Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Let Food Be Thy Medicine And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food

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Thanks to my friend Ron Taylor for providing this invaluable information
I found this to be meaningful that I thought I ought to share it
with my family and friends

click on the following link for more details and to watch the movie for free until Oct-08-2011

Food Matters
Important! The producers of this powerful film are allowing a full and FREE preview through October 8th! Please tell everyone you know to watch this film in its entirety through October 8th, 2011. You can support the film by purchasing a copy for only $10.  

 Story at-a-glance
 Food Matters presents powerful evidence in support of the ancient wisdom that regards food as medicine, and offers practical solutions to the current health crisis Modern medicine has replaced nutritious foods for chemicals in the form of drugs as the preferred mode of addressing disease, with devastating results Nutrition alone can prevent and treat many if not most diseases, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, anxiety and depression—even cancer

click on the following link for more details and to watch the movie for free until Oct-08-2011
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/02/food-matters-the-movie.aspx?e_cid=20111002_SNL_Art_1

By Dr. Mercola
"Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food." That famous quote by Hippocrates, who is often referred to as "the father of medicine," is somewhere around 2,500 years old, and for a long time this sentiment was treated as fact. Today, many scoff at this notion, thinking nutrition and medicine have very little in common; using food to quench hunger and little else, while turning to pharmaceutical drugs to treat illness. Turning our backs on the fundamental truth that "food is medicine" is no doubt at the very heart of our current disease epidemics. Another quote by Hippocrates, which is part of the Hippocratic Oath still recited by modern doctors today, is "First, do no harm." Unfortunately, the preoccupation with the idea that there must be "a pill for every ill" now greatly compromises this oath, because the practice of medicine is primarily focused on drugs that oftentimes do FAR more harm than good… Meanwhile, modern doctors receive virtually no training in nutrition. Food Matters, produced by James Colquhoun, Laurentine ten Bosch, and Enzo Tedeschi is an 80-minute long fast-paced re-education for the layman on the basics of good health, which incidentally is the only way to prevent disease from occurring in the first place. The film presents powerful evidence in support of  ancient wisdom that regards food as medicine, and offers practical solutions to the current health crisis.

What You Will Learn from this Film
As summarized on the Food Matters' website, by watching this film you will get answers to the following questions, and straight facts on:

How you can use food as medicine Who needs vitamins? Is organic really better? How safe is your food? Foods that fight anxiety and depression Natural therapies for cancer Which drugs might do more harm than good? The best ways to detox, lose weight and keep it off!

Food Matters really delivers a well-rounded view of the elements required for health, starting with the food supply itself, and the devastating effects modern food manufacturing has had on the quality of our food. Soil depletion is a direct result of modern agricultural practices, and has led to crops containing fewer nutrients. The answer, of course, lies in reverting back to organic and sustainable agriculture. The largest study conducted into organic food confirmed that the idea that organically grown foods are healthier for you isnot wishful fantasy. It's a fact.

That four-year long study discovered that: Organic fruit and vegetables contain up to 40 percent more antioxidants Organic produce had higher levels of beneficial minerals like iron and zinc Milk from organic herds contained up to 90 percent more antioxidants

When evaluating food and nutrition it's also imperative to understand what happens to the nutrient content of a food when it is processed, and the potential harm that can be caused by added chemicals. Our food stores are filled to the brim with ultra-processed foods that not only contain ingredients grown in depleted, pesticide-laden soils to begin with, but are further depleted of real nutrients through processing; in the end providing very little beyond empty calories.

Food as Medicine Fatigue is epidemic, particularly in the United States. In the film, Victor Zeines states that fatigue-related ailments should be viewed as "chronic malnutrition." With proper diet, fatigue is simply not an issue. Feeling "awake" and vibrantly alive is part and parcel of optimal health. Ian Brighthope also makes an excellent point when he explains that each day you neglect nutrition by eating improperly, you're entering deeper into a state of nutrient deficiency. And you cannot make up for it by loading up on veggies every now and again. Nutrition is literally fuel for your cells and organs, and you need to feed your body the proper fuel each and every day, not just once in a while. As Brighthope says, sooner or later you will have to pay for this neglect, and this "payment due," of course, comes in the form of disease. Well, since improper nutrition caused the problem (and poor diet is at the heart of nearly ALL disease, from colds and flu's to cancer), wouldn't it make sense then that the corrective action needed is proper nutrition? Dr. Andrew Saul hits the nail on the head when he brings up the point that "the public relations problem of nutrients," is that each nutrient "is good for too many things." Quite simply, it sounds too good to be true!

