Increasingly, as if there is a “new” discovery parade for the latest cure-all, probiotics have come again to the forefront. As I read the varying articles and studies, I am struck by how far afield we have come from normal, common sense.In order to maintain a healthy body, there is a tripod of health: body, mind, and spirit. Knock out one leg of that stool, and the stool topples over. Probiotics, diet, dietary supplements address only the “body” leg of the health tripod. So let’s start there.
Anything taken externally, whether it is natural or medical (chemical or surgical) in support of the physical, has only ever been intended as temporary support until we have regained or achieved the necessary consciousness to support complete and perfect health; much as you might use a crutch to recover from a broken leg. When the leg is healed, we throw the crutch away as we should throw the supplements and medications away.The body knows how to be well and healthy, as this is its natural and inherent state. Think of all the times you’ve had a cold, or the flu or a cut or bruise. They always go away. The body, created by Infinite Intelligence, does not need to know how to be well, but rather is always striving to return to health, its normal set-point. Our job, as a conscious human being, is to make the choices – all of our choices – that support Life. That is to say choices that are probiotic.These choices, if we are living naturally and following our internal prompts, always feel good, fun, joyful, and delicious. The body, itself, tells us what it needs with respect to nutrition; and we, if we are listening and aware, then eat those foods. The body tells us when it is tired and needs rest; if we are listening and living naturally, we fall asleep and awaken refreshed. The body tells us when it is cold; and if we are listening, we go inside, don a coat or sit by the fire. The body tells us when we are full; if we are listening, we stop eating, pleasantly satiated. The body because of its Innate Intelligence – the Life Force that enlivens it, is constantly directing us if we are listening.This same Innate Intelligence or Life Force is present in all living things: animal, vegetable and mineral. It quite simply is the “spirit” leg of the heath tripod. So it is essential that we pay attention to the still small voice within guiding us in all things, including health, always towards our good.The “mental” component of the tripod is where all the trouble begins and ends. The human mind with its hubris and arrogance believes that it is the infinite intelligence rather than our spirit Infinite Intelligence (knowing). The human mind is what confounds and complicates everything, over-shouting the still small voice every chance it gets. The human mind will argue with the information of Innate Intelligence that we don’t have time to eat, or we can’t afford to eat healthy food, or that we don’t have time to be home resting. The human mind will argue that a vitamin supplement is a quick fix, that a “professional” knows more than I do; that in a decision between ethics and money, money wins. The human mind will tell you to stay in the job your hate, because the money is good; and it will tell you to take the “safe” road, because it is afraid and lives in the land of Lack. These are the decisions that we make every day that lead us into life styles and relationships that are as toxic to the body and chemicals are.For example, as science attempts to unravel the secrets of good nutrition and health, they omit or ignore or discount the concept of Infinite Intelligence or Life Force, because they don’t understand It and cannot quantify It. Therefore, they believe that by isolating certain nutrients, that the benefits of that nutrient are complete in relationship to the biological body and cells. For example, scientists study, let’s say, Vitamin C. They isolate it out from its original state that it is found in, let’s say, an orange. They identify it by its chemical composition and name it Vitamin C of a certain type. Then a nutritional company or a drug company will duplicate that chemical complex and manufacture it synthetically and patent it. Why? Because you cannot patent the Vitamin C in an orange, but if you create your own synthetic clone of it, you can patent that and then sell it as “a vitamin supplement”. It’s about money; and the marketing is about making you believe – contrary to your own knowing and Innate Intelligence (common sense), that it’s better to buy the pill rather than simply eat the whole food, the orange. This whole process is the human mind process; not common sense, not Innate Intelligence, and not your Knowing.This brings us back to the “body” portion of the health tripod. All the things we do to and for the physical body to maintain or to regain physical health. These things include medicine, alternative therapies, nutrition, supplements, and the food we eat.So let’s go back to the clone of Vitamin C which is not Real