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Sunday, October 6, 2013

Overwhelment ..and how it may be looked at

Stress, Overwhelment, Anxiety…Spirituality Isn't An Immunity Pass, But Does Seed You With The Alchemy Of Awareness To Shift It

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taniameditating

Me In Peru at the Dimensional Gateway – Amaru Muru

A couple of days ago on Facebook I shared a post about "overwhelment" and the personal messages that later came in to me, said to me that this is a topic that really hit home for people. So I decided to repost it here and to expound upon it to support everyone that is currently experiencing this or has felt it at some point, as I know we all have. ;)

To begin with, I am actually quite well-versed in stress. Stress, nervous anxiety, overwhelment, feelings of pressure….all of that was my expertise not only in experiencing, but in being quite well-adapted in repressing it so that no one knew. That can actually be even worse, as you don't get it out like others do and it can reek havoc on your health and well-being, little by little internally attacking yourself to a slow, soul death, not to mention can be trickier to unlearn.

But unlearn I have, which is a process of identifying the root of all of these self-created ways I was choosing to be, learning what my triggers were, understanding why I was allowing myself to get emotionally worked up and what I thought I was appeasing or making up for with all the crazed drive, realizing what I was missing and not allowing in my life, and coming to realize who I was naturally and what things would help me return there.

I had to understand my processes, as well as the ingenious self-sabotaging ones. And once I could see it all and responsibly claim it, it was then a day-by-day, moment-to-moment practice of gently reprogramming the conditional me back into reboot of the real me.

When you start integrating a spiritual approach to living, this doesn't automatically make you immune to stress. Stress isn't isolated to nonspiritual people, as many people who are spiritually focused stress over all the things they think they still "have" to do or "need" to learn and accomplish, stress over being perfect or expert about something, still stress over performance, stress about keeping up appearances to match the spiritual lifestyle they appear to be living, and even stress over comparing themselves to others….

If you haven't uncovered your patterns and processes, as well as core motivating factors behind the stress, then you are likely to repeat creating stressful experiences, but they will just appear in the guise of different clothing. I know many people, including myself, that can and have worked on overdrive even when being of service.

The reason for this, is not fully understanding what it means to be of true service, which is walking an authentic and fully integrated life of balance within divine flow so that you have the ability to give from your own well. Teaching love, compassion, and balance must start within you. Knowing how to always get back to your center is something we have to reteach ourselves, but it isn't unnatural to us, contrary to the limited times you may feel it in your busy life.

I saw this in my own process in the beginning, where I was living a spiritual life for the most part, but there were core patterns that were still operating out of the old, which would manifest as doing things the same "old" way, but just substituting in a new life. I had woven in an overlap of the old foundation into the new ways and the two don't work together – at least not in the flowing, freeing, balancing way we desire. There must be consistency, which means fully releasing the old and firmly rooting the new.

That being said, when you do choose to practice spiritually conscious awareness, you can learn to shorten the time gaps in which you experience the "seeming" pressures, anxiety, and tension. So it's not that stress never creeps up again for you, but you become well-versed and well-equipped to know how to allow and move the energy through naturally, so you can regain your sense of centered balance and empowerment rather quickly. In this way, learning to emulate nature and how things just cycle through.

Once you tune in to you and begin to understand your personal patterns and triggers, you become aware of the processes to rebalance yourself and can sometimes instantly shift the experience, or at least decrease the length of time you are out of flow.

The key is to put to practice, repetitively and consistently, habitual expression of your awareness every day and commit to the process of responsibly regaining your center through implementing the tools that you know work for you. Then remember to be gentle and nonjudgmental with yourself as you allow your soul to guide you into experiences that are in alignment with your individual growth needs.

Remember, life challenges are the ones we choose and are there to support the transformational evolvement that we knew would assist us in being that which we are and always were behind the illusions and fluff. Varying degrees of stress are not bad, but our perspective and approach can shift them into being the natural parts of human experience that they are.

You are a luminous being seeking to know and express yourself and sometimes the rate of expansion you go through can be overwhelming at times. The key is to make a conscious choice to perceive the reality before you as a perfect set of divine experiences working FOR your highest good, not AGAINST it. Take a deep breath and remember how you moved through these challenges before and put to practice the things that have worked and the things you have learned. We learn to grow through it and find that our heart light shines brighter because of it all.

