LOHAS leans towards sustainable green technologies such as POMEGA5

Understanding the Consumer Who is Driving Green Trends

Use of the term “sustainable” has been increasing in the business world - especially in tourism. By definition, “to sustain” means to give support or relief. “Sustainable” businesses function to maintain or improve the present and future quality of people’s lives. Companies continue to realize that consumers are spending their money consciously, considering more than just the material goods they take home from the store.Consumers are beginning to realize that when they support sustainable businesses such as POMEGA LLC, their dollars can impact social and environmental concerns.

This group of influential and leading-edge thinkers, representing LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability), seeks out companies that share their health, social and environmental interests and priorities.In the United States, LOHAS consumers make up a $200+ billion (and growing) marketplace for goods and services. LOHAS consumers are also commonly referred to as “Cultural Creatives,” a term coined in 1996 by Paul Ray, a sociologist, and Sherry Anderson, a psychologist, who conducted a study of American values and identified this emerging societal group.

Ray and Anderson determined that Cultural Creatives value health, the environment, social justice, personal development and sustainable living. This group represents approximately 40 million people.This LOHAS marketplace is expected to grow to $425 billion in three years and $845 billion by 2015, according to research conducted by the Natural Marketing Institute.

Travelers’ Expectations are ChangingWhy is this important? Because it is no longer about just operating your lodging facility as you once did before. You are now being judged by a group of people who want to maintain their healthy, green lifestyle while traveling. They want to stay at environmentally friendly facilities and ones that recognize the connection between green and health.

Ones that offer healthier eating options, serve organic and/or local cuisine, use environmentally friendly cleaning products and talk about what they are doing to conserve natural resources.Times have definitely changed. This consumer group, comprised of the key influencers of the green and health trends, knows that it is important to conserve natural resources.

They are demanding that businesses do their part and become good environmental stewards.They are the most critical and demanding consumers, yet the most brand loyal. Willing to not only support your inn, hotel or lodge, but convince their friends and family to stay there as well.

They’ll also spend 20 percent more than your average traveler for facilities that meet their values and lifestyle. To them, the company and brand are inseparable.American (and international) lodging facilities are beginning to recognize the importance of making decisions that consider their economic, environmental and social impact in order to capture the LOHAS audience. Although sustainable businesses represent only a small percentage of the national business community, this percentage is a fast-growing segment of the national marketplace.Consumers Pushing for Stronger StandardsAs many as eight states had green certification programs in 2007; today, 12 states have certification programs in place.

There are also certification programs available through organizations such as Sustainable Travel International. The American Hotel & Lodging Assn. is also working on a national certification program. Do you think this is by chance? No. It is in large part because of the demand from the leaders within the LOHAS category pushing toward higher, greener standards.

Do you realize that LOHAS consumers in the citizen action groups pushed Wal-Mart to become more environmentally friendly? The leaders are very involved and pushing for change to create a healthier lifestyle and environment for themselves and for future generations.Do you have to be certified as green to acquire these LOHAS travelers? Do you have to be this “perfect” green facility? No, but you cannot pretend that you are, either.

These are the same consumers who are creating the greenwashing (pretending to be environmentally sound when you are not) lists. In the same respect, the more environmentally friendly, socially responsible and healthier you are as a facility, the easier it will be for these LOHAS consumers to find you. There are many green communities and resources available today to connect LOHAS travelers with LOHAS businesses.

To get and stay ahead as a travel facility, it is important that you recognize the true influencers of the green and health trends. The sooner you acknowledge them and connect your values with theirs, the sooner you’ll succeed in capturing them as your customers.

Colette Chandler is an expert in consumer health and environmental trends and is the president of The Marketing Insider, a marketing and communications consulting firm that teaches companies how to profit from consumer trends and understand the consumers who influence them. Learn about the media training services she offers, including her Walk the Media Tightrope audio program, or the study her firm conducted on attitudes of green and health-conscious consumers at www.marketing-insider.com.

