Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Nutritionists: Soda making Americans drink themselves fat



There's a great article printed on CNN about how soda is really what is making Americans fat. I'm so glad I stopped drinking that crap back in 1992.



Story highlights include:

Soft drinks contribute 10 percent of the calories in the American diet
Center for Science in the Public Interest: Soda is "quintessential junk food"
CSPI wants obesity warning labels on the sides of soda cans
Scientists: Body reacts differently to liquid calories than solid food

Do your body a favor, read the article here and decide for yourself if you should stop.

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Friday, September 14, 2007

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Chickens



1. ‘Bird Brain’ Is a Compliment

Several recent studies have shown that chickens are bright animals, able to solve complex problems, demonstrate self-control, and worry about the future. Chickens are smarter than cats or dogs and even do some things that have not yet been seen in mammals other than primates. Dr. Chris Evans, who studies animal behavior and communication at Macquarie University in Australia, says, As a trick at conferences, I sometimes list these attributes, without mentioning chickens, and people think I’m talking about monkeys. Dr. John Webster of Bristol University found that chickens are capable of understanding cause and effect and that when chickens learn something new, they pass on that knowledge (i.e., they have what scientists call culture). How does your IQ compare to that of a chicken?

2. All Drugged Up

Quite simply, chickens are the most abused animals on the planet. Chickens raised for their flesh are packed by the thousands into massive sheds. They are fed large amounts of antibiotics and drugs to keep them alive in conditions that would otherwise kill them. The antibiotics make chickens grow so large, so fast that they often become crippled under their own weight. This reckless use of antibiotics also makes drugs less effective for treating humans by speeding up the development of drug-resistant bacteria. Learn more about the overuse of antibiotics in chickens.

3. Scalded to Death

Only seven weeks after they are born, chickens are crowded onto trucks that transport them to the slaughterhouse. Tens of millions of chickens have their wings and legs broken in the process every year. They are trucked through all weather extremes, sometimes over hundreds of miles, without any food or water. At slaughter, chickens are hung upside-down and have their throats slit, and they are often scalded to death in defeathering tanks. Watch undercover footage of chickens who are mutilated and scalded to death at a Tyson slaughterhouse.

4. They Don’t Even Get a Lawyer

The billions of chickens killed each year are not protected by a single federal law the Humane Slaughter Act exempts birds, even though there are more than 55 times as many chickens slaughtered each year as pigs and cows combined! Chickens raised for their flesh have their sensitive beaks cut off with a hot blade without any painkillers. These intelligent animals spend their entire lives in filthy sheds with tens of thousands of other birds, each getting about as much space as a sheet of paper, where intense crowding and confinement lead to outbreaks of disease. If factory-farm owners treated cats and dogs like they treat chickens, they would go to jail for cruelty to animals. Learn more about the routine abuse of chickens in factory farms.

5. Do You Want Poop With That?

A USDA study found that more than 99 percent of broiler chicken carcasses sold in stores had detectable levels of E. coli, indicating fecal contamination. In other words, if you’re eating chicken flesh, you’re almost certainly eating poop. Consumer Reports states there are 1.1 million or more Americans sickened each year by undercooked, tainted chicken. Chicken flesh is also loaded with dangerous levels of arsenic, which can cause cancer, dementia, neurological problems, and other ailments in humans. Men’s Health magazine recently ranked supermarket chicken number one in their list of the 10 Dirtiest Foods because of the high rate of bacterial contamination. Learn more about how eating chicken and meat puts your health at risk.

6. Lose the Fat, Avoid the Flu

Both the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization say that if the avian flu virus spreads to the United States, it could be caught simply by eating undercooked chicken flesh or eggs, eating food prepared on the same cutting board as infected meat or eggs, or even touching eggshells contaminated with the disease. Chicken flesh and eggs are packed with cholesterol a 3-ounce piece of skinless chicken breast meat has as much cholesterol as beef, and just one egg has nearly three times as much! This cholesterol, along with a high intake of animal fats, blocks arteries and causes heart disease. Vegan foods, on the other hand, are all cholesterol-free and much lower in fat!

7. The Most Dangerous Factory Job in America

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, slaughterhouse workers are more than three times more likely to suffer injuries while working than workers in other manufacturing jobs, and they suffer a rate of repetitive stress injury that is 35 times higher than that in other manufacturing jobs. The industry refuses to make working conditions safer by slowing line speeds or buying appropriate safety gear, which amounts to what Human Rights Watch calls systematic human rights violations embedded in meat and poultry industry employment. Big chicken companies such as Tyson and Perdue also exploit contract factory-farm operators, whom Auburn University economist Robert Taylor calls serfs with a mortgage. Contract factory farmers are forced to foot the bill for building and maintaining massive factory farms, which puts them deeply into debt and can drive them to financial ruin if their company cancels future contracts with them. Learn why Human Rights Watch calls meat-packing the most dangerous factory job in America.

8. Motherly Love

In a natural setting, a hen will cluck to her chicks before they even hatch while she sits on the eggs in her nest. They peep back to her and to each other through their shells. In factory farms, eggs are taken from the mother as soon as they are laid and put in large incubators a chick will never meet his or her parents. Hens prefer to have private nests hidden from predators and will often go without food or water in order to obtain a private nest. This demonstrates the fact that hens will sacrifice their own comfort if it means protecting their chicks. Learn more about the personalities of these interesting animals.

9. Chicken Sh*t

Raising 9 billion chickens in factory farms each year produces enormous amounts of excrement. Oregon State University agriculture professor Peter Cheeke says that factory farming amounts to a frontal assault on the environment, which leads to widespread fecal ground and water pollution. Because chickens are fed massive amounts of drugs, hormones, and pesticides, these chemicals are also found in high concentrations in their feces, which means that fecal pollution from chicken farms is especially disastrous for the environment. In West Virginia and Maryland, for example, scientists have recently discovered that male fish are growing ovaries, and they suspect that this freakish deformity is the result of factory-farm runoff from drug-laden chicken feces. Learn more about factory farming’s toll on the Earth.

