The Health Benefits of Apple Cider

 

What is Apple Cider?

Apple cider vinegar is a sour liquid made from apples. The process begins when fresh apples are crushed, releasing the juices. Yeast is added to begin the process of fermentation in which the sugars in the apples are converted to alcohol as they are consumed by the yeast for energy. Bacteria are then added to the alcohol solution to further oxidize the alcohol into acetic acid. Acetic acid is what gives apple cider vinegar its distinctive tart, biting odor and flavor. Fermentation usually takes place over weeks or months. Commercial vinegar is made in wooden barrels to boost the natural fermentation process. Glass jars are more practical for home use, however, and many have successfully made apple cider vinegar on their own. It’s best to use organic apples to avoid a heavy load of pesticide residue in the finished product.

 Pasteurization is not required because the acidity of the vinegar—usually 5 percent in commercial brands—is enough to prevent any unhealthy microbes from developing. In fact, the raw, unfiltered form is recommended for therapeutic use. Cloudy strands can be seen at the bottom of the bottle which, when shaken, turn the vinegar murky. These strands are known as the Mother and are made up of protein, raw enzymes, and healthy bacteria. Much of the vinegar sold in the grocery stores looks clear and crisp. This has been pasteurized and filtered, and the Mother has been removed. But this vinegar is also very valuable and has many uses in beauty regimens and home products.

To be continued

Always be prepared, spiritually, mentally and physically!

 

Years ago, there was a farmer who owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer.
"Are you a good farmhand?" The farmer asked him.
"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows." Answered the little man.

Although puzzled by the answer, the farmer hired him as he was desperate for help. The little man worked well around the farm and was busy from dawn to dusk. The farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

One night, the wind howled loudly as a storm approaches from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed to the hired hand's sleeping quarters.

He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!"
The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows."

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all the haystacks had already been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down and nothing could be blown away.

The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant. He returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

Moral - When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally and physically, you have nothing to fear.

Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

The Music In My Heart

Many songs have passed my precious time
But none of them have touched this heart of mine
Except one that always plays in the wind
And put melody on my life

You are the music of my heart
The signal that sets my life to start
The melody that illuminate my day
And rhythm that colors my sky

I know this sweet sound wouldn’t last
And this moment will be put into past
Till the music be played with discord strings
Till there’s no more notes that sings
The love fades out and shrivels

Now in this corner I am crying
The sweet sound is still playing
As I listen to my heart singing
And I will always remember
That you are the reason why my heart’s hurting

Reciel Tanaid

How Muscle Relaxation Can Be Used to Alleviate Pain

Pain is the body’s way of telling that something is not quite right. Unfortunately it is not always possible to pin down what exactly is wrong, or what the cause of the pain is. Pain is experienced when certain nerve endings are stimulated to send messages of pain to the brain.

Normally, chronic pain is experienced due to an illness or medical condition, for example arthritis. When pain is localized, for instance a headache, heartburn or toothache, it may be due to temporary ailments. Naturally, injuries also trigger pain.

As a remedy, it was found that progressive muscle relaxation can ease tension and subsequently alleviate pain.

Here is what to do:

1. Sit comfortably in a chair with a straight back, with the body in a 90⁰ relation to the chair. The hands must be in the lap and the feet solid on the floor. All clothes, like belt, tie, and other tight fitting clothes must be loosened. When in a comfortable, relaxed composure, take a deep breath and exhale very slowly.

2. The next step is to extent one of the arms in front of the body. Make a tight fist, and tense the muscles of the hand as hard as possible. Keep and hold this position for a count of 5 whilst concentrating on the tension in the hand.

3. Then, slightly relax the hand for a second or two and tense the muscles again for a count of 5.

4. Now, totally release the tension, relax and take a deep breath and very slowly exhale.

5. The next step is to repeat the sequences in 2-4 for the other hand, then for the arms, shoulders and facial muscles, taking deep breaths between each muscle group until the entire upper body is relaxed.

6. When this is done, the same routine must be followed for the lower body, tensing and relaxing muscles of the stomach, buttocks, legs and feet.

7. With the entire body subjected to the tensing and relaxing of muscles, close the eyes and sit quietly and relaxed for at least 5 minutes. Breathe deeply; concentrate on any word that comes to mind, or a number or even a nice scene.

Just remember, pain that is unusual, very tense and last more than one day, growing steadily worse or is accompanied by fever, vomiting and other symptoms, warrants prompt medical attention. 

Danie

A Poem for the Elderly

A Powerful and Restorative Exercise