What's in Your Shampoo?

Most of us use shampoo every day, or at least a few times a week. We grab for the bottle, squirt a dollop into our hands, lather, and voilà: Clean hair. But do you know what’s actually in it? Let’s take a look at the basic anatomy of a shampoo by breaking down the “recipe” of ingredients: surfactants, actives, preservatives, color, and fragrance. We'll look at what is used in conventional shampoos—aside from water, which makes up 50 percent of most of them—and what is used in cleaner alternatives.

Deciphering the key components of the shampoos we use on a regular basis helps makes the long names found on their ingredient lists less confusing—and may also give you something to think about when choosing your next one.

Surfactants

Also known as surface active agents, surfactants are necessary for the lathering, cleaning, and degreasing effects of a shampoo. Shampoos usually contain a cocktail of surfactants, artfully combined to strike the right balance.

Conventional: These have the potential for harshness, stripping away fatty acids and usually contain a higher percentage of petroleum-based ingredients and portions. These ingredients can include compounds with environmental concerns. Examples include: sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, cocamide DEA, ammonium xylene sulfonate.

Natural: Your shampoo may not foam like a conventional product because it contains a higher percentage of natural materials, but your hair will still be just as clean, with added natural benefits. Examples include: decyl glucoside, sucrose cocoate, sodium methyl cocoyl taurate, sodium lauroamphoacetate.

Preservatives

The main function of preservatives is to prevent microbial growth and to ensure a long shelf life. When it comes to preservatives, none are truly benign. And while preservative systems are a necessary component of most personal care products—and in particular water-based ones such as shampoos—some are worse than others.

Conventional: These tend to be stronger, used to increase shelf life. With this comes allergenic and irritant potential, and there is concern about some preservatives' hormone-disrupting ability. Examples include: iodopropynyl butylcarbamate, methylisothiazolinone, and methylchloroisothiazonlinone (which are not allowed in personal care products at Whole Foods Market), as well as parabens.

Natural: These preservatives will be milder. They will be ones that have been shown to function properly, yet with a lower likelihood of causing cosmetic-related allergies and sensitivities. Examples include: potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and alcohol.

Active and other Ingredients

These are the ingredients that are intended to nourish and beautify, making your hair shinier, smoother, softer, thicker, and more manageable. Other ingredients, such as thickeners, humectants, pH-control agents or chelators, may be added to stabilize the formula.

Conventional: These products typically contain less natural actives, fewer botanical-based ingredients and more synthetic ones. Examples include: disodium EDTA, polyquaternium-10, and aminomethyl propanol.

Natural: These products will contain high percentages of natural actives such as aloe vera gel, antioxidants, herbal extracts, plant oils, vitamins, proteins, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Fragrance

Along with functionality, fragrance—often a melange of many artificial smells, combined in a proprietary formula—is one of the main reasons we consumers will pick one product over another.

Conventional: Typically, synthetic fragrances are used in conventional shampoos, due to cost, performance, and variety. These have the potential to be irritating and their safety has been questioned.

Natural: Ideally, these are phthalate-free and 100 percent natural. At Whole Foods, only 100 percent natural fragrances are allowed in our Premium shampoos, for philosophical and safety reasons.

Color

In basic shampoos, color is added for decorative purposes only, and is unnecessary for functionality.

Conventional: Synthetic colorants are often added for decorative purposes only. In Premium Body Care products at Whole Foods Market, no colors are allowed, neither natural nor synthetic, as they are not necessary for a shampoo to function at all.

Natural: Most natural brands skirt even "natural" dyes in their shampoo.

So how does your shampoo measure up? Shampoo is one of the most challenging products to make truly natural because functionality is so important for hair products, and so we applaud brands like Depth, Ikove, Alaffia, Mineral Fusion, and John Masters Organics, which prove it is possible to make many good improvements in the area of natural shampoos while keeping your hair clean and looking its best.

 

Read the original post here: http://www.good.is/post/what-s-in-your-shampoo/

Instructions: How to Green Your Bedroom

On the hunt for new bedding, one is presented with exhaustive (and exhausting) options. Sateen or jersey? Is there a difference between the 300- and 800-threadcount comforter? What is pima cotton? And how on earth can you choose a mattress after lying on it for five minutes at Sleepy's? Throw sustainability and organics in the mix and it's more confounding that ever.

And yet we spend a third of our lives sleeping, so there's a reason these can be hard decisions to make. It's also why we should all give a little more thought to chemicals involved in the production of our beds and linens. Cotton farming occupies only 3 percent of farm land, and yet accounts for about 25 percent of worldwide insecticides use and over 10 percent of pesticide use. To help break it down, it takes about a quarter pound of chemicals to produce one cotton T-shirt. So, think of all the chemicals going into a set of sheets and a blanket, and then consider these guidelines to make your bedroom shopping trip a little greener.

1. The next time you shop for sheets, go organic. Organic cotton farming leaves no chemical residue on the finished material, so they are safe for you to cuddle up in at night. This is good for the planet and for you.

2. Think outside the usual material. There are great natural fibers you can try like linen, silk, jersey, and flannel. Online shopping is great when it comes to bedding because of the great selection and with standard bed sizes, fit isn't a concern.

3. Be a little flexible with colors. Synthetic dyes offer a wide range of colors, but they are just that—synthetic. There is a range of colors offered in organic bedding, but they may not be as easy to find or as vast as the non-organic sheets you find in most stores. You can always get a little help from the internet. Or you can opt for a more neutral hue and spice up the room with paint or other colorful accessories.

4. If have a little Martha in you, make your own duvet cover or pillow cases. For the duvet cover, take two organic flat sheets or blankets and sew them together to create your own duvet for a fraction of the cost. All you need for the pillow cases is some great organic material from the fabric store and a simple pillow pattern.

5. When choosing a new mattress, do your research. Most conventional mattresses are chemical havens. They are often made with synthetic materials like polyester, a plastic that emits gasses, and then they are covered in formaldehyde-based finishes for stain resistant convenience. Many also contain a fire retardant, which is a whole other set of chemicals.  So, opt for natural fibers. They are sometimes more expensive, but arguably a worthwhile investment that will last you a decade or longer.

6. Get a good pillow. Fortunately, there are several options in the eco-friendly department when it comes to pillows. If you prefer firm, look at organic cotton. For a bit of spring, try wool. If you are concerned with proper alignment, look at natural latex foam pillows. There are several more options out there one of which should suit your particular needs.

7. Buy a pillow protector. This may just seem like an extra pillowcase, but a pillow protector will extend the life of your pillow and help to relieve dust mite allergies. Extending the life of our products creates less waste.

Do you have any great natural-bedroom tips to share?

Read the original post here: http://www.good.is/post/good-instructions-how-to-green-your-bedroom/

Mood boosting essentials treat mild depression, anxiety and sleeplessness

by: Fleur Hupston
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(NaturalNews) The brain is dependent on mood-boosting nutrients. When food lacks these essential nutrients, depression and anxiety can quickly set in. Typically, anti-depressants are prescribed to treat these problems, which in many cases can so easily be remedied by taking the correct nutrients.

This article is for information purposes only. Anyone suffering with severe depression should see a qualified naturopath or homeopath to correctly identify the causes. Self-treating even mild cases of "the blues" with the supplements mentioned here is best undertaken with the help of a medical professional.

Mood boosting minerals

Chromium: This mineral helps to stabilize blood sugar. Individuals experiencing mood swings, who perhaps over-react when it comes to minor issues or feel very tired during the day, may be lacking in this essential mineral. According to Psychology Today, "Duke University scientists found that consuming chromium picolinate, a trace mineral naturally found in whole grains, mushrooms, liver and many other foods, has significant effects on individuals suffering from atypical depression".

Magnesium: Low levels of magnesium in the human body can result in anxiety, sleeplessness and depression. Simply put, magnesium is the mineral needed to make serotonin, the brain's "happy chemical".

