Organic Foods Health

Why Is the Gates Foundation Helping Monsanto Push Genetically Modified Food?

Your Organic Friend — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:35:46 +0000

NAIROBI, Kenya—In the sprawling hills of the Kangundo district in Kenya’s Eastern Province, just a few hours outside of capital city Nairobi, Fred Kiambaa has been farming the same small, steep plot of land for more than 20 years.
Born and raised just outside Kathiini Village in Kangundo, Kiambaa knows the ups and downs of agriculture in this semi-arid region. He walks up a set of switchbacks to Kangundo’s plateaus to tend his fields each morning and seldom travels further than a few miles from his plot.
Right now, all that remains of his maize crop are rows of dry husks. Harvest season finished just two weeks ago, and the haul was meager this time around.

“Water is the big problem, it’s always water. We have many boreholes, but when there is no rain, it’s still difficult,” he said.
Kiambaa and his wife, Mary, only harvested 440 pounds of maize this season, compared to their usual 2,200. They have six children, meaning there will be many lean months before the next harvest, and worse: Though March is Kenya’s rainiest month, it’s been mostly dry so far.
“The rain surely is not coming well this year. Rain is the key. We can only pray,” he said.
WONDER CROPS?
Farmers like Kiambaa are central to a push to deploy genetically modified (GM) technology within Kenya. In recent years, donors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have invested millions of dollars into researching, developing and promoting GM technology, including drought-resistant maize, within the country — and have found a great deal of success in doing so through partnerships with local NGOs and government bodies.
The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), a semi-autonomous government research institution, recently announced that after years of trials, genetically modified drought-resistant maize seeds will be available to Kenyan farmers within the next five years. Trial GM drought-resistant cotton crops are already growing in Kidoko, 240 miles southeast of Nairobi.
Researchers and lobbyists argue that in a country so frequently stricken by food shortages, scientific advancements can put food into hungry bellies. Drought-resistant seeds and vitamin-enriched crops could be agricultural game changers, they say.
But serious concerns about viability, corporate dependency and health effects linger — even while leading research firms and NGOs do their best to smooth them over.
Agriculture dominates Kenya’s economy, although more than 80 percent of its land is too dry and infertile for efficient cultivation. Kenya is the second largest seed consumer in sub-Saharan Africa, and Nairobi is a well-known hub for agricultural research. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, farming is the largest contributor to Kenya’s gross domestic product, and 75 percent of Kenyans made their living by farming in 2006.
Half of the country’s total agricultural output is non-marketed subsistence production — meaning farms like Kiambaa’s, where nothing is sold and everything is consumed.
On top of that, the country is still reeling from the worst drought in half a century, which affected an estimated 13 million people across the Horn of Africa in 2011. Kenya is home to the world’s largest refugee camp, housing 450,000 Somalis fleeing violence and famine, increasing the pressure to deal with food security challenges.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga recently called on parliament to assist the estimated 4.8 million Kenyans, in a country of about 40 million, who still rely on government food supports, as analysts predict that this year’s rainy season will be insufficient to guarantee food security.
“The situation is not good… Arid and semi-arid regions have not recovered from the drought,” Odinga said.
At the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), a massive NGO working on GM research and development in partnership with KARI, Regulatory Affairs Manager Dr. Francis Nang’ayo says GM crops are “substantially equivalent” to non-genetically modified foods and should be embraced as a solution to persistent drought and hunger.
In 2008, the AATF received a $47 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This partnership involved the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and American seed giant Monsanto.
In 2005, the Water-Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) program became one of the first main partners in a program aimed at developing drought-resistant maize for small-scale African farmers. Monsanto promised to provide seeds for free. The Gates Foundation claimed at the time that biotechnology and GM crops would help end poverty and food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Gates Foundation had invested $27.6 million in Monsanto shares.
Donors had been investing millions in KARI for decades in an effort to develop seeds that would produce pest- and disease-resistant plants and produce higher yields. Monsanto promised results, with the goal of distributing its seeds to small-scale farmers across Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
Since then WEMA’s African partners have made major strides in bringing GM crops to Kenya, most notably when KARI announced in March that it is set to introduce genetically modified maize to farmers’ fields by 2017. Until 2008, South Africa had been the only country using GM technology. Now Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi, Mali, Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana are researching GM seeds and growing trial crops of cotton, maize and sorghum.
“Five years ago it was only South Africa that had a clear policy. Since then a number of countries have put their acts together by publishing policies on GM technology laws. In Kenya we’re moving on to create institutional mechanisms,” said Dr. Nang’ayo.
Deeply Divided
But Nang’ayo and his team face several challenges. Popular opinion on the technology is deeply divided in Kenya, in large part due to suspicions about the giant foreign corporations that control it.
Monsanto-patented seeds are usually costly, which has led to numerous accusations of exploitation and contemporary colonialism. But how long will these particular strains of seeds last? What are the guarantees? Critics fear dependence on corporate fertilizers and pesticides, the emergence of super-weeds and pests that can no longer repel GM varieties, and terminator seeds that only last for one planting season.
At Seattle’s AGRA Watch, a project of the Community Alliance for Global Justice, director Heather Day said there aren’t enough questions being asked about introducing GM technology to developing countries.
“Our campaign started because of our concern about the Gates Foundation’s influence on agriculture and the lack of transparency and accountability. We also have ecological concerns, in terms of food sovereignty and farmers’ ability to control their food system. We need to be concerned about the industrialization of the agricultural system,” she said.
AGRA Watch’s objective is to monitor and question the Gates Foundation’s push for a “green revolution” in Africa.
Monsanto has promised an indefinite supply of royalty-free seeds for this project, but Day said the pitfalls have the potential to devastate the continent’s agriculture.
“Genetically modified crops actually haven’t been that successful,” Day said. “We’ve seen massive crop failure in South Africa, and farmers there couldn’t get financial remedies or compensation for their losses. There’s genetic resistance and super-pests, these things are happening now, and it’s not surprising. It’s what you would expect from an ecological standpoint.”
The horror stories are real — in India, for example, farmers who purchased Bollgard I cotton seeds from 2007 to 2009 wound up spending four times the price of regular seeds, and paying dearly for it. It was believed that Monsanto’s patented GM seeds would be resistant to pink bollworms, which were destroying cotton crops across swaths of India, but by 2010 Monsanto officials were forced to admit that the seed had failed and a newer breed of far more aggressive pests had emerged. The solution? Bollgard II, an even stronger GM cotton seed.