Vitamin C. First of all, it has been separated out of its natural habitat of the orange and no longer has the synergistic benefits of all the other nutrients found within that Infinite Intelligence-created orange. The other nutrients within the orange were gathered together by Infinite Intelligence in the orange with the Vitamin C to work together one with the other – like a symphony shall we say. All together they release their blessings of nutrition to the consumer in a concert. One triggers the other, one enhances the other, and within the human body, they trigger certain enzymes or other mechanism to break it down and with nutritional perfection and elegant harmony are absorbed into the body where they nourish and sustains the cells, the fundamental building block of the body. This is the symphony of naturally occurring whole foods in the act of nourishing the living body. The clone has no idea of the music.While it is not quite the stuff of Frankenstein for science to understand food and nutrition in relationship to the human body, it is when these elements are separated out from the Whole Picture and peddled to convey the same efficacy as the Real thing, which they cannot do. Recall for a minute the actual Frankenstein creation: he was patchwork parody of the Real human, not elegantly Real.When these synthetically created nutritional clones are ingested into the Real body, the body in fact does not recognize them and either sloughs them off (every wondered why your urine is so bright yellow when you’re taking vitamin supplements ) or they are treated as toxins. If the body identifies them as toxins (foreign substance), it will attempt to eliminate it from the body or surround it with fat cells much like putting the bad guy into solitary confinement. [Did you ever wonder why we are so fat in such large numbers?] Seems to me, via common sense, my own Innate Intelligence just like yours, that the more toxins – synthetically/chemically produced foods (neo-nutrition) we consume, the more toxins the body is attempting to cope with and so produces the fat to surround and contain them to protect the vital organs of the body. The living body’s single imperative, after all, is to live. This is basic biology 101.The rube is that most of the food available for consumption grown here in the United States is synthetically altered in some fashion. First the seed, itself, is genetically modified from its original Infinite Intelligent state. Monsanto has done a grave and potentially catastrophic disservice to the world by altering seed – again for the reason of patent – so that now farmers have to buy seed every year.Haven’t you noticed that you can’t grow a new corn crop from the old corn seed or that this year’s tomato seed will not grow a next generation of tomato? My own Innate knowing noticed this phenomenon years ago and thought then that this was very strange. Especially when the natural process of pollination would have eventually – by evolution – evolved a new seed that was adapted to a particular climate or locality or pest. Once again, it is the mandate of all living things – Life Force, Innate Intelligence – to Live. And in so doing, living naturally and organically, every living thing will change and become naturally stronger and more resilient to its environmental challenges or perish. In the human body, this job is particularly handled by the immune system.All you have to do is look to the cock roach to see the amazing ability of Infinite Intelligence to adapt for Life (probiotic). It is this very process of adapting and changing to environmental challenges – evolution they called it in high school – that creates the very nutrition – antioxidants for example – that we ingest through eating a whole food, that helps our bodies meet their own environmental challenges.However, as a result of these genetically modified seeds that require chemicals in the form or herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers to grow, the essential nutrition that we require to be healthy is now absent from these food; and in addition, these foods contain more toxins (synthetic chemicals) that we ingest into our bodies. These are not whole foods; they are corrupted foods.As a result of these corruptive foods, the front line digestive and immune systems are seriously compromised. When the digestive system is compromised, we cannot be nourished. When the immune system is compromised, we fight disease.This is where the recent surge in demand for organically grown, non-genetically modified foods has arisen. Simply put, organic, whole, Real foods contain more potent and available nutrition for our bodies to use; and they come complete with Innate Life Force as well as without toxins. Studies prove that these foods are as much as 60% higher in available nutrition than industrially grown foods.The long term effects of synthetically grown foods are now evident by the number of Americans who are sick. Diabetes has become a “life style” complete