|Diet and Exercise
| Yoga in America
There are currently 16.5 million people who practice yoga in the United
States, according to Lynn Lehmkuhl, an editor at Yoga Journal
magazine. Since 2002, that's been literally an increase of 43 percent. The
practice is transforming from its origins to fit the needs of Americans.
According to Swami Vivekananda
Yoga Anusandhana Samstha (SVYASA), Yoga is a science of holistic living,
featured by peace and bliss, and health and harmony. Techniques of yoga help
to gain: mastery over our mind, emotional stability, in-depth understanding
of the world and reality and widen our vision and horizons. Yoga is
not physical exercises. Not just a health aid. It is to use the body through
physical postures (asanas) to go beyond the body. Towards the mind. Relaxation
is the key. Each and every organ and groups of muscles get deep rest through
proper practices and understanding of ásanas and their performance.
Breathing is the bridge between body and mind. Gaining control over breathing
can bring mastery over the mind. Práïáyáma is
a power tool as reflected in the functioning of the brain cells. Meditation
is not concentration. Concentration and focussing are strenuous and cause
fatigue. Meditation or Dhyána is defocussing, bringing deep rest
to the mind body complex.
Ultimately yoga is the tool for search of Reality and to expand our vision
towards pure consciousness of the all-pervasive Reality.
(Visesa=the distinction; Darsina=who sees; Átmabhava=consciousness
of Átma; Bhávana=dwelling upon; Vinivøttih=complete
The cessation of desire for dwelling in the consciousness of Atma for
one who has seen the distinction (between penultimate and the ultimate states).
Seeking happiness is the prime motive of all the creatures of the world.
Happiness outside is not free from inherent limitations and misery. Subhuman
beings have no choice but to suffer the cycle of happiness and misery while
completing their life span on this earth. Human beings are fortunate in
this matter. The wisdom that the 'kingdom of heaven is within', that the
source of true, peerless, everlasting bliss is within, is available to them.
Though most of us are familiar with this 'information', it does not help
unless applied in day to day life for detachment from worldly life. We enjoy
the degree of pure bliss and freedom to the extent to which we master vairagya,
detachment. Very talk of vairagya is like poison for those who are grossly
involved in worldly life. Sugar tastes bitter to the person stung by a venomous
snake! As the effect of venom wears down, he starts experiencing the sweetness
of sugar gradually. Same is true for a seeker of Truth. When the effect of
maya starts loosening its grip on him, he starts enjoying the layers of subtle
bliss within till he reaches the last veil, the 'atmic' plane. Desire for
worldly objects then drops effortlessly and automatically for him.
One has to pass through various difficult stages to come to this plane,
crossing various obstacles, stagnations and set-backs. Last stagnation is
to get stuck up with the penultimate atmic plane. It is so full of pure bliss,
expansion and power that it becomes difficult to leave this and plunge in
the ultimate (but unknown) ocean of bliss. The difficulty becomes more because
there is a subtle fear of losing one's individuality in 'unknown'. It may
be easy to comprehend theoretically that when a wave merges in the ocean,
it is 'going back home', getting back its true, pristine nature, becoming
what it is supposed to be but when that moment of 'merger' comes, fear crops
up! Here true, ultimate viveka, the distinction between illusion (howsoever
refined) and reality helps. When that ultimate 'knowledge' dawns then one
is free from the bondage once for all. Even the desire for dwelling on 'atmic'
plane is a bondage.
Yoga is Chitta Vrtti Nirodhah (Cessation of all vrttis). Using ultimate
viveka (visesa), a seeker (darshinah) becomes free from the last vrtti of
atmic plane (atma-bhava bhavana). Then complete cessation of all vrttis (vinivrtti)
happens and he gets established in his true nature (swarupa).
Yoga Anusandhana Samstha (SVYASA)
Bodies: Apples and Pears
A report by Medco Health Solutions, a huge prescription
benefit manager, shows that adult use of medication for metabolic syndrome,
a condition marked by big waistlines, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol
problems, jumped 36 percent between 2002 and 2004. According to various
U.S. estimates, at least one in four adults and roughly one in eight children
have metabolic syndrome, with overeating and inactivity being key causes.
