Monday, February 9, 2015

15 Facts About Spirulina

 
Did you know that the United Nations declared spirulina the best food for the future?


No wonder. 

Spirulina is one of the most potent, most concentrated and most nutrient-rich foods too. And like most superfoods, it's both a food and a medicine.
According to health experts, spirulina has the power to give us maximum nutrition, health and energy, as well as minimum calories and no trans-fatty acids. Spirulina has the power to dramatically help us achieve our ideal weight, diet and food habits.


Although new scientific research and talk of spirulina have been flourishing these days, certain facts about the superfood still manage to pass under the radar.

Here's what you may not know:


1. Spirulina belongs to the bacteria kingdom, not the plant kingdom.
Although widely called blue-green algae, it's a cyanobacteria (meaning blue bacteria). 

2. 35 varieties of spirulina exist, and some are more superior than others.
For example, Spirulna platensis is superior to Spirulina maxima regarding lipid content, and it has much less palmitic acid (saturated) and more gamma-linolenic acid (essential). 

3. The people of Mexico City in Central America and the people of Lake Chad in Africa have long enjoyed spirulna.
Called tecuitlatl, the Aztecs have used it for an estimated 5,000 years. Called dihe, the Kanembu people have used it for over 1,000 years. 

4. Spirulina can survive in the harshest temperatures.
Whether you freeze it, refrigerate it, let it sit on the counter, or hard-core process it, you'll still get all of its nutrients. 

5. Spirulina has the highest concentration of protein (by dry weight) found in any food.
Depending on the variety, it consists of 65-71% protein whereas soya flour only contains 35% crude protein. 

6. Spirulina is a complete protein source.
It contains all eight essential amino acids and eighteen amino acids in total. 

7. Spirulina has a high digestibility of its proteins, comparable to casein in milk.
Its cells don't have cellulose walls, which makes its protein 83-90% digestible in ordinary dried spirulina, as opposed to 95.1% for pure casein. 

8. The iron content of spirulina beats raw spinach and whole cereals and is equivalent to red meat.
Depending on the variety, it's 25-50 times richer than raw spinach and twice as rich as the highest iron-rich food — whole cereals. 

9. Spirulina is the highest source of B-12*, topping its nearest rival raw beef liver.
It's two to six times richer in B12. 

10. Athletes discover more endurance and strength when eating spirulina.
(Super-athlete recommended dose: 30+ grams/day). 

11. The beta-carotene in spirulina is way higher than carrots.
You get ten times the benefit of carrots to improve your eyesight.

12. Spirulina is the richest source of the essential acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) after human milk and some little-used vegetable oils (evening primrose, borage, blackcurrant seed and hemp oil).
GLA is responsible for reducing inflammation. 

13. Spirulina applied on the skin protects against ultraviolet radiation.
Thanks to its blue pigment, you can create homemade sunscreen by adding spirulina to a simple 50/50 mixture of organic coconut oil if you have sensitive skin. 

14. Spirulina production only uses two percent of the water required for beef protein production.
If you compared the two to your showering habits and you use two gallons per minute to take your showers, you'd have to stop showering for a whole year to make up for the water used to produce beef protein. Spirulina, on the other hand, only uses an astonishing one-minute of water. It's a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly food. 

15. Spirulina is a powerful tonic and immune-system booster, killing cancer cells and protecting against HIV infections.
It increases the production of T-fighter cells, macrophages, B-cells, and the anti-cancer natural killer (NK) cells. 

Are You Ready to Supercharge Your Health?
Spirulina has the power to improve your health, boost your immune system, cleanse and alkalize your body and even enhance sexuality. 

Spirulina has the power to meet and exceed all your macronutrient, essential fatty acid and immune system requirements — and it does so much more, nourishing you at the deepest level possible. 

So go ahead and include it in your daily diet. Add one tablespoon to smoothies, sprinkle it on salads, or add it to homemade protein bars. And make it the true superhero of your new and improved you.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Sweet potato leaves are packed with nutrition

While known for being a great source of vitamin C, a new study involving sweet potatoes identifies even more nutritional benefits associated with this very popular crop. Aside from being easily accessible, cheap and delicious, sweet potatoes are loaded with healthy vitamins, essential for maintaining good health.