One nutrient stands out as it can be beneficial for an astounding number of health problems, and that is vitamin D . Its benefits are so profound and multi-varied that a 2008 meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials concluded supplemental vitamin D significantlyreduces mortality from ALL causes.

Food Matters also includes a discussion on the health benefits of vitamin C, which has been shown to prevent and treat a wide variety of diseases, from the common cold, to near-terminal cases of the H1N1 swine fluto cancer. Food Matters—a Labor of Love

The background story of how this film was produced is just as fascinating as the film itself. It was originally created to convince James' father, Ray, to step out of the conventional box and really start to consider his options. Ray was bedridden with severe flu-like symptoms, chronic fatigue, depression and anxiety, and like most people, he sought professional help. Unfortunately, the conventional approaches left him feeling even worse than before; inching ever closer to despair. To read the full back story, please see the Food Matters website.

Here's a snippet: "Psychiatrists and medical specialists recommended a myriad of drugs that did nothing to alleviate Roy's physical ailments and, Roy asserts, actually worsened his mental condition. Roy explains his attitude at the time was, "If the best of the medical profession could not help me, how could my son and daughter-in-law with their nutrition and vitamin-based approach help?" James and Laurentine understood that it would take powerful measures to shock Roy into kicking his dangerous pharmaceutical drug habit. After realizing that he wasn't reading the books that they sent him, the duo set off around the world interviewing experienced doctors, researchers, naturopaths and journalists. Their reasoning was that if Roy wouldn't read the books then maybe he would listen to these experts on DVD."

Their scheme worked… In the interview on their site, Ray explains what happened next: "…
After five years on heavy doses of anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anxiety medication and sleeping tablets, I started taking therapeutic doses of vitamins and minerals and within a week had withdrawn from all prescription medication." Today, he is disease-free, drug-free, twenty kilograms lighter, running twice a week and enjoying a happy retirement. Roy's return to health was incredibly inspiring evidence of the power of nutritional therapy." To me, Ray's story is a perfect example of just how simple it can be. Not necessarily easy, as it requires you to shift your perceptions and alter your habits, which most people resist doing, but it's simple in that it's not rocket science. Most people do not need a new and improved drug. They simply need proper nutrition…

First they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win.
Mohandas Gandhi

All truth passes through three stages:
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is violently opposed.
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
Arthur Schopenhauer

In their own words, Gandhi and Schopenhauer have each made what I believe is one of the most valuable observations on the shifting of human views on truth. Right now, we're still in the 'violent opposition' stage in terms of accepting food as medicine. But it's only a matter of time... Once understood, the truth that food can equate to "medicine" is so self-evident that it simply cannot be ignored and opposed forever. Of course, modern medicine has its place and serves an invaluable function when it comes to major trauma and emergency situations. But as the interviewed experts in this film point out, "not every problem requires costly, major medical attention." For most diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune disorders, just to name a few, there are many alternative therapies (including simple dietary changes) that can be more effective than conventional medical treatments—not to mention more economical, less harmful and less invasive. So please, take the time to watch this film with your family, and share it with everyone you know. It just might save your life, or the life of someone you care about.


click on the following link for more details and to watch the movie for free until Oct-08-2011
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/02/food-matters-the-movie.aspx?e_cid=20111002_SNL_Art_1
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Love
Yogi

Saturday, March 12, 2011

STROKE -- Important Information
Recognizing Symptoms of a Stroke

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My friend Chandran Palanisamy sent me this important information about recognizing symptoms of a STOKE ... I think my friend Ron Taylor had earlier sent me this information as well. So without much further ado, here is what Chandran said ...

