New Study: Increased milk intake does NOT protect against osteoporosis (but does promote ovarian and prostate cancers)

I have been saying this to my patients for years!  Glad there's another article to prove I'm right :-)  (grin)

You hear it all the time: drink milk to get enough calcium to protect yourself from osteoporsis! 

But is it true?

Numerous definitive studies provide the answer: No, milk does not protect against osteoporosis -- in fact, it may be a cause.

Despite the dairy industry-funded ads featuring famous people wearing milk moustaches and implying that milk will protect you from bone fractures, it's long been known that countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis, such as the United States, England, and Sweden -- consume the most milk. China and Japan, where people eat less animal protein and little or no dairy food -- have low rates of osteoporosis.

Flying in the face of the usual corporate "milk-for-strong-bones!" propaganda is the latest study on the subject. A recent meta-analysis (2010 Oct 14 - Epub) of cohort studies of over 500,000 men and women found no relationship between milk intake and hip fracture rate.

You probably haven't heard about this study, despite the fact it highlights results from over a half million people. But this is an example of what happens when "health experts" in the mainstream media appear on shows which rely on financial support (advertising) from food companies, especially the dairy food industry.

In this new study, researchers were looking at the relationship between calcium intake from milk and hip fracture rates (the chief indicator used for studying osteoporosis).  

The researchers concluded, in October of 2010:

 

"In the meta-analysis of cohort studies, there was no overall association between milk intake and hip fracture in women but more data are needed in men." (abstract)

In other words, there is no evidence milk plays any role in preventing osteoporosis.

Perhaps interesting is the fact that this study -- showing milk plays no role in osteoporosis -- appears in the journal for the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, which is supported by the National Dairy Council. (See here)

These results are consistent with other meta-analyses carried out over the years, examining milk intake and bone health.  For example a 2004 meta-analysis was carried out on 39,563 men and women from six prospective cohort studies followed for 152,000 person years. The conclusion:

"A low intake of calcium (less than 1 glass of milk daily) was not associated with a significantly increased risk of any fracture, osteoporotic fracture or hip fracture. There was no difference in risk ratio between men and women... No significant relationship was observed by age for low milk intake and hip fracture risk. We conclude that a self-reported low intake of milk is not associated with any marked increase in fracture risk and that the use of this risk indicator is of little or no value in case-finding strategies." (full text)

Another meta-analysis from 2005 included over 170,000 women and over 68,000 men and looked at calcium intake in relation to osteoporosis. The conclusion:

"Pooled results from prospective cohort studies suggest that calcium intake is not significantly associated with hip fracture risk in women or men. Pooled results from randomized controlled trials show no reduction in hip fracture risk with calcium supplementation, and an increased risk is possible. For any nonvertebral fractures, there was a neutral effect in the randomized trials." (full text)

Here's a 2004 study looking at bone health in kids and young adults, concluding:

"Scant evidence supports nutrition guidelines focused specifically on increasing milk or other dairy product intake for promoting child and adolescent bone mineralization." (study)

Better known in the medical research is the fact that there is a significant cross-cultural association between consumption of animal protein (including milk) and hip fracture rates.

In plain language, protein from animal foods -- including milk -- causes osteoporosis. The mechanism for this is now well known.

An older study (1991) found a significant cross-cultural association between animal protein and hip fracture rates. (pdf file of study)

In a joint WHO/FAO Expert Consultation, the experts had the following to say in regards to the calcium paradox:

"The paradox (that hip fracture rates are higher in developed countries where calcium intake is higher than in developing countries where calcium intake is lower) clearly calls for an explanation. To date, the accumulated data indicate that the adverse effect of protein, in particular animal (but not vegetable) protein, might outweigh the positive effect of calcium intake on calcium balance." (WHO/FAO report)

Plain speak: Milk appears to do more harm than good.

WHO/FAO released more recent information in regards to animal protein and bone health, showing clearly that the more animal protein consumed, the higher osteoporosis rates. Conversely, those populations experiencing the best bone health, have both the lowest animal protein intake, and the highest vegetable protein intake. And those with the least osteoporosis also consume the least calcium in general, see this WHO/FAO report.

A table from this report illustrates the varying levels of animal protein consumption by region (which has increased significantly in many areas since this report):

On another note, we recently highlighted results of the EPIC Study in an article on vegsource.com that indicates milk causes prostate cancer. 

From the study:

"High intake of dairy protein and calcium from dairy products and high serum concentration of IGF-I were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer." (abstract)

The results from the Epic Study are largely consistent with the results from the 2007 report of a systematic literature review produced by the expert panel of the World Cancer Research Fund. Their conclusion regarding dairy and calcium intake and prostate cancer:

"The evidence, from both cohort and case-control studies, is substantial and consistent with a dose response relationship. There is evidence for plausible mechanisms. Diets high in calcium are a probable cause of prostate cancer." (study)

Another meta-analysis done in 2005 also revealed the relationship between Dairy and ovarian cancer:

"In conclusion, prospective cohort studies, but not case-control studies, support the hypothesis that high intakes of dairy foods and lactose may increase the risk of ovarian cancer." (see study)

Another study that included over 60,000 women also found a relationship between milk and ovarian cancer:

"In conclusion, this prospective cohort study provides evidence that high intakes of lactose and dairy products, especially milk, may increase the risk of serous ovarian cancer." (see full study)

Another meta-analysis found that dairy products increase the risk of Parkinson's disease:
       "These data suggest that dairy consumption may increase the risk of Parkinson's   
       disease,  particularly in men." (see study)

Despite the Dairy industry touting the supposed protective effects of dairy role in colorectal cancer, a 65-year follow-up study found that:

"High childhood total dairy intake was associated with a near-tripling in the odds of colorectal cancer." The study concluded that "A family diet rich in dairy products during childhood is associated with a greater risk of colorectal cancer in adulthood."