with its own magazines for diabetic living. Immune diseases are epidemic: multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome to name but a few and not to mention cancer and heart-related disease. Every one of these dis-eases can be directly traced back to our food supply and the resulting epidemic of malnutrition in Americans and the toxin load.Better living cannot be found through chemistry when it comes to health, food, nutrition and the environment. Synthetic chemistry and its manipulation for profit makes corporations rich, farmers poor, and kills people.By about 40 years of age, the body begins to show the effects of this deadly combination of slow poisoning with the accumulation of toxins compounded by years of malnourishment. The drip, drip, drip effect reaches critical mass and the body cannot manage any more, cannot cope, and begins to break down showing myriad symptoms of dis-ease. Nutrition is what the body uses to repair and rejuvenate itself, but without the proper nutrition derived from whole foods, the cells themselves cannot restore, renew or replenish to their natural state of health. Toss on the load of accumulated toxins, and it is, “Houston, we have a problem.”This brings us to rebalancing the Health Tripod.The medical world has evolved into a lucrative business of treating symptoms of disease with more synthetic drugs with no intention of addressing the cause. It is a mindset of sickness, not wellness. At its core medicine believes neither in the fundamental Infinite Intelligence of the body nor its ability to heal itself. But rather as its centerpiece are sickness, disease and decay.Alternative health methodologies are more inclined to honor the Infinite Intelligence of the body and treat symptoms of dies-ease with probiotic methods: moving energy (Life Force) in the body, support with herbs and nutrition in addressing the physical complaint. In addition most of these modalities will, to greater or lesser degrees, address the other two legs of the Tripod: mind and spirit as well. All these methods are good for you, as long as the mind leg of the tripod believes and knows this as well. If you do not believe in the Infinite Intelligence of your body, you should opt for medical treatment.As a result of the medical model heavily influencing our Western thought, even alternative therapies have adopted “medicine-like” models for treatment of dies-ease, such as prescribing supplements and herbal remedies for regular use. But these should not be taken as “medicine” on a long term basis, but rather used intermittently to support the body until body/mind/spirit regains balance.This brings us to the current phase in American healthcare, which is the onslaught of “natural supplements”. But once again, the consumer must be educated and cautious, as some of these are the products of the chemical laboratory too, and not the products of whole grown food. As previously discussed, these “nutritions” when isolated from their synergistic fellows in the whole food form do not supply the same healthful effects to the body. They are often more chemistry and always without the support of the rest of the nutritional army found in a whole food. This is largely what you see on the shelves at the drug store, the vitamin store and online. They are a poor relation to natural whole food nutrition. And remember, the body may identify these as toxins as well, sloughing them off or storing them in fat, but certainly not imparting any Real nutrition to the body for use.Here is where the consumer must take responsibility for his/her own health and come to understand the options clearly: synthetic chemistry, synthetic supplements, or whole organic food and whole food superfood supplements.No longer can we afford to be ignorant of what is being offered to us out there for “health” benefits. You must be intelligent and use your own good common sense for regaining and maintaining optimum health.Two things are required, fundamental and essential, for complete and perfect health: 1. complete pure untainted available nutrition; 2. the body’s ability to process and absorb the nutrients.1. Complete, pure and untainted nutrition comes from organically grown whole foods, period.a. Buy organically grown/raised foods whenever and wherever possible in the widest variety possible. Try growing some of your own. There’s a reason that foods are available with seasonality. Infinite Intelligence has provided us the vast and complete range of nutrients our bodies need for cellular health with a veritable buffet of foods: animal, vegetable, and fruits in balance and moderation, and more importantly, as your body uniquely informs you.b. When buying a supplement, you must determine that it is, in fact, a whole food supplement. Often times these are called superfoods. A working definition of superfood might be any food that is high in enzymes, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, Chlorophyll, and antioxidants. In a perfect