Do This - or You Could Soon be Eating an "Agent Orange" for Dinner by Dr. Mercola

By Dr. Mercola

Mark Kastel, founder of the farm policy research group Cornucopia, is deeply dedicated to making sure we have high-quality food and that we're not being deceived about what we're eating.

Here, we discuss Agent Orange, and one of its active ingredients, which is now creeping into our food supply.

As described by Kastel, Cornucopia's mission is:

"To empower farmers, consumers, and wholesale buyers with information, so that they can make good, discerning purchasing decisions in the marketplace.

Among other things, we act as an organic industry watchdog to preserve the integrity and authenticity of the organic label and products to make sure that it remains to be a true marketplace alternative for people who want safer and more nutritious food."

Agent Orange Ingredient Headed Toward Your Plate?

To most people, "Agent Orange" is synonymous with the Vietnam war.

Many veterans suffered permanent side effects from their exposure to this potent defoliant, and hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese children have been born with serious birth defects as a result of its use during the war.

Now, one of the active ingredients in Agent Orange, 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a broadleaf herbicide, may be introduced directly into our food supply, because weeds are becoming increasingly resistant to Monsanto's broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup, which is used in massive quantities on all genetically engineered Roundup Ready crops. It's estimated that more than 130 types of weeds spanning 40 U.S. states are now herbicide-resistant, and they're showing no signs of stopping. In fact, the situation is getting progressively worse.

"Agent Orange was an herbicide used to defoliate the jungles in Vietnam and South East Asia, which also include a myriad of other incredibly toxic chemicals that we know had profound deleterious effect on the health of the indigenous people who lived in South East Asia and to our veterans who served there," Kastel says. Now we see one of these ingredients, 2,4-D, introduced [into our food supply] because the Dow Company... is introducing a new genetically engineered corn plant that "will be resistant to 2,4-D."

Yes, Dow AgroSciences (a subsidiary of Dow Chemicals), which was one of the original manufacturers of Agent Orange, has developed a new generation of genetically modified (GM) crops called "Enlist", designed to resist not just one, but THREE different herbicides: glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), glufosinate, and  2,4-D, in the same way that Monsanto's Roundup-Ready crops are resistant to glyphosate.

After a mere 15 years' worth of consistent use on Roundup Ready crops, vast areas are now overrun with glyphosate-resistant superweeds that can't be destroyed. What makes them think triple-resistant crops are going to be any better, or produce different end results?

Why "Agent Orange"-Resistant Crops are a BAD Idea

Interestingly enough, the use of 2,4-D is not new, as it is actually one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. What is new is that once staple crops like soy and corn that are engineered to be resistant to 2,4-D begin to flourish, the herbicide will be applied to U.S. farm land on an unprecedented scale -- not unlike its indiscriminate application during Vietnam.

There are also some other unanswered questions relating to this new breed of 2,4-D-resistant crops.

"The curious part about this – we had to do some research to understand, and I don't know if we fully understand it yet – is that corn is naturally resistant to 2,4-D, and that 2,4-D has been used as a corn herbicide, a post-emergent herbicide for decades,"Kastel says.

"This is legal, perfectly legal; even though we know that there are profound negative impacts to human health, and that this chemical residue ends up in our food system, in our soil and water, and ends up creating serious occupational exposures and risks for the people who produce our food; it's still licensed by the EPA and approved for use by the USDA on our food crops.

The curious part is, if corn is already resistant to 2,4-D, why are they injecting that genetically engineered cultivar?

The answer seems to be that there might be some incremental level of benefit in that. Right now there are application windows, certain times during crop growth, that it would probably not kill the plant but stunt its growth. [With approval] the restrictions on the spraying will be relieved.

If this takes off—if Dow can convince agronomists, extension services, extension agents, universities (where they spend a lot of money), and farmers that this is a better seed with a potential for higher yields, we're going to see really large increases in the application of 2,4-D in our countryside."

Of course, the whole point of engineering resistance to an herbicide within a plant is so that you can "carpet bomb" an entire field, leaving only your GM crop standing. If 2,4-D resistant crops receive approval and eventually replace Monsanto's failing Roundup-resistant crops as Dow intends, it is likely that billions of pounds of 2,4-D will be needed, on top of the already insane levels of Roundup being used (1.6 billion lbs were used in 2007 in the US alone!).

2,4-D—Do You Really Want to Feed this to Your Kids?

Ironically, while Dow's new crops would seriously escalate the use of 2,4-D, Monsanto is currently facing a class-action lawsuit involving another Agent Orange ingredient: 2,4,5-Tⁱ. The suit alleges that homes and schools near one of its 2,4,5-T chemical plants are now contaminated with cancer-causing dioxin, a byproduct of the manufacturing process.

This should be a wake-up call to those considering widespread application of any toxic Agent Orange ingredient.

And let's be clear. The EPA acknowledges that 2,4-D is far from a benign chemical.

Researchers have linked it to increased cancer risks, especially soft tissue sarcoma and malignant lymphoma. No less than four American studies have found an association between chlorophenoxy herbicide use (such as 2,4-D) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. EPA researchers have also discovered higher rates of birth defects in countries with high rates of 2,4-D application to farm fields. In fact, birth defects were 60 to 90 percent more likely in such countries, and birth defects were also found to peak in babies conceived in the spring, when fields were being sprayed the most. The most common birth defects included defects of the respiratory and circulatory systems, and musculoskeletal defects such as clubfoot, fused digits and extra digits.

