January 2019 – Welcome To Mind/Body Connection Hypnosis by Janet Lynas Ph.D., N.H.D.

January 25, 2019 Nutrition

What’s Trending in Diets for 2019 by Janet Lynas, Ph.D., N.H.D.

Let’s take a look at what is being reported as the hottest trends in food for 2019. The first site I visited is Women’sHealth. I will add the link at the end of the discussion.

Hot Trends in Food 2019

The seed butters are rounding the corner to bypass the nut butters. (What can I say, race meet is about to start where I live.) Be on the look out for sunflower, pumpkin, and watermelon seed butters to add an interesting twist to your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. These seed butters will add the good fats that nut butters have, but will give people with nut allergies an option.

Look for ugly foods. These are the foods that are thrown in the trash because they are not as pretty as their counter parts you see in the grocery store and on the table at your favorite restaurant. You know what I’m talking about, the apple that is not the perfect shape or the perfect color. These ugly ducklings are just as healthy as their beautiful cousins. In a world filled with hungry people it’s hard to imagine that any food is thrown out because it’s not perfect. There is variety in people and how they look, the same is true for food.

Look for strange and exotic spices on the spice shelf. Harissa is a slightly spicy paste made with red pepper, tomato, chili, and a few other spices and aromatics. Harissa can be used in place of tomato paste. Some other spices to be on the look out for are: berbere, dukkah, and ras el hanout, all of which are heavily used in African cuisine.

Added sugars on labels. Manufactures do not have to list added sugars on labels at this time, but in 2020 they will. So, you may soon be seeing ‘added sugar’ on labels starting in 2019. This is a very good step forward for the consumer. Added sugars such as corn sugar and cane sugar have no added health benefits. Natural sugars such as fruit sugars and vegetable sugar add fiber and aid in slowing digestion to maintain energy.

New food waters are on the rise. Coconut water has competition which is good in my book. (I have never found any coconut water that didn’t taste like ‘dirty dishwater’. Please don’t write me hate mail for that statement.) Look for Maple water with less than half of the sugar as coconut water. Cactus water is known to be good for the skin. The down side to these new waters is the price. They can be pricy.

Vitamins and supplements are on the down swing. I have always been an advocate for getting your vitamins and minerals from whole organic foods. I do think that taking a good multivitamin is indeed a good idea. However, I would cringe when a client would literally bring in a basket filled with vitamins and supplements. Depending on what is going on in the individuals life, is what determines if a supplement is needed or not.

Probiotics are working their way into your gut by being added to foods. I would be a little leary on this one. Most probiotic do not survive the processing procedure with food preparation. Look for the term ‘live cultures’ on the label.

Jackfruit is the new meat substitute. The fruit is native to Southeast Asia, and is also grown in parts of Africa and South America. Jackfruit is a good source of iron, calcium, and B vitamins. Also, keep in mind that Jackfruit is lower in protein than meat.

Look for tropical fruits like guava, dragonfruit, starfruit, and passionfruit to take center stage this year. Our taste buds like new and exciting flavors. By adding variety in your diet, you are getting a variety of nutrients.

Snacking takes on a new twist. Meat alternative snacks made with vegetables, such as, mushrooms, generally don’t have much protein, but are still a nutritious snack choice. We have already seen vegetable chips, let’s see what the new snacks will look like this year.

Grocery shopping takes on a whole new level. Kroger has a new app which keeps track of the groceries you buy and uses the personalized information to make suggestions for healthy swaps and better food choices. (Big brother watching? In this case, it might be one of the only good things big brother does. However, it could be mom watching, you think?)