Fat- and cholesterol-free, sweet potatoes are high in vitamins B6, C and D, and contain sufficient sources of iron, magnesium and potassium. Like carrots, they are also high in beta-carotene, the precursor for processing vitamin A within your body.

Unlike regular potatoes, referred to as tubers, or underground stems, sweet potatoes are roots and are believed to also carry nutrients in their leaves. "Although studies have confirmed that water-soluble vitamins exist in sweet potato roots and leaves, there has been limited information about how these vitamins are actually distributed in the plants," reports ReadyNutrition.com.



Delicious and affordable, sweet potatoes provide a multitude of health benefits

Exploring this concept, researchers Wilmer Barrera and David Picha from Louisiana State University (LSU) Agricultural Center published a research study in the journal HortScience, showing that both the mature and young leaves of sweet potatoes provide significant health benefits, including vitamin B6.

The study's objective specifically focused on determining the content of ascorbic acid, thiamin, riboflavin and vitamin B6 in a variety of sweet potatoes, including the Beauregard Sweet Potato, a current industry standard that was developed at LSU in 1987.



Not only is the Beauregard Sweet Potato highly regarded by Louisianans, but it's also the world's most popular sweet potato

For their experiment, scientists also used the "LA 07-146" sweet potato, the second most popular (behind Beauregard) variety in Louisiana, differing by its red skin and "good sugar" content.

"It's a very good french fry sweet potato," said LSU AgCenter sweet potato breeder Don Labonte.

In a sweet potato lot at LSU, scientists analyzed the plant's essential vitamin content in a range of foliar tissues including buds, vines, young petioles, young leaves, mature petioles and mature leaves as well as root tissues including the skin, cortex and pith tissue at the proximal, distal and center regions of the root.

The fields were planted in late October and again the following September, with a third experiment being conducted in order to study water-soluble vitamin content among different sweet potato root tissues.



Study shows sweet potato leaves contain significant amounts of vitamin content


Their results found that ascorbic acid (AA) content differed among varying tissue types, with young leaves containing the highest amount, followed by mature leaves and buds. The AA content was the lowest in mature petioles, according to researchers.

Buds also contained high amounts of AA, higher than the sweet potato's roots, vines and petiole tissues. "No thiamin was detected in foliar tissue, whereas mature leaves contained the highest riboflavin and vitamin B6 content (0.22 to 0.43 mg and 0.52 to 0.58 mg, respectively)," the scientists noted.

"In root tissues of 'Beauregard' and 'LA 07-146' sweetpotatoes, [sic] the AA content was lower in the skin (1.9 to 5.6 mg and 2.54 to 3.82 mg, respectively)."

"The AA content in the cortex and pith tissue at the proximal, distal, and center of the root was generally similar," scientists said, while thiamin content varied among root tissues, with the skin containing the highest riboflavin content and the lowest vitamin B6 content across root tissues of both strains.

The study's results confirm earlier reports suggesting that sweet potato leaves can be a great source of multiple water-soluble vitamins in the human diet, making them an attractive choice for your next dish.


Saturday, February 7, 2015

17 Home Remedies for Blocked Nose or Stuffy Nose

Blocked nose or Stuffy nose is the regular term utilized for the issue Nasal Congestion which if not treated at the soonest will bring about sinus issue or even blockage of nose and a few different genuine issues.

Explanations behind this stuffy nose can be infections, expanded nasal layer, unfavorably susceptible responses and a few others which if not determined at most punctual will clearly cause discomfort to any person.
17-home-remedies-for-blocked-nose-or-stuffy-nose


Help Your Immune System with Vitamins and Herbs
Can cold-busting vitamin C additionally help destroy blockage?  “Vitamin C has been demonstrated in some studies to shorten the duration of a cold and decrease the severity of symptoms — however, it doesn’t directly affect congestion,” says Stringer.

Along these lines, in case you’re engaging blockage identified with a cold, popping some additional vitamin C may help you get over your cold symptoms quicker. However in the event that your clogging is identified with unfavorable susceptibilities, vitamin C won’t bring alleviation.

Consume hot drinks
Hot fluids alleviate nasal blockage, avert dehydration, and calm the uncomfortably kindled layers that line your nose and throat. In case you’re so congested you can’t rest during the evening, attempt a hot toddy, an age-old cure.

