Benefits of Cannabidiol

Posted on June 17, 2016 by marcia

Cannabidiol (CBD): The Cat’s Out of the Bag with This Cure-All

Makia Freeman
Contributor, ZenGardner.com

The truth about Cannabidiol (CBD)

and the cannabis plant in general can no longer be suppressed – and the exciting thing is that we are just at the beginning. We are literally just at the start on the long road of cannabis knowledge, which will take us to a deeper understanding of this astonishing plant, its varied uses and its manifold medical benefits. We still don’t even know how many cannabinoids (natural chemical compounds endemic to the cannabis plant) it contains – over the years the number has been revised in various places from 66 to 85 to 113+. We certainly don’t know the full range of effects of these cannabinoids, nor do we understand the synergistic way they work together, which is of the utmost importance. However, we do know enough to say that one of the foremost cannabinoids is cannabidiol or CBD, and we do know that it has incredible potential for healing a wide range of diseases, including diabetes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, migraines, asthma, scar tissue, Crohn’s, epilepsy, seizures, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer. Ironically, the whole propaganda campaign of “reefer madness” that tried to demonize marijuana in the 1930s-1950s insinuated that pot caused schizophrenia, and while THC can have some mildly negative psychoactive effects when smoked, it may turn out that CBD-rich cannabis oil cures schizophrenia, not causes it. This demonization campaign, as usual, was led by the Rockefellers and other rich NWO families who were scared that cannabis would destroy their monopolies, such as the Western medical drug industry.

Clearly, the tides of cannabis perception are turning, and many people have overcome the stigma to explore the vast nutritional and medicinal benefits of cannabis. This article focuses on the healing potential of the preeminent cannabinoid, CBD.

Guess Where Else Cannabinoids are Found?

Before we break down the phenomenal effects of CBD, here is a mind-blowing fact. Cannabinoids aren’t just found in the cannabis plant. They’re also found somewhere closer to home: you! That’s right: the human body itself has an entire system which utilizes cannabinoids. It is known as the endocannabinoid system (“endo” is from a Greek word meaning “within”). In this way, we can distinguish among endocannabinoids (those produced by the human body), phytocannabinoids (those produced by the cannabis plant) and synthetic cannabinoids (the approximately 17 synthetic versions produced by the pharmaceutical cartel). Synthetic cannabinoids, by the way, are Big Pharma’s way of trying to pirate and cash in on Nature by modifying or isolating a natural chemical or compound, making it slightly different to its natural state, getting a patent, then marketing it as a drug with a governmentally enforced monopoly. Some synthetic cannabinoids (such as K2, spice, marinol, etc.) have been taken off the market due to their dangerous nature, but after all, they are part of the Big Pharma business plan, and the greater New World Order synthetic agenda, so what do you expect?

The Endocannabinoid System

The cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, etc.), endocannabinoids and the related enzymes all make up the endocannabinoid system – and it’s not just some insignificant little system in the body. Evidence shows it to be essential in most if not all physiological systems, responsible for numerous processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, memory and immunity (yes, the endocannabinoid system influences the immune system too). The Italian researcher, Vincenzo Di Marzo, summed it up well in his 1998 study Endocannabinoids: endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligands with neuromodulatory action:

“‘Relax, eat, sleep, forget and protect’ might be some of the messages that are produced by the actions of endocannabinoids, alone or in combination with other mediators …”

How CBD Works

CBD is a miracle compound. Unlike THC, it does not bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors (CB1 or CB2), so it is not psychoactive and does not produce the high effect. Cannabidiol works through a number of complex mechanisms. Preclinical studies indicate that cannabidiol has the following list of extensive healing properties. The first 5 items on the list below all pertain to cannabidiol’s capacity as an anti-carcinogenic agent:

Anti-Proliferative: CBD stops cancer cells proliferating or reproducing. Many of its effects listed below stem from its ability to activate PPAR receptors. As the article How CBD Works states, “CBD also exerts an anti-cancer effect by activating PPARs [peroxisome proliferator activated receptors] that are situated on the surface of the cell’s nucleus. Activation of the receptor known as PPAR-gamma has an anti-proliferative effect as well as an ability to induce tumor regression in human lung cancer cell lines.”

Anti-Angiogenic: As the quote above also reveals, cannabidiol can stop cancer cells in another way, by preventing malignant tumors from forming the blood vessels they need to grow. The process of blood vessel creation is called angiogenesis, and since cannabidiol halts this, it is deemed anti-angiogenic.

Anti-Mitogenic: There is a 3rd way cannabidiol prevents cancer. It hinders or stops cell division (mitogenesis). One of the hallmarks of cancer is its unbridled growth, and amazingly, CBD actually stops the cancer spreading out of control by preventing the cancer cell from dividing and reproducing, and thus is deemed anti-mitogenic.

Anti-Metastatic: Metastasis is the process by which a cancer can spread around the body, especially to other organs which have no direct contact with it. Cannabidiol prevents cancer from spreading to other organs, so it is called anti-metastatic.

Pro-Apoptotic: Apoptosis is the medical word for programmed cell death. It’s an important part of every healthy and functional cell that it contains a program for apoptosis, so it can commit suicide or let itself die if it is compromised. Cancer cells characteristically do not undergo apoptosis, however cannabidiol is pro-apoptotic and actually induces cancer cells to die. Incredible!

Anti-Psychotic: In addition to showing impressive potential for curing cancer, cannabidiol also exhibits anti-psychotic properties, which means it could help heal a whole host of mental illnesses. As the aforementioned article How CBD Works states: “CBD’s enzyme-mediated activation of the PPAR-alpha receptor may have antipsychotic effects. Polymorphisms or mutations in the gene encoding PPAR-alpha can result in deficient PPAR-alpha signaling, which has been linked to schizophrenia. PPAR-alpha activation is both anti-inflammatory and can decrease dopamine release, thereby minimizing schizophrenic symptoms.”

Neuro-Protective: Neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) are another set of horrible diseases which are claiming the lives or more and more people. Fortunately, CBD shows potential for healing these too. Again, the issue comes back to the PPAR-activation (same article): “PPAR-gamma activation degrades amyloid-beta plaque, a key molecule linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. This is one of the reasons why cannabidiol, a PPAR-gamma agonist, may be a useful remedy for Alzheimer’s patients. As an aside, PPAR receptors also regulate genes that are involved in energy homeostasis, lipid uptake, insulin sensitivity, and other metabolic functions. Diabetics, accordingly, may benefit from a CBD-rich treatment regimen.”