10. Better Than the Original

Do you like the taste of chicken flesh but don’t like the suffering? No problem try some of the fantastic alternatives now available, such as Boca Chik’n Nuggets, Gardenburger’s Meatless Buffalo Chicken Wings, and Yves Veggie Chicken Burgers. These super-tasty foods are high in protein, cruelty- and cholesterol- free, and available at your local supermarket. Instead of eggs, try tofu scramble, whip up some vegan French toast, or check out our egg-free baking tips.



The following info was provided by Go Veg, which is owned by Peta. You should go check out their site for loads of great info on the benefits of going veg. Start feeling and looking great again.

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Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Best Medicine for ever!!!



Nothing heals better - emotionally - biochemically - physically and mentally than love. The ultimate healing from love comes with union/reunion of self.

Love....we search, hunger, pray for this too-often elusive emotion. When we experience it, we revel in the bliss love elicits and bask in the warmth that blankets us with caring, gratitude, comfort, and a sense of all-around well being. Little have we known that this wonderful feeling we call love does, indeed, create well-being. In fact, feeling love sets forth a complex series of events within our bodies that generally bring about better health.

A distinction must be made between "falling in love" and "being in love" or feeling love in general. Simply defined, falling in love is part of the initial stage of a relationship, in which we feel strong passionate feelings of attraction, both emotional and physical, to another person. If we are fortunate, this stage leads to being in love, a deeper devotion and affection, which may develop and deepen over time. Feeling love is much like being in love. However, we can feel love for someone who is not a romantic partner; in fact, we more often feel love without being "in love." We frequently extend the more general kind of love to relatives, friends, even pets.

Numerous studies prove that love does, indeed, improve our health. These studies look at love not only in the context of male-female primary relationships, such as marriage, but also in the context of a person's general social support and connection to others. In other words, these studies examine both relationships where participants are "in love" and those in which we feel love for someone.

Love is a positive high frequency energy which can heal and help us overcome many obstacles and appear to heal. To watch a person who is ill fall in love - is often like watching a miracle. It is more about mind over matter. When you are in love you feel infallible. You walk fly. You would never create an illness or allow anything detrimental into your energies as you want to remain on that high forever.

Romantic love can help us heal - but is it a quick fix - rarely permanent. As we know - the adrenaline high of falling in love does not last forever. The best love for healing - is balanced love with compassion, acceptance, and understanding.

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Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Cows



1. Help Your Health by Leaving Cows Alone

Eating beef products, which are loaded with artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat, is a good way to increase both your waistline and your chances of developing impotence and diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and asthma. Research has shown that vegetarians are 50 percent less likely to develop heart disease than are meat-eaters, and they have 40 percent of the cancer rate of meat-eaters. Plus, meat-eaters are nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are. Every time you eat animal-derived products, you’re also ingesting bacteria, antibiotics, dioxins, hormones, and a host of other substances, some toxic, that can accumulate in your body and remain there for years. Learn more about how consuming animal products affects your health.

2. Cows Are Too Nice to Eat

Cows are gentle, social animals. Each cow has the ability to recognize more than 100 other cows, and they form close friendships with members of their herd. Researchers report that cows grieve when their friends or family members die. Learn more about cows’ personalities and some of their amazing feats.

3. Even Cowboys Don’t Eat Cows Anymore

Clint Eastwood recently said, I try to stick to a vegan diet heavy on fruit, vegetables, tofu, and other soy products. Howard Lyman was a fourth-generation cattle rancher who became vegan after learning about the effects of factory farming he now tours the country promoting a vegetarian diet. Other tough guys who refuse to eat animals include hip-hop legends Andre 3000 and Mos Def, actors Tobey Maguire and Joaquin Phoenix, NFL superstar Ricky Williams, and Olympian Carl Lewis.

4. Hormones: It’s What’s for Dinner

To make cows grow at an unnaturally fast rate, the cattle industry implants them with pellets full of hormones. While low levels of naturally occurring hormones are found in various foods, many scientists are concerned that the artificial hormones injected into cows cause health problems in people who eat them. The Los Angeles Times reports that confidential industry reports have found extremely high levels of estradiol, a potent cancer-causing and gene-damaging estrogen, in meat products from cows treated with the hormone. According to the Times, [T]he amount of estradiol in two hamburgers eaten in one day by an 8-year-old boy could increase his total hormone levels by as much as 10% . .

5. Torture 101

Cattle are subjected to abuses that would warrant felony cruelty-to-animals charges if they were committed against dogs or cats. Cows have their horns sliced off; they are branded, which causes excruciating third-degree burns; and males are castrated. This is all done without any painkillers. They are injected full of hormones and confined to overcrowded, dusty feedlots for months. Then they are shipped without food or water to the slaughterhouse, where a metal rod is shot through their brains and they are hung upside-down and have their throats slit. Because line speeds are so fast, many of the animals are still conscious throughout the process. Learn more about cows in factory farms and slaughterhouses.

6. Stealing Food From the Poor

It is inefficient to grow grains and other feed crops for animals only a fraction of what we feed them is actually turned into flesh that humans can eat. The vast majority is used by the animal to live and grow. The highly respected Worldwatch Institute says, In a world where an estimated one in every six people goes hungry each day, the politics of meat consumption are increasingly heated, since meat production is an inefficient use of grain the grain is used more efficiently when consumed directly by humans. Continued growth in meat output is dependent on feeding grain to animals, creating competition for grain between affluent meat-eaters and the world’s poor. Learn how you can help fight world hunger by going vegetarian.

7. Amazing Escapes

Millions of cows are killed in slaughterhouses each year in the United States. The few who manage to escape pull off some amazing feats. A cow named Emily got away from a Massachusetts slaughterhouse, leapt over a 5-foot gate, and survived for several weeks in the woods during the New England winter before she was rescued. A pregnant cow named Suzie was being loaded onto a freighter when she ran back down the gangplank, leapt into the river, and swam across. She eluded capture before being rescued by PETA and taken to a sanctuary. And Molly, a cow from Montana, recently escaped, crossing the Missouri River before finally being caught. While all three of these cows touched their communities’ hearts so much that they were released to sanctuaries, the millions of nameless cows killed by the meat industry each year aren’t so lucky.