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Working mothers use POMEGA5 products

A POMEGA5 BASKET

If you're a mom who not only has beautiful children but also a job you love, plenty of people have probably said you "have it all."

Seventeen percent of mothers say they've missed three or more big events in their children's life in the last year.

While you have been able to start a family and a successful career, you know all too well that having it all also means having the pressures of the workplace piled on top of the demands of parenthood -- and that's not an easy act to balance.

CareerBuilder.com's annual Mother's Day survey finds that working mothers are eager to trade the office for family time if only it were financially feasible.

Forty-three percent of working moms are willing to take a pay cut if it allows them to spend more time with their children.

Of those willing to take the pay cut, 34 percent are willing to give up ten percent or more of their salaries. Fifty-one percent of moms who live in households with more than one income would leave their job if their family could live off of their spouse's or significant other's income.

Not enough hours in the day

Finding the time to do their job and still be involved parents is a daily struggle for today's working mothers. Late nights in the office can mean missing a family dinner, a teacher conference or baby's first words.

Seventeen percent of surveyed mothers have missed three or more significant events in their children's life in the last year. In fact, 34 percent of mothers admit to spending less than three hours each day with their children.

One common way mothers attempt to balance their workload and their families is to bring work home with them, which can help advance their careers but also damage their personal relationships.

One key problem with bringing home work is that it means you might be in the same room as your children, but your mind is still at the office. Yet sixteen percent of working moms bring work home at least three days a week, while one in five brings it home every workday. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 24 percent of mothers cited work as having a negative impact on their relationships with their children.

How to make it work

Although raising children while holding a job outside of the home will always be a challenge, here are some steps you can take ease the pressure of being a working mom.

1. Incorporate telecommuting into your workday. Many companies allow their employees to work from home one or more days per week, which is an easy way for you to spend more time in the morning and afternoon with your children rather than in standstill traffic.

Check with your human resources department and employee manual to see if telecommuting is an option. Of course, to telecommute you should be self-disciplined and able to get your work done even though the boss isn't leaning over your shoulder.

2. Use one calendar for all appointments. If you have a conference scheduled for Monday morning, you're not going to be late to work. If your daughter has a soccer game Wednesday night, will you have the same determination to be there on time?

Putting all of your appointments -- whether they involve the office or the family -- on one calendar makes it easier to avoid schedule conflicts and missing personal appointments. You'll also be able to notice if you're spending more time on work than on family with a quick glance at the calendar.

3. Make your family a priority. Although your family is the most important thing in your life, you might forget to show it. Devote your weekends and any free weekday evenings to family activities. Even if you can't plan a mid-week activity, make a quick phone call to your children to see how their school day went.

4. Take it easy. Work can become so hectic that you forget that you actually do like your job and the people around you. Leave some free time to relax and regroup between meetings so you don't stay in a constant state of stress.

You'll be able to appreciate what you do and whom you work with. Also, keep evenings and weekends free of projects so you can rest and be completely recharged when you head back to the office.

5. Let others do their share. Make sure you're letting the people around you take on some responsibility. You might be tempted to do everything yourself, but you'll only stress yourself out. If you're a manager, delegating responsibility will ease your workload and allow your staff to develop their skills.

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Another reported acquisition in the green industry, the market is hot!

NEW YORK & CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cordova, Smart & Williams, LLC (“CSW”) and the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group (“Goldman Sachs”) today announced the acquisition of H2O Plus, LLC (“H2O Plus”), a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of prestige, branded, water-based natural skincare products for the face and body. H2O Plus is being acquired from its founder, Cindy Melk, who will remain involved in the business as Chief Creative Officer. CSW and Goldman Sachs will share joint ownership of H2O Plus; details of the acquisition were not disclosed. Through the acquisition, CSW and Goldman Sachs will seek to maximize H2O Plus’ potential for growth both domestically and internationally.