If that's not bad enough, consider this EPA summary of 2,4-Dⁱⁱ: 

"Health effects of chronic or acute 2,4-D exposure reported for adults included blood, liver, and kidney toxicity. Specific effects included a reduction in hemoglobin and red blood cell numbers, decreased liver enzyme activity, and increased kidney weight. Acute exposure can result in skin and eye irritation. Acute exposure to very high concentrations of 2,4-D can cause the following clinical symptoms: stupor; coma; coughing; burning sensations in lungs; loss of muscular coordination; nausea; vomiting; or dizziness.

Experimental animal studies of chronic oral exposure have reported adverse effects on the eye, thyroid, kidney, adrenals, adrenals, and ovaries/testes. In addition, some experimental animal studies have reported teratogenic effects (birth defects) at high doses, including increased fetal death, urinary tract malformation, and extra ribs.

When adult female experimental animals were exposed to 2,4-D during their pregnancy and lactation periods, their exposed offspring exhibited neurological effects, including delayed neurobehavioral development and changes in several neurotransmitter levels or binding activities and ganglioside levels in the brain. Delayed neurobehavioral development was manifested as delays in acquisition of certain motor skills such as the righting reflex."

The EASIEST Way to Protect the Health of Your Family...

So, what can you do to protect your health and the health of your family from the ever growing threats posed by genetically engineered foods and mounting herbicide use? Kastel says it well:

"Don't panic. Go organic."

Yes, it's getting increasingly difficult to keep tabs of what's being added to the food supply, and trying to keep track of everything to avoid can be a daunting task. It's much easier to simply switch to organic foods; bypassing all the concerns about processed food ingredients, chemical residues on conventionally-grown fresh produce, and the multi-layered hazards related to genetically engineered foods, whether fresh or processed.

By definition, foods that are certified organic must never intentionally use GM organisms, must be produced without artificial pesticides and fertilizers and come from an animal reared without the routine use of antibiotics, growth promoters or other drugs. Additionally, grass-fed beef will not have been fed GM corn feed, although now that GM alfalfa is approved, grass-fed will not always mean GMO free.

"There aren't that many things that we can totally take control over in terms of our health and our future health and the health of our offspring, but pure food and pure water is one of those," Kastel says.

"We know that there has been peer-reviewed research that indicates a demonstratively lower level of any kind of contamination in organic food... Peer-reviewed literature clearly illustrates its nutritional superiority. On a micro basis, we need to protect ourselves and our families. It really contributes to the richness and quality of life, because organic food tastes better. And in terms of an investment, what could be a better investment than the health and well-being of your family?

We should also become politically involved, because what's so insidious is that these novel genes permeate our environment. They can even contaminate organic food. We need to be activists."

Now's the Time to Take Action!

Cornucopia.org has a "Say No to Dow AgroScience's GE Corn Petition" on their website. Please sign this petition, which will automatically send a letter to USDA secretary Tom Vilsack and President Obama, voicing your concerns. Part of this petition also asks for labeling of genetically engineered foods.

"The industry is vehemently resisting that, because they know very well that given a choice – just like in Europe where they do have a choice because of mandatory labeling – consumers will not vote to subject their children to become, in essence, human guinea pigs, because there's been virtually no human health testing on any of these novel genetically mutated life forms," 

Fortunately, 24 US states have (as part of their state governance) something called the Initiative Process, where residents can bring to ballot any law they want enacted, as long as it has sufficient support. California has been busy organizing just such a ballot initiative to get mandatory labeling for genetically engineered foods sold in their state. The proposed law will be on the ballot for 2012.

Michigan and Washington are also starting similar campaigns.

Since California is the 8th largest economy in the world, a win for the California Initiative would be a huge step forward, and would affect ingredients and labeling nation-wide. A coalition of consumer, public health and environmental organizations, food companies, and individuals have submitted the California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act to the State Attorney General. Now, they need 800,000 signatures to get the Act on this year's ballot.

I urge you to get involved and help in any way you can.

Regardless of whether you live in California or not, please donate to help support this Initiative and spread the word to everyone you know in California. Also remember to talk to organic producers and store managers and ask them to actively support the California Ballot. It may be the only chance we have to require the proper labeling of genetically engineered foods.

Be assured that what happens in California will affect the remainder of the US states, so please support this important state initiative, even if you do not live there!

http://organicconsumersfund.org/donate/

Kastel says.

Another Important Action Item: Support California's Ballot Initiative to Label GMO's!

In 2007, then-Presidential candidate Obama promised to "immediately" require GM labeling if elected. So far, nothing of the sort has transpired.

posted Wednesday, May 02, 2012 2:30 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

Find out more! Sahaja-Kundalini-Yoga-Meditation Divinity & Self-Realization-FREE-Meditation!

Sahaja Yoga Articles

• Sahaja Yoga - The Ultimate Spiritual Experience

• 10 reasons why you should practice Sahaja Yoga

• Community work of Sahaja Yoga

• Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi - founder of Sahaja Yoga

• The message of love

• Music in Sahaja Yoga

posted Sunday, October 16, 2011 10:38 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

Protect yourself from RADIATION POISONING... JAPAN TECTONIC NUCLEAR WARFARE

How to protect yourself from radiation poisoning

Randall Neustaedter OMD
Natural News
April 7, 2011

In the wake of the Japanese nuclear disaster, radiation has contaminated the food and water supply and the ocean in Japan. Radioactive particles have been carried to distant lands, though no dangerous levels have been detected in other countries. During this time of possible exposure we need to protect ourselves from the toxicity of heavy metals and radiation. Anyone could be exposed to radiation from the nuclear reactors in Japan through contact with contaminated products or travelers, or by ingesting contaminated food, even if the exposure is relatively low in level.