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a25608959/food-trends-2019/

Recipe For Jackfruit

Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches

These jackfruit pulled pork sandwiches with avocado and ranch sauce don’t only look like the real thing, but they also taste amazing!!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 2 servings

Ingredients

For the pulled jackfruit:

1 onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 20 oz cans young green jackfruit in brine or water
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
2 teaspoon paprika powder
2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 pinch red pepper flakes
3/4 cup BBQ-sauce
1/4 cup vegetable broth
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste

For the vegan ranch sauce:

1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon parsley, finely chopped
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon soy milk

For the sandwiches

2 buns
1 tomato
1 avocado
lettuce

Instructions

Drain and rinse the jackfruit. Remove the core and put in a mixing bowl. Stir in the spices (paprika, cumin, brown sugar) so the pieces are nicely covered.
In a medium pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion for about 3 minutes or until it becomes translucent. Then add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Add the jackfruit and cook for about 3 minutes. Then add the BBQ sauce, the liquid smoke (if using), and the vegetable broth and cook for another 15- 20 minutes. Use a fork to shred the jackfruit.
In then meantime make the vegan ranch sauce: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
Serve the pulled jackfruit on a bun together with tomatoes, lettuce, avocado, and ranch sauce.

https://veganheaven.org/recipe/jackfruit-pulled-pork-sandwiches/

I encourage you to check out both of these websites.

January 19, 2019 Spirituality

The Seventh Charka or Crown Charka by Janet Lynas, Ph.D., N.H.D.

Have ever known something, but didn’t know how you knew the information? You just knew that a specific incident was going to happen. Do you find yourself deep in thought and suddenly a deep understanding about a certain subject becomes crystal clear? You find yourself in a timeless, spaceless place and feel such joy and bliss. This type of bliss and joy you have never known before. What has happened?

What is the Crown Charka?

The Crown charka is your connection to All-That-There-Is, Divine Intelligence, or God. Everyone has the ability to gain access to higher knowledge. The discovery of truth and wisdom is dependent on the healthfulness of your crown chakra. This is our communication center between us and Universal Knowledge. Through deep meditation or prayer we are able to connect with our higher self and with the Divine All-Knowing. We are able to learn truths about life and our relationship with our Creator. The colors associated with the Crown charka are purple or white.

What happens if the Crown charka is out of balance?

As we have learned in past discussions on the charkas, charka is known as ‘spinning wheels of light’. Each energy center spins is a certain direction and at a specific speed.

If the charka is overactive (or hyperactive), the seventh Chakra can lead a person to have obsessive thoughts. These individuals live in the past or are constantly thinking about the future. Overactive Crown Chakra can also give rise to obsessive spirituality, so much so that the individual’s other responsibilities are neglected.

A blockage in the Crown Chakra can render it inactive. This individual tends to be rigid, selfish and spiritually unaware. They may have general depression. You will note they have lack of joy and loss of meaning or identity in their life. A blocked Crown Chakra can also lead to selfish thoughts, inability to see the bigger picture in life and a general lack of values and ethics.

A person with a closed Crown Chakra receives no guidance from their Supreme Power. This situation tends to anger the individual but they also feel unworthy of receiving such help in the first place.

A blocked or overactive Crown Chakra can lead to various physical ailments such as depression, headaches, neurological issues such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, paralysis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, senility, and dementia are also linked to imbalance in the seventh Chakra.

How do you balance the Crown charka?

Meditate upon the Crown Chakra. Focus your attention on the top of the head and clearly set your intention of balancing the Chakra. Visualize the violet color when doing this.
Thank the Universe and connect to the Higher Being. Gratitude and contentment are the simplest ways of strengthening this Chakra.
Aromatherapy with floral essences such as Lotus, Angelica and white tulip when applied to the pulse points can aid in the meditation process.
Yoga postures like Shavasana (corpse position) or Lotus position (Padmasana) are recommended for aiding the Crown Chakra. An advanced pose, the headstand or Shirshasan, also helps balance the Crown Chakra by increasing blood flow to the top of the head.
Detoxifying and fasting for a day or two is also recommended to balance the Seventh Chakra. Light meals, broth, stews and soups, violet colored fruits and vegetables along with plenty of water must be used to clear the Crown Chakra and enable it to receive the Divine Energy.

Reference: https://www.color-meanings.com/crown-chakra-the-seventh-chakra/

Unless we’re connected with our Divine Source to God, we are not able to function a whole individuals. If we are not in communion with Source, we feel abandoned and at a loss. We do not feel as though we belong to our community of family or more importantly, we don’t feel attached to our Higher Power or our intuition.

January 17, 2019 Natural Health

Third Eye Sixth Charka by Janet Lynas, Ph.D., N.H.D.

