The Vegan Lifestyle

In this 21st century era, specifically from early 70s up to the present, the world has read volumes of books regarding Positive Mental Attitude. Most of these inspirational books deal with the power of the mind to heal and to improve itself through stimulation of the senses. One of these is the use of autosuggestion wherein positive encouraging words or mantra are repeated over and over during a deep meditative state.

To enhance the power of autosuggestion, scientists introduced the sounds of Nature such as the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, the ripples and the bubbling noise of running water in the brooks, and the sound of the waves along the shore. It is now proven that the sounds of Nature resonate with the human body and has a sound frequency that calms, heals, and stimulate the brain and the whole body to function perfectly.

I bought some of these audio tapes and experienced it myself. They are indeed soothing and relaxing to the mind. The more I used it, the more my thinking became clearer, and my moods became brighter and my attitude in life became more positive.

Another very powerful tool that is being used today in auditory stimulation of the brain is classical music. Among the classical music that have been found effective in stimulating the brain are those of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. Listening to classical music can improve intelligence in children, and heal some ailments in newborn babies. Scientists call this Mozart Effect.

This Mozart Effect has been the subject of research in neurotechnology. This is a branch of science which deals with the study and modification of the functions of the nervous system by the use of sensory stimulations. More neurotechnology companies are now involved in researches on how to tap and put to better use the tremendous power that is lying dormant in the brain of every individual.

One of these companies is the Advanced Brain Technologies. It is a neurotechnology company that develops and distributes interactive software and music-based programs for the improvement of memory,  brain health, sensory processing, academic skills, peak performance and more. One of these programs is The Listening Program (TLP) which uses psychoacoustically modified classical music to improve children’s, teens’ and adults’ memory, learning skills, attenltion, listening, reading, communication, sensory processing, social engagement, brain fitness, and many more. TLC is a very effective tool in Speech language music therapy. All you need is a 15 to 30 minutes listening daily at home, classroom or workplace. This program stimulates the different functions of the auditory system to enable the brain to receive, process, store and utilize valuable information provided through sounds in music, language,  and the environment.

Strengthen your heart with CoQ10 and live longer!

I started to learn about CoQ10 in the late 1990′s from a man to whom I was trying to sell books about health. He was a strong old man who introduced me to this herbal product which he said is a powerful cure for various diseases including cancer. I was not interested then; all I wanted was to sell health and spiritual books to earn money for my family. Besides, it was so expensive – a medium bottle cost almost two thousand pesos!

I read amazing testimonies of people who were cured of crippling diseases by taking CoQ10. More people get well, and this herbal medicine became popular in more places as a cure of many diseases. I thought it was just a fad and will soon fade away. I was wrong – it is making a comeback and more popular this time.

Recently, somebody sent me a health newsletter about CoQ10. The facts about its health benefits are so amazing to believe. If it were not for the medical doctors who vouched its efficacy and safety, plus the enumerable convincing positive results of various studies done on CoQ10, it would be hard for me to believe.

CoQ10 is an amazing nutrient! It is the energy switch that sparks  the more than 100 trillion cells in our body. It is naturally produced by our body in the liver, and its main user is our heart, which uses up to 10 times more compared to the other organs of the body. This production of CoQ10 is normal in children, but as we grow older, at about the age of 30, our body’s production of CoQ10 decreases  gradually.  Deficiency of CoQ10 in our body can weaken our immune system and makes us  more susceptible to many diseases.

CoQ10 has lots of health benefits. It normalizes and restore our blood pressure, help prevent memory loss, and repair damaged cells. It protects the body from free radical oxidation that damages body cells and cause premature aging.

The reduction of CoQ10 natural production in the body is not only caused by old age. Cholesterol-lowering drugs or statins used by weight-loss fads also reduce the body’s production of CoQ10 by as much as 40 percent! People with 25% fall of CoQ10 level in the body can experience illness, and 75% is fatal. Lower levels of CoQ10 in the body can cause premature aging, memory loss, chest pains, irregular heartbeat, and other heart problems.

CoQ10 is indeed an amazing nutrient for the body! It floods the cells with endless energy! It unclogs the arteries of fats and bad cholesterol, improving and boosting  blood circulation to all organs in the body to restore healthy body  function such as  as memory, normal heart beats, and to protect the body from free radical oxidation caused by pollutants and stress that leads to many diseases and premature aging.

How can we increase our intelligence?

Intelligence is the desire of all. It is the biggest factor for success. Without intelligence, everything will be topsy-turvy, and beauty cannot exist. Intelligence is  the foremost element of the Grand Design of the universe.

Man, in his original Edenic state was endowed with super intelligence. When he fell in sin, his intelligence decreased gradually until he lost that super intellect he was originally gifted with.

Some fortunate people are gifted with intelligence. Others inherits it from their parents. Most acquire it through education, and still others get it from experience.

The greatest genius that ever lived in this planet had an IQ of 200. This IQ corresponds only to a minimal 5 to 7 percent of the full potential of the brain. This means, 93% of the brain’s potential is lying dormant in the cerebral cortex, waiting for man to harness it.