And if you haven't yet discovered what works for you, start implementing things to find your golden ticket to freedom.

I do realize that stress causes confusion and emotional turbulence, so when you are in the heat of a stress attack, it is challenging to even see your way out of it clearly, let alone think rationally. So this is why taking a step back and perhaps even enlisting the help of a trusted expert to help, can allow you to start seeing with different eyes the way you currently approach things vs. the way you could be approaching them.

In my own journey of learning how to move through stress, I also learned it was helpful for me to have a heart-to-heart with those near and dear to me to share with them what my protocol is when I get stressed and that it isn't personal. I also shared with them the things that I feel and how that makes me act, as well as shared the things in that moment that would be helpful for me and asked if they were willing to assist me with the process. Things like not reacting to the momentary stress I am blowing out of proportion, just listening to me, helping me to stop and encourage taking a different approach, etc. That coupled with the things I was putting into practice, all would help me to be able to shift my process and speed up the time in which I could do it.

While it is up to us to make the changes, we aren't islands unto ourselves. Remember that your stress is also felt and experienced by everyone around you and there's no reason you can't ask help from your loved ones for some of the supportive ingredients that can assist you. Chances are, they would love to help out, as they don't want to see you stressed and they don't want to react in ways that they feel bad about, or that add to your stress. And when you engage them in your process, they will also learn more about their own, feel more open to sharing things they go through and how you might support them, and in totality a closer connection and depth to your relationship is created.

Some other things people find helpful when feeling stressed are: meditation, breathing exercises, talking it out, chanting mantras, creating your own personal mantras, listening to calming music, singing, physical exercise, being out in nature, doing something that you love, yoga, aromatherapy, Reiki, being still and quiet, time alone in your sacred space, working with crystals, spending time with your animal companions, creative expression, writing….whatever it is, remember that these are tools to remind you of the space you can enter into by "will", even without these things, but they will be supportive ways to help remind you that nothing you feel is out of your control.

And one day, you will find that you don't "need" any of these things anymore, although may now find them to be a natural part of your preferred way of life, and that you can become your own alchemy for centering yourself.

And then, life becomes a walking meditation in and of itself.

Feelings of overwhelment are not actually natural. They are created by unrealistic and unauthentic ideas, as well as self-imposed pressures that do not take into account the natural flow of energy. It is instead a need or way of controlling energy rather than listening to it, feeling it, and riding the wave of it. Unrealistic pressures merely create stress and anxiety, which produces unhealthiness.

What is it that makes you feel the need to rush anything or unduly impose such limiting and unnatural parameters on yourself?

When you stop trying to "make" things happen, you can actually "relax" into what is for your highest good and the highest good of all others, which will reveal itself in supportive guideposts along the way. Doing things faster or harder isn't going to make the results any better and you just might bypass an opportunity, as well as risk your well being along the way.

It just isn't worth it to force anything. Try committing to feeling, rather than thinking your way through life. Then use your mind to make wise discernment rather than make unwise demands.

It is possible to become more balanced and when you do, your life shifts exponentially and actually becomes more magickal.

I'm not just someone writing or talking about what can be achieved, without having lived it. My life has transformed into a reflection of the me I always knew myself to be, but had accepted a different alternative version of, which left little joy, but a lot of frustration.

Now, if I experience a moment of stress, I instantly or within minutes can shift it and redirect so that the real source of energy behind it is able to flow and I can then be with the clarity of listening to what is true to my heart.

What is available to one is available to us all. You too, have the ability to find the key to your balance and heart center, and to realize that nothing in life is as serious as you think. When you take care of you, you not only are an example of your life working for others to emulate in their own way, but you will also be universally supported because of that recognition you have come to own.

More about Turmeric

Understanding the phytochemical power of turmeric

Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:18 AM PDT

Sometimes called Indian saffron, turmeric is an ancient ayurvedic medicine that has been used for centuries throughout Indonesia and Southeast Asia. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with a long history of use both medicinally and in cuisine. A perennial plant native to South Asia, turmeric is a member of the ginger family. Some regions use the leaves or eat the root raw, but usually the root is harvested, boiled, then dried in hot ovens and ground into powder. The yellow-orange colored powder is used as a spice, a food additive for coloring, and as a dye. It is the main ingredient in curry powder, an earthy, peppery spice used prevalently in many types of cuisine, from Thai to Indian. Also used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), turmeric is a symbol of prosperity and considered to be a cleansing herb for the whole body.

