Scientific studies show: Happiness leads to better health

There are many studies supporting the belief that people with an upbeat and positive perspective tend to be healthier and enjoy longer lives. For example, in one study,1 the tendency to always expect the worst was linked to a 25 percent higher risk of dying before the age of 65.

Studies show that your immune system and brain are wired together
Portions of your nervous system connect with immune-related organs, and immune cells have neurotransmitter receptors, suggesting active interaction between the two.

Chronic loneliness tends to result in upregulation of genes involved with your inflammatory response, while genes involved with antiviral control tend to be downregulated.

Happiness derived from activities that bring you a greater sense of purpose, life meaning, or self-actualization appear to have a direct, positive effect on your gene profile

Read full article on Mercola.com

Mandela and Ruben Karster's “Portrait of Hope and Peace ”-Suriname's message to the World

Nelson Mandela, the fourth and last-living icon on Professor Ruben Karsters’ renowned “Portrait of Hope of Peace:  The Four Ms”, passed away on Friday, December 5th, 2013, in the land of his birth, South Africa.  Mr Mandela was 95 years of age.

His Excellency, Desire D. Bouterse, the President of the Republic of Suriname and a long-time admirer of the former President of South Africa, joined scores of other heads of state from around the world – all of whom converged on the southernmost nation-state on the horn of Africa, to pay their last respects to  the legendary African leader who following incarceration for over two decades emerged triumphant, vindicated, to lead his oppressors and fellow-black and non-black supporters as the era of Boer-instigated apartheid was finally brought to a close in dramatic peace, reconciliation, and harmony in the mid-1990s. 

Suriname’s First Lady, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs also attended the funeral ceremonies which drew billions of sympathetic television viewers worldwide – the likes of which mirrored the farewell rite and service for Mother Theresa of Calcutta. 

Nelson Mandela’s rise to political prominence and world respect in the 1990s spanned a struggle of more than four decades.  The village boy from Qunu became an international symbol and icon of protracted struggle and hope that finally yielded the once-impossible, triumphant victory.

In 2006-2007, Suriname’s Professor Ruben Karsters captured on canvas four icons from the 20th century with the specific purpose of inspiring through visual imagery young people and future leaders of the 21st century.  In his portrait, “The Four Ms”, Karsters chose to portray Mahatma Gandhi of India, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X of the United States of America, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa. 

There are historic, geographic and natural connections between all four iconic freedom-fighters:  Gandhi’s rise to political prominence began in the country of Mandela’s birth and struggle, South Africa.  Although the two men never met, they both faced on African soil the same monstrosity, ‘aparthied’.  All four men were considered ‘dangerous’ by the status quo and faced incarceration for their outspoken moral stand on the issues of their day.  And in the process of taking clear, unflinching, moral stands – what Mahatma Gandhi termed ‘satyagraha’ (truth-force), they galvanized not just people in their immediate locales, but hundreds of millions worldwide.  Given the fear they generated and the ‘urgency’ of their specific moments in the 20th century, three were assassinated at the hands of their own countrymen - Gandhi in 1948, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X in 1968. 

Ironically, of the four, after decades of protests which had spread across the earth – becoming even an international embarrassment as the incessant rumble rose clarion-strong in the United Nations, only Nelson Mandela came to full bloom, democratically elected as President from 1994 - 1999, before his retirement from public life, and acquiescence at the ripe old age of 95.  Finally, the souls of all four men chose bodies of ‘color’ and the soles of their feet trod the soil of the oft-despised continent, Africa. 

Little wonder, Ruben Karsters’ portrayed these four iconic men who symbolized sacrifice and personal self-transformation by ordinary folk amidst the angst, struggle and undying quest for betterment, not just for themselves but future generations, regardless of color, clime, or creed. 

Upon completion, Professor Karster’s Portrait of the Four Ms, first went on public display at Suriname’s Fort Zeelandia Museum & Art Gallery.  It was part of an exhibition sponsored by the Embassy of India entitled “Indian Resonances in Suriname” – and precisely because the Mahatma was among the 4Ms, there was logical reason for its inclusion. 

