For the next few days I will be focusing on seven different super fruits that are high in antioxidants.

Picture source: patagoniamaqui.com

The first super fruit I am starting with is the Maqui Berry. Did you know that the Maqui berry is one of the most powerful known botanical antioxidants?

Antioxidants are critical in fighting free radicals that contribute to our aging process. Fro example, they help protect our blood vessels from the oxidative damage of these free radicals, they provide anti-inflammatory benefits, help our nervous system and generally help us stay healthy. Although we cannot stop our bodies from growing older we can definitely take steps to improve our health as we age by paying attention to the nutrients we put into our bodies.

There has been some significant research on this purple fruit known as the Maqui berry found in the Patagonian region of South America, with findings that indicate its potential to improve our immune system and protect our bodies from a variety of health conditions.

The maqui berry is packed with anthocyanins and polyphenols, which have the ability to neutralize free radicals and help fight disease in our bodies, according to scientific studies. It also has the highest ORAC value per serving. So what is an orac value? Well, it stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbsion Capacity and it is the scale which measures the amount of antioxidants that food contains and its ability to absorb free radicals.

Keep in mind though that just because a food product has a high amount of antioxidants does not necessarily mean your body will actually use them all as the ORAC ratings do not calculate the actual absorption rates of the body. So you still need a mechanism to ensure that your body maximizes the benefits of these high antioxidant rich foods. I will talk more about this in future posts.

In my next post later this week, I will discuss the Acai berry and how it compares to the Maqui berry.

Part 1:

The year was 1631 and the queen was dead.

Emperor Shah Jahan was devastated and promptly retired to his private rooms in distress.  Now and again one would hear a heart-wrenching, anguished cry coming from his chambers.

Shah Jahan had lost his constant companion, confidante, and advisor, a loving partner who was so close to him that she had even acc ompanied him during his military operations. She had rejoiced with him in his achievements, and she alone had known how to console him after a great loss on the battlefield. But now, his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, his queen and inseparable soul mate, had flown to the next life.

With the exception of the emperor’s intermittent cries of sorrow, a quiet stillness permeated throughout the palace halls and grounds. Cou rt attendants, guards, princesses and politicians talked in whispers for fear of disturbing him.

After a number of days, the emperor finally came out of his rooms where, it was said, his appearance stunned all the members of his court and his people. Was this, could this be the same man who just a few days ago had fought and won a raging battle against a neighboring enemy? His beautiful thick locks of black hair had turned a silvery white, sorrow had diminished his proud stature, and where once a light shone in his eyes, they now held only a look of mournful emptiness.

With an air of gravity, Shah Jahan declared that the entire kingdom would go into mourning, which would last for a year’s time.  For that year, the sounds of laughter and music ceased, the people abstained from wearing brightly colored clothes, and overall solemnity descended on the Mughal Empire.

The emperor himself immediately discarded his beautifully embroidered and colorful royal garments and clothed himself in white robes as a symbol of his grief and his public display of mourning whi ch was to last for many years.

Not a day would go by where Shah Jahan would not feel the loneliness and loss of Mumtaz Mahal’s presence in his life. His world had turned dark with unhappiness and grief. This was not just loneliness for a wife who had gone away for a few days; she would never return from this last journey! She was gone forever from his presence and never again would he be able to visit her apartments and hear her laughter, touch her beautiful skin, or enjoy that special love that existed with her alone.

For six months after her death, the queen’s body lay in a tomb in Burhanpur. Thereafter, her body was brought to the city of Agra, then the capital of Shah Jahan’s empire and his permanent home from where he ruled his kingdom.  At the emperor’s orders, his builders constructed a crypt in the gardens near the palace, to hold Mumtaz Mahal’s body temporarily.

Finally, in the year 1632, the emperor was ready to start on the project that would be his obsession for the next twenty-two years of his life. He brought in architects, builders and planners from all over his empire and beyond.  The finest of jewels, the most luxurious marble… he would spare no expense.  Shah Jahan was ready to build a tomb that befitted his love for his adored Mumtaz, a burial place that would preserve her memory and their love story forever.

