Giving to others has benefits from improving my self-image to creating a better world. I feel good about myself when I give to others because I see an admirable, loving side of myself.

I grow by giving. Selflessness is birthed within me each time I give, performing a remarkable transformation on my overall being. Giving makes me rich with happiness.

My giving sets an example for my children, family and friends to do the same. When I give, I start a ripple effect that expands from those closest to me and reaches people I do not even know. Giving makes me rich in love and grace.

A single act of giving can change the lives of more people than I would ever know. Each time I give, I bring my world one step closer to complete harmony. Giving makes me rich in peace.

The more I give away, the more I have. I am like a cup that automatically fills up again every time I pour some out. When I share my blessings, I receive more blessings in return. Giving makes me rich in the things that matter most.

Giving to others has a powerful effect on my life. My mood is positively affected each time I give. When I see the expression on others’ faces and try to imagine what they are going through, I am rich with gratitude.

Today, I am rich in every area of my life because I choose to share my blessings with others.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Why is it important to give?

2. Who should I give to?

3. When was the last time I shared my blessings with others?

Basic Nutrition Nuggets

1. How a healthy diet affects you: The food you eat is what fuels your body and allows you to function properly. It is important to eat a healthy diet so that you can stay fit and active. Fruits vegetables and whole grain products are part of a healthy diet. Drinking water is another factor in a healthy diet.

2. The importance of diet for our kids: Our kids need nutritious food in order to remain active and healthy. Poor eating habits begin at an early age and we need to train our kids to eat in a responsible manner. Good eating habits will prevent obesity in our children and keep them mentally and physically in good health.

3. Eating at regular times: it is important to eat little and often to speed up your metabolism and keep yourself in good overall health. A small meal puts less strain on your digestive system and will stimulate it to work faster and more effectively. When you eat at regular times your whole system will work more efficiently.

4. Battling obesity-simple tips to take control of your eating habits: when you are trying to reduce weight it is important to eliminate junk foods like chips, candy and soda. These foods have “empty calories,” that really do not help your body much but are easily turned into fat cells. Junk foods are addictive, the more you eat the more you want to eat.

5. Using sugar substitutes: Many people use sugar substitutes as a means of maintaining their weight. Sugar substitutes have zero calories and as such will not make you build up fat cells and put on weight. Diabetics use artificial sweeteners to replace sugar and keep blood sugar levels in control. One of the most popular sugar substitutes is Splendor.

6. Exercise and nutrition: In order to maintain good health it is important to not only eat properly but exercise as well. You can do natural exercises like walking skipping, bicycling, swimming or skipping. You can also do exercises at the gym or with your own home gym equipment. Always remember to exercise regularly to stay fit and in good health.

7. Natural diet: A healthy part of your diet is eating natural foods. A natural diet is one that has increased fiber and less refined foods. Examples of natural foods are whole grains fruits and vegetables. A natural diet is better for your digestive system and allows your whole body to perform better. When you increase your fruit and vegetable intake you will also get more vitamins, minerals and valuable antitoxins.

What causes diabetes? There is no question that there are several risk factors for type 2 diabetes that you need to be aware of. For one thing, if there is any history in your family of diabetes, you need to be on high alert from a much younger age. In other words, let your doctor know so you can get screened early and often, especially if a parent or sibling is diagnosed with Diabetes.

Obesity is another big risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In fact, a BMI of 27 or higher puts you at greater risk of developing the disease. Age is also another important consideration. If you’re over 45 years old, you are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Remember, though, that this disease can strike people who are younger also.

Ethnicity also plays a big role in the development of type 2 diabetes. African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Asian-Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans are all at higher risk of developing this condition.

In addition to these risk factors, people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high triglycerides are also at higher risk. People who have low levels of HDL, the good kind of cholesterol, also have higher odds of getting type 2 diabetes.

Additional risk factors for this disease is lack of physical activity, previous history of abnormal blood sugar levels, history of gestational diabetes, history of delivering a baby weighing more than 9 pounds and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Please review these risk factors and assess your risk for developing Diabetes. Take action to lower your risk and work with your Health Care Practitioner to develop a plan.

For more information visit: www.diabetes.org

November is the month of Nutritional Wellness.  And we all know that in order to take care of the Total Woman you must not only be well, spiritually, physically, and emotional but you need to feed your body the right nutrients.  Too many times we as women go on these fad diets to fit into a dress by a certain date.  But then after we achieve that goal (if we even achieve at all) we find ourselves back to that initial weight or maybe even more.  The reason for this is because we must look at “dieting” as an over all lifestyle change.  And in order to do this you must be aware of the basic nutrition needed for your body.  Below you will discover some information regarding your basic nutrition needs to get you started

Basic nutrition is made up of different food groups. There are 5 categories, grains, fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy. They provide us with 5 essential nutrients. It is very important to your health to eat a good balance of these foods. Sometimes this balance is called the food pyramid. This pyramid gives us a rough idea of how many servings of each food we should be eating per day.

Essential nutrients:

Protein: This is used to build healthy muscle and also to repair muscle. We get this from; fish, milk eggs, cheese, yogurt, meats, pulses and nuts. These are the basic meats (pulses and nuts can be substituted for meats} and dairy foods. You can also get protein from Soy (soy bean).

Carbohydrates: are found in all cereals, like bread and rice. They are also found in some starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn.

Fats and oils: can be found in dairy products like butter milk and cream. They are also present in meats and of course fried foods and those foods that have oil and fat (like butter) added to them. This group is a little tricky as there are good fats and bad fats present in foods that we should be aware of. It is important to cut out trans fats if possible and be careful not to eat too much cholesterol and saturated fat. Omega 3 and 6 are found in fish oils and are good for you in moderate amounts.

Vitamins and minerals: These are found in many foods but mostly in fruits and vegetables. They can also be found in the water you drink. They are very important as they help every part of the body to function correctly.

Fiber: is found in whole grains and pulses, fruits and vegetables. Although much of fiber is not digestible it forms bulk in our foods and makes our digestive system work better. It also gives us a full feeling and means that we eat less and do not get hungry as often.

From time to time we all struggle with getting the right nutrients for our body.  Due to time, or lack of.  What are you day to day struggles when it comes to your nutritional health? Share with me below, or visit us on facebook.

Try to eat a good balance of these foods, so that you can get all the nutrition your body needs and maintain your health.