Blog Posts by Intent.com

When I feel a cold or infection coming on, Oil of Oregano is the first thing I reach for. Every since I started this practice (thanks to a tip from my local Health Food Store friend!), I have fended off every 'bug' that has passed my way! I also now take it with me on plane flights to ward off all those germs floating around in the recycled air. For prevention, I take one drop per day during the cold/flu season.

Don't confuse Oil of Oregano with the spice found in your kitchen! The common 'cooking' oregano is usually Origanum Marjoram, while Oil of Oregano is derived from Origanum Vulgare.

Oil of Oregano contains 2 phenols called carvacrol and thymol, which have strong antimicrobial properties. Studies have shown that both of these compounds have significant effects on harmful microorganisms that cause many illnesses in humans. Both carvarcol and thymol act as free radical scavengers, also known as antioxidants.

Related: Eight Natural Remedies For Sore Throats

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My friend, Grace Rwaramba, asked me to attend a movie screening of Africa United this evening. Being from Rwanda, Grace is passionate and incredibly proud about her country and culture, and wanted to support this film. Having no expectations, I went to attend the screening hosted by one of the producers, Eric Kabera, at a small theater at the Academy of Motion Pictures.

What a delight this movie turned out to be! It's a story about 3 children who take a road trip to South Africa after ending up in the Congo, instead of Kigali, for a soccer audition for the 2010 World Cup. Eleven year orphan "Dudu" - who is cunning, street smart and can create a soccer ball out of condom while educating children on its importance - serves as a "manager" for his middle class friend, Fabrice, who is a soccer prodigy. The cast of characters also includes Dudu's sister, Beatrice, an aspiring doctor, a young prostitute, Celeste, and Foreman George, a teenager who has faced the brutality of a war torn

Read More »from A Children's Film Review Of "Africa United"

First it was this monster earthquake, followed quickly by the tsunami. Now there's the possibility of nuclear disaster. Normally the effects of a trauma are related to how far away one is. But with TV bringing intense images right into our homes 24/7, we are all affected -- our children, even more so.

The emotional effects of watching such a catastrophe can be tremendous. Children and teens can feel especially helpless when they see these images of the devastation, including homeless and injured Japanese children and orphans on the news. Kids also absorb worry and sadness from their parents, or from classmates who have family ties in Japan.

One of the difficulties experienced by parents is that they have not had adequate time to deal with their own reactions when they are called upon to deal with the impact on their children..

Emotional reactions vary in nature and severity from child to child. Their responses to a disaster are determined by age, previous experiences,

Read More »from Catastrophe in Japan: Helping Your Child Comprehend and Cope

It's been proven that exercise and eating right are two steps that can reduce your risk of heart-related illness and disease.

Here are 3 Simple Heart Healthy Eating Habits:

1. Limit high fat foods such as red meats, cheeses, fried foods and baked goods.

2. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Raw, baked or steamed are best.

3. Avoid salt (aka sodium in processed foods) by eating less canned, prepared and fast foods. Stay away from salty snacks too.

Related Article: Heart Rate Is Everything: How To Exercise Better

When it comes to lowering your risk of heart-related illness and disease some foods do it better than others. These SUPER foods are often called "heart healthy" foods because they contain high amounts of the special nutrients that have been proven to be beneficial to the heart, including:

* Antioxidants which are nutrients that help to fight off cancers

* Fiber which can lower cholesterol and reduce buildup of plaque in arteries

* Omega-3

Read More »from How To Eat Healthy To Optimize Your Heart Health

A few weeks ago my Father, aka Big Daddy, "graduated from the school of life with honors", as I refer to it. He was quietly a remarkable man who raised four successful kids, surviving the death of his oldest son 36 years ago, and continuing to live with honor, dignity and integrity. After living with Cancer for 13 years and having a few health scares over that time, my family and I were somewhat prepared for his mortality, and when his body was too tired from his long and graceful fight, we knew it was time for him to go.

We each will experience our grieving process, as adults, but what about our kids? While there are certain expected phases to the grieving process: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance, not everyone will go through this process the same way, and the duration of this process will vary. Kids also experience grief, however, the way they experience emotions will likely not be the same way you do.

Related Article: A Friend In Need: Ways To Ease A

Read More »from The Wisdom of Grief: Talking To Your Kids When Someone Close Passes On

"Our inner guidance comes to us through our feelings and body wisdom first -- not through intellectual understanding." ~ Christiane Northrup

Because thoughts come from our head, and said thoughts tend to be loud (very loud), we are inclined to live there - in our heads.

What happens when we live in our heads?
We disconnect from our bodies. That's what happens! We disconnect from our bodies. We lose touch with our bodies and the fact is - yes it is a fact - that our bodies know us better than our minds do.

Imagine that ... just for a moment. Your body knows you better than your mind knows you. Our thoughts are often skewed and out right wrong. But our bodies? Our bodies don't lie to us. Our bodies are never wrong.

Related Article: Pay Attention! Your Body Knows Best

What we need to do is shift our attention from our 'head' thoughts and move it to our bodies. Notice your breath. Are you breathing? Deeply or barely at all? Scan your body. Are your muscles tense?

Read More »from 6 Quotes To Inspire You To Listen To Your Body

In the beginning, when love is new, romance, courting and conquest are aphrodisiacs, stimulants that increase our appetite for sexual union. Eventually the chase ends, hearts are won, and lifetime pledges are made. The happy couple says "I do," strolls off into the sunset together, destined to be lovers forever.

So what happens? The newness fades, the passion flees. Where does it go? Does it get mortgaged along with the house? Disposed with the diapers?

Related Article: 9 Ways To Reignite Your Romantic Passion In Your Long-Term Relationship

Years ago, Mary, age 49, shyly told her family doctor that she had lost interest in having sex with her husband. She was told this was a natural event, that women eventually lose interest and that's the way it is. For some women, she was told, it comes earlier. Today, Mary might be offered testosterone patches to fire up her lagging libido.

Martin, age 59, is having erectile difficulties. Viagra® to the rescue.

Times may have changed, but is Read More »from Lackluster Sex Life? Boost Your Sexy Time With The Chinese Five-Element System

During a recent meditation retreat, I was asked about how motherhood affected my meditation practice. My friend Megan was worried that unless she had an established meditation practice prior to childbirth, she would never find the time or energy to do so as a new mother.

Related: Transitioning Back From Parent To Person

Her question forced me to reflect on my life as a new parent nearly three years ago. Back then my daughter was tiny and prone to wail if she was not sucking on my breast or being carried in a sling. So I spent the first six months of her life either nursing her on a rocker-glider, or walking at a snail's pace with her curled up in a sling.

Prior to Ayla's birth, I was an avid yogini with a spotty meditation practice. I meditated only in times of crisis, and found that I wasn't able to concentrate for long periods of time while my world fell apart. But yet another miracle of childbirth is that you are forced to learn to meditate-you have no choice in the

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