How to Deal With Unsupportive Friends and Family

Ultimately, it's natural to seek recognition, love and support from our friends and family. But what if, one day, we decided to venture onto a different path in life? One that is not as conventional as the others around us have chosen for themselves. Our support systems might be taken off guard with our non-traditional desires and aspirations of being entrepreneurs. The last thing we want is to be ridiculed for exploring the unknown.

You may confuse a lot of people when going against the grain of conventional thinking, and that's perfectly okay. As an entrepreneur, standing up for your vision to your family and friends might possibly be the best practice you will get for the life that awaits you. When you are competing for attention and eyeballs, articulating value and evoking possibility and vision can be powerful tools.
Below are three ways that will help in overcoming the obstacles of unsupportive friends and family.

Don't argue. If you decided to turn down a degree in law or business, a higher paying job or are transitioning completely from your current career to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams, you are going to cause a lot of confusion and judgment from those around you.
When confronted in this manner, do not argue. Your relatives and friends will have a hard time seeing things from your point of view, and they may even refuse to do so. They will only understand the career paths they are familiar with. Avoid setting up a confrontational battle.

Related: The Right Way to Ask Your Parents to Finance Your Business
No matter how much energy and frustration you pour out, you may not change their minds. You can be the greatest persuader in the world and yet your friends and family will be tied to their own opinions.
Instead of arguing, articulate your desire in a language they will understand: share the vision you have of your business and assure them that you will be responsible with your decisions. Tell them their support means a great deal to you.

Recognize authentic friendships. Anyone can freely offer their opinions. When beginning your entrepreneurial journey, acknowledge that you become a product of the five people you spend the most time with. So choose your company wisely.
There will be many people that will await your failure. I call this group the "I told you so" bunch. Be wary of their presence. Your intention is to develop a business that should be committed to delivering value, not proving this person wrong.
Gradually distance yourself from these negative people. Surround yourself with those who are like-minded and are going to the places in which you envision yourself being.

Related: Stop Spending Time With Toxic People
Authentic friends will support your goals and help you move forward. If you see people around you not showing support -- acknowledge it and move on with your life. With the positivity you bring, the right people will cross your path.

Dig deep. Explain to your family that if you don't pursue this entrepreneurial vision, you are going to live with regret. This is a feeling everyone can relate to.
Your family will expect you to give up after a specific time if you are not obtaining the results they might expect. You will be questioned in the most indirect way to see if you are still working on the venture you discussed.
This process will test your ability to handle your emotions on all levels; seek your inner voice and your true intention for committing to entrepreneurship.
For them, it will be easy to pinpoint your failures. You will be criticized, laughed at, be compared to. Your official 'moment of truth' will not be between anyone but yourself. This is an opportunity to dig deep and get to the core of the vision you have for your life and your business.
This pivotal moment will help define your energy and desire to succeed. Do not sit and wallow. Take action and make it happen. Don't wait to become worthy of your dreams.
The world is awaiting your gift -- all you have to do is show up with the right intention!

Sharing is Caring.....

QUOTES....

“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.”
― Elie Wiesel

“Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has no taste.”
― Charlotte Brontë

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
― Mother Teresa

“A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.”
― Jack London

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.”
― Erma Bombeck

“Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else ... Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.”
― Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

“Educate a boy, and you educate an individual. Educate a girl, and you educate a community.”
― Adelaide Hoodless

“This life is for loving, sharing, learning, smiling, caring, forgiving, laughing, hugging, helping, dancing, wondering, healing, and even more loving. I choose to live life this way. I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, 'aw shit, he's up!”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

“It ain't no fun if the homies can't have none. ”
― Snoop Dogg

“Hey, Ethan."
"Yeah?"
"Remember the Twinkie on the bus? The one I gave you in second grade, the day we met?"
"The one you found on the floor and gave me without telling me? Nice."
He grinned and shot the ball. "It never really fell on the floor. I made that part up.”
― Kami Garcia, Beautiful Chaos