As of December 2011, Monsanto was actively promoting the latest Bollgard III cotton seed, stronger than ever before. Pesticide spending in India skyrocketed between 2007 and 2009, forcing thousands of farmers into crushing debt, and hundreds more into giving up their land. Some media outlets later drew a connection between the Bollgard debacle and a rash of suicides across farms that had purchased the seeds.
Land Grabs
Kenya is a country where land-grabbing is all too common, be it on the coast to make way for new tourist resorts, or in Nairobi, where slum demolitions left hundreds homeless when the government bulldozed several apartment buildings to reclaim an area near the Moi Air Base.
Farmers here are skeptical of risking everything for a few seasons of higher yields. In Kangundo, Kiambaa said he would try GM technology if it was a matter of life or death — but he is wary.
Kiambaa uses the Katumani breed of maize, a widely available seed that is reasonably drought-tolerant and affordable. Higher yields are tempting, of course, but Kiambaa said he doesn’t want to chance his livelihood on a foreign corporation. While his family has been on the land for decades now, Kiambaa said they didn’t get to farm it until British colonialists returned it to local farmers. He pointed out trees that line the steep hillside, planted by the British.
“It’s because of Mzungus that we have charcoal,” he said, smiling wryly.
After the last harvest, Kiambaa can’t even afford to use Kenya’s standard DAP fertilizer, which costs 59 cents per pound. Instead, he has a lone cow tied to a post in his fields.
“This provides the fertilizer we need. We can’t afford anything else. The maize yield could have been much better, but we know our plants will grow each year. It is better we keep it the way it is. My family has been on this land for 100 years. We have always survived,” he said.
At the National Biosafety Authority (NBA), CEO Willy Tonui claims media hysteria and inaccurate reporting are to blame for resistance to GM technology, arguing the NBA maintains stringent guidelines about GM seeds in Kenya. Referring to the plans to allow GM maize seeds in by 2017, Tonui said, “The National Biosafety Authority does not have the mandate to introduce GM maize or any other crop into Kenya. We only review applications that are submitted to the authority. To date, the authority has not received any application on commercial release of GM maize or any other crop.”
Anne Maina, advocacy coordinator for the African Biodiversity Network (ABN), a coalition of 65 Kenyan farming organizations, said that’s not a good enough answer.
“Who’s controlling the industry?” she asked. “If you are going to talk to the National Biosafety Authority, they’ll tell you the information is available, but there is a confidential business information clause where whoever is controlling the industry is not held accountable. The level of secrecy and lack of transparency is unacceptable.”
Farmers’ Needs
The ABN has actively lobbied the government since 2004 to crack down on GM technology slowly filtering into Kenya, with some measure of success. A 2009 Biosafety Act required all GM imports to pass stringent government standards before entering the country.
Maina recognizes the uphill battle she’s facing.
“Our public research institutions must shift their focus back to farmers’ needs,” she told The Indypendent, “rather than support the agenda of agribusiness, which is to colonize our food and seed chain. We believe that the patenting of seed is deeply unethical and dangerous.”
Joan Baxter is a journalist who has spent years reporting on climate change and agriculture in Africa. Reporting now from Sierra Leone, Baxter was quick to point out that even if a farmer chooses not to use GM technology, it won’t guarantee crop safety.
“Farmers are always at risk of contamination from GM seeds. That has been shown in North America. The farmers [in Africa] may lose their own seeds, perhaps be given GM seeds for a year or two, then have to purchase them and be stuck in the trap and in debt,” she said.
Like Maina, Baxter sees a problem in how GM technology is being marketed, and slowly introduced, into African countries, under the guise of ending famine. With climate change becoming an increasingly influential factor in the GM debate, Baxter said companies claiming to help are only looking for profit.
“Basically this is disaster capitalism. The disaster of hunger and drought, climate change and policy-related, is now a profit opportunity for Monsanto and Syngenta. The Gates Foundation buying shares in Monsanto tells you what the real agenda is: To get GMOs in Africa,” she said.
In 2010, NBA’s CEO resigned after it was revealed that 280,000 tonnes of GM maize had found its way into Kenya from South Africa through the Port of Mombasa.
Farmers mobilized en masse after the Dreyfus scandal (named for the South African company responsible for shipping the seeds) was revealed, marching on Parliament to demand an end to secret imports. After the most recent GM announcement, however, there were no protests. The long rains that would ensure a good yield haven’t come. The drought may continue.
Added to the potential problems with GM technology are health risks—the strains of maize that were illegally imported in 2010 had been deemed unsafe for children and the elderly. Maina also worries about animal feeding trials that showed damage to liver, kidney and pancreas, effects on fertility, and stomach bleeding in livestock that has consumed GM feed. A more recent study carried out on pregnant women in Canada found genetically modified insecticidal proteins in their blood streams and in that of their unborn children, despite assurances from scientists that it wasn’t possible.
The political scandal that erupted after 2010’s illegal imports brought GM technology into the forefront of Kenyan public debate, but last year’s massive drought has shifted public and political discourse. The ABN doesn’t have a $47 million grant to keep it going, and the pressures it faces from politicians and corporations, now waging their own propaganda war, are overwhelming.
GM Treadmill
At the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health in Toronto, researchers recently released a report titled “Factors in the adoption and development of agro-biotechnology in sub-Saharan Africa.” The report, which was financed by a grant by the Gates Foundation, came to the conclusion that “poor communication is affecting agbiotech adoption,” and that “widespread dissemination of information at the grassroots level and can spread misinformation and create extensive public concern and distrust for agbiotech initiatives.”
Lead researcher Obidimma Ezezika declined to comment on Monsanto’s involvement with GM technology, and denied that his team was creating corporate propaganda.
“I think it is important to actively and soberly engage in the debate by offering facts to the policy makers, media and public on ag-biotech which will dispel fears and anxieties,” he told The Indypendent.
The mounting evidence, health questions and political scandals all mean Kenya would be wisest to take a step back before jumping on board the GM train, says Maina.
“Our key concern is that the development of insecticides and pesticides is primarily the emergence of companies getting farmers to buy highly toxic chemicals, which they will become totally dependent on. We don’t yet know the extent of the health risks posed, nor how we are expected to trust companies that have a record of putting small farmers out of business. It is time for sober second thought,” she said.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Your Organic Friend — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:40:11 +0000

There are several misconceptions that surround coconut oil, which arise mainly due to its high concentration of saturated fats. However, the ethnic cultures that exist in the tropical regions of the world are living testimony to the myriad health benefits that can be derived from the consumption of coconut oil. Since time immemorial these cultures have subsisted on a diet rich in coconut oil and have exploited its medicinal and healing properties as well. Modern science has also corroborated these claims and coconut oil is widely used today in the manufacture of skin and hair products as well as in the prevention and treatment of numerous diseases and disorders. We shall now elaborate on some key benefits that can be garnered from this ultimate health food.