8. Filthy Air, Toxic Water

Factory farms and feedlots produce a staggering amount of feces that pollutes both the water and the air. Stored in massive lagoons, the manure seeps into nearby rivers and streams, killing fish and ruining the quality of the water. The feces also emit harmful chemicals and microorganisms into the air. Numerous studies and governmental reports have shown higher rates of miscarriages, respiratory problems, and neurological diseases among people who live near factory farms. Learn more about how factory farms are harming rural America.

9. It’s Mad to Eat Meat

Mad cow disease is already in the United States, and the U.S. government is not following World Health Organization recommendations for ensuring that it doesn’t spread. While Japan and all Europe countries have banned the feeding of animal protein to farmed animals, the practice continues across the board in the U.S. meat industry, which is just begging for a mad chicken, a mad pig, or some other variant of the disease in the U.S. meat supply. Because it takes years for the disease to show up in humans, there’s no way of knowing how many Americans have already been infected. Amazingly, the U.S. government still refuses to take the problem seriously. In 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) tested less than 1 percent of U.S. cows for the disease. Unbelievably, even though the third case of mad cow disease in the United States was found in 2006, the USDA announced that it is scaling back this testing.

10. It’s Easy to Be Kind

Leaving cows and other animals off your plate is easier than ever. You can now get tasty veggie burgers at numerous restaurants, including Burger King, Johnny Rockets, and Ruby Tuesday. Check out our favorite beef substitutes, all of which are delicious and cholesterol- and cruelty-free.


The following info was provided by Go Veg, which is owned by Peta. You should go check out their site for loads of great info on the benefits of going veg. Start feeling and looking great again.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Ayurvedic Principle for Healthy Living




Get up early in the morning around 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. to catch the energetic vata cycle.

Go to bed before 11 O Clock to catch the restful Kapha cycle.

Get a Proper Good Lunch between 11 and 2 at noon to catch the best digestive Pita period.

Eat at proper time, proper place and proper quantity.

Exercise For proper digestion, metabolism, and circulation of the doshas and dhatus, exercise in moderation is a must.

Non Suppressible Urges:
Never suppress natural urges like Urine, Yawning, Hunger, Thirst, tears, sleep, faecal, Semen, flatus, vomiting, belching, sneezing over exertion, breathing.

Suppressible Urges:Always suppress all Vices relating to mind, speech and physical action. Rashness and evil deeds - mentally, orally, physically. Greed, Grief, Fear, Anger, Vanity, Shamelessness, jealousy, too much of attachment and malice. Speaking harsh words, back biting, lying etc. Violence to others, Adultery, Theft and Persecution.

To Remain Healthy Say "NO" To Indigestion and "BYE' To Constipation.

Sleep: For proper recharging of the system, the body requires about 5 to 8 hours sleep preferably between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m

Brahmachariya: Regulated physical and sexual activity, i.e. No excess abuse or misuse of the senses. Over indulgence in these are condemned as these lead to shorter life span, more susceptible to diseases, and debility.


2) Healthy Food Habits

Timely meals, proper food with right combination of fruits and vegetables are a must. Indigestion and constipation are major reasons for various problems but can be easily rectified. Avoid junk food

3) Time Management.
Stress at the young age should be unheard of. Proper time management can certainly set right most of the problems. The rest that a brain needs can be a change like change of subject, activity etc., Never induce the child to intense stress by arranging classes from morning to evening though they may be different in nature. They should have sufficient time to play and relax.

4) Mental and Physical Exercises
Meditation is one of the best means to enhance memory and ability. There should be a proper balance between mental and physical activity. There should be some free time for the child to play without any worry.This leaves them fresh and sharp for the next activity.

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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Water vs. Coke



We all know that water is important but you have never seen it written down like this before.

75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world population)

In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.

One glass of water shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

COKE and it's many uses!

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and...let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, Remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, And run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FYI:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its Ph is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

You still want to drink coke?

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Monday, August 13, 2007

Color Healing




Color Frequenices

RED

Red is the color of energy, vitality and power. It is used for burning out cancer, drying up weeping sores or wounds, etc., it will warm cold areas to reduce pain. Red is a powerful healing agent for healing diseases of the blood and circulation. It will help with depression. Red is not to be used on people with high blood pressure or anxiety. If you stay under the red ray too long or are exposed to red for a considerable time it will make you very agitated or even aggressive. It is associated with the male polarity. A red carpet or wall - in a place of business - will draw money. If you are a sales person - try wearing something red!!

ORANGE

The mental body in both its logical and conceptual form. It is used to increase immunity, to increase sexual potency, to help in all digestive ailments, chest and kidney diseases. Orange will have a gentle warming effect if used lightly. Orange, like red should not be used for too long. It is not a good color for nervous people or people easily agitated.

PEACH

The peach frequency is used for peace, truth, and balance.

YELLOW

Yellow is the color of intellect and it is used for mental stimulation, it will help you think quicker. It is good for clearing a foggy head. To help cure dermatitis and other skin problems and again it must be used carefully because it is very stimulating and it could cause exhaustion and depression.

GREEN

Green is the color of healing and traveling back in time. It will balance the emotions and brings about a feeling of calmness. Green is a good general healing color because it stimulates growth therefore it is good for helping heal broken bones - regrowth of tissue of all kinds. Green is also alchemy - the alchemy of consciousness from one realm to another through the spiraling energies of DNA - Sacred Geometry

BLUE

Blue is the color of electricity. We live in a program created by electromagnetic energy - blue white ...back to source.