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.”
― Brian Tracy

“The single greatest lesson the garden teaches is that our relationship to the planet need not be zero-sum, and that as long as the sun still shines and people still can plan and plant, think and do, we can, if we bother to try, find ways to provide for ourselves without diminishing the world. ”
― Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.”
― Ruth Reichl

“I know what I have given you...
I do not know what you have received.”
― Antonio Porchia

“Don’t be jealous if I spend 50% of my time with you, and 50% of my time with others, because you get 100% of 50%, while all the others have to share that other 50%.” This is the speech I’ve prepared to tell my wife in the future, when I’m spending a majority minus one percent of my time with my clones. 
”
― Jarod Kintz, This Book Has No Title

“Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.”
― Dalai Lama XIV

“You are forgiven for your happiness and your successes only if you generously consent to share them.”
― Albert Camus

“To do good is noble. To tell others to do good is even nobler and much less trouble.”
― Mark Twain

“The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way.”
― Carlos Barrios, Mayan elder and Ajq'ij of the Eagle Clan

“I don’t like to share my personal life… it wouldn’t be personal if I shared it.”
― George Clooney

“And a new philosophy emerged called quantum physics, which suggest that the individual’s function is to inform and be informed. You really exist only when you’re in a field sharing and exchanging information. You create the realities you inhabit.”
― Timothy Leary, Chaos & Cyber Culture

“Even though friends say they are interested in your life, they never really want to talk about you as much as you want them to. (68)”
― Charise Mericle Harper, Flashcards of My Life

“If you have a candle, the light won't glow any dimmer if I light yours off of mine.”
― Steven Tyler

“Because I was more often happy for other people, I got to spend more time being happy. And as I saw more light in everybody else, I seemed to have more myself. (250)”
― Victoria Moran, Lit From Within: Tending Your Soul For Lifelong Beauty

“Often we come home from a sharing session with a feeling that something precious has been taken away from us or that holy ground has been trodden upon.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen

“When someone steals another's clothes, we call them a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.”
― Basil the Great

“Yes. We both have a bad feeling. Tonight we shall take our bad feelings and share them, and face them. We shall mourn. We shall drain the bitter dregs of mortality. Pain shared, my brother, is pain not doubled, but halved. No man is an island.”
― Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys

“You can share in my joy, but I don’t want to share my misery. No, I want to give away my misery. Go ahead, take it all.
”
― Jarod Kintz, 99 Cents For Some Nonsense

“I enjoy sharing my books as I do my friends, asking only that you treat them well and see them safely home.”
― Ernest Morgan

“A brick could be divided into four equal pieces and split among three friends. I’ll take the two largest pieces, or half, whichever makes me appear the most generous.
”
― Jarod Kintz, Brick and Blanket

How to reward yourself by giving time and money to others this season....

From fancy cars and expensive clothes to fine dining and exotic vacations, there are many ways you can spend your hard-earned dollars. And there is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself for a job well done -- but what would happen if you rewarded someone else instead?
A recent study by Harvard Business School faculty and graduate students titled “Feeling Good about Giving: The Benefits (and Costs) of Self-Interested Charitable Behavior," explores the ways in which charitable behavior can lead to benefits for the giver. While the the concept that giving to others can make you feel good about yourself is not revolutionary, there are several more subtle ways that giving your money or time for a cause can benefit your psychological, spiritual and emotional well-being.

Here are five reasons to donate to charity.......
based on the research of the Harvard Business School as well as other experts and websites.

Donations are tax deductible

When you donate to a charitable organization or a non-profit group, the amount you donate is tax deductible. But not only is the money you give tax deductible, so are the amounts you spend on travel, parking costs and even convention and event fees that are related to the non-profit group, as long as you are not being reimbursed by the charity for these expenses.
 

Giving to charity may improve your sense of well-being

 The act of helping others can create an improved sense of well-being. Knowing that you sacrificed something such as time, finances or property in order to help others in need can give you a sense of purpose in life or work and inner satisfaction.

Supporting a cause can help keep you informed about issues of social injustice

When considering donating to a charity, many people tend to research the issues connected to that organization. As a result, you become more educated about social injustices around the world. You may discover new points of view and opinions on topics about which you were previously uniformed. This knowledge may position you to help increase the awareness of social problems among those in your sphere of influence from a balanced and educated standpoint.