Prevents virulent bacterial infection – Coconut oil contains a very powerful anti-bacterial chemical known as lauric acid, which has been found to be an effective defense against virus and bacterial diseases such as influenza, herpes, cytomegalovirus and the dreaded HIV. It strengthens the body’s immunity against harmful bacteria such as listeria and giardia lamblia. Due to its antiseptic benefits, coconut oil has been extensively used in the ancient medical practice of Ayurveda.

Hair Care – Ever wondered why the people in the Indian subcontinent sport such a healthy growth of hair? Their secret is the extensive use of coconut oil, which has been found to be the best natural nutrition for hair. People in India and parts of south Asia regularly use coconut oil by massaging it into their hair and scalp after bath. Applying coconut oil on the hair before or after a bath would prevent the formation of dandruff and cleanse your scalp of lice and other tiny parasites.

Prevents heart diseases – Although coconut oil comprises of 90 per cent saturated fats, it is ironically a very useful prevention against heart diseases. This is due to the presence of lauric acid, which stabilizes the high cholesterol, and blood pressure levels in the body and contributes to sound heart health. The high concentration of saturated fats present in coconut oil reduces the incidence of arterial injury and prevents the onset of arteriosclerosis.

Effective weight loss cure – Coconut oil has been found to be an effective catalyst that aids in the process of weight loss. The oil contains small to medium sized chains of fatty acids that raises the body’s metabolism. As a consequence the body is able to burn more energy and tangibly reduces excess body fat in obese individuals. This is one of the reasons why people living in tropical coastal areas who use coconut oil as a cooking medium are normally slim and slender.

Bolsters the immune system – An organic diet that includes virgin coconut oil can work wonders for your immune system due to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. These immunity-strengthening properties are attributed to the presence of antimicrobial lipids as well as lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid, which further strengthen the resilience of the body’s immune system. This is one of the reasons why HIV infected patients are fed a diet consisting of organic healthy foods including coconut oil, which replenish their nutritional requirements and strengthen their immune system.

Antiseptic properties – Coconut oil is a naturally occurring antiseptic that when applied to wounds or infected skin, creates a chemical layer that protects the infected portion from bacteria, dust and viruses. Coconut oil is also used as a natural cure in the treatment of infectious diseases such as measles, herpes, hepatitis and SARS. Several skin infections including ringworm, candidiasis, athlete’s foot and thrush.

Prevention of kidney and gall stones – Calciferous stones that are formed in the kidneys due to the build up of unfiltered calcium can be successfully dissolved by using virgin coconut oil as a cooking medium.

Prevents diabetes – Consumption of coconut oil can effectively prevent the development of diabetes. This is because coconut oil helps in regulating blood sugar levels and also normalizes the secretion of insulin.

Prevents osteoporosis – Coconut oil improves the absorption of essential minerals such as calcium body. This makes it very effective prevention against degenerative bone diseases such as osteoporosis, which is caused due to the lack or improper absorption of calcium. Coconut oil is hence very useful for middle-aged women who are more prone to bone diseases.

Effective treatment for malnutrition – Since coconut oil is relatively cheap and widely available in most parts of the globe, it has been used as an effective treatment for malnutrition. In many third world countries where wholesome nutritious food is unaffordable by the poorer sections of society, coconut oil is consumed as it an easy source of nutrition and also facilitates the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals including calcium, vitamin A, D, E and K.

In addition to its plethora of health benefits, coconut oil has been known to produce a calming effect on the mind when applied on the scalp as hair oil. Weight watchers and body-builders alike can also benefit majorly from this organic healthy food as it is very low in calories and packed with valuable nutrients for the healthy growth and development of the body.

Best Organic Foods to Prevent Heart Diseases

Your Organic Friend — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:42:46 +0000

Heart disease is the new scourge of the 21st century, which continues to take its toll in the developed world. According to recent statistics, cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of more than 900,000 people in the US each year. Decades of improper diets consisting largely of hydrogenated fats, processed junk foods and refined carbohydrates are some of the major causes of obesity and heart diseases today. This affliction can be averted however by consuming an organic diet that is low in fats and high in essential nutrients and vitamins. Let’s take a look at some of the best organic health foods, which can prevent the onset of heart diseases.

Organic zucchini – According to a recent study, consuming organic vegetables such as zucchini can significantly lower the risk of heart diseases. The study revealed that a cup of organic zucchini contains approximately 10% of the RDA of magnesium. The presence of this rare mineral is what makes zucchini such an effective vanguard against heart diseases and strokes. Zucchini is also a rich source of folate, a vitamin which reduces the levels of a harmful amino acid known as homoscystein. The high content of a dietary fiber in zucchini makes it an effective solution for lowering cholesterol levels in the body. The dietary fibers present in zucchini attach themselves to the bile acid. This compels the liver to produce more bile acid and significantly reduces the levels of cholesterol in the body.

Organic cherries – High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or LDL in the blood has been found to be the root cause of most heart diseases and strokes. These afflictions are brought on when the LDL particles begin to corrode the walls of the arteries. The build up of plaque in the artery walls creates more pressure on the heart to pump oxygenated blood and eventually triggers on a cardiac arrest or stroke. Organic cherries have a high content of anthocyanins, which repair the blood vessel walls in the body and keep the heart healthy by preventing the build up of plaque.