Blue is the color of truth, serenity and harmony, by helping to soothe the mind. Blue is good for cooling, calming, reconstructing and protecting. Blue will help feverish conditions, it will help stop bleeding and it will help with nervous irritations. It is very good for burns. Too much blue could leave you cold, depressed and sorrowful.

PURPLE

Purple is also a color that will connect you with your spiritual self. It is good for mental and nervous problems. It will assist very well with rheumatism and epilepsy. Helps with pain, is used in deep tissue work and helps heal the bones. Too much purple and you don't tend to live in this world.

LAVENDER

Lavender is the color of equilibrium, it helps with spiritual healing. The Violet Flame - is supposedly charged with the light of divine freedom. It is used to burn off karma from other lifetimes on all levels.

WHITE

White includes all of the colors spectrum. It represents the source of conscious creation. It will purify the body on the highest levels. It is the highest charging field to bring peace and comfort at the highest level.

SILVER

Silver is the color of peace and persistence. It is the major purging color so it is very good for removing unwanted diseases and troubles from the body. It is best for cancer of tissue and blood.

GOLD

Gold represents of alchemy of consciousness. It is the strongest color to help cure all illness. It is so strong that many people are not able to tolerate it, so people have to be conditioned to gold over a period of time. Gold strengthens all fields of the body and spirit.

Astrology and Color Healing

Aries--Red
Taurus--Yellow
Gemini--Violet
Cancer--Green
Leo--Gold
Virgo--Purple
Libra--Yellow
Scorpio--Crimson Red
Sagittarius--Deep Clear Blue
Capricorn--Black and White
Aquarius--Blue with Silver Lights
Pisces--Soft Azure

The Planets and Color Healing

Sun--Gold, Bright Yellow
Moon--Silver
Mercury--Yellow, orange
Venus--Blue, Blue-Green
Earth--Lavendar-Blue
Mars--Red
Jupiter--Purple, Violet
Saturn--Olive Green
Uranus--Electric Blue, Pale Green, Citrine
Neptune--Dark Blue, Indigo, Grays, Green
Pluto--Yellow, Pale Green, Navy Blue

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Friday, August 3, 2007

Top 10 Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic

FRUIT


  • Peaches
  • Apples
  • Strawberries
  • Nectarines
  • Pears

VEGETABLES

  • Spinach
  • Bell Peppers
  • Celery
  • Potatoes
  • Hot Peppers

Conventionally grown fruit and vegetables can contain the residues of as many as 51 different pesticides, while organic has two thirds less. If you want to reduce your family’s exposures, pick up organic varieties of these most contaminated “top 10.”

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

What to Look for When Buying Organic

(ARA) - When you pick up a head of lettuce, a tray of tomatoes or a bag of apples in the produce aisle of your local grocery store that claims to be "natural" or "organic," do you know what you're buying?

What exactly does it mean when a product claims to be organically grown? If it says natural on the label, doesn't that mean the same thing?

"Not necessarily," says Jessica Walden, a technical specialist at Quality Assurance International (QAI), an organization that has been certifying organic farms, processors, distributors and retailers since 1989. "Just because the label says the product is natural doesn't mean it's organic."

* Natural vs. Organic

The term "natural" as defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refers to products that have been minimally processed or are free from synthetic ingredients. Organic products are actually regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the U.S., the term "organic" means that the ingredients and production methods surrounding the product have been verified by an accredited certification agency as meeting USDA standards for organic production and handling.

The USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) requires products labeled "organic" to be produced without using conventional pesticides, fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or bioengineering. For example, organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are not given antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed organic feed. NOP regulations also require farmland used to raise organic crops to have been free from prohibited chemicals for at least three years.

Organic growers must keep detailed written production and sales records (audit trail) to verify their organic production claims and undergo yearly onsite inspections by a USDA-approved certifier. Processed organic products must be produced in a certified facility, and all organic ingredients and approved non-organic ingredients must maintain their integrity through all stages of handling and distribution.

If a retail product is labeled 100 percent organic, it will show an ingredients list if not a single-ingredient item; the name and address of the handler (bottler, distributor, importer, manufacturer, packer, processor, etc.) of the finished product; and the name and/or seal of the organic certifier, such as: "Certified organic by Quality Assurance International (QAI)." The USDA Organic seal may also be displayed.

To be labeled "organic," the product must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients. The label will contain an ingredients list, which will identify the organic ingredients as well as the non-organic ingredients in the product, and the name of the organic certifier. The USDA Organic seal may also be displayed.

Products labeled, "Made with Organic (specified ingredients or food groups)," must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. The label will contain an ingredients list, which will identify the organic ingredients as well as the non-organic ingredients in the product, and the name of the organic certifier. The USDA Organic seal may not be displayed.

If a product contains less than 70 percent organic materials, the product can make an ingredient panel only claim, i.e. where the organic ingredients are specified on the ingredient panel. These products cannot use the word "organic" on the principle display panel or display any certifier seals or the USDA Organic seal.

"We know people are paying attention to the designation," says Walden. "Consumers today choose to purchase organic products for a variety of reasons. Some individuals buy organic products because of health or nutrition concerns, while others choose organic foods because they feel they are safer, taste better, or offer environmental benefits."

To learn more about organic certification, log on to http://www.nsf.org/consumer/organic/index.asp?program=OrganicCertification.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Meditation Techniques

What is Meditation?

Dhyana (pronounced dee-YAH-nah) means meditation. Meditation is the process of quieting the mind to free ourselves from attachments and unproductive thoughts. The benefits of meditation seem endless! Through a consistent meditation practice we can gain emotional and mental stability, clarity in decision-making; peace of mind within communications and relationships, an unleashing of creative energy, and a beautiful sense of self-worth. On a physical level, regular meditation has been proven to greatly influence the body’s metabolic processes and reduce high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. So, the purpose of our meditation is to begin to focus our mental energy inward, so that we may tap into resources deep within ourselves. This process of stilling the mind allows us to experience our true nature, which is revealed as truth, consciousness, or bliss. In Sanskrit this is called satchitinananda.