But let us step back and look at how this amazing love story came about. According to historians it started twenty-four years ago in 1607 at a royal bazaar in Agra…    (to be continued)

My dear readers, I need your help and feedback!

I would like to provide my guests the opportunity to interact and give back to the local communities in India they visit during their Himalayan Boot Camp journeys. I truly believe that it can be a rewarding experience if one has brightened the life of someone less fortunate in the community one left behind after the vacation is over.

I am thinking of providing this interaction at a couple of the local schools that cater to the more impoverished children. Here are just a couple of my ideas for my guests:

1. Take 3-4 books and have a storybook session with the children. The local children will love this!
2. An afternoon of crafts with the children using supplies we take from here that those children have never seen and can take home with them (paper dolls, painting etc – the possibilities are endless)
3. Distribute some clothes (T-Shirts?) and have some afternoon refreshments and snacks.

These are just small things but they are a start. I grew up in this area of Meghalaya, India and know exactly how much brightness this will bring to the children. I am not sure where this idea will take me but I just have this gut feeling that both the givers and receivers of this kindness will be so blessed and the memories will be amazing.

Please provide feedback – tell me what you think. I also welcome any additional ideas you may have.

Here’s to a brighter world for children!

Connie

It seems that as I become older, what I used to imagine happening only to others is now happening to me! I forget where I put my keys, I misplace my shoes and slippers (although this was also a habit from my much younger days) and I now need to write out a list if I have to pick up more than 4 things from the grocery store. This is sometimes scary as I have always considered myself to be pretty smart and on top of things. So now I have to seriously look for ways to increase my brain power and hang on to my smarts.

Now I think we have all heard of Suduko which appears to keep our brains thinking and reasoning which in turn enhances our memory skills. It is a fun little game that my mom does every day and I feel quite comfortable challenging anyone against her at age 78 on her mental math – she is amazing and I believe without a doubt it is because of one of the ways she exercises her brain – with Suduko!

But there is something else I would like to discuss here that research indicates may help us with our mental state, memory and brain power. It is the Gingko biloba leaves and seeds from the Gingko tree. Many scientists are studying its leaves most extensively today for specific health properties. Gingko is used more in concentrated extract form rather than directly and is ranked as one of the top herbal medications in many parts of the world. It is considered a tonic herb and is versatile in that it energizes if you are tired and relaxes if you are stressed out.

Research indicates that this herb enhances blood flow to all parts of the body and particularly to the brain, which means improved oxygen content to it. Because it enhances blood flow, it allows for improving circulation of the blood which in turn increases our energy level. It is also considered a strong anti-oxidant, appears to stabilize the structure of the brain and nerve cells and protects them from the oxidative destruction of free radical damage.

Additionally, because of the role it plays in improving blood flow to the brain, and it’s function as an antioxidant (which also reduces depression), studies indicate it may reduce brain damage for stroke victims. Wow!

So what is this stuff in Gingko you might ask? Well, there are two components of Gingko that appear to have these benefits. The Flavenoids and the Terpenoids! Flavenoids have potent flavenoid antioxidants which help protect our nerves, heart, and blood vessels while Terpenoids improve blood flow by dilating the blood vessels and function as anti-coagulants by reducing the stickiness of platelets.
Although Gingko is used in extract form or as a supplement, the seeds are available (canned) in some Asian stores and the Japanese often add these seeds to their dishes or offer them as a side dish.

Obviously as in any supplement, you have to be careful before you just rush off and start using it. Keep in mind that it is not recommended to take Ginkgo if you are taking medication for depression, if you are taking blood thinners as it can increase the risk of bleeding, or if you have diabetes as it does affect blood sugar levels. Always check and discuss with your doctor first.