Organic Oranges – Oranges are one of the healthiest organic fruits that increase the hearts resilience against cardiovascular diseases. Oranges are especially useful for people who consume foods that are high in polysaturated fats. A diet consisting of these fats typically increase the levels of harmful LDL cholesterol in the blood, which in turn causes arteriosclerosis. Due to its high content of Vitamin C, organically grown oranges are an effective and natural treatment against arteriosclerosis. Since, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant; it helps in the regeneration and repair of damaged blood vessels in the body and keeps the heart healthy. Also due to its high content of dietary fibers, oranges have been found to lower cholesterol levels significantly. Additionally, the peel of the fruit contains an alkaloid called synephrine, which has also been found to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

Organic Achai Berries – Achai berries have been recommended to people who follow poor diets and lack of exercise as these organic fruits have a high content of anthocyanins, a chemical that has been found to be an effective prevention and cure for heart diseases. Anthocyanins prevent the build up of plaque in the blood vessels and improve the circulation of blood to the various chambers of the heart. Consuming an organic diet that includes Achai berries is thus an effective way to prevent heart diseases and strokes.

Organic Pineapples – Coronary Thrombosis is a fatal heart affliction which is caused by the development of blood clots in one or more blood vessels. The growth of blood clots in the vessels impedes the flow of blood to the heart and ultimately leads to a massive heart attack. Fortunately, organic pineapples have been found to prevent the development of blood clots by improving the circulation of blood in the arteries. Organic pineapples are specifically beneficial for frequent flyers who are prone to blood clots while traveling.

Organic Cereals – Organic healthy foods such as cereals are a rich source of Vitamin E, which in turn improves the circulation of blood and prevents heart diseases. The high fiber content present in organic whole-wheat grains reverses the damaging effects of LDL oxidation, thus preventing blockages and clots in the arteries.

Effective Ayurvedic tips to prevent heart diseases

Ayurveda, the ancient medicinal science that originated in the Indian subcontinent has advocated some very efficacious methods to prevent heart diseases. According to this natural herb based science, cholesterol plays a vital role in lubricating and supporting the numerous circulatory channels in the body. It is only when metabolic waste particles known as ama and amavisha are allowed to accumulate that the circulatory channels in the body are blocked, leading to a host of cardiovascular diseases. Here are some compelling Ayurvedic tips to keep your heart safe and healthy.

A Healthy Diet – Ayurveda is a strong proponent of consuming a healthy and well balanced diet. In order to do so, you should negate meat completely and instead incorporate fresh organic fruits and vegetables into your meals. The Amla fruit has a high content of antioxidants that nourish the tissues of the heart and prevent arterial damage by eliminating the free radicals in the body.

Improve circulation – Poor blood circulation has been attributed to the build up of harmful plaque in the walls of the arteries. If left unchecked, this can lead to hardening, inflammation and ultimately death. In order to improve circulation in the body, Ayurveda has recommended the consumption of the organic herb known as Arjuna. This miraculous herb has been used effectively to reduce arterial congestion, lower blood pressure and strengthen the cardiac muscles in the heart.
Relax & De-Stress – When the heart is overstressed due to panic and anxiety, a high pressure syndrome is created on the valves of the heart to pump blood, eventually leading to coronary thrombosis. Hence, keeping your mind and body relaxed is one of the foremost principles recommended by Ayurveda for the attainment of sound heart health. A wonder herb known as Ashwagandha is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to effectively relieve tension and stress in the heart region.

Yoga Exercises – In order to boost the supply of oxygen to the heart, Ayurveda has recommended several yoga exercises such as the powerful ‘Sun Salutation’ and daily breathing exercises known as Pranayama. When practiced religiously these exercises have been proven to ensure sound cardiovascular health.

Heart diseases are on the upswing these days mainly due to the consumption of highly processed and adulterated food products. Hence, adequate exercise coupled with an Ayurvedic diet that includes organic fruits and vegetables would culminate in the creation of a healthy disease free heart and increase your lifespan by a few good many years.

Best foods for a Healthy Heart

Your Organic Friend — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:29:08 +0000

Organic Salmon – Organic salmon is the richest source of omega 3 fatty acids, which plays an integral role in strengthening the body’s immune system, reduces blood clots and keeps the heart healthy. Omega 3 fatty acids boost the HDL or good cholesterol levels in the body, while lowering its triglyceride levels. By increasing the HDL levels in the blood, the presence of plaque building LDL cholesterol is effectively reduced, thus averting the risk of arteriosclerosis.

Heart diseases are on the upswing these days mainly due to the consumption of highly processed and adulterated food products. Switching to an organic diet that is free of adulterants and pesticides can ensure sound heart health and prevent you from becoming a casualty of various heart diseases and strokes in the future.

Best Organic Foods for a Weight loss Program.

Your Organic Friend — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:35:24 +0000

The process of weight loss is not just a dietary fad but a lifestyle choice that involves a multi-pronged approach consisting of adequate exercise, self discipline and most importantly a nutritious low calorie diet. Most people often make the mistake of attributing their obesity to the overindulgence of food. Although this is partially true, studies have shown that the mass adulteration of food along with genetic modification is one of the major reasons for abnormal weight gain in developed countries. Switching to a low calorie diet comprising of organic healthy foods that are free of toxic adulterants and pesticides has proven time and again to be the best natural way to lose weight. If you are on a weight-loss program, this article will be of particular interest to you as well will list the best organic foods that can help you reduce weight effectively.

Organic Pineapple – Despite its mouthwatering sweet and tangy flavor, organically grown pineapples are extremely low in sugar and calories. Organic pineapples are thus an excellent dietary supplement for people aspiring to lose weight as its inherent sweet flavor, satiates the sugar cravings of the dieter, thus preventing him from binging on unhealthy chocolates and sweets during the weight loss program. Organic pineapples can safely be consumed in large quantities by the dieter due to its minimal calorie content. It is a rich source of dietary fiber that would curb the appetite of the dieter and prevent him from overeating.

Organic Green Tea – Green tea is a very popular Asian beverage that is consumed by people from all around the world for its numerous health benefits. Organically grown tea has a higher concentration of beneficial nutrients as it is cultivated without the addition of harmful pesticides. Organic green tea has been found to be a very effective remedy for weight loss as it hastens the body’s metabolic rate. As a consequence, the body starts rapidly burning up the stored fat contained in the adipose tissues and the dieter starts losing weight naturally. Organic green tea also increases the body’s stress tolerance levels and prevents the dieter from getting unduly stressed out after vigorous weight loss exercises.