Anti-Inflammatory: Inflammatory diseases are another massive set of diseases that haunt the populations in developed countries, especially the US. Many nutritional experts and doctors have highlighted the strong connection between inflammation and disease. As Dr. Mark Hyman writes:

“Inflammation is a “hot” topic in medicine. It appears connected to almost every known chronic disease — from heart disease to cancer, diabetes to obesity, autism to dementia, and even depression. Other inflammatory diseases such as allergies, asthma, arthritis, and autoimmune disease are increasing at dramatic rates …”

According to various studies cited by Medical Marijuana Inc, cannabidiol stops inflammation in various ways:

“[cannabidiol decreases] the production and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decrease the activation of the LPS-induced STAT1 transcription factor, a key factor in some of the pro-inflammatory process. CBD, however, also reduces the activity of the NF-kappaB pathway, a primary pathway regulating pro-inflammatory genes, and upregulates the activation of the STAT3 transcription factor, which induces anti-inflammatory events (Kozela, et al., 2010).”

Analgesic: Analgesic means pain-relieving. CBD is analgesic and is thus indicated for those suffering from inflammatory disease or conditions with chronic pain.

Anti-Convulsant: CBD has become famous for its ability to stop seizures and treat diseases such as epilepsy. The overwhelming consensus of case studies, surveys and pre-clinical animal studies shows that cannabidiol is a powerful anti-convulsant. For a sampling of the studies done on this, see here and here.

Pro-Anxiolytic: Finally, CBD also helps calms the nerves and reduce or eliminate anxiety, and thus is anti-anxiety or medically speaking pro-anxiolytic. The reason why CBD has this effect is probably due to its activation of the adenosine receptor. Adenosine receptors play major roles in brain and cardiovascular function (regulating oxygen intake and blood flow), as well as having anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body, which ties in with CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties.

How Cannabis Kills Cancer Cells

For those wanting a little more information on how cannabis kills cancer cells, I recommend watching a few of these short videos. The 1st video shows how and why cannabis curse cancer. The 2nd video is an interview with a man called Dennis Hill, a survivor of stage IV prostate cancer. Dennis reveals how our bodies make cancer cells all the time, but our immune system (which includes the endocannabinoid system) can normally handle them. However, when the immune system is compromised, it gets behind on killing cancer cells.

Cancer cells have distorted or damaged DNA. Luckily, when a cell turns cancerous, the number of cannabinoid receptors in the cell increases. The body uses its endocannabinoid anandamide to stimulate the production of ceramide, which kills cancer cell mitochondria, starving the cancer cell. The ceramide is intelligently guided; it somehow “knows” to kill damaged cells only and leave the healthy ones intact, much like the way vitamin B17, amygdala or laetrile works to selectively target cancer cells too.

The Future of CBD Oil: Made Without Solvents

Rick Simpson, the Canadian hero who made CBD-rich cannabis oil, gave it away for free and healed many people, came up with a form of CBD oil where he used a solvent to extract it. However, there are now many companies who are producing high-quality CBD oil from non-GMO, non-pesticided hemp, which they then decarboxylate (turn the acidic forms of the cannabinoids into the non-acidic forms, i.e. turn CBDa into CBD and THCa into THC, etc.). I believe in the future, due to the unstoppable momentum of cannabis oil, medical marijuana will become completely decriminalized and legalized, and people all over will have access to high therapeutic grade CBD oil which contains no THC or psychoactive agents.

Conclusion: Let’s Explore the Many Uses of Cannabis and CBD Oil

There are no coincidences in our world – only magic, mystery, synchronicity, conspiracy and connection of which we are often unaware. The sheer fact that our body has its own endocannabinoid system, parallel to the phytocannabinoid system of the cannabis plant, is a fact of key significance and beyond mere coincidence. Call it what you want – cannabis, hemp, marijuana, pot, weed, ganja or kush – this plant has massive potential as a first-class healer extraordinaire. It’s time for all of us around the world to study and use this plant for the bounty of benefits it offers, including making paper, textiles, cloth, rope, oil and fuel, as well as for its nutritional benefits (hemp seed, hemp seed oil) and medical benefits (CBD oil). It has already saved people’s lives. Imagine what else it can do …

from: http://www.zengardner.com/cannabidiol-cbd-cats-bag-cure/

New Info in DNA

Posted on June 17, 2016 by marcia

Physicists Discover A Second Layer Of Information Hidden In Our DNA

Arjun Walia

How does this relate to DNA? Well, there are many codes in our DNA that scientists have yet to crack. Parts of our DNA, for example have no known biological function, or at least we have yet to discover them. Maybe they have spiritual applications, or are connected to the non-physical realm in some way. These seemingly useless DNA are referred to as ‘Junk DNA,’ or ‘non-coding DNA.’ But we are learning more about them each day, as Scientific American reports, so the label isn’t entirely accurate.

We may think we know a lot, but the things we think we know and hold to be true are always changing. Science was no less valid to us 50 years ago than it is today, but theories have changed because we have learned more. And our knowledge of DNA has just changed again, as physicists have confirmed that there is a second layer of information hidden in our DNA, meaning that there is more than one way that DNA mutations can affect us.

The way DNA folds plays a role in controlling which genes are expressed inside of our bodies. When it comes to biology, we’re taught that DNA ‘makes us who we are’ through a sequence of letters. These codes would then determine which proteins to make in order to produce the necessary result. For example, there is a code for a protein that will make your skin brown, or your eyes dark, etc. All of this is determined by the way DNA is folded. Since the DNA in our body is extremely long, spanning a length of up to two metres, it has to be wrapped and folded in a certain way to fit inside of our bodies.

Scientists have known for a long time that the way it is wrapped and folded determines what proteins are expressed. Right now, biologists are currently working on isolating mechanical cues that determine how DNA is folded, which is influenced by a number of environmental factors, and other concepts like epigenetics. Even the way we think and perceive the environment, how feel, and what we believe can shape our DNA.

Some of these mechanical cues have been identified by a group of scientists at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Led by Helmut Schiessel, they were, as Science Alert explains, “able to show that these cues affected how the DNA was folded and which proteins are expressed – further evidence that the mechanics of DNA are written into our DNA, and they’re just as important in our evolution as the code itself.”

The discovery suggests that one day, we may be able to manipulate the mechanisms that determine the way DNA is folded in order to hide certain genes that produce deadly disease.

Is The Genetic ‘Tweaking’ Of Humans On Its Way/Already Here?