How can we increase our intelligence?

There are many ways to increase intelligence. Most of these are physical exercises designed to increase blood circulation to the brain. Scientists found out that increased blood circulation to the brain increases the supply of oxygen and other nutrients  essential to the healthy functioning of the brain.

One of these exercise is the yoga ‘inverted stand’ or the head stand.  This exercise increases blood flow to the brain. This is done by standing on your head against the wall for support for few minutes. This relieves the feet of the usual load on it, and this also helps in the prevention of varicose veins.

Another exercise is holding the breath under water. This exercise stimulates the carotid artery to the brain to dilate or open wider to allow more blood flow. Do this when you swimming in the beach or sea where you can have something to hold on while underwater. Hold your breath as long as you can until you feel discomfort. You can also do this in swimming pools as long as you something to hold on underwater.

Exercises that stimulate our senses also helps to increase our intelligence. One of these is lying on your abdomen while studying. The sensation created by the friction between the floor and the abdomen have been proven to stimulate the cerebral cortex of the brain. This stimulation improves reflexes, and brain functions,  and develops the mental faculties.

Another sensory- improvement exercise is brachiation or swinging. Use a not so high monkey bar. Grasp the bars, and swing as you change your hands from one bar to the other. Be sure that your eyes follow the movements of your hands as you swing on the bars. This touch sensation on the hands, and the synchronization of the eye movement with the swingare very effective sensory stimuli that help improve the brain and its intelligence.

Another exercise is ‘masking’. This is done by re-breathing your breaths in a plastic bag. This should not be done by little children, and if done, must have the supervision of parents or adults. Cover your head with a plastic bag. Be sure that the plastic is open  at the other end near the neck. Breath normally, while your head is inside the plastic bag. By this, you are re-breathing your breaths, and these breaths have carbon monoxide in them. Carbon monoxide is not good for the body, so do not overdo this breathing exercise.  Studies have shown that carbon monoxide can also dilate the carotid artery  for increase blood  flow to the brain.

Other factors involved in intelligence development are good nutrition and healthy lifestyle. For the brain to function at its peak, it must be supplied with all the essential nutrients that are found in fruits,grains, nuts, and vegetables. Certain plants and herbs are very good for the brain, such as gingko biloba, gotu kola, horseradish, and ginseng.  Gingko biloba and gotu kola dissove cholesterol in the arteries, thus clearing the vessels for increase blood flow to the brain. Horseradish is a miracle herb with all the essential nutrients for maximum brain functions. Lecithin, a very important nutrient found in soybeans, is a super brain food. It is the richest source of choline and inositol – two powerful vitamins for the brain and  the nervous system.

Besides the nutrition and the physical exercises, a good personal hygiene, and good lifestyle are also required to increase intelligence. Wake up early; exercise – walk or jog; take a bath, and  eat your breakfast. Never skip your breakfast – it is the most important meal of the day. Do not stay late at night. You must be asleep two hours before midnight to avail the health benefits of melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland  associated with natural body rhythms and sleep-wake patterns. It is proven by science that melatonin production is at its peak at 10 o’clock in the evening. Deficiency in melatonin is the main cause of imsomnia, and imsomnia destroys our memory. As Plato said, all knowledge is but remembrance or good memory.

Raw vegetables are better that cooked.  Vegetables loss most of its nutrients when cooked. Heating, and boiling vegetables kill its enzymes and nutrients that are important to good health. Most of these nutrients become useless and are washed out in soup.

How to eat raw vegetables? Is it safe? Will it not cause harmful effects to the body?

As in most food, thorough washing is necessary. Vegetables, life fruits are sprayed with pesticides, and sometimes preserved fresh by applying formalin. Most of them are handled by vendors and consumers alike before reaching your home, and lots of bacteria thrive on it. so be sure to wash them thoroughly with enough water to remove these chemicals and bacteria. Do not worry of  not being able to remove them completely. We have been exposed to them since birth. They are everywhere –   in market places, in slaughter houses, in worksites, in offices, in the air, and at home. We are ubiquitously surrounded by them all the time. So do not worry like a hypochondriac.

Vegetables are better eaten raw. Its enzymes and phytonutrients are alive, and are easily digested, assimilated, and absorbed by the body. There are many health benefits in eating raw vegetables. It has curative powers against many diseases, including certain types of cancer. Many have been cured of terminal cancers by the use of the juices of fruits and raw vegetables.

When eating raw vegetables, do not pare or scrape off its skin or rinds. The phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables are mostly found in their rinds or skin. This is specially true of the deep- green leafy vegetables. Studies showed that deep colored vegetables are rich in phytonutrients very essential for maximum body functioning.

Are raw vegetables palatable? Are they not bitter?

Indeed,  raw vegetables are palatable. They are not bitter except for few ones. You will surely like it as soon as you get used to it. It is just a matter of conditioning your taste buds.