The researchers pointed out that dairy consumption elevates IGF-I, and that IGF-I increases the risk of colorectal cancer, among other cancers. (see full study)

The Harvard School of Public Health made the following statement in regards to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (corporate-approved) food guide pyramid and dairy consumption:

"The recommendation to drink three glasses of low-fat milk or eat three servings of other dairy products per day to prevent osteoporosis is another step in the wrong direction. Of all the recommendations, this one represents the most radical change from current dietary patterns. Three glasses of low-fat milk a day amounts to more than 300 extra calories a day. This is a real issue for the millions of Americans who are trying to control their weight. What's more, millions of Americans are lactose intolerant, and even small amounts of milk or dairy products give them stomachaches, gas, or other problems. This recommendation ignores the lack of evidence for a link between consumption of dairy products and prevention of osteoporosis. It also ignores the possible increases in risk of ovarian cancer and prostate cancer associated with dairy products."

The truth is out there -- and in here. But as you can see, if you get your health information from the US government, or from the corporate-funded US media, you may end up obese, osteoporitic, or worse -- with cancer. 

And don't look to organizations like the American Dietetic Association for reliable nutritional advice either; major funding for the ADA comes from their "corporate partner," the National Dairy Council. In fact, the ADA, which positions itself as the source of healthy nutrition information, receives millions from companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Unilever, General Mills, Mars, ConAgra, and the National Cattlemen's Association, among many others, to do their work in developing nutritional advice. Just check the ADA's Annual Report. When it comes to getting good health and nutrition info, buyer beware.

What is known for sure, even if it's not well publicized, is that one of the most important steps you can take to protect your health is to avoid all forms of dairy -- milk, chese, butter, etc. Fortunately, with so many healthy alternatives out there, it's become much easier to do.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks are due to TW who provided study information andn other material for this article. 

Jeff Nelson, Founder VegSource.com

The Wisdom of Pause at Winter Solstice

Inside of me there is a great space
Full of wisdom and joy,
Love and happiness...
I am just too busy to visit
For more than a few moments...


You see I have a life
Responsibilities
Goals
Aspirations
Things to do
Things that take my time
For more than a few moments

Don't get me wrong
Some of the taking of time is good
It fuels my heart and spirit
Feeds me and my family
And gives me a sense of purpose
For more than a few moments

But some of the time
That is taken and spent
On the to do's, must do's and should do's
I would like to take back
For myself
For more than a few moments

Does that make me selfish?
Does that make me greedy?
How will it all get done if I don't do it myself?
These are the thoughts that fill my head
When I think about taking my time back, creating space for me
For more than a few moments

But today I think I will change the channel
And tune my mind into a new thought stream
One that broadcasts messages like
Yes, take time, create space for yourself
For more than a few moments

For the act of creating space, slowing down, pausing
Is not one of slacking, selfishness or greed
But a daring choice of self-love
Your body, mind and body were built to pause
For more than a few moments

But in a world so un-pause friendly, the pause can seem impossible.
Until you change your channel
And tune into to the natural pauses of the earth
And match your body, spirit and mind to hers
For more than a few moments

On this day, Winter Solstice as the day goes black for long
I invite you to dance with the earth to the slowest of waltzes
Slow down your internal rhythm, move with stillness,
Find silence, reflect on your year past, and celebrate yourself
For more than a few moments

In fact take the whole night.
To love the woman or man you have become
Through the passing of this 12 months time
After all, don't you deserve to soak in all you have done and become
For more than a few moments

Find gratitude for the surprises the year has brought.
Celebrate your successes.
Embrace your failures.
And on this night, find, gather and benefit from the Wisdom you earned over the year
Because you chose to pause on Winter Solstice, for more than a few moments.




by Christine Arylo, inspirational catalyst and founder of the international day of self love. 
http://www.christinearylo.com

art by Shiloh Sophia McCloud www.shilohsophia.com

Let Food Be Our Medicine - Dr. Brian Clement of the Hippocrates Health I...

The Past

The past does not equal the future.

Because you may have failed a moment ago,
all day today, or for the last six months,
or for the last sixteen years,
or the last fifty years of your life
...doesn't mean anything.
All that matters is
what are you going to do now?!

--Anthony Robbins

Toxic Skies

POLLUTION post written by my friend Eri Hariono

It is the public enemy number one in the city where I live, the capital city of Indonesia.  As I have been raised here most of my life, I feel the environment condition was at its best condition when I was a little girl. Very less pollutant, either in the air, water, land, and especially noise. Nowadays, the air pollution reaches the first rank in here, follow by water pollution, noise pollution and land pollution. Based on WHO data, Jakarta-Indonesia ranked the third from 15 most polluted cities in the world.

What is AIR POLLUTION?