Every day when I look at the news, I feel like I am on a yo-yo. One day you hear that the economy is about to recover, the next day you hear that it will be at least another two years before anything gets better.  Just depressing!

Well, I have decided to stop watching the news for now. I figure if something important enough happens someone will tell me about it. What I have decided to do is create my own GOOD news by focusing on the abundance that comes to us in so many forms!

So today I have two items of GOOD NEWS that I want to share with you..

1. I have the opportunity to meet with an amazing lady to videotape for my blog, how she and her husband made incredible lifestyle changes to deal with some very serious food allergies. AND we will be making a Strawberry Mousse that has NO sugar or artificial sweeteners and NO dairy. After talking to her briefly about it – it just sounds so delicious and I can’t wait to feast on it! Simple pleasures! Stay tuned for more info on this later this week.
2. I just finished a CashFlowDNA seminar with Adryenn Ashley of WowIsMe.com and some other amazing speakers – it was fantastic! I was feeling stuck with my business and going nowhere and I came out of that seminar with some action items that I actually implemented today. AWESOME. I feel great and I know I will get new business out of what I just did today!

Let’s check back and see what other forms of abundance comes to us by the end of this week.

What is YOUR GOOD NEWS? Is there abundance in your life that you are perhaps taking for granted that you should take note off and be thankful for. Please share with us all – let’s spread good news! Email me at connie@himalayanbootcamp.com

To Your Good Health And Abundant Living!

Connie

Ever met someone who absolutely changed the way you think? Well, a few months ago I met Cassandra Rae of Simply Fearless, an absolutely amazing woman and one of the most positive thinkers I know. Cassandra’s online bio is “I am simply and beautifully human!” What an attitude!

I went to Cassandra for help with my blog as I was totally stuck with what I call a mental blog block (she is also a blogging expert and can provide tons of ideas in a matter of minutes). So after helping me get unstuck we starting talking – I was having a totally overwhelming day (she is also a great listener) and going through the “I have to do this…” and “I have to do that..” – she looked at me and said, “Connie, change the “I have to..” to “I get to…“.

I just looked at her in amazement that such powerful little words just popped out of her that could completely change an attitude! Those words have made such a difference in my life since then and I have reminded myself so many times to say “I get to…”.

Overwhelming tasks become positive opportunities to be thankful for. For example, I have to cook tonight becomes I am fortunate to have a husband or child or family I get to cook for… I have to get these books back to the library becomes I am thankful for FREE books and movies I get to enjoy and so on and so forth.

I have passed this on to my daughters, my sisters, and my friends. Who knows how many attitudes and lives these little words have impacted. Just amazing. If you want to find out more about Cassandra be sure to check out her awesome blog and website at www.simplyfearless.com.

On my last journey to India, I was incredibly moved by some of the local children we met there.  Friendly and quick to say hello, these children seemed happy, though they have little by our standards.  Perhaps because I myself come from India, I found them to be endearing and felt a distinct connection to them.

As founder of Himalayan Boot Camp, I envision my company as one that gives back to the community.  Being that Himalayan Boot Camp is rooted in India – in its culture, food, and the adventures India offers – I believe some of the local villages which we traverse on our Boot Camp adventures should benefit from our business endeavors and success.  Himalayan Boot Camp, by itself and through its guests, can be the vehicle for contributing, even in a small way, to the quality of life for some local children.

One way in which I propose to do this is to provide my guests with an opportunity to give something small yet meaningful.  After making inquiries, I have learned that school supplies are in great demand.  English reading books for children ages three to twelve are especially in short supply.

Willing Himalayan Boot Camp guests could bring a book or two for this age group, along with a few pencils and erasers.  At a small get-together, my guests can visit and interact with some of the local children, and give them each a gift of a book and some school supplies.  I know it would be an unforgettable moment for the child and personally rewarding for any guest who chooses to participate.