world the goal would be to be free of anything manufactured and obtain complete nutrition from your wide spectrum variety of whole food selections. A word of warning: be certain that the whole food supplement, the superfood, is organic.2. Probiotics are essential to the absorption and assimilation of whole food nutrition.1. First of all, the “new” probiotic supplements are not some new invention or creation of modern science. They are natural, living organisms that are found in the intestinal tract. In fact, they are found in the intestinal tract of every creature that digests food and makes waste. Probiotics (good bacteria) are provided to us naturally by Infinite Intelligence in whole plant foods (vegetables, fruits and grains).2. It is most important to understand, is that probiotics are living organisms with a life, a function and a mission. Their function is perhaps to say they are the front line troops of your body’s immune system. In the digestive tract it is their job to keep any “bad” bacteria in check. When “bad” bacteria are out of balance and in control, the body cannot absorb nor assimilate the nutrition required for Innate Intelligence to restore the body to complete and perfect health3. Probiotics aid in the digestion and elimination of waste materials from the body. If the body is not eliminating its own waste and toxins, they are stored, via fat; and in the colon, if not eliminated completely, set up an environment of decay: the perfect culture for dis-ease.4. Warning: probiotic is word being used on labels now to get you to buy.First, the product itself must be organic (yogurt, kefir, kambucha). Second the cultures must be LIVE.5. If you are purchasing a superfood enriched with probiotics as a dietary supplement (addition); then once again, be certain that the superfood is organic and that the probiotics have been cultured in the sun (not killed by heat); and that they haven’t been cultured from fecal matter.Just like with vitamin supplements, manufactured probiotics are present in the market place as well. When a manufacturer can identify a probiotic in nature (in food), it isolates it by its chemical composition and manufactures it synthetically, patents it and gives it a patented name. As with synthetically created vitamins, patented probiotics will be treated by the body as yet another foreign substance. The body then has to either discharge and eliminate it, or store it in fat. The supposed “cure” has just added to the problem.Since the digestive system is the most critical place where nutrition is either absorbed and assimilated and made available for cellular health or not, this is a particularly sinister place to introduce synthetics, because neither will the nutrition be made available to the body nor should the body have to cope with yet another chemical impostor of the Real.It is appalling to me that we find ourselves in this place in the year 2008. What’s more I cannot understand how we could be so morally bankrupt as to arrive at methodically poisoning our people for the sake of money. But the truth of the matter is that each of us has to take charge of our own health and wellness and no longer entrust it to “others.”The formula to regain and maintain health until you die is simple: body, mind, spirit. And the rule is that when any one of the three becomes out of balance, the stool falls.You most probably will address your health only when you notice a physical symptom, but that is your opportunity to address the mind and spirit aspects of your life, as well; for one or both of those aspects are out of sync if your body is ill.We are an integrated being. Just as the knee bone is connected to the shin bone, the body is connected to the mind is connected to the spirit. The body is merely the casing that contains mind and spirit for a physical adventure here on earth; and I think you will agree that without health, the physical experience is less than optimal, to be sure.If you are trying to regain (or maintain) your God-given state of complete and perfect health, by all means use what methods and practices that you feel are correct and appropriate to support your physicality whilst you do the necessary explorations in mindset and spirit, bringing you back to your perfectly balanced Health Tripod.What we think, what we believe is what we experience. With the experience of something that is unpleasant and not fulfilling comes the opportunity to release the beliefs and mindsets that got us here, and to choose new thoughts and new ideas that are probiotic – pro Life – and support us in complete and perfect health. The Whole Tripod.One final note: we are dynamic beings, therefore constantly changing. The requirement to pay attention (be aware) and make conscious choices moment to moment is the essential job of spirituality and self-mastery, which a life long process. You never get it done.Applying your spirit, listening to the Innate Intelligence within, will always lead you to your good. Always.

