The purpose of our Ten Steps to Leadership Development series is to provide a free online leadership training for anyone interested in reaching the top of their game – the leadership game.

The leadership game is not about winning petty office politics. Rather, it’s about improving yourself while increasing your overall value to the organization.

Promotions are awarded to those individuals who are smart enough and self disciplined enough to set themselves apart, to rise to a level above their peers.

Make no mistake, leadership development is not realized upon completion of this free online leadership training. Instead, becoming a good leader is an ongoing study based on self-improvement and life experience. There is no end – only new levels of achievement!

The leadership game refers to one’s ability to leverage quality leadership tools for maximum results. Quality investments in yourself will enable you to produce improved results, allowing you to position yourself a step ahead of your peers.

Success in the leadership game is determined on your clear understanding of what is within your control, and what is out of your control.

Great leaders do not focus on what they can’t control. Examples of circumstances beyond your control (also known as debilitating time- wasters) include, but are not limited to: the weather, economic factors, heavy traffic, life’s little curve balls, what others do or think, etc. All of these circumstances can easily get in the way of your focus and energy – IF you allow them to.

Great leaders focus on what they CAN control. They understand that every individual has complete control over their attitude, behavior, thoughts and emotions.

Great leaders do not react, they thoughtfully respond. Winning the leadership game means you are response-ABLE, not reaction-PRONE.

When you react, you may feel emotions of guilt, embarrassment, regret, sadness, nausea, stress, anger, fear; a general feeling of being out of control. When you thoughtfully respond – you will feel relaxed confident, happy, inner peace, gratitude, higher self-esteem, and a general feeling of being in control.

If you utilize the various tools and resources described throughout the 10 Steps to Leadership Development, you will be well on your way to winning the leadership game.

Leadership tools are critical to our self-improvement and contribute significantly to our overall personal and professional development.

It’s important to remember that part of winning the leadership game is knowing when and how to use the proper tools. For instance, have you ever:

• Used a flathead screwdriver when you really needed a philips?
• Used a counter-top edge instead of a bottle opener?
• Used something heavy that was within reach to drive home a nail on the wall, when you really needed a hammer?

The point here is that while you may be able to complete a task with a make-shift tool – the overall quality and efficiency of your work diminishes without the proper tool.

During the Ten Steps to Leadership Development, you will assess your current leadership status. You will realize the benefits of investing in yourself and you will uncover effective leadership tools that will support your ongoing self improvement and leadership development.

The Ten Steps to Leadership Development series, will be your personal coach as you work toward winning the leadership game – and ultimately the game of life.

Step One: Find and Fuel the Spark:

We all have been gifted with individuality. It is our individuality that provides us the opportunity to choose our own path rather than following a path created for us by others.

Whether or not we realize our passions and dreams in life is really up to each one of us. It is simply a matter of personal choice.

Throughout this free online leadership training series, you will be introduced to many effective concepts and tools. Once you are aware of all the options available to you, it’s your personal choice as to whether or not you make use of these resources.

Finding and fueling the spark within you is about identifying a purpose you are passionate about – and then taking the steps necessary to cultivate your ambition.

With each achievement, big or small, you will be one step closer to realizing your goal.

When we lose sight of our true ambitions, or when we spend time “treading water” and not moving toward our goals, our senses may dull. Those who lose focus, quickly lose their edge. Our self-motivation is threatened as we lose our momentum.

In fact, when we make choices to postpone or ignore opportunities to grow and improve, we lose our best self.

The good news is you are never too old to jump back on the path to self-improvement. Ambition can be awakened at any age. At a point in time when the pain of obscurity is greater than the ease of procrastination, you can change.

Decide today – decide right now, that you will strive to learn, grow and reach your goals. Complete this free online leadership training series and make the investment in yourself toward becoming a stronger leader and happier individual.

Self-improvement is truly a prerequisite for leadership development.

Identify your ambition so than you can experience the rewards of personal achievement. Then take it to the next level, coaching others based on your life lessons so they too will grow and benefit under your leadership.

Step Two: History of Leadership:

Leadership Definition

 Leadership definition – ten steps to leadership development.

What is the perfect definition of leadership? In order to understand what you are trying to achieve, it’s important to understand a true leadership definition.

Leadership takes into account several key characteristics – 14 leadership traits. These leadership traits are clearly defined and thoroughly explained.

Leadership Trait List – See Your Leadership Potential:

 The following list provides specific leadership trait definitions, based in part by teachings of our very own beloved United States Marine Corp.

“The future depends on what we do in the present.” – Mahatma Gandhi

As you read through each leadership-based trait – that continues to be taught to our american soldiers – it’s easy to see how these very same ideals can be applied, and should be expected, in today’s business environment.

As you review each leadership trait – think about how you are, or should be, applying yourself to live up to these leadership standards.

JUDGMENT:

Definition – The ability to weigh facts and possible courses of action in order to make sound decisions.

Significance – Sound judgment allows a leader to make appropriate decisions in the guidance and training of his/her Marines and the employment of his/her unit. A Marine who possesses this leadership trait,exercises good judgment and weighs pros and cons accordingly to arrive at an appropriate decision/take proper action.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader ensures that team members understand the importance of maintaining a healthy and proper balance between work and family obligations. This person has high expectations in terms of job performance and behavior, but also is the first to support team members when personal issues arise.

JUSTICE

Definition – Giving reward and punishment according to the merits of the case in question. The ability to administer a system of rewards and punishments impartially and consistently.

Significance – The quality of displaying fairness and impartiality is critical in order to gain the trust and respect of subordinates and maintain discipline and unit cohesion, particularly in the exercise of responsibility as a leader.

Leadership Trait Example – Fair and consistent expectations are communicated to each team member. The leader who possesses this leadership trait, teaches and coaches the employee prior to holding the employee accountable for the task. The leader is fair in holding employees accountable for results. When a mistake is made by the leader, he/she is quick to correct the mistake and be accountable for the mis-step. (Also an example of courage.)

DECISIVENESS

Definition – Ability to make decisions promptly and to announce them in a clear, forceful manner.

Significance – The quality of character which guides a person to accumulate all available facts in a circumstance, weigh the facts, choose and announce an alternative which seems best. It is often better that a decision be made promptly than a potentially better one be made at the expense of more time.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who foresees a potentially unfavorable or dangerous situation developing, immediately takes action to address the issue. For example, if he/she sees rules being broken for the purpose of increasing profits, he/she realizes the short term gain is not worth the long term risk to the company or team. The issue must be brought to the attention of the leadership team immediately.

INITIATIVE

Definition – Taking action in the absence of orders.

Significance – Since an NCO often works without close supervision, emphasis is placed on being a self-starter. Initiative is a founding principle of Marine Corps Warfighting philosophy.

Leadership Trait Example – This person takes ownership of issues he/she becomes aware of. This person assumes authority when none is present. He/she adds value to the company by using common sense and good judgement and does more than what he/she is not told to do.

DEPENDABILITY

Definition – The certainty of proper performance of duty.

Significance – The quality which permits a senior to assign a task to a junior with the understanding that it will be accomplished with minimum supervision. This understanding includes the assumption that the initiative will be taken on small matters not covered by specific instructions.

Leadership Trait Example – The leader ensures that his/her team meet and/or exceed expectations without having been told to do so by his/her direct supervisor.

TACT

Definition – The ability to deal with others without creating hostility.

Significance – The quality of consistently treating peers, seniors, and subordinates with respect and courtesy is a sign of maturity. Tact allows commands, guidance, and opinions to be expressed in a constructive and beneficial manner. This deference must be extended under all conditions regardless of true feelings.

Leadership Trait Example -A leader discreetly points out a mistake to a team member, waiting until that person can be spoken to in private. This leader makes a point of praising in public, and couseling in private, out of respect for every individual member of the team.

INTEGRITY

Definition – Uprightness of character and soundness of moral principles. The quality of truthfulness and honesty.

Significance – A Marine’s word is his/her bond. Nothing less than complete honesty in all of your dealings with subordinates, peers, and superiors is acceptable.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who follows the proper policies and procedures, even when he/she cannot be seen by their direct supervisor. During an audit or inspection, if something goes wrong or is not corrected as had been previously directed, he/she can be counted on to always respond truthfully and honestly.

ENDURANCE

Definition – The mental and physical stamina measured by the ability to withstand pain, fatigue, stress, and hardship.

Significance – The quality of withstanding pain during a conditioning hike in order to improve stamina is crucial in the development of this leadership trait, and leadership in general. Leaders are responsible for leading their units in physical endeavors and for motivating them as well.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who asks the team to volunteer time for community work takes the lead by showing their personal commitment to getting down in the trenches for the benefit of others. A leader who is willing to stay late and lead by example in order to meet an important deadline. This person is always willing to do whatever he/she is asking others to do.

BEARING

Definition – Creating a favorable impression in carriage, appearance, and personal conduct at all times.

Significance – The ability to look, act, and speak like a leader whether or not these manifestations indicate one’s true feelings. Some signs of these traits are clear and plain speech, an erect gait, and impeccable personal appearance.

Leadership Trait Example – Wearing clean, pressed clothing, polished shoes, etc. Avoiding profane and vulgar language. Keeping a trim, fit appearance. Keeping your head – managing your emotions, keeping your word and staying calm under stressful situations.

UNSELFISHNESS

Definition – Avoidance of providing for one’s own comfort and personal advancement at the expense of others.

Significance – The quality of looking out for the needs of your subordinates before your own is the essence of leadership. This quality is not to be confused with putting these matters ahead of the accomplishment of the mission.

Leadership Trait Example -A leader ensures all members of the team have their needed supplies or resources before he/she does. Or, if supplies are scarce, this person will share what’s available and ensure that others do the same. If an employee needs extra instruction or coaching, the leader is quick to make his/her free time available whenever a need arises.

COURAGE

Definition – Courage is a mental quality that recognizes fear of danger or criticism, but enables a Marine to proceed in the face of it with calmness and firmness.

