Reiki - Alternative Healing Treatment

Today people lead a very hectic lifestyle - always running around from place to place. It's no wonder that sometimes our health can suffer. But not everyone wants to see an allopathic doctor just to get some chemically laden drug in the hopes that it will make their feel better.

Sometimes it will, but most often than not those chemicals end up making you feel worse. We get sick because we do not take time out of our busy days for ourselves. Our minds and bodies are so stressed out that we end up with a cold, headache or some other health issue. We need to learn to relax and reduce the stress in our lives. For most people this is a huge challenge and to help, they turn to massages, aromatherapy and even Reiki.

Healing

Reiki is a Japanese healing technique that is also used for stress reduction and relaxation. Reiki utilizes a practice similar to "laying of hands". It is the use of touch to convey warmth, serenity, love, care and healing, through the channeling of energy to enhance a person’s own life force.

When experiencing pain or hurt, people tend to put their hands on the injured part of the body as the first part of trying to subdue the pain, and heal it. Mothers tend to caress or want to kiss their children's wounds or scrapes as part of the process of comforting and healing. The same with sick people, relatives tend to hold the hands of a sick person in order to convey and transmit a feeling of comfort and care. Animals perform this same process instinctively. They tend, for example, to lick the area of pain, or wounds as a form of comfort and healing.

This "laying on hands" or touching to heal, stems from the principle that every living being or creature has a life force. This life force radiates from all parts of a person, and it is the harnessing and channeling of this life force or energy to heal, using certain Reiki techniques, which is what Reiki is all about. When a person's life force energy is low, it is then that they are more likely to get sick and be depressed; but if their life force energy is high, then they will be healthy and happy.

Energy

The word Reiki can be broken down into two parts: Rei, and Ki. Ki is the life force or energy and is the source of life itself or Prana. In Japan, life energy is termed Ki. Ki is similar to the Chinese Ch'i, and pervades the whole of the earth, planets, stars, and universe, and these life energies affect and connect with our own living body's Ki.

Rei on the other hand refers to the universal transcendental spirit, essence or mysterious power that exists in the universe.

In plain English, Reiki means "universal life energy".

A Reiki Session

During a Reiki session, energy is channeled from the Reiki practitioner to the client through the palms of the practitioner when the palms are placed in certain positions on the client's body. However, these same positions can be taught to the client for practice at home.

The Ki (Life energy force) that creates the healing, flows through the person's chakras, down into the middle of the palms and through to the tips of the fingers. For the energy to be activated, both hands must be on the client's body, or held just above it in the aura. One must also have the intent to heal.

Heat sensations, are often felt by both the practitioner and the client, as well as cold; a sensation of water flowing; trembling, vibrating, tingling, sound, color and even pain moving through the hands.

Reiki hand positions are primarily over the chakras. Chakras are energy transformers and bring in Ki from the Earth and Heavens into the human body.

Alternative Healing Treatment

Because Reiki is a simple, natural way to dispense spiritual healing and self-improvement, it is an effective alternative treatment that can be used for any illness, disease as well as for relaxation.

Reiki can also be used alongside other medical or therapeutic treatments to help relieve any negative side effects and speed recovery.

Even though Reiki is considered to be spiritual in nature, it is not a religion at all! Instead it is comprised of a special set of techniques based on ancient Tibetan healing methodologies that allows one to tap into this infinite and limitless source of life energy to heal.

Finding a Practitioner

These days most upscale massage parlors have a Reiki practitioner on staff. Reiki is considered a different form of massage in many US States and can only be performed by a Licensed Massage Therapist.

Photo Credit: networker

Benefits of Eating Chocolate

In today's world everyone is watching their diet and those who are trying to lose a little extra weight may be disparaged enough to stay away from eating any chocolate.

However, there are many benefits to incorporating chocolate sensibly into your diet, whether you are dieting to lose weight or not.

Components of Chocolate

Everyone has a favorite type of chocolate: milk chocolate, dark chocolate or white chocolate. Each of these have varying proportions of cocoa butter and cocoa solids, as well as various fats, carbohydrates, vegetable proteins. Other components include potassium and magnesium in rather large amounts, with calcium and sodium too, along with vitamins A1, B1, B2, D, and E.

However, that's not all that chocolate contains! The following stimulants can also be found in every bite of chocolate:

* Caffeine: This 'get up and go' stimulant increases intellectual activity and alertness. There is approximately 6 mg of caffeine wrapped inside an average size chocolate bar, compared to 100 to150 mg of caffeine found in a cup of regular coffee.

* Anandamide: The effects of marijuana are mimicked by this stimulant by affecting the same brain receptors. This results in a very mild 'high', similar to that felt from marijuana. In addition, there are also two other ingredients contained in chocolate that prevent the natural breakdown of anandamide, thereby prolonging the feeling of happiness.

* Catechins: This is an antioxidant which that has been shown to help protect the body against cardiovascular disease and possibly cancer. Catechins are found in higher amounts in chocolate than in black tea.

* Endorphins: Whenever we bite into a piece of chocolate, endorphins, which are natural opiates, are released by the brain in an increased amount, thereby elevating both our mood and reducing any pain.

* Phenylethylamine: This is the same chemical that is released in our bodies whenever we feel like we are falling in love. Phenylethylamines are chemically similar to amphetamines and therefore work as a psycho-stimulant.

* Theobromine: This stimulant invigorates the central nervous system, assists muscular exertion, and also works as a diuretic and appetite stimulant.

* Phenols: This can also be found in red wine, tea, fruits and vegetables. It decreases the chance of having coronary heart disease.

* Tryptophan: This is considered to be an essential amino acid which boosts the production of serotonin, an anti-depressant and natural stress-reducer. On the opposite side, chocolate cravings are often brought on by a decrease in serotonin levels in the brain.

So basically, eating that piece of chocolate, means that we are taking a proactive step towards improving kidney and digestive functioning, whilst minimizing our risks of cancer, heart disease and stroke. It also improves circulation and makes us feel happy and increases our tolerance for pain.

Other Benefits and Chocolate Facts

* Drinking low fat chocolate milk before exercising actually provides an equal, or possibly superior, muscle recovery period than drinking a high calorie, high carbohydrate recovery sports beverage.

* Women usually crave chocolate before the start of their menstrual cycle because it is rich in magnesium. Being deficient in magnesium actually worsens PMS symptoms. It is also eases menstrual cramps.

* Chocolate has been believed to be an aphrodisiac for centuries. In fact, the Aztec people believed that by eating chocolate, men would become invigorated and women would become less inhibited.

* Eating chocolate in its crudest form of pure cocoa guarantees that you will reap all the healthy benefits of chocolate. However, most people are not able to tolerate pure cocoa and resort to eating dark chocolate instead. It is a mixture of cocoa paste and sugar. This bittersweet chocolate has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure and increase HDL (High-density Lipoprotein) levels. HDL works to remove bad cholesterol from atheroma within the arteries and moves it back to the liver.

* Watch what you eat! Although chocolate has many benefits it still can pose a threat to any diet as it also contain sugar and fat. When it comes to chocolate, eating smaller quantities can reap the most benefits.

* Read the label before you eat your next bar of chocolate. It should say that chocolate is the number one ingredient under nutritional facts. Dark chocolate usually contains less sugar gram amount per serving than fat gram amount. If the chocolate you like lists any hydrogenated fats, do not eat it, as those are considered to be 'bad fats'. Instead, opt for chocolate that has no added fat except cocoa butter.

* If you really want to help the environment at the same time as eating a piece of chocolate, then look for chocolate whose label reads Fair Trade. This guarantees that the farmers and workers who harvested the cocoa were paid and treated fairly.

Photo Credit: Darwin Bell

Plus Size Nightclubs

Nightclubs are very popular places for many adults to visit after work and on the weekends. But not many of them cater to a specific clientele. However, a new type of nightclub is quickly gaining popularity across the USA: Plus Size Nightclubs!

The clientele consists of rather large, big-boned, voluptuous women and men who are simply wanting a night out dancing without the rude stares and remarks usually made by club goers at other nightclubs.