Founded in 1989, H2O Plus is a pioneer of natural, water-based skin care. H2O Plus infuses each of its products with nourishing ingredients from the sea and state-of-the art technology to deliver optimal hydration, protection and rejuvenation for the skin. Currently, the company offers more than 160 products within its beauty collection of skincare, spa, and bath products in 18 countries throughout the world.

The product line’s growth has been impressive both domestically and internationally. Distribution points have increased by 300% in the U.S. and 200% internationally over the last 2 years demonstrating the success of H2O Plus as a truly global brand with significant further potential in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Today the company is one of the leading prestigious and luxury skincare brands in China. “H2O Plus is delighted about the new alliance of CSW and Goldman Sachs, which brings a rich history of successful management and business insight to our company,” said Bob Seidl, President and Chief Executive Officer of H2O Plus.

“This new team will ensure continued growth of the brand on the global front in our competitive industry.” Michael Smart, Managing Partner at CSW said, “H2O Plus presented a unique opportunity to invest in a well positioned fast growing brand name company in the natural and organic personal care products sector. “We believe that aligning our capital and resources with H2O Plus’ talented management team will position the company for future growth on a global basis.”

“Our attraction to this investment has been on the strength of the H2O Plus brand, combined with the growth in the market for natural products such as the sea-based formulations that are at the core of the company’s products,” remarked Kevin Jordan, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in the Urban Investment Group. “We’re focused on continuing to build this brand globally, and see enormous potential in front of us.”

About H2O Plus, LLC: H2O Plus, LLC is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of prestige, branded, water-based skincare products for the face and body. The company markets an expansive portfolio of 500 proprietary, company-owned formulations based on the principle of establishing clean, natural alternatives to the pore-clogging products pervasive in the personal care products market. Through its unique ingredient concept, H2O combines “water plus” natural sea-derived nutrients and state-of–the-art technology to improve and maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin. For more information on H2O Plus, please visit http://www.h2oplus.com/.



About Cordova, Smart & Williams, LLC: Cordova, Smart & Williams, LLC, is a New York based private equity firm specializing in leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and growth capital financings for middle market companies in the general industrial and consumer products sectors. For more information on Cordova, Smart & Williams, LLC, please visit http://www.cswprivateequity.com/.





About Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group: The Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group is part of the Merchant Banking Division within The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), that invests growth capital in ethnic minority-owned or targeted businesses and urban real estate. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is a leading, global investment banking, securities and investment management firm. The firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and Los Angeles. To learn more about the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, please visit www.gs.com/uig.

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Omega 5 oil for your pet?

EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids) For Your Dog?

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Essential Fatty Acids and their derivatives serve a number of major vital functions in our dog's body (as well as our own). They are required for the transport and metabolism of both cholesterol and triglycerides.

They are required for normal brain development and brain function. They are required in visual function (retina), brain and nerve function (synapses), and adrenal function. They are required in the structure of the membranes that surround each cell in our body. They stimulate metabolism, increase metabolic rate, increase oxygen uptake, and increase energy production. Omega-3s inhibit the production of prostaglandin.

Prostaglandins play important roles in the development and progression of chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (Research has shown that supplementing with omega 3 fish oils can result in a significant reduction in joint inflammation, this reduces morning stiffness and lowers the number of painful joints in rheumatoid arthritis patients both animal and human), lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and a variety of other inflammatory disorders. They even work to slow down growth of cancer cells. It has been shown in human studies that the optimum ratio of Omega-6 to Omega 3 is 3:1.

Since Omega-6 is available in grains, poultry and many cooking oils, over the last couple of decades this ratio is now estimated to be 20:1 -- or even as high as 50:1 -- for most Westerners! While many pet food and supplement manufacters are adding Flax Seed or flax seed oil as their source of omega 3, I have found through research and study that the very best source of Omega 3s for our pets is in fish Oil. Not only is fish oil a more species appropraite food/supplement, but studies are giving sufficent evidence that oils such as flax, soy and canola, actually are thyroid toxic. Remember, every cell in the body has tiny structures called mitochondria.