The prevalence in people over 40 jumped more than 60 percent over the past
decade, federal health surveys show. Americans with metabolic syndrome account
for $4 of every $10 spent on prescription drugs for adults, according to
the study. Metabolic syndrome is caused by the body's inability to use insulin
efficiently, and the hallmark of the condition is excessive abdominal fat.
Patients also have two or more related conditions, including high blood
pressure, low levels of good cholesterol, high levels of blood fats called
triglycerides, and high blood sugar. Many have diabetes or will eventually.
People with metabolic syndrome as twice as likely to suffer a heart attack
or stroke and more than three times as likely to die early from those causes.
A study presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association
on April 30 by the researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, provided
the most detailed look yet at the health risks of extreme obesity, offering
crucial information as more people move into that once-rare category. Abdominal
fat long has been associated with heart disease. Genetics are most responsible
for where the body stores fat. Apple-shaped women had higher health risks
than pear-shaped women, even at the same weight. Much of the health risk
is due to diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol associated
with obesity. The excess pounds increase the risk of diabetes,
heart disease and other ailments. Aggressive treatment of those conditions
is particularly important for the very obese. About 60 percent of American
adults are either overweight or obese. The government equates obesity with
a body mass index, or BMI, of at least 30. Someone who is 5-feet-4 would
have to weigh 175 pounds to reach that threshold. The index is calculated
by dividing a person's weight in pounds by his height in inches, squared,
and multiplying that total by 703. The new data released by the government
on April 20 confirm that obesity can kill!
In addition, a study published in the American Journal of Preventive
Medicine finds that people who are overweight have a higher risk
for tearing of the cartilage in the knee. Being extremely overweight leads
to more than half of the nation's 850,000 annual operations to repair tears
in the cartilage that cushions the knee joint, according to a study from the
University of Utah. The study focuses on the correlation between injuries
to the meniscus, which acts basically as a washer in the knee, and doesn't
address why it's happening.
Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in American women and
about 213,000 new cases and 40,870 deaths in the United States in 2005,
and about 1.15 million cases and 411,000 deaths worldwide are expected.
Many previous studies have failed to find that cutting fat in the diet can
prevent breast cancer. But, a new study that created a buzz at the world's
largest cancer meeting, the American Society of Clinical Oncology
seems to suggest that low-fat diets can help prevent a return of breast
cancer in certain women. The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute
and involved 2,437 women at 37 sites around the country. All had surgery
followed by standard chemotherapy drugs for early-stage breast cancer and
five years of tamoxifen if their tumors were estrogen-receptor positive
-- that is, helped to grow by estrogen. Other scientists noted that women
in the low-fat group lost on average 4 pounds, and that many studies have
linked excess weight to excess breast cancer risk. The low-fat dieters also
likely ate more fruits and vegetables and less red meat, factors that are
known to lower breast cancer risk.
Another study by Boston-based researchers adds to a growing body of evidence
linking lifestyle and breast cancer. Breast cancer patients who exercise
just a few hours every week reduce their risk of death by up to 50 percent
compared with inactive women, according to the new study, in Journal
of the American Medical Association, bolstering the case that living
healthy can protect against the most common cancer in women.
The Clinical Oncology study (above) found that breast cancer patients
on low-fat diets reduced their risk of recurrence by 20 percent. Another
recent study showed that healthy women who gain 44 or more pounds during
their adult years face double the risk of getting breast cancer after menopause.
Research in the last three years has linked obesity to cancers of the stomach,
liver, cervix, colon, uterus, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder, in addition
to breast cancer.