Utilize a Humidifier or Vaporizer
Engaging a cold or influenza may leave you feeling dried out and dehydrated, such a large number of individuals turn to humidifiers or vaporizers to diminish congested sinuses. “Extra humidity via humidifiers can provide a lot of relief,” says Stringer. Humidifiers help separate clogging by adding dampness to the air, which serves to thin the mucus in your nose.

Garlic
Garlic goes about as a regular anti-viral which is utilized as a part of the treatment of viral contaminations like chilly, flu, sinus that causes stuffy nose to battle against the disease. Garlic contains a sharp taste which discharges emissions that serves to empty the nasal entries and makes you inhale agreeably. It additionally serves to expand your invulnerable framework when taken routinely.

Ginger
Utilization of fresh grated ginger (1 teaspoon) with a glass of warm water can give alleviation from the issue of stuffy nose. An individual can drink tea prepared with a mix of ginger, lemon squeeze and nectar to acquire successful results.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Apple cider vinegar serves to clear the stuffy nose by diminishing the mucus rapidly and empty out the sinuses, on the off chance that it is taken straight without any flavorings. It serves to clean your nose and nasal section for an agreeable breath.

Tomato Juice
Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C which will support your immune system and furthermore attempts to open up the sinuses to uproot the bodily fluid and diminish the aggravation in the vessels.

Herbal Tea
Drinking a tea prepared with the utilization of diverse herbs, for example, chamomile, peppermint and blackberry can give help from the issue of stuffy nose. Utilization of a tea prepared with the utilization of ginger and rosemary leaves can cure the issue of stuffy nose.

Hot Soups
Hot chicken soup is a best solution for stuffy nose as it adequately recuperates the chilly manifestations while giving alleviation from nasal clogging. You can likewise drink vegetable soups to get mended up rapidly.

Saline nasal sprays
Use saline nasal sprays or make your own particular salt water wash to inundate your nose. Salt-water washing helps break nasal blockage while likewise expelling infection particles and microscopic organisms from your nose.

Drink more liquids
Drink a lot of liquids to help separate your blockage. Drinking water or juice will avoid lack of hydration and keep your throat damp. You ought to drink no less than 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water day by day.
Incorporate liquids, for example, water, sports drinks, herbal teas, fruit drinks, or ginger ale. Your mother’s chicken soup may help as well! (Limit cola, espresso, and different beverages with caffeine in light of the fact that it demonstrations like a diuretic and may get dehydrate you.)

Onion
Peel off and cut an onion. Smell it for 4-5 minutes. It will clear your nose, providing for you help for nasal clogging.

Pepper
Pepper is an extraordinary solution to cure a stuffy nose. Put a teaspoon of dark pepper alongside a tablespoon of nectar in a glass. Fill it with bubbling water and let it steep for around 15 minutes. Then, blend it well. Drink this mixture to calm a stuffy nose.

Spicy Food
Enlarge your intake of spicy food while you are experiencing stuffy nose. Incorporate a lot of red chillies, onions, ginger and garlic to your diet. It will encourage the simpler stream of mucus from nasal entries, in this manner mitigating you from blocked nose.

Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is a standout amongst the best home solutions to relieve a stuffy nose.  Spill a couple of drops of eucalyptus vital oil on a tissue or on a little bit of fabric and breathe in its aroma. You can likewise spill some on your cushion so as to get the benefit even when sleeping.

Honey
Utilization of honey (2 teaspoons) all the time can treat the issue of stuffy nose. An individual can devour a glass of warm water containing honey (2 – 3 teaspoons) to get better results. Honey can be additionally brought with milk to treat the issue of stuffy nose.

Lemon
An individual can apply a mixture prepared with lemon juice (2 teaspoons), black pepper powder (1/fourth teaspoon) and a little salt around the nasal territory to treat the side effects of stuffy nose.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Vegan wrap

Today I decided to do something a little different, and try out some vegan pre-made products, and put together a wrap. It was delicious!

Ingredients
  • Black Rice Tortilla - gluten-free
  • Tofurky (Italian sausage with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Basil) Meat-Free, Non-GMO, Vegan
  • Go Veggie - Vegan cream cheese
  • Almond Cheddar Style - Vegan cheese alternative
  • Vegenaise - vegan mayo alternative
  • Sabra hummus
  • Tomato
  • Cucumber
  • Spinach
  • Sriracha

Directions
Slice the Tofuky into strips and heat with some oil in pan until hot and preferable crisp.  
Slice the almond cheddar and place on black rice tortilla. Heat the Tortilla to soften (the cheese alternative will melt as well).  
Add some hummus, Go Veggie cream cheese, Vegenaise. Top with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers and spinach. Add the Tofurky on one side and squeeze some sriracha ontop for an extra kick. Fold and it's ready to eat!