Genetic manipulation is already occurring, and in fact we recently published an article about the first human being to have their DNA manipulated to make their white blood cells 20 years younger (you can read more about that here). And all my research into black budget programs suggests that human genetic engineering is already happening to further militaristic agendas. The evidence for the existence of multiple super soldier programs and other, equally frightening projects is compelling, but that’s a discussion for another article, as is the black budget topic that’s linked above.

Today, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not, and it’s unfortunate that it takes a mainstream media outlet to acknowledge something before the masses consider it to be real. That’s a tremendous amount of power to hold, and we know the media has been corrupted by financial, corporate and other elitist agendas. (This is a much broader topic than I wish to address in this article, however; you can learn more about it in this article we published on the it.)

It really is fascinating to imagine what we may be capable of. Perhaps one day we will eradicate all disease by learning how to manipulate our genetics, turning certain genes on and others off, even discovering new ones. What if there is already an intelligent extraterrestrial civilization out there somewhere in the universe which has learned to tweak their DNA so they can live for hundreds of years?

The future of genetic manipulation holds endless possibilities, and while many people worry about the consequences of us playing God, I argue that perhaps these types of discoveries were just waiting there for us to stumble upon, and our natural progression toward these discoveries was all part of ‘the plan,’ if there is one. Perhaps we create it ourselves.

One thing is for certain though — as with any new discovery, it does not matter what we find or what technology we develop, it’s the consciousness and intention behind how we use this knowledge that matters. Our history of innovation has been consistently marred by violence and the misuse of power, so I can only hope we are approaching a more peaceful era at this stage of our development.

Sources used not listed within article:

http://phys.org/news/2016-06-layer-dna.html

from: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2016/06/09/physicists-discover-a-second-layer-of-information-hidden-in-our-dna/

Natural Wrinkle Remover

Posted on June 16, 2016 by marcia

This Really Works: Get Rid Of The Wrinkles Around Your Eyes Using Only These 3 Ingredients (Recipe)

bodymindsoulspirit

via HealthyWorld365,

This amazing new Japanese mask will erase the years from your face and make your skin look beautiful and smooth.

The Japanese have considered this cereal to be their beauty secret weapon. The rice is rich in vitamin B, which stimulates the cell regeneration and slows down the aging process.

All you need to prepare this amazing mask is:

2-3 tablespoons of rice
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of milk

Preparation:

Put 2-3 tablespoons of rice in a little bit of water and cook it until the rice is tender. Wash the cooked rice and put it in a bowl. Add one tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of milk and mix the ingredients. Apply this rice mask on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Wash the mask using water. You can keep the mask 4 days in the fridge, and you can use it every day.

After a few days you will notice that your skin is softer and smoother.

from: http://www.bodymindsoulspirit.com/get-rid-of-eye-wrinkles/

On Genetic Medicine

Posted on June 16, 2016 by marcia

What is Genetic Medicine?

Dr. Emilie C. Wilson

Genetic medicine emerges in the field of medicine as a response to the long-noted trend that, while pharmaceutical and other medications seem to work well for many, for many others they do not. As scientists and doctors have tried to understand why this is the case, they have begun to understand that our very genes could have a bigger impact than the medication’s effects.

Genetic medicine is targeted medical treatment based on an individual’s genetic “map”. It does require some fancy labwork, some of which must be ordered by a doctor, although these days some tests are available online without a doctor’s order. Treatments vary but people often respond quite well to targeted vitamin therapies.

We all have two sets of genes, one of which we inherited from our mother, and one from our father. It’s the unique combination of those sets of genes that make us Us, at least on a biochemical, physiological level.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the MTHFR enzyme (and the MTHFR gene that codes for it). If not, maybe you’ve heard about methylated folate, the active form of the vitamin folate (AKA folic acid). Many people will have also heard about the supplement SAMe, a rather expensive option on the ever-broadening supplement shelf. These are all related, and they all participate in a particular physiological process called “methylation,” which has lots of downstream effects on the way our bodies function. That’s because methylation is a critical process that affects DNA, or our genetic information, and affects how each and every one of our cells function. It does this by directing cell regeneration. If the methylation process doesn’t work properly, the cell regeneration in every cell of our body is compromised.

Methylation has three big functions in the human body that have a huge impact on our overall health:

1. Cell repair of injured cells

2. Cell production (especially making those cells that “turn over” quickly, e.g. immune cells and blood cells, the cells in our intestines)

3. Neurological function and mental health

The MTHFR gene codes for an MTHFR enzyme that is responsible for adding a methyl group, or “methylating,” the folic acid and therefore acitvating it in our bodies. Remember that we have 2 sets of genes (1 from Mom and 1 from Dad), so we have two sets of genetic information to make the MTHFR enzyme.

In many people both sets of the genes work just fine, so they are able to make many functioning copies of the MTHFR enzyme.

However, in some people one of the sets of genetic information may be broken, making them less able to methylate folic acid than someone with two functioning sets.

And in some people, both sets are broken, which greatly decreases their ability to methylate folic acid. They are still able to do so, but only at about 30% of what a person with two functioning genes would be able to do. Remember that methylation is a critical process to so many aspects of human health.

Most people who have these defects don’t even know that they do, because you can survive with two broken copies. However, we’re beginning to understand that having defects in these genes can manifest in many different ways, especially in mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, often with people who have not responded well to pharmaceutical medications. Other problems that can manifest from these genetic defects include sleep problems, poor recovery from workouts, low energy, digestive problems, and many other issues.

In recent years a genetic test has become available that looks for defects in the genes that code for MTHFR. These tests are available from your doctor. If you’d like to learn more about methylation and the MTHFR genes and what this could mean for you, please contact your doctor.

from: http://www.mindbodycenterforintegrativemedicine.com/#!What-is-Genetic-Medicine/f7zb9/56d892530cf25a66a536b966

Dr. Wilson is a Naturopathic Physician who practices in Seattle. Her website is: http://www.mindbodycenterforintegrativemedicine.com/

Considering Depression & Diabetes

Posted on June 15, 2016 by marcia

Depression and Diabetes: Too Much in Common

June 6, 2016

Dr. Emilie C. Wilson

Some healers, myself included, like to look for metaphors in medicine. A common metaphor used to understand diabetes is that the “diabetic patient lacks sweetness in her/his life”. While this is by no means meant to represent any individual patient’s experience with diabetes, some people do find an element of truth to this statement.

And when you consider that depression often coexists with diabetes, this statement gets even closer to home.