From Florida to California, these 'fat nightclubs' are a warm welcome for many plus size dancers, especially with those people who jokingly admit that they are part of a new movement in America called the "Fat is Phat movement".

One such nightclub is Club Bounce in California. Here people of larger shapes and sizes than your average size 0 model, are welcome to hit the dance floor without having an ounce of insecurity about their weight.

"Self-conscious? No! Not at all," exclaims Monique Lopez, a shapely 23 year old woman, who chooses to dress in a tight, black dress with heels. "I was like,
'I'm going to Club Bounce tonight. I'm going to wear my shortest skirt.'"

Equal Rights

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance has been a strong supporter of equal rights for plus sized people in America since it was founded over 40 years ago. With chapters around the country, this nonprofit group believes that all Americans be treated equally regardless of their shape or size.

Whilst such associations have been around for a while, places like Club Bounce where overweight night-clubbers can go to party in a comfortable and accepting atmosphere are still catching on.

"When you're not what they consider ideal, you know, and you're out there trying to get your dance on at those other places, you get the looks, the stares, but not here. Everything's accepted here," says 30 year old, Vanessa Gray of Long Beach, California.

Parties

It seems that the whole plus sized nightclub idea originally stemmed from parties organized amongst plus sized friends on the internet. Owner of the Butterfly Lounge in Southern California, Kathleen Divine, explains:

"The whole thing really started on the Internet, with clubhouse parties organized online. Now you see a lot more large people out in public, not hiding behind their keyboards anymore."

Even so, Lynn McAfe, of the Council On Size and Weight Discrimination, would prefer to see such nightclubs in every major city.

"It's nice to have a place to go where you can do a little flirting and maybe bring your thin sister or somebody from work who isn't fat, and they'll be in your world for awhile," says McAfe. "That's an amazing experience for a lot of people who aren't fat, to spend a day or night in a world of fat people."

Fat or Phat

Owner of Club Bounce, 40 year old Lisa Marie Garbo, who opened the club over 5 years ago, says that she opened the nightclub because she was tired of being "the only fat girl at the local nightclub."

Whilst Club Bounce attracts a relatively equal number of women and men, Garbo states that more than half of all the women are plus sized whilst only a quarter of the men are.

Garbo, herself has seen her weight go up and down since opening the nightclub and dancing on the dance floor, much like a lot of other people as well.

However, venues such as Club Bounce and the Butterfly Lounge, have caused some people to rethink their value, believing that they actually encourage people to remain overweight in a society where one-third of all adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"I'm not a gain-weight advocate or anything like that," says Garbo, who has been struggling with her weight since she was child. "My message to people is live your life no matter what size you are."

On the other side of things, sociologist Karen Sternheimer believes that these plus sized nightclubs are creating places where overweight people can feel safe and free from any ridicule. This leads to better self-esteem, which Sternheimer believes, will encourage plus sized people to try to lose their extra weight, which, if not lost, could lead to heart disease and diabetes.

"As the country gets heavier and ultimately unhealthier, in many instances the problem is people feeling bad about themselves, and feeling bad about themselves doesn't motivate people to lose weight," says Sternheimer, author of "Connecting Social Problems and Popular Culture."

Sternheimer says the best motivation comes from within; when obese people carry a positive attitude about themselves and their weight and then decide to lose the extra weight.

"Anything that helps people feel better about themselves," she said, "there's something positive to that."

Photo Credit: fibroblast

7 Tips On Making Your Halloween Green

Halloween is just around the corner and everyone is busy stocking up on candy and decorations. However, before you get too busy, take a minute to consider how un-eco-friendly Halloween really is.

Here are 7 great tips on making your Halloween green:

1. Ditch the Candy

It is estimated that trick-or-treaters collect about 5 to 10lbs of candy on Halloween. Instead of giving them sugar filled candy covered in wrappers that quickly fill up landfills, opt instead for healthy alternatives made with organic ingredients. Look for goodies that have been locally grown as well!

Whether you decide on candy or on something more nutritious, make sure that the wrapping is made of biodegradable or recyclable paper. If you are planning on making your own Halloween treats, you can use wax paper to cover them with.

Another option is to hand out treats that are non-edible but made from eco-friendly materials, such as crayons and coloring books made with recycled paper.

2. Wear an Eco-Friendly Costume

Instead of splurging all your money on fancy new costumes, you can visit a second hand shop to find pre-worn Halloween costumes. Remember that most of these costumes have only been worn once before! Don't forget to donate your costumes back to thrift store after Halloween so someone else can use it next year.

Make your own costumes using eco-fabrics such as organic cotton, silk, hemp or bamboo. Recycle old prom dresses and suits.

Old boxes, plastic bags, and bottles found in your recycling bin can all be used one more time in the creation of Halloween costumes.

3. Save Gas

Each year nearly 36 million children in the USA go out trick or treating on Halloween, with the parents following behind them in their slowly moving car! All those emission fumes can do a great deal of damage to the quality of air, not to mention the money wasted on gas: for every 2 minutes that your car sits idling, it consumes the same amount of gas that is needed to drive 1 mile.

You could dress up alongside your child and walk with them from house to house to gather their treats. Not only does this give you some great quality bonding time with your child, but it also gives you an opportunity to meet your neighbors.

4. Reusable Halloween Bags

Give your children Halloween bags that are reusable that you have either made or bought from the store. You and your child can make a reusable Halloween bag by using a pillow case, old clothes, used paper bags and other eco-friendly items that you can find around your house.

You can get creative an add glitter and sticks to add charm to the Halloween bag.

5. Make A Haunted Eco-House

Nearly $5 billion is spent every year by Americans for their Halloween decorations. Save some money, and save the planet, by creating your own frightening decor by using recycled materials that you have lying around your home.

A few great ideas are to use soy or beeswax candles or LED lights, place them inside a paper bag that has a Halloween design cut out of the front and use them as lanterns. Old cereal boxes that have been painted can make great gravestones!

You can also use pumpkins, gourds and apples to decorate your home with. These are great because you will be able to eat them after Halloween is over.

6. Chose An Organic Pumpkin

This Halloween outdo yourself by choosing a locally grown organic pumpkin rather than a store bought one. Approximately 90% of pumpkins in the US, that are sold in stores, come from a 90 mile radius near Peoria, Illinois; which means that the pumpkins so readily available in your local grocery store actually travelled a very long distance to get there, burning fuel along the way.

In 2007, approximately 43,000 acres of land were used for pumpkin production in the US. However, these pumpkins were grown using chemical pesticides and fertilizers that hurt the earth and our health.

The sales of organic pumpkins have grown by 60% over the past three years. Support your local farmer this Halloween by buying one of his organically grown
pumpkins.

7. Compost Your Pumpkin

No matter where you obtain your Halloween pumpkin from, compost it after it has served its Jack-O-Lantern purpose. If you already have a compost pile in your garden then you can just throw your pumpkin into the pile and forget about it. If not, then start by cutting the pumpkin into smaller pieces and place them in an unnoticeable area of your garden. Add fallen leaves, egg shells, coffee grounds and vegetable peels on top of the pumpkin pieces. When a dark, crumbly soil appears, your compost will be ready.

Photo Credit: Joe Shlabotnik

The Benefits Of Color Therapy

Not many people know or understand what color therapy, also called chromotherapy, is all about. Simply put, it is a holistic healing modality that incorporates different colors in an attempt to positively alter our emotions, moods and overall wellbeing.

Color, which is a type of visible light, also contains electromagnetic energy. Every color seen in the rainbow contains its own special healing property.
Even the Sun and Moon have healing qualities to them. There are many people throughout the world who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and find solace through the use of a sun lamp or other such device that mimics the healing properties of the Sun.

Every single cell in our bodies need light energy in order to grow and survive. Color energies therefore affect our whole body.

A color therapist uses certain tools and/or visualization techniques and suggestions to apply color to our bodies in an attempt to heal those parts of our bodies suffering under physical, emotional, or spiritual strain.

The History of Color Therapy

The use of color therapy has been around for a very long time, with the earliest recording dated 2500 years ago, when, color halls were established for healing purposes all over ancient Egypt and China.