These mitochondria are the lungs of each cell. When we feed our carniviorus pets these highly processed oils, they actually clog the respiration of the cell. Blocking respiration equals suffocation. These oils are difficult to metabolize and find places to lodge with other fat and will stay immobile for years.(Not a good thing!) I recommend fish oil for a healthy diet because it contains the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA),which are precursors to eicosanoids that reduce inflammation throughout the body and because it is much more easily digested and assimulated then flax oil.

Flax oil contains an omega-3 called ALA and other fatty acids. (ALA) is the precursor of the Omega 3 oils (EPA and DHA) found in fish oil. ALA must be converted to EPA and DHA to be of any nutritional benefit. But ALA is not readily converted to EPA and is severely restricted in its conversion to DHA and its ability to be converted is lessened if the diet is too high in omega-6 and this conversion does not always take place, especially for carnivores not designed with the proper enzymes to digsest and convert vegetables or grain produts in the first place. Even in people who are in less than optimal health or elderly often are unable to convert the ALA to DHA and EPA.

EPA (from fish oil) also converts to series 3 prostaglandins, which have many benefits such as: Regulating inflammatory responses (Skin and Joint) Regulating immune function (which can help in fighting disease more effectively) Regulating platelet stickiness Regulating arterial muscle tone (which involves blood pressure regulation) The lack of Omega 3 and the excessive amount of Omega 6 in the modern processed pet foods ultimately create degenerative conditions.

The store-bought processed foods still do not supply an adequate amount of Omega 3 after manufacturers add it; to properly balance the ratio. Many nutritional supplements are still promoting and loading up the Omega 6 (LA) fatty acids - which are exacerbating an already severely imbalanced and unhealthy situation.

The best solution to insure our pet's health is to provide a high quality Omega 3 Fish oil supplement along with a home cooked or fresh raw diet when ever possible. "Active EFAs (EPA & DHA as found in Fish oil)can go straight to work in your dogs body, whereas inactive EFAs such as found in Flax as mentioned above, are unable to carry out their vital roles without first being converted by your dog to the active form. This conversion can only be carried out by enzymes, which your dog may or may not produce. If your dog does not produce those enzymes for any reason, those inactive essential fatty acids are not able to carry out many of their vital functions.

This will lead to ill health. Supplements which contain the activated omega 3 EFAs include Cod Liver oil and Fish body oils such as Salmon oil. Supplements which contain the inactive omega 3 EFAs include flaxseed oil and hemp seed oil. Why would critical activating enzymes be missing? The critical enzyme that converts inactive essential fatty acids into active essential fatty acids can be missing for one of several reasons.

The first is heredity. The other more important reasons for the loss of this enzyme include aging, viral infections, any chronic disease state and by a diet rich in trans fatty acids. Prevention is achieved by removing processed pet foods from our dogs’ lives and switching our dogs to their evolutionary diet together with appropriate fatty acid supplementation as and when required and at the very least, supplementing with a good combination of digestive enzymes.

Read more about Enzymes Here A diet that lacks sufficient omega 3's is the number one fatty acid associated problem caused by modern processed pet foods. This lack of the omega 3’s allows the omega 6’s to produce the whole range of problems caused by an excess of the omega 6’s. "In addition, the lack of the omega 3’s can be a potent cause of infertility in our breeding stock together with growth problems in young pups and kittens, and most importantly, problems with the development of the nervous system.

This can result in early deterioration of vision and hearing, learning difficulties in puppies and kittens and behavioral problems in our pets that can continue throughout life." Dr. Billinghurst "Fatty acids are essential components of cell membranes and are an integral component of the intercellular barrier in the stratum corneum.