Amino acids

Most anti-depressant drugs supposedly work by boosting serotonin levels. Raising serotonin levels naturally can apparently be achieved by supplementing with the amino acid 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP. This is sold over the counter in the UK, USA and Canada as a dietary supplement for use as an antidepressant, and it is marketed in many European countries for cases of major depression.

Other amino acids that can make a difference to mood swings include phenylalanine and tyrosine, from which the body makes the neurotransmitter noradrenalin - vital for motivation and drive.

Essential fats and mood

Much has been said on Natural News on the subject of omega 3 fats and the importance of eating oily fish such as wild salmon. Cod liver oil is another rich source of omega 3. Studies have shown that severely depressed individuals consuming a diet high in these fats generally show significant improvement, greater than that reported for antidepressant drugs.

Vitamins B & D

In older people, vitamin B is often missing because this vitamin is not absorbed so well the older one gets. Vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid are often recommended for individuals over 50 years of age, particularly with depression or "brain-fog".

There is a definite correlation between individuals with a vitamin D deficiency and depression. In cold Northern climes, many people feel low, irritable and angry during winter because of the lack of sunshine. Depression levels can be substantially lowered by taking vitamin D supplements or by getting direct sunlight on the skin each day.

Sources:

http://www.moodfoods.com/magnesium-...
http://www.naturalnews.com/030713_o...
http://www.psychologytoday.com/arti...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032339_mood_food.html#ixzz1NU89Lkd9

Hurt So Good

From the desk of Crystal Andrus:



We teach what we need to learn. Or maybe better said, we teach what we’ve just learned. So passionate about our new-found excitement, we want everyone to feel what we’ve just experienced. The feeling of healing, joy, love, and sense of personal power is too good to hoard and hold onto just for ourselves. We blow the trumpets, send out the word, and beg to share our message with anyone who’ll listen.

This is really the case with me and the work that I now do…

I spent far too many years struggling; far too many years desperate for personal peace, acceptance, love, and happiness. Each time I would get a taste of it, I would hunger for it all the more. My appetite never satisfied. My thirst never quenched.

My first real memorable knockout of joy came just after my first daughter, Madelaine, was born. The overwhelming feeling I had for her, literally, bowled me over. I truly wasn’t prepared for it. Love temporarily replaced every bit of anger and fear inside of me. I felt renewed. Alive. Ready and willing.

My heart began to heal. Although my relationship with my mother had become so dysfunctional over the years—so hurt and tattered—I wondered if maybe she too had once felt this same unconditional love for me that I now held for my new child. Deep down, I believed it. I wanted to. I chose to. And even though things had been so strained, I was able to begin seeing my mother through different lenses.

The next punch of power arrived in a very different package. While focused on loving my children (yes, I had another daughter soon after, who filled me with an equally-overwhelming amount of love), I had somehow gained an exorbitant amount of weight through the process. Yet how could that happen? How could loving my children cause me to pack on the pounds? What was going on?

Then, late one night when Julia (my second daughter) was only four months old, I had my next breakthrough. Unsuccessfully fighting back tears, I sobbed as I cuddled my sleeping daughter late into the night. I had never cried so desperately or so honestly.

Really … what was happening to me? Was I having a breakdown? Had the enormity of my past pain finally caught up with me? Or maybe, it was a breakthrough?

I was truly overwhelmed, but in a different way than I had been only two short years before (almost to the day), when my first daughter was born.

The feeling, although quite different than the overpowering sense of love I had experienced with Madelaine, was still nevertheless as overwhelming. It was in that authentic moment of pain that I was able to see things through different lenses.

I loved my daughters so much that I realized I had to heal my own broken pieces—not just for my sake so that I could be a happy, successful, woman but for their sake—so that I could be an empowered role model. It was time to give my daughters the greatest gift I could ever give to them as a mother—self love. It was time to show myself love. Treat myself with love; to be here—fully awake to feel love, receive love, and allow it to blossom in my life.

If you’ve read my “Simply…Woman” journey, you’ll know that I got up the next morning and went for a walk. Those walks soon turned into runs. The runs turned into strength. The strength turned into power, and within a few short months, I became a walking billboard of health, happiness, and vitality, wanting to share my new-found confidence and excitement with everyone I met. I wanted every woman to feel alive, strong, and confident—loving the skin she was in.

Now don’t kid yourself: The 16 years since that journey began hasn’t always been easy. I won’t lie and tell you it’s been all rosy. What I will tell you is that in order to be happy, successful, empowered, authentic, and fully awake in your own life you have to break the bonds that hold you captive … in your own mind. You have to heal the “could’ve beens” and “should’ve beens”. You have to find positive and empowered ways of coping, with not only the past pains but with the new ones, arriving in the here and now. (Yes! Even when your life is happy, successful, and empowered, painful things still happen.)

The secret lies in healing the feeling.

When my daughters were born, I felt the overwhelming feeling of love. When I sat crying in my rocking chair with my daughter cuddled on my lap, I felt the overwhelming feelings of despair and confusion. In order to get where I am (and I’m not just talking about in my career!), I’ve had to actually feel and deal with……

(To read more, Click here )

Could grief be causing your chronic illness?

by: Larry Malerba, DO

(NaturalNews) Aside from the many self-inflicted and medically induced causes of illness such as smoking, poor nutrition, alcohol and drug abuse, pharmaceutical side effects, allopathic suppression, and surgeries gone awry, perhaps the most common "natural" cause of chronic illness is unresolved grief.

Grief is natural in the sense that everyone is faced with the issue at some point in his or her life. It is a normal human response, which when handled effectively should lead to psycho-spiritual growth and greater awareness.

The problem is that handling grief is easier said than done. The successful processing of grief is a function of numerous factors, including one's psychological maturity and understanding of the nature and purpose of grief and loss. Other factors include the degree of emotional support from friends and family, one's own personal state of physical/emotional/spiritual health and well-being, and our prevailing cultural attitudes toward grief.

When the grieving process is short-circuited and grief is not allowed to have its way it can lead to health issues as varied as the individuals that it afflicts. Unprocessed grief is commonly a source of anxiety, irritability, depression, other emotional disturbances, and even mania and psychosis. Conversely, it is quite common for grief to become somaticized. The classic symptom of difficulty swallowing with sensation of a lump ("globus hystericus") is literally a somaticization of emotion that has become stuck in the throat -- an obvious body metaphor for unexpressed feelings and unshed tears.

Likewise, grief can become lodged in the neck and back as muscle tension, in the chest as a cough or bronchitis, in the gut as nausea or intestinal cramps, or in the head as tension headaches or migraines. When grief is particularly traumatic as in the death of a child, or when a person's health is already compromised, it is not unusual to see somatic manifestations on a deeper level. Thus, grief can lead to rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, Crohn's disease, high blood pressure, and even heart disease. Again, each manifestation can be as unique as the vital force of the person struggling with grief.

The sources of grief are varied and each situation is unique in the sense that grief is always in the eye of the beholder. The loss of one person's pet can be just as devastating as the loss of another person's parent. We tend to equate grief with the death of a friend or loved one, but it can just as easily result from broken relationships, divorce, job loss, or a personal perception of failure. There are no rules; each instance of grief is a subjective experience that must be taken at face value if it is to be respected and handled compassionately by those attempting to comfort and assist the grieving individual.

I recently saw a woman in her 50s who sought help for her depression and chronic intestinal problems. Upon inquiring as to the source of her depression, she said that it was from not having fulfilled her dream of being the mother of a large number of children. When I suggested to her that the so-called depression could more accurately be characterized as unresolved grief, I could see her mind light up as a look of realization came across her face. The healing process had begun the moment she came to a new understanding of her condition. In the course of working with her over the next few months, years of depression and digestive disturbances began to fade into the distance as she gave herself permission to grieve the family that she knew she would never have.