Organic almonds – Don’t be surprised if your weight loss professional recommends a daily dose of almonds. Though these nuts contain high amount of monosaturated fats, they have been found to very beneficial in shedding the pounds. According to recent studies, people who have regularly included almonds in their diet have significantly lower body mass indexes. This is due to the resilient structure of the cell walls present in almonds, which restrict the absorption of fat by the body. As a result a person could be eating a handful of almonds but the quantity of calories absorbed would be significantly lower and thus aid in losing weight.

Organic coconut oil – Virgin coconut oil that is derived from organically grown coconuts has been found to be an effective weight loss catalyst. This is due to the presence of small chains of fatty acids that hasten the body’s metabolic rate. As a result the body begins to burn more energy and drastically reduces the excess body fat in the dieter. This explains why people living in tropical coastal regions of the world are usually on the slender side.

Organic Broccoli – Organic broccoli is one of the best health foods that are highly recommended by doctors and weight loss professionals. During weight loss, most dieters have to drastically restrict their quantity of food intake and consume just the minimum calorie requirement per day. Organic broccoli is perfect for weight loss as it is extremely low in calories and replenishes the essential intake of daily vitamin and mineral requirements in the dieter. Moreover, due to its high fiber content, broccoli creates a feeling of fullness in the dieter, thus preventing him or her from overindulging in high calorie food.

Organic spinach – Organic spinach with its high concentration of essential Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C and E has been found to be a very healthy and effective weight loss food. Due to the extreme dietary restrictions imposed on most weight watchers, their nutritional requirements are often neglected, which can result in severe health problems. Hence, nutrient rich organic healthy foods such as spinach are highly recommended during weight loss due to their extremely low calorie count and high content of essential nutrients and vitamins.

Organic cereals – Organic cereals are acknowledged as the quintessential health food for all weight watchers and dieters alike. The high fiber content of organic cereals causes the slow release of glucose in the body. This prevents the excess storage of sugar in the form of fat in the body and effectively aids in weight loss.

The above were just a few of the many organic health foods which can facilitate weight loss. As a weight loss aspirant, be sure to include all organic foods that are low in calories, rich in fiber and essential vitamins and minerals in your weight loss diet. By doing so, you would be able to triumph over your long standing battle with obesity and live a healthier life in the long run.

7 REASONS TO NEVER EAT GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

Your Organic Friend — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:50:03 +0000

With the increased awareness about Genetically Modified Food or GMOs, people are increasingly started to know the hazards of GM free food for health and other reasons. But besides these reasons there are other few which are critical enough to convince us from staying away from GMOs. Let discuss a few of them.

1. Increased Pesticide Use

US government data shows that in the US, GM crops have produced an overall increase, not decrease, in pesticide use compared to conventional crops.

“The promise was that you could use less chemicals and produce a greater yield. But let me tell you none of this is true.” — Bill Christison, President of the US National Family Farm Coalition.

2. They Have Been Shown To Be Dangerous To Your Health and Unsafe To Eat

Genetic modification is a crude and imprecise way of incorporating foreign genetic material (e.g. from viruses, bacteria) into crops, with unpredictable consequences. The resulting GM foods have undergone little rigorous and no long-term safety testing. However, animal feeding tests have shown that GM foods have toxic effects, including abnormal changes in organs, immune system disturbances, accelerated aging, and changes in gene expression. Very few studies have been published on the direct effects on humans of eating a GM food. One such study found unexpected effects on gut bacteria, but was never followed up.

It is claimed that Americans have eaten GM foods for years with no ill effects. But these foods are unlabeled in the US and no one has monitored the consequences. With other novel foods like trans fats, it has taken decades to realize that they have caused millions of premature deaths.

GM foods are an imminent threat to humanity’s food supply. Besides the ethical concerns, genetic pollution is self-perpetuating. It can never be reversed or cleaned up. Genetic mistakes will be passed on to all future generations of a species. Wind, rain, birds, bees, and insect pollinators have begun carrying genetically altered pollen into adjoining fields, polluting the DNA of crops of organic and non-GM farmers. This has been happening all over the world for more than a decade. Theoretically, it genetic pollution continues, it could obliterate the world’s natural organic food supply. Use of herbicide-resistant crops will also lead to an accelerated increase in the use of herbicides, resulting in even greater pollution of our food and water with toxic agrochemicals.

“We are confronted with the most powerful technology the world has ever known, and it is being rapidly deployed with almost no thought whatsoever to its consequences.” — Dr Suzanne Wuerthele, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) toxicologist

3. GM Foods Are Hidden In Animal Feed

As a spokesperson for Asgrow, a subsidiary of Monsanto, said, “If you put a label on genetically engineered food, you might as well put a skull and crossbones on it.” The GM industry has avoided, to a degree, the problem of consumer rejection of GM foods by hiding them in animal feed. Meat, eggs and dairy products from animals raised on the millions of tons of GM feed imported into Europe do not have to be labelled. Some studies show that contrary to GM and food industry claims, animals raised on GM feed ARE different from those raised on non-GM feed.Â Other studies show that if GM crops are fed to animals, GM material can appear in the resulting products and affect the animals’ health. So eating these “stealth GMOs” may affect the health of consumers.

4. GM and non-GM Cannot Co-Exist

GM contamination of conventional and organic food is increasing. An unapproved GM rice that was grown for only one year in field trials was found to have extensively contaminated the US rice supply and seed stocks. In Canada, the organic oilseed rape industry has been destroyed by contamination from GM rape. In Spain, a study found that GM maize “has caused a drastic reduction in organic cultivations of this grain and is making their coexistence practically impossible”.

The time has come to choose between a GM-based, or a non-GM-based, world food supply.

Alfalfa is the main forage crop for dairy cows and one of the principle foods for beef cows, especially grass-fed cattle. Alfalfa is a perennial, easily lasting five years once planted. And it’s bee-pollinated, which means each year, every non-GM alfalfa plant within five miles of every GM alfalfa plant will likely be contaminated by GM genes.

“If some people are allowed to choose to grow, sell and consume GM foods, soon nobody will be able to choose food, or a biosphere, free of GM. It’s a one way choice, like the introduction of rabbits or cane toads to Australia; once it’s made, it can’t be reversed.” — Roger Levett, specialist in sustainable development.