Long used in food for its medicinal value, the main component in turmeric is the phytochemical curcumin, which is a strong anti-inflammatory that helps fight viral infection, cancer, and arthritis (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22921746). Its antioxidant properties help to neutralize free radicals, stimulate the gall bladder, and protect the liver. Turmeric has been shown to reduce the cellular inflammation and oxidative stress that causes degenerative disease. It improves blood flow, which improves cognitive function and speeds wound healing.

Researchers are investigating the benefits of turmeric for treating Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, HIV, cataracts, gallstones, endometriosis, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and more. Bach says it has antioxidant properties that inhibit the development of free radicals, and neutralizes existing ones. Some research shows turmeric to have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial compounds as well. It is one of the most-studied herbs today (http://www.naturalnews.com/035615_turmeric_heart_curcumin.html). Turmeric truly is a superfood.
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The Violent Side Effects of Antidepressants that Many Ignore

Posted: 06 Oct 2013 08:06 AM PDT

In light of a long list of mass shootings over the past several years, the causative role of psychiatric drugs in violent events will undoubtedly have to be evaluated and addressed at some point. Personally, I'd vote for sooner, rather than later.

Antidepressants in particular have a well-established history of causing violent side effects, including suicide and homicide. In a recent Scientific American [1] article, the author states:
"Once again, antidepressants have been linked to an episode of horrific violence. The New York Times [2] reports that Aaron Alexis, who allegedly shot 12 people to death at a Navy facility in Washington, DC, earlier this week, received a prescription for the antidepressant trazodone [3] in August."
The drug in question, trazodone, has been associated with: [4]
"New or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep; aggressive behavior; irritability; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied abnormal excitement."
The naval yard shooting is just the latest event to bring questions about prescription medications to the fore, but it bears noting that in this particular case no evidence has yet been released confirming that the shooter had the drug in his system at the time of the massacre.
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13 Yoga Benefits That Will Surprise You

Posted: 06 Oct 2013 07:23 AM PDT

It's no secret that yoga's good for you, but many people simply look at yoga as something to use when they need to gain flexibility, improve their balance, or de-stress. Those are all yoga benefits, but the positive things you can gain from practicing yoga regularly extend far beyond those perks. Here are thirteen yoga benefits that may surprise you.

1. Stress Prevention and Relief

It's probably not a surprise to you that you can mellow out with a yoga session after a rough day, but did you know that a daily yoga practice can actually decrease the likelihood that you'll get stressed out in the first place? In a study, a yoga group and a control group took an exam. The yoga group had practiced yoga 35 minutes per day with a trained instructor for 12 weeks prior to the test. The yoga group didn't have a significant increase in stress (based on heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure), but the control group did.


2. Improved Immunity

Similarly, yoga was shown to decrease postoperative stress in breast cancer patients, which led to a stronger immune system (no significant immune system depression after surgery) and better odds of a successful recovery from surgery. In this study, yoga was said to decrease anxiety and depression, too.
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30 Statistics About Americans Under The Age Of 30 That Will Blow Your Mind

Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:01 AM PDT

Why are young people in America so frustrated these days? You are about to find out. Most young adults started out having faith in the system. They worked hard, they got good grades, they stayed out of trouble and many of them went on to college. But when their educations where over, they discovered that the good jobs that they had been promised were not waiting for them at the end of the rainbow. Even in the midst of this so-called "economic recovery", the full-time employment rate for Americans under the age of 30 continues to fall. And incomes for that age group continue to fall as well. At the same time, young adults are dealing with record levels of student loan debt. As a result, more young Americans than ever are putting off getting married and having families, and more of them than ever are moving back in with their parents.

It can be absolutely soul crushing when you discover that the "bright future" that the system had been promising you for so many years turns out to be a lie. A lot of young people ultimately give up on the system and many of them end up just kind of drifting aimlessly through life. The following is an example from a recent Wall Street Journal article...


James Roy, 26, has spent the past six years paying off $14,000 in student loans for two years of college by skating from job to job. Now working as a supervisor for a coffee shop in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles, Ill., Mr. Roy describes his outlook as "kind of grim."