Although individual responses to grief are unique and diverse, my own medical experience has taught me that there are a number of common response patterns or stereotypes, if you will, that can be identified. One such pattern is that of the distraught person who repeatedly cries and sobs for prolonged periods of time, for days, weeks, or even months on end, with no relief in sight. This type of "hysterical" grief can be devastating and exhausting. The polar opposite pattern is represented by the individual who vows to stay strong, shows no "weakness," and sheds not a tear for months or even years after the original painful loss that caused the grief. These individuals seek to quickly put their grief "behind them," not realizing that there is no free lunch and that they will someday be forced to deal with it, whether it be in the form of an emotional or physical crisis.

Grieving children commonly exhibit headaches or stomachaches that lead to calls home from the school nurse. Some individuals become worn down by their grief and their emotional state begins to resemble that of a person suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, with its attendant malaise, emotional indifference, and lack of motivation. Some people become stuck in anger, blaming themselves and/or others for their loss. For such individuals, anger is usually a defensive form of denial that protects them from the more painful underlying feelings of grief. Other unfortunate individuals can be thrown into an existential crisis, questioning their very existence, losing their faith in something greater than themselves, and even losing their will to live.

While antidepressants, anxiolytics, and/or sleep aids may temporarily dull symptoms, they will not help to resolve the underlying issues of grief. In fact, pharmaceuticals will tend to enable the person to avoid emotions that must sooner or later be faced. The longer grief is postponed, the more likely it will contribute to chronic disease. The American obsession with productivity is not conducive to the successful processing of grief since the demands of the workplace often take precedence over issues of mental health. There is no set timetable for grief to run its course, and there is no statute of limitations. Fortunately, there are a variety of non-pharmaceutical approaches that can enhance the healing process.

First and foremost, patience, kindness, love, and understanding are prerequisites for a successful outcome. Most people simply need someone to listen to them. Secondly, the person affected by grief must come to understand that grief is a normal and necessary function of the human psyche, and the needs of the psyche will not be denied. Grief must be felt and experienced to the extent necessary to bring about a resolution, and this differs from one person to the next depending upon who that person is and the nature of the loss involved. For somaticized grief, it can be as simple as asking patients to trust their instincts and to name what it is that they believe is the real source of their ostensibly physical illness. Most people intuitively know the answer. It can be surprising how a person will respond when questioned and, frequently, the simple act of verbalizing one's personal truth will be enough to initiate the healing process.

Good old fashioned counseling or psychotherapy can be invaluable in situations of grief, but for more stubborn cases that persist or that have become somaticized, there are additional methods that can be employed to great benefit. Various forms of bodywork can be particularly helpful in cases that manifest as chronic headaches, neck or back pain. Most massage therapists can relate stories of clients who finally relaxed, "let go," and had a therapeutic emotional meltdown right there on the massage table. Such "healing crises" are cathartic events that can help break the logjam of unexpressed grief.

Dreams can be very important, especially for those who are grieving the death of loved ones. It is quite common for the deceased to pay a visit to surviving friends and family in their dreams. Sometimes the deceased brings a crucial piece of information that can help the living to understand the circumstances surrounding his or her death. And sometimes departed loved ones seek to reassure survivors that they are doing fine on the other side. To dismiss such an event as just a dream is a serious mistake and a lost opportunity to communicate with the departed. The ingrained materialistic outlook of American culture is a strong deterrent to recognizing that such dreams can assist in the resolution of grief and may also lead to spiritual growth.

When all else fails, a difficult and unresponsive case of grief will often respond quite nicely to a well-chosen homeopathic medicine. Some of the patterns of grief described above correspond to homeopathic medicines that are capable of releasing one from the grips of grief and its effects. It is best to consult a qualified homeopathic practitioner when dealing with long-standing grief.

Many of the lessons that I have learned regarding grief are by virtue of the patients that I have had the privilege to assist in the grieving process over the years. Our own friends, family, and patients can teach us a great deal about grief, an issue that often lies at the center of health, illness, life, and death.

Additional Information for the Homeopathic Management of Grief:
Dr. Ajit Singh, Grief and Its Homeopathic Approach, Homeopathic Journal, Vol 2, Issue 7, May 2009, Homeorizon.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032362_grief_illness.html#ixzz1NU6BLldY

Tips to Help You Lose Weight and Stay Fit!

From the desk of DREAM TEAM Coach, Adele Fridman:



We all dream to eat healthy, exercise regularly, reduce stress, take vitamins, give up smoking, and/or drop other bad habits. With this very thought, fitness centers are filled with new members, excited about their weight loss dreams. Unfortunately, most of these same people have very little knowledge of how to effectively achieve their goals. And many who start will end up frustrated and will quit within the month. Sadly, with (most likely) another failed attempt under their belts, they do more psychological damage than good to themselves.

Setting goals and seeing results will keep us motivated in the year ahead! Striving for and reaching a goal means leaving your comfort zone. Frustration and failure can be avoided when you have a feasible and effective map for success.

The fact is, ‘attaining any goal takes preparation and planning’. One of the biggest mistakes we make is setting goals that are unattainable. For example, we claim that we want to lose 50 pounds; then we feel frustrated when the weight doesn’t magically disappear. Instead, we should set small, attainable goals.

Here are 10 tips to help you lose weight healthily:

1. Create your plan of action! A weight loss plan of action should consist of a chain of planned events that leads to a healthy and fit body. It is a series of milestones designed to push the body beyond its daily tasks. The plan would include a starting and ending date and would answer the questions—who, what, when, where and why.


2. Plan your meals and snacks in advance - You will eat healthier meals and be less tempted to eat on the run.


3. Clean out your refrigerator! If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind! Throw out those treats and stock up on foods that will nourish you at the cellular level. Remember, you are what you eat!


4. Eat early to keep weight off - The human body follows a circadian rhythm; this means that the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are processed differently when eaten at dinner. Studies show that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast, you tend to lose weight and have more energy; however, eating the same things at dinner increases the tendency to gain weight. I suggest that you do not eat after 7 p.m.


5. Eat smaller meals more frequently -Remember that your stomach is the size of a fist! Be sure to follow an eating schedule that includes 4-6 small meals every day. Eating steadily throughout the day keeps you from overeating at your next meal. Consider having a low-fat protein shakes, trail mix with raw almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and apples. Have this snack available at all times to avoid the temptation of high-calorie snacks.


6. Drink water – No matter where you are, water should always be your first choice when you’re thirsty. Water truly is essential. Water is the key to losing weight. If you haven’t been drinking enough water, your body has developed a pattern of storing water. This water retention equals extra unwanted weight. By drinking more water, you are flushing out toxins. You are teaching your body that it no longer needs to store water. Drink at least 60 ounces of water (about 8 glasses) a day. Boil water with sliced lemons, and drink this throughout the day to help with fluid retention. Did you know that water is a natural appetite suppressant?


7. Don’t eat foods with a lot of sugar – Decreasing sugar increases your energy by minimizing the highs and lows triggered by sweet foods. Sugar provides empty calories, displaces more nutritious foods and makes is easier for yeast and bacteria to thrive.


8. Sleep 8 hours a night – Recent studies have confirmed that you really do need to sleep at least 8 hours at night.  Adequate sleep makes you feel better, decreases your risk for cardiovascular disease and boosts your memory.


9. Reduce stress – Think happy, positive thoughts, do something you like everyday (take a long hot bath, listen to music, read a book, meditate … etc.)


10. Create time to exercise – Regular exercise helps produce feel-good hormones and promotes greater weight loss. Walking, jogging, hiking and aerobics classes are great aerobic choices. Include a strength-training routine involving both the upper and lower body.  Resistance exercises that prevent muscle and bone loss are crucial for women as they age. Lift weights for at least 20 minutes, 2-3 times per week.

Warmly,

Adele Fridman
DREAM TEAM Coach
Crystal Andrus Productions

Lifestyle movement is more important than exercising

by: Elizabeth Walling
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(NaturalNews) The idea that exercise is good for us is constantly pummeled into our brains by the medical community, by health coaches and by the mass media. And while certain types of exercise can certainly be beneficial in context, placing too much emphasis on formal exercise may be highlighting the wrong issue and contributing to long term health problems--because it`s movement rather than exercise that has the most dramatic impact on our health.

