Katharine Houghton Hepburn

"Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

One of this kind of woman I would discuss here today.
Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an iconic star of American film, television and stage, widely recognized for her sharp wit, New England gentility and fierce independence. A screen legend, Hepburn holds the record for the most Oscars won for acting- four. She received a record 12 Best Actress nominations. Hepburn won an Emmy Award in 1975 for her lead role in Love Among the Ruins, and was nominated for four other Emmys and two Tony Awards during the course of her more than 70-year acting career. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Hepburn the greatest actress of all time. Hepburn had a famous and longtime romance with Spencer Tracy, both on- and off-screen.

"I'm a personality as well as an actress," Katharine Hepburn once declared. "Show me an actress who isn't a personality and you'll show me a woman who isn't a star." Hepburn's bold, distinctive personality was apparent almost from birth. She inherited from her doctor father and suffragette mother her three most pronounced traits: an open and ever-expanding mind, a healthy body (maintained through constant rigorous exercise), and an inability to tell anything less than the truth.

Hepburn was more a personality than an actress when she took the professional plunge after graduating from Bryn Mawr in 1928; her first stage parts were bits, but she always attracted attention with her distinct New England accent and her bony, sturdy frame. The actress' outspokenness lost her more jobs than she received, but, in 1932, she finally scored on Broadway with the starring role in The Warrior's Husband.

One of the silver screen's most unique and enduring personalities, onscreen and off, Katharine Hepburn's career as a leading lady spanned seven decades, over fifty quality films (running the gamut from screwball comedies and romances to high drama). One of the first stars to take control of her career while still working within the confines of the studio system, Hepburn's career suffered its share of ups and downs, but Hollywood learned never to write her off.

Katharine Hepburn – Famous Quotes

• I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.
• If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.
• Life is to be lived. If you have to support yourself, you had bloody well better find some way that is going to be interesting. And you don't do that by sitting around.
• Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything.
• We are taught you must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers - but never blame yourself. It's never your fault. But it's always your fault, because if you wanted to change you're the one who has got to change.
• Without discipline, there's no life at all.

Happy Mind For A Healthy Body

Our mind, our thoughts can keep the body healthy. Sounds too optimistic, but this is actually the reality. Half of our ailing and diseases are the fruit of our own imagination and fears.

We all want to be happy, but we relate our happiness with few things, rather we are dependent on certain stimulants in order to be happy. Let us name them, money, business, job, relationships, bungalow, car, success….this list can be endless, depending upon your age, tastes, environment etc. So we are seeking happiness in these materialistic gains. Lets see what happens when we have achieved these gains, for first few days we are very happy with it, after some time the same stimulant does not give us the same happiness, why ?? because now we have attached certain fears with it, the same possession is now the cause of our insecurity, we have created thoughts of fear with it. And thoughts are vibrations, if they are negative in nature, its negativity shall start affecting the body.

Today even doctors agree that our diseases are psychosomatic in nature. They are caused by our own feelings, and sensations, which is coming from our stimulants, the effect of our stimulant is on our thought process, it leads to addiction to it, addiction creates dependency or craving, and this craving creates a fear, fear is a negative thought, which affects the body and creates a disease.

And why did this all started was, as we were searching for happiness in these things. More often we run after success, thinking it shall bring along happiness, but it is other way round, success does not necessarily bring happiness, but when we are happy, it shall bring success. As a happy soul is creative, the body is energetic, compassionate and thus success shall follow by itself.

This happiness we have not to find anywhere in anything or any person, it is already there with us: I am a happy soul, I am a peaceful soul, I am a powerful soul, because these are the innate qualities any human being is born with. But in the course of time with negative thoughts, these basics get lost somewhere; we have to just reconnect with it. We have to generate just the right thoughts, as they shall generate the right energy and thus the right fit body. As said in the Upanishads:

Sow a Thought, Reap an Act;
Sow an Act, Reap a Habit;
Sow a Habit, Reap a Character;
Sow a Character, Reap a Destiny.

This is the importance of the thought, choose them and give them any space very very carefully. Live for 100 years, with great healthy body, but first healthy happy mind with healthy happy thoughts. A happy person creates sound health and attracts success and prosperity. Make it work the right way.

Food & Longevity

Eating is one of the most important events in everyone’s life. We enjoy eating - it’s part of who we are and part of our culture; in fact, eating is the hottest universal topic of all times. We depend on eating: the foods we eat are the sole source of our energy and nutrition.
But at the same times even this is true that we know very little about eating - about how the foods we eat everyday affect our health. Eating is a paradox and a mystery that our ancestors tried and modern scientists are trying to solve.