There are three simple principles involved in detoxification. The most important is chelation, or the binding and removal of metals and other toxins from the body. Second, the body has its own methods of detoxification which can be encouraged. And third, antioxidants will scour and remove free radicals that have been created by oxidative damage. Everyone can easily take supplements to produce these results and protect the body from heavy metal and radiation toxicity.

Chelation can be accomplished with one or more of several supplements.

Chlorella is a green algae and spirulina is a blue-green algae which contain chlorophyllin and other nutrients that bind toxic compounds in the gut. They are both used as chelating agents of heavy metals and other toxins. They are readily available in most health food stores. Seaweed has a similar ability to inhibit absorption of toxins in the digestive tract.

Laminaria is a brown seaweed that contains sodium alginate, which has been shown to chelate heavy metals and treat radiation sickness.

Modified citrus pectin has been shown in clinical studies to remove heavy metals including lead, mercury, arsenic and other toxins (Econugenics). Pectins and alginates are polysaccharides known as polyuronides, molecules that form chains in an “eggbox” structure that attract and trap radioactive metals. Typical dosage is 5 gm of the powder per day.

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Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral that has a crystalline structure that traps metals. It has been shown to remove depleted uranium from the body. Dosage is 5 gm of powder per day.

The body’s natural chelating agent is called metallothienein (MT). This protein binds to toxic metals for delivery to the liver or kidneys for excretion. MT also prevents toxic metals from reacting with other molecules in the body, thereby preventing toxicity. The body’s production of MT can be encouraged by taking certain botanical and nutritional supplements. Specifically, Humulus (hops) and Andrographis, as well as zinc, will all help regulate the genes associated with MT production (Metalloclear, Metagenics).

Glutathothione is the body’s primary antioxidant. It can be produced in every cell of the body, but the liver is the primary source. Glutathione is capable of breaking down carcinogens and heavy metals. Supplements including N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha lipoic acid (or R-lipoic acid) will support glutathione production. A reduced, liposomal glutathione supplement can also be used to increase glutathione directly.

Milk thistle, or its active extract sylimarin, supports liver cell synthesis and promotes glutathione production.

Supporting the small intestine’s ability to maintain an effective immune system is an important component of detoxification. L-glutamine is an amino acid that protects the small intestine lining from radiation damage. Probiotics (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria), and prebiotics (arabinogalactan, beta glucans, and inulin) will maintain a healthy intestinal lining.

In addition to supporting the body’s own production of antioxidants, various supplements can provide additional support. These supplements include vitamin C, coenzyme Q 10, grape seed extract (or resveratrol), astaxanthin (from krill or other sources), beta-carotene, and others. Of course many fruits and vegetables provide significant amounts of antioxidants, especially those with red, orange, or purple color.

Safeguard your body and protect it from radiation damage by taking at least one chelating agent such as chlorella, modified citrus pectin, or zeolite.

Support the body’s own detoxifying mechanisms by taking reduced glutathione, or its precursor N-acetylcysteine, humulus, and/or milk thistle. Support the small intestine’s ability to remove metals with L-glutamine, probiotics and prebiotics.

Get antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, and supplements of vitamin C, CoQ10, grape extracts, krill, or other sources.

Most other products can be purchased at health food stores or easily found on the Internet. Follow the dosage recommendations of the manufacturer on most products. None of the products mentioned have any toxicity, so overdosing is not a problem. In general, children take one-third to one-half the adult dose depending on their weight.

Disclaimer: Dr. Neustaedter has no financial ties with any manufacturer of the recommended supplements.

About the author:
Dr. Randall Neustaedter, OMD, has practiced and taught holistic medicine for more than thirty years in the San Francisco Bay area, specializing in child health care. He is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine, author of The Holistic Baby Guide, Child Health Guide and The Vaccine Guide. Visit his website,www.cure-guide.com,to register for a free newsletter with pediatric specialty articles and follow him on Facebook, at Dr. Randall Neustaedter, OMD.

Learn more:http://www.naturalnews.com/031987_radiation_poisoning_protection.html#ixzz1Iq7ttuNW

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posted Wednesday, July 27, 2011 3:34 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

Scientist: Japan earthquake, nuke “accident” are tectonic nuclear warfare

posted Wednesday, July 27, 2011 2:36 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

When buying fresh FISH... MONTEREY SEAFOOD WATCH for Malevolent mercury... The impact on our oceans

Fish fat: fabulous for you!

There wouldn't be much point in eating fish if it were bad for us. To begin with, seafood is a great source of protein, generally low in fat and reasonably low in cholesterol. But it has other benefits too. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which runs America's national marine sanctuaries, says research has shown that eating seafood may reduce our risk for a number of unhealthy conditions, including stroke, hypertension, and heart disease.

Why is it seafood that has these benefits rather than, say, a giant cheeseburger? Because seafood is rich in certain polyunsaturated fatty acids commonly known as omega-3 fatty acids whereas the cheeseburger is just rich in fat. Not all fish are made equally when it comes to their omega-3 content. The best are cold-water fish, like wild salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, and herring. Studies by the Washington State Department of Fisheries have found that wild and farmed salmon both have roughly the same amounts of omega-3s per portion. Sardines and other small fish are also excellent sources.

Malevolent mercury

Of course, the flip side of the health equation is the concern about levels of methylmercury in fish. This heavy trace metal is the fallout of industrial pollution of the atmosphere, largely from the burning of coal, and has been linked to brain damage and birth defects. All fish contain some mercury, but the health benefits of most fish species generally outweigh the downside. The best rule of thumb is to avoid large fish that live a long time, as they accumulate the most mercury in their flesh. The EPA advises that consumers avoid shark, swordfish, and king mackerel. Smaller fish like sardines, anchovies, and herring tend to have the lowest mercury levels, as do shellfish like shrimp, lobster, and scallops. Larger fish like halibut, tuna, and salmon have higher levels but not dangerously so, unless you eat them in very large quantities.