Significance – Knowing and standing for what is right, even in the face of popular disfavor, is often the leader’s lot. The business of fighting and winning wars is a dangerous one; the importance of courage on the battlefield is obvious.

Leadership Trait Example – Accepting criticism for allowing an employee to work overtime in order to ensure they can complete a task properly. Or, for giving an employee time off with pay to thank them for a job well done. Or, for giving credit to your team when things go right, but taking the blame yourself when things go badly.

KNOWLEDGE

Definition – Understanding of a science or an art. The range of one’s information, including professional knowledge and an understanding of your Marines.

Significance – The gaining and retention of current developments in military and naval science and world affairs is important for your growth and development.

Leadership Trait Example -A Leader is most efficient when he/she has experience in multiple areas of the business. Some knowledge and experience in the daily routines and lives of your subordinates (and theirs) makes decision-making more palatable for a caring leader. In addition, knowledge of your competitors, business partners, and even your own executive structure adds to your personal library of resource material – making for a more qualified leader. No one who leads others knows enough or too much.

LOYALTY

Definition – The quality of faithfulness to country, the Corps, and unit, and to one’s seniors, subordinates, and peers.

Significance – The motto of our Corps is Semper Fidelis, Always Faithful. You owe unswerving loyalty up and down the chain of command: to seniors, subordinates, and peers.

Leadership Trait Example -A leader displaying enthusiasm when communicating a company objective to the team, though he/she may privately disagree with it. The job has to be done, so if this person is to lead the team to complete the task, he/she chooses to do so with confidence and passion for the benefit of the team and company.

ENTHUSIASM

Definition – The display of sincere interest and exuberance in the performance of duty.

Significance – Displaying interest in a task, and an optimism that it can be successfully completed, greatly enhances the likelihood that the task will be successfully completed.

Leadership Trait Example – A leader who speaks with passion and emotion while leading a chant, an exercise or while teaching and/or coaching the team member. A leader who gets to the heart of what motivates an employee by taking the time to get to know that employee. Marines remember these leadership traits with the acronym:

J.J. DID TIE BUCKLE

“You have to find it. No one else can find it for you.” – Bjorn Borg

Business leaders are also encouraged to remember and adopt these long tested and proven leadership traits.

While keeping the 14 leadership traits in mind, one must understand the differentiation between a Manager, and a Leader.

Management, involves making sure that tasks are completed properly and in a timely manner. In contrast, Leadership, is more about dealing with people versus tasks. In effect, leadership is more complex because people are so complex.

Great leaders are able to positively influence people to do what’s necessary to complete a task. Not because a person of authority has instructed them to complete the task, but because the employees wants to complete the task.

In short, the definition we subscribe to is: “Leadership is effectively influencing others.”

It’s important to note that as our society has evolved, so has our understanding of leadership. In the early 1900’s, leadership was seen as an innate quality.

All of the great ones had it and everyone else admired those superb individuals. Leadership was perceived simply as a quality an individual was born with.

In the 1930’s, leadership was defined as a characteristic one could learn and develop with the assistance of a respected mentor. In 1948, General Omar N. Bradley defined leadership as, “…the art of influencing human behavior through ability to directly influence people and direct them toward a specific goal.”

In 1958, this leadership definition was offered by General Maxwell D. Taylor, “Leadership is the art of influencing and directing men in such a way as to obtain their willing obedience, confidence, respect and loyal cooperation in order to accomplish a mission.” Note the shift in thinking to include the concept of willingness.

Jump ahead to 1986, and General John Wickler’s leadership definition, “the process by which an individual determines direction and influences others to accomplish the mission of the organization.”

It’s true, not only do leaders use their talents and experience to influence others, they also focus only on those activities necessary to achieve a desired outcome.

Leaders help others to believe in the vision, goal or objective. Leaders define the work environment and provide the framework to support their team. Leaders identify the priorities as well as provide the direction for completing tasks on time.

In conclusion, it is important to note that the primary measurement of leadership success, is the final outcome or result. Every leader is 100% accountable for the bottom-line results of the team.

Great leaders are the first to give the credit for successful results to the team. These same great leaders are the first to accept the blame personally when the team fails to perform.

In this same spirit, President Harry S. Truman subscribed to the famous leadership definition, “The Buck Stops Here!”

Leadership Trait Theories

Step Three: THEORY VS REALITY:

Leadership Trait Theories – the importance of understanding theory versus reality.

Leadership trait theories are only substantiated or confirmed once ‘the rubber meets the road’ and positive results are produced.

Good leadership goes above and beyond reaching the goal or objective. Under solid leadership, success is realized in a manner that positively wins the hearts and minds of your team members.

Short-term wins are fleeting. True success is realized once a leader has, over time, cultivated a team to develop a “habit of success”. The habit is present when daily accomplishments are simply a way of doing business. This “success habit” lifestyle is obvious in all great leaders.

Leadership trait theories talk a lot about what “success” is.

For example, the achievement of a goal, the realization of a vision, etc. However, these examples miss the bigger picture of what success is all about.

In the end, success in life is determined by two things:

1. The quality of our relationships.
2. The quality of our contributions.

Certainly, no one lies on their deathbed wishing for more money or for more power.

When you look back on your own life, you will want to be able to be surrounded by a large group of people who you love, and who love you. In addition, you’ll want to know that throughout your life you made a difference. Therefore, relationships and contributions are truly what life is made of.

One of the greatest contributions you can make is to coach and mentor others to adopt higher standards and to achieve improved results. Great leaders understand that in order to be credible, they must model-the- way for their employees on a consistent basis.

Effective leaders encourage team members to cultivate strong connections with each other. And most importantly, great leaders hold all parties equally accountable for doing their part, sharing the load and making positive contributions to the team.

Another common point made in leadership trait theories is that there is no substitute for preparedness and hard work.

At some point, victory is almost always determined based on who wants it most. Who has prepared the most, and who was willing to do the work necessary to win!

In the early 1900’s, J.T. Munger said, “There is no road to success but through a clear, strong purpose. A purpose underlies character, culture, attainment of whatever sort.”

Base your leadership development planning only on those theories that are firmly supported with historic results. Don’t spend all your time trying to invent something when you can more easily implement a process or tool that someone else has already created, and has proven to be highly effective.

In conclusion, leadership trait theories provide aspiring leaders with blueprints of past successes.

360 Degree Feedback

Step Four: Learn Full Circle:

360 Degree Feedback – Ten steps to leadership development.

Utilize a 360 degree feedback leadership tool, and get a complete panoramic view of your current leadership status.

It is only within the last few decades that leadership assessment tools of this quality have been readily available.

Quality leadership tools are critical for leadership development. The benefits one receives when regularly applying these tools is measuring in improved results and a higher standard for living life in general.

Due to the positive influence that leadership tools can provide, our entire site is dedicated to providing these tools to anyone with aspirations of self-improvement and/or leadership development.

Our 360 degree assessment tool enables leaders to benefit from honest, direct feedback from parties at multiple levels.

For example, employees, supervisors, peers, business partners, or anyone else who you wish to gain feedback from can participate in this exercise. Hence the term, 360 degree feedback.

Certainly, you must be prepared to hear an honest assessment from those who work with you as to their “perception” of your leadership abilities.

Leaders must understand that every honest critique, whether complimentary or not, is a gift from someone who has agreed to invest time toward your personal growth.

The 360 degree feedback leadership tool provides lessons for leaders to consider as they work to grow in the leadership arena.

Each lesson should be carefully considered by you to become more aware of how your actions are perceived by others.

True or not, perception is reality in the minds of those around you – so you can’t afford to simply dismiss honest feedback. It will be this honest feedback that will enable you to adjust your approach and fine- tune your ability to influence your workgroup.

Take seriously the overall feedback you receive. Analyze your 360 degree feedback leadership assessment and make a commitment to yourself and to your team to implement some changes based on this tool.

Continue to self-assess your leadership development and experience the rewards of consistent improvement and overall success.

You can receive a free Pdf file containing our free 360 Degree Assessment tool, courtesy of Leadership-Tools.com.

DISC Personality Test

Step 5: Understand Personalities:

DISC Personality Test – a leadership tools that provides critical insight into the individual personalities of your employees and yourself.

The DISC personality assessment is another useful tool that effective leaders utilize to increase self-awareness. The DISC tool helps us understand why others do what they do.

Even more importantly, DISC provides rational for why YOU do what you do.

It’s important to understand a person’s natural tendency of responding to different situations.

The DISC personality test identifies natural behavioral tendencies. In other words, DISC sheds light on how we tend to operate and how we respond to various environmental challenges.

If the DISC behavioral assessment is new to you, perhaps you are familiar with the Myers-Briggs assessment? Myers-Briggs is a well- known behavioral assessment tool used for categorizing a person using a combination of 4 letters. Each letter represents a clearly defined and detailed description.

The problem with Myers-Briggs is that it is limited to only 16 personality types. In addition, the test is quite lengthy, consisting of over 100 questions. Just getting through the initial test is quite a challenge.

In contrast, the DISC personality test consists of only 24 questions, but yields over 19,000 personalized responses – resulting in 384 separate behavioral descriptions. Certainly, DISC by comparison to Myers-Briggs, provides a great alternative for a quality personality assessment.

So, is DISC for you? Remember that self-awareness leads to self- improvement, which is the pre-requisite to leadership development. DISC will provide critical feedback that can help to unleash your potential.

The DISC personality test will assist you with improved communication in your personal and professional relationships. By understanding DISC personality profiles you will gain greater insights into those around you and how each person might react or respond in any given situation.

The insight you gain from DISC will be quite beneficial to you in your role as a leader. DISC is a key tool that can assist you in recommending certain people for particular duties, creating teams for projects, and even in making important promotion decisions.

To experience the benefits of the DISC personality test, we recommend the following site: www.discreports.com

Free Emotional Intelligence Test

Step Six: Get Over Yourself:

Free Emotional Intelligence Test – Ten steps to leadership development.

A free emotional intelligence test is just the ticket to gaining constructive insight to understanding the way in which you react or respond to challenging situations.

