January 26, 2008
Why don’t devotees eat chicken?
Because it has eggs in it.
This is probably the oldest devotee joke there is. Most devotees immediately crack up if they haven’t already heard it, especially in this day and age when most devotees live and eat outside the temples.
If it seems a little obscure to you, read the following for the deep background, bearing in mind devotees don’t eat meat, fish, or eggs:
January 22, 2008
People who eat a lot of red meat and processed meats have a higher risk of
several types of cancer, including lung cancer and colorectal cancer, US
researchers say.
The work is the first big study to show a link between meat and lung cancer.
It also shows that people who eat a lot of meat have a higher risk of liver
and esophageal cancer and that men raise their risk of pancreatic cancer by
eating red meat.
“A decrease in the consumption of red and processed meat could reduce the
incidence of cancer at multiple sites,” Dr Amanda Cross and colleagues at
the US National Cancer Institute wrote in their report, published in the
Public Library of Science journal PLoS Medicine.
The researchers studied 500,000 people aged 50 to 71 who took part in a diet
and health study done in conjunction with the AARP, formerly the American
Association for Retired Persons.
After eight years, 53,396 cases of cancer were diagnosed.
“Statistically significant elevated risks [ranging from 20 per cent to 60
per cent] were evident for esophageal, colorectal, liver, and lung cancer,
comparing individuals in the highest with those in the lowest quintile of
red meat intake,” the researchers wrote.
The people in the top 20 per cent of eating processed meat had a 20 per cent
higher risk of colorectal cancer – mostly rectal cancer – and a 16 per cent
higher risk for lung cancer.
“Furthermore, red meat intake was associated with an elevated risk for
cancers of the esophagus and liver,” the researchers wrote.
These differences held even when smoking was accounted for.
“Red meat intake was not associated with gastric or bladder cancer,
leukemia, lymphoma, or melanoma,” added the researchers.
Red meat was defined as all types of beef, pork and lamb.
Processed meat included bacon, red meat sausage, poultry sausage, luncheon
meats, cold cuts, ham and most types of hot dogs including turkey dogs.
Meats can cause cancer by several routes, the researchers wrote.
“For example, they are both sources of saturated fat and iron, which have
independently been associated with carcinogenesis,” the researchers wrote.
Meat is also a source of several chemicals known to cause DNA mutations,
including N-nitroso compounds (NOCs), heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Jeanine Genkinger of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and Anita
Koushik of the University of Montreal in Canada said the findings fitted in
with other research.
“Meat consumption in relation to cancer risk has been reported in over a
hundred epidemiological studies from many countries with diverse diets,”
they wrote in a commentary.
December 6, 2007
Optical illusions that make you fatter and your wallet lighter
by Paul Michael
Photo: Stock Exchange
One of my best friends, a long time ago, told me that the key to food portion sizes was this – “Eat from small plates, drink from taller glasses.” It’s a piece of advice I had forgotten, especially after moving to the US where portion sizes seem to have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. But in a book I’m currently reading called “Mindless Eating” this advice about container sizes is validated by Dr. Brian Wansink, Ph.D, a man who clearly knows his stuff. And optical illusions are at the root of it all.
I think back to my childhood, to one of the first really cool tricks I was shown by a teacher. A physics teacher actually, but it could have been a math teacher or a chemist. Anyway, the illusion is shown below, crudely illustrated by myself.
Take a look at Lincoln’s Stovepipe hat. Is it longer than it is wide?
As you already know this is an optical illusion, then you already know the answer is a trick. The width and the height are identical. Now, replace that top hat with two glasses, one a tall thin glass and one short and fat. Here we have the issue of serving sizes when it comes to anything from juice to alcohol.
Even seasoned bar staff have way more trouble pouring an accurate drink into a short glass than they do a tall one. Usually, they pour more into the short, fat glass. And this is a big problem when trying to pour yourself one serving of orange juice, milk or anything else. If you use the short glass you are always going to overpour, leading to larger portions, weight gain and, of course, less time between grocery trips. Now consider the next optical illusion…
September 9, 2007
‘To be too fat is not very good for spiritually advanced life. Rather, one should reduce because if one becomes fat it is an impediment to progress in spiritual understanding. One should be careful not to eat too much, sleep too much or remain in a comfortable position. Voluntarily accepting some penances and difficulties, one should take less food and less sleep. These are the procedures for practicing any kind of yoga, whether bhakti-yoga, jnana-yoga or hatha-yoga.”