There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option.

In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying for a bank loan can be difficult – especially for start-up companies and those that have experienced any type of financial difficulty. Sometimes, owners of businesses that don’t qualify for a bank loan decide that seeking venture capital or bringing on equity investors are other viable options.

But are they really? While there are some potential benefits to bringing venture capital and so-called “angel” investors into your business, there are drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, owners sometimes don’t think about these drawbacks until the ink has dried on a contract with a venture capitalist or angel investor – and it’s too late to back out of the deal.

Different Types of Financing

One problem with bringing in equity investors to help provide a working capital boost is that working capital and equity are really two different types of financing.

Working capital – or the money that is used to pay business expenses incurred during the time lag until cash from sales (or accounts receivable) is collected – is short-term in nature, so it should be financed via a short-term financing tool. Equity, however, should generally be used to finance rapid growth, business expansion, acquisitions or the purchase of long-term assets, which are defined as assets that are repaid over more than one 12-month business cycle.

But the biggest drawback to bringing equity investors into your business is a potential loss of control. When you sell equity (or shares) in your business to venture capitalists or angels, you are giving up a percentage of ownership in your business, and you may be doing so at an inopportune time. With this dilution of ownership most often comes a loss of control over some or all of the most important business decisions that must be made.

Sometimes, owners are enticed to sell equity by the fact that there is little (if any) out-of-pocket expense. Unlike debt financing, you don’t usually pay interest with equity financing. The equity investor gains its return via the ownership stake gained in your business. But the long-term “cost” of selling equity is always much higher than the short-term cost of debt, in terms of both actual cash cost as well as soft costs like the loss of control and stewardship of your company and the potential future value of the ownership shares that are sold.

Alternative Financing Solutions

But what if your business needs working capital and you don’t qualify for a bank loan or line of credit? Alternative financing solutions are often appropriate for injecting working capital into businesses in this situation. Three of the most common types of alternative financing used by such businesses are:

1. Full-Service Factoring – Businesses sell outstanding accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to a commercial finance (or factoring) company at a discount. The factoring company then manages the receivable until it is paid. Factoring is a well-established and accepted method of temporary alternative finance that is especially well-suited for rapidly growing companies and those with customer concentrations.

2. Accounts Receivable (A/R) Financing – A/R financing is an ideal solution for companies that are not yet bankable but have a stable financial condition and a more diverse customer base. Here, the business provides details on all accounts receivable and pledges those assets as collateral. The proceeds of those receivables are sent to a lockbox while the finance company calculates a borrowing base to determine the amount the company can borrow. When the borrower needs money, it makes an advance request and the finance company advances money using a percentage of the accounts receivable.

3. Asset-Based Lending (ABL) – This is a credit facility secured by all of a company’s assets, which may include A/R, equipment and inventory. Unlike with factoring, the business continues to manage and collect its own receivables and submits collateral reports on an ongoing basis to the finance company, which will review and periodically audit the reports.

In addition to providing working capital and enabling owners to maintain business control, alternative financing may provide other benefits as well:

It’s easy to determine the exact cost of financing and obtain an increase.
Professional collateral management can be included depending on the facility type and the lender.
Real-time, online interactive reporting is often available.
It may provide the business with access to more capital.
It’s flexible – financing ebbs and flows with the business’ needs.
It’s important to note that there are some circumstances in which equity is a viable and attractive financing solution. This is especially true in cases of business expansion and acquisition and new product launches – these are capital needs that are not generally well suited to debt financing. However, equity is not usually the appropriate financing solution to solve a working capital problem or help plug a cash-flow gap.

A Precious Commodity

Remember that business equity is a precious commodity that should only be considered under the right circumstances and at the right time. When equity financing is sought, ideally this should be done at a time when the company has good growth prospects and a significant cash need for this growth. Ideally, majority ownership (and thus, absolute control) should remain with the company founder(s).

Alternative financing solutions like factoring, A/R financing and ABL can provide the working capital boost many cash-strapped businesses that don’t qualify for bank financing need – without diluting ownership and possibly giving up business control at an inopportune time for the owner. If and when these companies become bankable later, it’s often an easy transition to a traditional bank line of credit. Your banker may be able to refer you to a commercial finance company that can offer the right type of alternative financing solution for your particular situation.