When you eat your vegetables raw, be sure to put some natural enhancers like onions, garlic, and lemon. Tomato is a good enhancer too. Put a little salt to taste. Actually, there is no need to put salt to enhance its taste – the above-cited enhancers are enough. But we need a very little amount of salt or sodium chloride in the body. It works closely with potassium and chlorine inthe maintenance of proper electrolyte balance. It controls and maintains the osmotic pressure into and out of the cells that enables the blood to carry the nutrients throughout the body.

I became a vegetarian four five years ago. Befor going seriously into it, I experimented eating raw vegetables for three weeks. I was amazed of the result: I become stronger; the body pains disappear; my stamina  improves a lot, and I had the vigor and the vitality to run uphill and downhill without feeling exhausted during my physical exercises. And the most outstanding result is my having attained a very good memory. I noticed,  during the course of my experiment that I can easily memorize long verses in the Bible. I was able to memorize seventeen long chapters in the Bible in a little span of time.

So I decided to become a vegetarian. Most of the time, I ate my meals with raw vegetables.  With the so many health benefits in vegetarianism, I firmly resolved to remain a vegetarian in my whole life.

The harmful effects of caffeine are many. Among the harmful effects of caffeine are forgetfulness, nervousness, and addiction.

Caffeine is a psychoactive substance naturally found in coffee, tea, kola nuts,  and in lesser amount, in cocoa. It is also found in beans, leaves, and fruits of some plants that acts as a natural pesticide to ward off insects.

Caffeine is a common ingredient in soft drinks, such as cola which was originally prepared from kola nuts. Soft drinks usually  contain about 10 to 50 milligrams, and energy drinks, 80 milligrams of caffeine per servings. Guarana, a prime ingredient of energy drinks, contains large amounts of caffeine with small amounts of theobromine and theophylline. It is also found in tea, and in chocolates, in the form of cocoa, in small amount.

Caffeine is an excitotoxin that harms the brain. It stimulates the body in similar manner as cocaine and heroin, and its addiction is gradual and subtle. Like most excitotoxins, caffeine causes brain malfunctions. This substance, like alcohol and nicotine, can easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier and can over excite the brain neurons to death.

Busy people  who want to extend their working hours drink more coffee in order to stay awake all day. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the central nervous system of our brain, and brings a temporary feeling of alertness and wakefulness. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that is involved in the control of the sleep-wake cycle. It promotes drowsiness and sleep after long hours of work or mental activity.

Caffeine molecule is structurally similar to adenosine. It easily binds to adenosine  receptors on the cell surface without activating them, thus blocking and inhibiting their functions. Cells that are normally slowed down by adenosine are speeded up by caffeine. Sensing that the cells are not slowed down, and suspecting that an emergency has happened, the hypothalamus reacts by releasing a neuro-hormone called dopamine into the bloodstream which triggers the adrenal glands to start pumping. Dopamine  increases heart rate and blood pressure, thus the feeling of wakefulness and alertness when drinking coffee.

The temporary sensation of high energy and alertness after drinking coffee, soft drinks, and energy drinks could be due to the the effects of caffeine’s three by-products during its metabolism.   Paraxanthine increases the lipolysis process, which releases glycerol and fatty acids into the blood as a source of fuel for the muscles. Theobromine dilates the blood vessels to increase the amount of oxygen and the flow of nutrients to the brain and muscles. Theophylline relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchioles;  changes the time of heart rate, and alters the force of  muscle contractions in the heart.

Caffeine is an excitetotoxin that destroys the brain. Its excitatory effects not only weaken the neurons in the brain but can even over excite them to death. Caffeine, by counteracting adenosine, has inhibitory effects on brain activity. It adversely affects the healthy functioning of the brain, and other learning skills.  Long-term consumption of caffeine even in small doses affects learning and memory by inhibiting the creation of neurons in the hippocampus of the brain.

Other harmful effects of caffeine are the following:

• it causes nervousness, trembling, and abnormal muscle contractions
• it causes dizziness and headaches
• it causes indigestion
• it slows down reaction to auditory and visual stimuli
• it causes forgetfulness  and tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon
• it increases the risk of myocardial infarction
• it increases heart rate
• it causes heart palpitation
• it increases the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women
• it causes lethargy, and irritability
• it causes confusion and inability to focus
• it causes visual hallucinations
• it intensifies and prolongs the effects of psychostimulant drugs such as amphetamine, methamphetamine, and dextroamphetamine
• it causes increased gastric acid secretion in the cells
• it decreases broad-range thinking abilities

Some studies showed that caffeine is good for the heart, and increases mental performance related to focused thought. This may be true as in other contradicting results from studies done on the effects of caffeine. But these are all temporary and transitory. When the stimulating effects are gone, the harmful effects of caffeine appear in the form of illnesses and diseases.

Caffeine is a nerve irritant that does not nourish the system in any way. Its temporary effects of high energy, alertness, wakefulness, increased strength, vivid imagination, and mental arousal are only nervous excitements produce before caffeine is ever digested and assimilated by the body. When the effects of this stimulant are gone, these unnatural euphoric conditions disappear, and only results to debility and langor.