5. Long-term Economic Disaster For Farmers

A 2009 report showed that GM seed prices in America have increased dramatically, compared to non-GM and organic seeds, cutting average farm incomes for US farmers growing GM crops. The report concluded, “At the present time there is a massive disconnect between the sometimes lofty rhetoric from those championing biotechnology as the proven path toward global food security and what is actually happening on farms in the US that have grown dependent on GM seeds and are now dealing with the consequences.”

6. GM Companies Cannot Be Trusted

The big biotech firms pushing their GM foods have a terrible history of toxic contamination and public deception. GM is attractive to them because it gives them patents that allow monopoly control over the world’s food supply. They have taken to harassing and intimidating farmers for the “crime” of saving patented seed or “stealing” patented genes — even if those genes got into the farmer’s fields through accidental contamination by wind or insects.

Monsanto has been the largest player in the GM foods game. They have single handedly made the United States the world’s biggest producer of GM foods, pesticides and herbicides. Founded in 1901, Monsanto has manufactured industrial chemicals (e.g. sulphuric acid), plastics and synthetics, and saccharin, a carcinogenic artificial sweetener. It has also produced or granted production licenses for most of the world’s toxic PCB’s which are now mostly banned worldwide.

“Farmers are being sued for having GMOs on their property that they did not buy, do not want, will not use and cannot sell.” — Tom Wiley, North Dakota farmer.

7. GM Foods Will Never Solve The Food Crisis

A 2008 World Bank report concluded that increased biofuel production is the major cause of the increase in food prices. Biofuels are crops grown for fuel rather than food. GM giant Monsanto has been at the heart of the lobbying for biofuels — while profiting enormously from the resulting food crisis and using it as a PR opportunity to promote GM foods!

“The climate crisis was used to boost biofuels, helping to create the food crisis; and now the food crisis is being used to revive the fortunes of the GM industry.” — Daniel Howden, Africa correspondent, The Independent (UK).

“The cynic in me thinks that they’re just using the current food crisis and the fuel crisis as a springboard to push GM crops back on to the public agenda. I understand why they’re doing it, but the danger is that if they’re making these claims about GM crops solving the problem of drought or feeding the world, that’s bullshit.” — Prof Denis Murphy, head of biotechnology, University of Glamorgan, Wales. Read more…

Kelley Bergman is a media consultant, critic and geopolitical investigator. She has worked as a journalist and writer, specializing in geostrategic issues around the globe.

Health Benefits of Organic Olive Oil

Your Organic Friend — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:38:36 +0000

The Mediterranean diet has been cited time and again by numerous researchers as a model style of eating due to the myriad health benefits that it offers. The nutrient richness of this diet stems from its medium of cooking – olive oil, which experts consider to be the healthiest cooking medium in creation. Organic olive oil has a high concentration of monosaturated fat that is rich in antioxidants, nutrients and vitamins that strengthen the body’s immune system and facilitate the regeneration of muscles and tissue. Olive oil has been regarded as a quintessential health food for its ability to prevent heart diseases, promote healthy digestion, inhibit gallstone formation and a whole lot more. In this article we shall address some key health benefits of olive oil.

Prevents Arteriosclerosis – Arteriosclerosis is a common heart disease that is rampant in the developed world. Also known as the hardening of arteries, Arteriosclerosis occurs when particles of LDL cholesterol stick to the walls of the arteries as plaque. As a result the blood vessels are narrowed due to the plaque build up, causing more stress on the heart. If left unchecked the outcome can be fatal. Since, olive oil is a monosaturated fat, it has a high concentration of good cholesterol known as HDL, which reduces the LDL content and prevents the formation of plaque in the arteries.

Inhibits Cancer – The presence of oleic acid, which is a monosaturated fatty acid in olive oil has been found to inhibit the activity of cancer causing gene. This oncogene is a known cause of breast tumors and cancers in women. The consumption of oleic acid has been found to encourage the self destruction of these cancer cells, thus preventing the onset of cancer. Olive oil has also been useful in the treatment and prevention of colon cancer by protecting the bowels from the detrimental effects of carcinogens.

Reduces Blood Sugar – Virgin olive oil has been recommended as an organic healthy food for diabetics as it contains healthy monosaturated fats that have been found to be more effective in reducing blood sugar levels than a diet comprising entirely of low fat meals. Since diabetics are more prone to heart diseases, a diet which includes olive oil would lower the triglyceride levels and prevent the onset of a heart attack.

Weight Loss Remedy – Although olive oil is high in fats, it contains the healthy variety known as monosaturated fats, which have been found to initiate weight loss in dieters. Monosaturated fats hasten the body’s metabolic rate. As a result the body starts burning up more energy, thus depleting all the excess stored fat in the body at a gradual rate.

Prevents osteoporosis – Including organic healthy foods such as olive oil has been found to improve the calcification and mineralization of bones in the body. Olive oil facilitates the optimal absorption of calcium in the body, which results in stronger bones and connective tissue. This is mainly why people who are afflicted or have prone diseases are recommended to include organic olive oil in their diet.

Prevents strokes – According to a recent study conducted in France, older individuals who have extensively consumed olive oil have shown a lowered risk of strokes. The study which observed the dietary patterns of 7,625 individuals that were above the age of 65 for a period of five years, discovered that subjects who consumed olive oil regularly exhibited a 41 per cent lower risk of stroke compared to those who used other cooking mediums.

Prevents Depression – Apart from its physiological benefits, the consumption of organic olive oil also merits some emotional and mental benefits as well. According to Spanish researchers at the University of Navarra, a diet that is rich in olive oil prevents the development of mental illnesses such as depression. The research made some stunning revelations, citing that volunteers who consumed a high amount of trans fatty acids were more likely to be depressed than those who consumed other fats. On the other hand, volunteers who consumed a diet rich in olive oil were found to be at a lower risk of depression.

Prevents Sarcoma – According to research conducted at Tel Aviv University in Israel, the Mediterranean diet which uses olive oil as its cooking medium lowers the risk of sarcoma, which is a malignant melanoma of the skin. This is due to the high content of antioxidants present in olive oil, which eliminate the carcinogenic free radicals from the body and prevent the development of skin cancer.

Eating a diet rich in olive oil is thus a delectable way to stay healthy and disease free. This health food can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes including pizzas, marinades, salad dressings and more. Organic virgin oil is most suitable for consumption as it has a higher concentration of nutrients and is free of adulterants and preservatives.