What Makes Us Sedentary?

Who is more sedentary: the person who exercises for one hour several times per week or the one who never exercises at all? Conventional wisdom says the second person is sedentary and will probably experience negative side effects from it. This, however, is an incomplete picture and may in fact be completely wrong if other factors are considered.

More important than how often you exercise is how much you move during your everyday life. Why? Because how much time you spend sitting adversely affects your health far more than how much time you spend doing formal exercise. If you spend several hours a day sitting (at a desk, while commuting, at restaurants, etc.), it can negatively impact your health--even if you exercise regularly. Basically, regular exercise is not enough to counteract an otherwise sedentary lifestyle.

How to Add Movement to Your Lifestyle

There was a time when we didn`t have to consciously think about moving more during our daily lives, but that is no longer the case. During the last several decades, we have unconsciously shifted from a lifestyle that included plenty of movement to one that is mostly spent sitting down. Desk work is far more common than it used to be; commuting for at least an hour every day is not uncommon; and activities that used to require movement now require much less of it (washing dishes, doing laundry, etc.).

The best solution is to pepper our everyday lives with activity. This can be done in a variety of ways:

1. Take phone calls standing up or walking.
2. Use a standing desk if possible, or sit on an exercise ball at your desk.
3. Take frequent breaks during your day to use the restroom or to get a drink of water.
4. Try to get up and walk around for about five minutes during each hour.
5. Get up during commercial breaks while you`re watching television.
6. Use the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you have the choice.
7. Park on the far side of the parking lot when you can.
8. Get up and go window shopping rather than browsing online.
9. When you meet with friends, clients or colleagues, try to do something that includes more movement (such as walking through a local museum or park, etc.).

How you incorporate more movement into your life will largely depend on your lifestyle and preferences, but it can certainly be done if you make small changes over time. The little things really do add up in this case. Pretty soon you`ll be unconsciously moving more instead of unconsciously sitting more--and your health will thank you for it.

For more information:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/m...

http://www.livingthenourishedlife.c...

http://drpeggymalone.com/sitting-kill

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032482_movement_exercise.html#ixzz1NU4MpVyG

Human 2.0-christed edition

a message from Lauren C. Gorgo

"There is so much change taking place on the subtle levels that to speak of each one individually would be akin to searching for a stone cast to the ocean." - Seven Sisters of Pleiades

Ouch

If your head feels like lead, your heart is on fire, and your body is a mockery of a marshmallow...then welcome to the full integration of head-heart-body.

If I may still indulge in polarity for a moment, I have what feels like very good news and very bad news.  The good news is that I have been told that this month is the month that the frontrunners of new-human consciousness complete the upgrade to the new-human prototype, the final transformation into mind/body/soul integrated existence.

The bad news is that I think its going to hurt like hell.

I definitely hope I'm wrong here, but the pains of labor have been p-r-e-t-t-y intense since May began and it doesn't feel as though it will let up anytime soon.  The unseens say otherwise…that the middle of May will bring some reprieve...tho they also admit that this month will be a very "physically focused" one.  This is what I heard: every single cell of your played-out bodies will continue, unremittingly, to throb in the writhing pain of cellular mutation.  Until forever.

Physical Integration

"What we would like to bring forth out of all of this is the realization that those who are on the path to oneness have arrived at a deep place of physical integration, a crosspoint in all intersecting layers of perceptual reality that are now woven into the cellular tapestry of the new human form." -Seven Sisters

If April was a month of reassessing, redirecting and resetting, then May is a month of integrating, mutating and morphing. During the last several weeks, all those parts of ourselves that needed to be reclaimed were revealed to each of us (in mostly odious ways) during that never ending Mercury retrograde cycle. Mercury is finally leaving its shadow station, and we are coming out of a very long and productive inward phase where we released & cleared lifetimes of human/genetic karmic debris... however, with so much growth in such a short period of time, our cells still need the time/space to shift and align with our new level awareness.

Because of all the inner-work we completed last month we are experiencing a profound deepening..an unmistakable soul recognition is taking place, a growing awareness of home that is filling every cell of our bodies.  Literally.

Right now we are adjusting and releasing another round of remaining density so as to align with the harmonious energies of the new-human form, and it does NOT feel good, but as we continue to come into alignment with the vibration of our complete, purified, core selves, our bodies will adjust and release, adjust and release, and the end result will be a perfected physical vessel…the physical representation of our divine-human blueprint.

"Mid-May will provide you with forward moving momentum, the key will be in how well your body is able to assimilate these energies.  If you are hanging on to unresolved issues from the past, forward movement will be halted to the extent that you are willing to let go.  The physical symptoms of mutation may continue to plague you, but only until you are fully released from the past, firmly situated in the present, and focused on moving into the future.  Trust in your body's intelligence and it will show you the way home." -Seven Sisters

New-Human Health

"If we had to define health in the new human form, we would say this: harmony.  Rather, we would change the word health to harmony." -Seven Sisters

No doubt we are in a nasty funk…we have been knocked down for weeks with symptoms, and tired in ways that mimic the beginning of our journeys.  This deep fatigue is present in every tissue, organ, muscle and bone of our bodies…even our blood is tired….but up until now, none of it has made any cognitive sense.

The unseens say that all of this is because we are literally changing physical form and our bodies are using all of our vitality to morph…that we are emerging from our proverbial cocoons.  Tho the butterfly analogy is relentlessly overused, it is also very poignant in the sense that we are actually changing from one physical expression to another, from the inside out….and just like the butterfly, our release from restriction is timed with the greater cycles of creation.  (groovy butterfly metamorphosis vid HERE...should make you feel right at home)

Whenever we go thru these intense periods of physical transformation, its important to remember the magnitude of change we are undergoing….that the transition we are morphing thru is not an incremental (linear) healing that is taking place as in old-paradigm holistic constructs where we "peel back the layers of the onion" to reveal our core.  Contrary to that, biological ascension (reconnection) requires that we access our core selves first, in order to effectuate true and lasting change on every level of our being and in every area of our lives.

This is also why, for those on the ascension path, no individual healing modality can take us to full symptom cure…not only because these modalities are external, but because true health is not established thru healing, but thru remembering…aligning with…our divine state of wellness.  The difference is in the focus.

In other words, the ascension process does not bring us from bad to better (linear), but from from limitation to freedom (quantum).  The result is in the lasting effects, but the process is WAY more comprehensive…which is ultimately why the starseed warriors were designed to go first…so all you freakishly courageous souls could fully display the results of such self-inflicted torture.

This fiercely independent group stepped up as the biological beta-testers for the new-human prototype and now these groups are finally (tho slowly) coming out of the beta (metamorphic) phase and are soon to be fully functional 2.0's as we near the end of the massive inner-journey and embark upon the final phase of our physical transition to the "other side".  (NOTE**Keep in mind that tho we are emerging, our wings still need time to harden before we can take flight, so patience is still required.)

The unseens have always said that physical health would be the last to arrive, but they are making it clear that this will not be health like we have ever known before. Health is such a broad topic that perspective matters here, but they really want us to "get it", that this state of completeness is far superior to physical well being.  They describe new human health as "an amalgamation of circular patterns of bliss…heightened, creative energies that flow uninterrupted and are interconnected, yet independent of each other...energies that transmit and communicate to each other in a harmonic and effortless way, free of the separation-based discordance that breaks the flow of vital life force in lower dimensional consciousness."

They also share that the human 2.0 christed-edition will be malleable, spontaneous, self-contained and light in its movement…they call this the "ultimate state of physical existence" and one that will require less maintenance than the older (3d) model. ohthankgawd.

Because the new-human form works with crystalline magnetics in the fluid form fields, we will be tapping into a new circuitry board, one that is built into the new grid and contains the codes required for our physical participation with conscious co-creation.