A French study published in the New England Journal of Medicine
finds that otherwise healthy men whose hearts beat too fast at rest and too
slowly during exercise had a much higher than normal risk of dying from a
sudden heart attack. Men who had a faster-than-normal resting heart rate
of more than 75 beats per minute and a heart rate that increased less than
89 beats per minute during exercise had four times the normal risk of sudden
death. Men whose heart rate stayed faster than normal after exercise, decreasing
by less than 25 beats in the first minute -- had twice the risk of sudden
death. Having a parent who had died from sudden cardiac death also increased
the men's risk, the researcher found. These findings may apply to women
Commonsense Food that
Commonsense is the least common commodity in the world! So we need research
supporting commonsense and ancient wisdom. Earlier studies have shown
that plant-based diets can lower cholesterol. Eating a lowfat diet packed
with nutritious vegetables, fruit, beans and whole grains reduces levels
of "bad" cholesterol twice as much as eating a lowfat diet that's heavy
on prepackaged foods, a study has found in May 3rd Annals of Internal
Medicine. Half the test group followed a lowfat diet that included
large quantities of plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes,
soy and whole grains -- and limited amounts of meat and dairy. The
other half followed an American lowfat diet that included packaged foods
like reduced-fat cheeses, lunchmeat, frozen dinners, diet soda and fat-free
cookies. The two diets were identical in total fat, saturated fat, protein,
carbohydrate and cholesterol content. The people were given enough food
so that their weight stayed the same and they were not allowed to increase
or decrease the amount they exercised. Just after a month, the plant-based
diet group's bad cholesterol dropped 9.4 percent, compared to the prepared-foods
diet group's reductions of about 4.6 percent.
Nutritionists not connected with the study said in the journal that plant-based
diets, which appear to have many benefits like reduced risks of colon and
heart disease, should remain a key strategy for improving cholesterol.
Eating low-fat dairy products may help slightly lower the risk of developing
diabetes, a new study of more than 40,000 middle-aged men suggests. Each
additional serving of low-fat dairy per day resulted in a 9 percent drop
in risk. The study appears in Archives of Internal Medicine.
The study finds that men who consumed low-fat milk, cheese, yogurt and ice
cream had a slight reduction in their risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Higher-fat dairy products did not help, the study found.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in food and can also
be made in your body after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun.
Sunshine is a significant source of vitamin D because UV rays from sunlight
trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Vitamin D exists in several
forms, each with a different level of activity. Calciferol is the most
active form of vitamin D. Other forms are relatively inactive in the body.
The liver and kidney help convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. Once
vitamin D is produced in the skin or consumed in food, it requires chemical
conversion in the liver and kidney to form 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D, the
physiologically active form of vitamin D. Active vitamin D functions as
a hormone because it sends a message to the intestines to increase the absorption
of calcium and phosphorus. The major biologic function of vitamin
D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. By promoting
calcium absorption, vitamin D helps to form and maintain strong bones. Vitamin
D also works in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones
to promote bone mineralization. Without vitamin D, bones can become thin,
brittle, or misshapen. Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children
and osteomalacia in adults, two forms of skeletal diseases that weaken bones.
Research also suggests that vitamin D may help maintain a healthy immune
system and help regulate cell growth and differentiation, the process that
determines what a cell is to become.
In the 1930s, rickets was a major public health problem in the United
States (U.S.). A milk fortification program was implemented to combat rickets,
and it nearly eliminated this disorder in the U.S. About 98% to 99% of
the milk and soy milk supply in the U.S. is fortified with 10 micrograms
(equal to 400 International Units or IU) of vitamin D per quart. One cup
of vitamin D fortified milk or soy milk supplies one-half of the recommended
daily intake for adults between the ages of 19 and 50, one-fourth of the
recommended daily intake for adults between the ages of 51 and 70, and approximately
15% of the recommended daily intake for adults age 71 and over.
Sun exposure is perhaps the most important source of vitamin D because
exposure to sunlight provides most humans with their vitamin D requirement.