Although Sir Isaac Newton created the world's first known color wheel, it was Johann Wolfgang Goethe who began studying the healing effects of color almost 100 years later. He divided colors into two different groups: one that caused sadness and another that caused happiness.

However, in 1877, Neils Finsen of Denmark discovered the bactericidal action of energy from solar ultra-violet rays. He also discovered that flesh wounds actually healed faster when they were placed under direct light.

The founder of color therapy principles was Edward Babbitt, who treated various ailments with the use of water that had been 'infiltrated' with the sun's rays.

Daily Color Healing

It was later deduced that certain days of the week relate to certain colors of the color wheel, as well as to different energies, vibrations, and herbs.

Sunday - Is ruled by the Sun and is its color is therefore yellow. Cinnamon and Clove are the herbs associated with Sunday, which is also a good day to work on the Solar Plexus chakra.

Monday - Is ruled by the Moon and corresponds with Blues and Violets. Eucalyptus and Jasmine can be used on this day to help work on the Throat Chakra.

Tuesday - Is ruled by Mars and Scorpio, with Red being its dominant color. This is the best day to work on the Root Chakra, as well as to use Ginger and Peppermint.

Wednesday - Is ruled by Mercury and Virgo and is Orange. Lemon Oil and Lavender can be used to help with the Sacral Chakra.

Thursday - Is ruled by Jupiter and Sagittarius and is Purple in color. The Crown, Brow, and Throat chakras should be healed on Thursdays with the use of Nutmeg, Sandalwood, and Lime.

Friday - Is ruled by Venus and Taurus and is Green. Thyme, Sage, and Strawberry should be utilized to heal the Heart chakra.

Saturday - Is ruled by Saturn and Capricorn, with Brown being its primary color. Patchouli can be used to help heal all the different chakras.

Get More Color In Your Life

Including more color into your life can benefit you in so many different ways. Remember that each of our chakras has a corresponding color to it.
Incorporating more color can help you heal a specific chakra. Therefore you can achieve proper wellbeing, whilst also balancing your chakra’s, by simply integrating a specific color into your life. Color has also been known to improve creativity and ease tension.

A few ways to bring more color into your life are to:

Paint your walls vibrant colors

Eat brightly skinned organic fruits and vegetables

Decorate your home with items in complementing color contrasts

Colored light bulbs are great alternative to boring yellow light

Dress in shades of color that rule the day

Be vigilant about the colors around you, such as green grass and the blue sky.

Color and Diseases

The principles of color therapy dictate that keeping the right balance of colors within ourselves can help us lead happy, healthy lives whilst keeping ailments at bay. However, illness does occur and when it does, color therapist advise their clients to focus their minds and lives on those colors that have been proven to help heal their particular illness by soaking up each color until you have had enough before moving on to the next one.

A few common diseases and their corresponding colors are:

Headaches: Blue

Allergies: Indigo

Excessive Appetite: Indigo

Decreased Appetite: Yellow

Arthritis: Violet

Asthma: Red

Back Pain: Blue

Cancer: Green

Colds: Red

Coughs: Blue

Diabetes: Indigo

Nausea: Blue


Photo Credit: josef.steufer

Backyard Sharing

Nutrition experts are forever going on about the benefits of eating natural and organic fruits and vegetables. However, half of all Americans are still malnourished, mostly because they lack fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Food Insecure

The government has come up with a fancy new term to refer to hungry Americans - Food Insecure.

Before the current recession hit America, approximately 36 million people were receiving food assistance. These days that number has almost tripled!

Most US families are able to visit a locally run food pantry in order to obtain free food items. These food pantries are usually a tiny room inside a church or community center and receive the donated food from regional food banks, or local grocery stores. They also heavily depend on the generosity of the people in the neighborhood.

Inside these food pantries are shelves containing mostly non-perishable food items such as packaged or canned foods, juice boxes or juice mixes, dry milk powder and other household necessities. Some larger food pantries will even have a fridge that is stocked with dairy products and other such perishables.

The only drawback is that the food pantries do not contain any fresh produce, such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Today, nearly 1 out of every 8 Americans require food assistance, but their local food pantry does not stock fresh produce, only pre-packaged, additive-stuffed non-perishable food products.

Backyard Growers

Long before the recession hit, lots of Americans were growing fruits and vegetables out of their own backyards. These backyard growers were enjoying working outside in their own gardens whilst at the same enjoying the fruits of their labors, literally!

However, the recession has caused many people to take a second look at growing vegetables in their backyards. Even those who do not have a backyard!

Although it will take some time for these gardens to sprout, one they start, they are soon overgrown with an abundant amount of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Once harvested, these backyard growers will try to eat as much of the food as possible and will either can, preserve or pickle their rest. They may even offer a few to their neighbors, friends and family members.

However, a person can only eat so much, and so the remainder of the harvest either gets left to rot in the garden, placed on a compost pile or gets thrown away.

But what if these extra produce was taken to the local food pantry instead? Better yet, what if everyone had the opportunity to grow their own food?

City Farming

In today's world, land is a very valuable asset - but only if it is utilized to its fullest potential. Most people living in the city do not use their gardens to grow vegetables and let the land just sit only with the occasional mowing of the grass. There are thousands of backyards that are not being used and have plenty of room in them to set aside for a vegetable garden.

In North America alone, nearly 40% of the inhabitants don't live in single detached housing where the yard space is undeniably theirs to use as they please.
The remaining 60%, who do have access to fertile land within city limits, do not do anything with it.

Sharing Backyard Space

A great solution to these problems is for people who have large enough backyards to share growing space with other people.

In response to these problems organizations have sprung up all along North America in an attempt to help connect people who wish to grow their own food, with those people who have ample land to share.

This type of community gardening is highly personalized, almost as if you are sharing your garden with extended family members. The goal is to help make sure that everyone in America has the opportunity to grow their own food, regardless of where they live.

Considerations

Whilst sharing your backyard with someone else in an effort to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, might sound like a wonderful idea, there are few things that you should take into consideration first.

Before deciding on anyone in particular, make sure that you meet them first in a public place. Discuss the days and times that you will make your garden space available to them.

Also figure out whether the other person has any gardening tools or if they will want to use yours. Where will the tools be kept when not in use?

Something else to consider is whether or not you will be supplying the seeds to be planted.

You will definitely need to agree on what types of fruits and vegetables you would like to grow in your garden.

Finally, you will also need to discuss who will harvest the food and how it will be distributed.

Photo Credit: woodleywonderworks

Link Established Between A Woman's Spirituality and Her Libido

New research reveals that spirituality has a greater impact on a woman's sex life than religion, alcohol or impulsivity; and that her overall wellbeing is directly related to her libido.

Latest Research

The research was conducted at the University of Kentucky, using a specific research measure called the Spiritual Transcendence Scale.

Researcher, Jessica Burris, stated:

"I think people have been well aware of the role that religious and spiritual matters play in everyday life for a very long time. But in the research literature, the unique qualities of spirituality, apart from religiousness, are not usually considered."

These specific qualities are connectedness, universality, and prayer fulfillment. Of these, connectedness was believed to be the reason why women had multiple sexual encounters with multiple partners, and most often without using condoms.

Burris goes on to explain this phenomenon:

"Believing one is intimately tied to other human beings and that interconnectedness and harmony are indispensible may lead one to believe sexual intimacy possesses a divine or transcendent quality in itself. In fact, ascribing sacred qualities to sex has been positively associated with positive affective reactions to sex, frequency of sex, and number of sexual partners among university students."

The 353 university student participants, of whom 61% were women, were asked to answer a questionnaire regarding their spiritual and religious views, sexual practices, impulsivity and alcohol use.

In regards to spirituality, the participants were asked to choose statements that reflected their own spiritual views, such as "In the quiet of my prayers and/or meditations, I find a sense of wholeness," and "Although individual people may be difficult, I feel an emotional bond with all of humanity."

One of the most interesting discoveries from the study was that men, who proclaimed themselves to be spiritual, were not affected sexually, and that they had a decrease in sexual encounters.

The researchers believe that men do not consider spirituality in a sexual connotation, because they biologically don’t view sex as a "gateway to emotional
intimacy."