To keep your mercury levels in the safe zone, the Natural Resources Defense Council advises eating unlimited quantities of low-mercury species like tilapia, anchovies, catfish, and freshwater trout. You should limit your intake of moderate-mercury species like halibut, lobster, and mahi-mahi to less than six servings per month. Eat no more than three servings per month of high-mercury species like tuna, albacore, and sea bass. And, as mentioned earlier, entirely avoid species like shark, swordfish, and king mackerel.

Is seafood safe for kids?

The verdict on whether or not to feed my 9-year-old son the yellowfin tuna sushi he loves so much (aka maguro, at your local sushi joint) turned out to be a hung jury. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council Web page about mercury levels in fish, both children under 6 years of age and pregnant women should avoid high-mercury species entirely. According to the NRDC, at 9, my son can safely eat tuna, albacore, and other varieties in the high-mercury category, but he should limit his intake to less than 1 ounce of tuna per 12 pounds of body weight per week (in his case, about 6 ounces per week), which is a pretty good portion of sushi.

If you think you or your loved ones might already be suffering from elevated mercury levels, the Sierra Club offers mercury testing for $20.00 per person. You simply download and print out the brochure here, fill it out, and mail it in to the address provided with a sample of hair cut according to the instructions. They'll test it and mail the results back to you in about a month.

The impact on our oceans

Finally, there are a lot of valid concerns about the environmental impact of our fish-eating habits, whether it's the depletion of wild tuna stocks by industrial fishing fleets or the localized pollution caused by pens of farm-raised salmon. Even more complicated, a fish that's okay to eat from one ocean or area, like California halibut, might be overfished or endangered in another, like Atlantic halibut.

posted Thursday, June 02, 2011 5:38 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

For Everyone... Remembering An Eternal Message...

posted Monday, February 28, 2011 1:22 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

TELL EVERYONE ABOUT "FOOD, INC." AIRING ON PBS TV!

http://www.DrMercola.com says,

"Food, Inc." is one of a handful of movies that, I believe, have the power to invoke real positive change.  Find out about genetically engineered foods, hormone injected meat products and why they are not required to label the foods we buy in the grocery stores. Bigger, fatter, larger portions of foods... this is why people are getting sick!

On Wednesday night, April 21, PBS will air "Food, Inc." I highly encourage EVERYONE to watch this very important film. If you've already seen it, watch it again with your family & friends. More info & broadcast schedule here;

 http://www.pbs.org/pov/foodinc/

posted Monday, April 19, 2010 1:05 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

"Energy Vitamin" discovered by natural Doctors!

"The Single Greatest Daily Energy Booster Since the Discovery of Coffee"

The odds are good you are deficient in this "energy vitamin" discovered by natural doctors.

Vitamin B12  is known as the “energy vitamin,” and it is essential for many critical functions in your body, including energy production, supporting your immune system, and helping to regulate the formation of red blood cells.*  Recent studies from the US Framingham trial show that one in four adults in the US are deficient in this vitally important nutrient and nearly half of the population has suboptimal blood levels.

Vitamin B12 is present only in animal sources of food--which is one of the reasons I advise against being a strict vegetarian or a vegan. This deficiency can result in  less than optimal nervous system function, a tendency toward nervousness, and even less-than-optimal eye health.* 

How You Get Vitamin B12 Deficient

The older you get the more likely you are to have a vitamin B12 deficiency.  The two ways that you become deficient in vitamin B12 are from not getting enough in your diet and from losing the ability to absorb it.

I recently visited India which is primarily a vegetarian based culture and current studies there show about 80% of the adults are deficient in vitamin B12. However, vegans are  not the only ones who can become vitamin B12 deficient. 

The older you get the more your digestive system breaks down, especially if you have been following the standard American diet. Specifically the lining of your stomach gradually loses its ability to produce hydrochloric acid which releases vitamin B 12 from your food. The use of antacids or anti ulcer drugs will also lower your stomach acid secretion and decrease your ability to absorb vitamin B 12.  Infection with Helicobactor pylori, a common contributor to stomach ulcers, can also result in vitamin B12 deficiency.

However the main cause of vitamin B 12 deficiency is a term researchers call food-cobalamin malabsorption syndrome.  Cobalamin is the scientific term for vitamin B12.   This typically results when your stomach lining loses its ability to produce intrinsic factor which is a protein that binds to vitamin B12 and allows your body to absorb it at the end of your small intestine.

NEW Form of Vitamin B12 Not Found in Most Health
Food and Vitamin Stores

If you often feel tired, run-down, and lacking in energy, you're not alone.  Low energy is one of our country's biggest health complaints.

Some of the top reasons for this are: 

...but it doesn't stop there, either. 

Add the harmful effects of caffeine, pollution, conventional therapies, and the stress most of us experience everyday... and you've got yourself a recipe for energy drain.

Well, I'm here to tell you there's a new way to give yourself extra energy.* Actually, a cutting edge way to feel more energized -- without the jitteriness of caffeine.*  More on this in a moment.

Now, of course, powering up with extra energy is just one of B12's many health benefits*.  So...

What Critical Health Benefits Does this Vitamin Bring to the Table?

For starters, vitamin B12 helps folic acid regulate the formation of red blood cells, and helps your body use iron*. 

In addition, it is also needed for proper digestion, food absorption, carbohydrate and fat metabolism.*  It also helps keep your nervous system healthy by assisting the nerves of your body to function and communicate in an optimal manner.*  

But that's not all...far from it! 