According to Tutorvistadotcom, “It is the release of harmful gases, chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common examples include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles. Burning of fuels like coal petrol or diesel in vehicles and factories releases harmful gases which make the air dirty and unfit for breathing.” Thus, it’s not only affecting the humans, also the animals and the plants. Based on a recent study, high concentration of particulate matter, aerosol and dust in Jakarta makes the atmosphere heavy with haze and air pollution is one of the biggest health hazards faced by Jakarta in the present time. Further study revealed that air pollution also is a carcinogen, “Toxins from the inhaled air also will be hazardous to the blood and lungs. In the worst cases, people at risk can get lung cancer and leukemia from long-term exposure to polluted air”. One recent analysis of Jakarta estimated that some 1,400 deaths, 49,000 emergency room visits, and 600,000 asthma attacks could be avoided each year if particulate levels were brought down to WHO standards

The past few years, my family and friends have felt this pollution in our city is enormously overwhelming our health. The hustle and bustle of vehicles every hour in the streets, are contributing a great deal to air pollution, not to mention the noise pollution in housing area. Everytime I look up to the sky here, it amazed me seeing the grey-white on the sky during the daytime, which looks like ‘covering down’ as a huge layer for Jakarta. I have no clue whether this could possibly the result of heavy air pollution in this megapolitan city? I miss a lot the blue skies I used to see whenever I need to energize and recharge my spirit. I also notice the abnormality of the weather pattern here. It seems we are now experiencing strange weather pattern changes. We believe as the result of this heavy air pollution, many of my friends, my family and even I have been experiencing several similar symptoms: chronic fatigue when we wake up in the morning, tiredness, insomnia, lack of focus, memory loss, dizziness, splitting headache, flu like symptoms, cough, and sore throat. Experts say the capital’s air contains the hazardous substance, one reason being that thousands of vehicles from outskirt Jakarta travel here every day and they emit lead. A high lead content in human blood, particularly children, can cause anemia, lower intelligence, behavioral problems, affect fertility, and disrupt the nervous system. Moreover, the combustion gases can cause flu-like symptoms, respiratory illnesses, or even death.

I found it very intriguing when I am searching to learn more about chemtrails, those above mentioned symptoms almost the same with the symptoms experienced by the people who were being under chemtrails spraying in their skies. Is there such thing called a coincidence here?
For a decade, some independent scientists in the Western countries have been trying to find out the chemical components from the chemtrails by researching the rainwater, tap water and the soil in cities that had heavy chemtrails spraying. Based on the testing, indicates abnormally high levels of aluminum, also appear to contain other heavy metals, including barium, strontium and titanium — as well as fibers and spores. Numerous tests have been done to verify that these poisons are off the scale in their toxicity. They are documented in the water, soil, and in the air.

My doctor, Dr. Aviandy Sukarto, MSc, SpKP (specialized in aerospace medicine and herbal remedies) explained that the aforementioned heavy metals could cause respiratory diseases and also have the ability to further damage the respiratory organs. In addition, affect fertility and triggering cancer illness because those kinds of heavy metals are carcinogen. How all these air toxin affect peoples’ healths vary according to intensity and duration of exposure.

We are breathing toxic pollutants from our air. Although I never saw any chemtrails being sprayed in Jakarta, but we are facing the same condition with our fellow citizens whose skies of blue have been sprayed by chemtrails: toxic skies. On the other hand, the chemical components might be different between the air pollution from the vehicle emissions and the chemtrails, but the impact to us is similar. Exposures to these chemicals are a health risk for all of us. It is a matter of our basic rights: breathing a healthy air free from any toxins. Our life and death is at a stake here.

The Triple-Filter Test

Author Unknown

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge
in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great
philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about
your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before you talk to
me about my friend, it might be good idea to take a moment
and filter what you?re going to say. That?s why I call it
the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have
you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me
is true?"

"Well, no," the man said, "actually I just heard about it
and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don?t really know if
it?s true or not. Now, let?s try the second filter, the
filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about
my friend something good?"

"Umm, no, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something
bad about my friend, but you?re not certain it?s true. You
may still pass the test though, because there?s one filter
left?the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me
about my friend going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is
neither true, nor good, nor even useful, why tell it to me
at all?"

Life’s like a cup of coffee.

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. 

Offering his guests coffe, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortiment of cups. Porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite. 

He told his guests to help themselves to the coffee. After averyone had a cup in the hand, the professor said, “If you noticed, all the nice looking and expensive cups have been taken, leaving behind the plain and the cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. 

Be assured that the cup adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup. But you consciously went for the best cups. And then you began eyeing each other’s cups to see who had the best one. 

Now consider this. Life is the coffee, the job, money and position in the society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain LIFE and the type of cup we have, do not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups!! The happiest people don’t have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. 

Live simply. Speak kindly. Care deeply. Love generously.
Life is like a cup of coffee.

Author unknown.

What does it mean to be a disciple?

When A Guru was dying, one of his young disciples asked him,

"Guru, who was your Master?"

He said, "I had thousands of masters. If I just relate their names it will take months, years and it is too late. But three masters I will certainly tell you about.

One was a thief. Once I got lost in the desert, and when I reached a village it was very late, everything was closed. But at last I found one man who was trying to open a door of a house. I asked him where I could stay and he said: 'At this time of night it will be difficult, but you can stay with me - if you can stay with a thief'. And the man was so simple. I stayed with him for one month! And each night he would say to me, 'Now I am going to do my work. You rest, you pray.' When he came back I would ask 'Could you get anything?' He would say, 'Not tonight. But tomorrow I will try again, Heaven willing.' He was never in a state of hopelessness, he was always happy.