SB 3.33.15
Scientists have confirmed that what is good for your spiritual life is also good for your physical body. Note that they come to a rather strange conclusion though — instead of encouraging sense control, “Understanding how the process works at the cellular level in rodents could help scientists develop drugs that mimic the process in humans, Leeuwenburgh added they want to make a drug to get the same benefit.”
Then you could have the benefits of not eating your cake, and eat it anyway.
Scientists reveal how caloric restriction extends life by reducing toxic trash
“Reduce, recycle and rebuild is as important to the most basic component of the human body, the cell, as it is to the environment. And a University of Florida study shows just how much the body benefits when it “goes green,” at least if you’re a rat: Cutting calories helps rodents live longer by boosting cells’ ability to recycle damaged parts so they can maintain efficient energy production.
“ ‘Caloric restriction is a way to extend life in animals. If you give them less food, the stress of this healthy habit actually makes them live longer,’ said Christiaan Leeuwenburgh, chief of the division of biology of aging in UF’s Institute on Aging. Understanding how the process works at the cellular level in rodents could help scientists develop drugs that mimic the process in humans, Leeuwenburgh added.
“How does it work? During the aging process, free radicals – highly reactive byproducts of our cells’ respiration – wreak havoc on our cellular machinery. Mitochondria, the tiny power plants that keep a cell functioning, are especially vulnerable to this type of damage. The effects can be disastrous – if malfunctioning mitochondria aren’t removed, they begin to spew out suicidal proteins that prompt the entire cell to die. Cell death, on a whole-body scale, is what aging is all about.
“Fortunately, younger cells are adept at reducing, recycling and rebuilding. In this process, damaged mitochondria are quickly swallowed up and degraded. The broken down pieces are then recycled and used to build new mitochondria. However, older cells are less adept at this process, so damaged mitochondria tend to accumulate and contribute to aging.
“ ‘Cell survival is dependent upon the ability of the cell to reduce and recycle by a mechanism called autophagy,’ said William Dunn Jr., a professor of anatomy and cell biology in UF’s College of Medicine and senior author of the study, which was published online this month in the journal Rejuvenation Research. ‘When a cell is under stress, autophagy is turned on to clean up the cell by removing damaged cellular components, while recycling building blocks necessary to rebuild the cell. It’s there to protect the cell. But in aged cells, they’re basically not able to adjust to stress as well. ‘ …”
July 22, 2007
We have a stevia plant that Vidya winters over in the greenhouse. When I used to still sell at farmer’s market, I’d sell little bunches of it. A few hardy souls would try tasting it and were always surprised at how sweet it was.
A healthy sugar replacement? Sweet!
by Dan Palmer
If you’re like me, you glug away at cans of sugar-free fizzy drinks while simultaneously worrying that the artificial sweeteners might not be that much better than sugar itself. So the news of a plant-derived sweetener with claimed health-promoting effects would be good news.
The plant, called stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), originates in South America, where it has been used for centuries as a sweetener and herbal remedy. It is said to have no lingering aftertaste and is already popular in Asia, having being used for decades in countries such as Japan.
The extract of the two-foot high (60 centimetre) shrub is up to 300 times as sweet as sugar but low in calories. It has apparently been found by researchers at the University of Asuncion in Paraguay to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and an anti-bacterial qualities. It can also be baked to 200°C (390°F), unlike some artificial sweeteners, making for guilt-free cakes and candies.
Currently, farmers in Paraguay have dollar signs in their eyes as Coca Cola and Cargill have revealed plans to develop and market the plant’s extract.
While stevia is grown elsewhere in the world (China being the biggest producer), Paraguay’s climate allows three crops a year, and the nation hopes to be able to cash in. But they have a big hurdle to clear before the lucrative US market starts sending its dollars their way. Despite its use in other countries, stevia is currently classified in the US as an “unsafe food additive”.
The head of Paraguay’s stevia chamber of commerce claims the US sugar lobby is trying to block it. (Read about an unrelated clash between the WHO and the US Sugar Association here.) You can see why, if stevia extract is indeed a healthy. low-calorie, good-tasting sweetener. But Coca Cola and Cargill are powerful allies.
As I sit here, my jaw aching from recent root canal surgery – a direct result of sugar abuse – I for one hope stevia is as good as its promoters say it is.
July 3, 2007
From the Google Health Advertising blog:
6/29/2007 09:47:00 AM
“Lights, camera, action: the healthcare industry is back in the spotlight. (Not that it ever left the stage.) Next week, Michael Moore’s documentary film, Sicko, will start playing in movie theaters across America.