”Anger and worry not only dwarf and depress, but sometimes kill.” – Horace Fletcher

To REACT is to blindly indulge oneself to gain some sense of significance. An emotional reaction is actually a thoughtless act.

To RESPOND, however, is to act only after careful consideration of your particular circumstance. A thoughtful response gains credibility with all persons that you are in contact with.

A helpful analogy for contrasting a reaction versus a response is that of a sick patient who has just received a medicine prescription from his doctor.

It’s ideal when a patient responds positively to the medicine. Responding to the medicine is the best outcome, correct?

On the other hand, it would be troubling to learn that the patient experienced a bad reaction to the medicine.

Moral to the story: To react is a negative outcome. To respond would be the best possible outcome.

A free emotional intelligence test will assist you to positively respond to situations, and hopefully avoid reacting – or even over-reacting.

Mastering your emotions is critical to your future success. You will know you are emotionally intelligent only after you have effectively faced some adversity with a thoughtful and effective response.

What you accomplish in spite of a challenging situation is the true measure of your future success.

“The best cure for indolence and suffrage is work” – Orison Swett Marden

Keeping the body and mind busy and active will aid anyone who is facing adversity. To dwell on the negative, to allow yourself to indulge in emotions of anger, irritation, jealousy, depression, hurt feelings or even thoughts of worry – only eats away at your heart and mind and can ultimately harm you physically.

Today give yourself the gift of peace of mind.

Complete this free emotional intelligence test from our friends at Psychtests.com. GET A FREE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE TEST

What is your emotional IQ?

 For decades, a lot of emphasis has been put on certain aspects of intelligence such as logical reasoning, math skills, spatial skills, understanding analogies, verbal skills etc. Researchers were puzzled by the fact that while IQ could predict to a significant degree academic performance and, to some degree, professional and personal success, there was something missing in the equation. Some of those with fabulous IQ scores were doing poorly in life; one could say that they were wasting their potential by thinking, behaving and communicating in a way that hindered their chances to succeed.

One of the major missing parts in the success equation is emotional intelligence, a concept made popular by the groundbreaking book by Daniel Goleman, which is based on years of research by numerous scientists such as Peter Salovey, John Meyer, Howard Gardner, Robert Sternberg and Jack Block, just to name a few. For various reasons and thanks to a wide range of abilities, people with high emotional intelligence tend to be more successful in life than those with lower EIQ even if their classical IQ is average.

This emotional intelligence test will evaluate several aspects of your emotional intelligence and will suggest ways to improve it. Please be honest and answer according to what you really do, feel or think, rather than what you think is considered right in this test. Nobody is there to judge you, just yourself…and besides, there are many trick questions.

Read every statement carefully and indicate which option applies best to you. There may be some questions describing situations that you may feel are not relevant to your life. In such cases, select the answer which you would most likely choose if you ever found yourself in such a situation.

After finishing the test, you will receive a Snapshot Report with an introduction, a graph and a personalized interpretation for one of your test scores. You will then have the option to purchase the full results.

Motivational Tapes

Step Seven: The Learning Habit:

Motivational Tapes – get into the habit of learning in your spare moments.

Audio selections on leadership and motivational are great tools for maintaining your enthusiasm and improving yours skill-set.

In order to stay motivated and fully engaged, it’s important to give yourself a daily dose of positive reinforcement. Motivational tapes are a great way to ensure that the wheels of success keep turning.

Just think of how many negative messages we encounter on a daily basis. How much of what you hear on the news or read in the paper actually “inspires” you to greatness?

Whether your interest is self-improvement, leadership development, sales management or other – motivational tapes can exponentially increase your effectiveness. And there are so many wonderful programs to choose from!

Perhaps you’ve struggled in school and consider yourself a poor reader. Motivational tapes are a terrific alternative for those who seek to learn and grow, but find reading cumbersome.

One huge benefit to listening to books on tape is that you can dramatically improve yourself using your spare moments and free time.

Get in the habit of maximizing your drive time, daily commute, workouts or household chores.

”Eternity itself cannot restore the loss struck from the minute.” – Ancient Poet

The best resource we have discovered for acquiring quality motivational tapes at a reasonable price, is a web site called Audible.com.

Listen to more than 18,000 audio books programs. Choose from popular and informative categories. Join now and receive free MP3 player.

Audible.com offers a tremendous library of books on tape, covering a wide array of categories and topics. And in case you are wondering, Audible.com provides an outstanding monthly purchase plan that provides listeners with immediate access to the newest offerings as well as countless classics.

You can even get a free selection! Choose a bestselling audiobook for FREE at Audible.com

Regardless of where you make your next purchase, we can’t over-emphasize the power of maximizing your spare moments for self-improvement.

”Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”- Benjamin Franklin

It’s time isn’t it – to take your rightful place in the front row of your own life? In this life of yours, are you simply a spectator or a pro-active participant?

Listening to leadership and motivational tapes in spare moments is a wonderfully effective option for maximizing your daily achievements and to ensure that your reach your lifelong dreams.

Plug In! Learn and Grow. Start today and enjoy a wealth of wisdom. To get you started, we recommend the following titles.

Life Strategies: Doing What Works, Doing What Matters

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Goals! How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible

Anthony Robbins’ Personal Power II: The Driving Force!

Over the Top

Be Quick – But Don’t Hurry!

Leadership Quotation

Step Eight: Use Wise Words:

Leadership Quotation – learn from the giants of our time.

The power of using leadership quotes is so under-valued
and too often under-utilized.

Quotations are used quite effectively by leaders. For instance, quotations can you used to:

• Drive home a main point.
• Provide clarity to a vision.
• Give support and credibility to a proposed idea.
• Justify a position.
• Create a vivid picture of what is taking place or expected to occur.

”The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages, may be preserved by quotation.” - Benjamin Disraeli

Just imagine for a moment, a person who is so determined to prove themselves right, he refuses to learn the lessons offered from his most recent failed attempts.

This person simply fails to adjust his approach based on the prior experience because he will not accept the fact that his initial premise is flawed.

A concerned friend or mentor might offer the perfect leadership quotation to help their friend reconsider his approach. The leadership quotation might be something like: “When you are in a horse race and your horse has died – DISMOUNT!” - Desi Williamson

The preceding example of leadership quotation provides a clear message, in a humorous and non-threatening way that gets to the heart of the matter.

Let’s now consider the work-a-holic who is so busy making money to buy material possessions, but at the expense of family, friends and her own health.

The following quotation from a compassionate observer might be helpful to put life into more perspective for the woman. ”The best things in life are free.” – Art Buchwald

To those who are set on having a bad day or imparting their negative attitude on to anyone within earshot, the following leadership quotation provides a clear option for them to consider. ”People are just about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

Leadership-tools.com provides hundreds of free quotes for your immediate use. Each quote provides an important life lesson. Simply click on any one of these quotation links:

LEADERSHIP QUOTES

SALES MANAGEMENT QUOTES

CUSTOMER SERVICE QUOTES

TEAM BUILDING QUOTES

POWERFUL QUOTES

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

SUCCESS QUOTES

MORE FAMOUS QUOTES

Educational Leadership Journals

Step Nine: Track Your Progress:

Educational Leadership Journals – staying on track with the stroke of a pen.

Educational leadership journals are a tool that leaders use to document their experience along the journey to self-growth and leadership development.

The practice of keeping a leadership journal serves several important purposes. Keeping a journal provides time for personal reflection – time to ponder key lessons learned, and the time to create and fine- tune a personal belief system.

Leaders, who have created a habit of maintaining educational leadership journals, enjoy going back year after year to remind themselves just how far they have come over past few weeks, months or years.

Journals provide important historic lessons learned throughout one’s life. Past journal entries remind us of how much we’ve grown and how much we have achieved in a relatively short period of time.

Renowned speaker and best selling author, Dr. John C. Maxwell often advocates the practice of keeping a leadership journal.

In fact, Dr. Maxwell refers to his journal as his leadership companion. He describes how he carries his companion with him at all times.

A journal/companion is a place where you can keep creative ideas, questions for future follow-up, personal/professional goals and commitments for future growth.

Keeping important thoughts and reference material in a journal or system ensures that you can easily and quickly access the information anytime in the future – creating less stress on you to remember the information.

Maintaining an educational leadership journal is a practice where you get back from the process multi-fold what you put into it. One of the greatest benefits of making daily journal entries, however trivial – is that it provides a few moments for the author to simply think and reflect.

Leaders who keep a journal can go back and review their daily entries and quickly realize that those entries of years past, actually predicted their present day experience.

Educational leadership journals are very inexpensive. A journal, companion, diary – whichever term you choose to use, consists of a simple spiral notebook and a pen or pencil.

Get started today – Write, Think, Learn, Grow!

Check out Dr. Maxwell’s recent best-seller, Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work The above selection is a highly insightful audio book. Dr. Maxwell speaks in depth about the importance of setting time aside to be alone with your own thoughts.

Personal Time Management Software

 Step Ten: Make Time to Soar!:

 Personal Time Management Software – provides a structure to assist in creating a highly valuable discipline of time management.

Finding the right personal time management software product and/or paper planning system is quite important to a leader who is seeking to leverage her time.

Unfortunately, time is in limited supply. Once a minute or an hour passes, you can never regain those precious moments.

Time cannot be recycled – it can only be leveraged or lost.

”Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of.
- Benjamin Franklin

It’s a simple fact that in this age of multi-tasking, dual career/daycare mom’s and dad’s – the scarcest commodity of all, is TIME.

The optimal personal time management software and/or paper planner product, will indeed help you solve the “lack of time” dilemma.

”Because we don’t know what is really important to us,
everything seems important.
Because everything seems important,
we have to do everything.
Other people, unfortunately, see us as doing everything,
so they expect us to do everything.
Doing everything keeps us so busy,
we don’t have time to think about what is really important to us.”
- Anonymous

We are fortunate to live in an age when time management tools are not only in great demand, but also in great supply.

Franklin Covey is well known for its personal time management software Plan Plus for Microsoft Outlook and other paper planning products.