State of Indian Dairy Cows.

Your Organic Friend — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:52:19 +0000

Sometimes I’m moved to write about the burning issues of today on Environment, energy crisis , Food insecurity , population explosion , vegetarianism and at other times, about the social scenario of debasing education standards, corruption, teenage suicides , breaking families ,woman and child abuse. But taking the emergency of today world environment seems to steal my intellect.

Living in the confines of an ecologically compliant farm I can hardly strain to understand the nuclear catastrophe in Japan or the plight of Ecuadorians after the Chevrons toxic dumping, these are calamities of huge scale which seldom shake the people around the world of their slumber. So what is the underlining cause for all these disasters? Is nature only to be blamed or do we also share some part of the blame?

Indeed we are to be blamed for our greed which has created a progressive civilization at the cost of colossal destruction. And one of the aspects of this greed is inhumane disregard for other species of life on earth.

Well you guessed that right! One of the monstrous manifestations of this is “ Culture of Animal Eating”. The societies around the world have evolved from a vegetarian diet to a diet stained with the blood of Cows, pigs ,chicken and other exotic animals and birds.

Statistics clearly reveals industrial enterprises based on these meat industries are consuming natural resources exponentially. And this mass carnage is linked to deforestation, desertification, water pollution, air pollution, and soil erosion. As Dr Neal Barnard puts it “The beef industry has contributed to more deaths than all the wars of this century, all natural disasters, and all automobile accidents combined. If beef is your idea of a real food for real people, you’d better live real close to a real good hospital.

Health Benefits of Bergamot Oil.

Your Organic Friend — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:16:00 +0000

The health advantages of Bergamot Important Oil can be assigned to its qualities like mouth wash, vulnerary, vermifuge, anti biotic, anti septic, anti spasmodic, sedative, medication, anti depressant, anti-bacterial, febrifuge, cicatrisant, intestinal etc.

Bergamot is an citrus fruit whose skin is used for getting the Bergamot Oil. The medical name of Bergamot is Lemon or lime Aurantium var. or Lemon or lime Bergamia. It is a exotic flower but grows well in European countries too. The chemical structure of Bergamot Oil contains Alpha Pinene, Alpha Bergaptnen, Alpha Terpineol, Limonene, Linalool, Linalyl Acetate, Nerol, Neryl Acetate, Try out Bisabolene, Geraniol, Geraniol Acetate and Myrcene.

Bergamot Oil has a very lovely fragrance and a number of therapeutic and commercial uses due to its qualities listed below.

Anti depressant & Stimulant: The elements of Bergamot Oil, like Alpha Pinene and Limonene, are anti depressant and catalyst in characteristics.They give a sensation of quality, joy and energy in cases of unhappiness and depressive disorder by enhancing movement. They also activate hormonal agent release and thus help keeping appropriate rates of metabolic rate. This revitalizing effect improves release of intestinal juices, bile and blood insulin, thereby supporting digestive function, appropriate intake of nutritional value, intake and breaking down of sugars and the resulting decreasing of glucose levels level.
Relaxant & Sedative: The Flavonoids present in Bergamot oil are very excellent relaxants too. They ease nerve fibres and reduce anxious stress, anxiety, pressure etc. and hence help treat conditions associated with pressure such as insomnia, hypertension etc.

Anti Biotic & Disinfectant: Certain elements of the fat of Bergamot are anti biotic and anti-bacterial in characteristics. They restrict development of viruses, bacteria and fungus. They also successfully prevent attacks, such as those of epidermis. If regularly used with washing water or in shower gel (this is already used substantially in skin-care soaps), the epidermis and hair continues to be secured from attacks and become bright. It also treatments attacks of intestinal tract, intestinal tract, bladder program and renal system.

Anti Septic & Vulnerary: The same anti-bacterial and anti biotic qualities of Bergamot Oil create it a excellent anti septic and vulnerary broker. It not only allows fast treatment up of injuries, breaks on epidermis and pumps, sores, meals, itches etc. but also defends injuries from being septic and creating tetanus.

Febrifuge: Febrifuge is a material or an broker that decreases warm and decreases heat range. Bergamot is a excellent febrifuge due to many reasons. First, being an anti biotic, it battles attacks from malware, viruses and protozoa which cause warm, such as flu (virus), malaria (protozoa) and typhoid (typhus bacteria), and thus allows treating warm. Second, it energizes the metabolic program and secretions, thereby giving a sensation of comfort and leading to more release (perspiration or sweat) from the Eccrine glands (sweat glands) and sweat (sebum) glands, thus reducing heat range.

Analgesic: It decreases the sensation of discomfort in the body program. Actually it promotes release of certain testosterone which decrease level of sensitivity of nerve fibres to discomfort. Thus it is very helpful in case of throbbing headache, strains etc. all those symptoms which require heavy serving of medication tablets.

Digestive: As mentioned above, it triggers and improves secretions of the intestinal chemicals, minerals and bile and makes it possible for digestive function. It also syncs or handles the peristaltic movement of the intestinal tract and this way too, help in digestive function.

Cicatrisant: This real asset of Bergamot oil is the reason behind its comprehensive use in makeup, skin-care products such as beauty shower gel, lotions, lotions etc. Cicatrisant is your home or home or an broker which allows the scratch and other represents on the epidermis to fade away. It also makes the submission of pigmentation and melanin even and consistent, leading to the removal away of represents.

Defragranceant: No doubt, this real estate asset of bergamot oil is going to entice the youngsters who are after every new mouth wash in the market and seriously want something really relaxing and natural. This is an excellent mouth wash. Its own relaxing scent (fragrance) and anti-bacterial qualities (which restrict development of viruses causing body-fragrance) create it a really effective and eye-catching package as a mouth wash.

Anti Spasmodic: It calms nerve fibres and muscle tissue and thus gives quick relief in pain, withdrawal leading to convulsions, agonizing muscle contractions etc.
Vermifuge: It eliminates viruses. Thus it is going to be a very aromatic choice for children who have viruses. It can also be used on the affected dental or used as a mouth wash to destroy dental viruses and secure teeth from dental cavaties.

Other Benefits: It is also Pick-me-up, that is, it shades up respiratory program, blood movement, intestinal, excretory, neurological program as well as epidermis and muscle tissue. It is also anti congestive and is used in vapes to reduce traffic jam and respiratory program problems, particularly during coughing and cold.