With the upgrades complete, our ability to adapt to energy will apparently be remarkable and our new-human vessel will enable us to not only feel good...novel concept...but to navigate ourselves strictly on the new earth (crystalline) grid, which exists all around us now, pulsating with pure potential and while waiting to express its infinite intelligence thru our shiny new stellar bods.

From Service to Creation

"One further point that we would like to make with regard to this life-changing transition is that each of you are fully in control of your destinies now.  It is no longer a place of coming together to create for the good of mankind, to fix what's broken, but a place of coming together to create from deep passion, from the unrelenting desire to make manifest your YOUnique contribution to the planet thru the pure reflection of your soulular self."

We are finally at a place of fully expressing our divinity in a way that expires our old (clearing) contracts and deeply embedded programming that we are here to "save the world".  There is no saving or service required any longer….we are simply here now to share the part of ourselves that will, by default,  uplift others.  The shift is important here because when work from a place of "saving", we are holding on to the very paradigm that we are now breaking free from.  NoCanDo.

The unseens want us to deeply understand that the new-earth pioneers are shifting from service to creation, which is a completely different energy construct.

Any need, desire or impulse to "save" the falling world comes from a polarized mind, lends energy to chaos, keeps us attached to the outworn and therefore restricted from our ability to create on the new timeline. Remember those words of one famous Albert Einstein...“Problems cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them”?  It applies here.  As the outside world continues to spiral into chaos it is imperative that we push thru to a higher level of thinking by remembering that lasting change only comes when we transcend the energies that created it.

We are here now to create a new way, to create a new world... to use inspiration as our weapon and love as our shield.  And there is no turning back.

"Know that your contribution to the world is nothing more or less than what sets you on fire…it is the reflective radiance of the sun's creative potential within each of you, the core center of your embodied power to create, and for all to benefit from."  -Seven Sisters

Dance with the Divine

"Understand this...there is no longer a gap between who you are and who you want to be."  -Seven Sisters

So the past and the future are merging and we are beginning to operate from still-point, where the universal elixir of creation resides.  Its an odd sensation really, like we are no longer participating in our lives, but with them.  And nothing outside of the moment can hold our attention for very long.   Accessing anything outside of the present is growing in futility which means we are no longer operating from a place of what will be, but what is....and as well, we are shifting from the mental understanding of ascended living to the sensation-based experience of it.  This has yet to sink into our full-body awareness, but it will.

As a result of this merging, we are no longer those beings who are here to teach thru information alone…we are here now to teach thru the integrated, embodied understanding that can only be achieved thru first hand experience, and is wholly contingent upon our ability to create our inspired visions on the blank canvas that is now laid before us. When we do this effectively, the universal forces of creation come rushing to meet us…not because we have summonsed the force, but because we have become the force. As we merge with these forces of creation thru the sheer magnitude of our presence, we become one with the flow of divinity thru sacred union...and as these energies move us to act, to create, to speak, to dance, to sing, to love…all in perfect allowing...only then we will understand the true meaning of co-creation.

This sacred dance works thru mathematics and geometry...which I will probably delve deeper into thru future writings... but for now, know that these sacred sciences are fully at play.  In the past, separation-creation was a combination of sacred science mixed with human will and using universal hologram technology (3d matrix) specifically designed for this interplay.  But now, in the fluid fields of morphic resonance, the power of these sacred sciences are pure and instantaneous.

"Those in the collaborative cosmic dance with the divine will be presented with opportunities to take part in the creation of new earth.  You are the builders, the planners, and the architects of an ascended earth.  We wish for each of you to grasp the enormity of your contribution thus far and especially as you step forth to apply your creative, sculpted vision into the world at large.  You hold dominion over the new earth...you are the fiercest of warriors, the pioneers, and therefore the guardians of Eden."

Bridge Portals

The new-human (crystalline) prototype that the warrior brigade is beginning to embody is designed to work/communicate strictly with the intelligence of the new (crystalline) grid …without participating in the old world dynamics…which is why it is so essential that this group no longer attach to the falling world.  This also means that the interconnecting points of old-world versus new world (sacred living) will be fully protected by vortices, or forcefields of energy so as to secure the portals to new earth dwelling spaces from those who are not yet fully reconnected and operating from a place of pure heart resonance.

This is not a separation based tactic, per se, but rather a safeguarding of sacred creation as well as forces of protection for those who are not yet prepared to handle such high frequencies. These interconnected grid points will serve as the bridge portals for souls to walk over, both for souls who have ascended into triality consciousness to access duality, and for those ascending duality consciousness to access triality.

These portals will serve as anchors of higher dimensional energy for the dismantling world and offer healing to those who feel called to serve.  It will be up to those who have entered fully into triality (christ) consciousness to act as the gatekeepers and to work with these sacred portals in a way that will support the new-human and the new-earth.

For those of you who are already participating with these sacred portals between dimensions you will be coming together with many more to broadcast these energies in physical locations that support the bio-energy dynamics required to uplift humanity to a sacred level of coexistence. More on this to come...

World Without Limits

One morning a couple weeks ago I heard these words ringing in my head…"Are you REALLY ready to be, do and have it all?" 

In the past when I heard those words, they scared me....it felt too far away and too overwhelming to grasp.  But this time I remember thinking that I don't even know what that means anymore…that I am so beat up far removed from any concept of wanting that there was suddenly no context for that question.

Right after I formed that thought in my head, I heard…"Well then, congratulations is definitely in order."

Which inspired me share, with kind permission, this crystal clear analogy from an email I received from a reader:

"I feel like Janus at the portal, with the ability to see into both worlds.

The old world I feel so intensely because it feels more and more repulsive in the strictest sense of that word.  I find myself looking at things and going, "I remember that" and yet it's something that the masses are still up to and yet it feels like eons ago to me, like remembering something from childhood that went out of style and is no longer around but you might see in an antique store or something.

And the new is so very exciting.  It feels so appropriate that it is springtime now as that goes with this feeling, this anticipation of something wonderful unfolding, with little hints and evidence here and there.  And yet what is so strangely prickly about the new that is coming is not knowing what to expect and not in the typical "can't know the future" kind of way but in more of a 'So, just what does one wish for when there are no limits?' "