The medical community recognizes the relationship between elevated blood sugar levels and conditions such as heart and kidney disease; we now also recognize that elevated blood sugar and depression are also closely linked. Depressed patients are less likely to engage in effective self-care practices such as exercise and cooking nutritious meals from whole foods (foods that have one ingredient on their list/foods that come directly from planet earth: think fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, meat), which only exacerbates their increasing blood sugar levels.

Our bodies do not like our blood sugar levels to be too high (or too low, for that matter). As blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas pumps out more insulin to siphon the sugar out of our bloodstream and into the cells of our bodies for use as energy, or to be stored for later as triglycerides, or fat-storage molecules. The problem is that if we constantly have high levels of insulin in our bloodstream, the cells in our body become “resistant” to insulin. Think of insulin as a stereo, playing a message to the cells that glucose is outside, can they please open their doors and let in glucose in? The cells get that message and open up their doors. If, however, there is lots of glucose and therefore lots of insulin, the message played by insulin gets louder and louder. In an effort to “plug their ears” from insulin’s now-very loud message, the cells open fewer doors, so less glucose can get into the cells, and more insulin must then be produced. This is a state of insulin resistance, which is a precursor to diabetes, and occurs in the early stages of type II diabetes.

Among several other effects, insulin resistance and blood sugar dysregulation have marked disruptive effects on sleep, and can contribute to the development of sleep apnea. Sleep is one of the most fundamental activities required for optimum mental health, so sleep disturbance feeds the negative spiral into worsening health for patients suffering from depression and diabetes.

By addressing lifestyle factors including diet (primarily, removing refined carbohydrates from the diet and adding in protective antioxidants and polyphenols from fruits and vegetables, as well as appropriate amounts of protein), exercise levels (implementing realistic movement goals appropriate for each patient), and sleep (making sure you’re getting restful, rejuvenating sleep), we at the Mind-Body Center aim to help you feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically. We’ve also noticed that weight loss, an alert mind, regular and sustainable energy levels, and clear skin happen to be pleasant side effects!

from: http://www.mindbodycenterforintegrativemedicine.com/#!Depression-and-Diabetes-Too-Much-in-Common/f7zb9/5748c3d20cf25d206f8bce03

Benefits of Yoga & Meditation

Posted on June 15, 2016 by marcia

How Yoga changes your Brain

By Sat Bir Singh Khalsa on Wednesday June 15th, 2016

Can Regular Yoga and Meditation Improve Your Brain Function?

There is increasing evidence that yoga and meditation can improve our memory and attention, both help us to function at a higher level at work, home or in school. Furthermore, these benefits occur whether you’re new to yoga and meditation or a long-time practitioner, and studies show it might even help starve off age-related neural decline. The reason, neuroscientists have discovered, is that certain areas of our brain undergo positive structural changes when we meditate. Because the brain exhibits plasticity, which means it has the ability to change, whatever you experience will be reflected in – and have impact on – your brain structure.

Several groundbreaking studies have shown how meditation, especially when practiced over the long-term, can produce significant changes in the structure and mass within certain brain regions. For example, a continued meditation practice can produce a thickening of the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain that plays a key role in memory, attention, awareness, thought and language. Like a body builder who pumps iron, the bigger his biceps get, the heavier weights he can lift. Likewise, when we meditate, we exercise the parts of the brain that involve the regulation of emotion and mind-body awareness that lead to changes in brain activity and structure, which in turn improve our memory and attention.

Studies have shown how meditation can produce significant changes in the structure and mass within certain brain regions.

Studies show how meditation can produce significant changes in the structure and mass within certain brain regions.

One of my fellow researchers, Dr Sara Lazar of the Psychiatric Neuroimaging Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, found these brain changes to be especially apparent in long-time meditators. In her 2005 study, for example, MRI brain scans were used to assess cortical thickness in participants with extensive meditation experience (averaging about 9 years of experience and 6 hours per week of meditation practice), and a control group that did not practice yoga or meditation. Dr Lazar found the brain regions associated with attention, sensory, cognitive and emotional processing were thicker in meditation participants than those in the control group who did not engage in yoga or meditation.

This was the first significant study (of now more similar studies) to provide evidence for a link between long-term meditation practice and structural brain changes. Equally exciting is that the greater prefrontal cortical thickness found in the meditation group was most pronounced in older participants, suggesting that extensive meditation might also offset age-related cortical thinning. It appears that the brain regions associated with attention and sensory processing, which frequently diminishes over the years, can remain more youthful in those people who continue to practice meditation.

The brain regions associated with attention and sensory processing can remain more youthful.

In another interesting study conducted at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at UCLA, differences in the brain’s anatomy and structure called gyrification (or cortical folding) were also discovered in people who meditated. Although the implications of this research remain to be fully established, the findings from this study support the possbility that meditation can lead to changes in regulation of activities including daydreaming, mind-wandering, and projections into the past or future, and a possible integration of autonomic, emotional, and cognitive processes.

And while research reveals long-term meditation can produce structural changes in specific areas of the brain that enhance our ability to learn, one does not have to practice for thousands of hours to reap the positive brain benefits. Dr Lazar also found that these increases in grey matter in some regions of the brain occurred after just 8-weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Education (MBSR), a formal program involving meditation and some yoga practice. These results suggest that even short-term participation in meditation-related practices can lead to changes in grey matter concentration in brain regions that are involved in learning and memory processes, as well as in emotion regulation.

Yoga-Brain Fact: If you practice yoga and meditation techniques on a regular basis, your brain will be better able to cope with stress and emotion. This brain enhancement will help you to maintain higher levels of learning and memory.

Long-term meditation can enhance our ability to learn.

Yoga makes us Smarter

Think about how we feel when we’re stressed. We might eat more, lose our appetite, sweat profusely, or simply want to bury our troubles in mindless television or computer games. What happens to our brains when we are under stress is that our bodies increase the secretion of cortisol, a well-known stress hormone. When faced with sustained, high levels of chronic stress, the associated high levels of cortisol can actually be toxic and even fatal to our brain cells. Because our hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning, is particularly vulnerable to high sustained cortisol levels, we may ultimately compromise our learning and memory capacities when faced with uncontrolled chronic stress. By managing stress through yoga and meditation, you can actually improve your memory, concentration, and your ability to learn.

While researching the effects of long-term yoga and meditation, I found an intriguing study that reported improvements in attention, mood and stress over a very short time period. When a group of 40 undergraduate students were given 5 days of 20-minute meditation training, this group showed significantly better attentional abilities and control of stress than a similar control group of 40 students given only relaxation training, including greater improvement in attention, lower anxiety, depression, anger and fatigue and an elevated mood.