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STROKE:Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R.

My nurse friend sent this and encouraged me to post it and spread the word.
I agree.

If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
Seriously..

Please read:

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) .she said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening

Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00 pm Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. they end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough..

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today.)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.
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Let us spread the word about this important information.

Love
Yogi

Monday, February 14, 2011

What To Do When I Am Treated In A Bad Way

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Interesting ... Martin and I had a brief discussion on this topic this morning.

Well, let us look at the various options ...

  1. I can react to the bad treatment and dish it out to the person who treated me badly as well
  2. I can react to the bad treatment and show my frustration and not dish it out to the person who treated me badly
  3. I can try to remain calm, take a deep breath, and hold back from giving any response
  4. I can remain calm, and try to figure out why the person treated me in a bad way
  5. I can remain calm, and try to be empathetic and wonder if the person is really wounded in some way and is in need of healing
  6. I can totally ignore the person who is treating me in a bad way
  7. I can become a zombie and not feel anything about the bad behavior
Is this an easy situation to deal with? ... of course not.

How we will handle such a situation depends on our whole life's work ... 
  • what we have been taught by our parents
  • what we have been taught by our siblings, and elders
  • what we have been taught by society
  • what is our world view ... about how people are
  • what is our world view ... about how life is
  • all of the items here add up to ...
    what is the writing on our wall
    our internal database
    our internal map of reality
    our world view
Whenever we come across any situation, we always consult our internal database to find out what should be my response in this situation. And this internal database is dynamic and is always evolving, as people are always writing on our wall, we are reading new material, we are discussing such matters with others, we are living, we are learning, and so on.

Some things to keep in mind are that 
  • every one of us is wounded in some way ... and some thing said or done can trigger hurting the wound
  • none of us is perfect ... if one was perfect, there would have been no need for that person to be born
  • all of us are here to learn, grow, and evolve
  • every one we come across is our teacher ... that person is here to teach us some thing
    some teach us how to be
    some teach us how not to be
    some teach us how to do something
    some teach us how not to do something
    but they all, be it our children, be it our parents, be it our relatives, be it strangers, be it colleagues at work, ... they are our teachers nonetheless
Then of course is the question of our duty (our dharma) ...
  • to respond
  • to act
  • to not be afraid of doing / saying the right thing
So, it is situational, it is subjective, it is personal, it is instantaneous ... our response to a situation is based on our life time's work of understanding ... the mystery of life, and then of course the traditional six W's ...
  • What
  • Where
  • When
  • Why
  • Who
  • How
Let me just add some more to the mix about human interaction ...

Oh that did it 

Whose cat did you beat up on today? 
the story of an inconsiderate boss that made one of the staff members get so nervous about rushing back to the office from his lunch hour that he almost had an accident, and because he was driving so fast got a speeding ticket that he could ill afford, back at work he was chewed by the boss because the report had a few spelling mistakes ... he goes home frustrated and upset -- he snaps at his wife, beats up the cat when the cat jumped up in his lap
So, did the boss indirectly beat up on the cat? even though he says he loves cats and would never hurt one.

Dont Ask For A Lighter Load But Pray For A Stronger Back

So, when we come across a situation, we must 
  • not shy away from responding because of fear
  • not shy away from responding because of the consequences
  • respond with a loving heart
  • be mindful of the situation which triggered the situation
  • keep in mind that the person treating us badly might be wounded
    and the bad treatment by that person may be because that person is hurting
  • not take it personally
    the person may be venting off steam because the boss was inconsiderate
Yes ... easier said than done! but then we are in a life long quest to learn and grow.
It is not what happens to us that matters ... what matters is how we react to it -- that is what counts.

Love
Yogi


Monday, January 17, 2011

Mudras -- Health In Your Hands
Indian Finger Exercises For Good Health

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Mudras are positions of the body that have influence on the energies of the body, or your mood. Even though the whole body may be part of the mudra, mostly the hands and fingers are held in some position.

Here I want to share with you what my niece Alka sent to me recently -- earlier Dr Ganesan had sent me some writeup on mudras as well. So, without much further ado ...













Love
Yogi