This barrier is formed by extrusion of lamellar granules containing phospholipids, glycosphingolipids, and free sterols that are produced by keratinocytes. Essential fatty acids cannot be synthesized and, therefore, must be supplied in the diet. Animals are unable to change one series of fatty acids to another, eg, omega-3 to omega-6. Dermatologic signs of fatty acid deficiency include a thin and discolored haircoat, scaly skin, sebaceous gland hypertrophy with hyperkeratosis of the sebaceous ducts and increased sebum viscosity, increased epidermal turnover rate, weak cutaneous capillaries, and decreased wound healing. Fish Oil is a favorite supplement for many pets as it seems to improve and help a lot of different problems.

"Fish oil is one of my favorite supplements for a variety of problems in both dogs and cats, even normal pets can benefit from improved haircoats when supplemented with fatty acids such as fish oil. In pets, fish oil has been found to be useful for reducing inflammation in pets with allergic skin disease and kidney failure.

It may even help pets with heart disease and osteoarthritis. Studies show that pets fed high doses of fish oil also have better control of cancer. The additon of vitamin E is sometimes recommended when giving fish oil on a regular basis as fish oil supplemented for many months may lower vitamin E levels (most fish oil supplements contain additional vitamin E for this reason). There is concern about environmental contamination of fish oil with toxins. Studies have shown that fish meat (not oil) may be contaminated with methylmercury." Fighting Cancer with EFA's In a diet supplemented with fish oil and the amino acid arginine appears to increase survival time in dogs with lymphoma, a cancer that affects white blood cells.

Dogs with this kind of cancer, similar to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in humans, are easily treated, but as with humans, their cancer sometimes returns. In this study, half of the dogs received a special "chow" with the two supplements in it, and the other half ate "chow" with soybean oil added. The two diets or "chows" were identical in nutritional value, and formulated to be equally tasty to the dogs. All the dogs were being treated with the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin every three weeks, and were living at home with their owners.

The dogs were fed one of the chows twice a day during and after their cancer treatment. The researchers report that compared to the control dogs, those who ate the supplemented chow showed higher blood levels of two fatty acids called C20:5 and C22:6 that seem particularly effective in fighting cancer. Dogs with more of these fatty acids in their blood also tended to have more normal levels of lactic acid, which tends to accumulate in the blood when metabolism is disrupted in cancer patients.

The dogs were fed one of the chows twice a day during and after their cancer treatment. The researchers report that compared to the control dogs, those who ate the supplemented chow showed higher blood levels of two fatty acids called C20:5 and C22:6 that seem particularly effective in fighting cancer. Dogs with more of these fatty acids in their blood also tended to have more normal levels of lactic acid, which tends to accumulate in the blood when metabolism is disrupted in cancer patients.

The dogs with higher levels of these two fatty acids survived longer than those with lower levels, and had longer remissions, periods of time before their disease came back. There is also research which has shown that some polyunsaturated fatty acids, like those found in fish oil, may help prevent the growth and spread of cancer tumors, and may help prevent cachexia -- the devastating weight loss and muscle wasting seen in some cancer patients despite adequate nutrition. Likewise, arginine supplements have been reported to improve immune responses, and might help the body fight cancer.

Cancer 2000;88:1916-1928 Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1999; 70: 560 - 569 Simopoulos AP, Kifer RR, Martin RE, Barlow SM, eds. Health effects of 3 polyunsaturated fats in seafoods. World Rev Nutr Diet 1991;66:1-592.

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To all the men out there: how long does it take to offer sex and satisfy your woman -- faster than a foreplay and a click for POMEGA5

How fast does it take to have good sex?

Optimal Sex Takes 3 to 13 Minutes, Study Finds

Maybe men had it right all along: It doesn't take long to satisfy a woman in bed.

A survey of sex therapists concluded the optimal amount of time for sexual intercourse was 3 to 13 minutes. The findings, to be published in the May issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, strike at the notion that endurance is the key to a great sex life.

If that sounds like good news to you, don't cheer too loudly. The time does not count foreplay, and the therapists did rate sexual intercourse that lasts from 1 to 2 minutes as "too short."