There was also a significant decrease in stress-related cortisol.

These studies, which are just a few of those being conducted today, clearly show a strong relationship between our ability to maintain attention and our responsiveness to stress and emotional reactivity. In other words, the more one practices the contemplative skill of controlling attention through meditation and yoga, the more one has a manageable stress response and improved emotional reactivity. Ultimately, our cognitive performance is most efficient and at its optimal level when we are more in control of our stress and emotions.

Our cognitive performance is most efficient and at its optimal level when we are more in control of our stress and emotions.

The Effects of Yoga on Memory and Decision Making

Yoga and meditation not only make our brain more efficient, they also improve brain activity related to decision-making and cognitive performance. In a research study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana, scientists compared the effects of a yoga exercise session to aerobic exercise, the results showed that the memory retention and cognitive performance after yoga was significantly superior (ie. shorter reaction times, increased accuracy) to aerobic exercise. The reason yoga can be better for the brain than aerobics (although both are good), is that it allows us to cope with stress and emotions more effectively.

Long-term yoga improves concentration, processing and motor speed

Research clearly indicates that yoga and meditation, especially a long-term practice, improves the way our brain functions, including our ability to concentrate and perform well on certain tests. In one study comparing 15 yoga practitioners with a control group of non-practitioners and involving a series of tests for attention, the yoga group performed significantly better. Long-term practitioners of yoga and meditation showed greater attention span, processing speed, attention alternation ability,and performance in interference tests.

Another recent study also showed improvement in cognitive functioning and dexterity among 57 research volunteers who were given tasks requiring attention, visual scanning and motor speed. Each participant was assessed before and after three types of sessions: yoga meditation, supine rest, and control (no intervention). The results showed that the yoga condition was associated with the greatest improvements in psychomotor functioning with no improvement in test skills for those who did not practice yoga and meditation.

Yoga was associated with the greatest improvements in psychomotor functioning.

Yoga Improves Computation Skills

Many people believe that equation solving and memorisation are the most effective ways to improve one’s mathematical aptitude—all of which can be extremely time-consuming and, to the math phobic, feel like an ordeal. The fact is that sessions of yoga and tai chi can also sharpen your mathematical ability. These were the findings of a Bolo University of Miami School of Medicine study in which 38 adults participated in a session that included two minutes of tai chi movement and two minutes of sitting, standing, and lying down yoga poses. The researchers measured self-reported math computation skills of each participant before and after the session. The findings showed that the tai chi/yoga participants performed better on basic math after the workout. Why? The increased relaxation may have contributed to the increased speed and accuracy noted on math computations following the tai chi/yoga class.

Yoga as a learning tool for students around the world.

Another study providing preliminary evidence that yoga may improve academic performance of children in schools was done on 8OO teenagers in India. The students in this study who were engaged in a yoga program performed better academically than those who did not do yoga. Researchers selected 159 high-stress students and 142 low-stress students. Both groups were given tests in mathematics, science, and social studies. Those who participated in a 7-week yoga program of (poses), pranayama (breathing exercises), and meditation performed better in academics than those who did not do yoga. The study also concluded that low-stress students performed better than high-stream students, showing, once again, that indelible connection between stress and academic performance.

from: http://upliftconnect.com/how-yoga-changes-your-brain/

Are You Eating Your Vaccines?

Posted on June 15, 2016 by marcia

Patent Reveals Plan To Hide Vaccines In Food Particles

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Sean Adl-Tabatabai

A disturbing patent discovered this week reveals plans to hide vaccines within food particles without the public knowing about it.

US Patent application ‘US20080044481 A1’ (“Microparticles for oral delivery”) was filed in 2005, and allows drugs and vaccines to be embedded into tiny invisible particles of food.

Activistpost.com reports:

Are we to assume the technology hasn’t yet been applied? Is it operating at a stealth level? I’ll try to answer these questions in a minute. But first:

The inventor and assignee is listed as Mordechai Harel, who was associated with Advanced BioNutrition Corporation of Columbia, Maryland. Here are a group of quotes from the patent application. The statements leave no doubt about the wide, wide application of the technology.

“The particles described herein can be used to deliver bioactive agents (e.g., nutrients, drugs, vaccines, antibodies, and the like), bacteria (e.g., probiotic bacteria), smaller particles, or substantially any other material to the animal.”

“The particles described herein can be prepared and used as free-flowing dry powders, slurries, suspensions, and the like, and are useful for delivering to an animal a drug, a pesticide, a nutrient, a vaccine, a smaller particle, or substantially any other composition that can be contained in the particles. The particles are thus suitable for use in human food products, animal feeds (e.g., pet foods and farmed animal diets), therapeutic compositions (e.g., drugs), prophylactic compositions (e.g., vaccines, antibiotics, and probiotic bacterial preparations), and pest control products among other products.”

“A ‘particle’ is a discrete piece of a (homogeneous or heterogeneous) material having a maximum dimension not greater than 5000 micrometers.”

“Furthermore, when the microparticles are to be used as components of a food product, it can be desirable that the microparticles are not visible.”

“The particles described herein can be used to deliver substantially any chemical species, combination of chemicals, cell, or other piece of matter that can be incorporated into the particle to a component of an animal. All such items are referred to herein as ‘bioactive’ compositions, regardless of what the utility of the composition is. Bioactive compositions include, for example, pharmaceutical compositions or compounds, nutraceutical compositions or compounds, nutritional components, probiotic bacteria, bacteriophages, viruses, flavorants, fragrances, detergents or other surface-active compositions.”