UV rays from the sun trigger vitamin D synthesis in skin. Season, geographic
latitude, time of day, cloud cover, smog, and sunscreen affect UV ray exposure
and vitamin D synthesis. For example, sunlight exposure from November through
February in Boston is insufficient to produce significant vitamin D synthesis
in the skin. Complete cloud cover halves the energy of UV rays, and shade
reduces it by 60%. Industrial pollution, which increases shade, also decreases
sun exposure and may contribute to the development of rickets in individuals
with insufficient dietary intake of vitamin D. Sunscreens with a sun protection
factor (SPF) of 8 or greater will block UV rays that produce vitamin D,
but it is still important to routinely use sunscreen to help prevent skin
cancer and other negative consequences of excessive sun exposure. An initial
exposure to sunlight (10 -15 minutes) allows adequate time for Vitamin D
synthesis and should be followed by application of a sunscreen with an SPF
of at least 15 to protect the skin. Ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure
at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen
is usually sufficient to provide adequate vitamin D. It is very important
for individuals with limited sun exposure to include good sources of vitamin
D in their diet.
The most common causes of rickets are vitamin D deficiency from a vitamin
D deficient diet, lack of sunlight, or both. Rickets is more prevalent
among immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Middle Eastern countries for a
variety of reasons. Among immigrants, vitamin D deficiency has been associated
with iron deficiency. In addition, darker pigmented skin converts
UV rays to vitamin D less efficiently than lighter skin. Prolonged exclusive
breastfeeding without vitamin D supplementation is one of the most significant
causes of the reemergence of rickets in the US. Additional causes include
extensive use of sunscreens and increased use of day-care, resulting in
decreased outdoor activity and sun exposure among children. Homebound individuals,
people living in northern latitudes such as in New England and Alaska, women
who wear robes and head coverings for religious reasons, and individuals
working in occupations that prevent sun exposure are unlikely to obtain
much vitamin D from sunlight. It is important for people with limited sun
exposure to consume recommended amounts of vitamin D in their diets or consider
vitamin D supplementation.
Melanin is the pigment that gives skin its color. Greater amounts of
melanin result in darker skin. The high melanin content in darker skin
reduces the skin's ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight. It is very
important for African Americans and other populations with dark-pigmented
skin to consume recommended amounts of vitamin D. Some studies suggest that
older adults, especially women, in these groups are at even higher risk
of vitamin D deficiency. Individuals with darkly pigmented skin who are
unable to get adequate sun exposure and/or consume recommended amounts of
vitamin D may benefit from a vitamin D supplement.
In the past three months, four separate studies found vitamin D helped
protect against lymphoma and cancers of the prostate, lung and the skin.
The strongest evidence is for colon cancer. So, sun is important in our
lives, but too much sun leads to skin cancer. Sun exposure in moderation
is needed. In the coming summer months, it is very important to routinely
use sunscreen and clothes such as long sleeve shirts and pants to help
prevent skin cancer and other negative consequences of excessive sun exposure.
An initial exposure to sunlight (not more than 10 -15 minutes, twice a
week) allows adequate time for Vitamin D synthesis, and should be followed
by application of a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to protect the
A new study considered men who had advanced tumors growing despite surgery
or radiation and subsequent drug treatment. Men dying from prostate
cancer may be able to extend their lives, thanks to a potent form of vitamin
D developed at Oregon Health & Science University. Adding the experimental
vitamin pill DN-101 to that chemotherapy increased the average expectancy
to roughly two years. Such late-stage cancers kill more than 30,000 U.S.
men every year, according to the American Cancer Society. The social support
provided by a partner significantly improves the quality of life of prostate
cancer patients, according to a study in the CANCER
Studies have shown that cancer survival is impacted by a patient's quality
of life. Some studies, focusing on the impact of support groups, have even
suggested improved quality of life might translate into improved survival
Exercise Reduces Chronic Pain
Supervised programs that include stretching and strengthening exercises
are more likely than other types of therapy to relieve chronic low back pain
and improve function. For chronic (longer than 12 weeks) low back pain,
the analysis provided "strong evidence" that exercise helped. On a 100-point
scale, exercise reduced pain by 10 points more than did no treatment, and
6 points more than with other conservative treatments, a study has found
in May 3rd Annals of Internal Medicine.