"It seems to me that if you went to college and took on student debt, there used to be greater assurance that you could pay it off with a good job," said the Colorado native, who majored in English before dropping out. "But now, for people living in this economy and in our age group, it's a rough deal."
Young adults as a group have been experiencing a tremendous amount of economic pain in recent years. The following are 30 statistics about Americans under the age of 30 that will blow your mind...
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Humanity and Intelligence of Nature

Humanity is Waking Up to the Intelligence of Nature

October 2, 2013 | By | 8 Replies

Flickr-dolphins-J. D. EbberlyPaul Lenda, Guest
Waking Times

There's a heightening level of awareness within the human race with regards to nature and all that is contained within it. Everything from the discoveries of the rudiments of language in monkeys, metacognition in dolphins, self-awareness of elephants, the ability for animals to tell "right" from "wrong", to the creation and extension of the bills of rights for animals and plants by countries such as Switzerland and Ecuador, as well as the acknowledgment of dolphins as being non-human persons.

There's a growing awareness by humanity that nature and its inhabitants are not as primitive and simple as it may have been believed to be the case in the past. With this growing awareness, comes growing understanding of the unity that humanity has with the environment within which it exists. This sense of unity with nature is not something new and indeed has been the primary position of awareness for many societies in existence before their industrialization.

In today's post-modern societies, there is a resurgence of that connection with the biosphere and interconnected organism that is the planet and all that exists within its domain. As more discoveries are made, greater awareness shines down on humanity's collective consciousness and thereby, allowing us to evolve the transpersonal consciousness to a level where the ego is no longer the dominator of the Self.

Science can be a wonderful thing. It can prove without a doubt what may have been suggested in times past, but was not completely understood as being the absolute truth, which always left a bit of doubt or confusion. However, with continuous scientific discoveries occurring all the time, it is of great fortune that we are able to attain substantial data and knowledge concerning the environment and all that it encompasses.

With these new discoveries, it is being quite apparent that humans have mistakenly been ignorant and arrogant concerning the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms with respect to their levels of sophistication, evolution, consciousness, and awareness. If we were to start looking at the mineral kingdom, much can be seen from recently-made discoveries.

Of course, there has been such an influx of findings that they would be able to fill up an entire book. However, just a few will be looked at in order to demonstrate the point at hand. All of the discoveries and findings mentioned within this article have been announced publicly within the last few years.

Rocks have been looked at as generally non-living, inanimate, unconscious, and completely devoid of any life-like characteristics, even though everything in nature possesses self-organization. However, stunning new evidence shows the incredible diversity of crystals and minerals after the rise of life on this planet and points to the reality that rocks, like plants and animals, have been evolving all this time, and we did not even realize it until now. This idea is being called "mineral evolution," which is the concept that many of the our planet's rocks, minerals and crystals are dynamic species which emerged and transformed over time.

Of course, the evolution of the mineral kingdom is not exactly the same as the evolution of the plant and animal kingdoms, since minerals do not mutate, reproduce or complete like other living organisms, at least to our knowledge. However, the vast variety and abundance of all the various minerals on Earth have changed quite dramatically over the 4.5+ billion years of Earth's past. US geologist Robert Hazen, who led the research team for this finding, said that "for at least 2.5 billion years, and possibly since the emergence of life, Earth's mineralogy has evolved in parallel with biology."

This should not be too big of a surprise to us, however. It makes quite a bit of sense that evolution is all-encompassing…everything from our consciousness, to galaxies, to rocks. Everything is in a constant state of be-ing and become-ing, and the condition that the various aspects of Reality are static does not find much underlying evidence. It looks more and more as if Reality is dynamic and extropic in nature.

Stepping out of the mineral kingdom, we make our way to the plant kingdom. Although it has been known for quite some time that the rainforests of the world act as lungs for the planet, it has recently been discovered that they act as a heart as well. What this implies is that not only are rainforests giant carbon sinks of the planet (acting as lungs), but they may also be responsible for moving many of the weather patterns that we see all around the globe (just as the physical heart moves blood throughout the entire body).

The new study researching this subject suggests that rainforests, such as the ones in Africa and South America, create winds that circulate water around the planet. It is known that more than half the rainfall in rainforests evaporates and recirculates, which then keeps the upper air moist. New findings show that rainforests are also moving the air around them, which also has the effect of moving the water around.