Putting Meditation into Practice:

The stronger your meditation practice, the more you begin to establish a clearer vision of the truth about yourself, your life, and the world. Meditation is the process of attaining total awareness through the cessation of thought. You begin by relaxing. You concentrate on relaxing. As your mind and body relax, begin to notice the thoughts that come and go. Notice especially those thoughts that seem to be reoccurring in your mind daily. Can you let go of those thought patterns? This can be very difficult at first, because we are so used to having busy minds. This can be especially difficult in Western culture due to the over stimulation of our minds with the growing influx of computers, televisions, media information, etc. Sometimes it can even seem virtually impossible to stop following and obsessing over the thoughts racing through our minds- from what we’re going to eat for lunch, to the argument we had with our spouse, to the project deadline at work, to the endless to-do list that we have to complete. We have become conditioned to believe that every minute should count and that we should always be working, doing as much as possible. Meditation is the opposite of this notion. Meditation teaches us that occasionally we need to still the mind in order for it to work at it’s optimum capacity! Just like any type of perpetual motion machinery, the mind needs care and maintenance. By learning to release, relax, and let go of stress in the mind, we begin to clear out all of the cobwebs, and establish a beautiful foundation for some really good stuff to come in! We begin to learn to let go of trivial concerns, to observe and control our emotions, and to focus our mind power on the work that is truly important in our lives.

Preparation for Meditation:

* Choose a regular place and time in the beginning of your practice. Becoming accostumed to this place and time, your meditation will deepen.
* Twice a day is wonderful if possible, for 15-20 minutes during each sitting
* In the beginning of our practice, it is helpful to choose a place that is clean, well-ventilated, and quiet, without stimulants such as sound and bright light. However, eventually the true heart of our meditation practice lies in being able to maintain mindfulness even amidst the sounds of traffic, subways, cluttered buildings, etc. Under these circumstances we are given a very potent opportunity to practice staying present, aware of the breath, and the mind’s reactions.
* Sit either on a straight-backed chair or in a comfortable sitting position, allowing the spine to be erect. Use a cushion or a folded blanket to tilt the pelvis slightly forward. You may also use a wall for support of the spine-try your best not to slump, so that the lungs may expand fully.
* Begin with a relaxed body. Some preparatory relaxing and focusing breathing exercises will be very helpful. Ujjayi breath is my favorite pranayam techniques to begin with.
* Enjoy! Let go of any expectations of yourself, and give it a shot. It’s fun to observe yourself just being!

Peace, Love & Brown Rice
Mind Of Peace

Friday, July 27, 2007

Never Feel Sick Again

HEADACHES - FISH (PROTEIN)

Eat lots of fish as fish oil helps to prevent headaches. So does ginger which reduces inflammation and pain.

HAYFEVER - YOGHURT

Eat lots of yoghurt before pollen season.

STROKES - TEA

Prevents buildup of fatty deposit on artery walls with regular doses of tea.

INSOMNIA - HONEY

Use Honey as a tranquilizer and as a sedative.

ASTHMA - ONIONS (RED)

Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes.

ARTHRITIS - FISH

Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis.

UPSET STOMACH - BANANAS, GINGER

Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger cures morning sickness and nausea.

BLADDER INFECTIONS - CRANBERRY JUICE

High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.

BONES PROBLEMS - PINEAPPLE

Bones fractures and osteoporosis can be prevented by the manganese in pineapple.

PMS - CORNFLAKES

Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety & fatigue.

MEMORY PROBLEMS - OYSTERS

Oysters help increase your mental functioning by supplying much needed zinc.

COUGH - RED PEPPER

A substance similar to that found in cough syrup is found in hot red pepper.

BREAST CANCER - WHEAT BRAN, CABBAGE

Wheat bran and cabbage help maintain estrogen at healthy levels.

LUNG CANCER - ORANGE,GREEN VEGETABLES

A good antidote is beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in orange & green vegetables.

ULCERS - CABBAGE

Cabbage contains chemical that help heal both type of ulcers.

DIARREA - APPLES

Crate an apple with its skin. Let it turn brown and eat it to this condition.

CLOGGED ARTERIES - AVOCADOS

Mono-unsaturated fat in avocados lower cholesterol.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE - OLIVE OIL, CELERY

Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure.Celery contains a chemical that lowers blood pressure too.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE - BROCOLLI, PEANUTS

Th echromium in broccoli and peanuts helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.

peace, love & brown rice
Mind Of Peace

Thursday, July 26, 2007

MOP connects you to the info you need for a greater Piece Of Mind

One soda a day makes your body pay

Shocking study shows as little as one soft drink a day can seriously compromise your health.

Click here to go to the article

Corrupt Study argues fruits & veggies don't combat breast cancer

Study erroneously claims women were eating "high fruit & veg" diet. Nope.

Click here to go to the article

STUDY: Meat is murder on the environment

"Don't tell me about it. I don't want to hear it. I want my steak. Okay,
I'll buy a compact flourescent light. Are you satisfied? Now let me eat my hot dog."

Click here to go to the article

Have a beautiful day everyone

peace, love & brown rice
Mind Of Peace

Monday, July 23, 2007

The top 25 ways to a healthier way of life

No. 1

Eat breakfast

The details: Starting the day without breakfast is like getting in the car to drive to work and not starting the engine. Our mothers were right. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, says James Joachim, a primary care physician practicing internal medicine and medical nutrition on Physicians Drive in Wilmington. Dr. Joachim, who specializes in medical nutrition, sports nutrition, weight management and weight loss, says a breakfast high in complex carbohydrates and protein generates energy and kick-starts your metabolism to help the body burn fat.

GET STARTED: Your best bet? Oatmeal and yogurt create a good carbohydrate/protein combo.

No. 2

Load up on antioxidants

The details: Free radicals are essentially free-floating or unattached atoms or groups of atoms. As these renegade atoms run amok through our bodies, they leave unmeasurable amounts of cellular damage in their destructive wake. When our bodies are exposed to damage from free radicals, they become more susceptible to other problems, from signs of premature aging to even developing cancer. Some studies have shown an antioxidant-rich diet can prevent free radical damage. The main antioxidants used to combat free radical damage are vitamin E, beta carotene and vitamin C.