Oxymoron: Healthy French-Fries
McDonald's in September 2002 vowed to switch to a new oil that would
halve the level of harmful trans-fatty acid in its fries. But it delayed
those plans in February 2003, citing product quality and customer satisfaction
as priorities. Trans fat is produced when manufacturers add hydrogen to vegetable
oil, a process called hydrogenation. It raises the body's level of artery
all Fish are Good!
A study presented at the American Heart Association meeting
at the end of April found that the type of fish you eat makes a difference
in whether you get heart-healthy benefits. After taking into consideration
other risk factors for heart disease, the researchers found that those who
ate broiled or baked fish were more likely to have a lower heart rate and
blood pressure and better blood flow to the heart than those who regularly
ate fried fish or fish sandwiches. Omega-3 fatty acids, the heart-healthy
fat found in fish, are also found in walnuts, flaxseed, urad, verdalaga
Compelling scientific evidence is accumulating about the substantial
and rapid impact on the heart and blood vessel system from exposure to
secondhand smoke, according to a literature review reported in Circulation:
Journal of the American Heart Association. In a meta-analysis of
29 studies researchers reviewed the mechanistic effects of secondhand smoke
on the cardiovascular system, emphasizing research published in the past
decade. Coronary heart disease risk in smokers increases about 80 percent
compared to an approximately 30 percent increase in risk for passive smokers,
meaning passive smoking has much larger effects on the cardiovascular system
than would be expected based on a comparison of the doses of toxins delivered
to active and passive smokers, according to the study. The impact of
secondhand smoke on the general public is similar to, but larger than, the
effects of outdoor air pollution on the cardiovascular system, the authors
said. On a population basis, the effects of secondhand smoke are rapid and
It has long been known that smokers have reduced fertility, but the effect
of secondhand smoke on the ability to get pregnant was unknown. New
research suggests that exposure to other people's cigarette smoke may damage
a woman's fertility. Published in the European medical journal Human
Reproduction, the study found that among 225 women seeking fertility
treatment, there was no difference in the pregnancy rate between smokers
and passive-smokers who lived with a smoker, but that both groups of women
had less than half the success rate of those nonsmokers who were not exposed
to smoke at home.
Corruption in Medical Research
Two decades ago, the federal government was the main benefactor. Now,
private industry funds more than two-thirds of medical research at U.S. universities,
a situation that has led increasingly to conflict-of-interest. Many
U.S. medical schools are willing to give companies that sponsor studies
of new drugs and treatments considerable control over the results, according
to a survey. Half of the schools said they would let pharmaceutical
companies and makers of medical devices draft articles that appear in medical
journals, and a quarter would allow them to supply the actual results.
The study appears in New England Journal of Medicine.
Cancer in Hispanic Community
According to the cancer institute and Redes in Accion, the most common
cancer among Hispanic women in New Mexico is breast cancer, but only 38
percent of Hispanic women age 40 and older have regular screening mammograms.
Uninsured Hispanics are two to three times more likely to have cancer diagnosed
at a later stage, making it less treatable. More than 21,000 U.S. Hispanics
are expected to die of cancer each year.
Episiotomy is a surgical incision to enlarge the vaginal opening during
childbirth to prevent tearing. Episiotomies may not help women avoid
problems after childbirth after all; in fact, women may suffer more harm
from having the procedure than doing without it. That's the conclusion of
a new report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,
which analyzed 26 studies of the effects of episiotomy. The report
found that women who'd had episiotomies had a higher risk of injury, more
trouble healing, and more pain during sex than women who hadn't. Episiotomies
appeared to have no beneficial effects on a woman's risk for incontinence,
pelvic floor strength, or sexual function.
Blindness and Impotence Drugs
The FDA has 50 reports of the blindness in men who used erectile dysfunction
medication viagra. This type of blindness is called NAION, or non-arteritic
anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. It can occur in men who are diabetic or
have heart disease, the same conditions that can cause impotence. FDA is
working with Viagra manufacturer Pfizer Inc. to determine what, if any, information
about the condition should be added to the drug's label. The Food and Drug
Administration still is investigating, but has no evidence yet that the drug
is to blame, said spokeswoman Susan Cruzan.
Makes: 8 servings, 1/2 cup per serving.