“The New York Times calls Sicko a “cinematic indictment of the American health care system.” The film is generating significant buzz and is sure to spur a lively conversation about health coverage, care, and quality in America. While legislators, litigators, and patient groups are growing excited, others among us are growing anxious. And why wouldn’t they? Moore attacks health insurers, health providers, and pharmaceutical companies by connecting them to isolated and emotional stories of the system at its worst. Moore’s film portrays the industry as money and marketing driven, and fails to show healthcare’s interest in patient well-being and care.
“Sound familiar? Of course. The healthcare industry is no stranger to negative press. A drug may be a blockbuster one day and tolled as a public health concern the next. News reporters may focus on Pharma’s annual sales and its executives’ salaries while failing to share R&D costs. Or, as is often common, the media may use an isolated, heartbreaking, or sensationalist story to paint a picture of healthcare as a whole. With all the coverage, it’s a shame no one focuses on the industry’s numerous prescription programs, charity services, and philanthropy efforts.
“Many of our clients face these issues; companies come to us hoping we can help them better manage their reputations through “Get the Facts” or issue management campaigns. Your brand or corporate site may already have these informational assets, but can users easily find them?
“We can place text ads, video ads, and rich media ads in paid search results or in relevant websites within our ever-expanding content network. Whatever the problem, Google can act as a platform for educating the public and promoting your message. We help you connect your company’s assets while helping users find the information they seek.
“If you’re interested in learning more about issue management campaigns or about how we can help your company better connect its assets online, email us. We’d love to hear from you! Setting up these campaigns is easy and we’re happy to share best practices.
“As for Sicko, all I can say is — go easy on that buttered popcorn.”
Of course, as a card carrying mylifedependsondrugs pharmafia slave, who I am to point fingers, BUT, Google as Big Brother seems to be evolving.
December 11, 2006
High Blood Pressure: A significant problem with Herbs being a significant answer
“The most significant factor in controlling high blood pressure is lifestyle. The lifestyle factors contributing to blood pressure levels the most are: smoking, stress levels and alcohol consumption. The most important dietary factors are: achieving a normal body weight; eating a high-fiber, low-fat, low-sodium and high-potassium diet. Other factors that appear to contribute negatively are: heavy consumption of caffeine, exposure to heavy metals (e.g., lead and cadmium), and excessive sugar consumption.(5)
The vitamin/mineral supplementations that we suggest are: Calcium (1.5 g daily), Magnesium (750 mg daily), Zinc (15 -30 mg daily), Ester C (1 – 2 g daily). The mainstay of the hypertension therapy we use is herbal, with the prominent botanicals being: Reishi, Garlic, Cayenne, Ginger, Hawthorn and Ginkgo.”
My high blood pressure, a side effect of the immune suppressor I take, is complicated because another side effect is I accumulate potassium at too high of a level. One of the most effective ways to deal with high blood pressure is through a high potassium diet. Alas, I am unable to use this method, but it is one of the best treatments, and even a better preventative, for high blood pressure for regular folks.
The foods richest in potassium are fruits and veggies, which have lots of other benefits, including high fiber. For most people, a high potassium diet is a real benefit.
High potassium foods include, but are not limited to, bananas. Avocadoes, melons, dates, figs, apricots, winter squash, peanuts, swiss chard and baked potatoes are all higher than bananas.
A good list is Potassium Content in Food and Drinks
November 12, 2006
At the flea market this week I found a self charging flashlight that uses LEDs. It has rechargeable batteries that you charge by pumping a handle in your hand, like a label gun. It was about half of retail price and new in the box so I bought one. FYI, fluorescent and incandescent bulbs are essentially obsolete and will eventually be replaced by lower energy consuming LED ones. Reading the box though, I started to wonder if there isn’t a career in copy writing for Chinese companies.
“Detailed Selling Lead Description
Product Name: Hand-Pressing Flash Light
Model No: HY-299
Origin: China
Product Description:
Features:
1) As a new science and technology product, it can illuminate only placing it in rhythm
2) No need for any power, no environmental pollution
3) Low noise and healthy
4) Comparing with common torch, it can be several times on lift
5) Constantly using this healthy torch, it can benefit to your palm, arm and shoulder stretching and blood circulation, so as to let your hands relax and brain clever, hand and brain coordinate and promote your brain memory and health composition”
Reclaiming scripture from the empirical and dogmatic analyzers. Scripture is poetry, not a collection of essays.
"Use common sense and if you have none then consult with others." SP letter 10/25/76
The Yoga Of Ecology
View From a New Vrindaban Ridge 