GET STARTED: Stock up on vitamin E by eating nuts, fish oils, fortified cereals and whole grains. Vitamin C is found in green peppers, spinach, broccoli, kale, kiwi, cantaloupe and citrus fruits. Beta carotene is found in tomatoes, yams, broccoli and carrots.

No. 3

Move more

The details: Exercising has benefits that go beyond a fit-looking physique.
According to Physical Activity and Health, a U.S. Surgeon General’s report, regular physical activity not only improves the chances of living longer, but also helps prevent arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes. Relieving the symptoms of depression and anxiety are on the list, as are the well-known benefits of exercise that include weight control and protection against heart disease and some cancers, including colon and breast cancer. Dr. Joachim estimates that only one in five Americans gets the baseline level of exercise recommended for adults. The current recommendation is 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.



No. 4

Maintain a healthy weight

The details: Maintaining a healthy weight means that your weight is appropriate for your height, age, sex and body frame. Obesity contributes to a number of health risks, including increasing the risks of developing diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research reports that having an appropriate body mass, coupled with eating properly and exercising can reduce the incidences of cancer by 30 percent to 40 percent.

GET STARTED: Re-member, it’s a lifestyle change, not a diet. Follow the guidelines in these pages.

No. 5

Eat six small meals a day

The details: It’s no secret that Americans overeat. Have you dined out lately? Portion sizes have exploded. Try to remember the last time you had an appropriate serving of meat, one that fit in the palm of your hand or was roughly the size of a deck of cards. Combine that cut of meat with a side of potatoes, a salad, which could likely be a meal on its own, and bread. Maybe you even had dessert. Did you leave feeling satiated or sick to your stomach? Three squares used to be the rule, but doctors and nutritionists now suggest eating four to six small meals a day, or every three hours, to speed up metabolism and burn fat faster.

GET STARTED: Wondering what to eat? A small meal could consist of a yogurt and a half of a banana; or a half cup of unsalted peanuts and a cup of nonfat cottage cheese; or a half of a turkey sandwich and a cup of carrot sticks. If you are planning an evening out, you can still be judicious about your meal choices.

No. 6

Know your history

The details: Melissa Ulstad, a physician assistant at Wilmington Internal Medicine, says one of the most important steps a person can take in an effort to live a long and healthy life is to know what they are up against. It’s amazing to me how many people don’t have a clue about their family medical history, Ulstad said. They don’t know how grandma died. It was cancer. Well, what kind? It matters. Ulstad encourages patients to dig deep. Elisha Wendt, pictured here with her mother who died of breast cancer in 2000, is aware that she has an increased risk for cancer and must take the necessary precautions.

GET STARTED: If a relative died or had high blood pressure early in life, then you should have screenings done and remain hypervigilant to manage the genes you had no control over. In effect, history could help save your life.

No. 7

Quit smoking, today

The details: If you started smoking at 20 and you’re 40 now, you’ve taken 15 years off your life, says Demetrius Harvey with the American Lung Association in Raleigh. Smokers, even those who smoke only on occasion, are not only more susceptible to developing lung cancer, but their risks of having high blood pressure, a heart attack or stroke also increase. By quitting smoking, you’re increasing your longevity. You can enjoy life like a normal person. Food tastes better, and you have better health levels all around, Harvey says. We’re talking about giving yourself five to 10 additional years to be around family, friends and loved ones.

GET STARTED: Help is everywhere. While a strong support system is valuable, so is willpower. Consider patches, cold turkey or hypnosis, but talk to your doctor first.

No. 8

Go get pricked

The details: Acupuncture has made a name for itself as a way to relieve pain associated with chronic problems such as sciatica, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome, not as a way to bring pain on. Acupuncture as a whole, and as preventative medicine, is a form of total health care that can help you live longer, says William Mead, chiropractor, acupuncturist and owner of Mead Chiropractic & Acupuncture, 1201 S. 16th St. in Wilmington. It’s energy medicine, he says.
As a preventative tool, acupuncture can be used to find disorders or disturbances in the body before they become symptomatic. Electric-current detecting instruments and tongue diagnosis are commonly used to check energy flow in the body. Using what are called body meridians, acupuncturists choose a series of areas, called points, to place the needles.

GET STARTED: Make sure you pick a licensed acupuncturist in the area, and ask around for ones who come highly recommended.

No. 9

Go green

The details: Green tea, which has been used in Asia for centuries to promote good health, is not only an antioxidant worth adding to your anti-aging diet, it’s also an anti-carcinogenic. Scientists at the University of Texas Center for Alternative Medicine Research in Cancer reviewed 15 studies on green tea. The results more than half of the studies confirmed that green tea is effective against stomach, lung, gastric, bladder, colorectal and esophageal cancers.


No. 10

Say yes to garlic

The details: Garlic in its natural and capsulated forms can be seen as a near-cure-all, with properties that help ease disease and fend it off. Garlic kills off infection, viruses and bacteria in the body and protects and boosts the immune system, says Nicole Mohrman, a naturopathic doctor and owner of Nature’s Remedies, 5725 Oleander Drive in Wilmington. Fresh garlic has also been shown to treat ordinary chest complaints, such as asthma, colds, cough and flu.

GET STARTED: Eat too much garlic and the odor seems to seep through the pores and certainly from your mouth. Many high-potency garlic supplements are coated with chlorophyll to preserve freshness and increase absorption in the digestive tract. An added benefit of the chlorophyll coating is that garlic’s odor won’t hang onto your breath.

No. 11

Get your omega-3

The details: Omega-3s, or essential fatty acids, are just that essential to a healthy body. But because they aren’t produced by the body, they must be supplied in the diet, says Christine Hoskins, registered dietitian with New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Weight Transition program. The building block for all cell growth and production, omega-3s improve blood pressure, act as an anti-inflammatory for arthritis, and lower triglyceride levels and bad cholesterol (LDL). An added benefit? Omega-3 improves hair quality.