Researcher Eric Corty said he hoped to ease the minds of those who believe "more of something good is better, and if you really want to satisfy your partner, you should last forever."

The questions were not gender-specific, said Corty. But he said prior research has shown men and women want foreplay and sexual intercourse to last longer.

Dr. Irwin Goldstein, editor of the Journal of Sexual Medicine, cited a four-week study of 1,500 couples in 2005 that found the median time for sexual intercourse was 7.3 minutes. (Women in the study were armed with stopwatches.)

It's difficult for both older men and young men to make sexual intercourse last much longer, said Marianne Brandon, a clinical psychologist and director of Wellminds Wellbodies in Annapolis, Maryland.

"There are so many myths in our culture of what other people are doing sexually," Brandon said. "Most people's sex lives are not as exciting as other people think they are."

Fifty members of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research in the U.S. and Canada were surveyed by Corty, an associate professor of psychology at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, and student Jenay Guardiani. Thirty-four members, or 68 percent, responded, although some said the optimal time depended on the couple.

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Corty said he hoped to give an idea of what therapists find to be normal and satisfactory among the couples they see.

"People who read this will say, 'I last five minutes or my partner lasts eight minutes,' and say, 'That's OK,' " he said. "They will relax a little bit.

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Spice up with Omega 5 skin care by POMEGA5 and you might enjoy a better sex life...

10 tips for better sex

Spice up your sex life with these great tips!

Start early

Lovemaking doesn't start when you crawl in between the sheets. It starts before you even get out of bed. What you do throughout the day either enhances or decreases your chance for intimacy. Kiss before leaving for work. Meet for lunch. Call in the middle of the day. Smile at each other. Little things go a long way in getting you and your partner in the mood.

Pay attention to touch

If your partner has ever said, "The only time you touch me is when you want to have sex," you are not paying attention to non-sexual touch. When there is a lot of non-sexual touch, it makes sexual touch more exciting and more desirable. Non-sexual touch can be rubbing her shoulders or feet as you watch a movie, resting your hand on his lap while driving, or holding hands.

Look good

If 100 people wrote their top ten turn-ons, I bet that 99% of them listed something relating to how a person looks. So keep looking good! Forget about, "If he loved me, he would love me even in sweats." He might love you is sweats, but he won't be as turned on. Using POMEGA5 products will always make you look exceptional.

Smell good

Smelling good is sexy. When your partner smells good, it makes you want to get closer. When you are close, chemical reactions can happen and ignite a fire! Really! I am talking about pheromones, the chemical Viagra. If you've seen male dogs rather 'round a female in heat, you know the power of pheromones. Being too sweaty can cancel out and mask their effectiveness. So be clean and let the "love scent" do its work.

Master the art of good conversation

People stop talking when they feel the other isn't listening. This is a major intimacy killer. When share your inner thoughts and feelings or listen while your partner speaks of his day, you create intimacy that is needed for good sex.

Share activities

If your partner wants to do something or go somewhere, tag along. The more time you spend together, the more opportunity you have to cozy up, touch, and have good conversation. A pleasant day spent with the one you love is a powerful aphrodisiac.

Schedule time for romance

Knowing that you have a date can heighten anticipation and make lovemaking more fun.

Be spontaneous

You can plan and be spontaneous too. Add some spice by dressing differently, putting on a wig, talking with an accent, or going somewhere on a whim. Fantasize and take your fun where you find it.

Take care of yourself

When you are rested and fit, you will have more energy and desire for love so you can give and receive more.

Let go in bed

Forget about kids, work, or your "to do" list. Turn off the brain activity and let lovemaking be your escape. It will help you unwind, refresh, and keep you looking forward to the next time!

Eat, Exercise, Relax, and Sleep Your Way to Better Sex

Better sex doesn't just involve technique. Keeping a fit mind and body can increase your enjoyment of bedroom antics.

Thought about leading a healthier lifestyle but haven't gotten around to doing it? Here's a possible incentive: Experts say people who are mentally and physically fit are more likely to have good sex lives.