In October 2007, the Karsters’ Portrait journeyed to India where – sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) – it was on display for about eight weeks in New Delhi.  There were numerous anecdotes and accolades on the sub-continent about the unusually unique Portrait which for the first time suggested a metaphoric connection between the four freedom fighters – two from the new world and two from the ancient world.  One wealthy admirer was so enamored in India that he offered Karsters ‘any price’ for the painting.  The latter, however, perceiving a greater purpose beyond that of the Portrait gracing one person’s private collection, returned to Suriname with the masterpiece.

In 2010, when Suriname’s freedom fighter and nationalist, Desire D. Bouterse, finally came to power, through free and fair democratic elections, President Bouterse took the bold decision to adopt Ruben Karsters’ “Portrait of Hope & Peace:  the Four Ms” as his official state gift. 

The Presidential Gift achieved a rare amplitude in November 2010 when President Bouterse presented the Karsters’ Portrait in person to the President of Venezuela, the late Hugo Frias Chavez.  The significance of the gift was reflected in an independent MSNBC poll which selected the Bouterse-Chavez gift as one of the top three best and most appropriate gifts from one head of state to another in 2010.  Karsters’ life-like and brilliantly executed “Four Ms” portrait was selected above gifts from heads of state in the U.S., Russia, U.K., Middle East, and elsewhere. 

Undoubtedly the “Four Ms” was the highlight of the Karsters artistic career which began for the autodidact at the age of seven.  However, the sudden passing of Professor Ruben Karsters on March 5th, 2013, following a brief illness, gave some admirers cause for reflection because the artistic genius died on the same day as Hugo Frias Chavez, the Bolivarian freedom-fighter from Venezuela. 

Prior to his own demise, on the occasion of an earlier meeting, Ruben Karsters had requested that the President of Suriname also present the painting to Nelson Mandela.  Sources close to the President indicated that he had hoped to do so in person.   However, on account of Mandela’s sustained illness and convalescence, a likely meeting between the two freedom-fighters did not take place.

Nelson Mandela, the South African boxer, lawyer, freedom-fighter and Marxist, who joyfully triumphed over adversity, and like Jesus and Gandhi magnanimously forgave his jailors and oppressors, to become an international icon, has been captured in inimitable joyful form on a canvas that is undoubtedly Suriname’s most famous painting to date, “The Portrait of Hope & Peace: the 4 Ms.” 

A Caribbean poet, resident in Suriname, memorialized his first encounter with the Karsters’ art-piece in verse that reflects the essence of the painting

One Shakti
One century
One trajectory

Seamlessly staged
Meteoric rocket fired forth
Morphing the old in the new

One world of Gaea
Rta, the goal, Ananda
Shanti Om!
                    Ivan A. Khayiat © 2007

Thus, as the eternal flame, honoring the world-renowned fallen South African statesman and hero of struggling people, burns bright on a hillside in Mandela’s boyhood village in Qunu, South Africa, it will do likewise in Suriname and the Caribbean for generations to come.

 

http://thenextweb.com/apps/2013/11/09/stumbled-upon-simple-extremely-effective-web-app-make-photos-look-gorgeous/

Trans fats to be banned from US foods.

US moves to ban trans fats in foods http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24856146

Mystical Properties of Tanzanite

Mentally, there are many ways in which tanzanite can be helpful to one’s life. It has the power to transform negative energies into positive ones. It assists in manifesting your own self rather than being influenced by others or trying to conform to the norm.

Tanzanite changes colors when it is viewed from different directions. This shifting of colors has been said to facilitate raising consciousness. It aids in realizing your own ideas and transforms destructive urges into constructive ones.

The gemstone opens an awareness of the comparison between how one lives and how one could choose to live more consciously. Those who wear it will become aware of their calling. It is a stone for highly developed beings who have not yet recognized their strength and fearfully close their hearts to it. This creates trust and we gradually open ourselves for further possibilities. On the level of sub consciousness, it helps us to better come to terms with ourselves.

Tanzanite dispels lethargy and brings repressed feelings to the surface so that they can be expressed. Tanzanite is a creative stone, bringing us back to our objectives after interruption. It also has the power to dissolve old patterns and creates space for new patterns to be integrated.

Relationship Reports-Find out more personal insights.