B12 also helps in cell formation and cellular longevity.*  Plus, it can support female reproductive health, and promote normal nerve growth and development by maintaining the fatty sheaths.*  These fatty sheaths play a vital role as they cover and protect your nerve endings.*

What's more, this workhorse of a micronutrient is critical to your circulation and adrenal hormone production -- plus, it helps boost your immunity.*  And, oh yes, let's not forget...

Vitamin B12 supports a healthy mood and feelings of well-being.*  And then there's this -- it also provides excellent support for your memory, mental clarity, and concentration.*

Aside from using B12 to give you an energy boost, when does it also make sense to supplement with this all-important vitamin?  Well, there are several good reasons to take vitamin B12

And the first reason to take it is if you are a carb type or a strict vegetarian.

If You Avoid Meat, You Probably Need to Take B12

Vegetarians have an increased need for vitamin B12

Many people avoid red meats for a large variety of reasons. If you are one of them, you are at a high risk for developing vitamin B12 deficiency. Why? Because plant sources have virtually no vitamin B12.  And oral forms of B12 in nearly all supplements are practically useless, as little is absorbed into your bloodstream.

Vegetarians should take this essential micronutrient to ensure an adequate supply of it, because it is found almost exclusively in animal tissues.  And, the few plant foods that are sources of B12 are actually B12 analogs -- not the form that provides all the benefits of the real deal. 

Simply put, an analog is a substance that blocks the uptake of true B12.  The result being, your body's need for the nutrient actually increases. 

Furthermore, your body's need for this nutrient may also increase if you take Metformin©.  Metformin may interfere with calcium metabolism.  And this interference may reduce B12 absorption, because this absorption requires calcium.

Studies suggest that 10% to 30% of patients taking Metformin show evidence of reduced vitamin B12 absorption.  That's why it is important to speak with your doctor to discuss the best way to maintain B12 levels when taking this medication. 

Now, if getting a good night's sleep has also become increasingly more difficult for you, here's...

What Your Sleeping Difficulties May Be Trying to Tell You!

If you suffer from sleeping difficulties, I recommend taking vitamin B12 during the day.  I believe it can help you.*  Here's why. 

B12 plays a vital role in melatonin production.*  Melatonin has been called "the sleep hormone" because it is responsible for letting you get a good night's sleep.  

As you age, it becomes increasingly more difficult to get a good night's sleep because your body becomes less efficient at making this hormone.  And that's why it's a good idea to take B12 to help you sleep like a baby each night.*

Moreover, a lack of adequate B12 can have other annoying consequences too. 

Do You or a Loved One Experience Any of the Following?

Not many know it, but if you or a family member experience: 

...you may need to supplement with vitamin B12, even if you eat foods rich in B12.  Oddly enough, that wasn't a typo.

You can eat plenty of meat, poultry, lamb's liver, brewer's yeast, clams, eggs, herring, mackerel, kidneys, milk, dairy products, or seafood -- and still have low levels of B12.  How can that be?

It could be because your body is unable to absorb it from your gut.  You see B12 needs the help of a protein in order to be absorbed.  That protein is called intrinsic factor.  And because the lining of your stomach makes intrinsic factor, people with less-than-optimal gastrointestinal health often need to supplement with B12.* 

Likewise, most people over the age of 50 have a limited ability to absorb B12, too.  Thus, the need for supplementation

Pain-Free Supplementation

With that said, the form of vitamin B12 I'm recommending does NOT come as a pill, tablet, capsule, gelcap, or liquid. 

Amazingly, it's B12 in a spray.

A modern marvel that I believe gives most people far better results than anything else.  The name of this new product is B12 Energy Booster.*  And it's only available here on Mercola.com. 

Now, here's the question you may be asking at this point:

"How can something as simple as a spray
work so much better than a pill, tablet, or capsule?"

In a nutshell, I came across an American company that uses Nano technology.  This breakthrough technology uses a patented NanoMist® delivery system that shrinks the size of the B12 molecule all the way down to microscopic nanodroplets™.

How does this benefit you?

Quite simply, the B12 in B12 Energy Booster comes in an easily absorbed form your body can now use*. 

It turns out that this fine-mist spray formula you spray into your mouth causes the essential nutrients to become absorbed rapidly. .* 

As a result, it delivers more of this product's nutrients to your circulatory system, tissues and cells quickly.*  And that's not all...

The tiny nanodroplets™ in each fast-acting spray are designed to release the B12 vitamin within a steady, time-controlled manner. This ensures a longer-term benefit from each single dose, boosting efficiency even further.

Needless to say, when you combine B12 Energy Booster's* time-release mechanism with its rapid, uniform and complete absorption, you get one incredible product.  A product that, in my opinion, is clearly superior to any B12 pill, tablet, capsule, gelcap, or liquid on the market today. 

Remember -- only a small fraction of this crucial vitamin gets absorbed through your gut when you take it in a pill, tablet, capsule, or gelcap.
Let's take that a step further and shed some light on multivitamins you may find shocking... 

Here's the REAL TRUTH about the B12 in Most Multivitamins:

It all boils down to this...

Most of them contain 100-200 micrograms of B12.  But, if you actually took 500 micrograms of B12, you'd get an absorption of about 1.8 micrograms.  Let me repeat, only 1.8 out of a total of 500 micrograms.  That's an absorption rate of only one third of one percent!  But, that's only half of the story.

The late Victor Herbert, a renowned B12 researcher, said that many multivitamin products on the market today contain dangerous B12 analogs.

In other words, analogs get created when crystalline B12 interacts with other nutrients in multivitamin products, such as vitamin C, iron and copper  -- increasing your body's need for B12.  Does the company selling the multivitamin tell you this vital bit of information?  Probably not!      