When I was meditating for years on end and nothing was happening, many times the moment came when I was so desperate, so hopeless, that I thought to stop all this nonsense. Then suddenly I would remember the thief who would say every night, 'Heaven willing, tomorrow it is going to happen.'

My second master was a dog. I was going to the river, thirsty and a dog came. He was also thirsty. He looked into the river, he saw another dog there -- his own image -- and became afraid. He would bark and run away, but his thirst was so much that he would come back. Finally, despite his fear, he just jumped into the water, and the image disappeared. I knew that a message had come to me from Heaven: one has to take the leap in spite of all fears.

The third master was a small child. I entered a town and a child was carrying a lit candle. He was going to the temple to put the candle there.

'Just joking,' I asked the boy, 'Have you lit the candle yourself?' He said, 'Yes sir.' And I asked, 'There was a moment when the candle was unlit, then there was a moment when the candle was lit. Can you show me the source from which the light came?' And the boy laughed, blew out the candle, and said, 'Now you have seen the light going off. Where has it gone? You will tell me this first!'

My ego was totally shattered. And that moment I felt my own stupidity. Since then I dropped all my knowledge ability. It is true that I had no master. That does not mean that I was not a disciple. I accepted the whole existence as my master. My Disciple hood was a greater involvement than yours is. I trusted the clouds, the trees. I trusted existence as such. I had no master because I had millions of masters & I learned from every possible source.

To be a disciple is a must on the path. What does it mean to be a disciple? It means to be able to learn. To be available to learn to be vulnerable to existence.

With a master you start learning to learn.

The master is like a swimming pool where you can learn how to swim.

Once you have learned, all the oceans are yours."

Post thanks to Kavita Mohan Menda

Because it's almost Christmas ...

Just have a look and think before you drink !

The Damned Egg

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

A Scotsman and an Englishman lived next door to each
other. The Scotsman owned a hen and each morning he
would look in his garden and pick up one of his hen's
eggs for breakfast.
One day he looked into his garden and saw that the hen
had laid an egg in the Englishman's garden. He was
about to go next door when he saw the Englishman pick
up the egg.
The Scotsman ran up to the Englishman and told him
that the egg belonged to him because he owned the
hen. The Englishman disagreed because the egg was
laid on his property. They argued for a while until finally
the Scotsman said, "In my family we normally solve
disputes by the following actions: I kick you in the
testicles and time how long it takes for you to get back
up. Then you kick me in the testicles and time how long
it takes for me to get up.Whoever gets up quicker wins
the egg."
The Englishman agreed to this and so the Scotsman put
on the heaviest pair of boots he could find. He took a
few steps back, then ran towards the Englishman and
kicked him as hard as he could in the testicles. The
Englishman fell to the floor clutching his groin, howling
in agony for 30 minutes.
Eventually the Englishman stood up and said, "Now it's
my turn to kick you."
The Scotsman smiled and said:
"Ye can keep the damn egg”

How To Embrace What You Already Have

Today I would like to share a blog post by my dear friend Arvind Devalia.

Can you feel the magic in the air?

It’s thanksgiving week and I can already feel a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air.

This week, as is the tradition in the USA and other countries around the world, people will celebrate with their families and loved ones.

Here in London, over the last few years, thanksgiving is being celebrated more and more. I feel it’s a truly wonderful way of getting reconnected to what really matters in our lives.

For the first time ever, I may even host my own thanksgiving dinner in my home – vegetarian of course:-)

To mark and celebrate this special time, I am writing a series of 5 articles this week, one article a day for the next 5 days.

Today I will start with gratitude.

As you spend time with your loved ones over the coming days, just what are you grateful for in your life?

Gratitude is all about appreciating the things you have in your life. Are you even aware of all the goodness around you?

The fact that you are breathing and reading these printed words is a marvel in itself. How often we take something for granted and then miss it as soon as it has gone. Many a time a loved one has left us, only for us to wish we had told them just how much they meant to us.

Gratitude is a way of reaching back to our natural state of happiness. 

You get to notice what’s right instead of what’s wrong and begin to see every “problem” as an opportunity for growth and development. Is your glass half full or half empty?

I challenge you during this special week to begin to value all the goodness and beauty around you. This can be as majestic as a sunset or as simple as the feel of the clothes you wear.

Be thankful for a gift from a friend, a child’s smile, a stranger’s kindness, having got home safely today and simply to be alive.

Appreciate the weather too wherever you are. Here in the UK it seems to rain a lot and so many people dampen their moods due to this natural phenomenon. I simply suggest to them that they appreciate the rain – after all, it is the rainwater that sustains all the nature around us.

Some of the happiest people I know live with an attitude of gratitude.

Adopting such an approach is a life long commitment and here are my tips to get you started this thanksgiving week:-

1. Count your blessings and create your gratitude list

List the things in your life to be grateful for and which you take for granted, such as your health, home, family, friends, work colleagues, car, and so on. Add all the things that you could not survive without, such as sunlight, air, water and food.

See how many things you can come up with. Keep this list with you, and refer to it anytime you get upset. See how long you remain upset!

2. Do something kind randomly

Do something for someone for no reason other than simply wanting to do it. Have no attachment to the outcome. Pay for someone’s parking, or compliment a stranger.

Always remember my 31 ways of carrying out random acts of kindness.

3. Send a note of appreciation to your loved ones

Post a card of appreciation to someone whom you have not been in touch with for a while.

Go one step further and send cards to five people and tell them how much you appreciate them being in your life.

If you don’t do this during thanksgiving week, when will you?