Don't forget to nurture yourselves!
Lauren

ThinkWithYourHeart.net

~~~~~~

The Telepathy Training E-course™ by Lauren C. Gorgo... the first comprehensive e-course of its kind!!

Check out all Lauren's ebooks here!

After a heart attack - A healthy heart starts with great nutrition

by: Derrell Jones
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(NaturalNews) Going through a heart attack can be a harrowing experience. With symptoms ranging from heart palpitations, cold sweats, fatigue, and anxiety a heart attack is downright frightening with 40% of sufferers not surviving the episode. Survivors must make long term lifestyle changes immediately or risk another cardiac event. In a culture of fast living and fast food long term changes can be difficult to obtain.

A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs when blood flow to certain areas of the heart is interrupted causing a shortage of oxygen in the heart tissue. Stress, sedentary habits, and diets high in unhealthy fats are prominent factors. A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Missouri, Kansas City shed light on an interesting but unfortunate phenomenon. They found that of the 884 patients that frequently ate fast food before their heart attack, 503 of them continued to do so despite their recent attacks. Is this a matter of mere unhealthy convenience or something more?

It is no secret that fast food is a hodge-podge of chemically laced and genetically modified ingredients. The importance of the chemical aspect of the food is how it interacts with the brain, potentially leading to addictions or cravings. At the top of the list of addictive substances is MSG and any of its derivatives. MSG acts on different areas of the brain including the hypothalamus, which controls appetite and satiety. When damaged or otherwise diminished, the hypothalamus is unable to properly control not only our appetites, but also how much we eat. Also, consuming saturated fat and sugar in high amounts are thought to hijack natural brain processes causing the overproduction of opioids. Opioids are produced naturally by the brain, but overproduction can give way to self intoxication leading to addictions much like you would see in heroin addicts (not nearly as strong but powerful none the less).

For those poor souls who find it difficult to stay away from fast food let's order up a few suggestions. First, it is imperative to increase the consumption of good fats, also known as essential fatty acids (EFA's). Doing so in combination with reducing or eliminating saturated and trans fats will provide proper nutrition, satiety and relief for the hypothalamus allowing time for the gland to restore itself. Besides nourishment and boosting brain health EFA's also bind toxins helping to rid the body of inflammatory substances. Also, one should avoid MSG and any of its variants (i.e. autolyzed yeast extract). MSG is a documented neurotoxin that has the ability to overwhelm areas of the brain that control appetite such as the hypothalamus as mentioned earlier. Finally, decreasing sugar intake will go a long way in fighting cravings for foods that aren't healthy to consume. When blood sugar is kept at a steady level, as opposed to spiking and crashing, most cravings stop or become controllable.

A healthy heart starts with great nutrition. Without doubt anything resembling nutrition will not be found in a bag of fast food. Fast food is not only cheap and plentiful, but it is also engineered to make you want it and generally against your own best interest. Be good to your heart and let not your heart be troubled.

Sources:

Theheartdisease.net

Rense.com/general52/msg.htm

organicconsumers.org/foodsafety/fastfood032103.cfm

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032427_heart_attack_nutrition.html#ixzz1NTz56CXt

Prevent illness by increasing your intake of potassium

by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) High blood pressure, which afflicts roughly one-third of Americans, and heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US, are both often attributed to bad habits like excess sodium intake and poor overall diet. However, a new report released by the US Institute of Medicine suggests that potassium deficiency may also be a critical factor in these diseases, and that Americans would do well to consume more potassium-rich foods as part of their regular diets.

According to the report, the average American consumes half of the recommended daily amount of potassium, which is 4,700 milligrams (mg) a day for adults. A 2010 study published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine found that consuming this amount of potassium every day can significantly improve blood pressure, as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...).

Potassium is also responsible for helping to keep a balanced pH level inside the body. When pH levels go awry, the body is more prone to developing disease. And maintaining healthy bone mass, nervous system health, muscle function, kidney health, and adrenal function, all require regular high intake of potassium.

But to put 4,700 mg of potassium into perspective, a person would have to eat roughly ten bananas a day in order to meet the government's bare minimum threshold for potassium intake, which is most likely lower than what is needed to obtain full, optimal health benefits. Even an whole avocado contains only about one-third of this minimum recommendation.

So what can you do to help increase your daily consumption of health-promoting potassium? Besides eating more bananas and avocados, which contain about 500 mg and 1,600 mg of potassium each, respectively, you can also integrate more beets, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, Lima beans, potatoes, and raisins into your diet. Winter squash, tomatoes, spinach, and prunes also have very high levels of potassium.

To learn more about potassium, and to see a more detailed list of potassium-rich foods, visit:
http://www.thepotassiumrichfoods.com/

Sources for this story include:

http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNew...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032456_potassium_disease_prevention.html#ixzz1NTuYLGVW

Spring is in the air: Changing your diet to help lessen your allergies

by: Kshamica S. Nimalasuriya MD, MPH

(NaturalNews) What's a non-allergenic diet? Well, it's a diet that decreases your level of reaction to external allergens. In other words, it's dietary changes you can make to help improve your allergies and to help reduce the itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing and wheezing.

Dairy products and sugar cause the creation of more mucus in the body. Mucus should be thin and runny to help get rid of allergens. When mucus gets thick allergens get stuck in the body instead of being cleared out which causes allergy symptoms to be more pronounced. So limiting both dairy and sugar is one way to help allergies.

Allergy is connected to the immune system and inflammation so it makes sense to strengthen this part of the body.

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid, which may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties helpful for allergies. Foods rich in quercetin include green tea, apples, onions, kale, papaya, kale, broccoli and many berries. Eating these foods may lessen the common allergy symptoms.

Vitamin C is a great immune boosting vitamin and is a great addition to meals during spring. Foods rich in vitamin C include bell peppers, dark leafy greens, broccoli, papaya and oranges. The two herbs with the most vitamin C are thyme and parsley.

Allergic symptoms are caused by histamine being released in our bodies. Avoiding foods high in histamine can help reduce these symptoms. These foods include tofu, beer, sausage, blue cheese, red wine, eggplant and many canned fish.

There are also a number of herbal products that are anti-histamines, which can help reduce allergy symptoms. These include nettle, chamomile, garlic and plantain.

So there are many things to add and subtract from the diet to help with allergies!

Before taking a natural herb for your allergies, consult your doctor. Some herbs can have interactions with other herbs, as well as dangerous side effects when taken with prescription and over the counter medications.

Check out the current pollen count in your area by checking out websites such as this one www.aaaai.org/nab (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology National Allergy Bureau).

About the author:
Kshamica Nimalasuriya MD, MPH is a Preventive Medicine Physician involved with merging Media with Health, Open-Source Education, Herbal Medicine, Fitness, Nutrition, Wellness, and Love. She works on many initiatives bridging the global digital divide of health care education.

She has a line of organic natural skin care: www.aanandee.com

You can also find her on twitter: www.twitter.com/drkshamica www.aanandee.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032443_allergies_diet.html#ixzz1NTtMGo34

Overcome diabetic circulation issues

Thursday, May 19, 2011 by: Derrell Jones
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(NaturalNews) Along with diabetes may come many potential complications that include blindness, heart disease and kidney failure. In addition to these complications, amputations are a devastating reality as well. The need for amputations rests primarily in the fact that circulation is decreased. Tissues located in the extremities are starved of oxygen and begin to deteriorate and infections set in. In our collective healing history three therapies have been shown to improve or alleviate circulation issues in diabetics.

Chelation Therapy

Chelation is the process of binding foreign substances, usually heavy metals, for removal from the body. EDTA is often used in chelation because it binds with minerals and metals such as mercury, iron and lead. For over twenty years Dr. Garry Gordon has used intravenous EDTA (EDTA IV) clinically. In his experience at the American College of Advancement in Medicine Dr. Gordon made some interesting observations. He noted his patients needed fewer amputations and experienced less renal failure (alleviating the need for dialysis) and less incidences of blindness. These comparisons were measured against patients on conventional diabetes medications and treatments.

Oxygen Therapy

Diabetics have a hard time getting oxygen delivered to the extremities. This is because red blood cell metabolic rates in diabetics tend to be diminished. The result is less production of a key molecule called 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate, which stimulates red blood cells to deliver oxygen. That is where ozone comes in. Ozone is a more reactive form of oxygen that simulates the production of 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate. Increased efficiency in circulation and oxygen delivery can be observed as more 2,3-Diphosphoglycerate is produced. Ozone also assists in increasing cellular metabolism. Ozonation is a valuable resource when considering natural, alternative treatments for diabetes.

Exercise