Taking the time to understand all the different financing options available to your business, and the pros and cons of each, is the best way to make sure you choose the best option for your business. The use of alternative financing can help your company grow without diluting your ownership. After all, it’s your business – shouldn’t you keep as much of it as possible?

Long time statistics have shown that 9 out of 10 new businesses fail in their first year. Lack of planning and financial ruin is one of the most common causes. Starting small is a way to insure minimal risk in new business. The founder of Dell computers was a college dropout on a shoe-string budget who started his business out of his garage. One in three computers sold today is a Dell.The following is a list of just some of the businesses you can start for $500 or less.
Housekeeping – Requirements/ household cleaners, mop, broom, vacuum, towels, bucket, business cards – approximate cost $150. Molly Maids is a multi-million dollar business started with a broom, a mop, and quality and reliable service. I can guarantee you that the CEO of Molly Maids doesn’t clean houses any longer.

Gardening or landscaping – Requirements/ mower, edger, blower, rake, shovel, clippers, business cards – approximate cost $450. Some education won’t hurt you here, but even without it, how much money did you make mowing the neighbors yard when you were young?

Internet sales – Requirements/ computer – approximate cost $500. It’s likely you already have a computer at home so this just might be the cheapest and easiest business to start. It has been estimated that by the year 2020, nearly all retail purchases will be done over the World Wide Web. Getting on the bandwagon now may set you up for a prosperous internet business in the near future. Look into working with “drop ship” companies to avoid up front expense and storage fees.

Mobile food service – Requirements/ business cards – approximate cost $30. With a half hour lunch break, employees at many companies have little time to leave work and order lunch. Providing a morning menu for lunchtime delivery can be helpful to these people and provide a good source of income for you. Your job? Call in the order, pick it up, and deliver it; for a fee of course. Delivering 15 lunches to one company at $3 to $5 profit apiece can add up quick. Or how about a hot dog cart at special events?

Pool service – Requirements/ pool cleaning supplies, start-up chemicals, brush, net, hose, business cards – Approximate cost $400. States with warmer climates have many homes with swimming pools needing weekly care. Service to numerous homes in the same area can net you a small fortune. Business cards on the door or mailbox lets the homeowner know you are available. It may take some time to get a solid clientele, but be patient; established pool service routes can be very valuable if and when you decide to call it quits.

Consulting service – Requirements/ know-how, business cards – Approximate cost $30. What do you know that might be of monetary value to others? Sell your smarts!

Delivery service – Requirements/ the car, scooter, or bicycle you may already have/ business cards – Approximate cost $30. A great business within large city limits. Corporations, small businesses, restaurants, etc. may be in need of delivery services. Whether it is paper documents, payrolls, food, or other items, delivery services can be a steady and profitable business.

Painter – Requirements/ brushes, rollers, edger’s, towels, tarps, business cards – Approximate cost $200. Visit local hardware stores to let them know you are available for work and will purchase paint through their stores. Their referrals may keep you busy for months at a time.

Handyman – Requirements/ basic tools, business cards – Approximate cost $500. Depending on they type of jobs you acquire in this business, a contractors license may eventually be required. Check with your local and state government offices to determine at what point you will need one.

Daycare – Requirements/ toys, educational materials, bedding, a safe and clean home, love – Approximate cost $300. This business requires patience and child care experience. If you care for more than three children at one time, it’s likely you will be required to be licensed. Check with your local and state government offices for restrictions and requirements.
Most of these business start-up ideas will require an additional two items you likely already have; an automobile and a telephone. But otherwise, they are super simple and easy to start new businesses suitable for nearly anyone wanting to become self-employed.The key to having a successful business is to do what you would enjoy doing anyway. Make a list of the things you like to do and follow that with an extended list of ways to make money in a related business. Be creative with your business idea, there are many more options available for you than you probably realize!