Physically, tanzanite is a wonderful tool to encourage recovery from severe illness or stress. It strengthens the immune system, regenerates cells, and treats the heart, spleen, pancreas, lungs, head, throat, and chest. The stone is also a great detoxifier. It also has the ability to neutralize over acidification and reduce inflammation.

Tanzanite also stimulates fertility and heals diseases of the ovaries and testicles. It has been said that it is extremely beneficial to wear or place the tanzanite on the body in direct contact with the skin, where appropriate. It is recommended to wear the tanzanite for long periods of time, as it is a slow acting stone.

Top ten causes of breast cancet- avoid them.

http://www.naturalnews.com/042483_breast_cancer_causes_chemotherapy.html

Omai Guyana: Vote for my daughter's proposed shoe company.

Omai Guyana: Vote for my daughter's proposed shoe company.: My daughter and her husband have entered a competition to win £10,000 towards their business with Stylist and Triumph. Their entry is to get...

Smart ideas to jumpstart your lifestyle biz idea

10 Tips for Starting a Lifestyle Business http://zite.to/GLf9Qt

Ocean health declining.

Health of oceans 'declining fast' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24369244

Pollution and bees

Pollution 'hampers bees' foraging' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/24364637

Honey and cinnamon help us to counter many diseases

Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:

Studies by western scientists have found that a mix of honey and cinnamon cures most diseases. Scientists also note honey is a very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without side effects. Today's science says that even though honey is sweet, when it is taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm even diabetic patients.

HEART DISEASES

It is suggested that if you replace your regular breakfast toast and jam with a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, you reduce the unhealthy cholesterol in your blood and therefore potentially lessening the chance of a heart attack.

Even if you have already had an attack studies show you could be kept away from another attack. It is claimed that regular use of cinnamon honey strengthens the heartbeat.

In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully. They have found that as one ages the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalize the arteries and the veins.

ARTHRITIS

Arthritis patients can benefit by taking one cup of hot water with two tablespoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. When taken daily even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research study conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoonful honey and half teaspoon cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week (out of the 200 people) 73 patients were totally relieved of pain -- and within a month, all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis were walking without pain.

.

CHOLESTEROL

 Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water given to a cholesterol patient were found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10 percent within two hours.

As mentioned for arthritic patients, when taken three times a day, any chronic cholesterol-could be cured. According to information received in the Journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of high unhealthy cholesterol.

COLDS

Those suffering from common or severe colds are advised to take one tablespoonful lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This treatment will cure most chronic coughs, colds, and, clear the sinuses.

UPSET STOMACH

Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also is said to clear stomach ulcers at the source.

GAS

Studies in India and Japan have shown that when honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacterial and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has significant amounts of important vitamins and iron. Regular ingestion of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles (where DNA is contained) and enables our immune system to easily counteract bacterial and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION

If one sprinkles cinnamon powder on two tablespoons of honey and takes this before eating meals acidity is relieved and even the heaviest of meals is more easily digested.

INFLUENZA

A Spanish scientist has shown in his studies that honey contains a natural ‘Ingredient’ that kills the influenza germs. Regular users of honey are protected from flu.

RASPY OR SORE THROAT

Many cultures use honey to clear the throat. When your throat has a tickle or is raspy, take one tablespoonful of honey and sip until gone. Repeat every three hours until throat is without symptoms.

 BLADDER INFECTIONS

Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

PIMPLES

To deal with the common appearance of pimples it is suggested to use a honey cinnamon paste. Mix three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder into a paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it off the next morning with warm water. Two weeks of this treatment usually removes all pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS

Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin Infections.

WEIGHT LOSS

Drinking a cup of honey and cinnamon tea daily in the morning half hour before breakfast and at night before sleeping reduces most people’s weight. It apparently does not fat to accumulate in the body even when people eat high calorie diets.

CANCER

Patients suffering from advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully recently in Japan and Australia according to recent research. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder three times a day for one month.

FATIGUE:

Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey helps to strengthen the body. Older people who take honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts are more alert and flexible.

Dr. Milton, who has done research, suggests putting a half-tablespoonful of honey and a sprinkling of cinnamon powder in a glass of water. Daily use in the morning before breakfast and in the afternoon at about 3:00 P.M., should lead to increased vitality within a week.