Giving to charity out of spiritual conviction can strengthen your spiritual life

Selfless giving is a key component to many spiritual and religious belief systems. Recognizing that you have taken action in line with your spiritual beliefs by offering your resources to others in need can bring a sense of inner peace and contentment.

Volunteering with a charity may result in physical and social benefits

After donating financially to a charity or non-profit organization, you may feel an inner pull to become more involved with the cause by donating your time and skill as well. By volunteering, you have the opportunity to build your social circles while reaping the physical, mental and spiritual benefits from the labor you contribute to your favorite cause.

7 Things Great Entrepreneurs Don't Do

These days, everyone with a MacBook and a blog thinks he’s an entrepreneur. Well, here’s a little tough love for the entrepreneurial generation: Calling yourself a CEO doesn’t make you one and a small army of Twitter followers doesn’t make you a leader, either.

As a wise VC who’s name escapes me once said, “There are entrepreneurs and there are Entrepreneurs.”

Not to dash your hopes and dreams, but the truth is the vast majority of you simply aren’t cut out to be entrepreneurs or leaders. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it’s true. And the sooner you realize you’re not going to be the second coming of Mark Zuckerberg, the better.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s great to reach for the stars. As Robert Browning said, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” But having grown up in the high-tech industry and worked with hundreds of real CEOs, VCs, and Entrepreneurs for decades, one thing I can tell you is the word has become so overused, it’s almost meaningless.

So while there is no one-size-fits-all model for true entrepreneurs, in my experience, there are some things they seem to have in common. This might surprise you, but what sets them apart isn’t some laundry list of attributes. It’s their actions. What makes them unique is what they do and, perhaps more importantly, what they don’t do.

1. They don’t think about work-life balance.
They’re mostly workaholics. What that means is their work comes first. It’s what they live for. They’re not freewheeling, fun-loving people who live for the weekend. They live to do what they love, and that’s work.
 
2. They don’t try to be what they’re not.
Probably the most damaging business myth to come along in decades is personal branding. You are not a product, and you can’t change who you are. Besides, real entrepreneurs don’t think about themselves. They think about their ideas and how to turn them into great products and services. And they deliver.

3. They don’t do it for the money.
They don’t whine about how hard they work for peanuts. They just do it. And because they’re passionate about what they do and focused like a laser beam, the money eventually comes, big-time.

4. They don’t have day jobs.
Great entrepreneurs don’t just dip their toes in the water. They jump in headfirst without a thought about the rocks below. They don’t do a little of this and a little of that. When they hit on something they think is really cool and exciting, they go all in.

5. They don’t give in to fear.
They don’t pay attention to those voices in their heads – you know, the ones that haunt you with everything that can go wrong. They’re not fearless, mind you. Nobody is. They just don’t let their fear stop them from taking risks. They do listen to some voices, though: the voice of reason and their instincts.

6. They don’t have grand visions.
While some do have grand delusions that they’re destined for greatness – a prophecy that’s often self-fulfilling, interestingly enough – for the most part, they generally don’t have grand visions for their companies. Zuckerberg, for example, wasn’t trying to create a company. He just wanted to rate the looks of fellow classmates.

7. They don’t have virtual mentors.
Most people follow all sorts of writers, bloggers and tweeters these days. That’s fine, but to get somewhere in life, to do great things, you have to have real mentors in the real world. Former Intel chairman Andy Grove mentored Steve Jobs. Jobs, in turn, advised Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Behind every great entrepreneur is at least one great mentor. A real one.

Most importantly, real entrepreneurs don’t call themselves entrepreneurs. They don’t do what everyone else is doing. They don’t follow the status quo, conventional wisdom or popular fads. They carve their own unique path. They’re leaders of their own destiny. That’s what drives them. And that’s why they succeed.

Read more: http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229725#ixzz2jrRpDKD8

10 Easy Ways to Minimize Stress

As if there aren't enough threats to your business, the biggest hazard may be one you can't see: chronic stress. Hiding in plain sight, this toxic saboteur can ruin the best-laid plans with a trip to the ER and a sinkhole of medical bills. You may think you're handling it, but that's usually an illusion, supplied by the adrenaline released by the stress response, which masks the damage to your body by giving you a sense you're powering through it.

