Sugar Free Jo

In my humble belief, to be mentally aware you must be able to be present in the moment. If you're present, then you're able to gauge the emotions you're experiencing and make decisions that affect your mood and behavior. Hopefully, you're not thinking I'm so arrogant as to believe this is a simplistic process. On the surface it looks simple, but being present takes commitment and practice. This is work folks, but the benefits are well documented. When you are present, you are able to focus. When you are present you are able to see the good in your life. When you are present you are able to assess changes you need to make. When you are present you are able to efficiently manage your workload. When you are present you are open to other people's needs and able to help. So I encourage you to stop and make a decision to be present today and everyday. One way to work on this is through the use of meditation. Here is an article from the Mayo Clinic  on the bene...

It’s important to maintain a healthy gut. This means you need to pay attention to maintaining a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria naturally found in your body. Probiotics, are a source of the good bacteria. These probiotics keep your immune system strong. They are destroyed by sugars, carrageenan (an additive commonly found in dairy products), and antibiotics. These items are commonly introduced into our diets so it is important to watch out for them and avoid them when possible. Some good sources of probiotics include yogurt, sauerkraut, miso and certain types of cheeses such as Gouda. There are also beverages such as kombucha or kefir that provide probiotics. Watch out with yogurt as most brands add a lot of sugar. Try plain yogurt and add your own berries or other fruits. As an added benefit, plain yogurt can double as sour cream in recipes. Prebiotics are the food for the good bacteria. Some sources of prebiotics are onions, bananas, oatmeal and legumes. T...