Truth be told, most multi-vitamins sold today are a complete waste of money when it comes to their B12 quality and performance.  Now listen up:

Each bottle of B12 Energy Booster delivers a serving size (1,200 micrograms) of 6 sprays per day.  And you get approximately 205 metered  sprays in each container.  Because this ends up being a 34 day supply, you actually receive a nice bonus of 4 additional days!

How can you beat that?  And that's just the beginning.  Another nice feature of B12 Energy Booster*  is that it...

Comes in a Tasty Natural Spearmint Flavor

And in addition to tasting great, it's absolutely FREE of...

Better yet, it's also FREE of artificial flavors, color, synthetics, binders, fillers, wax, shellac, talcum and animal gelatin.

The bottom line is that our B12 Energy Booster is stimulant-free, contains only natural ingredients, and tastes great!  Best of all, it's packaged in a convenient pre-metered, non-aerosol container that easily fits in your purse or pocket.

For more information, please visit Dr. Mercola's website;

posted Saturday, March 27, 2010 1:36 PM by Linda Larson | 1 Comments

The ART of SENSUALITY

Sensuality vs. Sexuality

What is The Art of Sensuality?

1. Vision/Seeing
   
2. Audition/Hearing
   
3. Taste
   
4. Smell, and
   
5. Touch/Feeling
   

posted Monday, July 27, 2009 1:33 PM by Linda Larson | 0 Comments

Seven (7) Secrets for a Successful Marriage!!!

One couple I read about wanted a quiet wedding, so they requested that the ceremony be held in the parsonage instead of the church. The minister's wife made everything spotless for the occasion.

One matter, however, was overlooked. At the precise moment the minister said to the bride, "Do you take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?" the cuckoo clock above them squawked, "Cuckoo, Cuckoo!" – no less than seven times! During the rest of the ceremony the bride never did regain her composure.

Unfortunately, too many couples come to the altar with starry eyes, but too soon they become disillusioned and lose their composure and, sadly, never regain it.

In fact, the chances today of having a successful marriage are not encouraging. In North America, for every two marriages there is one divorce. But in one of the richest and most advances places on earth, Orange County in the Greater Los Angeles area, there are three divorces for every four marriages.

According to insurance statistics, married people of all ages have a greater life expectancy than single people. This being so, and if marriage is vital for the emotional development of our children and so deeply embedded in the fabric of human society after thousands of years of experience, why is it that so many marriages fail–especially in our highly enlightened age?

One reason is that we often overlook the fact that successful marriages don't happen by chance. They happen only through constant effort–by persistently practicing basic principles such as the following seven S-E-C-R-E-C-T-S.

S = Sort out roles. Times have changed dramatically. Among other things, modern conveniences and birth control have revolutionized married life. Wives and mothers are free to pursue careers. In many areas, two out of every three are employed. In North America, only 12 percent of families live in a "traditional" household where the husband is the bread winner and the wife stays home to care for the children.

Radical changes have brought a mass confusion of roles, which has helped contribute to the skyrocketing divorce rate. This is notably so among young couples under thirty who are four times more likely to get divorced than their parents.

For a successful marriage, both partners need to spell out and agree on their individual roles and responsibilities. If both are working (especially full time), both need to share home duties (inside and out), and help care for the children.

E = Expectations that are real. Based on our backgrounds we all come into marriage with preconceived ideas of what it should be like. Our expectations, however, are often unreal. For instance, if you had a parent who was a perfectionist and you felt you could never quite please him or her, chances are you may be a perfectionist too. If so, no matter what your spouse does, he or she will never be able fully to please you. Life can be difficult living with a perfectionist.

Or if you never felt adequately loved by a parent, chances are you may unconsciously try to get your partner to be a substitute mother or father. This obviously can never work.

These are only two examples of a myriad of ways unreal expectations develop – not to mention Hollywood's unrealistic influence. Whatever the reason, for a healthy relationship, marriage partners need to develop realistic expectations.

C = Commitment. I read about one lawyer who specialized in contract marriages. After three years, he gave up. Why? Because none of the marriages he contracted survived. Contracts without commitment are useless.

And marriages without commitment are equally useless. This means that every step necessary will be taken to make it work.

There also needs to be a commitment to one another – to the well-being, growth and development of each partner.

Marriage is a commitment of one imperfect person to another imperfect person. Without this kind of commitment no marriage today can expect to survive.

R = Responsibility. Responsibility as well as commitment are two of our greatest needs in today's world. Nowhere are they more important than in marriage and family relationships.

People who choose to get married are responsible for their choice, for fulfilling their responsibilities, and for doing all they can to make their marriage succeed. People who have children are also responsible for the well-being, growth and development of their children.

Everyone going into marriage brings into the relationship his or her personal problems and pockets of immaturity. Therefore, both partners are responsible for facing and resolving these problems and not blaming their partners for them.

Each partner is responsible for his or her own happiness, reactions and feelings. Nobody else can make us happy. If we haven't found happiness before marriage, marriage won't provide it. Happiness is a by-product of maturity. For that, each one of us is responsible. Only happy people make happy marriages.

E = Effective communication. Another secret for any successful relationship is knowing how to communicate effectively.

Peter Drucker, renowned management specialist, says that 60 percent of management problems result from faulty communication. According to criminologists, up to 90 percent of all criminals have problems with interpersonal communication. And according to a leading marriage counselor, at least half of all marriage breakdowns are caused by faulty communication.

Effective communication is based on knowing our thoughts, desires, motives and feelings – being honest with them and expressing them creatively. People who deny or suppress their inner feelings and true desires fail to communicate effectively and can never discover true intimacy.