Based on experiences and traditions, our ancestors have used foods and plant materials to treat various kinds of illness. But the pharmacological roles of everyday foods have long been neglected by modern medicine due to lack of proven scientific validity. The main focus of modern medicine has been on pharmaceuticals. However, while there continues to be great strides made in the understanding and use of pharmaceuticals, there is also widespread dissatisfaction with both, pharmaceuticals and the system of medicine that utilizes them.

This dissatisfaction is centered around the feeling that they are too disease-oriented, and perhaps too limited by their precision to cope effectively with the subtle factors and interrelationships that compromise human health and disease. The precise and pure nature of modern biomedical pharmaceuticals also tends to increase their side effects.
The increasing concerns have started a new movement in medical research. More and more mainstream scientists are reaching back to the truth of ancient food folk medicines and dietary practices for clues to remedies and antidotes to our modern diseases.
Modern scientific research has found out the presence of "Phytochemicals" that is disease preventing substances in all fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of coloured fruits & vegetables to get a full range of phytochemicals. One should favour the consumption of less animal protein foods or dairy.

Acid-Alkaline Balance - Key Indicator of Health:
Foods either leave an acid ash or an alkaline ash. Maximum health is in an alkaline body. The average 20th century diet, stress, pace, lifestyle & environment produce far more acid than is healthy. The human body is alkaline by design & acidic by function, which means that your body's health is dependent upon it being alkaline.

The original source of stress is known as a stressor. Most of the stressors in todays' society ( cigarette smoke, alcohol, stress itself, bad diet, coffee, sodas, pharmaceuticals) all produce an acid state in the body. All cancerous states are acid states of long duration.

Research indicates that 90% of our general population is far too acidic, which leads to a variety of negative health effects. Over time, being acidic is the main cause of degenerative diseases & Aging. If you have an acidic body, you become energy less, exhausted physically & mentally and you lose the radiance and shine of skin & hair.
It is ideal to incorporate 2 glasses of lime juice along with the 8-12 glasses of water which is taken daily. A diet of 80% alkaline foods is ideal. We have to maintain this ratio - 80 % alkalinity & 20% acidity for optimum health.

The Benefits of having an alkaline body:
1) we are calm & collected
2) we have high energy level
3) our sleep patterns are deep
4) we have less colds and flus than normal
5) the immune system is fortified
6) the body has good absorption/assimilation/digestion.

The Philosophic aspect:
The food that we consume helps us to tap the negative or positive earth energies. Food influences the mind. We are what we eat. Our present and future are influenced by our thoughts. What you think, you become.

The Medical Aspect:
Fruits and vegetables are alkaline by nature and by consuming them we keep our 80-20 percent ratio of alkalinity & acidity.
Vegetarian diet is easier to digest, imposes fewer toxins on the body & provides a wide range of nutrients. Vegetarians are less susceptible to major diseases (because they are more alkaline than acidic) and thus live longer. They have smaller medical bills, fewer physical complaints & less visits to the doctor. Their immune system is stronger, bodies purer & skin more glamorous because of natural foods.

The Spiritual Aspect:
Food is the source of the body's chemistry & the subtle essence of food becomes the mind. What we ingest, affects our Consciousness, emotions and experiential patterns. One should abstain from meat, fish & eggs if one wants to live in higher states of Consciousness. By ingesting the grosser characteristics of animal foods, one introduces in to the mind lust, greed, anger, jealousy, anxiety, suspicion, fear etc all of which are locked into the flesh of the butchered animals. For these reasons, vegetarians live in higher consciousness & non-vegetarians abide in lower states of Consciousness.

Points to remember:
• Have an early dinner. Heavy meals at night can cause indigestion and can lead to fermentation in the gut.
• Respect the food you eat; Eat when you are hungry.
• Chew well before swallowing.
• Use healthy cooking methods like steaming, stir frying, boiling, and baking. Avoid deep frying.
• Opt for vegetarianism. Vegetarian diet is easier to digest and is less acidic in nature.
• Avoid stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, refrigerated foods, soft drinks, cakes, pastries, biscuits, fried snacks, Red Meat, Old Chocolate.
• Prefer food which is unprocessed, without additives, without any artificial enrichment or fortification. Processed food is loaded with preservatives, additives, colorings which are not be good for our system.
• Fresh food has life energy called Prana. Prana is a healing energy. Processed foods may have calories, but absolutely no Prana.
• Wooden, earthen or steel containers are best to store food items. Steel utensils are the second best. Food cooked in any other medium, especially tin, aluminum and non-stick, is a health hazard. Food cooked in such metallic mediums, including copper and brass, is said to react with the metal and produce a toxic effect on our body.