It turns out that as important as plants and trees are to ensure that there is enough clean oxygen for all sentient beings on the plante to thrive and survive, they are now acknowledged as being even more important by affecting the very weather patterns of our biosphere.

Perhaps as a response to the various discoveries concerning the plant kingdom, there have been governments across the planet that have taken it upon themselves to become trailblazers in the area of plant and ecosystem rights. This higher awareness has been most recently demonstrated in the countries of Switzerland and Ecuador.

In the case of Switzerland, the Swiss Government's Federal Ethics Committee on Non-Human Biotechnology has come to the consensus that plants have rights and that they have to be treated appropriately. Making our way to Ecuador, we can see that the country has changed its constitution to say that nature has "the right to the maintenance and regeneration of its vital cycles, structure, functions and evolutionary processes." The basis of these rights "change the status of ecosystems from being regarded as property under the law to being recognized as rights-bearing entities."

The idea of plants having a degree of consciousness is very well documented, and so it is not unreasonable for a government to come up with such a conclusion in respect to the plant kingdom. However, the perceptions of humans are not always quick to shift and change. It is demonstrations such as these which show that there is indeed a higher awareness being experienced by humanity with relation to its biosphere neighbors.

Emerging out of the plant kingdom and into the animal kingdom, a myriad of recent discoveries exemplify humanity's growing awareness of the sophistication and higher level of be-ing at which animals exist. The latest and most well-known finding is concerning dolphins. Dolphins have been perceived as being very intelligent beings for at least several thousand years. In ancient Greece, it was punishable by death to kill or harm a dolphin.

Much mythology revolves around dolphins. However, concerning the scientific data being research and analyzed, it has been found without doubt that human language and dolphin movement patterns show similarities in brevity. The law of brevity in human language, according to which the most frequently-used words tend to be the shortest, extends to dolphins, as well as other animal species. It was observed that when dolphins move on the surface of the water, they tend to make the simplest movements, in the same way that humans tend to use words comprised of fewer letters when they are speaking or writing.

Perhaps it is discoveries such as these and others that are altering the positions of awareness that humanity has concerning dolphins to the point where they are being described by scientsts as being non-human persons and, as a result, should be treated as such. Dolphins are recognized as being the most intelligent beings on our planet, after humans. The signs are numerous, such as: the anatomical research showing that dolphin brains have many key features associated with high intelligence; and studies showing that dolphins have distinct personalities, strong sense of self, and the ability to think about the future. Dolphins are also cultural animals, which means that new types of behavior can be quickly picked up by one dolphin from another.

More stunning research has discovered that dolphins, as well as other animals such as macaque monkeys, have shown to have conscious metacognition. There is a growing amount of evidence that animals share functional parallels with human conscious metacognition. Metacognition is essentially the ability to reflect upon, monitor or regulate various states of mind, and, although this was once considered solely the domain of humans, it is now seen as evident in some animals as well. J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist who has conducted a study on this topic, has concluded that "metacognition rivals language and tool use in its potential to establish important continuities or discontinuities between human and animal minds."

Metacognition aside, animals are also now known to possess self-awareness. First seen in gorillas and then later in elephants and dolphins, self-awareness is no longer solely recognized as being the domain of the human being. When most animals see themselves in a mirror, they will interpret what they see as another animal, possibly a threat, and may attack the image or be scared away. After a while, the animals habituate and ignore the reflected image entirely. However, an animal that is self-aware will recognize the image as its own reflection, which is something that requires a degree of abstract thought and cognitive association.

As fascinating as these things may be, new research has discovered that several species of animals, such as monkeys, wolves, coyotes, elephants, chimpanzees, rodents, bats, and whales, have a sense of what is called "morality", in that they are able to subjectively tell "right" from "wrong". In a series of studies, scientists have found that monkeys and apes can make judgments about fairness, offer altruistic help and empathize when a fellow animal is ill or in a difficult situation. The existence of a conscience is also apparent, and remembering obligations also exists. Even when there is no obvious reward for an an altruistic action, chimpanzees were still observed as willing to help others. The conclusion of this observation led to the statement by one of the researchers that "chimpanzees spontaneously help both humans and each other in carefully controlled tests."