30g of protein per piece!

7g Protein per 1oz









Thursday, February 5, 2015

10 facts about coconut oil


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by Kris Gunnars


Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.” Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits.

Here are the top 10 health benefits of coconut oil that have been experimentally confirmed in human studies.

1. Coconut Oil Contains a Unique Combination of Fatty Acids With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in it being saturated (1).

However, new data is showing that saturated fats are harmless. Many massive studies that include hundreds of thousands of people prove that the whole “artery-clogging” idea was a myth (2).

Additionally, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak.
No, they contain so-called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length.

Most of the fatty acids in the diet are so-called long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.
They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
Bottom Line: Coconut oil contains a lot of medium chain triglycerides, which are metabolized differently and can have therapeutic effects on several brain disorders.

2. Populations That Eat a LOT of Coconut Are Among The Healthiest People on The Planet


Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people.

However, in some parts of the world, coconut is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.

The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific.

They eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world.

These people are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease (3).
Another example of a population that eats a lot of coconut and remains in excellent health is the Kitavans (4).
Bottom Line: Plenty of populations around the world have thrived for multiple generations eating massive amounts of coconut.

3. Coconut Oil Can Increase Your Energy Expenditure, Helping You Burn More Fat

Obesity is currently one of the biggest health problems in the world.
While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too.
It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is NOT a calorie.

The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats (5, 6).

One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day (7).
Bottom Line: The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

4. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil Can Kill Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi, Helping to Stave Off Infections

Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is the 12-carbon Lauric Acid.
When coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin.
Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi (8).
 
For example, these substances have been shown to kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans (9, 10).
Bottom Line: The fatty acids and breakdown products in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, potentially helping to prevent infections.


5. Coconut Oil Can Kill Your Hunger, Making You Eat Less Without Even Trying

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger.
This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect (11).

In one study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men.

The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average (12).
Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch (13).

These studies were small and only done for a short period of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.
Bottom Line: The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term.

6. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Are Turned into Ketones, Which Can Reduce Seizures

A so-called ketogenic (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currently being studied to treat various disorders.

The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children (14).

This diet involves eating very little carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood.
For some reason, this diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs.

Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet (15, 16).
Bottom Line: The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in epileptic children.

7. Coconut Oil Can Improve Blood Cholesterol Levels and May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought.

Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype (17, 18).

In one study in 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil (19).

There are also rat studies showing that coconut oil reduces triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL and improves blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status (20, 21).

This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should theoretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term.
Bottom Line: Studies in both humans and rats show that coconut oil improves important risk factors like Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease.


8. Coconut Oil Can Protect Hair Against Damage, Moisturize Skin and Function as Sunscreen

Coconut oil can serve various purposes that have nothing to do with eating it.
Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.

Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin (22).

Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays (23, 24)

Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath (25, 26, 27).
Bottom Line: Coconut oil can be applied topically as well, studies showing it to be effective as a skin moisturizer and protecting against hair damage. It can also be used as a mild form of sunscreen and as mouthwash.

9. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Function in Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs primarily in elderly individuals.

In Alzheimer’s patients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.

Ketone bodies can supply energy for the brain and researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s (28).

In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides lead to an immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s (29).

Other studies support these findings and medium chain triglycerides are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s disease (30, 31).
Bottom Line: Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy for the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients and relieving symptoms.

10. Coconut Oil Can Help You Lose Fat, Especially The Dangerous Fat in Your Abdominal Cavity

Given that coconut oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning, it makes sense that it can also help you lose weight.

Coconut oil appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs.
This is the most dangerous fat of all and is highly associated with many Western diseases.

Waist circumference is easily measured and is a great marker for the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity.

A study in 40 women with abdominal obesity, supplementing with 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference in a period of 12 weeks (19).