Cinnamon and Honey

Honey is the only food on the planet that will not spoil or rot. However, when left in a cool dark place for a long time it will do what we call "crystallizing".
When this happens loosen the lid, boil some water, and sit the honey container in the hot water, off the heat and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it ever was.

Never boil honey or put it in a microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in the honey.

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:
It is found that a mixture of honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases.
Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Scientists of today also accept honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine for all kinds of diseases.

Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases.

Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

The following list of diseases that can be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by western scientists:

HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, instead of jelly or jam, and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack.
Those who have already had an attack, if they do this daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack. Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heart beat.
In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as you age, the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and veins.

ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week, out of the 200 people so treated, practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain, and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.
As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is cured. According to information received in the said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.
COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold, and clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS:
According to the studies done in India and Japan, it is revealed that if Honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant us e of Honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Life spans also increase and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken regularly, it reduces the weight of even the most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate in the body even though the person may eat a high calorie diet.

CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month three times a day.

FATIGUE:
Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts, are more alert and flexible. Half tablespoon of honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality of the body starts to decrease, increases the vitality of the body within a week..

BAD BREATH:
People of South America , first thing in the morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.

Forever Young

Are there ways to help one stay young? Ancient mythology credited food as one of the keys to anti-ageing. Greek Gods consumed ambrosia, a food which conferred youthfulness.

Youthfulness comes from good health and physical attractiveness. Hence, delaying ageing also means deferring degenerative diseases and ensuring effective functioning of all body systems. Instead of anti-ageing or preventive ageing, one should aim for healthy-ageing or living longer and healthier.

The mantra for healthy-ageing is called the defensive nutrition paradigm. This stresses on making food choices that maintain a healthy level of body fat and weight, maximize support for organ systems and prevent chronic diseases. This paradigm, coupled with regular physical activity, is the 21st century ambrosia.

Have foods rich in phytonutrients, omega-3-fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, fibre and probiotics. Also, legumes, lean meats, low-fat dairy and fermented foods.

Today even science has proved that an individual, by practicing certain scientific methods like kriya yoga, can arrest decay in the body.

Physicians, recommend at least 10 minutes of exercise daily, keeping busy, thinking positive and a good night’s sleep. Sleep on your back to avoid wrinkles, abandon sugar. Substitute coffee with green tea, drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day and stop smoking, some simple tips.

Can aging be slowed down? Ayurveda helps. Excessive or under-utilization of the senses of the body, unwholesome diet and lack of mental peace accelerate aging. Periodic detoxification (panchakarma), natural supplements (rasayanams) and anti-degenerative therapeutic procedures retard aging.

Apples, strawberries, grapes and raspberries have anti-aging properties. Both bell and chili peppers contain antioxidants and have much Vitamin C. Have a handful of nuts every day. Sprouts are a great source of protein and Vitamin C. The healthy bacteria in yoghurt aids immune function and its calcium content helps burn fat.

Squalene, found in olive oil, is rich in Vitamin A and C. Vitamin A weakens age spots and reduces environmental damage. Vitamin C protects skin from sun, pollution and water. With the right focus, you can feel young forever!

Importance Of Antioxidants

Antioxidant Green Tea
Tea has been treasured through the ages for its mellow taste, delicate aroma and amazing health benefits. To stay focused during hours of meditation, monks are known to have relied on the power of green tea.
Now tea has become fashionable all over again, attracting health conscious consumers seeking a more natural and healthy lifestyle. And for good reason: Tea is loaded with powerful phenolic antioxidants that can, as part of a well-balanced diet, help promote wellness. Exciting research indicates that tea even has the potential to speed metabolism and promote weight loss.