T = Time management. A child whose parents never spend sufficient time with him or her feels unwanted and unloved. It's the same with a marriage partner. Time – in quantity as well as quality – is needed for any wholesome relationship to flourish.

In today's pressurized society it can be quite a challenge for couples to spend quality time together. By quality time we mean giving each other your presence; that is, being emotionally with your partner and communicating at the feeling level. There also needs to be quantity time; that is, sufficient time to meet each other's needs to "keep each other's love cup" topped up. We're not talking about clinging time as that will smother a relationship, but just being there for each other relating spirit to spirit and heart to heart.

S = Spiritual commitment. Research has shown that families who are committed to a strong religious faith have a much greater chance of staying together. It is still true, the family that prays together is much more likely to stay together. Marriage was instituted by God. He has a divine order for it. We can't improve on his plan. We just need to believe in it and practice it.

A good place to start is by finding a church that not only believes in God but also is committed to building healthy personal relationships and successful families.

Seven Secrets for a Successful Marriage

posted Thursday, July 16, 2009 3:28 PM by Linda Larson | 6 Comments

Why Guys Dump Girls They Dig!

Chances are, you've had at least one breakup that left you wondering, "What the heck just happened?" The guy dug you, you dug him, and the whole thing felt destined for a fabulous future — at least the foreseeable one. Then, out of nowhere, he bailed on the relationship.

So what went wrong? The sad truth is, maybe nothing. Here are five completely ridiculous reasons guys kick you to the curb. Warning: For the most part, it ain't pretty.

1. The Timing Is Off
Women get serious when they meet the right man. Men get serious with whomever we happen to be dating when we're finally ready to settle down. That means after every other aspect of our life is in order — whether it's finishing grad school, finally pulling down a good-size paycheck, owning a car outright — or when our friends start dropping like flies (that's guyspeak for getting married).

But if you catch a guy before he hits that magical stage of his life, then he's liable to bolt — like Patrick,* 28, who dumped Bridgett after two years, then got engaged to the next girl he dated after only 10 months. "When I was with Bridgett, all of my friends were single and I was still an intern with nothing going on in my career. So every time she'd bring up our future together, it felt like she was jumping the gun," he says. "I didn't break up with her because she was wrong for me. I ended it because I didn't want to commit to anyone right then. But by the time I met Elizabeth, I was in a settling-down frame of mind."

2. We're Not Finished Playing the Field
Men are natural-born one-uppers. If there's a possibility of upgrading what we already have for something better (that'll make our friends drool), we say, bring it on! So we wind up always wondering if you're really as good as it gets. (I know, scumbag mentality.) "Whenever I meet a new hot chick, I consider what it would be like to date her, even if I have a girlfriend at the time," says Andy, 30. "The grass is always greener. No matter how great his current girl is, a guy doesn't want to feel like he's missing out."

In addition to our opportunistic tendencies, most guys feel compelled to put as many sexual conquests under their belts as possible. "I admit it — I know the exact number of girls I've slept with, no mental calculation required," says Dan, 29. "That's how aware I am of how many notches I have. And I'd never commit until I felt like I'd experienced enough different women."

Every guy's definition of enough is different, so there's a chance he wrote you off just because you didn't come late enough on his own personal hit list. The moral of the story: Until we grow up, mark everything off our sexual checklists or have too many friends convince us that we can't do better than you, the flight risk is real.

3. We're Fixated on the Worst-Case Scenario
From the times you chastise us for leaving a wet towel on the bed to those nights you rip through a pint of fudge ripple without stopping to breathe, we file each incident in a mental folder labeled "Evidence She'll Change for the Worse." We flip through that file whenever we're trying to decide if we want to hang on to the relationship. Blame our married friends who took the plunge before us, but many single guys are hyperaware of what could go wrong down the road.

Even if we're crazy about you now, we panic that you'll pack on the pounds, want sex only once a month and nag us day and night. So we secretly flag certain things we're scared might be a harbinger of bad things to come. "I've seen it happen to too many of my friends," says Elliot, 29. "All they do is complain about how the sex takes a total nosedive after they get serious with a girl. So sometimes, even if the woman I'm dating is a saucy little minx, I freak out and bail."

4.We're in Like, Not in Love

It's harsh but true. In fact, it's probably the most common reason we bolt. Just because a guy likes you a lot isn't a guarantee that it will evolve into love. And we're surprisingly intuitive when it comes to figuring out a girl's potential on this front. "I stayed with one woman for two years because the sex was great and she never pushed the issue, but I knew the minute I met her that she wasn't The One," says David, 30.

So why do we invest any time in a relationship that we know will ultimately end? Because we're able to live in the moment for a while and chalk it up to a good experience. But once you show that you're way more into us than we are into you, we'll dump you out of guilt. "I dated this girl for about a year, but as soon as she started using the L word, I had to end it," recalls Jay, 29. "It was hard. I cared about her and didn't want to hurt her. But I knew that if I stuck around, she'd have been happier at first but miserable later on. After all, she deserved to be with someone who loved her as much as she loved me."

5. We're Too into You
Just when you thought it was all bad news, here's a hard-to-fess-up admission: Guys are protective of their emotions. Translation: We're scared spitless of being hurt. So, if we start to feel like we're getting into a situation where we'll be destroyed if you dump us, we might launch a preemptive strike and yank the plug first.

For Gary, 27, showing his girlfriend of two years the exit felt like the only choice. "She was the first girl I was serious with, and I didn't like letting someone have that much power over me. I was starting to feel emotionally needy, and that was uncomfortable for me," he recalls. "So I ditched her to save myself!"