Another study in 20 obese males noted a reduction in waist circumference of 2.86 cm (1.1 inches) after 4 weeks of 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day (32).
This number may not seem too impressive on the surface, but be aware that these people aren't adding exercise or restricting calories. They’re losing significant amounts of abdominal fat simply by adding coconut oil to their diet.

11. Anything Else?

If you want to enjoy the immense health benefits of coconut oil, then make sure to choose organic, virgin coconut oil… NOT the refined stuff.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg. People are using coconut oil for all sorts of things with incredible success.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

15 Health Benefits of Daily Rebounding

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by
 Remember when we were kids and we’d jump on the bed? Maybe if our parents had known the vast amount of benefits that come from that jumping up and down motion, they wouldn’t have yelled at us to stop!

Let’s talk about the adult version of jumping on the bed, it’s called rebounding. Rebounding is just a fancy title for, ‘’mini trampoline.’’  You can rebound anywhere from 5 minutes to as long as your heart desires.

Why rebound? 

The most commonly known benefit of rebounding is the stimulation of your lymphatic system.  Your lymphatic system is like your body’s internal filtration system. It’s job is to filter your blood and dispose of acidic and toxic waste.
Without it our cells, tissue and organs would become overloaded with toxins. A sluggish or unhealthy lymph system could lead to a weakened immune system, chronic fatigue, aches and pains, bloating, cellulite, your body collecting fat deposits, poor digestion, fibromyalgia and so much dang more.

Rebounding for just 5-15 minutes a day can increases the circulation of your lymphatic system by 15-30 times!

Aside from really rockin’ your lymphatic system, rebounding has plenty of other neat benefits:
  1.  Zero-impact exercise that won’t stress your joints
  2. Strengthens abdominal muscles
  3. Enhances digestion and elimination ( pooping is essential to good health!)
  4. Helps burn calories
  5. Helps decrease your resting heart rate
  6. Circulates oxygen to tissues and muscles in the body
  7. Helps promote relaxation
  8. Improves quality of sleep
  9. Increases blood flow in the veins of your circulatory system
  10. Normalizes your blood pressure
  11. May help combat depression
  12. Stimulates your metabolism
  13. Promotes muscle tone
  14. Increases the production of red blood cells.
  15. Lowers elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels
All of that just from jumping on a trampoline for a few minutes a day? Hell yeah!

 

How to rebound

1. Step on your mini-trampoline
2. Jump up and down
3. Repeat daily

Bam! Like Emeril! Now go rebound. You’ll do something amazing for your health, and, rebounding is quite joyful. Something about just jumping up and down is fun and freeing. It really helps release the inner child in you and who knows, that happy inner child may provide you with some much-needed perspective.

Like maybe your mother in law cringing at your homemade German chocolate cake isn’t that big of a deal, and is so not worth the wasted energy from holding on to that grudge. Thank you rebounding!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

The 10 C’s of Couple Compatibility

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by Marcia Sirota MD
Being a super-successful couple comes down to following the ten “C’s.” These are ten concepts, all beginning with the letter “C,” which will enable you to take your relationship to the next level.

Couple Compatibility #1 on the list is Commitment
Both people have to take the relationship seriously and be willing and able to stick with it in good times and in bad. If one of you lacks commitment, the other will feel insecure and unloved, which leads to relationship stress. Without a strong commitment, it’s too easy to walk away when challenges arise.

Couple Compatibility #2 is Communication
Both people need to know that the other person understands their needs and feelings and will respond to them appropriately. No-one is a mind-reader and good, clear communication is the only way for two people to develop and maintain trust and intimacy.

Couple Compatibility #3 on the list is Caring
Love is necessary in a relationship but it’s not enough. For a relationship to work, you must both really care about your partner’s thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, likes, dislikes and values. If there’s not enough caring, no amount of infatuation or passion will keep you together.

Couple Compatibility #4 is Compromise
Being flexible and allowing for some give and take will build trust and respect. The willingness to give up something you want or to let the other person have their way shows them that you’re easy-going and responsive to their needs.

Couple Compatibility #5 on the list is Compassion
Being understanding and tolerant toward each-other goes a long way in maintaining the good-will in a relationship. When there’s compassion instead of criticism, both people feel fully accepted and free to be their own, imperfect selves.

Couple Compatibility #6 is Conscientiousness
When both people are thoughtful and regularly rise to the occasion and do the right thing, it creates an atmosphere of comfort and happiness in the relationship.