Perhaps the most interesting point in this discovery is that everything else being equal, animals such as chimpanzees prefer to reward a companion together with themselves rather than just themselves alone. The act of giving by the monkeys is self-rewarding and can be said as being a demonstration of the interconnected consciousness of monkeys, just as humans, within their interconnected transpersonal consciousness, will experience the same effect. As the old adage goes: what you do to another, you do to/for yourself.

Language among animals is the one final demonstration, at least in this article, of the elevated level of consciousness and be-ing in other aspects of nature. It has been recently found that the rudiments of language exist among monkeys. Certain monkeys that have been studied have been seen to combine the same calls in different ways, using rules of grammar that turn sound into language. Alban Lemasson, a primatologist at the University of Rennes in France, has stated that "this is the first evidence we have in animal communication that they can combine, in a semantic way, different calls to create a new message."

As it stands, it seems that humans are no longer the sole users of language in the sophisticated manner in which we use it. Although nowhere as complex as the syntax of human beings, monkey calls are more advanced and complex than we have ever previously been aware.

All these discoveries have occurred within a few years and are demonstrative of the incredibly accelerated rise in awareness that humanity is experiencing with respect to the level of consciousness of the various aspects of nature, as well as how primitive nature and all its various aspects seemed to be in times past. There is an awakening to a more intelligent nature than has ever been previously acknowledged. This is a step towards a new age in which humans and the rest of nature will hopefully have a more symbiotic and unifying relationship, and more respect will be given to the environment. Baby steps, for sure, but baby steps towards a positive future, nonetheless.

About the Author

Paul Lenda is a conscious evolution guide, author of The Creation of a Consciousness Shift, and co-founder of SHIFT>, a social community focused on anchoring in the new paradigm and assisting the positive transformation of humanity. With the drive to be aware of and experience the wider horizon of Reality, Paul has developed an extensive background in the spiritual and transformative elements of life; one that is both knowledge and experienced-based. Visit his website www.shift.is, follow him on Twitter or visit the Shift Facebook community.

This article is offered under Creative Commons license. It's okay to republish it anywhere as long as attribution bio is included and all links remain intact.

About Probiotics :

Simplifying Probiotics – A Path To Improving Your Gut Health

October 2, 2013 | By | 4 Replies

Flickr-kimchi-jeffreywAnna Hunt, Staff Writer
Waking Times

Billions of beneficial bacteria, commonly referred to as probiotics, live in the human body. These bacteria are part of what keeps the body in balance in order to maintain overall good health. They reside in the human digestive system, specifically the intestinal tract also referred to as the gut, (as well as in the mouth, on the skin, in the colon, etc), and are integral to gastrointestinal functions. Over recent years, scientists are starting to discover that these microorganisms also play a role in immunological, metabolic, and neurological diseases.

Common Types of Probiotics

The best known of the probiotics are the Lactobacilli. There are a number of Lactobacilli species that are especially effective in creating an overall balance of the various microorganisms in the gut:

- Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus is found in naturally fermented foods and is also used by the dairy industry to produce yogurt.

- Lactobacillus acidophilus is naturally-occurring in the human gastrointestinal tract. Certain strains are often included in probiotic supplements because they are believed to be able to survive gastrointestinal transit, being resistant to bile, low pH, and digestive enzymes.

- Other common Lactobacilli species include brevis, casei and sporogenes.

Other common probiotics include:

- Bifidobacteria, which are one of the major genera of probiotics found in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, including humans. Various species are often used in the food industry.

- Streptococci, which are often known for being the main culprit of strep throat and pink eye, although there are many non-pathogenic species that are part of the human microbiome. Streptococci are used in the production of Swiss cheese, reduced-fat cheese and yogurt.

- Bacilli, which are found in soils and in certain fermented foods, as for example kimchi. Certain species of Bacilli, such as Bacillus pumilus, are capable of degrading bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, which pollutes human bodies due to plastics overuse.

Why are Probiotics Important?

Just as billions of beneficial bacteria can live in the body, the gut is also filled with harmful bacteria. The body needs probiotics to counteract these harmful bacteria in order to enable the production of vitamins and enzymes essential for healthy body function and prevent build-up of carcinogenic toxins.

