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Don’t Medicate, Meditate

Jeff — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:30:47 +0000

photo credit: flickr, Charles Williams

Practitioners of meditative disciplines like yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and many of the world religions have espoused the numerous benefits of being in a natural altered state. Several studies have been done that attempt to figure out what happens biochemically in individuals that meditate. The net result is that it works. Some of the more pertinent benefits that relate to us ~~wage slaves~~ day laborers are better mood, increased energy, controlled breathing, enhanced immune system, and deeper relaxation (among many others). With the constant bombardment of daily stress, who wouldn’t want to be zenned out without the need to turn to alcohol or drugs?

Well, as it turns out there is another pretty significant benefit of meditating. In addition to stress, pain management plays a key role in coping day to day for many folks. The easiest and most popular treatment is drugs, in all its legal and illicit incarnations. However, a first of its kind study conducted by Dr. Fadel Zeidan of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine proves that meditation has serious merit when trying to manage pain. Only 15 patients were studied, so more comprehensive research has to be done to arrive at anything conclusive. However, according to Dr. Zeidan, there were significant reductions in pain ratings when compared to other studies that involved pharmaceutical drugs, placebo pills and even hypnosis. Even more interesting is the fact that patients did not have to be highly trained to experience these results, unlike other meditation modalities that can take weeks to achieve a level of proficiency.

As you may know, our bodies are very good at adapting to synthetic drugs. If you’re a regular user, this is why you end up needing to increase your dosage for the same effect as time progresses. It’s also extremely dangerous if you or a loved one are of child-bearing age. And, the risk of liver toxicity is a well known side effect. Compare that to zero negative side effects of meditation along with better results and the choice seems clear, even if it’s not as convenient as popping a pill. I’ve always been a huge advocate of letting your natural painkilling endorphins do their thing. They do work if you give them a chance. Couple that with meditation, and you should be able to clean out your medicine cabinet in no time.

The study appears in the April 6 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Source: Huffpost

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NIH/JAMA Study Shows Cell Phone Increases Brain Activity

Jeff — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 02:43:29 +0000

In what is probably the most respected study on cell phones’ effects on brain activity to date, National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers have concluded that cell phones definitely speed up metabolic activity in the brain. 47 participants underwent two tests with one cell phone strapped to the left ear and another to the right ear. In one test, a 50-minute PET scan (measures metabolic activity in the brain) was performed with the right cell phone turned on. And in the other test, a PET scan was performed with both cell phones turned off.

The researchers discovered that were significant increases in cellular activity and glucose (the brain’s preferred energy source) metabolism in the region of the brain where the cell phone was turned on. No assertions were made regarding long term effects, links to cancer or any other clinical diagnosis. The study was published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

I’m sure the telecommunication lobbyists in DC don’t care for this study. Personally, I use my speaker phone every chance I get. And I don’t carry it on my person unless I absolutely have to and once I reach my destination, I put it on a table/desk until it’s time for me to leave. There’s no need to subject your cells to all that electromagnetic activity, especially since long term effects are not known.

Source: JAMA

Your Cell Phone, Wireless Device And Cancer

Starbucks’ New Super Size

Jeff — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:07:19 +0000

Coffee is a multi-billion dollar per year industry and while I’m not a coffee drinker (and never have been), hoards of folks are obviously consuming this beverage on a regular basis. Starbucks is the market leader in the snob specialty coffee retailer sector.

They are about to unveil a new super-size (‘Trenta’) option for iced coffee, iced tea, and iced tea lemonade (as if consumers need another super size option). The largest size they currently offer is the ‘Venti’. Starbucks claims that sweetened beverages in the new size will have less than 230 calories while unsweetened drinks will contain fewer than 90 calories.

But let’s be honest, we all know which option will be the most popular.

Source: HuffPost

The Natural Caffeine Alternative

Yet Another Reason To Avoid Soda

Jeff — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:27:14 +0000

As if there could be any more reasons to avoid soda altogether, a recent study conducted by microbioligists from Hollins University discovered that 48% of the soda fountain machines at various restaurants they tested contained coliform bacteria. Pretty gross, huh? Hold on, that’s not even the bad part. This bacteria is typically found in feces. And to make matters worse, this family of bacteria were resistant to the 11 antibiotics tested. The water and ice tested negative, so no one is sure of the source. The scientists’ best guess is that the bacteria have been growing in the plastic tubing that hook to the soda fountains. The findings were published in the International Journal of Microbiology.

One word……nasty.

Sources:

The Huffington Post

ScienceDirect (abstract from study)

ABC News

Does Consolidation Among Health Food Companies Affect Quality?

Jeff — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 04:06:24 +0000

Over the last decade or so, there has been a lot of acquisition activity as large, multi-national food conglomerates capitalize on the healthy food craze and buy up smaller players in the industry. At first glance, one would think that this may affect the quality of some of these products that consumers have grown to love. Time will tell. Check out this organization chart below, created by Phil Howard from Michigan State University.

One of Americans’ Favorite Snacks Still Toxic

Jeff — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:06:21 +0000

Federal health investigators deemed that butter flavoring used in microwave popcorn is still unsafe and toxic. Back in 2004, a Missouri factory worker was awarded $20 million after developing a debilitating and irreversible lung condition, which required a lung transplant. He apparently got this from inhaling toxic fumes from the oil used to make the ubiquitous butter flavoring in popcorn. In July, 2005, another factory worker in Missouri was awarded $2.7 million as a result of developing the same lung condition. In 2007, a 53 year old self-professed popcorn addict developed severe breathing issues from inhaling the fumes from butter popcorn after taking it out of the microwave. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a toxic chemical named diacetyl was the culprit. Consequently, popcorn manufacturers were forced to switch flavor ingredients.