If you are interested in finding a quality time management system at the lowest price – then we recommend you check out Franklin-Covey. You can even try out Plan-Plus for a Free 30-day trial period.

If you are able to invest a few more dollars up front for a higher quality personal time management software and/or paper planner – we highly recommend The RPM (Rapid Planning, Purpose Driven – Massive Action Planning) system.

The Robbins Institute offers a 10-day program called The Time Of Your Life

This 10-day program walks you through the entire process of setting up and using daily, the RPM system. The Time Of Your Life program is truly a life changing experience.

Program participants are taken on a personal journey to identify their true purpose in each of life’s key categories. (I.e., Financial, Emotional, Career, Spiritual, Family, Friends, etc.)

The participants’ ultimate Purpose remains front and center for the remainder of the time management process, which ensures that participants don’t get sidelined or distracted from what’s truly important.

The RPM personal time management software is offered as a free 45-day trial. To receive your free trial CD, call the Robbins Institute at 1-800-898-8669. This is a great option because you get to spend a good deal of time playing with the software to see if you like it.

Still not sure if you can benefit from using a personal time management software and/or paper planner product? Ask yourself a few key questions:

• Do you feel as if you are always putting out fires, and working in crisis mode?
• Do you feel like a lot of your time is wasted due to activities outside your own control?
• Do you spend too much time on tasks that have little or no relevance to your top priorities – yet these tasks demand your immediate and full attention?
• Do you acknowledge you spend too much time on busy work such as watching TV, surfing the Internet, reviewing e-mail, organizing your desk, or completing small tasks before addressing the major issues in your life?
• Are you constantly caring for others and not yourself?

With our busy schedules and high demands, it’s unlikely that anyone wouldn’t find a personal time management software and/or paper planning product useful.

In fact, we strongly encourage our readers to start referring to time management as “Life Management”. It’s that important!

It is only when we truly understand that we have a limited time on earth – and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up – that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only day we had left.” – Anonymous

CONGRATULATIONS!

You’ve completed the Ten Steps to Leadership Development series. We hope you have found this experience helpful. Now that you are aware of so many quality tools available for self-help and leadership development, we encourage you to begin your personal journey NOW.

Don’t allow yourself to needlessly suffer from what we call “permanent potential”. Life is just too short not to live it to the fullest.

Please check in with us from time to time and let us know how it’s going for you. We love to hear direct feedback from our readers.

Best of luck to you as you – PRESS ONWARD.

 My source: http://www.leadership-tools.com/free-online-leadership-training.html

Cantaloupes and carrots, with their distinctive orange flesh, are two of the well-known foods that are brimming with beta-carotene. Discover what other fruits and vegetables to be had if you want to increase your natural supply of this antioxidant.

Beta-carotene is one of the well-known carotenoids, the naturally occurring pigments in plants.  Together with alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, and beta-cryptoxanthin, they are converted to vitamin A in the body which is needed for good eyesight, healthy lungs, bones, skin, immune system, and in protein formation.

Although fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene are best-known for their orange and yellow hues, those with pink, red, white and other colors may also contain this carotenoid as other phytonutrient pigments combine with the beta-carotene to give plant food its color.

Study participants have shown that those who eat at least four servings of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene daily may lower their risk of developing heart disease and certain cancers. It has also been found to help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and high doses may lower sun sensitivity.

Experts said that beta-carotene may only be beneficial when consumed naturally rather than in supplemental form. In fact, preliminary studies have shown that supplements may raise the risk of lung cancer in smokers.

For every 100 grams, here’s how much beta-carote you will get from the top sources among fresh fruits and vegetables.

Fruits:

1.       Cantaloupe – 2020 mcg

2.       Apricots – 1094 mcg

3.       Cherries, sour, red – 770 mcg

4.       Purple passion-fruit – 743 mcg

5.       Pink and red grapefruit – 686 mcg

6.       Plantains – 457 mcg

7.       Mangoes – 445 mcg

8.       Guavas – 374 mcg

9.       Watermelon – 330 mcg

10.   Papayas – 276 mcg

Vegetables:

1.       Grape leaves – 16193 mcg

2.       Kale – 9226 mcg

3.       Turnip greens – 6952 mcg

4.       Baby carrots – 6391 mcg

5.       Mustard greens – 6299 mcg

6.       Dandelion greens – 5854 mcg

7.       Spinach – 5626 mcg

8.       Romaine lettuce – 5225 mcg (also red and green leaf lettuce)

9.       Parsley – 5054 mcg

10.   Butternut squash – 4226 mcg

Nutrient data source: USDA

Source: http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/10-beta-carotene-rich-fruits-and-vegetables/

The avocado is widely known as the most nutritious fruit. More recently, the kiwi and the guava want to claim the title. Here are 10 of the most commonly mentioned most nutritious fruits.

I grew up believing that avocados are the most nutritious fruits in the planet. The Guinness World Records also says so.

Some experts believe that berries, packed with anti-oxidants are the most nutritious but other experts also suggest that the kiwi and the guava deserve the title better.

The results are surprising, but these are 10 of the most commonly mentioned most nutritious fruits.

Watermelon

Watermelon is more than delicious, it is also very nutritious. It’s color alone says that it is blushing with vitamin A in the form of lycopene and beta-carotene, antioxidants which may help reduce cancer risk. It is also a very good source of vitamin C, a good source of vitamin B1, potassium and magnesium, nutrients which promotes a healthy immune and cardiovascular system. Recently, it was found to have Viagra-like effects to the blood vessels of the body due to its rich citrulline content.

Avocado

Also known as aguacate, butter pear and alligator pear, avocadoes are a treasure-trove of nutrients. They contain more than 25 essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, B, C and E. They also supply lutein, copper, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They have more fiber, folate, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin than any other fruit. They’re also one of the few fruits that have monounsaturated (good) fats. A cup of avocado contains 29 mcg of vitamin K, 874 mg of potassium and 90 mcg of folate.

Raspberries

Raspberries are brimming with a wide variety of nutrients. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, fiber and manganese and good source of vitamins B2 and B3 as well as folate, magnesium, potassium and copper. Raspberries, just like most berries are known for being an antioxidant powerhouse that may provide protection from various ailments including cancers and cardiovascular diseases.

Cantaloupe

A cup of cantaloupe (also known as netted melon) contains 5158 IU of vitamin A and 67 mg of vitamin C, both more than the recommended daily value. It’s a good source of potassium, vitamin B6, B3, dietary fiber and folate. It contains the largest amount of digestive enzymes of any fruit, surpassing papayas and mangoes. These marvelous melons are recommended by the American Cancer Society as healthful agents in the battle against intestinal cancer and melanoma. Cantaloupes are a source of polyphenol antioxidants, chemicals which are known to provide certain health benefits to the cardiovascular system and immune system.

Grapefruit

Grapefruit is loaded with vitamin C and carotenoids, a good amount of fiber of the cholesterol lowering type, pectin, plus phytochemicals such as flavonoids, terpenes, and limonoids. Studies have shown grapefruit helps lower cholesterol and there is evidence that the seeds have high levels of antioxidant properties. Grapefruit forms a core part of the “grapefruit diet”, the theory being that the fruit’s lowglycemic index is able to help the body’s metabolism burn fat.

Guava

Some researchers say that guava is in fact the most nutritious fruit. Guavas are high in dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, vitamin B3 and G4 and polyunsaturated fatty acids especially the seeds. It has four times the amount of vitamin C in orange, has good levels of the dietary minerals, potassium, magnesium, and an otherwise broad, low-calorie profile of essential nutrients. Guavas contain both major classes of antioxidant pigments — carotenoids and polyphenols. Guavas that are red, yellow or orange in color have more potential value as antioxidant sources than unpigmented species.

Kiwifruit

This fuzzy-skinned, egg-shaped fruit is a rich source of vitamin C and potassium. It also contains Vitamins A and E and the skin is a good source of flavonoid , an antioxidant. More than 90% of the fruit is water so it only has 90 calories per serving. It has higher potassium content than the banana and the orange. It is also filled with fiber, lutein,inositol, serotonin, arginin and glutamate, pectin, magnesium and the protein-dissolving enzyme actinidin . From a study of 27 different fruits, kiwi was named one of the most nutritionally dense, says Stephanie Dean, R.D., dietitian with Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

Papaya

Sometimes called “tree melon” or “pawpaw”, the papaya is an excellent source of vitamin C, a very good source of folate and potassium and good source of dietary fiber and the vitamins A, E and K. A cup of papaya has 782 mg of potassium and 187 mg of vitamin C—thrice the recommended daily value. Papaya was named “the most nutritious fruit” by the Centre for Science, USA and Christopher Columbus called it ‘the fruit of the angels’.

Strawberries

The most popular berries in the world are an exciting source of essential vitamins and minerals. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese; a very good source of iodine and fiber and a good source of B complex and minerals including potassium, folate and omega-3 fatty acids. A cup of strawberries contains 136% of the needed daily value of vitamin C.

Apricots

Don’t be fooled by this small fruit’s size as it can be one of our body’s ally for healthy living. Its nutritional punch includes loads of anti-oxidants in the form of vitamin C, lycopene and beta-carotene. Apricots are also rich in fiber and the blood pressure-lowering potassium.

Any fruit is good fruit. It should be part of our everyday diets. Three to five servings of fresh fruits a day are ideal and eating a variety of fruits daily keep our bodies and immune system in top shape.

Perhaps it’s time to change an old adage into “Five servings of fruits a day keep the doctor away.”

*All images via Flickr Creative Commons.
source: http://healthmad.com/nutrition/10-most-nutritious-fruits/

Vegetables are among the must-eat food around if you talk about nutrition and protection from cancer, heart ailments, various forms of inflammation such as asthma and arthritis, and other health problems. Here are some of the most nutritious ones.