Artificial food additives, GMOs in our foods, chlorinated and fluoridated water, and use of antibiotics are all detrimental to healthy gut flora. Considering that many people follow a Western diet high in processed foods, starches and meats, it is easy for their gut to become unbalanced. Scientists believe that lack of balance of good and bad bacteria can lead to cancer, hypertension and many other types of diseases. Furthermore, our bodies are increasingly subjugated to chemicals from pesticides, herbicides and industrialized products such as plastics (containing BPA and BPS). Certain probiotics are able to handle these toxins better than our own detoxification processes.

To read more about why probiotics are important, read: Are Probiotics the New Prozac?

Natural Sources of Probiotics

Probiotics are readily available to you in a variety of natural foods, including the following:

Kombucha is an all natural fermented drink that is made of sweetened black tea. It is made using SCOBY – a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. Kombucha beverages are full of probiotics and other healthy amino acids. You can purchase kombucha drinks, kombucha SCOBY or a kombucha tea starter kit from various manufacturers. If you plan to make your own kombucha tea, consider that it needs to be fermented to a specific pH of 2.5 to 3.0, or it will not develop the beneficial nutrients or may overburden the stomach. Additionally, Kombuchakamp.com is a great resource for all things kombucha.

Yogurt is made by bacterial fermentation of milk. Yogurt can be made from cow milk, goat milk, soy milk, nut milks such as almond milk, and coconut milk. Most commercial dairy yogurts are made with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria, and at times other lactobacilli and bifidobacteria are added. To offset the sourness of yogurt, large amounts of sugar and artificial sweeteners are often added to commercial yogurts, therefore look for unsweetened natural yogurt or learn to make your own.

Kefir is a liquid yogurt-like fermented product, often made out of cow or goat milk. It is high in both Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria probiotics. Kefir is made with kefir grains – also called kefir babies – which are a combination of bacteria and yeasts. Kefir grains will also ferment milk substitutes such as soy milk, rice milk, and coconut milk, as well as other sugary liquids including fruit juice, coconut water, beer wort and ginger beer. You can usually find kefir drinks at your local health food store or buy kefir grains to produce your own kefir drinks. Kefir grains reproduce easily and can be shared with friends.

Kimchi is a fermented cabbage dish that originated in Korea and comes in many different varieties but usually contains vegetables such as napa cabbage, cucumbers, radishes and scallions. Kimchi contains many strains of probiotics including Lactobacillus kimchii, Lactobacillus brevis, and Bacillus pumilus. These bacteria are known to help the body eliminate BPA and pesticides. A variety of Kimchi products can be purchased in stores, or you can learn how to make kimchi at home.

Apple cider vinegar is a vinegar made from cider or apple must, with yeast and bacteria added to the liquid to facilitate the fermentation process. In addition to providing probiotics, apple cider vinegar has many internal and external health benefits, many of which are listed here. When purchasing apple cider vinegar, consider only organic raw products.

This list is by no means complete – with soy bean-based foods such as miso and natto also full of probiotics. In addition to these specific foods, healthy soil is a great source of probiotics, and hence a diet high in raw fruits and vegetables grown in organic soil will provide the body with lots of healthy bacteria. Reducing processed foods and ingesting more raw, organic produce will benefit your waistline in more than one way!

Resource Books:

How to Make Probiotic Drinks for a Raw Food Diet: Kefir, Kombucha, Ginger Beer, and Naturally Fermented Ciders, Sodas, and Smoothies by R.J. Ruppenthal

Delicious Probiotic Drinks: 75 Recipes for Kombucha, Kefir, Ginger Beer, and Other Naturally Fermented Drinks by Julia Mueller

Fermented Foods for Health: Use the Power of Probiotic Foods to Improve Your Digestion, Strengthen Your Immunity, and Prevent Illness by Deirdre Rawlings

Mastering Fermentation: Recipes for Making and Cooking with Fermented Foods by Mary Karlin

Probiotic Supplements

There are various different types of probiotic supplements that you could buy at health food stores. Look for the following when buying a probiotic supplement:

  • At least 10 probiotic strains
  • High culture count with both Lactobacilli (Lacto) and Bifidobacteria (Bifido) strains. Some supplements refer to these as L's and B's.
  • Capsules and/or probiotic strains that allow the supplement to resist stomach acid so the probiotics are released into the intestinal tract.
  • Upwards of 15 Billion live cultures per capsule. Consult your physician or holistic practitioner on what live cultures count is right for you if you are trying to address a specific physical issue or illness, or need to supplement the use of antibiotics or other prescription drugs.
  • Potency until time of consumption, especially if you need to travel with your probiotics and cannot refrigerate them.
  • No dairy, sugar, gluten, soy, corn, casein, yeast, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or any genetically modified or engineered ingredients.