“Examples of these [deliverable micro] agents include antibiotics, analgesics, vaccines, anti-inflammatory agents, antidepressants, anti-viral agents, anti-tumor agents, enzyme inhibitors, formulations containing zidovudine, proteins or peptides (such as vaccines, antibodies, antimicrobial peptides), enzymes, (e.g., amylases, proteases, lipases, pectinases, cellulases, hemicellulases, pentosanases, xylanases, and phytases), liposomes, aromatic nitro and nitroso compounds and their metabolites, HIV protease inhibitors, viruses, and steroids, hormones or other growth stimulating agents, pesticides, herbicides, germicides, biocides, algicides, rodenticides, fungicides, insecticides, antioxidants, plant and animal growth promoters, plant and animal growth inhibitors, preservatives, nutraceuticals, disinfectants, sterilization agents, catalysts, chemical reactants, fermentation agents, foods, animal feeds, food or animal feed supplements, nutrients, flavors, colors, dyes, cosmetics, drugs, vitamins, sex sterilants, fertility inhibitors, fertility promoters, air purifiers, microorganism attenuators, nucleic acids (e.g., RNA, DNA, PNA, vectors, plasmids, ribozymes, aptamers, dendrimers, and the like), antioxidants, phytochemicals, hormones, vitamins (such as vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12; C, D, E, and K, pantothenate, and folic acid), pro-vitamins, carotenoids, minerals (such as calcium, selenium, magnesium salts, available iron, and iron salts), microorganisms (such as bacteria, such as probiotics, lactobacilli, fungi, and yeast), prebiotics, trace elements, essential and/or highly unsaturated fatty acids (such as omega-3 fatty acids, and mid-chain triglycerides), nutritional supplements, enzymes (such as amylases, proteases, lipases, pectinases, cellulases, hemicellulases, pentosanases, xylanases, and phytases), pigments, amino acids, agriculturally useful compositions to either prevent infestation (such as herbicides, pesticides, insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, mixtures thereof) or to promote growth (such as hormones, fertilizers, or other growth stimulating agents), flavorants, and fragrances.”

I’d say that’s a wide range of application, wouldn’t you?

Did you notice, among the blizzard of compounds deliverable through invisible microparticles, the drug called zidovudine? That’s AZT, a chemo medicine used to treat AIDS patients. To say AZT is toxic would be a vast understatement. It destroys the ability of cells to replicate. And back in 2005, it was mentioned as a drug that can be delivered in food.

So is this technology being applied? Do we, in fact, have these microparticles and their bioactive components in our food?

Let’s go back to the 2005 patent application. As I mentioned, the inventor, Mordechai Harel, was associated with a company, Advanced BioNutrition Corporation. On the company’s website, we find a link to a scientific paper co-authored by Roger Drewes, who became the company’s chief science officer in 2010 (“A novel targeted delivery technology for protecting sensitive bioactive compounds…”). This is an interesting paper. Here is some of the language in the paper. Does any of it remind you of quotes from the 2005 patent application? The paper mentions a novel and proprietary “delivery technology,” MicroMax, which “protect[s] sensitive bioactive compounds through food manufacturing processes.” Also mentioned: a “formulation containing natural polymers surrounding the probiotic bacteria or other biologically active materials…” The probiotic bacteria “remain quiescent while retaining their activity for a long period of time under challenging…gastric conditions…[MicroMax was tested using] bacteria, essential oils, vitamins, enzymes, pigments, and even vaccines in a variety of food and feed products…and the microparticles were sieved to deliver the desired particle range…”

This might help. Here is the abstract from the 2005 patent application: “The invention provides microbeads containing oil-associated biologically active compounds and methods for their manufacture and use. The microbeads consist of a soluble complex of non-digestible polymer and emulsifier with oil-associated biologically active compounds embedded in a matrix of digestible polymer. The disclosed microbead complex protects the biologically active compounds, such as vitamins, fish oil and carotenoids, from oxidation, taste and odor degradation. The disclosed microbeads also provide protection from the stomach digestive distraction [e.g., gastric activity] and allows for the delivery of the biologically active compounds in the intestine.”

I think we’re looking at the same technology in the 2005 patent application and in Advanced BioNutrition Corp’s MicroMax methods—or two technologies that closely resemble each other—in which case, yes, invisible microparticles in food are much more than a proposed system. This is a working system, available now. It can deliver a stunning array of chemicals and bioactive substances to people in their food. (Note: I have no idea what Advanced BioNutrition Corp is or isn’t delivering to its customers—but I think the company should make these facts known.)

Who knows what other companies have, and are using, this technology?

Are we looking at zero informed consent to be treated, in food, with medicines and vaccines? Zero knowledge on the part of the public? Zero accountability? Nothing on the food labels?

If this is happening to the population now, the word “stealth” only begins to describe it.

from: http://yournewswire.com/patent-reveals-plan-to-hide-vaccines-in-food-particles/

Twists of the Mind

Posted on June 12, 2016 by marcia

The 9 Types of Intelligence Which Make Us All Human

Phillip Schneider, Staff

Waking Times

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein

Think about when you were younger and would sit in class just wondering about the world you live in. Maybe you were thinking about the big questions in life. Who are we? Why are we here? Or maybe you were thinking about a book you were reading or a conversation you had with your friends. Maybe you were reflecting on the day or just absorbing the rhythm and melody of your favorite song.

Although you might have thought that you were simply daydreaming, this may be a key sign of intelligence.

Metaphorically speaking, most people view the intellect as nothing more than a basin, albeit a leaky one, waiting to be filled with the ideas of others. On the contrary, the true intellect is more personal. It is a unique gift that must be self-discovered for an individual to truly flourish.

In 1983, a developmental psychologist from Harvard University, Howard Earl Gardner, proposed a theory that will make you question the way you view intelligence, as well as the structure of our education system. He hypothesizes that intellect comes in nine different types, and that each person best expresses their own unique intelligence. However, we all possess each type on some level and can develop our skills in each category.

1. Musical-Rhythmic and Harmonic

The first type of intelligence is musicality, or the ability to recognize various tones, rhythms, notes and harmonies. These people tend to be the best musicians and can have a genius ability to compose music, play instruments or sing.

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” – Victor Hugo

2. Visual-Spatial

Visual or spatial intelligence is the ability to visualize two or three-dimensional images with the mind’s eye. Those with spatial intelligence tend to be very successful in any area that requires this type of thinking, such as the artist or architect who can plan out works in their head, and then manifest them in three-dimensional reality.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” – Albert Einstein

3. Verbal-Linguistic

The third type is linguistic intelligence. This type does best when dealing with words and language. Writers, story-tellers, poets, and translators all fall into this category. The ability to remember events associated with different dates on a timeline is also common for the linguistic type of intellect.

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” – Tony Robbins

4. Logical-Mathematical

Fourth is the intelligence of reason, also known as logical or mathematical intelligence. This is the intelligence that deals with numbers, facts, and statistics. It is the type of mind that can be spectacular at picking apart the details of a problem, but not so great at seeing the bigger picture. Logic and critical-thinking are very important staples of the left brain and anyone with a strong logic-type intellect could be very successful with a career in computer science or engineering.

“As a human being, one has been endowed with just enough intelligence to be able to see clearly how utterly inadequate that intelligence is when confronted with what exists. – Albert Einstein

5. Body-Kinesthetic

In other words, motor skills. This is the type of intelligence that can control the body’s motions and reactions. Athletes, dancers, actors and soldiers all express this type of intelligence as do musicians because of their ability to handle instruments with precision.