Carrots

A cup of raw carrots contains a whopping 34317 IU of vitamin A, making it the richest vegetable source of pro-vitamin A carotenes, a phytonutrient which has shown to help protect vision and is associated with reduced risk of heart disease and certain types of cancers. This orange root crop is also a very good source of vitamins C and K, dietary fiber and potassium and a good source of B complex, manganese, molebdenum, phosphorus, magnesium and folate.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are bursting with more than 20 vitamins and minerals. A cup of ripe red tomatoes supplies an excellent amount of vitamins A, C and K. It is a very good source of molebdenum , potassium, manganese, chromium and vitamins B1 and B6. It is also a good source of folate, copper, iron, B complex and other essential nutrients. Tomatoes are well known for their lycopene content, a phytonutrient with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties.

Sweet Potatoes

A cup of baked sweet potatoes with skin is an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene as it contains 13107 IU of this powerful antioxidant.  It is also a very good source of manganese and vitamin C and a good source of vitamin B6 and the minerals copper, fiber, potassium and iron. Purple-fleshed sweet potatoes are rich in anthocyanins and have the highest antioxidant activity among sweet potato varieties.

Soybeans

Soybeans are one of the most well researched health-promoting foods in the world today. A cup of cooked soybeans can supply the body with excellent amount of molebdenum and tryptophan, a very good amount of manganese and protein and a good amount of more than 10 other essential nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and potassium. One cup of soybean provides more than 50% of the daily value of protein.

Asparagus

This almost leafless member of the lily family with fleshy green spears has been considered a delicacy since ancient times. A cup of boiled asparagus is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K and folate. It is a very good source of more than 10 vitamins and minerals including B complex, potassium and fiber. Asparagus has been described by second century physician, Galen, as “cleansing and healing.”

Bell Pepper

With their beautifully shaped glossy exterior that comes in a wide variety of vivid colors ranging from green to black, bell peppers are known as the Christmas ornaments of the vegetables world. A cup of sliced, red, raw bell pepper provides 5244 mg of vitamin A which is more than 100% of DV. It is also an excellent source of vitamins C and B6 and a very good source of fiber, molebdenum, manganese and folate.

Spinach

Spinach is a treasure-trove of nutrients as it boasts more than 35 essential vitamins and minerals. A cup of boiled spinach is an excellent source of over a dozen nutrients. It can provide the body with three times the DV of vitamin A and over 1000% of the DV of vitamin K as it contains 1023 mcg of the nutrient. More than a dozen flavonoids has also been identified with this leafy green.

Brussels Sprouts

A cup of boiled Brussels sprouts is an excellent source of vitamins C and K and a very good source of B complex, folate, fiber, potassium and vitamin A, one of the most important antioxidant found in nature. This miniature cabbage look-alike is also rich in vitamin E, calcium and copper. Studies have shown that diets high in cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are linked to lower incidence of certain cancers, including lung, colon, breast and ovarian cancer.

Broccoli

Broccoli has been considered a uniquely valuable food among Italians since the Roman Empire. A cup of boiled broccoli supplies an excellent amount of vitamins A, C and K, folate and fiber. It contains 505 mg of potassium and 102 mg of phosphorus. It is also rich in iron, zinc, vitamin E, B complex and over 20 other essential nutrients. Broccoli may be eaten raw, boiled or steamed, but steaming, microwaving and stir-frying are recommended so as not to reduce the presence of its suspected anticancer compounds.

Kale

Kale, also known as borecole, is considered as the most nutritious vegetable. A cup of cooked, boiled and drained without salt contains a massive 1062 mcg of vitamin K and 9620 IU of vitamin A –almost double the daily value. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese and a very good source of fiber, copper, calcium and potassium. Its phytonutrients include glucosinolates and flavonoids and is well known for its carotenoid content, especially lutein and zeanthin.
Source: http://healthmad.com/nutrition/10-most-nutritious-vegetables/

Arthritis affects one in every five people in the United States, this according to the National Institutes of Health. Arthritis is a disease of inflammation, and the most effective treatment is anything that fights inflammation. Thought food can’t cure arthritis, it can reduce the severity of the condition.

These six fruits and veggies can help ease the pain of this ailment.

Cantaloupe

The cantaloupe’s anti-inflammatory abilities are due to its being a rich source of vitamins A and C. These two potent antioxidants neutralize free radicals which are the cause of increase in inflammation that occurs in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and cause most of the joint damage. Scientific studies have also shown that high intakes of vitamin C and beta-carotene reduce the risk of heart disease, reduce airway spasm that occurs in asthma and reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Cherries

Anthocyanins, the pigment that gives cherries their color is also the ingredient that provides their powerful antioxidant properties that ease inflammation. Study participants have shown that regular consumption of tart cherries cut inflammation by 50%. Eating cherries may also help lessen the severity of other inflammatory conditions, such as heart disease and cancer. Anthocyanins were found to have the most potent anti-inflammatory effect among any flavonoid tested.

Papaya

Papaya is loaded with several unique protein-digesting enzymes including papain and chymopapain (and glutathione, the activator of these enzymes) which has shown to help reduce inflammation. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamins A and E. People with conditions worsened by inflammation, such as asthma and arthritis found that it helps alleviate the severity of their condition when they get more of these nutrients.

The easiest way to eat ripe papaya is to slice it lengthwise, scrape out the seeds and then scoop out the flesh using a spoon.

Bell Pepper

A cup of red, raw bell pepper slices is bursting with vitamins A and C. Studies revealed that vitamin C-rich foods such as bell pepper and chili peppers provide protection against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involving two or more joints. Vitamin C is essential for the repair and maintenance of cartilage and bones and in the formation of collagen, an important protein used to make tendons, cartilage and ligaments. Vitamin A is needed to promote healthy bone development. Bell pepper is also rich in vitamin E and beta-cryptoxanthin, two antioxidants which mop up free radicals that cause inflammation while increasing joint flexibility.

Ginger

 The secret to the ginger root’s anti-inflammatory properties come from gingerol, a very potent anti-inflammatory compound which has shown to reduce pain and improve mobility in people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis when they regularly consume ginger.

The best way to take this tuber is to grate two teaspoons and mix with very hot water. Steep for five minutes, strain and stir slowly.

Sweet Potatoes

In addition to being an excellent source of vitamin A and a very good source of vitamin C, the sweet potato is also a good source of manganese, a mineral essential to healthy cartilage formation. Thus, not only is manganese extremely helpful in fighting arthritis but evidence has also shown that it also helps keep the bones strong as well as prevent osteoporosis. A cup of baked sweet potato with skin is also a good source of vitamin B6. Women with RA have been found to have lower levels of this nutrient which is due to metabolism changes as a result of the disease.
http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/six-fruits-and-vegetables-which-fight-arthritis/

These fruits are not just packed with nutrients, they contain the lowest in calories, too.
Based on 100 gram serving:

Rhubarb – 21 calories

Rhubarbs are typically made into jams, juices and as a pie, tart and crumble filling. The simplest way they are prepared is to boil the stems and then dipped in sugar. Rhubarb is rich in calcium, potassium and fiber, and is packed with the highest water content among fruits. It is also among the fruits with highest lutein and zeathin content, two of the carotenoids known to promote good eyesight.

Rose-apples – 25 calories

One fun way to replenish or supply your body with water on a hot summer day is to pig out on rose-apples (also known as wax apples, love apples, and java apples). These light pink to red colored-fruits are crunchy and can provide an additional supply of vitamins A and C and potassium in your body. Some people enjoy eating them with a little salt.

Casaba melons – 28 calories

Casaba melon is one of those melon varieties you probably aren’t so familiar with.  It’s probably because it’s not as flavorful as the other more colorful melons. It also does not have an aroma. Casaba melon is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium and every 100 grams has only 28 calories.

Ohelo berries – 28 calories

If it’s the first time you have heard of ohelo berries it’s probably because it is mostly commonly found at high elevations on the islands of Maui and Hawaii. They range in color from bright red to yellow and orange. This cranberry relative can be slightly tart to deliciously sweet. They are high in water and low in calories.

Limes – 30 calories

In addition to their low calorie content, limes are also high in vitamin C. They add flavor to foods and beverages and is a very common ingredient in Mexican, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine.

Watermelon – 30 calories

Subtly crunchy and refreshingly sweet with almost zero calories, that’s watermelon. Watermelon is an ally for a healthy body through its rich supply of vitamins and minerals especially lycopene, the carotenoid which studies have shown helps prevent heart disease and various types of cancer.

Carambola (starfruit) – 31 calories

The carambola, also known as starfruit is another crunchy and juicy fruit. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of fiber. People with kidney problems, gout, osteoporosis and arthritis are advised to avoid eating this fruit due to its oxalic acid, a compound which can be harmful for them. Parsley, spinach, beets, chocolates and beans also contains oxalic acid.

Acerola (west indian cherry) – 32 calories

Do your gums easily bleed? Do your wounds heal poorly? If your answer is “yes” to both questions then you are most probably deficient in vitamin C. Look for acerola, the fruit with the highest vitamin C among fruits and veggies. Acerola is also big in water and vitamin A.

Grapefruit – 32 calories

Grapefruit is a subtropical citrus fruit brimming with nutrients and phytochemicals. One small fruit can already supply over 100% of the daily value of vitamin C and almost half of the DV of vitamin A. Studies reveal that it helps reduce cholesterol.

Strawberries – 32 calories

Another high water and low calorie fruit is the strawberry. This heart-shaped berry is considered as one of the most nutritious fruits. It is rich in fiber, folate and manganese, a mineral that helps calcium keeps bones strong and healthy.

Other low calorie fruits include:

• Pitanga (Surinam cherry) – 33 calories
• Cantaloupe – 34 calories
• Honeydew melon – 36 calories
• Pomelo – 38 calories
• Papayas – 39 calories

* Nutrient data source: USDA
http://healthmad.com/nutrition/10-fruits-with-lowest-calories/

These fruits are deliciously nutritious, but if you’re watching your caloric intake you might want to limit your consumption

Based on 100 gram serving:

1. Tamarinds – 239 calories

Tamarinds are packed with the highest sugar and calories. The good news is they are also loaded with the richest protein, iron and potassium among fruits.

