was that they all spent time vividly daydreaming their goals – as if they were already achieved – long before they physically achieved them.

Daydreaming (AKA visualising, guided imagery or fantasising) creates such a powerful state of mind that some sports psychologists claim one hour of daydreaming is worth seven hours of physical practice.

Now, perhaps that’s a tall claim, but it makes an important point – daydreaming is a very, very powerful tool.

And has lots of positive implications for weight loss.  Yay!

Why does it work?

The reason daydreaming is so effective is that your unconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between something that’s real or something that’s vividly imagined.

So, if you want to create a ‘new fitter, healthier, slimmer you,’ you can get there by vividly imagining it. (Of course, some action is required too – but daydreaming is perfect preparation).

Imagine the ‘new healthy, fit you’ – vividly –and your own brain will start taking you in that healthy direction.

After a while, you won’t be satisfied with where you were, so you’ll slowly but surely change your habits so there’s a match between the real and the imagined.

Imagine yourself slim…

All you need to do is close your eyes and ‘see’ yourself at your happy weight. Make the image as clear, bright and as detailed as possible. Add movement by turning it into a movie if that works for you. Cue a soundtrack if that gets you going.

Focus on all the good feelings you’re feeling. Notice what you’re telling yourself, maybe you’re high-fiving yourself, and notice what others are saying to you.

It’s your day dream so own it! You are the lead actor, the script writer and the director!

Take five minutes before you fall asleep and another five upon waking to daydream.

With practice, it’ll become automatic. As you go through your day – hanging out the washing or looking after the kids – you’ll notice yourself daydreaming of yourself, already at your happy weight.

For those who are really serious ….

You can always take it to another level by noticing what your happy-weight-self eats, and what her portion sizes look like. Notice how she deals with the additional attention she receives. Notice how the ‘new fit, healthy you’ deals with stressful situations and how she deals with her emotions. See how she interacts with other people, notice what she does for pleasure. How does she relax?

And, now that you’ve met your ‘future self’, you can re-visit her any time you have a challenge or a question. Ask your happy-weight-self anything you need to know, she’s always there with the answers. If you just ask.

Trouble shooting: Imaging the ‘wrong’ thing.

Some people say daydreaming “doesn’t work for me”. The fact is, all of us, every day, are day dreaming, whether we know it or not.

If you’re overweight, you are using the power of daydreaming but you’re in the habit of daydreaming the wrong picture! As in, you’re probably worrying about getting bigger and bigger and sure enough by focusing on that, that’s what you achieve.

Because remember, the unconscious mind cannot process a negative, so daydream the outcome you DO want.

Every day.

It’s simple, easy and oodles of fun.

Imagine just how your health and life would be different if you did this small thing every day. Just imagine…….

Daydream believer, love etc, Avril