BAD BREATH:

To freshen their breath people in some South American countries, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water first thing in the morning.

HEARING LOSS

Taking a mixture of equal parts of honey and cinnamon powder in the morning and evening restores hearing. 

LONGEVITY

Many people in the East believe that those who regularly drink tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, will reduce aging effects

Use four teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and three cups of boiling water to make a tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age. Eastern sages claim that you will live longer even a 100 year old will start performing the chores of a 20-year-old!

 Sources for more information:

Active Manuka Honey
http://www.healthynewage.com/manuka-honey.ht...

Mentions some honey cinnamon studies
http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-heal...

Honey Cinnamon Report
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/honey-and-cin...

More from Canadian Magazine Report
http://www.jonniewright.com/blog/2009/11/14/...

Honey and Cinnamon Healing http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/honeyandci...

David Wolfe on Honey http://beepropolis.org/david-wolfe-the-mirac...

From an Ayurvedic doctor http://www.leaflady.org/honey.htm

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/029894_honey_arthritis.html##ixzz2gf6kSjRv

A Homemade Toothpaste Recipe for Tooth Remineralization

Written by Courtney, Contributing Writer- edited

Image by makelessnoise 

A Safer Alternative 

I’ve been experimenting with my own homemade toothpaste recipe for a while now, after I realized how easy it is to make on my own and that I don’t need to spend a fortune on store-bought brands.

The most basic toothpaste alternative is a simple tooth powder. You can use baking soda alone or combine it with salt for a gentle yet abrasive clean, or you can use a mineral powder such as calcium and/or magnesium. I use Natural Calm brand . Some prefer to add hydrogen peroxide to their tooth powder right before use. I rinse with hydrogen peroxide, so I don’t add it to my powder or paste.

I began to add coconut oil to my recipe to form a paste (and for its beneficial antibacterial properties) and essential oils for flavor. For a while, my recipe included coconut oil, baking soda, a dash of salt, and essential oil.

I’ve since been searching for a solution to the salty taste of the baking soda and salt, which my children aren’t crazy about, and have recently decided to add xylitol to help combat the saltiness. I’m new to the use of xylitol, but it does appear to be safe and even looks promising for cavity prevention. I also recently added trace mineral drops to my paste. I use these to add minerals back into our reverse osmosis filtered water when making water kefir and I thought it would be a great addition to our toothpaste as well.

Homemade Toothpaste 

2 Tbsp. coconut oil

2 Tbps. baking soda

2 Tbsp. calcium magnesium powder

2 Tbps. xylitol or green stevia powder

2 tsp. real sea salt

20 drops essential oil (I use peppermint )

10 drops trace minerals

My style recipe would simply read: equal parts coconut oil, baking soda, calcium/magnesium powder, xylitol with a dash of salt, a few drops trace minerals, and essential oils to taste.

This toothpaste is a great follow up to oil pulling . Have you looked into oil pulling? Both oil pulling and a natural toothpaste like this one, in addition to flossing, can keep your teeth clean and healthy. With a proper diet that supports the necessary minerals for re-mineralization of teeth, I believe teeth can be healthier and whiter.

From what I understand, yellow teeth can be the result of reduced/demineralized enamel that allows the dentin beneath to show through.By strengthening that enamel through re-mineralization, teeth are not only healthier and free of cavities but also naturally whiter.

Stephanie's note: For more on the importance of diet for both preventing and reversing tooth decay, and the process of remineralizing teeth, I would highly recommend the book Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel. I'm currently reading it and even though I had learned some of these things previously (through Weston Price, etc.) I wish that I had looked more specifically into this topic long ago!

Europe bans pesticides viewed as bee harming

EU member states vote ushers in continent-wide suspension of neonicotinoid pesticides •

A bee collects pollen from a sunflower in Utrecht, the Netherlands. EU states have voted in favour of a proposal to restrict the use of pesticides linked to serious harm in bees. Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters

Europe will enforce the world's first continent-wide ban on widely used insecticides linked to serious harm in bees , after a European commission vote on Monday.

The landmark suspension is a victory for millions of environment campaigners concerned about dramatic declines in bees who were backed by experts at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). But it is a serious defeat for the chemical companies who make billions a year from the products and also UK ministers - who voted against the ban. Both had argued the ban will harm food production.