However, for women, spirituality was the greatest predictor in regards to their frequency of sex, multiple partners and failure to use condoms.

"It is possible female young adults yearn for greater connectedness with other humans. Spirituality, at least for women, could be considered a risk factor," believes Burris.

Conversely, this raises another question: Are women more sexually active because of their spirituality; or does spirituality itself create an open-minded attitude that manifests itself through sex?

"Research suggests that spirituality provides predictive utility over and above personality traits such as conscientiousness, extraversion, and openness," explains Burris. "So while it may be the case that spirituality is correlated with other variables that show similar relationships with human sexuality and sexual practices (such as openness to experiences), the relationship we observed, in my opinion, cannot simply be explained away by other variables."

Similar Study

The October issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study, conducted at the Women's Health Program at Monash University in Australia, in which an association was made between a woman's happiness and her libido.

Approximately 300 women aged between 20 and 65, with half of whom being either pre-menopausal or post-menopausal were surveyed over the course of 28 days.

The participants were instructed to record their daily sexual events, and to also answer a questionnaire focusing on their wellbeing and sexual satisfaction.

The results indicated that more than 140 participants (split equally between the pre- and post-menopausal participants) felt sexually dissatisfied. Those participants that were post-menopausal demonstrated the most differences in overall wellbeing: women who were sexually satisfied scored 84 out of 110 on the questionnaire, whilst dissatisfied women scored only 76.
Women who were pre-menopausal provided similar results, with those women who were sexually dissatisfied scoring lower on vitality and cheerfulness. However the researchers found it difficult to conclude the results:

"The problem with interpreting this finding is that it is impossible to determine if dissatisfied women had lower well-being because they were sexually dissatisfied, or if the reverse is true, such that women who started with lower well-being tended to secondarily have sexual dissatisfaction," said lead researcher Sonia Davison.

Beyond The Studies

The studies revealed a direct correlation between a woman's wellbeing and her sexual libido. Davis suggested that this may be due to a variety of
circumstances such as low self-esteem or poor relationships.

However, there are herbal remedies that a woman can take to help naturally increase her libido. One such product is Female Essence. This all-natural supplement has been specifically formulated with a well-known aphrodisiac and sexual stimulant to gently increase a woman's libido, as well as her self-confidence, by increasing sexual stamina and boosting energy levels. The herbs contained in Female Essence have also been proved to help lower inhibitions and reduce anxiety.

Photo Credit: alicepopkorn

Tonight: The Orionid Meteor Shower!

Stargazers throughout the world will be able to watch the Orionid meteor shower tonight; weather permitting of course.

The Orionids

Every year two meteor showers occur as a direct result of the Earth passing through the dust that is released by Halley's Comet: The Eta Aquarids and the Orionids, aptly named for the point inside the constellation Orion from whence the meteors appear to radiate.

Beginning around 15 October and ending around 29 October, the Orionid meteor shower is usually at its maximum during the early morning hours of 20 - 22 October.

Many thousands of years ago, Halley's Comet left a trail of dust behind as it traveled through space. The Orionid meteor shower occurs when Earth travels right through that path of dust and debris. What appears to be shooting stars are merely tiny grains of dust vaporizing in Earth's upper atmosphere.

Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office says that:

"Flakes of comet dust hitting the atmosphere should give us dozens of meteors per hour."

The Best Viewing

During the beginning of the Orionid meteor shower and again at the end, the Orionids themselves are hardly noticeable in the night sky. However, during its maximum, viewers in the Southern Hemisphere could possibly see up to 40 meteors per hour, whilst Northern Hemisphere viewers will see around 20 meteors per hour

The Orionid meteor shower will starts its maximum tonight and therefore the best time to watch, regardless of where you live, will be between 1am and dawn local time on Wednesday morning.

According to Space.com, this is possible because:

"That's when the patch of Earth you are standing on is barreling headlong into space on Earth's orbital track, and meteors get scooped up like bugs on a windshield."

When the Earth enters the deepest part of Halley's Comet's dust, it will mark the beginning of the peak activity period of the Orionid meteor shower. This will probably occur at approximately 6am or 3am PT.

A few stray meteors could also be visible earlier tonight as well, although those people living in cities will see less meteors overall than those people living in rural areas. This is because light pollution in the cities will obscure the meteor's brightness.

The Best Shower

According to Cooke, the Orionid meteor shower is one of the best showers to view:

"Since 2006, the Orionids have been one of the best showers of the year, with counts of 60 or more meteors per hour."

However, actually predicting meteor showers is hard as the debris can stem from multiple streams. For instance, every time that Halley's Comet travels around the sun on its elongated orbit, which is usually every 76 years, it actually leaves behind a new path of debris for the Earth to move through in the years to come. This pathway eventually starts to spread out over time and the Earth then passes through it every October during the Earth's 365 day trek around the sun.

The past few years has seen more meteors during the Orionid meteor shower than ever before. Mikiya Sato and Jun-ichi Watanabe, researchers from Japan, believe that this is due to debris stemming from 1266 BC to 911 BC. NASA believes that this will be another good year to view the Oroinid meteor shower.

For many years prior to 2006, the Orionids reliably produced 15 to 20 meteors per hour at their peak which were easily visible for viewers under dark skies.

As luck would have it, there will also be about 5 to 10 meteors per hour during this peak period that are not related to the Orionids at all! These meteors will be much weaker and more sporadic than the Orionids.

The Orionids will move relatively fast. But the easiest way to distinguish an Orionid meteor is to trace it backwards. If it leads you back to the Orion
constellation, then you know that it was an Orionid meteor.

History

The discovery of the Orionid meteor shower has been credited to E. C. Herrick of Connecticut who, in 1839, was the first person to state that there was meteor activity around 8 - 15 October each year. In 1840 he made the observation that the "precise date of the greatest meteoric frequency in October is
still less definitely known, but it will in all probability be found to occur between the 8th and 25th of the month."

However, on 18 October 1864, A. S. Herschel made the first accurate observation of the meteor shower, when it was seen that 14 meteors radiated out from the Orion constellation. A few days later on 20 October 1865, Herschel confirmed the sighting of a meteor shower originating from Orion.

Since then, the Orionids have become one of the most observed annual meteors showers.

Photo Credit: makelessnoise

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Please Note: At this time the coupon codes found on the NaturalWellbeing site are the only legitimate coupons available. We do not post coupons on other promotional websites. Normally we only offer coupons to return customers via email.

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Safety Tips for Fall

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the best way to prevent injuries whilst raking leaves, cleaning gutters and performing other outdoor chores is to take proper health and safety precautions.

Dr. Dr. Laurence Laudicina, a spokesperson for the AAOS stated in a new release from the academy that:

"Many people work vigorously in the yard during the autumn season, and it often takes a toll on your body. Raking leaves and cleaning out the gutters are popular seasonal chores that can lead to falls or strain to your back and upper body."

Last year 617,000 people in America suffered injuries that were sustained as a direct result from incorrectly using rakes, ladders and other outdoor garden supplies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has stated.

In an effort to help prevent injuries, the AAOS, along with the Centers for Disease Control, have issued a few tips to help keep you safe whilst performing your Fall chores.

Wait a While

Although this might be frustrating for some, waiting for the full fall to rake leaves is better than doing quick rake jobs here and there. Planning on doing one big rake job, will prevent you from taking any safety shortcuts, that could result in slips, falls, and sore muscles, that you might take when doing small clean ups.

Choosing the Right Rake

Before attempting any outside chore, you should first carefully choose your tools. Although tempting, avoid borrowing a rake from your neighbor, as it may not be the right height or strength for you. When purchasing a rake, make sure to buy a rake that has a padded handle to avoid blisters (or wear gloves instead). Avoid cheap lightweight rakes that made from plastic as the lighter the rake is, the more of your own energy you will use to rake up the leaves. A few garden stores even carry ergonomically designed rakes that are intended to improve on ease of use and comfort and therefore prevent injuries.