GET STARTED: To find them, look to the ocean. Fish such as salmon is a good source of omega-3, and fish oil tablets have the same benefits as eating fish, though Hoskins says you should look for oil-filled tablets instead of hard tablets. Flaxseeds are also rich in omega-3, as well as low in fat and calories. Flaxseed can be supplemented in tablet form or by cooking with the oil and using the seed itself in cooking.

No. 12

Protect your lower back

The details: Lower back problems aren’t a symptom of age, at least not old age. People can’t see back pain, it’s a difficult thing for someone to have. Loss of function in the back can cause people to become less social, avoid certain activities and even become depressed.

GET STARTED: Prevention is the key to loving your lower back. Stand up straight. Sit up straight. Work those abs to strengthen your core muscles. Bend with your knees. Stay flexible. Of course, that’s prevention. Current back pain needs serious attention. And if all else fails, get some physical therapy.

No. 13

Go with the flow, practice yoga

THE DETAILS: Many in Western society suffer from what Kristin Cooper Gulak, director of Wilmington Yoga Center on Oleander Drive, calls computeritis. We sit at computer screens all day, slumped over, letting our cores get lazy, and allowing stress to build as the eight- or 10-hour work day ticks by. We bring on our own low back pain and poor posture. We smoosh our internal organs, making it harder for them to work properly, and compress our diaphragm, constricting the lungs from taking deep, full breaths.
Enter the practice of yoga.

A lot of people think doing yoga is about being a pretzel, Cooper Gulak says. I hear people say, ‘I’m not flexible.’ If you can breathe, you can do yoga. And why wouldn’t you? Breathe deeper, have less stress. Reduce anxiety and depression, relieve chronic pain, relax, be more flexible, lower the heart rate, lose weight, decrease cholesterol, relieve allergy and asthma symptoms. And those are just the physical benefits of doing a little downward dog. Practicing yoga together removes people from the isolation of cubicles and opens up a community for like-minded people to find one another and interact.

GET STARTED: To get started, Cooper Gulak recommends knowing your goals (reduce stress, be more flexible, reduce pain, etc.) and selecting a class that will fit those needs. Lastly, work with a teacher in a setting that’s comfortable. Gyms and health clubs often offer classes for free.

No. 14

Say ‘ohmmmmm’

The details: Racing thoughts can be like deafening bulldozers plowing down peace of mind, mucking up decision-making and creative thinking, muddying clear visions of self-worth.
Meditation can quiet the rumbling and free the mind from having and obsessing over unproductive thoughts. It can also reduce high blood pressure and stress, and ease depression and anxiety. If the mind relaxes, your body will relax. And if the body can relax, the mind is quiet, Cooper Gulak says. Meditation is said to be the process of attaining total awareness through the cessation of thought.

GET STARTED: You can start by sitting in a comfortable position, in a straight-backed chair, on a cushion or folded blanket or with your back against a wall. Relax and pay attention to your breath. Let your thoughts come and go. Try sitting for 15 to 20 minutes. While home meditation through books and videos is fine for someone with experience, a first-time mediator should find a teacher. Listening to a teacher’s voice and having guided meditation alone will help create focus.

No. 15

Wear sunscreen

The details: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rates skin cancer as the most common form of cancer in the United States. From 65 percent to 90 percent of melanoma, the third most common type of skin cancer, is caused by exposure to ultraviolet light or sunlight. What’s scarier not even sunscreen is entirely effective in preventing skin cancer. UVA and UVB rays are the culprits that damage skin. The Food and Drug Administration has organized a rating for UVB rays, but not for UVA.

GET STARTED: Buy a sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection and that includes zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Read the labels, especially on SPF/moisturize combinations. The active ingredient still needs to be zinc or titanium dioxide. If zinc is way down the list of ingredients at 1 percent, it’s not worthwhile.

No. 16

Moisturize, moisturize,
and, oh yeah, moisturize

The details: Who says it’s vain to want to look younger and look younger longer? Taking care of your skin by cleansing and moisturizing daily gives it that extra boost to retain elasticity and texture, says Brandy Dixon, an esthetician at Ki Spa at The Forum on Military Cutoff Road. Facial moisturizer is a line of defense against daily damage that comes from pollution, sun and makeup. It’s very important to moisturize because it hydrates the skin, Dixon says.

GETTING STARTED: Dixon suggests using products that contain herbal extracts and natural ingredients, such as Jurlique’s Herbal Extract Recovery Gel ($40 for 1 fl. oz) that is sold at Ki. Dixon warns that many less expensive moisturizers use fillers, or synthetic products such as propylene glycol, which is found in anti-freeze. Check the label, she adds.

No. 17

Protect your collagen

The details: You may have been diligent about keeping your body in shape, but once age 40 rolls around, the wrinkles start to come out regardless. Protecting the collagen in skin is an important part of aging gracefully. Collagen, a protein within the body’s connective tissue, starts to break down around age 40 and becomes noticeable by age 60, according to Jonathan Crane of Atlantic Dermatology Associates on Medical Center Drive in Wilmington. By 80, there is significant breakdown in collagen, when wrinkles become more folds of skin than fine lines.

GETTING STARTED: There’s hope; natural hope. The most important thing you can do is use proper sunscreen, Dr. Crane says. Buy sunscreens that list either zinc oxide or titanium oxide as the main ingredient. Aside from prevention, laser treatments can firm up the collagen in skin.

No. 18

Get juiced

The details: Have an aversion to the cranberry’s tartness? You might want to consider setting the aversion aside, because this firm, round berry can do a lot to keep your body and mind on track longer.
Cranberries have more free-radical-fighting power than other more traditional foods and vegetables such as strawberries, spinach, broccoli and oranges, according to The Cranberry Institute in East Wareham, Mass. And it’s long been known that cranberries and cranberry juice are important to urinary tract health. Cranberry juice has other unexpected benefits, such as protection against chronic age-related burdens like loss of memory and coordination. Cranberries also reverse or slow the progression of oral bacteria that causes plaque.