Recommended Products:

ReNew Life Ultimate Flora Critical Care 50 Billion, Vegetable Capsules

Renew Life Ultimate Flora RTS Daily Capsules, 30 Count

Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra Ultimate Probiotics Formula

About the Author

Anna Hunt is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com and an entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in research and editorial writing. She and her husband run a preparedness e-store outlet at www.offgridoutpost.com, offering GMO-free storable food and emergency kits. Anna is also a certified Hatha yoga instructor at Atenas Yoga. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. Read more of her excellent articles here.

Sources:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/8-surprisingly-simple-ways-detoxify

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/amazing-healing-properties-fermented-foods

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/08/16/10-signs-you-have-candida-overgrowth-and-what-to-do-about-it/

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/07/25/are-probiotics-the-new-prozac/

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/06/05/gut-biota-never-recover-from-antibiotics-damages-future-generations/

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2013/05/06/the-dangers-of-fluoride-based-antibiotics-plus-natural-solutions/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus_delbrueckii_subsp._bulgaricus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bifidobacteria

http://www.wakingtimes.com/2012/11/01/kombucha-tea-a-panacea-for-many-ills/

http://www.happyherbalist.com/cautions.htm

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff.

More Benefits of Ginseng

Ginseng Benefits: an Energizing Medicinal Plant

October 5, 2013 | By | Reply

Flickr - Ginseng - bernard_in_vaElizabeth Renter, Natural Society
Waking Times

Ginseng has been a prized medicinal root for thousands of years. Due to the numerous ginseng benefits, the herb is often considered a 'cure-all'. From increasing energy levels and improving memory, to boosting sex drive and encouraging vascular health—this is truly a healing plant worth talking about.

As reported by our friends at NaturalNews, not all "ginsengs" are created equal. Generally, when we speak of the ginseng plant in research studies, we are talking about Panax Ginseng. While there are others—Siberian, Korean Red and Korean White—Panax is the most well-researched and most frequently discussed. Still, some herbalists believe Siberian ginseng is closely related enough and an adaptogen, delivering many of the same benefits of its more deeply researched cousin.

Numerous scientific research pieces have been done on ginseng and it's various health benefits. Let's look at just a few:

  • 1. Ginseng for Longer Life - One study starting in 1985 looked at 6282 subjects ages 55 and up, both men and women, ginseng users and non-users. The researchers found within an eight year study period that the male ginseng users had a significant reduction in death from all causes when compared with men who didn't take ginseng. The same couldn't be said for women, though they did experience a reduction in cancer-specific mortality.
  • 2. Ginseng for Dementia Prevention – Adding further to ginseng benefits, another study, published in a 2009 issue of the American Journal of Chinese Medicine looked at the effects of ginseng supplementation on the aging and longevity of mice. Among other things, the researchers found that ginseng inhibited something called malondialdehyde (MDA) compound produced from oxidative stress and present in older populations with dementia.
  • 3. Ginseng and Diabetes - Researchers also found that ginseng has significant ability to increase insulin production and decrease pancreas beta-cell death, also reducing blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Other Ginseng Benefits

In addition to these studies, research has shown ginseng benefits to include improvement for:

  • Vascular health
  • Cancer protection
  • Stress reduction
  • Memory enhancement
  • Increased energy levels
  • Boosted libido
  • Enhanced sperm health

Unlike other energizing herbs, you won't necessarily feel the effects of ginseng supplementation within the hours following your dose; the effects are slow. Instead, it can take hours or days to have any effect. Many herbalists recommend only taking ginseng for a period of three weeks or so and taking time off before restarting any supplementation.

Ginseng can be found in supplements and occasionally in whole form in specialty markets. The quality of ginseng is said to vary widely, and supplements often include other filler herbs to mask the low-quality ginseng. For this reason, it's wise to not take a ginseng supplement with other herbs included.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of WakingTimes or its staff
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