Few Words of Caution: Bergamot Oil must be secured from sunlight. Bergaptene, one of its elements, becomes toxic if revealed to sunlight. That is why it should be saved in darkish bottles in darkish places. Even experience natural light should be prevented after it is used or applied on epidermis.

Blending: Bergamot Oil mixes with Clary Sage, Frankincense, Mandarin, Jasmine, Black Spice up, Cypress, Geranium, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, Red, Peppermint, Vetiver and Ylang-Ylang Oil.

Yoga of Food – The Organic food traditions of East.

Your Organic Friend — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:15:21 +0000

Rooted in Hindu custom, the spiritual sizing of food yoga exercise has significance for individuals of all beliefs. In Hinduism, all foods are first provided to God – the very resource of that food’s design. Such promotions can be complicated in traditions being performed with excellent enthusiasm using expensive devices and food substances, while other promotions may be respectful actions made up of no more than fruit and water. In all cases, however, it is the objective or the commitment of the hopeful that is major. Such provided foods are considered genuine, karma-free, and emotionally wholesome. Hindus call this food prasadam, or the whim of God.

Hinduism is a complicated and different thinking system that allows many gods and godesses s as coming from just one resource, Brahman, which is comprehended either as an cold, formless energy, as in the Advaita custom, or as a combined (male/female) god by means of Lakshmi-Vishnu, Radha-Krishna, or Shiva-Shakti, as in Dvaita cultures.

To the naturalist, the Goddess is simply “Mother Soil.” After all, all food comes from the world. Some power of Neopaganism, in particular Wicca, have a idea of just one goddess and just one god who signify a u. s. whole, glorified as the The almighty and Woman (Frey and Freya, basically translated), with the The almighty which represents large quantity and male fertility and the Woman which represents peacefulness and really like as well as wide abilities of wonder.

Whatever your thinking, the truth that you are examining this book informs me that you may be start to recognizing an improved energy, and in your own unique way, you recognition that greater existence.

My goal here is not to discover the whole topic of foodism, but rather to focus on its more beautiful factors, beginning with an popularity of a sympathetic existence in our life and increasing to admiring that existence through the providing of genuine food, much the same as when you recognition a friend in your home. Giving foods are the most essential act of goodness a human can do, and consuming is one of the few factors all people have in common.

Food pilates exercise rises from the truth that the kind of food we eat impacts our attention and pursuing habits. According to the Bhagavad Gita, foods in the method of goodness—vegetables, fruit, use, crazy, seed products, grain and legumes—can be energetically pure by being provided in commitment, thereby increasing a person’s attention. For this reason, food yogis avoid foods soaked with worry and having difficulties, such as meat and species of fish, favoring plant-based foods ready with nurturing objective and made with refreshing, natural substances. Moreover, if the foods you eat is ready by individuals with a impure attention (e.g., dissatisfied workers working in a filthy eating place kitchen), you are sure to process negative email abilities.

That food should be ready and provided in its best possible type is main to the thinking and practice of Meals for Life International, a globally system of plant-based comfort tasks. Without sticking with to this one idea, Meals for Life International would be no different than any other food comfort organization. Actually, the non-profit, recognizes itself more as a telecomutting saves gas company, with genuine food as its recommended method of idea.

At the main of all hygiene is an sticking with to loyalty and hygiene, and both of these features can easily be used to the foods industry. The best food for intake is food that is energetically genuine in every stage of its life-cycle. When you look beyond the immediate pleasure food offers and see food for what it truly is—energy—you tap into one of the biggest amazing things of life and start the door to greater attention.

All the globe’s excellent spiritual cultures have complicated food providing traditions properly designed to grow attention. From the Sacred Eucharist to Passover to Diwali, Xmas, Xmas, and even the mushroom events of the Shamanic traditions—all use food as a means to signify or please the Divine and to grow the attention of their supporters.

Food pilates exercise is, in reality, a self-discipline that awards all spiritual tracks by adopting their primary coaching – those foods in its most genuine type is beautiful and therefore an excellent method for spiritual cleansing.

Food pilates exercise is both an art type and a technology.

ART: The person idea of really like and commitment using food as the medium;

SCIENCE: An gratitude for the beauty and interconnectedness of all factors, as well as an unceasing attention of the Dynamic Source from which all factors ooze.

HOW DOES A FOOD YOGI ACT?

Food Yogis regard their own body, which they cure as a advantage or a “temple of God.” Indeed, they live their whole life in full attention of their interdependence and interconnectedness to all factors. Such a spiritual and all adopting point of view is the groundwork of India’s Vedic way of life of hospitality—a way of life that is using the main of sama darshana or spiritual equal rights.

The Meals Yogi fully holds a culturally accountable and atmosphere sincere way of life. This relates to your choice of food, outfits, makeup, cleaning elements and atmosphere. All should be selected properly so that the least amount of damage is triggered upon your atmosphere and other life.

This voyage in increasing attention starts with and comes to an end with the language. Never ignore the energy of the menu or the energy of the spoke word. What you put on your menu is as much a governmental declaration as it is a reflection of who you really are. You can tell much about a person by what comes out of his mouth when he talks and what he uses as food. Food for Life creator Swami Prabhupada often offered the example of a dog on a throne. “If you place a shoes, then the dog will depart his throne to eat the shoes,” he chuckled. In the same way, although an personal may maintain to be educated or an excellent moralist, activities talk higher than words, and soon enough those activities will always expose their true characteristics.

The Somebody says: “The language that provides treatment is a shrub of life, but a fake language mashes the soul.”

The language will always lead the other feelings either to hygiene and thus freedom, or to debauchery and thus everlasting entanglement in sin.

In this soul, The Yoga and fitness of Eating provides a Meals Offering Relaxation that encapsulates the primary training acquired along the voyage, while also improving the need for the personal to be able to use this meditation within the point of view of their recommended spiritual custom. The Yoga and fitness of Eating goals to do this by coaching globally recognized concepts of technology and spiritual techniques and not dogma.

In The Yoga and fitness of Eating, I also discuss my personal encounters as a young monk and student of India’s Vedic way of life of welcome, while also illustrating from numerous medical and spiritual resources to provide a plausible structure to increase the act of consuming from the shackles of the ordinary to the publishing accept of the transcendental.