Brian Curin, 39, thought he was managing risk well as president of the footwear retailer Flip Flop Shops, which has more than 90 locations. Yes, there was pressure, but he exercised and ate well. He did feel a little off, though, and had a faint ache of something resembling heartburn.

Curin decided to pay his doctor a visit. Blood work, a resting EKG and a respiration test were negative, but a stress test and an angiogram turned up a big problem: four blocked arteries, one of them at 100 percent--not what Curin expected at his age. Without open-heart surgery, he could have been dead within weeks.

"I was extremely lucky," says Curin, whose wake-up call prompted him to start a campaign, The Heart to Sole: Creating a Stress-Free America, to lobby for stress-testing at all companies and to support the American Heart Association's My Heart. My Life. program. "If something doesn't feel right, it's probably not. Get it checked out."

Long-term risk-taking and the demands of wearing multiple hats make entrepreneurs easy prey for chronic stress, which compromises the immune system, increases bad cholesterol and decreases the good kind. Bravado and busyness can keep entrepreneurs in denial mode until the paramedics arrive.
You're not much good to your business from six feet under. Keep the sirens at bay with these essential strategies.

• Pay attention to your body. Insomnia, heart palpitations, anxiety, bowel issues--they're trying to tell you something. See your doctor.
• Make stress-testing as routine as dental checkups.
• Cut stress by reducing time urgency. Every minute is not life or death.
• Identify the story behind the stress and reframe it from catastrophic to a new story: "Yes, I've got 300 e-mails, but I can handle it."
• Build stress-relief techniques into your schedule--meditation, progressive relaxation, exercise, a hobby.
• Set boundaries. Sixteen hours of work a day is not sustainable. Find the "just enough" point in a given day or project.
• Hire somebody. Doing it yourself can cost well more than the price of a helping hand.
• Step back. Brains have to reset every
• 90 minutes. Breaks increase mental functioning and interrupt stress.
• Get a life. The best stress buffer is a life beyond work. Remember that?

Read more:  http://www.entrepreneur.com

Dating Lifestyle, Guys: 10 Steps to Win Her Heart

When it comes to dating and seduction some men choose to give up. They think that talent for seduction is something that you are either born with or you never get it. It is true that for some men it comes naturally, but it can also be easily learned. The greatest secret of all the famous charmers in the world is that they truly admire women whose company make them feel happy. If someone’s presence makes you happy, and you do not know how to win her heart, here is a little help from a friend.

#1 – Power

A long time ago Oscar Wild had said:” Everything is about sex, except sex. Sex is about power.” Always keep in mind that the one who looses power falls for the other. Having power means to feel more in control, stable, to be sure that everything will be just the way you want it. It means that you know exactly who you are and what you deserve. You can spend time with her, get to know her, allow her to have all your attention but always be aware that there are other fish in the sea just waiting to find you.

#2 – Respect

A good piece of advice is to tell you that you should show her respect; a better one would be to tell you that you should show respect for all women. If you think that the simple opening of a door for her would make her suddenly feel love for you, then you are making a huge mistake. Respect for women is a way of life. It is your attitude and it can be noticed in every sentence that you say. Women are very intuitive about this stuff, so you better really mean it. You should be kind, even give her compliments, but only if you are honestly impressed. Also, you can treat her like a princess, but if she notices that you are rude to other women, you will totally fail. So, show honest respect!

#3 – Self-Respect

One of the biggest mistakes that men make is that once everything goes well, they are so afraid of loosing their partner that they are ready to accept grains of attention. Never accept that! If she has no time to speak on the phone properly, say that you will call her later and then do not call her for a while or even better, let her call you first. If she is in a hurry, no problem, you will be glad to see her some other time, when she finally has time to call you and talk with you without checking her mobile every couple of minutes. Also, never give up your insecurities, be confident about your qualities. She will treat you the way she perceives you, so let her see your better side.