4. Write a thank you note

Send a thank you note to someone who has done something for you, significant or not.

Get into a habit of sending such notes by post. Most mail nowadays is junk mail or bills.

Light up someone’s day. Create a trail of happiness behind you, as you go forward in your life.

With the advent of email and social media, people have almost forgotten the art of writing thank you notes. But this thanksgiving week, why don’t you reconnect with this traditional way of spreading goodness?

5. See the magic all around you

See things as if for the first time ever. For instance, imagine just how fascinating a dog would look like to a child when seen for the first time.

Slow down and notice the beauty around you. Literally stop and smell the roses.

Remember that you can always choose to live your life as if everything is a miracle.

6. Live in the present and accept where you are

Accept things as they are. No matter how much the situation has turned out differently to your expectations, it is the way it is.

You don’t know how much worse off you could have been, had things gone differently. Savour the current moment and be grateful for what is.

7. Count your blessings, not your negatives

Since we are so conditioned into noticing the negatives, we often overlook all the good in our life. Count your blessings and be thankful.

8. Go around thanking everyone

Say “thank you” as often as possible to all the people who make your life what it is. A smile and a simple thank you will do. This will have a magical effect on the person receiving your appreciation. They will feel that their efforts have been noticed and appreciated.

Play the game of living with an attitude of gratitude! 

From today onwards, play a game and count the number of times you say “thank you” – this is where you get to thank the universe and all the people who make your life what it is.

Then increase this number tomorrow. The opportunities to genuinely thank people and the universe are endless.

For example, next time you are at a checkout desk, show your gratitude and appreciation to the cashier. He and his colleagues have probably been up since the crack of dawn to make it possible for you to have your daily groceries and for you to eat.

Acknowledge your postman. Do you even know his name? See how his face lights up when you show an interest in his life. Very few people know the name of the postman who may have been delivering their mail for years. Ask him his name and make his day!

If you work in an office, acknowledge and get to know the cleaning staff. If they didn’t clean up, you would soon know that it is not fun to work in a rubbish tip.

Thank the men who collect your domestic refuse every week.

All the people you acknowledge will be truly touched.

And best of all, you will feel great too.

From this thanksgiving week onwards, learn to always live with an attitude of gratitude.

Appreciating what you have and being thankful isn’t just for this week – make it a life long habit.

Please share below what you are grateful for in your life.

Bill Gates speech: 11 rules your kids did not and will not learn in school

Posted by Tea Talk and Gossip op zondag 12 september 2010 om 16:19

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! 

Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. 

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. 

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. 

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. 

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. 

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. 

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. 

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. 

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. 

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Anxiety

Wanted to share an article with you from Ali Brown's blog.

Have you ever been stuck on a project and convinced that you’re NOT making excuses? You really feel like you need to do another week of research or think about your plan a little more? I see this happen when a client has an “a-ha” moment, but can’t get around to taking action. Or another client won’t let go of their pet project and gets stuck instead in an obsessive state of revisions and re-revisions. According to Eric Maisel -- a creativity coach based in the Bay Area -- anxiety is most likely the culprit.

Anxiety is sneaky because it’s hard to detect. It’s a quiet, powerful emotion that can stop your forward progress dead in its tracks. And it’s such a relevant topic that I could easily write 4 blogs on it. But, since I like to keep things simple (and less anxiety provoking!), I will divvy it into a 2-part series. In Part 1 below, I focus on becoming aware of your anxiety triggers (using Eric Maisel’s stages of anxiety). And in Part 2 next week, I’ll close with some tips.

Maisel mostly works with artists, but I find that his stages of creativity apply to entrepreneurs as well. In his insightful book, Fearless Creating, Maisel outlines six stages to a project, which EACH provoke a different type of anxiety:

1. Wishing – the dream state where you imagine your business, your dream career and lifestyle. It’s a wonderful place to be, but many get stuck here, because let’s face it, it’s fun and safe. 
2. Choosing – this is where you have to pick one. Will it be the online clothing store, the greeting card company or the fashion blog? I’m not saying you can’t do it all, but you have to start somewhere. And picking the ONE can be a little scary.
3. Starting – Facing the blank page, the mailing list with 10 people on it (trust me I’ve been there). This is where you fight the feeling (almost always false) that you just don’t know ANYTHING.
4. Working – Staying focused and committed to your project. Not losing steam, or surfing the web when you should be working (hint, Maisel says that all those distractions are just anxiety getting the best of you).
5. Completing – This is kind of like a spin on choosing because you have to tie up the loose ends and “live” with your baby. Your logo could have over 20 different color combos, and your ezine could follow 100+ formats -- but you just have to get it done and know your end product. This can be scary. 
6. Showing – This is the cliff -- the moment you’re about to take a leap and go public. Maybe it means clicking the “publish” button on your blog, or sending off the sales email to a cold potential client. But this is where you expose yourself and your business, and it can cause a TON of anxiety. 

Does any of the above sound familiar to you? Remember, you could feel anxiety at only one phase, or at several phases of the process. Right now, just be aware of where you get stuck. 

Then, once you recognize where you get stuck in your own, individual process, you have the key to moving your projects through from start to finish. Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where I’ll give you some tips on how to push past these stages.

Lily

That Lily is sooooooo cute I just had to share!
See how much she loves being cuddled...

Mannaz Project

Mannaz Project

And still I rise

I so love this woman!

The Wise Woman

By: Author Unknown

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a
precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another
traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag
to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious
stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so
without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew
the stone was worth enough to give him security for a
lifetime.