The benefits of exercise on overall health cannot be stated often enough. Our "sluggish" cultural mindset has had negative consequences on our health. For diabetics a lack of exercise can be at first debilitating and then deadly. Exercise, much like ozonation, oxygenates the blood and improves circulation. The heart itself becomes more fit with regular exertion which strengthens cardiac muscle. The stronger cardiac muscle pumps blood more efficiently. Also, the muscles of the body require more oxygen during exercise. The increased demand for oxygen tones and strengthens capillaries over time. Oxygen becomes more available due to the toned capillaries and improved circulation is achieved. Aerobic exercise and strength training at least 4 to 5 times per week is the order for better circulatory health. Of course, consulting with a healthcare practitioner is advisable before starting any exercise regimen.

If proper circulation is a problem, for you or a loved one, do your research and seek professional guidance. After all, circulation is literally about life and limb.

Sources:

Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide, Deepak Chopra

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-suppl...

http://www.alternative-healthzine.c...

http://healthfitness.frs.com/exerci...

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/032447_diabetes_circulation.html#ixzz1NTrRSm3L

The health benefits of phytochemicals

(NaturalNews) Phytonutrients, the chemicals that help plants defend against environmental challenges, such as damage from pests or ultraviolet light, appear to provide humans with protection as well. Mounting research shows their effectiveness in preventing and treating a range of conditions including everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes and high blood pressure. But current law dictates that if anyone advertises health benefits without FDA approval, it is automatically considered an illegal health claim, even for everyday foods, such as walnuts.

Phytochemicals are thought to be responsible for much of the disease protection granted by diets high in fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, and plant-based beverages such as tea and wine, according to a University of California, Davis report (http://chnr.ucdavis.edu/content/Fac...).

Although it has become widely accepted that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses, scientists have only recently begun researching the effects of the different phytonutrients those foods contain.

Previous evidence has come from observations of cultures that eat plant-based diets and have lower rates of certain types of cancer and heart disease. The relatively low rates of breast and endometrial cancers in some Asian cultures, for example, are credited partly to dietary habits. These cancers are much more common in the United States, possibly because the typical American diet is higher in fat and lower in fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains, according to American Cancer Society.

Many experts suggest that people can reduce their risk of cancer significantly by eating the foods that contain phytonutrients, according to American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/Tre...). Evidence shows that they may work by helping to prevent the formation of potential carcinogens, blocking the action of carcinogens on their target organs or tissue, or acting on cells to suppress cancer development.

Research suggests that flavonoids, the most diverse group of phytochemicals, may be a key phytochemical group that contributes to the reduced mortality rates observed in people consuming high levels of plant-based foods, according to the UC Davis report. In the Zutphen Elderly Study, myocardial infarction was found to decrease as falvonoid intake increased. Similarly, the Seven Countries Study, which compared the diets of men living in various Western countries including the U.S., suggested that consumption of flavonoids was responsible for 25 percent of the observed difference in mortality rates in the different countries.

University of Minnesota Hormel Institute researchers say phytonutrients could be used in effective cancer prevention therapy, so much so that they eventually aim to develop phytochemical-derived anticancer drugs, Dr. Sigang Dong told The Austin Daily Herald (http://www.austindailyherald.com/20...).

"In the future, personalized prevention methods using photochemical could have a crucial role in cancer prevention, especially in high-risk populations," Dong said. "We will continue our rigorous research in identifying molecular targets and aim for conducting human studies with phytocehemicals - this would provide the path for an enhanced approach to personalized cancer prevention."

FDA monopoly on health

Evidence favoring the health benefits of phytonutrients is growing every day, so much so that the biotech industry is already researching transgenic and non-transgenic ways to vastly increase the phytonutrient levels in plants that already contain high levels of the chemicals, according the 2009 book Recent Advances in Biotechnology (http://books.google.com/books?id=Sl...).

Yet, even as the science bounds ahead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration refuses to allow food producers to put the facts on their labels.

The agency has structured the rules to categorize anything that treats or prevents disease as a drug. If you eat walnuts, which are shown to lower high cholesterol -- according to Natural News, the FDA declares your walnuts to be a drug. Furthermore, if anything is advertised as providing health benefits without FDA approval, it's automatically considered to be an "unapproved drug", even if it's a common, everyday food like walnuts, cherries, grapes or orange (http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/Enforcemen...).

Shockingly, even references to peer-reviewed scientific studies are a no-no without FDA permission. So if you sell walnuts, and your website merely links to such studies, then you can be threatened, arrested, imprisoned and fined millions of dollars by the FDA for selling "unapproved drugs." (http://www.naturalnews.com/027750_G...)

The Alliance for Natural Health, a non-profit organization committed to protecting integrative medicine, is fighting these FDA mandates with The Free Speech About Science Act. The congressional bill, HR 4913, is designed to stop government censorship of truthful, scientific health claims about natural foods and herbs, and restore free speech to natural health (http://www.naturalnews.com/028879_c...). If the bill passes, it will allow manufacturers and producers to reference peer-reviewed, scientific studies that highlight the health benefits of food products that they grow or sell.

Understanding Phytonutrients

Some researchers estimate up to 40,000 phytonutrients will someday be fully catalogued and understood. In just the last 30 years, many hundreds of these compounds have been identified and are currently being investigated for their health-promoting qualities, according to The George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods.

Phytonutrients are classified by their chemical structure and categorized into families based on the similarities in their structures. The phenols, or polyphenols is one family that has received attention in the scientific literature. They include the anthocyanidins, which give blueberries and grapes their dark blue and purple color, and the catechins, found in tea and wine, which provide the bitter taste as well as the tawny coloring in these foods (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?...).

Flavonoids are also commonly considered phenols, although the term "flavonoids" can refer to many phytonutrients. Isoflavones are usually categorized as members of this family. They are found in soy, kudzu, red clover, flax and rye, and have been researched extensively for their ability to protect against hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer.

Other phytonutrients include the organosulfur compounds, such as the glucosinolates and indoles from brassica vegetables like broccoli, and the allylic sulfides from garlic and onions, all of which have been found to support our ability to detoxify noxious foreign compounds like pesticides and other environmental toxins.

Integrating phytonutrients into your diet

A recommended intake of phytochemicals does not exist today, according to the UC Davis report. The Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes and its Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds chose not to create a Dietary Reference Intake due to the lack of food composition data and a true understanding of the absorption and metabolism of phytonutrients. In the absence of such a DRI, many health authorities such as the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association recommend consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables to
ensure that people get an adequate amount of phytochemical compounds.

Available scientific evidence does not support claims that taking phytochemical supplements is as helpful as consuming the fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains from which they are taken, according to the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/Tre...). So, the best choice, according to O Magazine, is to head to the local farmers' market for the season's freshest produce packed with those precious chemicals. Typically, fruit travels more than 675 miles before hitting your table and it is leeching phytonutrients all the way.

And don't forget to look beyond produce to the other phytonutrient-dense foods like beans and spices.

Beans are a miracle food, according to The Daily Times. They lower cholesterol, regulate blood sugar and insulin production, promote digestive health, and protect against cancer. If you think of fiber, protein, and antioxidants and immediately think whole grains, meat, and fruit, think again - beans offer all three in a single package.

Turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin and fennel are just a few of the spices containing phytonutrients, according to The Detroit News. Cinnamon has been found to help control blood sugar and improve insulin resistance in diabetics. Paprika may help raise good cholesterol, and ginger, coriander and cumin may promote healthy digestion. (http://www.detnews.com/article/2011...).

Sources for this article include:

http://www.naturalnews.com/028879_c...
http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/Enforcemen...
http://www.austindailyherald.com/20...
http://www.oprah.com/health/Eat-Sea...
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine...
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/Tre...
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/defaul...
http://chnr.ucdavis.edu/content/Fac...
http://www.detnews.com/article/2011...
http://books.google.com/books?id=Sl...
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?...

Read the original post here: http://www.naturalnews.com/032463_phytochemicals_health_benefits.html#ixzz1NO33zx00

Self-Compassion: Treating Yourself As You'd Treat a Good Friend

The golden rule tells us that we should treat others as we would want them to treat us. Maybe so, but hopefully we won't treat them even half as badly as we treat ourselves.

"You're so lame!"

"What a screw-up!"

"How can you ever show your face in public again!"