#4 – Time

For most men, everything starts well and then they get lost. Usually, they are left wondering what went wrong. The reason for that is time. Never rush into anything, especially love. Take it slow, be cool, remember that you are still at the beginning and let her know that you are evaluating her as much as she is evaluating you. A common mistake is to relax and become too available. Continue with your obligations as usual, if you do not have them, create some. For example you can go out with your friends, women like guys who like having fun. Since you have earned her attention this is a great time to make her miss you. Out of blue, choose a few days not to call her. This will make her think about you and be happy once you are back.

#5 – Merits

Everything that comes easily goes easily. If she gets all your attention and feelings without any effort she will probably start thinking that she can lose you easily because she can get you back any time. Make her earn your attention, respect, time. The point is that she works a little harder than usual and always to be rewarded for nice behavior. That way she will respect what she has and the grass will never be greener in a neighbour’s yard.

#6 – Curiosity

If you are an open book to her you risk to become boring. Women like intrigue, romance and mysticism. Do not confuse this with any kind of lying; just do not confess every minute of your day. Also, do not get in details about her day because that gives away insecurity. A good thing would be to have some hobby that requires absence and concentration so you could not call and text all the time. If you are having a great time together she would definitely start missing you.

#7 – Looks

Take care of your looks. Always be clean, tidy, use a particular cologne that would remind her of you. The truth is that for most women, looks are not as important as confidence,which posses men who are secure about their looks. Go exercise; buy trendy clothes, anything that will make you happy. She might not suddenly notice the change of appearance but she will notice your self-confidence.

#8 – Flirting

Avoid the “friend zone”. Never be trapped to become a friend. There is a way out, but a very hard one so it is a much better option simply to avoid it. Never confess to her. No matter how close you are, she should respect you, so there is no need to explain too much. You are not somebody she can confess her deep secrets, you should become her deep secret. She should feel awe and respect and feel embarrassed to talk about things that are usually normal to share with friends. However, you should always be there for her, admire her and support her.

#9 – Friends

Her friends are really important and a sensitive part of the seduction. Most men fall in to the trap of trying to become close to her friends. There is no need for that; it is enough that they like you. When it comes to her girl friends, it would be really convenient if they would look at you as a good catch. This is very convenient because if they find you attractive they will make her realize that she wants you, then it is just the matter of time for the fire in her heart to start burning.

#10 – Less is More

Never make the first move. When you seduce always keep in mind that less is more. Like Mr. Big in the TV series, always keep her in the dark. Let her wonder, make plans, evaluate and then finally come to the conclusion that you are the one. Once you have completely realized the previous steps, she will convince herself that you are all she wants and you would not be able to convince her the opposite even if you wanted to.

10 Life Changing Tips Inspired By Rumi ( جلال‌الدین محمد رومی)

Here are ten life changing tips inspired by quotes from the great Sufi poet, Rumi:

 

1. Challenge Fear

“Run from what’s comfortable. Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.”

 

2. Be Bold

“Do not be satisfied with the stories that come before you. Unfold your own myth.”

 

3. Have Gratitude

“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.”

 

4. Take Action

“Why should I stay at the bottom of a well, when a strong rope is in my hand?”

 

5. Have Faith

“As you start to walk out on the way, the way appears.”

 

6. Embrace Setbacks

“If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?”

 

7. Look Inside

“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”

 

8. Learn From Suffering

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”

 

9. Don’t Be Concerned With What Others Think Of You

“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.”

 

10. Do What You Love 

“Let yourself be drawn by the stronger pull of that which you truly love.”

 

What’s your favorite Rumi quote?

What It Takes To Become Young & Remarkably Successful?

Everybody wants to be successful, but exactly what does success mean?  To many people success simply means having a lot of money, or living in a big house, or driving a fancy car.  But are these things really success?  Or are they just indicators that someone has been successful?
Many people acquire the big house or the fancy car before they have actually obtained the level of financial success necessary to afford these indicators of success.

Success is not simply having things.  Rather, Success Is Living Your Dreams and Desires,

Whatever those dreams or desires may be.  Success is being the kind of person you desire to be, doing the things that you desire to do, and having the possessions that you desire to possess.
Here is what it takes to be young and successful.