But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone
to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know
how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope
that you can give me something even more precious. Give me
what you have within you that enabled you to give me this
stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have but what's inside
you that others need.

Spraying???

The Rebellion Against the Stomach

The Rebellion Against the Stomach
By: Author Unknown

Once a man had a dream in which his hands and feet and mouth
and brain all began to rebel against his stomach.

"You good-for-nothing sluggard!" the hands said. "We work
all day long, sawing and hammering and lifting and
carrying. By evening we're covered with blisters and
scratches, and our joints ache, and we're covered
with dirt. And meanwhile you just sit there, hogging all
the food."

"We agree!" cried the feet. "Think how sore we get, walking
back and forth all day long. And you just stuff yourself
full, you greedy pig, so that you're that much heavier to
carry about."

"That's right!" whined the mouth. "Where do you think all
that food you love comes form? I'm the one who has to chew
it all up, and as soon as I'm finished you suck it all down
for yourself. Do you call that fair?"

"And what about me?" called the brain. "Do you think it's
easy being up here, having to think about where your next
meal is going to come from? And yet I get nothing at all
for my pains."

And one by one the parts of the body joined the complaint
against the stomach, which didn't say anything at all.

"I have an idea," the brain finally announced. "Let's all
rebel against the lazy belly, and stop working for it."

"Superb idea!" all the other members and organs agreed.
"We'll teach you how important we are, you pig. Then maybe
you'll do a little work of your own."

So they all stopped working. The hands refused to do
lifting and carrying. The feet refused to walk. The mouth
promised not to chew or swallow a single bite. And the
brain swore it wouldn't come up with any more bright ideas.
At first the stomach growled a bit, as it always did when
it was hungry. But after a while it was quiet.

Then, to the dreaming man's surprise, he found he could not
walk. He could not grasp anything in his hand. He could not
even open his mouth. And he suddenly began to feel rather
ill.

The dream seemed to go on for several days. As each day
passed, the man felt worse and worse. "This rebellion had
better not last much longer," he thought to himself, "or
I'll starve."

Meanwhile, the hands and feet and mouth and brain just lay
there, getting weaker and weaker. At first they roused
themselves just enough to taunt the stomach every once in a
while, but before long they didn't even have the energy for
that.

Finally the man heart a faint voice coming from the
direction of his feet.

"It could be that we were wrong," they were saying. "We
suppose the stomach might have been working in his own way
all along."

"I was just thinking the same thing," murmured the brain.
"It's true that he's been getting all the food. But it
seems he's been sending most of it right back to us."

"We might as well admit our error," the mouth said. "The
stomach has just as much work to do as the hands and feet
and brain and teeth."

"Then let's get back to work," they cried together. And at
that the man woke up.

To his relief, he discovered his feet could walk again. His
hands could grasp, his mouth could chew, and his brain
could now think clearly. He began to feel much better.

"Well, there's a lesson for me," he thought as he filled
his stomach at breakfast. "Either we all work together, or
nothing works at all."

Paradigm Shift

Energy Medicine Tips For Thyroid Issues By Shift Doctors

The Shift Doctors’ good friend and colleague Melanie Smith is co-owner of Well Within Natural Medicine, Inc., Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician, Eden Energy Medicine Advanced Practitioner and Senior Faculty Member of Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine Certification Program. Well Within Natural Medicine, Inc.’s overall mission is to “TRANSFORM LIVES THROUGH ENERGY MEDICINE.”  For more information about Melanie or to order items in her Energy Medicine Store In this article, Melanie shares information about the thyroid and energy medicine tips to balance the energies of the thyroid. Click here to visit Well Within Natural Medicine, Inc

What is the Thyroid?
When functioning properly, the thyroid gland secretes just the right amount of thyroid hormone to regulate almost all the metabolic processes in your body. Too much or too little of these vital body chemicals and it can drastically influence energy levels, body weight and your mental health. With over 20 million Americans living with some form of thyroid disease, much attention has been given to the many ways that alternative medicine can help.

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the front of the neck. It is responsible for energy, metabolism, hormone regulation, body weight and blood calcium levels. Thyroid disorders stem from either an over production (hyperthyroidism) or under production (hypothyroidism) of thyroid hormones. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, your body can experience a variety of symptoms:

Hyperthyroidism:

• Weight loss despite increased appetite
• Increased heart rate, heart palpitations, higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive perspiration
• More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea
• Muscle weakness, trembling hands
• Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
• Lighter or shorter menstrual periods

Hypothyroidism:

• Fatigue, slower mental processes or depression
• Reduced heart rate
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Tingling or numbness in the hands
• Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck)
• Constipation, heavy menstrual periods or dry skin and hair

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by testing the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Hormones secreted by the thyroid are measured, as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released by the pituitary gland that triggers hormone production in the thyroid. Some milder forms of hypothyroidism can also be detected by a consistently low basal body temperature.  Also, an experienced Energy Medicine Practitioner can use energy testing to get information about your body’s hormonal imbalances and then using a variety of energy techniques to restore your body to a place of health and wellness.  Try using this quick tip below to help with balancing your Thyroid.

Quick Energy Medicine Tip for Balancing the Thyroid:

• Take your thumb, index and middle fingers and bring them together
• Hold over the Thyroid Point  (see image below)
• Now Do the Same with your other hand and hold over the Triple Warmer Neurovascular Point at your temple for 3-5 minute.
• Now switch hands and repeat for 3-5 minutes on the other side.
• This is also an excellent de-stressing technique.