Dress Warmly

It may sound too obvious, but most people do not dress warmly enough before working outside in the cool autumn weather. However, dressing warmly does not mean that you need to wear thick wooly clothes! Rather dress in lightweight layers that will keep you warm without trapping sweat to your body. Make sure that you wear a pair of sturdy gloves that have some grip to them. Also remember to wear a hat and scarf - just make sure that they don't block your vision. You don't want to trip over tree stumps or walk into low tree branches. Shoes or boots that are supportive, comfortable and have non-slip soles are the perfect accompaniment! Remember, that if you are allergic to mould or mildew, it is probably a good idea to wear a mask over your nose and mouth.

Warm Up

Doing a pre-rake workout for at least 10 minutes is a great way to avoid straining any muscles. In one hour of raking, you can easily burn at least 300 calories. Therefore, doing a few stretches, side bends and knee lifts will help prevent straining your back, neck and shoulder muscles. The stretches will also help get your blood flowing and mentally prepare yourself for the bending, lifting and raking that you are about to do.

Watch Your Posture

Keep an eye on your posture whilst you are raking up the leaves. Always stand up straight and try to rake the leaves to one side of your body, allowing your hands to alternate. Remember to always bend from your knees whenever you attempt to pick up piles of raked leaves, and never throw the leaves over your shoulders as this twisting motion can cause back injuries. Rather simply step to the side so that your entire body moves and not only your back and shoulders. Another tip is to not overfill the leaf bags, especially if the leaves are slightly damp. The bags should always be light enough for you to carry comfortably.

Take A Break

Take a 10 to 15 minute break from raking at regular intervals. The repetitive motions of raking the leaves up can become laborious after a bit. During your break you should do a few stretches to release any tension in your back and shoulders. Don't forget to keep yourself hydrated by sipping on water.

Ladders

Before using a ladder you will need to inspect it very carefully for any loose hinges, rungs or screws and to make sure that it is clean, especially if you have not used it for a while. Always place the ladder on firm level ground and check to see that it is fully open and locked before climbing and never sit or stand on the very top rung or pail shelf.

Photo Credit: Dan4th

5 Ways That Technology Is Ruining Our Food

These days everyone is trying to eat right by eating presumably healthier foods. In an attempt to get the most nutrients out of our food, we have allowed technology to dictate how we should be preparing and saving our food. But is the way in which our food is prepared really that much healthier for us?

1. Irradiation

This technology has been around since the beginning of the 20th century, when scientists were awarded a patent to use radiation to kill bacteria hiding in food. Now it is a widely used preservation process and currently the FDA has approved it for use on iceberg lettuce and spinach in an effort to prevent E. coli.

Using irradiation to preserve food is a cheap way to prevent spoilage whilst also allowing the produce to travel longer distances. It uses electron radiation, similar to that created by X-ray machines, just at a more powerful strength. However, when our food is exposed to this radiation, any insects, viruses, microbes and other pathogens are immediately destroyed, whilst the actual food itself remains non-radioactive.

Although most food companies are claiming that the irradiation is safe, the Center for Food Safety, has conducted research that indicates otherwise: Irradiation decreases the nutritional content of foods, such as 80% of Vitamin A found in Eggs and 95% of Lutein found in Green Beans.

The Organic Consumers Association has found that new compounds, such as carcinogens like benzene and toluene, are being created in foods that have been preserved via irradiation. These destroy healthy cells and have been known to cause gene mutations.

Currently, only whole, unprocessed foods are labeled that they have been processed via irradiation. However, proposed regulations are in the works to demand that all "materially changed" foods be labeled; and labels should state "cold pasteurized" or "electronically pasteurized" rather than the use of the word irradiation.

2. Microwave

Every household in the USA has a microwave because it is a simple and quick way to heat up leftovers or to cook food in as well. Microwaves work by using fast moving particles to radiate the water contained inside the food to boiling point. However, microwaving food is not that great!

A study, conducted by Spanish researchers and published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, discovered that microwaving food actually destroys the nutrients in vegetables. For example, when microwaved, Broccoli lost 97% of its flavonoids, 74% of its sinapics and 87% of its caffeoyl-quinic derivatives - all three are antioxidants that protect us from cancer. Steamed Broccoli, on the other hand, only lost 11%, 0% and 8% of these antioxidants respectively.

When microwaving, opt for the lowest setting to heat up foods or use a toaster oven instead.

3. Freezing Food

The main element in fresh food is water, which makes up about 50 to 90% of the food's total weight. In order to maintain this water level, and temporarily halt the grown of potentially harmful bacteria and microorganisms, the food is frozen.

Whilst the actual process of freezing is not harmful to the food, it is best done right after harvesting. Fruits and vegetables start to lose their nutritional value soon after being picked, especially when they are kept at room temperature or above.

Another negative side effect of freezing is that food that has been frozen and is stored for long periods of time will eventually start to lose its vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins B and C. When storing frozen food, always write the date of storage on the label and through it out if it is too old.

4. Dried Food

Drying food entails removing the water content and dehydrating it. When drying fruits there are certain vitamins and that are easily destroyed, such as Vitamin C. Therefore it is best to eat fresh fruit than dried fruit.

Even though eating dried food still has its nutritional benefit, you will actually eat more dried food than you would if you were eating its fresh counterpart, e.g. instead of eating a whole apple, you may eat 7 to 8 pieces of the dried fruit instead.

5. Organic

Whilst organic foods may seem expensive now, think about how much nutritional content you are losing by purchasing and eating cheaper, commercially produced foods, as organically grown foods have a higher percentage of antioxidants. Commercially grown foods have pesticides sprayed on them that have been linked to certain cancers.

Apples, bell peppers, carrots, celery, cherries, imported grapes, kale, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, pears, and strawberries have all tested the worst for pesticides, so purchase organic instead.

Those produce items that have the least amount of pesticides are avocados, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, eggplant, kiwi, mangos, onions, papaya, pineapples, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Photo Credit: Mike Licht, NotionsCapitol.com

Creating An Herbal Medicine Chest

With the increasing amount of recalls on pharmaceutical medicinals, it is a great idea to create your own herbal medicine chest at home.

Choosing The Right Herbs

When building your own herbal medicine chest it is vitally important to choose your herbs wisely. It is also important to know where your herbs are coming from, so it is best to grow them yourself. If you are planning on ingesting a particular herb you do not want to be concerned about whether or not the herb has been exposed to any pesticides during its growth period.

In the end it is far better to grow, harvest and dry your own herbs than to purchase them already dried.

The following is a list of common ailments and their corresponding herbal remedies:

Acne: Burdock
Alcohol Abuse: Milk Thistle
Arthritis: Devil's Claw
Blood Purification: Dandelion
Brain Food: Ginkgo
Breathe Easy: Licorice
Calming Agent: Valerian
Cholesterol: Garlic
Cleanse and Detox: Milk Thistle
Circulation: Hawthorn Berries
Colds/Flu: Echinacea
Cough Calmer: Eucalyptus
Depression: St. John's Wort
Digestion: Peppermint
Eyes: Bilberry
Heart Support: Hawthorn Berries
Insomnia: Valerian
Migraines: Feverfew
Mood Support: St. John's Wort
Nausea: Ginger
Stress: Kava Kava
Water Retention: Dandelion Leaf

However, a good herbal medicine chest should have at least 20 different herbs to cover almost any health care issue. (Most of these herbs you probably already grow for cooking purposes.)

Other herbs to consider are comfrey, angelica, chamomile, and calendula.

Comfrey helps wounds heal by encouraging cell growth and repair. Angelica helps by improving circulation, coughs, colds, and all lung diseases. Chamomile is wonderful relaxing herb; whilst Calendula is both an antiseptic and astringent.

Make a list of the allopathic medicines that you are currently taking on a daily basis, as well as those over the counter medicines you take on an as-needed basis. Knowing your symptoms will help you in deciding on the right herb to take.

Remember that there a multitude of herbs available, each with their own unique healing properties. Take the time now to carefully learn what each herb is for and never take anything if you don't need its particular healing value.

Harvesting Your Herbs

Once you have chosen your herbs and planted the seeds and watched them sprout and grow, it will soon be time for you to harvest them. However, since there are certain parts of an herb that you need, you will have to harvest the herb at the right time at which that particular part is at its peak medicinal power.

