Prime Directive is a high quality pro-biotic that
contains these good bacteria required to keep the digestive system working
properly. Antibiotics kill these good bacteria and it has been found that
in societies where people have not taken antibiotics that each person has about
4 pounds of good bacteria in their gut.
The regular consumption of antibiotics and other medications
gradually kills off this good bacteria. However medications are not only
to blame. Some farm animals may be given antibiotics some time before they
are slaughtered and sold for human consumption. The good bacteria is also
depleted by drinking excessive alcohol, the natural aging process and diets
which are high in sugar and fat.
There are many different pro-biotic products on the market,
most of them are not cheap, and the terminology used to describe them can be
quite mind-boggling at times. Prime Directive is more than a pro-biotic,
as it also contains the nutrients that are required for these good bacteria to
grow. These nutrients are easily absorbed, thus also helping increase
energy levels, as digestion is the most energy consuming function of the
body. Remember how one feels after Christmas lunch!
Prime Directive also contains 20 different amino acids, which
detoxify the liver as well as providing the food that the brain needs to do some
of its most important functions including staying mentally alert. It also
contains a broad spectrum of anti-oxidants including beta-carotene. Taking
anti-oxidants is probably the best defence against disease there is.
Prime Directive comes in powder form, which can be dissolved
in water. The recommended dosage is 1 teaspoon per day on an empty
stomach, however you can reduce this if you find you are feeling tired.
Tiredness can be a result of the detoxification process happening too
quickly.
Remember: You should always consult your doctor before
taking any supplements.
THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC GONE
MAD
Man should work by the sweat of his brow whatever his
class, and that should make up the whole meaning and purpose of his life and
happiness and contentment. Anton Chekhov The Three Sisters
(1901)
That was then. But now we have ‘Work-life balance’, a
new ethic for a new century. Work-life Balance? I don’t see much
evidence for it. The Protestant Work Ethic is alive, well and thriving in
the UK. Ours is a long-hours culture, with constant competition to be the
last out of the car park. And certainly not before the boss has left (God
forbid!).
The funny thing is that our nearest neighbours who don’t
share our culture or work ethic are more productive. In France, work is
important but no more so than love or the arts, and much less so than food and
wine!
Quality matters in France more than quantity. They
allow un-pasteurised cheeses on the shelves of their supermarkets for goodness
sake, for no better reason than they taste better (how could they, haven’t they
heard of e-coli?).
We are definitely better at spin and buzz-words than
action. We should learn from the wise words of Betrand Russell:
One of the symptoms of approaching nervous breakdown is
the belief that one’s work is terribly important, and that to take a holiday
would bring all kinds of disaster.
Yes work is important, but not that important.
The latest article in the ‘increasing your energy’
series....
EAT AND DRINK YOUR WAY TO
GREATER ENERGY
Many people these days are very aware of what they eat and
drink and the effect it has on their health. However the majority of us
don’t have the time or the inclination to become a health food nut. This
article is for people who, like me until recently, are not aware of some simple
facts about what we eat and drink and the effect it has on our energy
levels.
At the risk of getting too technical a balanced daily food
consumption should have approximately the following content:
20% Fat
65% Carbohydrates
15%
Protein
Statistics show that 40% - 50% of the average persons daily
food intake is fat so for most of us the main issue is reducing our fat intake
and replacing it with more carbohydrates.
Here is a rough guide to some examples of Fat, Carbohydrates
and Protein.
FAT
Shallow or deep-fried food
Red
meat
Sweets, cakes and crisps
Butter and margarine
Foods with high fat
content
CARBOHYDRATES
Cereals
Bread
Pasta
Potatoes
Starchy
foods
PROTEIN
Meat
Eggs
Fish
Cheese
Nuts
If you have a diet of roughly the above proportions then you
are doing OK. However you can do better if you pay attention to
when you decide to eat your various portions of fat, carbohydrates and
protein.
It’s the protein that provides the energy so it’s a good idea
to eat it at breakfast and at lunch. Or if you know you have to perform in
some way in the evening avoid the protein at lunch and add it to your afternoon
snack or your tea. Using the same principle avoid taking fat or
carbohydrates like pasta before an important meeting as they can reduce your
energy levels and make you sluggish. Carbohydrates help you to relax so
they should dominate your evening meals.
Eating fruit and vegetables during the day will help to keep
you alert and maintain your energy by stabilising the level of sugar in your
blood.
There have been many experiments where fruit and vegetables
are made available to people both in the workplace and in schools and
colleges. The results always show that people will eat fruit and
vegetables if they are available, the trouble is mostly they are not. Most
vending machines are full of sweets, crisps and caffeine-loaded drinks.
The experiments also consistently show improvement in performance and attitude
where fruit and vegetables are consumed more regularly.
Similar results have been found when water is made more
easily available. As well as satisfying your thirst, drinking water
ensures that you avoid dehydration. Even slight dehydration, which is
difficult to detect, affects your alertness and the clarity of your
thinking. So if you need to be on the ball, avoid the offer of coffee and
ask for some water instead.
Key points to remember
· Aim for a diet with 65% carbohydrates, 20% fat and 15%
protein
· Always have a healthy breakfast with some
protein
· Plan your protein consumption to precede performance
periods
· Carbohydrates help you to relax
· Drink plenty of
water throughout the day
· Have fresh fruit and vegetables available,
you will eat it
· Avoid caffeine, especially after lunchtime
HUMOUR FROM THE
PAST
Some philosophers used to believe that everything was
perception, that in reality there was nothing there, so that if you hit yourself
against the table it was just in your imagination. There was one
philosopher in particular who really was able to increase the stress of his
colleagues with this belief.
At an academic drinks party at the end of the University
year, a colleague could stand it no longer, and in front of all the guests kneed
his colleague in the groin. As the poor chap fell to the ground in agony,
his colleague was heard to say: "Do not worry, it is only your perception
and all in the imagination."
This story has a serious point, which is that whilst all of
us believe that we deal with reality, in reality we only deal with our
perceptions, which, because they are all we have, are our reality. A bit
convoluted, but if you want to change your reality, change your perceptions
about it.
For example, this manager, who very much kept himself to
himself, was literally sent to Coventry by colleagues, but one day one of them
sat down with him, managed to build rapport and discovered that not only had the
manager's wife died of cancer, leaving him a daughter to bring up, but this
daughter, now a teenager, had developed cancer herself. When people behave
in certain ways, there is always a reason, and with time and tact, there is
usually a way to help as well.
Go to the
Open Courses page
on our web site for information on the content of our open
courses. The next set will be running in September and October 2002.
We will let you know exact dates for Glasgow, Edinburgh and London
shortly.
You can telephone us on 0131 476 7183.