"If you feel good about yourself, you are in a better position to feel good about relationships, including your sex life," says Karen Zager, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in New York City.

"When one is not feeling well, and is exhausted, it can certainly have a negative impact on the quality of one's sex life," says Saralyn Mark, MD, a senior medical adviser at the Office on Women's Health.

This may all seem intuitive, yet many people find the road to a fitter mind and body to be bumpy, especially if it involves losing weight, starting an exercise program, reducing stress, or getting enough sleep.

One big reward, though, is to look and feel better -- arguably a plus for good romantic and sensual activities.

Eat Right

While there is no proven connection between a balanced diet and bedroom performance, a poor diet can cause health problems that can possibly interfere with sex.

Studies show animals that get too few calories tend to have weakened immune systems, says John Allred, PhD, professor emeritus of nutrition at Ohio State University. He says illness can be a big hurdle for pleasurable intercourse.

"If you have heart disease, then you might be taking medication that would inhibit sexual activity, or you might be afraid to have a heart attack," says Allred. "If you have the flu, a high fever, or just don't feel good ... any of these things would be a turn-off."

Mark Kantor, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Maryland, agrees, saying, "You will feel sexy if you look and feel good."

A way to do that is to eat an overall balanced diet and to exercise each day. The two go hand-in-hand, says Kantor, as demonstrated by today's obesity problem, in which people eat too much food and aren't active enough.

Move That Body

Being physically active can be a natural Viagra boost, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), which recommends 20 to 30 minutes of moderate exertion a day.

"Men and women who exercise regularly are going to have increased levels of desire," says Cedric Bryant, PhD, ACE's chief exercise physiologist. "They're going to have enhanced confidence, enhanced ability to achieve orgasm, and greater sexual satisfaction."

If that isn't motivation enough to work out, consider this: Researchers have found that there is a correlation between waist size and a man's odds of having erectile dysfunction (ED). The larger the man's waist size, the greater his chance of having ED (because of a higher risk of underlying cardiovascular disease).

It is all about being green -- like www.pomega5.com

Organic skin care

Green and natural technology

my girlfriends are green with envy when I tell them about my improved sex life

You need not sleep your way to the top -- use POMEGA5 products instead

Sleep your way to the top

There’s a knack to lucid dreaming, and once you can control your dreams, you can revolutionise your life

and you may want to consider Omega 5 oil products

Anita Chaudhuri

You know that feeling when you’re having the most delicious, blissful experience ever – you’re on a tropical beach, kissing a handsome stranger, or just about to take a bite out of a luscious chocolate cake – when, suddenly, grrr, the alarm goes off? If only you could have willed yourself to keep dreaming for five more minutes. Alas, dreams are beyond our control – or are they?

Sleep scientists are waking up to the idea that it is possible to programme the subconscious mind so we can choose what we dream about, a practice known as lucid dreaming. This obscure phenomenon is about to become far better known with the release early next year of The Good Night, directed by Jake Paltrow and starring his sister, Gwyneth. The film features a troubled man who is determined to escape his depressing reality by mastering the art of directing his own dreams. Soon, he has created a sensual parallel universe with a gorgeous new girlfriend and can have dreams to order like other people rent DVDs.

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible,” says Stephen LaBerge, a psychophysiologist and expert on lucid dreaming. “Fly, dream, sex. That’s what everybody likes to do. There’s also the possibility of creative problem-solving, overcoming nightmares and anxieties, learning more about yourself.” With practice, you can train yourself to have any experience you like while your brain is on night shift, from having dinner with Johnny Depp to singing on stage with Razorlight. Although the concept of programming the subconscious may sound a bit wacky, it is actually straightforward. What it involves is focusing the mind on a particular question or topic that you want to dream about just before you drift off to sleep.