2. Avocados – 160 calories

Don’t let the high calorie content of avocados be the reason for you to avoid this fruit as they are one of the most nutritious. They’re highest in folate, vitamin E, tryptophan, and zinc which helps strengthen the immune system and promote prostate health.

3. Durian – 147 calories

Notorious for its smell and taste, many people shun durian the same way that others are totally drawn into it. If you’re one of those who dig this fruit, you’re providing your body with a high dose of vitamin C, fiber, potassium, and B complex.

4. Sapotes – 134 calories

High in vitamin C, fiber, potassium and magnesium and one of the top fighters in the combat against depression with their tryptophan content—these are just some of the healthy goodness that sapotes have to offer.

5. American persimmons – 127 calories

Persimmons can provide over 100% of the DV in vitamin C. It helps prevent anemia with its rich iron supply and the potassium content helps lower blood pressure.

6. Plantains – 122 calories

If you want higher potassium, omega-3’s and vitamins A and C, choose plantains over sweet bananas.  Add them in stews, fry or mash like potatoes.

7. Rowal – 111 calories

Forget about the rowal’s high calorie content but instead think about their high copper supply which can offer many health benefits including helping maintain healthy bones and keeping the thyroid healthy.

8. Breadfruit – 103 calories

Do you want more fiber and potassium from fruits? The breadfruit has more vitamin C, potassium and fiber than the jackfruit, its close relative.

9. Custard-apple – 101 calories

This heart-shaped fruit is tasty and nutritious. It can be made into a sweet drink and can be used as a milk substitute. It is called sugar-apple or sweetsop in other countries and California and Britain refers to it as the cherimoya. Sugar-apple and cherimoya are actually two different fruits from the same genus.

10. Purple passion-fruit – 97 calories

The purple passion-fruit is loaded with the highest fiber among fruits. Fiber helps keep the digestive system healthy so it can absorb nutrients. Purple passion-fruit can be made into soufflé or a deliciously refreshing lassi.

Other high-calorie fruits:

* Jackfruit – 94 calories

* Soursop – 94 calories

* Bananas – 89 calories

* Pomegranates – 83 calories

* Sapodilla – 83 calories

* Nutrient data source: USDA
source: http://healthmad.com/nutrition/10-fruits-with-highest-calories/

Southeast Asian cultivators and connoisseurs will swear that the durian is a fruit without compare. Durian is called King of Fruits in Southeast Asian countries where it is widely abundant. People who have just seen and smell it are immediately turned off by its strong, pungent odor, while for the brave, who manage to taste the fruit itself, the offensiveness of the smell quickly wanes. Some people describe the odor of durian as strong and pervasive that the best hotels refuse to allow their guests to bring durians into their room. But the proof is in the eating, and most people who have tasted it become lifelong addicts.

Durians are not plucked but allowed to fall, which is when they are best for eating. In rural areas, villagers clear the ground beneath the durian tree. They build grass huts nearby at harvest time and camp there for 6 or 8 weeks in order to be ready to collect each fruit as soon as it falls. Caution is necessary when approaching a durian tree during the ripening season, for the falling fruits can cause serious injury. Durians are highly perishable. They are fully ripe 2 to 4 days after falling and lose eating quality in 5 or 6 days.

Fruit Description:

• Durian tree: grow up to 27 m
• Fruit Shape: oblong
• Length: 20-35cm, diameter: 18-22 cm and weighs from 1-9kg.
• Rind: thick, semi-wood with stout, sharply pointed spines; color: yellowish-green.
• Edible Pulp/ flesh: After opening the fruit you will find 5 or less compartments containing the creamy-white or yellowish edible pulp with custard-like consistency.
• Seeds: 1 to 7 chestnut-like seeds, 2-6 cm long with glossy, red-brown color.

Health Benefits:

• Durian is extremely nutritious because it is rich in vitamin B, C and E and with high iron content. Eating durian is alleged to restore the health of ailing humans and animals.
• A preparation from its roots and leaves is prescribed by traditional doctors for fevers and jaundice.
• Decoctions of the leaves and fruits are applied to swellings and skin diseases.
• Durian fruit helps lower cholesterol.
• Durian is a strong blood cleanser.
• The ash of the burned rind is taken after childbirth.
• Durian contains high levels of the amino acid tryptophan, known to alleviate anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and create feelings of happiness, by raising levels of serotonin in the brain
• Durian contains high level of soft protein which makes it a good muscle builder.
• Durian has a reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac.
• Durian is recommended as a good source of raw fats.

Nutritive Value per 100 g

• Vitamin A: 20-30 I.U.
• Ascorbic Acid: 23.9-25.0 mg
• Vitamin E: “high”
• Calcium: 7.6-9.0 mg
• Phosphorus: 37.8-44.0 mg
• Potassium: 436 mg
• Thiamine: 0.24-0.352 mg
• Riboflavin: 0.20 mg
• Niacin0.6: 83-0.70 mg
• Iron: 0.73-1.0 mg
• Sugars(approx.) 12.0 g
• Protein: 2.5-2.8 g
• Fat: 5.33g
• Fiber: 3.8 g
• Total Carbohydrates: 30.4-34.1 g
• Calories: 144

Culinary Uses: Durian fruit is best eaten fresh but is can also be used for making durian cake, dessert and paste. Seeds are also edible, it can be eaten after boiling, roasting or frying. The unripe fruit is boiled whole and eaten as a vegetable.

Market form: Durians are sold in local market as whole, or cut open and are wrapped in clear plastic. Durian is also available canned in syrup for export. It also comes in dried form for local use and for export.

Yield: Durians mature in 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 months from the time of fruit-set. Well-grown, high-yielding cultivars can bear 6,000 lbs of fruit per acre (6,720 kg/ha).

Note: Durian fruit is highly nutritious it is not advisable to eat this fruit in excess. Pregnant women or people with high blood pressure are traditionally advised not to consume durian. The seeds are believed to possess a toxic property that causes shortness of breath.

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Source: http://len7288.hubpages.com/hub/Health-Benefits-of-Durian

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is an important medicinal herb that grows in moist valleys and meadows in Europe (especially throughout the British Isles) and the Middle East, in the areas with a temperate climate.It has very beautiful bell-shaped flowers of various colors (from purple and dark blue to pale yellow and white), which bloom all summer long. For centuries comfrey has been used as a food crop, until the sixteenth century when some of its therapeutic properties were discovered. In those times, comfrey was used as an external remedy in the forms of formentations, ointments and poultices for treating wounds and various skin problems.

Those comfrey preparations were mostly made from the stems, leaves, flowers and roots of the medicinal herb. It turned out that comfrey is rich in natural substances which speed up skin regeneration, like tannins, allatonin, mucilage, rosemarinic acid, and other components. Also, comfrey is rich in vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium and others. Health benefits of comfrey include anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, soothing, expectorant, astrigent, proliferant, slight sedative, haemostatic, anodyne and other properties of this herb.

Externally, comfrey can be used to treat any sort of inflammations, including acne, insect bites, inflammatory swellings and arthritis pains, ill-conditioned ulcers, bruises, conjunctivitis and many more. Health benefits of comfrey include several powers of this plant discovered by our ancestors in the Middle ages. In particular, this medicinal herb can be used as a great natural cure for broken bones, fractures, dislocations, strains, ligaments and so on.

As to internal use of comfrey, there’s a certain controversy here as this medicinal herb is considered to be quite toxic due to a high content of very toxic compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can cause serious damage to human liver and even cause cancer. That is why in some countries like the US, Germany, the UK, Canada and others, marketing of oral products containing comfrey is banned. In 2001, the FDA withdrew all dietary supplements and oral remedies with comfrey from American market.

At the same time, historically, this natural remedy was extensively used as a component for homemade remedies for various conditions, including all sorts of intestinal disorders, internal bleeding, digestion problems and irritable bowel syndrome. Health benefits of comfrey include its properties to treat internal inflammatory diseases like dysentery, gum disease and others. Finally,  researches have shown that comfrey can assist in lowering cholesterol levels. However, remember that internal use of comfrey is connected with quite high risks of intoxication, that is why in the most situations it is advised to refrain from it.

Author Info: Hi! My name is Carla and I am a 5th year medical student at HYMS. I am interested in alternative medicine and I have done months researching the topic of herbal medicine. Besides, I like interviewing people and learning more about their experiences with one or another type of herbal treatments. I am willing to contribute to this site with my knowledge, and I would be happy to help you out to the best of my ability with any specific questions or problems related to alternative medicine.

Source: http://guide2herbalremedies.com/health-benefits-comfrey/

Comfrey Health Benefits

Overview

Comfrey is a perennial shrub that is native to Europe, and its roots and leaves are sold as ointments, compounds oils, creams, compresses and leaf extracts for a variety of medicinal purposes. Comfrey was historically used orally to treat gastrointestinal illness, bronchitis and peptic ulcers, however comfrey has been found to be toxic to the liver when taken internally, and may cause hepatoxicity. As such, oral use of comfrey has been banned in North America and the UK and comfrey is currently only sold for topical purposes.

Beneficial Compounds in Comfrey

Comfrey contains minerals, vitamins and numerous phytochemicals, which are potent antioxidant compounds found in plants. The leaves and roots contain the phytochemicals allantoin and tannins, which both help new skin cells to form and they thereby promote wound healing and healthy skin. Comfrey leaves and roots also contain rosmarinic acid, which is a phytochemical that helps to reduce inflammation.

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List of Topical Benefits

Comfrey is used topically to reduce the inflammation of, and promote the healing of, strains, fractures, pulled muscles and broken bones, states the University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. It is also used to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. According to Phyllis Balch in her book “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” comfrey helps to speed the healing of various skin conditions including skin rashes, sunburns, dermatitis and psoriasis. Comfrey is also used for the treatment of bedsores, bites and stings, bruises, inflamed bunions, burns, dry skin, leg ulcers, nosebleeds and scabies.