Would you talk this way to a friend -- or even to a stranger, for that matter? Of course not. (Or at least I hope not!) It's natural for us to try to be kind to the people we care about in our lives. We let them know it's okay to be human when they fail. We reassure them of our respect and support when they're feeling bad about themselves. We comfort them when they're going through hard times. In other words, most of us are very good at being understanding, kind and compassionate toward others.

But how many of us are good at being compassionate to ourselves?

Think of all the generous, caring people you know who constantly beat themselves up. For some strange reason our culture tells us that this is the way we should be -- women especially -- or else we'll become self-centered egomaniacs. But is it true?

The answer is no. All beating ourselves up does is make us feel depressed, insecure and afraid to take on new challenges because we're afraid of the self-punishment that will follow if we fail. It also makes it harder for us to see ourselves clearly because it's too painful. Much better to blame my problems on someone else so that I can avoid my inner tyrant.

For the past decade I've been conducting research on self-compassion and have found that people who are compassionate to themselves are much less likely to be depressed, anxious, insecure and stressed, and are much more likely to be happy, resilient, optimistic and motivated to change themselves and their lives for the better. They also tend to have better relationships with others. In short, self-compassionate people experience greater psychological well-being.

It makes sense. When our inner voice continually criticizes and berates us, we often end up in negative cycles of self-sabotage and self-harm. However, when our inner voice plays the role of a supportive friend we can -- when we notice some personal failing -- feel safe and accepted enough to both see ourselves clearly and make the changes needed to be healthier and happier.

But what is self-compassion, exactly? Drawing on the writings of various Buddhist scholars, I have defined self-compassion as having three main components: kindness, common humanity and mindfulness.

Self-kindness refers to the tendency to be supportive and understanding with ourselves rather than harshly critical or judgmental. Instead of tearing ourselves to shreds when we fail or make a mistake, we soothe and comfort ourselves, providing the caring concern needed to try again. To get a sense of how this feels, try putting both arms straight out to the sides and clenching your fists hard. This is what self-judgment feels like. Then release your clenched fists and open your hands. This is what letting go of self-judgment feels like. Then take both hands and place them gently over your heart. This is what self-kindness feels like. (There are different physiological processes underlying these various feelings that I'll write about in a future blog.)

Common humanity involves recognizing that all humans are imperfect. It allows us to connect our own flawed condition to the shared human condition so that we can have a greater perspective on our personal shortcomings and difficulties.

Mindfulness can be defined as the clear seeing and acceptance of what is occurring in the present moment. It involves being aware of one's painful feelings in a balanced manner so that one neither ignores nor exaggerates personal suffering.

Paradoxically, the more you're able to admit the pain of being a limited human being and accept this fact with kindness and equanimity, the more you'll be able to heal your pain. By soothing and comforting yourself, just as a caring mother soothes and comforts her child when he or she is hurt, you will be able to rebound from setbacks more quickly. You will have the emotional resources needed to take on new challenges and reach your full potential. Beating yourself up doesn't help anyone -- least of all yourself.

Self-compassion.org offers a great tool for testing your own self-compassion level and finding out if you need to start being kinder to yourself. If you find that you need to develop more self-compassion, there are a number of exercises and guided meditations that can help you cultivate a new way of being.

Luckily, most of are already quite skilled at being kind, understanding and compassionate to those we care about. To realize the benefits of self-compassion, therefore, all you need to do is turn around and apply those same skills toward yourself. It's easier than you think, and it could change your life.

* * * * *To learn more, or to order my new book, "Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind," go to www.self-compassion.org.

Follow Kristin Neff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/self_compassion

How to Turn Your Dreams into Reality

Everyone has a list of things they want to do before they die: faraway places to see, books to write, mountains to climb. Some people call it a bucket list, or a wish list, but I call it a dream list. Some people have a hundred things on their dream list, while others only have two, but everyone has a list, whether they know it or not. There is something deeply beautiful about having a serious dream list because it really reveals the inner truth about what you want in your life. At my coaching company the Handel Group, I have my clients analyze the different areas of their life and design and plan accordingly so that they have a road map to make the dreams on their list happen.

I find that the area where most people tend to be most complacent in the dreams is their career. It's easy to get stuck in your career, even -- in fact, especially -- if you are in the field that you want to be in. It's easy to be comfortable and doing what you always planned to do, but not really challenging yourself. This can lead to dissatisfaction and boredom -- what you really need to stay inspired is a dream to focus on.

A few years ago, I reconnected with a friend from childhood, Craig Wedren, whom I went to summer camp with when I was 13 years old. His dream when we were kids was to become a famous rock star and change the world with his music. When we reconnected in our mid-30s, he was doing really well in his career. He had been the lead singer of the popular indie band Shudder to Think in his twenties and had become an accomplished TV and movie composer ("School of Rock," "Role Models," "Reno 911!," "Hung," "United States of Tara"). As we talked about his career, I found that even though he had many successes and was doing "what he always wanted to do," he had lost sight of his dreams and inspiration. He knew exactly what he wanted at 20, but at age 35 he hadn't continued to push his dreams.

The art of knowing what you want is critical to getting what you want.

The first thing I had Craig do was brainstorm about what he really wanted in his career -- then write it into a dream list. Most people hit a point in their life where they stop dreaming or keep the list in the back of their mind. You need to put it down on paper so that you can really refine what exactly it is you want to do. After Craig wrote out his dream list, I asked him if there was anything on his list that he would be heartbroken if he didn't achieve. He told me he had been thinking of trying to do a thoroughly modern update to the classic rock movie -- in the vein of Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and The Who's "Tommy," where he could tell an epic story through his music. He already had a concept and title: "Wand." As a film composer, he had been writing music to fit with other peoples' images, but he decided that it would be interesting to turn that on its head and create visuals to fit the music he'd written.

Often people avoid following a specific dream because it will takes years to achieve what they want.

With every client, I make sure they come to terms with how long it will take for a dream to happen. If you want to be a great skier, it won't happen in a month; it may take five years or longer to master it. It's important that the client understand and accept the amount of time it will take to achieve his or her dream. When Craig committed to doing this new project, he wasn't sure how long it would take, but he really wanted it and was willing to spend years to make it happen.

To turn a dream into a reality, you have to put it in the time.

Once a client makes the decision to follow a dream, we immediately implement a plan of action. Craig was a working composer, so he wasn't able to spend all his time working on "Wand." So I had him look at his schedule and commit to working a certain amount of hours a week on it. I'm talking bite-sized commitments -- real steps toward achieving your dream. If you commit to something that you are dying to do, even if you only give one day a month toward it, it will truly change how you think and dramatically improve your life.

Once Craig had a plan in place, I had him implement a system of consequences to help him keep his work promises and keep him focused on his dream. I like to find something that will really motivate a client. In this case, it was coffee. Craig really loves his espresso, so if Craig didn't do his daily hours on "Wand," he would lose his shots of espresso the following day. He was also accountable to me with his progress and had to email me details of his work on "Wand" every week. When going after a dream, it's important to have someone keeping you on track to your goal. Dreams can become reality with a strong commitment, integrity and a plan. For Craig, working on it daily forced him to have it on his mind all the time, and led him and director Tim Nackashi to creatively pioneer a new kind of interactive, 360-degree visual style for "Wand."

How anyone can make a dream happen:

1. Write out your dream list and ask yourself what item on that list would break your heart if you didn't go after it.


2. Make peace with how long it will take you to achieve your dream.


3. Set up a plan of action where you commit to a specific amount of time each week working toward your dream.


4. Implement a system of consequences in place to help you keep your integrity with your plan of action, and have a friend help you be accountable.


5. Go after your dream and discover how proud you feel about yourself for taking the steps toward achieving something you really want in your life.

Following your dream is the act of loving life.

When I started working with Craig, "Wand" was just a thought in his head. Through coaching and a solid commitment and plan, Craig discovered what he really wanted to accomplish and was able to figure out how to go after it.

Now, almost four years later, the first installment of "Wand," "Are We," is getting some serious online love and has been nominated for MTV's O Music Award for Most Innovative Video. If he never put his dream down on paper and saw what he really wanted, "Wand" would never have become a reality.

* * * * *Craig's Wedren's interactive video "Are We," the first chapter of "Wand," can be seen at www.craigwedren.com, and you can vote for "Are We" at http://omusicawards.com/vote/most-innovative-music-video.

 Original post found here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lauren-zander/dreams-reality_b_845824.html

Follow Lauren Zander on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Hglifecoaching