Here are a few general guidelines:

Stems and Leaves: These parts of the herb should be picked before the herb flowers. Harvesting should take place after the dew has dried in the morning but before the sun is strong enough to evaporate any of the herb's oils.

Flowers: These should be harvested before they are at full bloom. They should also be harvested at the same time of morning as for the stems and leaves.

Berries and Fruits: These should be harvested when they are at their peak ripeness.

Roots and Rhizomes: These should be dug up once the leaves start to change color in the fall. This is usually just after the sap of the plant has been returned to the ground.

Twigs and Barks: These should be gathered in the springtime as soon as the first leaves start to appear and the plants' sap is rising.

Tinctures
Once harvested, you can use the herbs in tinctures, salves, and teas. Tinctures are simply highly concentrated liquid extracts of specifically chosen herbs.

Making your own tincture will involve mixing 4oz of powered herbs with 1 pint of alcohol, such as vodka or rum. The concoction will then need to sit for at least two weeks, although you will need to shake the bottle daily. Then simply strain off the liquid through a layer of cheesecloth and pour what is leftover into dark dropper bottles. Remember to immediately label your bottle!

Salves

A salve is an ointment made with beneficial herbs, beeswax and oil. Begin by heating 2oz of herbs in a pint of oil, such as olive oil. Allow the herbs to cook for two hours in a stainless steel pot. Flowers and leaves can then be added and the mixture can continue to cook gently for another hour.

Once cooked, strain the mixture through a double layer of cheesecloth into a second pot. Into this add 1-1/2 ounces of beeswax per pint of oil. Then, add one teaspoon of gum benzoin, commercial preservative that you can find in your local drugstore, for each quart of salve.

Immediately pour the salve into small jars, such as baby food jars and quickly label them. The finished salve can then be stored and used for years.


Photo Credit: Smoobs

Do You Know What's In Your Flu Vaccine?

As the flu season approaches many people are preparing by having a flu shot administered. But does the flu vaccine really protect you from the flu? How about the H1N1, or Swine Flu? And what is actually in the flu vaccine?

The Mexican Study

Well, studies conducted in Mexico and published in the British Medical Journal found that, for the most part, that the vaccine that was prepared for the 2009 flu season may actually protect people from the H1N1 virus.

Out of a group of 179 unvaccinated people in Mexico, 29% became infected with the H1N1 virus, compared to only 13% of vaccinated people contracted the pandemic virus. However, 30% of patients who were unvaccinated died as a result of the swine flu, whilst none of the patients who were vaccinated died.

The Mexican researchers, who were funded by the Mexican Ministry of Health, Jose Luis Valdespino at the Laboratorios de Biologicos y Reactivos de Mexico, found that the seasonal vaccine that has been prepared for this year's flu season contains a strain of the H1N1 virus. Because of this, the researchers believe that the vaccine will provide protection against the swine flu 'because people who have been previously exposed to a similar virus have a heightened antibody response'.

However, it should be noted that this particular study was, unfortunately limited in regards to the number of patients that were assessed, therefore, more research is needed, stated the researchers.

"The results are to be considered cautiously and in no way indicate that seasonal vaccine should replace vaccination against pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009," said Valdespino.

Valdespino's research team assessed 60 patients who were all diagnosed with the H1N1 strain of swine flu, as well as 180 uninfected people. The research team concluded that those patients who did not have the swine flu were 'significantly more likely to have been vaccinated'.

The head of microbiology at the University of Amsterdam's Academic Medical Center, Menno de Jong, who wrote a supplementary editorial on the vaccine, believes that the study is biased because it only involved a mere 240 people and the results were quite diverse.

"It suggests that if you were vaccinated, it might mitigate the disease by boosting the immune response", explained de Jong. "It's a restricted level of protection, though, and highlights the need for a specific vaccine against the novel H1N1 virus."

Currently, Novartis AG and Sanofi-Aventis SA are producing a specific flu vaccine to combat the new H1N1 strain that has infected approximately 340,000 people and killed at least 4,100 globally as of 27 September, 2009, according to the World Health Organization.

The Main Ingredients

Besides containing live vaccines that have been prepared from the fluids of chick embryos that were inoculated with a specific type of influenza virus, other ingredients that the flu vaccine contains are:

Egg proteins - This includes avian contaminant viruses

Gelatin - Many people and children are allergic to gelatin, which not only causes allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis, it is also associated with sensitivity to eggs and gelatin

Polysorbate 80 - This also causes severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in those who are allergic

Formaldehyde - This is a known carcinogen, a cancer-causing agent

Triton X100- This is a rather strong detergent

Sucrose- Your typical table sugar

Resin - Also known to cause allergic reactions

Gentamycin, Neomycin and Streptomycin - These are used as antibiotics and have been known to cause allergic reactions in some people

Thimerosal - This is a form of mercury and is used in the vaccine as both a disinfectant and a preservative. However, it can also result in brain injury and autoimmune disease

Ethylene glycol - This is antifreeze!

Phenol - This is also called Carbolic Acid and is primarily used as a disinfectant as well as a dye

Aluminum - Not only has aluminum been associated with Alzheimer's disease and seizures, it is also known to produce cancer in laboratory mice. In the flu vaccine aluminum is used as an additive to promote antibody response

When to Get Vaccinated

According the Centers for Disease Control, a yearly flu vaccination should be given as soon as the vaccine is available, which is usually in September. However, peak influenza activity occurs around January or later of the New Year.

The Effectiveness Of The Flu Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control has stated that the health status and age of the person who being inoculated with the flu vaccine, will ultimately determine the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. Since there are a variety of influenza viruses out in the world, and the flu vaccine only provides protection from one or two of them, people being taking the vaccine will only be protected from those viruses that are contained in the vaccine itself.

Photo Credit: Daquella Manera

Norway Best Country In The World!

Norway has been deemed to be the best place in the world to live whilst Niger is the worst, according a United Nations report.

The annual report, entitled Human Development Index, ranks 182 countries according to three major factors that influenced the quality of life that their citizens experience.

Quality of Life

The three factors that were used to help the UN properly rank each country was Standard of Living, Health, and Knowledge. The Standard of Living was determined by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. A person's life expectancy at birth was used to determine Health, whilst literacy rates and gross school enrollment ratios were used to calculate Knowledge.

Since Norway received the highest ratings for Standard of Living, Health and Knowledge, it was ranked the No.1 country to live in the World. The UN believes that, for the most part, Norway's high ratings are due to the late 1960s discovery of offshore oil and gas deposits.

The Winners

Other winners, according to the Human Development Index, were Australia and Iceland coming in second and third, respectively.

The only drawback was that the data used to establish the UN's human development index was collected in 2007, which was a long time before the global economic crisis hit in 2008.

Therefore, the current living conditions in Iceland has changed dramatically since the original data was collected, simply because it was one of the country's that was hit pretty hard by the credit crunch.

The economic crises that began in 2008, proved exactly how deeply Iceland's economy depended on the banking sector, as seen by the collapse of many banks and other financial institutions. After Iceland's three major banks were nationalized, Iceland was forced to apply for international aid in an effort to keep the country going.

Even so, the Deputy Director of the Human Development Report Office, Eva Jespersen has stated that even though Iceland's currently reduced gross domestic product figure could ultimately "pull Iceland down" in 2010, the mere fact that it has the world's highest life expectancy rates coupled with a strong national commitment to education would possibly "cushion the decline to some degree".

The Losers

Niger ranked the worst according to the Human Development Index, just below Afghanistan and Sierra Leone.

There have been many occasions in history in which Niger has struggled to feed its citizens properly due to the many droughts that the country is prone to experiencing.

According to the Human Development Index, the life expectancy in Niger is 50 years. This is sadly, about 30 years shorter than the citizens of Norway. Another contrast between the best country to live in and the worst country to live in, is that for every $1 earned per person in Niger, $85 is earned per person in Norway.

The United Nations Development Program certainly emphasizes the severe disparities between rich and poor countries throughout the world today.

Afghanistan, which had been absent from the Human Development Index since 1996, was rated at 181 on the list and is the only Asian country in the bottom ten.