Back Pain

The benefits of topical applications of comfrey are based primarily on anecdotal evidence, and little research has been done to confirm the efficacy of comfrey for its purported uses. A study was done however by the “British Journal of Sports Medicine” regarding the use of comfrey for the treatment of back pain. The study, which was published in the July 2010 issue, concluded that there was a significant difference between the comfrey extract and placebo group regarding pain intensity. In fact, the comfrey extract caused a 95.2 percent decrease in perceived pain during standard movements and it produced the pain-relieving effects rapidly.

Precautions

Topical use of comfrey is generally considered safe, however substances called pyrrolizine alkaloids are found in comfrey and they can be harmful in large amounts. When comfrey is used on open wound or applied excessively, it can build up in the body and become toxic. As such, UMM states that you should follow the instructions on comfrey products, making sure not to use more then is recommended and not use comfrey for more then 10 days at a time. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should avoid comfrey products altogether.

References

• “Prescription for Nutritional Healing”; Phyllis Balch; 2003
• University of Maryland Medical Center: Comfrey
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Comfrey
• British Journal of Sports Medicine ; Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain: results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, multicentre trial; Giannetti BM et al.; July, 2010

About this Author

Megan Ashton began writing professionally in 2010. When she isn’t writing, she works with clients as the owner of Total Health & Hypnotherapy. She graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts in communications then continued her education at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, where she became a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. Megan is also a Clinical Hypnotherapist.

Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/417409-comfrey-health-benefits/

Comfrey Benefits and Information

Comfrey grows in moist ground in valley and meadows in regions from Newfoundland south to Georgia and west to Louisiana. Comfrey can also be found growing in similar climates and geographies in Europe. Comfrey is a large plant that can reach up to 5 feet in height. The narrow oval, alternate, dark green leaves grow on the erect, upper branching stem with downy, pale yellow to purplish bell-shaped flowers that bloom from May through September. The comfrey root is black on the outside, fleshy and cream colored on the inside, and contains a glutinous juicy substance.

Medicinal Indications

Mucilage and allantoin are the primary constituents in comfrey which are responsible for the herbs soothing and anti-inflammatory effects.Comfrey has a wide range of medicinal uses for both internal and external ailments. Its actions are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. Comfrey is an anodyne (alleviates pain), astringent (constricts blood vessels), expectorant (expels mucous), emollient (used to soften body tissues including skin), haemostatic (helps blood clotting), proliferant (increases cells growth), refrigerant, mild sedative, and vulnerary (ability to heal injuries). Dried comfrey leaves are especially popular when used in connection with internal disorders, such as lung ailments, and when used as an expectorant. Comfrey acts as a natural laxative and the mucilage as a gum-based substance relieves diarrhea and also helps with the digestion of food, a great benefit to people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome. Reports indicate that comfrey is useful for individuals suffering from ulcers and diabetes. Mucilage created by comfrey delays the emptying of the stomach and reduces after-meal peaks of glucose and insulin. It also helps to remove cholesterol, and the high nutrient content helps people feel better.

Dried comfrey leaves are especially popular for treating internal disorders such as lung ailments and is considered a power expectoran. Comfrey acts as a natural laxative and the mucilage, a gum-based substance relieves diarrhoea and also helps with the digestion of food (a great benefit to people suffering from irritable bowel syndrome). Reports indicate that comfrey is useful for individuals suffering from ulcers and diabetes. Mucilage created by comfrey delays the emptying of the stomach and reduces after-meal peaks of glucose and insulin. It also helps to remove cholesterol, and the high nutrient content makes one feel a whole lot better.

Comfrey is most commonly used in connection with the following conditions:

• Bruises
• Sprains and Strains
• Dislocations
• Wounds

Comfrey as a Food supplement

Comfrey’s high nutrient content makes it an excellent tonic. Comfrey contains a number of very beneficial nutrients and chemical compounds including:

• Protein
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B12 (There are only two plants that contain Vitamin B12 naturally Alfalfa and Comfrey)
• B Complex Vitamins
• Mucilaginous fibre
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Phosphorus
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Sulphur
• Copper
• Zinc
• Selenium
• Germanium

Supporting Literature

Duke JA. Handbook of Phytochemical Constituents of GRAS Herbs and Other Economic Plants. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1992.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, eds. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Co; 2000:212-213.
Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(20):2200-2211.
Mills SY. Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. New York: Viking Arkana, 1991, 544-547.
Miskelly FG, Goodyer LI. Hepatic and pulmonary complications of herbal medicines. Postgrad Med J. 1992;68:935-936.
Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum and Beaconsfield, UK: Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd., 1988, 334-335.

Source: http://www.nutrasanus.com/comfrey.html

Comfrey – Uses and Benefits

Scientific Name: Symphytum Officinale

Plant Description

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) is a perennial herb of the family Boraginaceae with a black, turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that are about 2 to 3 feet high, is stout, angular and hollow, broadly winged at the top and covered with bristly hairs. The lower, radical leaves are very large, up to 10 inches long, ovate in shape and covered with rough hairs which promote itching when touched.

The stem-leaves are decurrent, i.e. a portion of them runs down the stem, the body of the leaf being continued beyond its base and point of attachment with the stem. Comfrey is mainly grows in Europe in damp, grassy places, and is widespread throughout the British Isles on river banks and ditches.

Although comfrey has been used as a food crop, and as a forage crop, in the past 20 years scientific studies reported that comfrey may be carcinogenic, since it appeared to cause liver damage and cancerous tumors in rats. Comfrey-pepsin capsules, which are sold as a digestive aid in herbal and health-food stores in the USA, have been analyzed and found to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids.

Uses and Benefits of Comfrey

Comfrey leaves are of much value as an external remedy, both in the form of fomentations, for sprains, swellings and bruises, and as a poultice, to severe cuts, to promote suppuration of boils and abscesses, and gangrenous and ill-conditioned ulcers. The whole plant, beaten to a cataplasm and applied hot as a poultice, has always been deemed excellent for soothing pain in any tender, inflamed or suppurating part.

It is useful in any kind of inflammatory swelling.

Fresh leaves are eaten by pigs, sheep, and poultry, but are frequently unpalatable to cattle and rabbits. Cattle and rabbits will eat the wilted forage. Horses, goats, chinchillas, and caged birds are also fed this forage.

Comfrey may be eaten as a cooking green, used as an herb, or planted as an ornamental. Many medical remedies have been proclaimed for this plant, and its advocates associate an assortment of health benefits with it.

Comfrey leaves and stems rot very easily and rapidly turn to a black yucky liquid.

Layers of comfrey can be placed on the compost heap from time to time to act as a compost accelerant.

Spread a layer in the sweat pea, potato or bean trench.

Comfrey (both the above-ground plant and the roots) has been used on the skin for the relief of swelling (inflammatory disorders such as bruises, sprains, pulled muscles or ligaments). Some herbal/diet supplement products have been found to contain possibly harmful impurities/additives. Check with your pharmacist for more details regarding the particular brand you use. The FDA has not reviewed this product for safety or effectiveness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Preparations and Dosage for Comfrey

Preparations of root and leaf parts are now less readily available. Tablets and other herbal extracts have been employed, but very dilute teas or decoctions are safer – however, internal use is not recommended. The herb is used in topical preparations including lotions, creams, salves, and poultices, and it is sometimes used as a gargle. Herbal authorities recommend that it can be employed externally for contusions, bruises, and sprains for up to 6 weeks during a year, but such use is rarely justified.

What Happens if I Overdose?

In such a case, the thing you can do is seek immidiate medical attention as symptoms of a comfrey overdose are not known.

Side Effects of Comfrey

Side effects from correctly administered Comfrey usage are thought to be minimal. Some think that comfrey is a beneficial herb, but scientific studies show that this herb can sometimes prove to be very toxic. If you drink comfrey preparations or take it internally in other forms you run the risk of being poisoned. Below, there is given some list of side effects, if you experience any of the side effects below, stop usage immediately and report them to your family doctor

• This plant contains small quantities of a toxic alkaloid which can have a cumulative effect upon the liver. Largest concentrations are found in the roots, leaves contain higher quantities of the alkaloid as they grow older and young leaves contain almost none.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Extreme widespread itchiness.
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
• Pain or swelling in the upper right part of the abdomen.
• Yellowing of the skin or the white parts of the eyes.

Do not use preparations containing Comfrey root. Ointments containing Comfrey leaf are considered safe when applied to unbroken skin for limited periods of time.

http://www.online-health-care.com/herbal-medicines/comfrey.htm

The Many Health Benefits Of Comfrey

The many health benefits of Comfrey have been well-known for centuries. There are several varieties of Comfrey found worldwide, but the most common found in natural food and herbal shops is Symphytum uplandicum. This type, also known as bruisewort, blackwort or Russian Comfrey, is a sterile plant, which means that it will not produce seeds. It grows by root cuttings, and, therefore, growth is easier controlled than the other Comfrey types.

Another old name for Comfrey is “knitbone.” This is due to the increased healing Comfrey brings to fractured bones, and is likely the most common use for this herb. However, there are other, less known, ways in which Comfrey brings health.

Comfrey, when made into a poultice and placed over sprains and bruises on the body, reduces swelling swiftly, especially above broken bones. One may use the same technique to bring relief to cuts and scrapes, reducing pain, and, since the herb has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, acting as a disinfectant.

The Comfrey plant is useful in promoting cardiovascular health, as well as sores in the mouth and respiratory disorders. Many times, it is made into a tea to allow a potent amount of the herb to enter the body.

The herb, eaten like any other green, leafy plant, such as lettuce or parsley, aids in the healing of intestinal disorders, as well as internal bleeding and haemorrhoids. The mucilaginous qualities of the Comfrey may grant relief from dysentery and diarrhea

The plant is high in Vitamins A, C, B12 and is high in protein, as well as high in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and potassium.

The healing properties of the herb in regards to broken skin are so potent that it is important to make sure any open wounds you will be treating with Comfrey are cleansed of any dirt and debris. This is because the skin will grow back so swiftly with the aid of the herb that any foreign material will actually be stitched under the new skin. This property of Comfrey has even been used as a battlefield treatment throughout history by combat medics and battlefield doctors.