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

6. Interpersonal

The interpersonal intellectual understands the emotions, motivations and thoughts of others. High social skills are present, as well as a great ability to work in groups or as part of a team. Inter-personals find it easy to communicate and empathize with others, sometimes making them misunderstood as extroverts or superficial.

“Friendship… is not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” – Muhammad Ali

7. Intrapersonal

The intrapersonal is the reflective type who can best relate to himself or herself. This type of intelligence deals with the ability to understand ones own uniqueness, strengths and weaknesses.

“The better you know yourself, the better your relationship with the rest of the world.” – Toni Collette

8. Naturalistic

The naturalist is able to communicate on some level with the life-force of Earth. The recognition of flora and fauna, and the intuition to understand the natural world are expressions of the naturalistic intellect. Hunters, gatherers, and farmers fall into this category along with botanists and chefs. It is a sensitive intelligence type often with great cognitive ability to memorize plant species, rock, and mountain types. Naturalists best understand man’s role in the greater ecosystem of the planet.

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

9. Existential

Existential intelligence, also known as spiritual intelligence, is the rarest. It encapsulates everything we do not see or hear, but is instead in tune with the knowledge of existence. It is the spiritualist, astrologer, and the psychic. This intelligence type understands that there is more to reality than what we can see and usually seeks fulfillment in alternative practices such as meditation or yoga, which others don’t always understand.

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science. Whoever does not know it and can no longer wonder, no longer marvel, is as good as dead, and his eyes are dimmed.” – Albert Einstein

Is the education system holding children back from proper development?

Is it possible that our current educational paradigm is not allowing children to develop their own intellectual abilities? It could be that the intense focus on math, science, and literature is actually stunting growth in many of the next generation’s children instead of helping each child become everything they can be. Perhaps the next generation of kids would be more in tune with their own unique gifts if the education system opened up to the concept of multiple intelligences and allowed for a more holistic approach to learning instead of always demanding intellectual conformity.

from: http://www.wakingtimes.com/2016/06/10/9-types-intelligence-which-make-us-all-human/

Standing Bear Speaks

Posted on June 12, 2016 by marcia

10 Quotes From a Sioux Indian Chief That Will Make You Question Everything About Our Society

By Dejan

Luther Standing Bear was an Oglala Lakota Sioux Chief who, among a few rare others such as Charles Eastman, Black Elk and Gertrude Bonnin occupied the rift between the way of life of the Indigenous people of the Great Plains before, and during, the arrival and subsequent spread of the European pioneers.

Raised in the traditions of his people until the age of eleven, he was then educated at the Carlisle Indian Industrial Boarding School of Pennsylvania, where he learned the English language and way of life. (Though a National Historical Landmark, Carlisle remains a place of controversy in Native circles.) Like his above mentioned contemporaries, however, his native roots were deep, leaving him in the unique position of being a conduit between cultures.

Though his movement through the white man’s world was not without “success” — he had numerous movie roles in Hollywood — his enduring legacy was the protection of the way of life of his people.

By the time of his death he had published 4 books and had become a leader at the forefront of the progressive movement aimed at preserving Native American heritage and sovereignty, coming to be known as a strong voice in the education of the white man as to the Native American way of life.

Here, then, are 10 quotes from the great Sioux Indian Chief known as Standing Bear that will be sure to disturb much of what you think you know about “modern” culture.

1) Praise, flattery, exaggerated manners and fine, high-sounding words were no part of Lakota politeness. Excessive manners were put down as insincere, and the constant talker was considered rude and thoughtless. Conversation was never begun at once, or in a hurried manner.

2) Children were taught that true politeness was to be defined in actions rather than in words. They were never allowed to pass between the fire and the older person or a visitor, to speak while others were speaking, or to make fun of a crippled or disfigured person. If a child thoughtlessly tried to do so, a parent, in a quiet voice, immediately set him right.

3) Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regardful of the rule that ‘thought comes before speech.’…and in the midst of sorrow, sickness, death or misfortune of any kind, and in the presence of the notable and great, silence was the mark of respect… strict observance of this tenet of good behavior was the reason, no doubt, for his being given the false characterization by the white man of being a stoic. He has been judged to be dumb, stupid, indifferent, and unfeeling.

4) We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, the winding streams with tangled growth, as ‘wild’. Only to the white man was nature a ‘wilderness’ and only to him was it ‘infested’ with ‘wild’ animals and ‘savage’ people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the Great Mystery.

5) With all creatures of the earth, sky and water was a real and active principle. In the animal and bird world there existed a brotherly feeling that kept the Lakota safe among them. And so close did some of the Lakotas come to their feathered and furred friends that in true brotherhood they spoke a common tongue.

6) This concept of life and its relations was humanizing and gave to the Lakota an abiding love. It filled his being with the joy and mystery of living; it gave him reverence for all life; it made a place for all things in the scheme of existence with equal importance to all.

7) It was good for the skin to touch the earth, and the old people liked to remove their moccasins and walk with bare feet on the sacred earth… the old Indian still sits upon the earth instead of propping himself up and away from its life giving forces. For him, to sit or lie upon the ground is to be able to think more deeply and to feel more keenly. He can see more clearly into the mysteries of life and come closer in kinship to other lives about him.

8) Everything was possessed of personality, only differing from us in form. Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library and its books were the stones, leaves, grass, brooks, and the birds and animals that shared, alike with us, the storms and blessings of earth. We learned to do what only the student of nature learns, and that was to feel beauty. We never railed at the storms, the furious winds, and the biting frosts and snows. To do so intensified human futility, so whatever came we adjusted ourselves, by more effort and energy if necessary, but without complaint.

9) …the old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man’s heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living things soon led to lack of respect for humans, too. So he kept his children close to nature’s softening influence.

10) Civilization has been thrust upon me… and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity.

from: http://www.lifecoachcode.com/2016/01/08/10-quotes-from-a-sioux-indian-chief/

WHAT!!! Clean Food is BAD for You???

Posted on June 12, 2016 by marcia

Orthorexia Nervosa – New mental disorder aimed at people who insist on eating a clean diet

by: Mike Bundrant

(NaturalNews) In a world where meaning is malleable, you can twist the truth however you want. You can create a story to make worthwhile endeavors look bad. You can make harmful practices appear attractive.