In order to influence the dreaming mind, it is helpful to understand what happens to the body when it is asleep. “Most dreaming – 80% – takes place during what’s known as REM sleep,” explains Mark Blagrove, director of the sleep laboratory at Swansea University. “This is a state characterised by bouts of irregular breathing and an increased heart rate, as well as rapid eye movement, when the eyes appear to follow events in a dream.” In this state, the body is paralysed from the neck down, nature’s way of preventing injury. While we sleep, we typically switch between REM and a deeper, usually dreamless state. As the night wears on, our dreams become longer and more emotional, which is why we’re more likely to be enjoying a vivid dream when the alarm goes off.

“When we dream, the brain goes into a special state where part of the frontal lobe, the bit to do with emotions, is very active,” Blagrove says. “Meanwhile, another area of the brain, governing critical judgment, is turned off, and the bit of the cortex to do with imagery and vision is turned on. That’s why, in dreams, we get these incredibly bizarre things happening that we simply don’t question.”

Nobody knows exactly why we dream, except that it allows the brain to rehearse different life scenarios in a risk-free environment. One thing that is known is that everybody does it, usually for about 100 minutes a night, and those who claim they don’t simply have poor dream recall.

Eric Maisel, a psychiatrist and the author of Sleep Thinking, believes it doesn’t really matter whether you remember the details of what you dreamt when you wake up. “What’s far more important is that the moment you awake, even if it’s the middle of the night, you jot down any feelings, emotions, colours, thoughts and pictures that come to mind.” He suggests that a person decides on a burning question shortly before drifting off to sleep. “It’s important that you go to bed wondering rather than worrying – there is a difference. One prompt I often give people is: ‘I wonder, where do I go next with X?’ During waking hours the question may be anxiety-provoking, but during sleep, the pressure is off. I’ve had blocked writers produce entire screenplays while sleeping, usually in dreams, and I’ve had painters adopt a whole new style of work. But sleep thinking works for mundane problems, too.”

Clare, for example, had been getting stressed about finding a new nursery for her son. Several nights running, before she drifted off, she asked herself the question, “I wonder where would be a good place.” Each night, she kept dreaming of her son playing in a park near her office. Finally the penny dropped: there was a nursery five minutes’ walk from that place, but she had never considered looking for a nursery near work. Her son is now happily ensconced there.

Jane, an events organiser, used the sleep-thinking approach when she wanted to find a new job. “I was sceptical, but I’d tried everything, from headhunters to websites, and still hadn’t found my dream job. For three nights in a row, I asked myself, ‘How can I find a great new job?’ Then I dreamt about Carla, a woman I’d worked with years ago. Intrigued, I decided to give her a call. Not only did we have a lovely catchup, but she told me that her firm was looking to hire someone with just my experience. Within a month, I had the job.”

HOW TO PROGRAM A DREAM

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The psychologist Gayle Delaney, author of Living Your Dreams, suggests the following steps if you want to dream on a certain issue.

1 Before going to sleep, write down three or four lines about what you did and felt during the day. What were the emotional highlights? This will clear your mind, relax you and help you to recall your dreams. Avoid alcohol – it inhibits REM sleep.

2 Write down the issue you want to dream about as a one-line question such as: “What’s really going on between X and me?”

3 Focus on the question as you drift off to sleep. (It’s best to pick a topic that doesn’t stir up anxiety or strong emotions the first few times – otherwise, you may never get to sleep.)

4 Record in detail everything in your mind the moment you wake up, even if it doesn’t make sense or you don’t remember your dreams. Make no judgments at this point regarding the relevance to your question. Include any feelings, thoughts, songs or fantasies that come up. Try to reexperience the whole dream.

5 Later in the day, conduct a “dream interview” with yourself. First, describe your dream in detail. Then, ask yourself, does the dream remind me of any person, place or issue in my life?

Bear in mind that dreams work in personal symbols and metaphors; they are rarely literal. For one person, a dream about pizza might symbolise a trip to Italy, and could be their subconscious alerting them to the need to take a holiday. For another, pizza could signify a guilty conscience about breaking a diet.

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