Another project which I will soon be implementing is what I call my  “Socks For Children” project (I am working on a more formal name for the project).  As you might imagine, the Himalayan foothills are extremely cold during the winter, and many children could use good quality, warm, and well-insulated socks.  In light of that, each October when I travel to India for our boot camps, I will take with me a large suitcase full of 500 pairs of socks.  250 needy children will get 2 pairs of socks each.  I am certain that these socks will mean so much and will help prevent the recipients from suffering from cold during the harsh days of winter.  Contributors to this project may be, but need not be, Himalayan Boot Camp guests.

If you are interested in being part of the socks project, send me an email to connie@himalayanbootcamp.com and I will provide more details as I get this project up and running.

Himalayan Boot Camp Diaries

I have another story about two little village boys I met while traveling through one of the beautiful remote areas of Meghalaya,India after my Oct 08 Himalayan Boot Camp. My husband and I, with my sister and some friends were driving back one late afternoon after spending the day doing some fabulous sightseeing when we came across this little village. The setting sun on this village was so beautiful that we stopped the car for a moment to take some pictures.

While we were taking pictures, I noticed two little boys standing near the side of the road, by a stone quarry, looking at us. They just looked so cute I asked them if I could take a picture. The older brother (who was about four years old), as soon as he realized we were going to take their picture, shouted to us to wait and ran to his little hut nearby and brought out this little pair of shoes that he put on his younger two year old brother so his little brother can have his picture taken with his shoes on. It was just done with so much dignity for such a small child. This just really tugged at my heart as I took some pictures of them.

This experience has really been on my mind since then, and I have been thinking that I have been so blessed and take so much for granted, I really would like to do more. Perhaps there is a way for me to help some of the children in the region.  I am still investigating one of my ideas and will update you on a future blog post. Please stay tuned!

I have come up with what I consider a fabulous idea for you to go for FREE to one of my Himalayan Boot Camps.  Here is my idea. If you are a yoga instructor and would like to take eight of your students to one of my Himalayan Boot Camps in India, YOU get to go for FREE. That’s correct! All you need to bring is your pocket money!

I feel this is a WIN-WIN situation as it provides me with another avenue to advertise my boot camps and it provides you with a fantastic opportunity to see a beautiful part of the world without having to pay for it.

If you are NOT a yoga instructor but can bring your own group and take advantage of this free offer for yourself, Himalayan Boot Camp is interested in hearing from you as well.

To obtain this FREE trip, guests must attend the same boot camp and pay the regular double room rate (share a room). Himalayan Boot Camp will pay the following for the yoga instructor or individual who brings eight guests: his/her international air fare to India, domestic airfare within India to final destination, food, lodging and all transportation in India for seven days and eight nights.

You might ask why would you want to go with Himalayan Boot Camp if you can take your own 8 students and do your own planning? Because I have done this before and have an established, proven process in plac, therefore I can offer the ultimate experience for my guests – ALL transportation in India, ALL food, ALL luxury accommodations, and ALL cultural excursions that are part of the itinerary– you do not have to worry about anything. Additionally, I have specially arranged fitness hikes, nutritious, healthy cuisine, and I will be there personally to make sure everyone has a fabulous, delightful and unforgettable experience,

Imagine yourself and your students doing sunrise yoga on a balcony (actual picture above) overlooking beautiful Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world (Everest and K2 being #1 and 2 respectively). Believe me it is quite the AWESOME experience. If you are lucky (perfect weather conditions), you will see the mountains above you in the horizon and clouds below you while you are doing your sun salutations! Or you may practice at dusk as evening settles in while the forests around you come alive with the vibrating melody of the cicadas. I can go on and on about this because the experience is so wonderful it is hard to describe.

Would you like to go on this amazing journey? Call (866-928-9911) or email me (connie@himalayanbootcamp.com)  if you are interested. I have only two boot camps scheduled for Oct 2009 and I have a feeling they will fill up fast.

Until next time,

To Your Longevity and Abundant Living!

Connie