You may also want to try Dr. Melanie’s Harmonize the Fire protocol known for it’s effectiveness with calming the nervous system, balancing the thyroid and all hormones

 

Life Style Changes
When it comes to lifestyle changes, a diet rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, and iodine helps support thyroid function.  While certain foods known as goitrogens may interfere with thyroid hormone production and should be limited. These include cruciferous vegetables (such as cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts), peanuts, and soy.  

Also, don’t underestimate the power of the Daily Energy Routine. Stress reducing exercises such as yoga or tai chi can also be beneficial Three Foods to Support Thyroid Function Seaweed – Iodine is an essential element that assists the thyroid in producing thyroid hormone. By increasing iodine intake patients have seen an increase in the production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The best natural source of iodine is kelp, bladderwrack and other seaweeds. Coconut Oil – Virgin coconut oil is praised by health experts for its ability to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood sugar. It is made up largely of medium chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (MCTs). MCTs are known to speed metabolism, promote weight loss, and raise basal body temperatures. Brazil nuts and Walnuts- These nuts contain high amounts of selenium. Many hypothyroid patients have been found to have deficiencies in this trace mineral.

In the clinic we advise the daily use of Lumu.  To find out more about Limu Plus, you can click on this link.  You can also order my e-book on Limu moui from my website (in English or Dutch)

The Little Soul and The Sun

The Little Soul and The Sun
A Children's Parable
by Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations With God

Once upon no time, there was a little Soul who said to God, "I know who I am."

And God said, "That's wonderful! Who are you?"

And the Little Soul shouted, "I'm the Light!"

God smiled a big smile. "That's right!" God exclaimed. "You are the Light."

The Little Soul was so happy, for it had figured out what all the souls in the Kingdom were there to figure out.

"Wow," said the Little Soul, "this is really cool!"
But soon, knowing who it was was not enough. The Little Soul felt stirrings inside, and now wanted to be who it was. And so the Little Soul went back to God (which is not a bad idea for all souls who want to be Who They Really Are) and said,

"Hi, God! Now that I know Who I am, is it okay for me to be it?"

And God said, "You mean you want to be Who You Already Are?"

"Well," replied the Little Soul," it's one thing to know Who I Am, and another thing altogether to actually be it. I want to feel what it's like to be the Light!"

"But you already are the Light," God repeated, smiling again.

"Yes, but I want to see what that feels like!" cried the Little Soul.

"Well," said God with a chuckle, "I suppose I should have known. You always were the adventuresome one."

Then God's expression changed. "There's only one thing..."
"What?" asked the Little Soul.

"Well, there is nothing else but the Light. You see, I created nothing but what you are; and so, there is no easy way for you to experience yourself as Who You Are, since there is nothing that you are not."

"Huh?" said the Little Soul, who was now a little confused.

"Think of it this way," said God. "You are like a candle in the Sun. Oh, you're there all right. Along with a million, gazillion other candles who make up the Sun. And the sun would not be the Sun without you. Nay, it would be a sun without one of its candles...and that would not be the Sun at all; for it would not shine as brightly. Yet, how to know yourself as the Light when you are amidst the Light -that is the question."

"Well," the Little Soul perked up, "you're God. Think of something!"

Once more God smiled. "I already have," God said. "Since you cannot see yourself as the Light when you are in the Light, we'll surround you with darkness."

"What's darkness?" the Little Soul asked.

God replied, "It is that which you are not."

"Will I be afraid of the dark?" cried the Little Soul.

"Only if you choose to be," God answered. "There is nothing, really, to be afraid of, unless you decide that there is. You see, we are making it all up. We are pretending."
"Oh," said the Little Soul, and felt better already.

Then God explained that, in order to experience anything at all, the exact opposite of it will appear. "It is a great gift," God said, "because without it, you could not know what anything is like. You could not know Warm without Cold, Up without Down, Fast without Slow. You could not know Left without Right, Here without There, Now without Then."

"And so," God concluded, "when you are surrounded with darkness, do not shake your fist and raise your voice and curse the darkness. Rather be a Light unto the darkness, and don't be mad about it. Then you will know Who You Really Are, and all others will know, too. Let your Light shine so that everyone will know how special you are!"

"You mean it's okay to let others see how special I am?" asked the Little Soul.

"Of course!" God chuckled. "It's very okay! But remember,'special' does not mean 'better.' Everybody is special, each in their own way! Yet many others have forgotten that. They will see that it is okay for them to be special only when you see that it is okay for you to be special."

"Wow," said the Little Soul, dancing and skipping and laughing and jumping with joy. "I can be as special as I want to be!"

"Yes, and you can start right now," said God, who was dancing and skipping and laughing right along with the Little Soul.

"What part of special do you want to be?"

"What part of special?" the Little Soul repeated. "I don't understand."

"Well," God explained, "being the Light is being special, and being special has a lot of parts to it. It is special to be kind. It is special to be gentle. It is special to be creative. It is special to be patient. Can you think of any other ways it is special to be?"

The Little Soul sat quietly for a moment. "I can think of lots of ways to be special!" the Little Soul then exclaimed. "It is special to be helpful. It is special to be sharing. It is special to be friendly. It is special to be considerate of others!"

"Yes!" God agreed, "and you can be all of those things, or any part of special you wish to be, at any moment. That's what it means to be the Light."