According to a recent report from NIOSH, the diacetyl substitute closely resembles…..well, diacetyl. And, these new substitutes come with the same dangerous side effects as well. Tell your friends, family, and co-workers. As the saying goes, “caveat emptor.”

Sources:

MSNBC: March, 2004

The Independent: September, 2007

Sphere: December, 2009

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NYC Firefighter Hit By Bus, Completes Triathlon

Jeff — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:42:11 +0000

Matthew Long, a New York firefighter, was riding his bike early one morning in 2005 when a bus made an illegal turn and hit him. Well, “hit” is an understatement since he was literally run over and dragged under the bus. He damaged his pelvis and leg to the extent where he needed titanium screws to put it all back together. To make matters worse, the seat from his bike impaled him, affecting his rectum, bladder, urethra, and even his intestines. Matt’s injuries were so severe that doctors only gave him a 1% chance for surviving. Ironically, his doctors said that his fitness level (he was already in very good shape) enabled him to recover where most other people would’ not have made it.

He did more than survive, though. After 40 surgeries and several months in the hospital, he was finally released. Despite a brief bout with depression, he persevered and trained to participate in a marathon, then the Lake Placid Ironman competition. Like something from a movie, Long had run out of gas halfway through the last leg of the running portion of the triathlon. But, he found an extra gear and finished the race with only 3 seconds to spare. Although he was already an athlete prior to his accident, his story (like Ruth Frith) is one of inspiration, determination, and perseverance. Based on the severity of his injuries, Matt Long had a 1% chance for survival. For most of us, our biggest obstacle for exercising is merely finding the time. That excuse just seem doesn’t cut it anymore, huh?

Source:

HBO Real Sports

Fanhouse

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BPA Linked to Impotence

Jeff — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:01:46 +0000

According to a recent study conducted in China, male workers who were exposed to high levels of the dangerous chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), experienced sexual dysfunction and decreased libido. The levels these workers were exposed to was reportedly 50 times higher than “typical” American men (whatever that means). BPA can be found in everything from plastic bottles to metal food cans to baby bottles. So although our levels may not compare to the Chinese men in the study, BPA is actually quite ubiquitous. Chemical industry spokespeople claimed there’s nothing to worry about, even in the face of compelling evidence and money from the U.S. government to fund new research. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” type of guy. Knowing the lack of interest companies have in our overall well-being, I’m not willing to take that chance. Are you?

BPA-Containing Baby Bottles Banned in Chi-town

How Would You Like To Be Worry Free?

Jeff — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:08:45 +0000

Okay, maybe worry-free is somewhat idealistic…especially these days. Stress is an inevitable fact of life. It’s how life tests our mettle. It can actually be a good thing when put in proper perspective and used to produce positive behavior. However, stress is one of those nebulous emotional states that, if left unchecked, can literally ruin lives. More specifically, this kind of insidious stress often takes the form of worry. Family, marriage, work, money, and health (among other things) are some of the most common things that conspire to steal our joy. The folks over at Health.com (via CNN) recently published a very good article that lists some effective techniques to help you deal with stress. Some of the highlights include:

Living in the present - Stop worrying about what is out of your control.
Laugh - Studies continue to espouse the positive benefits of smiling and laughing. So, go ahead and laugh until your face hurts…it’s good for you.
Smell the roses - Newsflash: life is hectic. This forces us to sometimes rush through life, missing out on simple pleasures. Your child’s laugh, planting a garden, listening to the birds on a perfect sunny day…find a place a of peace. And visit, often.
Get off your butt - Like laughing, research is continuously finding evidence that endorphins released during physically activity have a positive effect on mood. So, what are you waiting for? Get moving.

Source: CNN.com

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National Swine Flu Emergency Is Declared

Jeff — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:27:58 +0000

(Graphic: CBS News)

Due to a purported “rapid increase in illness”, President Obama has declared a national emergency which grants HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius the authority to tweak certain policies in an effort to help health care facilities handle any increase in case counts. It must be noted that unnamed officials said that this declaration is not tied to current increase in case loads or any new developments. According to the CDC, H1N1 has spread to 48 states and the case count is apparently rapidly rising. Interestingly, this contradicts a recent three-month long study conducted by CBS that concluded that current swine flu cases have been grossly misdiagnosed. Part of this probably stems from a CDC advisory issued at the end of July that suggested states stop testing for swine flu and forgo reporting cases. The reasoning is that providers should not waste valuable resources since a pandemic has already been confirmed. Well, I agree with not wanting to squander resources, especially with the preposterous prodigality in our current health care system. Doctors are now asking questions and assessing risk factors in lieu of actual tests – basically “eyeballing” it. Patients can now get seen by a physician and get diagnosed within five minutes, so they can rush to the pharmacy to get their drugs (obviously an exaggeration, but you get the point). This is undoubtedly a boon for the multinational Pharma pushers.

As I wrote in a previous post and health experts continue to proclaim, if you have a healthy immune system, chances are you don’t have anything to worry about. Tragically, the overwhelming majority of people who die from the flu have a depressed immune system already, and the virus takes advantage of this. Secondary infections like pneumonia claim the most lives. Here’s how to naturally boost your immune system so you can skip the unproven and potentially toxic H1N1 vaccines.

Swine Flu Vaccine: Avoid It Like The Flu