The vote by the 27 member states of the European Union to suspend the insect nerve agents was supported by 15 nations, but did not reach the required majority under EU voting rules. The hung vote hands the final decision to the European commission (EC) who will implement the ban. "It's done," said an EC source.

Tonio Borg, health and consumer commissioner, said: "Our proposal is based on a number of risks to bee health identified by the EFSA, [so] the European commission will go ahead with its plan in coming weeks. I pledge to do my utmost to ensure that our bees, which are so vital to our ecosystem and contribute over €22bn annually to European agriculture, are protected."

"This decision is a significant victory for common sense and our beleaguered bee populations," said Friends of the Earth's head of campaigns, Andrew Pendleton."Restricting the use of these pesticides could be an historic milestone on the road to recovery for these crucial pollinators."

The UK, which abstained in previous vote , was heavily criticised for switching to a "no" vote on Monday. "So much for the precautionary principle," said Joan Walley MP, chair of parliament's green watchdog, the environmental audit committee, whose investigation had backed a ban and accused ministers of "extraordinary complacency" . She said today's vote was a real step in the right direction but added: "A full Commons debate where ministers can be held to account is more pressing than ever."

Greenpeace's chief scientist, Doug Parr, said: "By not supporting the ban, environment secretary, Owen Paterson, has exposed the UK government as being in the pocket of big chemical companies and the industrial farminglobby." On Sunday, the Observer revealed the intense secret lobbying by Paterson and Syngenta .

But a spokesman for Syngenta, which makes one of the three neonicotinoids that have been suspended, said: "The proposal is based on poor science and ignores a wealth of evidence from the field that these pesticides do not damage the health of bees. The EC should [instead] address the real reasons for bee health decline: disease, viruses and loss of habitat."

Bees and other insects are vital for global food production as they pollinate three-quarters of all crops. The plummeting numbers of pollinators in recent years has been blamed on disease, loss of habitat and, increasingly, the near ubiquitous use of neonicotinoid pesticides. A series of high-profile scientific studies has linked neonicotinoids - the world's most widely used insecticides - to huge losses in the number of queens produced and big increases in "disappeared" bees, those that fail to return from foraging trips.

The EC proposed the suspension after the European Food Safety Authority concluded in January that three neonicotinoids - thiamethoxam, clothianidin and imidacloprid - posed an unnacceptable risk to bees . The three will be banned from use for two years on flowering crops such as corn, oil seed rape and sunflowers, upon which bees feed.

"Bayer remains convinced neonicotinoids are safe for bees, when used responsibly and properly," said a spokesman for Bayer Cropscience. "As a science-based company, Bayer is disappointed that clear scientific evidence has taken a back-seat in the decision making process."

Prof Simon Potts, a bee expert at the University of Reading, said: "The ban is excellent news for pollinators. The weight of evidence from researchers clearly points to the need to have a phased ban of neonicotinoids. There are several alternatives to using neonicotinoids and famers will benefit from healthy pollinator populations as they provide substantial economic benefits to crop pollination."

Lynn Dicks, at the University of Cambridge, said: "This is a victory for the precautionary principle, which is supposed to underlie environmental regulation."

Neonicotinoids have been widely used for more than decade and are less harmful that some of the sprays they replaced, but scientific studies haveincreasingly linked them to poor bee health . Many observers, including the National Farmers' Union, accept that EU regulation is inadequate, as it only tests on honeybees and not the wild pollinators that service 90% of plants. The regulatory testing also only considers short term effects and does not consider the combined effects of multiple pesticides.

The chemical industry has warned that a ban on neonicotinoids would lead to the return of older, more harmful pesticides and crop losses. But campaigners point out that this has not happened during temporary suspensions in France, Italy and Germany and that the use of natural pest predators and crop rotation can tackle problems.

"It is imperative that any alternative chemicals to be used in their place must first pass the same tests failed by the neonicotinoids," said Dr Christopher Connolly, a bee expert at the University of Dundee. "The recent findings have highlighted an urgent need for more rigorous safety testing protocols."

In Brussels, the countries that voted against the ban were: the UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Austria and Portugal. Ireland, Lithuania, Finland and Greece abstained. Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Cyprus, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden voted in favour.