GETTING STARTED: Avoid sugar shock by buying only 100 percent natural juice.

No. 19

Use olive oil

The details: Olive oil is a fundamental ingredient of Mediterranean diets, which are renowned for being good for the heart. Olive oil’s most healthful component is its percentage of monounsaturated fat.
The use of foods and oils containing monounsaturated fat boosts the good cholesterol (HDL) in the body, and therefore, acts like a shield against heart disease.
Using olive oil when cooking, instead of butter or vegetable oils, is the healthiest choice, says Hoskins, the Weight Transition dietitian.

GETTING STARTED: Tidal Creek Cooperative Market Natural Foods & Deli, 5329 Oleander Drive, carries a variety of organic olive oils that range in price from $8.59 to $48.99 for 3 liters. The market has a large selection of Greek, Mor-occan, Italian and Calif-ornian olive oils that retail for about $15 for 16.9 ounces.

No. 20

Have a glass of (red) wine

The details: Red wine contains two beneficial components, flavonoids and resveratrol, both of which come from the skin, pulp and seeds of grapes. Flavonoids are another form of antioxidant, and resveratrol may help reduce the risk of blood clots. The American Heart Association recommends that if you plan to drink wine as a way to prolong mortality, drink it in moderation. Too much wine or other forms of alcohol can increase high blood pressure, obesity, stroke and cancer. That means limit yourself to one to two 4-ounce glasses a day.


No. 21

Pass the truffles, please

The details: Dark chocolate not milk chocolate or white chocolate provides a double punch to improve your health.
Studies at the University of Cologne in Germany and at Italy’s National Institute of Food and Nutrition Research in Rome report that dark chocolate lowers blood pressure and has been added to the list of antioxidants that can fight free radical damage. Dark chocolate is the sweet of choice because it contains a compound called plant phenols, or cocoa phenols, which lower blood pressure. Getting the medical nod to eat dark chocolate isn’t an opportunity for unabated indulgence. Balance your diet. You’ll have to eat less of other foods high in calories and fat to fit in the treat.
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No. 22

Be social

The details: Stress and anxiety are killers, according to R.J. Torraco, a therapist at Cognitive and Behavior Therapy Center of Wilmington. Left untreated, high anxiety can lead to gastrointestinal problems, alcohol abuse, depression, panic attacks and insomnia. People’s emotional health is carried out in how they treat their bodies, Torraco says. When people aren’t grounded, centered and positive, they don’t treat their bodies well. In a society in which we succumb easily to the grind: get up, go to work, come home, watch television and maybe hang out with the family for a little while, or walk the dog, there isn’t much time for stress relief.

The details: But making time to be social, be engaged, is essential to our health, happiness and quality of life, Torraco says. Engage in any assortment of social activities once to twice a week, whether attending church, going to the movies or joining a book or social club.

No. 23

Pop some aspirin

The details: Aspirin is a magic little pill. Most people use it to whisk away tinges of pain and muscle discomfort. But the teeny little tablet has much greater powers besides alleviating the leftovers of weekend warriordom. People who regularly take aspirin have less chance of developing stomach, lung or prostate cancers, possibly because blocking prostaglandins, or enzymes derived from fatty acids, inhibits tumor growth.
According to the National Cancer Institute, studies have shown that people who regularly use aspirin and aspirin-like drugs to treat conditions such as arthritis have lower rates of colon polyps, cancer and colon cancer deaths. Aspirin also has been said to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Then there is the benefit that most people already know about: Aspirin inhibits blood from clotting, which then decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

GETTING STARTED: Many seniors take an aspirin a day to prevent heart attacks, but before starting any regimen, talk to your doctor.

No. 24

Make a little love

The details: Having sex does more than put a smile on your face. The American Academy of Anti-Aging claims that sex increases the supply of oxygen to cells in the body and stimulates various organs. It helps balance out bad cholesterol (LDL) and good cholesterol (HDL). Research also has shown that having sex regularly might reduce joint pain and headaches. And the benefits of having sex go on: It relieves stress; it protects the prostrate gland; it helps ward off depression; in men, it increases the level of testosterone released into the body, which helps strengthen bones and muscles. Plus, it’s fun.

No. 25

Get your Zzzzzzzzzz’s

The details: The number of hours of sleep we get each night has been slipping away since the beginning of the 20th century. In 1900, we slept nine hours a night. We got eight hours of sleep in 1930. In the 1970s, the number fell to seven. Currently, the numbers are split. That’s because the amount of sleep we get has ties to socio-economic status, said Ulstad, the PA at Wilmington Internal Medicine, quoting from the University of Chicago’s July 2006 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. White women sleep 6.8 hours a night on average; black women sleep 5.9 hours a night. The amount of time spent sleeping is even lower for black men, at 5.1 hours. White men average 5.9 hours a night.
Sleep is restorative. It helps our bodies recuperate. Being mentally foggy and physically fatigued aren’t the only problems associated with not getting enough of it. People who don’t sleep enough tend to be more obese, Ulstad says, because they secrete more leptin, a protein hormone that increases appetite. Obesity can bring on a host of other ailments. Having trouble getting to sleep is often part of our sleep-less society. Ulstad says that some experts blame our nighttime restlessness on the Internet. Take the bright light of the screen and add in content like checking for response to a few e-mails you sent before leaving the office and you have pre-bedtime anxiety.
If someone has a problem going to sleep, you should take some time about your bedtime ritual, Ulstad says, We do it for our kids, but we don’t do for ourselves.

GET STARTED: Before you reach for a sleep aid from your local drugstore or per prescription, maybe we should all cut out caffeine at night, grab a book and have a warm glass of milk. Then maybe we’ll live longer.

peace, love & brown rice
Mind Of Peace