Sounds crazy, but cut us some slack. Think about how vulnerable and paranoid you feel when you're nuts about a guy, and realize that we go through the same thing with girls we really like. But our friends aren't as good at helping us get over an ex as yours are, plus being openly heartbroken makes us look like wusses. Nope, it's better to act like a winner before you turn us into a loser, which is when our natural self-preservation may come into play. Before the real humiliation and pain assail us like a plague, ending the relationship seems like a good option.

Are You About to Be Jilted?Signs that your man's getting ready to bail:

His cell phone is always off. He might be spending time with someone he doesn't want you to know about ... or he just doesn't want to make himself available.

He's reluctant to make plans. If he hems and haws about committing to anything — even if it's in the semi-near future — he's thinking about making a break for it.

He's meaner. The passive-aggressive breakup is a guy standby. Some men intentionally turn into a-holes to make sure you break up with them.

He's not into sex. He doesn't want to feel connected to you — or he's getting his needs filled somewhere else.

posted Monday, June 08, 2009 10:18 PM by Linda Larson | 1 Comments

3 Ways Strong, Successful Women Fail in Love

Excerpt from PlentyofFish.com

3 Ways Strong, Successful Women Fail in Love

By Rori Raye

Are you afraid you intimidate a man with your success and independence? Do you have a lot going for you—you’re smart, together, attractive—but the men you date or are in relationships with often withdraw their affection or become clueless or distant and you don’t understand why?

The truth is that success and independence are magnets to a man. Men are not intimidated by smart women. However, a man can be turned off by the way you’re relating to him. You may be turning him off and failing in love because of your energy, not because you’re smart and have your act together.

Way to Fail #1 - Emasculate a Man by Out-Manning Him

One sure way to lose a man’s interest is to make ourselves “smaller” or “less-than” so we don’t intimidate him. We play down our strengths, successes and abilities because we think that men are competitive and want to be better than we are at everything. It’s simply not true!

If you’re a successful woman, revel in your success and happiness! Run everything at work, be firm, be tough, be managerial and multi-tasking. But when you’re on a date with a man, or at home, or hanging out together, don’t try to run or manage him.

There are subtle ways you may be doing this that completely emasculates a man and makes him feel not only terrible about himself, but turns him away from you. For example, he’ll tell you about a problem he’s having and you say, “You should do this…” or “If I were you, I wouldn’t do that…” This makes him feel managed—like he’s a child and you’re his mother. This isn’t a good feeling for a man. He wants to feel respected and admired, not mothered.

No man wants to be in a relationship with a woman that makes him feel like a child or with a woman who acts very masculine. When you take charge, have opinions about everything—including where you go and what you do—and what you think about him, you are displaying masculine energy.

You can be a doing, thinking, take-charge kind of woman at work, but in your love life, you should be a feeling, being and expressing kind of woman.

You can let a man know what you want and need by simply saying, “I’d like that” or “I don’t want that” or “that would feel good to me.” When he asks you where you’d like to go this weekend, you could say, “It would feel good to me to spend time outside enjoying the sun. I don’t want to stay stuck inside all day.”

Way To Fail #2 - Try to Manage Your Relationship

Being a woman means taking charge of your own life, but letting him run the relationship.

If that sounds odd and unfair and plainly not at all about female empowerment. But here’s a new way to look at this: Love isn’t a management opportunity. When a man pulls away from us, going after him and trying to “talk it out” to get him back full-force again is the kiss of death for your relationship, not the spark that will re-ignite it.

Save management for your life outside your relationship with a man—your time, your money, your work, your environment. A man is not a chair. You can’t move him around and decorate him and sit on him and make opinions about him and tell him where to stand and expect him to feel anything but friendship or obligation toward you. That means don’t tell him what he should wear, don’t give him advice on his career, don’t tell him what he should think about a certain topic.

To love, a man needs to be swimming in a sea of emotion – your emotion, shared willingly and openly. Your feelings are your compass, not your abilities. Your feelings are the most important part of you, the irresistible feminine part of you. Your feelings are what make you loveable and compellingly attractive to a man, especially if you speak about the way you feel and not about what you think.

So, the next time you’re tempted to manage and arrange things – stop yourself. Look inside your heart and body to find and share what you feel instead.

Way To Fail #3 – Do Too Much.

One drawback to being an accomplished, smart woman is that you know how to get a whole lot done. Often all at the same time. It’s just easier sometimes to do it yourself than to wait for him to do it. It’s easier to call him and ask him out and get the movie tickets online and make the plans—all so you don’t have to experience the frustration of watching him do a job that’s less well done than how you’d do it.

The cure for this is to learn to be surprised by a man, and not work so hard to make things happen. A woman who’s busy rowing the “rowboat of love” leaves a man with nothing to do. He either sits back and enjoys the ride or he does what we tell him to do— and I’ve never met a woman who thought either of those were attractive in a man.

So the next time you’re tempted to pick up those oars and do the work of the relationship – stop yourself. Instead – lean back in that “rowboat of love” and let him row. Let him decide to row and take the boat where he wants it to go. It’s always your choice to leave if you don’t like where things are going (or not going), but picking up those oars will only sink the boat, and leave you nothing to manage.

I’ve always been a woman who instinctively wants to take charge, and the way I was using those real, genuine strengths was killing my relationships with the men I loved. Over time, I learned how to harness my masculine, take-charge energy to become successful in my work, while basically giving up controlling a man in any way. This is what turned everything around for me nearly overnight.

posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:44 PM by Linda Larson | 2 Comments

REIKI - WORDS OF WISDOM

- Komyo Reiki Kai

posted Sunday, November 30, 2008 4:43 PM by Linda Larson | 1 Comments