This process is due to a component in Comfrey called Allantoin. Research has shown how effective Allantoin towards regenerating new cells, and pharmaceutical companies are developing artificial compounds derived from Allantoin.

Each part of the Comfrey plant is useful, and the plant grows in mainly watery, temperate climates. It is generally cultivated multiple times during its growing season.

Comfrey has a great amount of health benefits and is easily administered. Most herbalists and homeopathic practitioners depend highly on this herb, and mix it into many remedies.

http://factoidz.com/the-many-health-benefits-of-comfrey/

Gen info
Areca nut is the fourth most commonly used psychoactive subtance in the world, chewed regularly by at least 10% of the population, with high prevalences in South and Southeast Asia.

Botany
Erect, solitary tree growing to 25 meters high with annular scars. Leaves about 2-3 meters long with numerous leaflets, 60-90cm long. Spadix is branched and compressed. Fruits are ovoid, smooth, orange to red when ripe; 4-6 cm long, with a fleshy pericarp and fibrous mesocarp.

Distribution
Cultivated throughout the settled areas. Spontaneous in some places.

Constituents
• Alkaloids – arecaine, 0.1%, arecoline, 0.2%, arecaidine, arecolidine, guvacoline, guvacine, isoguvacine; tannin, 15%; red fat, 14%; resin; choline; catechu.
• Fruit flesh on seed contains the alkaloid arecoline with psychoactive properties and chewing produces euphoria, increased alertness, sweating, salivation.
• Contains a large quantity of tannin. Also contains gallic acid, a fixed oil gum, a little volatile oil and lignin.
• Study yielded arecholine, choline, arecaine, aricaidine, catechu, guavacin and a-catechin.
• The tanin is located almost entirely in the kernel which decreases as the nut ripens.
• Four alkaloids: arecoline, arecain, guracaine and another in very small amounts.
• Arecoline resembles pilocarpine and muscarine in its effect.
• Other alkaloids in betel nut are arecaine, guvacoline and guvacine.
• Also contains phenolic compounds: hydroxychavicol and saffrole 12, tannin, resin, cholic and catechu.

Properties
• Young seeds are laxative.
• Vermifuge mature seeds for expeling tapeworms.
• Young nuts astringent from the tannic and gallic acids.
• Fresh nut is somewhat intoxicating and produces giddiness in some.
• Aromatic, cooling, emmenagogue, purgative, digestive, diuretic, laxative, astringent, antifungal, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antioxidant.
• Considered anticonvulsant, oxytoxic, antifertility, anthelmintic, antiviral, antiulcer.
• Arecholine is a highly toxic substance, and its pharmacologic action resembles that of muscarine, pelletierine and pilocarpine. It violently stimulates the peristaltic movements of the intestine, produces constriction of the bronchial muscles which can be overcome by adrenaline or atropine. It is a poweful sialagogue and stimulates sweat secretion.
• Arecholine considered to have wound healing activity.

Parts used and preparation
Kernel

Uses
Edibility
· Cabbage (ubod) is edible, raw or cooked.
Folkloric
· In the Philippines, the buyo is regarded as tonic and general stimulant, but harmful with excessive use which can cause loss of appetite and salivation.
· Fruit in decoction considered abortifacient, the nut as an emmenagogue.
· Tender seeds used as purgative; grated ripened ones as vermifuge. Externally used as astringent.
· Sprains, bruises, contusions – Crush leaves, mix with a little coconut oil, warm and apply on affected area.
· Tooth whitener: Carbonize and powder a kernel and rub on teeth.
· Tapeworm infestation: 1 glassful of 5% decoction as enema to be retained for one hour. Also, decoction of kernels boiled 20-30 minutes; for less than 12 years of age, 6 kernels (30 g); over 12 years old, 10-12 kernels (50-60 g); for adults, 16-18 kernels (80-90 g). The bunga may be mixed with kalabasa, boil for 1 hour, maintaining 2-glass volume for oral intake.
· In excess, nuts can cause vomiting and diarrhea; intoxicating to some.
· Young nut is useful in bowel complaints. Tincture used as astringent gargle, and when diluted with water, useful for bleeding gums and may be used for stopping water discharges from the vagina. It is also used for stopping the pyrosis (heartburn) of pregnancy.
· Dried nut is stimulant, astringent and taenifuge. It increases the flow of saliva; sweetens the breath, strengthens the gums and produces mild exhilaration.
· Fruit in decoction considered abortifacient.
• In Ayurvedic medicine, the nut is used for headaches, fever and rheumatism.
• In China, used to treat parasitic infection. Also, used for dyspepsia, constipation, beriberi and edema. The bark is used for choleraic affections, for flatulence, dropsical and obstructive diseases of the digestive tract.
• Ointment made from finely powdered catechu and lard used for chronic ulcerations.
• In southern India, dried fruits are powdered and heated with coconut oil and applied topically on burns.
• Fruit mixed with juice of Commelina benghalensis and stem juice of Canna indica and applied topically on wounds
• In Malaya, young green shoots are used as abortifacient in early pregnancy.
• In India, juice of young leaves mixed with oil is used externally for lumbago. Also used for urinary disorders and reported to have aphrodisiac properties.
• In India and China the areca nut has been used as anthelmintic since time immemorial.
Others
· Betel chewing: In the Philippines, as well as in Indo-Malayan and Polynesian regions, the Areca nut is extensively used for chewing with lime and ikmo leaves (Piper betel) or litlit (Piper retrofactum).
· Poison: In the Dutch East Indies the root is shredded, steeped in water and pounded to extract the juice, and used as poison in food or drink.

Studies
• Antioxidant: It has been long believed that the areca seed is a carcinogen causing buccal cancer, an effect that comes from N-nitrosoamine from chewing. The study also showed the seed has strong radical-scavengiing antioxidant benefit. The water and methanol extracts of the seeds in various ages show a higher % tannin and total phenols than other parts of the tree extracts.
• Wound Healing: Study on different wound models in Wister rats showed the alkaloid and polyphenols could be used to enhance healing of skin graft surgery, leg ulcers and burn wounds.
• Anti-Aging: A study showed that Areca catechu extract (CC-516) had anti-aging effects – improving skin hydration, skin elasticity and skin wrinkles suggesting a potential use for cosmetics.
• Anti-Schizophrenic Effects: (1) Study results indicate that betel chewing may exert a beneficial effect on the primary symptoms of schizophrenia, attributed to the pharmacologic effect of the abundant betel nut alkaloid, arecoline. (2) Study results indicate betel chewing is associated with less severe symptoms of schizophrenia. (3) Male high-consumption betel chewers had signicantly milder positive symptoms than low-consumption chewers over 1 year. Betel chewing was associated with tobacco use but not with cannabis or alcohol. It was not associated with global health, social functioning or movement disorders.
• Betel Quid Effects: (1) Areca alkaloids act as competitive inhibitors of g-aminobutyric acid receptors in the brain, cardiovascular system and pancreas, possibly increasing the appetite or altering insulin secretion. (2) BQ components induce keratinocytes to secrete tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 which may provoke chronic inflammation. The muscarinic action of arecoline, the most abundant betel nut alkaloid, is the most promising pharmacologic explanation for the beneficial effect.
• Nitrosated Compounds / Arecal Alkaloids / Metabolic Effects: Nitrosated derivatives of arecal alkaloid, proven carcinogens in animals, also increase the risk of tumors in man. Nitrosated compounds are also diabetogenic in mice producing type2 diabetes with central obesity with increases in markers of inflammation and cardiovascular damage.
• Metabolic Syndrome Association: Report shows BQ chewing has detrimental effects on selected components of the metabolic syndrome and induction of inflammatory cytokines and factors, possibly increasing the risks for the development of the metabolic syndrome. Study showed a higher incidence of central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, dysglycemia and metabolic syndrome among betel quid chewers than non-chewers.
• Anti-Inflammatory / Analgesic / Free Radical Scavenging Activity: Study on A. catechu showed an anti-inflammatory effect on carrageenan-induced edema in mice and rats. On analgesic activity, the crude extract showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on formalin-induced nociception in mice and acetic acid-induced writhing in rats, similar to aspirin. In DPPH assay, it showed free radical scavenging activity.
• Reducing Power / Antiradical Activity: In the study, the methanolic extract of A. catechu exhibited strong antiradical activities and reducing power. The extract yielded a significant amount of phenols and flavonoids.
• Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Cancer Risk in Betel Chewers: Study showed an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer among betel chewers free of hepatitis B/C infections. Risks were synergistically additive to those of hepatitis B/C infections.
• Hepatoprotective / Antioxidant: Study showed aqueous extracts from seeds of A. catechu and nutgalls of Quercus infectoria exhibited potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Treatment of rats reversed oxidative damage in hepatic tissues induced by CCl4.
• Anti-Fatigue Effects: Study showed the water and methanol extracts of A. catechu and betel quid could prolong swimming time of mice, decrease the concentration of serum nitrogen and lactic acid, increase the liver glycogen content of mice after swimming.
• Arecoline / Colonic Motility Effects : Study showed arecoline enhanced the contraction of the longitudinal smooth muscle rat colon in a dose-dependent manner. Results suggest that arecoline increases colonic motility via the M3 receptor, which depends on the influx of Ca2+.
• Anovulatory / Abortifacient Effects : Study of ethanol extract of A. catechu showed a significant decrease in the duration of estrus and a significant increase in proestrus. In the evaluation of its abortifacient effect, the mean percentage of abortion was significantly increased.
• Suppression Effects on Naloxone-Precipitated Morphine Withdrawal: Study showed the dichlormethane fraction was effective in alleviating withdrawal jumping in morphine-dependent mice, one of the most common signs used to assess the severity of morphine withdrawal. The fraction also inhibited MAO-A and acted as anti-depressant, increasing bioavailability and enhanced neurotransmission of monoaminergic, serotonergic and noradrenergic systems in the brain. Activation of these systems reduce the severity of opiate withdrawal.

Cancer Concerns
Risks of mouth cancer in chronic chewers.

Source: http://stuartxchange.com/Bunga.html