"I know what I want to be, I know what I want to be!" the Little Soul announced with great excitement. "I want to be the part of special called 'forgiving'. Isn't it special to be forgiving?"

"Oh, yes," God assured the Little Soul. "That is very special."

"Okay," said the Little Soul. "That's what I want to be. I want to be forgiving. I want to experience myself as that."

"Good," said God, "but there's one thing you should know."

The Little Soul was becoming a bit impatient now. It always seemed as though there were some complication.

"What is it?" the Little Soul sighed.

"There is no one to forgive."

"No one?" The Little Soul could hardly believe what had been said.

"No one!" God repeated. "Everything I have made is perfect. There is not a single soul in all creation less perfect than you. Look around you."

It was then that the Little Soul realized a large crowd had gathered. Souls had come from far and wide ~ from all over the Kingdom ~ for the word had gone forth that the Little Soul was having this extraordinary conversation with God, and everyone wanted to hear what they were saying. Looking at the countless other souls gathered there, the Little Soul had to agree. None appeared less wonderful, less magnificent, or less perfect than the Little Soul itself. Such was the wonder of the souls gathered around, and so bright was their Light, that the Little Soul could scarcely gaze upon them.

"Who, then, to forgive?" asked God.

"Boy, this is going to be no fun at all!" grumbled the Little Soul. "I wanted to experience myself as One Who Forgives. I wanted to know what that part of special felt like."

And the Little Soul learned what it must feel like to be sad. But just then a Friendly Soul stepped forward from the crowd.

"Not to worry, Little Soul," the Friendly Soul said, "I will help you."

"You will?" the Little Soul brightened. "But what can you do?"

"Why, I can give you someone to forgive!"

"You can?"

"Certainly!" chirped the Friendly Soul. "I can come into your next lifetime and do something for you to forgive."

"But why? Why would you do that?" the Little Soul asked. "You, who are a Being of such utter perfection! You, who vibrate with such a speed that it creates a Light so bright that I can hardly gaze upon you! What could cause you to want to slow down your vibration to such a speed that your bright Light would become dark and dense? What could cause you ~ who are so light that you dance upon the stars and move through the Kingdom with the speed of your thought--to come into my life and make yourself so heavy that you could do this bad thing?"
"Simple," the Friendly Soul said. "I would do it because I love you."

The Little Soul seemed surprised at the answer.

"Don't be so amazed," said the Friendly Soul, "you have done the same thing for me. Don't you remember? Oh, we have danced together, you and I, many times. Through the eons and across all the ages have we danced. Across all time and in many places have we played together. You just don't remember."

"We have both been All Of It. We have been the Up and the Down of it, the Left and the Right of it. We have been the Here and the There of it, the Now and the Then of it. We have been the male and the female, the good and the bad; we have both been the victim and the villain of it."

"Thus have we come together, you and I, many times before; each bringing to the other the exact and perfect opportunity to Express and to Experience Who We Really Are. And so," the Friendly Soul explained further, "I will come into your next lifetime and be the 'bad one' this time. I will do something really terrible, and then you can experience yourself as the One Who Forgives.

"But what will you do?" the Little Soul asked, just a little nervously, "that will be so terrible?"

"Oh," replied the Friendly Soul with a twinkle, "we'll think of something."

Then the Friendly Soul seemed to turn serious, and said in a quiet voice, "You are right about one thing, you know."

"What is that?" the Little Soul wanted to know.

"I will have to slow down my vibration and become very heavy to do this not-so-nice thing. I will have to pretend to be something very unlike myself. And so, I have but one favour to ask of you in return."

"Oh, anything, anything!" cried the Little Soul, and began to dance and sing, "I get to be forgiving, I get to be forgiving!"

Then the Little Soul saw that the Friendly Soul was remaining very quiet.

"What is it?" the Little Soul asked. "What can I do for you? You are such an angel to be willing to do this for me!"

"Of course this Friendly Soul is an angel!" God interrupted. "Everyone is! Always remember: I have sent you nothing but angels."

And so the Little Soul wanted more than ever to grant the Friendly Soul's request. "What can I do for you?" the Little Soul asked again.

"In the moment that I strike you and smite you," the Friendly Soul replied, "in the moment that I do the worst to you that you could possible imagine ~ in that very moment..."

"Yes?" the Little Soul interrupted, "yes...?""Remember Who I Really Am."

"Oh, I will!" cried the Little Soul, "I promise! I will always remember you as I see you right here, right now!"

"Good," said the Friendly Soul, "because, you see, I will have been pretending so hard, I will have forgotten myself. And if you do not remember me as I really am, I may not be able to remember for a very long time. And if I forget Who I Am, you may even forget Who You Are, and we will both be lost. Then we will need another soul to come along and remind us both of Who We Are."

"No, we won't!" the Little Soul promised again. "I will remember you! And I will thank you for bringing me this gift ~ the chance to experience myself as Who I Am.

" And so, the agreement was made. And the Little Soul went forth into a new lifetime, excited to be the Light, which was very special, and excited to be that part of special called Forgiveness.

And the Little Soul waited anxiously to be able to experience itself as Forgiveness, and to thank whatever other soul made it possible. And at all the moments in that new lifetime, whenever a new soul appeared on the scene, whether that new soul brought joy or sadness--and especially if it brought sadness--the Little Soul thought of what God had said.

"Always remember," God had smiled, "I have sent you nothing but angels."


by Neale Donald Walsch, Conversations With God