Other Countries

The good old US of A came in at number 13, down one spot from last year. The United Kingdom took number 21.

China was noted as making the biggest overall improvement in the quality of life for its citizens, by moving up 7 places to rank at number 92. This proves China's renewed commitment to improving the education of its citizens as well as their income levels and life expectancy.

France was another country whose movement to number 8 on the list proves their continued efforts to improve upon their citizen quality of life. Last year, France did not even make it to the top ten!

Other countries that moved up greatly on the list were Colombia and Peru who both moved up by five spaces to rank at number 77 and number 78 respectively.
The Human Development Index showed that the country with the poorest citizens was the Democratic Republic of Congo, in which the $298 per year was the average income per person.

More than half of all people living in the world's poorest 24 nations are believed to be illiterate, according to the index.

Liechtenstein, with its relatively small population of only 35,000 people, was shown to have the highest GDP per capita at $85,383.

Best 15 Countries:

1. Norway
2. Australia
3. Iceland
4. Canada
5. Ireland
6. Netherlands
7. Sweden
8. France
9. Switzerland
10. Japan
11. Luxembourg
12. Finland
13. United States
14. Austria
15. Spain

Worst 15 Countries:

182. Niger
181. Afghanistan
180. Sierra Leone
179. Central African Republic
178. Mali
177. Burkina Faso
176. Congo
175. Chad
174. Burundi
173. Guinea-Bissau
172. Mozambique
171. Ethiopia
170. Guinea
169. Liberia
168. Gambia

Photo Credit: alex-s

Life Expectancy Rate Increases

Researchers have determined that more than half of all babies that are born in the world's most affluent countries since the year 2000 will likely live to be at least 100 years old. In addition to living to such a ripe old age, these future centenarians will also experience fewer disabilities than other elderly people have experienced in previous generations.

These conclusions have been determined based on evidence that the life expectancy rate in wealthy nations since 1840 shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

This month the online journal, The Lancet, published a study conducted by researchers at the Danish Aging Research Center at the University of Southern Denmark. One of the researchers, Kaare Christensen, wrote:

"The linear increase in record life expectancy for more than 165 years does not suggest a looming limit to human lifespan. If life expectancy were approaching a limit, some deceleration of progress would probably occur. Continued progress in the longest living populations suggests that we are not close to a limit, and further rise in life expectancy seems likely."

According to the researchers, vast increases in life expectancy occurred in the 20th century in well developed nations. These increases equaled 30 or more additional years. The researchers have concluded that 75% of all babies that are, and will be, born in wealthy countries throughout the world since 2000 can expect to live to at least 75 years of age, even if the current health conditions do not improve over time.

The Danish researchers collected data from more than 30 different developed countries before analyzing the data to reveal that the death rates amongst people who are older than 80 years were still on the decline. For example, only 15% - 16% of women and 12% of men in 1950 had a chance to live to 90 years old once they had turned 80; which is quite a contrast when you consider that only 37% of women and 25% of men had the same chance in 2002.

Although this all sounds great and gives most people who have a fear of getting old, a new look on aging, longer life expectancies can be a cause of concern. Living longer can become a burden on both the general public as well as on a person's personal life.

In an effort to offer a solution to the possible societal challenges that most nations could experience due to longer life expectancies of their population, the researchers suggested in their report that people should be allowed to work a shorter work week whilst, at the same time, allowing them to work until they are much older than the current retirement age. Not only will this scenario help to further extend increases in life expectance but it may also help countries deal with the economic implications of having an increased elderly population.

"If people in their 60s and early 70s worked much more than they do nowadays, then most people could work fewer hours per week than is currently common, if they worked correspondingly more years of their longer lives. Preliminary evidence suggests that shortened working weeks over extended working lives might further contribute to increases in life expectancy and health. Redistribution of work will, however, not be sufficient to meet the coming challenges. Even if the health of individuals at any particular age improves, there could be an increased total burden if the number of individuals at that age rises sufficiently," the researchers stated in their report.

In the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the latest mortality statistics that revealed that US life expectancy was at an all time high at 77.9 years of age up from 77.7 years in 2006, whilst the age-adjusted death rate had actually dropped to 760.3 deaths for every 100,000 people.

The CDC's report, entitled "Deaths: Preliminary Data for 2007," was issued in late August this year and is based on roughly 90% of all death certificates in the United States of America. When looking at a period of ten years, from 1997 to 2007, life expectancy in the US has increased from 76.5 years to 77.9 years. This is a total increase of 1.4 years.

The US mortality rate in 2007 was 2.1% lower than the mortality rate of 776.5 in 2006. This means that for eight years in a row, the mortality rate in America has been slowly declining. According to more comprehensive data, the mortality rate in 2007 was actually half of what it was almost 60 years ago. In 1947, the mortality rate was 1532 per 100,000 people.

Overall, the new Danish study, as well as the report issued by the CDC, proves that life expectancy rates are on the rise, whilst death rates are declining.

Photo Credit: Ethan Prater

Ten Great Tips On Detoxifying Your Body

Detoxification, or detox for short, is a process by which toxins are removed from the body in order to purify it. These toxins are stored in our body fat where they wreak havoc on our liver, causing it to malfunction. This malfunctioning in turn causes the rest of our internal organs to stop metabolizing fat effectively.

Our bodies and metabolism are designed to eliminate these toxins naturally via our skin, lungs and kidneys. However, our bodies are unable to keep up with this constant contamination and our bodily systems become blocked. This is due to the fact that there is an ever increasing amount of toxins that we breathe in from the polluted air around us, as well as from our food and water supply. This build up of toxins can result in weight gain and fatigue, to name just a few health problems.

Therefore, detoxifying our bodies on a regular basis can help rid ourselves of these toxins that rob us of our health and energy. Here 10 great tips on how best to detoxify your body:

1. Eat Organic

Fruits and vegetables that are organically grown are not covered in chemicals and pesticides as the fruits and vegetables that are commonly found in the local grocery store. Meat that has been mass produced is full of growth hormones that are then passed into your body as soon as you bite in to it! Try to buy only certified organic meat and free range chicken.

2. Eat More Fiber

Not only does fiber keep your energy up, it also decreases the rate at which your body digests carbohydrates. Fiber also helps your body flush out metabolic waste.

3. Use Herbs

Herbs that have been proven to cleanse and protect the liver are great to take during a detox. These include milk thistle, burdock and dandelion root.

4. Drink Green Tea

Green tea contains anti-oxidant properties that are beneficial for your health as well. The main antioxidant is EGCG which helps the body burn fat. Other antioxidants found in green tea include: vitamins A, C, and E. Green tea also contains polyphenols which work by reducing the amount of time that the toxins are in your system.

5. Drink water

Drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day, or 2 quarts, is a great way to keep your body properly hydrated and your strength up.

6. Remember Your Vitamins

Because our bodies are subjected to such harsh toxins on a daily basis, it has become vitally necessary for everyone to be on a vitamin regimen. If you only choose one vitamin, as opposed to a multi-vitamin, you should choose vitamin C as it helps protect the liver.

7. Use Natural Beauty Products

Often overlooked, the beauty products that we use on a daily basis contain a myriad of preservatives, toxins and other substances that have been proven to be poisonous to both our skin, health and our environment. Added to beauty products to increase the shelf life, they can cause adverse affects with prolonged use. Instead, detoxify your skin and allow it to breathe better by using only natural and organic beauty products.

8. Utilize Your Shower Better

Taking a shower is a great way to end a hard day. However, most public water systems are also home to pesticides, toxic bacteria, viruses and even traces of human and animal waste. To avoid taking a contaminated shower, purchase a shower head that has a built in water filter. Filtering your water is great for your skin, hair and health.

Another way to best utilize your shower is to practice hydrotherapy. This is done by taking a rather hot shower for at least 5 minutes with the water running down you back. Immediately turn the hot water off and the cold water on and stand under it for about 30 seconds. Repeat these steps three times and then jump into bed, covering yourself up with blankets, for at least 30 minutes, if not for the whole night.