The sixth chakra, Ajna, is in the area of the third eye, which is found in the space between the eyebrows. The third eye charka includes the pituitary gland, eyes, head, and lower part of the brain. Even though it’s invisible its a powerful connection to your center of intuition. It’s a spiritual chakra, which means “beyond wisdom.” Ajna leads you to an inner knowledge that will guide you when you let it. An open sixth chakra can enable clairvoyance, telepathy, lucid dreaming, expanded imagination, and visualization.

Do I have a third eye?

The phone rings and somehow before you answer it, you already know who is calling? Mothers and fathers sense that there is something wrong with their child. They go to check on the child only to discover the child is lying listless in bed with a fever. You sense something is wrong, but you can’t quite put your finger on what the danger is until you come to an intersection and you see a car run a red light.

The energy of this chakra allows us to experience clear thought as well as gifts of spiritual contemplation and self reflection.

The sixth chakra is holistic in nature. When fully activated, both hemispheres of the brain function in harmony. The right hemisphere’s creativity and synthetic thinking is integrated and balanced with the left hemisphere’s logical and analytical thinking.

What happens when the sixth charka is blocked?

Signs of Deficiency in the Sixth Chakra

Being insensitive to situations and others
Poor vision, not able to see the future or image alternatives
Difficulty visualizing
Lack of imagination
Poor memory
Denial(unable to see what is happening)
Rigid thinking, one way is the only way
Inability to remember dreams

Signs of Excess in the Sixth Chakra

Hallucinations
Obsessions
Delusions
Difficulty concentrating
Nightmares

How To Balance Your Third Eye

Meditation is beneficial in opening a blocked sixth charka. Through meditation you are able to focus on the intuitive center to bring it back into balance. Focus on your breathing to ease yourself into a relaxed state.

Open yourself up to new ideas. Be receptive to the thoughts that come to mind during meditation. This wisdom can give you insight in balancing your body in every area.

Go outside, the third eye is influenced by light. The sunlight and moonlight both can help to activate the third eye and get the energy flowing again.

Move your body. Movement allows the energy to flow throughout your body. Movement through dance, yoga, walking to name a few examples stimulates the blood flow and production of some hormones.

Positive affirmations such as:

I am in touch with my inner feelings
I am wise
I am in touch with the world around me

Essential Oils can open the third eye. Scent can trigger creative energy or recall memories.

Our sixth charka of intuition is essential in helping navigate through life. Our ‘third eye’ helps us to see beyond the tangible world into universal understanding. It teaches us spiritual truths and understanding.

Note if you are having symptoms that are out of the ordinary for you such as: severe headache that will not be relieved with standard treatments, seizures, difficulty with vision, hallucinations, or delusions contact your doctor to make sure that there is not an underlying organic problem associated with your symptoms.

January 14, 2019 Natural Health

The Fifth Chakra Throat Center by Janet Lynas, Ph.D., N.H.D.

The Throat Chakra is the fifth chakra. It is the first of the higher or spiritual chakras. This chakra is located at the throat in the region of the neck and shoulders and its color is blue. The fifth chakra or throat chakra is the center where we speak our truth. From this chakra you seek knowledge that is true. This knowledge goes beyond the limitations of time and space, beyond cultural and family conditioning. We are able to listen more closely from our throat charka. This is one of the qualities that comes with “speaking our truth”.

Problems of a blocked Throat Charka

When the throat charka is blocked, one feels that they are not able to express their truth. Also, when you feel your ability to communicate effectively is impaired you feel fearful of ridicule and judgement. A throat chakra blockage can also manifest as the inability to express and realize your truth in the world. One may feel unable to speak your truth when you need to speak it the most. Or you may be holding back on expressing your needs and desires. Do you know a closed throat chakra can also cause hoarseness, neck pain and thyroid problems?