Antioxidant Amla
When free radicals encounter cellular molecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA, they knock out electrons from these molecules as well and damage them. When the body is under the onslaught of free radicals, it is said to be in oxidative stress.
Some free radicals arise normally during metabolism. Sometimes the body’s immune system cells purposefully create them to neutralise viruses and bacteria. However, environmental factors such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides can also spawn free radicals.
Normally, the body can handle free radicals, but if antioxidants are unavailable, or if the free-radical production becomes excessive, damage can occur. Of particular importance is that free radical damage accumulates with age.
Amla, is one of the most potent antioxidant herbs. Amla is one of the major herbs used in a well-known rejuvenative Ayurvedic formula Chyvanprash. It is said that Chyvanprash can bring back youth and grace to an ageing body and provide renewed vitality in the young.
Amla is widely used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases and it owes its health benefits to its powerful antioxidant property.
The extract of Amla has been found to improve glucose metabolism in diabetes. Treatment with extract of Amla brought about effective normalisation of blood sugar levels in diabetes. Administration of the extract of Amla to diabetic subjects improved body weight gain.
Extracts of Amla have been shown to protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals, non-radicals and transition metal-induced oxidative stress. Amla is suitable for use in anti-ageing, sunscreen and general-purpose skincare products.
So next time you see the word “oxidative stress”, think of Amla, It can help you build a firewall against the onslaught of free radicals

List of Foods High In Antioxidants
The following is my short-list for Antioxidant-rich Foods. Try to incorporate as many as possible into your daily diet. And remember, organic, raw, fresh and local is always best:
• Corn
• Lime
• Kale
• Lemon
• Dates
• Cloves
• Garlic
• Grapes
• Prunes
• Mangos
• Almonds
• Carrots
• Wheat Germ
• Pomegranates
• Barley & Rye
• Black Currant
• Oranges
• Sweet Potatoes
• Raw Nuts & Seeds
• Whole Grain Brown Rice
• Barley & Rye
• Spinach
• Apricots
• Broccoli
• Cinnamon
• Tomatoes
• Olive Oil
• Artichoke
• Green Tea
• Pineapple
• Red Beets
• Coconut Oil

LIVING LONGER WITH POSITIVE THINKING

If you want to live a longer life, start with positive thinking. Learning how to be an optimist can make your heart and your mind healthier. A positive thinker is always better equipped with a significantly stronger immune system, as it increases your white blood cell count which helps you fight off infection and disease. Specifically, if you're optimistic towards your life, the world would become a beautiful masterpiece of art, or else, the world would appear scary and horrible for those who have more negative thought patterns.
Positive Thinking: Tips for Maintaining Optimism
"To maintain positive thinking you need to pay attention to basic needs such as getting enough rest, proper nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, and heath care. It means keeping your life in balance. Here are some tips for keeping a positive outlook:
• Let it out. Keeping feelings of sadness, anger, or guilt bottled up inside is unhealthy. Talk to a friend or loved one. Write it on a piece of paper and burn it after reading it aloud; or shout it out but get your feelings out in the open where you can deal with them and complete with them forever.
• Replace negative thinking with positive thinking. "People who are optimistic are able to reframe negatives into positives. Practicing this kind of positive spin will eventually make it automatic. Since there are no absolute truths, consider your life story. Do you want it to be a positive one or a tragic one?
• Learn to deal with stress. Some stress is inevitable. Learn to handle it in a positive way. "Exercise sheds stress, releases endorphins, helps you focus, creates personal empowerment, and boosts the immune system. Having a good social support system, accepting change, and keeping life in perspective are other ways people can deal with stress and maintain positive thinking.
• Be a survivor. Life is both magic and tragic. We all have to face loss, failure, and disappointment sometimes. People who are optimistic find a way to recover. They develop resilience. Life is a series of recoveries. When you understand this premise, you believe that you will get through your obstacles and emerge stronger with experience and empowerment to navigate the next challenge.
• Create time for fun. Positive thinking and joy go together. Instead of an endless to-do list, pursue a creative hobby to fill any loss or grief you are experiencing. Activate your sense of fun. Laughter is your inner treadmill and it breaks negativity instantly. Laugh on small things, spend time with kids or pets, have fun.
• Take good care of yourself. People who are optimistic don't neglect their physical health. To enjoy anything else in the whole world, whether a meal, a car, a house or a relationship, you need to be healthy first- and if it’s that important, let’s do some additional effort to keep it right.
Positive thinking and optimism really do contribute to a longer, healthier life. Avoid the false sense of optimism offered by drugs and alcohol. These solutions to stress only cause more problems in the long run. Positive thinking provides its own rewards, so take responsibility for your thoughts. As the great William Shakespeare once wrote, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
I realize it is not how long you live but how intensely you live, in terms of appreciating your life and living life to the fullest, living positively.