9. Dry Brush Before Showering

Most natural health food stores carry dry brushes. Purchase one and dry brush your skin just before you jump into the shower each day. Dry brushing your skin helps by removing all the dead skins cells that are on the surface of your skin, as well as any toxins. Dry brushing will leave your skin glowing.

10. Exercise

Exercising increases your detoxification success rate by increasing the amount of toxins that are eliminated through perspiration. Try learning a martial arts based exercise system such as Qi Gong, as it has specific exercises designed to help with detoxification and cleansing. Remember to take deep breaths in order to allow oxygen to circulate through your entire body.

Photo Credit: mckaysavage

Can't Sleep?

Don't fret, you are not alone! More than 40 million Americans suffer from insomnia and other types of sleep disorders. Doctors have conducted studies in which they found that people who suffered from insomnia usually also had hearts the beat faster, with higher temperatures, and an elevated cortisol level, which is commonly referred to as the stress hormone. These people have been termed as having a hyperarousal.

And, while medical doctors still do not know how to properly treat the root of the problem, let alone the insomnia itself, there are a few things that you do for yourself that might actually help you to get a good night's rest.

For the majority of insomniacs, the main reason why they cannot sleep is because they are continually worried about something or have high anxiety. Approaching a holistic practitioner who specializes in anxiety, can teach you techniques such as yoga or meditations to help you overcome your anxiety and quiet your mind so that you can fall asleep.

A holistic practitioner can also suggest certain aromatherapies to help you relax as well as herbal supplements if you have any nutritional deficiencies.

Please remember that what might work for someone else may not necessarily work for you. You will have to test out every method before finding the one that works the best for you. Oftentimes, it is the integration of myriad of different therapies that prove to work best for most insomniacs. So be sure to consult with a holistic practitioner such as a homeopath, acupuncturist, Yoga instructor, herbalist or Ayurvedic doctor.

Change Your Diet

One of the best, and most simple, ways to get a good night's rest is to change your diet.

* Be sure to eat foods that are high in magnesium, calcium, and essential fatty acids.

* Eating protein a few hours before bedtime can help keep your blood sugar levels stable throughout the night. Turkey is a great protein to consume as it contains tryptophan, which helps you fall asleep by triggering the production of serotonin.

* Avoid eating large or spicy meals at least three hours before bedtime. The digestion process will keep you up!

* Drink a cup of warm milk or Chamomile Tea before bed as they both contain sedating properties.

* Avoid caffeine.

Change Your Routine

Bedtime should a relaxing experience for you so that you can quickly fall asleep.

* Learn to relax. Although it is easier said than done, listening to a meditation or relaxation CD in bed might just do the trick in helping you 'switch off your mind' so that you can fall asleep. Just make sure it plays using the same frequency as delta waves, which are the brain waves that we produce whilst falling asleep. Another option is a sound machine that plays the sound of waves crashing on a beach, for example. This background noise will drown out any other noises so that you can sleep peacefully.

* Practice Yoga or Tai Chi a few hours before bedtime as these exercises will help both your mind and your body to relax by releasing any pent-up tension in your body.

* Regular exercise can also help your body to become naturally tired. It can be as little as 20 minutes of exercise as long as it gets your body moving and breathing deeply.

* Do not exercise less than three hours before bedtime as your endorphins will still be working overtime, which can cause you to be wide awake.

* Make a ritual out of bedtime! Each night take a lavender infused bath, drink a cup of hot milk and/or practice some Yoga. Doing these things every night will quickly teach your mind and body that bedtime is approaching and that it is time to unwind and go to sleep.

* Prepare for bedtime at least one hour beforehand. This timeframe allows for your thoughts and feelings about the day's events to surface so that you can deal with them before falling asleep. This way they cannot plague you and cause you to miss out on a good night's sleep.

* Remove stimulants from your bedroom, such as your laptop and television. The hour before bed should be spent quietly contemplating the day or even reading a good book to take your mind off of your worries.

Natural Sleep Aids

Herbs have been widely accepted and used as natural sleep aids for centuries.

Valerian Root - Taking 400 to 500 mg every night before bed over a few weeks will help you relax at bedtime.

St John's Wort - For most Insomniacs, depression is their most common complaint. This herb helps treat depression without consuming any chemicals found in anti-depressants.

Melatonin - The pineal gland produces this hormone which aids in quieting the mind.

Photo Credit: psd

Who Is Killing The Honey Bee?

Currently, a third of all honeybee colonies are slowly fading away. Their disappearance has been called 'colony collapse disorder.'

This colony disorder has wiped out, not only the honeybees themselves, but also the livelihood of many beekeepers since it was identified in 2006. Many of these beekeepers believe that this is due to harmful pesticides and a lawsuit is underway against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by a nonprofit group called Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). It is believed that the EPA withheld vital information regarding the safety of a class of widely used pesticides called neonicotinoids on the honeybees which are then transferred to the honeycombs.

Pesticides

Imidacloprid and clothianidin, are two forms of neonicotinoids that the EPA has identified as being highly toxic to honeybees. These pesticides can cause a bee to lose its sense of navigation and memory loss as well as paralysis and eventually death.

Bayer CropScience has been marketing the insecticide imidacloprid since 1991 and it currently the most commonly used insecticide throughout the world. It is most often used as a seed dressing for sunflowers and corn.

However, since a possible connection between Colony Colapse Disorder and these insecticides has been made, their use has been suspended in France, Germany, Slovenia, and Italy as well as other European countries. Over the past 10 years, France has witnessed the death of 90 billion honeybees, which reduced the production of honey by 60%.

Last year the German Organization Coalition, on behalf of German beekeepers who claimed that thousands of their hives were destroyed after being poisoned by the pesticides, accused Bayer CropScience of "marketing dangerous pesticides and thereby accepting the mass death of bees all over the world."

The Coalition contends that the beginning of large scale honeybee deaths coincided with the beginning of the sales for the pesticides across both European and American countries. Now, the Coalition is insisting that the neonicotinoids are removed from the worldwide market by Bayer immediately.

Bayer CropScience believes that the honeybee deaths that were reported all over Europe were actually caused by farmers not applying a fixing agent before spray with the pesticides, and not the actual pesticides themselves. Bayer says that without the use of the fixing agent, the pesticides can become airborne which would then affect the bees. Although, Bayer does state that their pesticides are extremely toxic, they have also stated that it is impossible for honeybees to encounter such a large amount that it would kill them.

An Italian study is disproving Bayer's beliefs by showing that honeybees in Italy have been ingesting the pesticides at levels that are 1,000 times higher than what is commonly found in normal pollen by way of water droplets that have formed on corn leaves grown directly from seed that has been sprayed with the neonicotinoids. These droplets are a commonly sought after source of water for bees. The study found that bees that drank the water could die within five minutes due to such high concentrations of the pesticides present in the droplets.

The Lawsuit

The other commonly used neonicotinoid, clothianidin was approved in 2003 on the condition that Bayer was to provide research on how honeybees would be affected by the chemical.
Although Bayer complied, the EPA has not made the information public - which is what resulted in the lawsuit from the NRDC in the first place.

The lawsuit, that was filed in federal court in Washington, DC, was an attempt by the NRDC to compel the EPA and the federal US government to release the information to the beekeepers and farmers. The silence on the part of the EPA has caused many beekeepers, as well as the NRDC to worry about the true effects of the pesticides on the honeybees.

Chemical Cocktail

Despite the lawsuit, a definitive reason as to the deaths of so many honeybees, still has not surfaced. What is known though, is that neonicotinoids are simply one of many chemicals that honeybees encounter on a daily basis.

In 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) formed the Colony Collapse Disorder Working Team, whose job it was to research other potential causes of the deaths. During their research a chemical cocktail was discovered. Tests on both honeycombes and individual pollen samples revealed at least 170 different chemicals present!

Mourning the Loss of Our Honeybees

Bees are not just another pesky insect! Our survival is based on their survival. According to the USDA one out of every three bites of food that we consume is reliant on bee pollination. To put the deaths of the honeybees in a different light, one researcher asked Congress, "How would our government respond if one out of every three cows was dying?" What do you think?

Photo Credit: Todd Huffman