Clearing your throat charka

Some steps you can take to clear your throat charka include:

Say no to people when appropriate
Start a conversation with someone and have the focus on that person
Let your feelings be known to those you feel are trying to take advantage of you
Sing, hum, yell if you need to
Surround yourself with the color blue
Drink more water or herbal tea
Learn better listening skills
Keep a journal of your feelings and what’s going on in your life
Reconnect with nature by taking a walk in nature
Meditation can help release negative feelings of anxiety and fear

I recently did hypnosis on an individual and afterwards we talked about her throat chakra being blocked. I explained to my client that the hoarseness she was having was coming from a blocked throat chakra. While she was speaking her truth, she did not feel that her words were being heard.

A week later, she contacted me and told me about a conversation she had with a friend. She told the friend about not feeling like she was being heard. Once she expressed her feelings, her voice suddenly changed and the hoarseness clear up instantly. She told me the friend she was having the conversation with at the time asked, “What just happened? Your voice changed instantly!”

The truth will be known

Make sure that you speak your truth at all times. You can speak your truth in a kind and loving way and still get your point across. It is important to not only speak your truth but to feel like you’re being heard as well.

January 9, 2019 Hypnosis

Hypnosis As A Tool For Depression by Janet Lynas, Ph.D., N.H.D.

I recently conducted a workshop on hypnosis for a community event for women. During the workshop, I demonstrated how hypnosis works by doing a group session. What better way to learn about hypnosis than to experience it? Right? There was an overflow of participants and a few had to sit on the floor. My block of time for my talk had been shortened, so, instead of having 30 minutes to present my demonstration, I now had 20 minutes. Life throws you a curve ball at times.

The Session

During the session, I made a suggestion that the individual’s right arm would feel so light that it would float up as if a ballon was tied to it. I was testing to see how relaxed and focused these women were. This test also let me know how deep they were in the hypnotic trance. I began to see several arms floating up as I looked around the room. The session was receive with great enthusiasm from the group of women.

Post Conference

After the conference, I received a request from one of the women for a hypnosis session for depression, severe depression. Of course you know my first question: Are you seeing a psychiatrist? Are you seeing a therapist? Are you taking your medication as prescribed? She stated that she was and this has been a 20 year struggle.

Evidenced-Based Practice

Hypnotherapy in itself is not a cure all for every issue. I would never tell anyone that hypnosis will cure them of their problem. However, hypnosis is a powerful tool to be used along with other modalities for severe depression.

Hypnotherapy appears to work best when used with other forms of treatment, says Steve G. Kopp, a licensed mental health counselor and marriage and family therapist. It can help reduce a patient’s resistance to other more traditional treatments.

“It seems most effective complementing cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy,” Kopp says

According to the Mayo Clinic:

Hypnotherapy can be an effective method for coping with stress and anxiety. In particular, hypnosis can reduce stress and anxiety before a medical procedure, such as a breast biopsy.

Hypnosis has been studied for other conditions, including:

Pain control. Hypnosis may help with pain due to burns, cancer, childbirth, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint problems, dental procedures and headaches.
Hot flashes. Hypnosis may relieve symptoms of hot flashes associated with menopause.
Behavior change. Hypnosis has been used with some success in the treatment of insomnia, bed-wetting, smoking, and overeating.
Cancer treatment side effects. Hypnosis has been used to ease side effects related to chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Mental health conditions. Hypnosis may help treat symptoms of anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress.

There have been numerous studies conducted on hypnosis that show positive results for the clients who choose to add hypnosis to their tool bag.

Evidence-based practice definition:

Evidence-based practice is an interdisciplinary approach to clinical practice that has been gaining ground following its formal introduction in 1992. It started in medicine as evidence-based medicine and spread to allied health professions, educational fields, and others. EBP is traditionally defined in terms of a “three legged stool” integrating three basic principles: the best available research evidence bearing on whether and why a treatment works, clinical expertise to rapidly identify each patient’s unique health state and diagnosis, their individual risks and benefits of potential interventions, and client preferences and values.

Hypnosis In Action

Through hypnosis, one is given a powerful tool. This tool helps the individual to align the conscious and subconscious minds. Once this alignment is accomplished, the individual is able to reach a new hight in treatment.

How did my client do with hypnosis? My client was able to regress back to the first time she felt depressed. By identifying the root cause of her depression, she will be able to work with her medical team to move forward. The last time I heard from my client, she was making progress and feeling better.

Month: January 2019