Canola oil spray; 3/4 cup chopped onions; 1 fennel bulb, chopped (about
1 1/2 cups); 1/2 Tbsp. canola oil; 1-3 cloves garlic (or to taste); finely
chopped yellow bell pepper (about 1 small pepper); 1 cup pearl barley 1
tsp. dried thyme;1 tsp. dried marjoram; 4-5 cups fat-free, reduced-sodium
chicken broth; Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1 cup spinach
leaves, torn into pieces; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 Tbsp. finely
chopped fresh basil
Generously coat a large heavy pot with oil spray and place it over medium-high
heat. Add the onions and the fennel and saute until they are tender, about
5 to 10 minutes. Add the oil and heat until it is hot. Add the garlic and
bell peppers and saute slightly for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the barley,
thyme, marjoram, broth and salt and pepper to taste. Bring it to a boil
and immediately reduce the heat to low. Simmer, uncovered, until the liquid
is almost absorbed, stirring occasionally, about 40 to 50 minutes or until
the barley is tender. When the barley is cooked, remove it from the
heat. Add the spinach, cheese and basil. Stir to blend and adjust the seasonings
with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
In the earliest days of insurance, policies were written to insure property.
Merchants wanted to insure goods being transported on the high sees.
Later, realty, inventory, equipment etc. were insured. Even in the
early 20th century very little life insurance was being issued. By
the 1950s, owning life insurance and health insurance became common.
The basic concept can be traced to ancient China. Chinese farmers faced
the problem of getting their crops to market by river transport by boat.
If a boat overturned, the entire harvest was lost. To avoid the total
loss, farmers started to spread the risk among many farmers by loading
in several boats, e.g., ten farmers from one area would come together and
load ten boats, one-tenth of individual farmer's harvest in each boat.
If a boat sank, each farmer lost only one tenth of his or her harvest.
This concept of sharing risk is the basis of all insurance.
Insurance has become important to our national economy and is a huge
business in the United States. The billions of dollars of annual
premiums paid into insurance companies are invested in a wide range of
investments to secure sufficient earnings to meet the contracted coverages.
In fact, the insurance industry is reported to be second only to the commercial
banking industry as a source of investment funds.
Life insurance is a very important part of personal financial planning
because it is the quickest and easiest source of cash for your family upon
the breadwinner's untimely death. Within days, the insurance company will
deliver a check to the designated beneficiaries. This provides the money
needed for funeral expenses, as well as for family living expenses for
Modern insurance companies offer a wide range of life insurance policies
to meet the needs of a variety of people. The two most common types of
policies are term life and whole life. A term life policy pays out its
face value only if the insured dies during the term. For example, a $500,000
term life policy with a ten-year term will pay the beneficiary $500,000
if the insured dies within the next ten years. The simplest form of a term
life policy requires equal premium payments throughout the term. This is
known as a level-premium term policy. A whole life policy or cash policy
pays out its face value whenever you die. In the early years of a whole life
policy, higher premiums are paid than would be necessary to buy a term life
policy and for few years in the beginning, the cash value of the policy would
be zero. For a comparison of term and whole life insurance visit: http://ww4.primerica.com/public/024a.html
Young and middle-aged people generally use term life policies to cover
expenses that will terminate as they grow older. Term life coverage is
often purchased to provide a college fund, income for a surviving spouse,
or repayment of the mortgage. For example, if the children will be educated
and independent in another 13 years, then a 15-year term life policy will
provide for them, even in the event of indured's demise. Most insurers
offer term life policies only at standard durations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and
30 years, allowing people to match the policy term with their family needs.
This material contains only general descriptions and is
not a solicitation to sell any insurance product or security, nor is it
intended as any financial or tax advice. For information about specific
insurance needs or situations, contact your insurance agent.
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|Source: The primary sources
cited above, New York Times (NYT),
Washington Post (WP), Mercury News, Bayarea.com,
USA Today, Intellihealthnews, Deccan
Chronicle (DC), the Hindu, Hindustan
Times, Times of India, AP, Reuters, AFP, womenfitness.net