1. Find a cause - First you must find a purpose, or define a vision for yourself because if you do not know where you are going, you will never get there. Get motivated by reading or sharing others successful people’s story be it in business or career as they will ultimately shape your vision and the cause you want to pursue. Find out what you are passionate about and what are your talents? Then ask yourself what the world need and how your talents can help solve a specific need. Lastly define what you want to be known for.

2. Surround yourself with great people - Many young successful people I have interviewed say that the most important step they took towards success was to change their surrounding and the people with whom they spend time. You are the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with most. Some people will tell you that you can’t achieve it, because they have a classic line that “success doesn’t happen to people like us”. Break out of that circle, out of that mindset that is holding you back and started spending your time with people who encouraged you thus you become more confident and start achieving things.

3. Take action - You can have the greatest ideas in your head, but if you don’t put them into practice, they become worthless. The true mark of success lies in having the courage to invest emotionally, physically and financially in your idea. There is an interesting difference between people that ‘design and talk’ about work and others that actually ‘build and create. What is preventing you from taking action? What ideas, visions, are you keeping for yourself? Write them down and design a schedule that will help you implement them, little by little.

4. Turn the bad into good - When you face a challenging situation or rejection, know that those challenges can be used to help you go even further. For example, some people will fail to pick your calls; an investment may not pay off e.tc. Understand that rejection is a part of our everyday lives and instead of dwelling on the negatives, learn how to find strength in the highs and the lows, ups and downs. Don’t fail to pursue your dreams because things didn’t play out the way you wanted them to. Instead, use those challenges and fears as motivating factors to help you succeed.

5. Never, ever give up - The true mark of entrepreneurs is their ability to never give up. You may have an idea and struggle to find significant funding and traction where potential donors tell you to your face that they are convinced in our vision and path. Such failures should help you know which direction to go to until you reach your goals. For each rejection, ask yourself, What can I do differently? What can I learn from this situation? Finally, say to yourself: I am bigger than this. Keep pushing. Keep striving. Keep facing the sun.

Source:
CareerPointKenya.

The Health Benefits of Red Wine

Can wine really improve our health and increase longevity? Scientists are beginning to say "Yes!" Supposing that the theory is true -- which wines give us the most bang for the buck?

Researchers have found that red wines rich in flavonoids are best for our health. Flavonoids are best known for their antioxidant qualities and help the body resist such maladies as allergens, viruses and carcinogens.

Red wines also contain anxioxidants, which help the body resist cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir contain the highest concentrations of antioxidants and flavonoids.

Other red wines such as Merlots and red zinfandels contain fewer flavonoids, but more than most white wines. So, the best bet for drinking wine for our health is to stick to the dryer red wines.  Just because wine contains components that are central to good health doesn't give us a free rein to get plastered every night. Don't overdo it -- but adding a glass of wine to your daily diet can definitely make a difference to our health.

Paracelsus, the noted 16^th-century Swiss physician wrote, "Wine is a food, a medicine and a poison - it's just a question of dose." As with almost any food or drink, wine consumed in large doses can be a detriment to our health.

Most health officials agree that one or two four-ounce glasses of wine per day can be beneficial to men, while women should limit their consumption to one four ounce serving per day.
Cardiovascular expert, Professor Roger Corder, has spent years studying the evidence of health benefits from red wine. In his new book, "The Wine Diet," he says he is convinced that most of us should include red wine in our every day lifestyle.

Corder discovered what he eventually labeled the "French Paradox." Specifically, he wondered why the French have a lower rate of heart disease despite the fact that their diet was extremely rich in fats. He concentrated his research on the southwest portion of France, where life expectancy seemed to be highest.

Professor Corder discovered that the region produces very tannic local wines, which contain the highest procyanidin (antioxidant) content of any wines, worldwide. This led him to further research on the amazing medical benefits of red wine.

While wine may not be man's ultimate elixir or fountain of youth, it certainly behooves us to consider adding a glass of wine or two to our daily diet - and raise a "toast" to our continued good health.