The mental health system has recently taken a shot at making healthy food choices appear dangerous, if you can imagine, especially when those choices are your top priority.
Clinicians are actively diagnosing patients with orthorexia nervosa, the extreme desire to eat pure food.
This is not a parody. It’s actually happening.
If you have a strong desire to eat pure, uncontaminated food, then you could be suffering from a mental disorder per this new medical labeling trend.
According to the Guardian: Orthorexics commonly have rigid rules around eating. Refusing to touch sugar, salt, caffeine, alcohol, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn and dairy foods is just the start of their diet restrictions. Any foods that have come into contact with pesticides, herbicides or contain artificial additives are also out.

Doctors and mental health professionals are very concerned, of course, as orthorexia nervosa seems to be ‘on the rise.

Ursula Philpot, chairperson of the British Dietetic Association mental health division, was quoted as follows:
I am definitely seeing significantly more orthorexics than just a few years ago. Other eating disorders focus on quantity of food but orthorexics can be overweight or look normal. They are solely concerned with the quality of the food they put in their bodies, refining and restricting their diets according to their personal understanding of which foods are truly pure.

Philpot further asserts:

Those most susceptible are middle-class, well-educated people who read about food scares in the papers, research them on the internet, and have the time and money to source what they believe to be purer alternatives.
Are you with me? If you are well-educated, like to do your own research and eat only foods that you (all by yourself) determine to be healthy and pure, then it is safe to say that you are at risk for ‘catching’ orthorexia nervosa.
Yes, orthorexia, is something that you can catch like a disease, according to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA). On the NEDA website, they ask the questions: Why does someone get orthorexia? This positions orthorexia as capable of latching onto you like a cold.

Other authorities position orthorexia as a brain disorder

A 2013 study associated orthorexia with impaired executive functioning (based on self-reporting). This means, according to researchers, that the better you do with cognitive tasks, including planning and decision-making, the less likely you are to have orthorexia.
So, if you’re high functioning and smart, you shouldn’t have problems eating chemically-laden food, at least once in a while.
If your brain is not functioning properly, then you’re very likely to begin insisting that everything in your diet consist of real food.
I don’t know if orthorexia nervosa is a grand conspiracy – another way to misle innocent people into eating junk. If it were a conspiracy, it would be a brilliant one. I can’t imagine a better message from the likes of big food and big pharma.

We could boil down this message as follows:

Hey, we’re busy profiteering by infecting the planet and the food supply with chemicals. If you insist on avoiding our noxious faire, then you’re a mental case. Your brain has gone haywire and you should seek professional help from one of our mental health representatives.

When you arrive, you will be diagnosed mentally ill, of course. But don’t worry, we have pills for that. We’ve got you covered! Soon, your brain will be corrected and you’ll have no problem eating our crap.

Do you have orthorexia nervosa?

WebMD can help get started down the path to diagnosis. Just ask yourself the following questions, per their website:
• Are you spending more than three hours a day thinking about healthy food?
• Are you planning tomorrow’s menu today?
• Is the virtue you feel about what you eat more important than the pleasure you receive from eating it?
• Has the quality of your life decreased as the quality of your diet increased?
• Have you become stricter with yourself?
• Does your self-esteem get a boost from eating healthy?
• Do you skip foods you once enjoyed in order to eat the “right” foods?
• Does your diet make it difficult for you to eat anywhere but at home, distancing you from friends and family.
• Do you feel guilt or self-loathing when you stray from your diet?
• When you eat the way you’re supposed to, do you feel in total control?
Are any of these leading questions? You be the judge.

The ‘symptoms’ are common

There are people out there that experience anxiety about chemicals in their food. There may be people who are obsessive about eating only 100% pure food – and will go to any length to avoid food manufactured with impure ingredients. This may mean avoiding food at social gatherings, refusing certain foods prepared by others and taking considerable time planning and preparing meals.
Are all natural health advocates candidates for this diagnosis?
Natural health lovers be warned. One nutritionist says that you are in danger if you eat only healthy food. To quote Jennifer Culbert (SAR’09), a registered dietician:
So if someone cuts out processed food, or things that are genetically modified, or not grown organically, the danger is that they can become malnourished or underweight.

Got it? You must eat processed food, GMO’s and plenty of non-organic ingredients in order to avoid malnourishment.
How much more ridiculous can we get here, folks? My brain is spinning as I pick myself up off the floor. Laughing your ass off is dangerous, too. You can fall out of your chair.

Let’s be fair, though

The originator of the term is one Steven Bratman, MD. Dr. Bratman has taken some heat for his new term. On his website, he explains very carefully that he never intended for his concept to applied to anyone who is merely pursuing health by eating well. It was only intended for those who are suffering from an over-focus or “unhealthy obsession” with pure food.
I understand. I am sure there are those who take it too far. Not by eating only 100% real food 100% of the time, but by alienating others in their life who choose to eat a conventional diet. After alienating those around them, the health obsessed individual could get pretty lonely. This could be a valid concern.
Additionally, I am sure it is possible to become so paranoid about your food the even the purest and healthiest food choices available become suspicious. At this point, you might begin to dangerously restrict your diet.
Another fair point: Orthorexia nervosa is not an official diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual (DSM). It is merely used by clinicians, but not officially sanctioned by the APA.
Fair enough. The problem, however, is that clinicians are using it as a practical diagnosis and some of them appear to quite sloppy about it, in my humble opinion.
For example, one registered dietitian, Julie Upton, reported to the Huffington Post, “We have no specific criteria [for orthorexia], but we know it when we see it.”

And thus the problem with the mental health system in general and with mental “disorders.” The labels are there. If you get one, then you are officially mentally ill. You have a brain disorder. Yet, there are rarely, if ever, tests to validate the so-called brain disorder prior to prescribing meds.
There are pills to chemically alter your brain, but no tests. Have you ever had your child diagnosed as ADHD and put on psychiatric drugs? What tests were done to determine the physiological necessity of the drug?
In the case of orthorexia nervosa, there apparently aren’t any criteria for diagnosis. Clinicians “just know.” How dumb do you doctors, dietitians and counselors think we are?

The other problem is this: There is absolutely nothing wrong with eating a 100% clean, healthy diet 100% of the time!
Check the reference links below and you will discover that I am not making this stuff up.
Hey! Are you an orthorexic?

Sources:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

http://www.theguardian.com

http://www.huffingtonpost.com

http://www.orthorexia.com/

http://www.webmd.com

http://www.bu.edu

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/048886_orthorexia_nervosa_healthy_food_brain_disorder.html#ixzz4BODPgguX