The 5 Love Languages^®

What if you could say or do just the right thing guaranteed to make that special someone feel loved? The secret is learning the right love language! Millions of couples have learned the simple way to express their feelings and bring joy back into marriage: The 5 Love Languages, Dr. Gary Chapman’s New York Times bestseller!

• Words of Affirmation

  Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

• Quality Time

  In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

• Receiving Gifts

  Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

• Acts of Service

  Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

• Physical Touch

  This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

• Love Language Assessments

Cancer Prevention Tips For Everyone

1.      Avoid all animal based fats & oils. Use olive oil if you need to, but in moderation. Fish oil, flaxseed oil & evening primrose oil are good oils.

2.      Do not smoke.

3.      Reduce alcohol intake to two to three glasses of red wine per week.

4.      Be careful of being overweight - aim to be in your weight range for your height.

5.      Eat to live, not live to eat. In other words, eat foods that you know will nourish you rather than eating foods from habit, convenience or cravings.

6.      Aim for at least 70% alkalyzing foods and 30% acidifying foods. Think vegetables and fruit first. Also, have three meat-free days per week.

7.      Eat five smaller meals rather than three large ones.

8.      Eat food raw, steamed or roasted, rather than microwaved, fried or bbq'd.

9.      Juice fresh vegetables and fruit yourself.

10. Don't drink fizzy soft drinks, especially low calorie ones.

11. Avoid sugar, salt and caffeine. Beware of hidden sugars and salt in packaged or pre-prepared food.

12. Remove toxic chemicals that may be in your bathroom, kitchen and personal care products.

13. Avoid electromagnetic radiation, in or outside the home. Especially mobile phones and portable phones.

14. Minimize drugs whenever possible, including antibiotics.

15. Women should avoid extra oestrogen e.g. the contraceptive pill or HRT.

16. Do a cleanse/purge at least once a year to eliminate viruses, parasites or yeasts.

17. Keep your gut in good order by sometimes taking probiotics (good gut bacteria).

18. Keep your immunity boosted by taking zinc & vitamin C, and periodically Echinacea, Olive leaf & Astragalus.

19. Drink at least 2.5 litres of filtered water per day.

20. Do some exercise daily. Try to exercise for at least five hours per week.

21. Love your lymph and move it daily with deep breathing exercises, yoga or T'ai Chi

22. Have a body energy service regularly, at least once every six months with a naturopath, acupuncturist, osteopath or natural therapist.

23. Calm yourself, free your brain, learn to relax, meditate.

24. Learn more about yourself and recognize the things (even people) that limit you and avoid them. Don't put up with things that bring you down, depress you or make you negative. Get rid of any personal "baggage" and deal with anger and guilt as soon as they arise.

25. Surround yourself with positive, supportive and caring people. Love and be loved. Practice acts of kindness.

26. Establish and reinforce your sense of purpose. What do you really want to be doing in one year, five years, ten years time? Have some definite life goals and dream a little.

27. Discover your own spirituality. Think about your place in the universe. Consider God and a personal faith.

28. Be positive and fill your days with real value & purpose. Keep moving forwards.

29. Celebrate life.

30. Remember to laugh and retain a sense of humour.

Photography by John Paul Urizar

This spicy lamb curry is best prepared in a slow cooker.

I use chilli, ginger and garlic from a jar, and add in all the vegetables. I did forget the curry paste once, and it still tasted good!

Ingredients (serves 4)

• 1/4 cup plain flour
• 800g diced lamb shoulder
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large brown onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 4cm piece fresh ginger, peeled, grated
• 1 long red chilli, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup Indian madras curry paste
• 270ml light coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon Vegeta gourmet stock powder
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 dried bay leaf
• steamed rice, yoghurt, naan bread and chopped fresh coriander, to serve

Gluten-free Mandarin and Almond Cake

I substitute Splenda for the sugar, and don't bother with the topping.  I have also made the mixture as delicious, moist muffins.  If you're being naughty, you can make lemon icing which is also yummy.

Ingredients:

• 4 mandarins
• 250g caster sugar
• 6 eggs
• 250g ground almond meal
• 1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
• ⅓ cup slivered almonds
• 2 mandarins, extra
• caster sugar
• cup water
• greek-style yoghurt, to serve

Method:

1. 1. Preheat oven to 170. Grease a 24cm springform tin and line with baking paper.
2. 2. Cut mandarins in half through the centre. Remove pips and roughly chop. Do not peel mandarins. Place into a food processor with caster sugar. Process until finely chopped.
3. 3. Add eggs and process until smooth and well combined. Add almond meal and baking powder and pulse until just combined. Transfer to prepared tin and sprinkle slivered almonds over surface. Bake for 45 minutes until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool for 10 minutes in tin. Remove from tin and cool on a wire rack.
4. 4. Meanwhile, peel extra mandarins and divide into segments. Cut half of the peel into thin strips. Combine extra caster sugar and water in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until dissolved. Increase heat and boil for 5 minutes until syrupy. Add peel and simmer for 10 minutes. Decorate cake with mandarin segments and drizzle over candied peel and syrup. Serve with greek-style yoghurt.