Can we say whether or not a well balanced, vegan diet is BEST for human health?I will tell you the answer momentarily, but first- reasons for posing the question now.

A recently released documentary called What the Health reportedly makes the case for vegan diets, arguing that the attendant benefits are among the best-kept secrets of the medical-pharmaceutical complex.I say reportedly, because I have yet to see the film, although it is on my to-do list.A number of my friends and colleagues are featured.

The film came to my particular attention in a roundabout way.A video blogger with a MD degree and a sharp sense of humor, along with, apparently, a quite unprepossessing career in medicine- decided to assault the film for the entertainment of his social media followers.Colleagues of mine saw the critique, and gave as good- or better- than they got, in both video and print.References to, and remnants of the exchange made their way into my in-box.Rather like Mel Gibsons character in The Patriot, I felt obligated to enter the fray when the battle line rolled up to my front door.

Can we say whether or not a well balanced, vegan diet is BEST for human health?No.But we cant say it isnt, either.And when other considerations are factored in- such as the ethical treatment of other species, and environmental impact- the arguments for well-practiced veganism are extremely compelling.

Why cant we say, for sure, that an optimized vegan diet is the single best choice for human health?Quite simply, the study required to prove that has not been done, and almost certainly never will be, because it is well nigh impossible to conduct.

To prove that any one, specific diet is truly THE best requires comparing it to all other diets that are valid contenders.In this case, that could reasonably include, at a minimum, comparably optimal representations of Mediterranean, vegetarian, pescatarian, and flexitarian diets.Randomization should ideally happen at birth, or even in utero, and the outcomes that prove a diet is best- the combination of longevity, and lifelong vitality- require that the study run for entire lifetimes.

Because the comparison is among diets that are all optimized, and because other health practices would have to be standardized and comparable across groups, those lifetimes would likely be rather long, and the between-group differences small.Imagine, for instance, conducting a study intended to show the differential effects on longevity and vitality of running 35 miles a week, versus 32 miles a week.There might well be a dose-response effect ensuing, but it would be very small in the mix of factors influencing health over a lifetime, and hard to spot.When outcomes are small and hard to spot, sample sizes need to be very large to magnify them, and make them visible.

Our diet study has this same liability.So, it would require a vast sample of people (and/or their pregnant mothers) willing to be randomized to a specific diet for a lifetime.It would then require adherence to the assignment for that entire lifetime, and routine measures to confirm it.The investigators involved in launching the study would need a mechanism to pass it along to successors, since they would all die of old age before the study is done.I trust at this point I need not say more about why such a study has never been conducted, and is more than a little unlikely.

At one extreme, then, the claim that veganism is established to be the single, best diet for human health is somewhat exaggerated.Relevant evidence cannot correctly be said to be more than suggestive. From my perspective, having reviewed the relevant evidence with as much renunciation of a priori bias as humans can hope to achieve- both for a commissioned peer-reviewed paper, and a textbook- there is nearly comparable suggestive evidence for several variants on the theme of wholesome foods, predominantly plants, in time-honored and sensible combinations.I have heard my more ardent, vegan colleagues claim that wild salmon is toxic food for people.I am aware of no epidemiological evidence to substantiate that claim, but I would readily accept their argument that being eaten is certainly toxic to the fish.

At the other extreme is the argument one tends to hear when veganism is being disparaged and ridiculed, generally by those who simply like bacon and baloney, or -more ominously- by those trying to sell you one or the other, that we need meat to be strong and healthy.This claim figures among the baloney.

What animals need to be big and strong is not foods that resemble the muscles they are hoping to grow; that is simple-minded mythology, perhaps aided and abetted by the beef industry.They simply need foods to which they are adapted.The mightiest muscles of any land animal, those of the elephant, are produced entirely on a diet of plants.The mightiest muscles in the sea- those of the blue whale- are produced on a diet of tiny animals, krill and copepods.Lions build their muscles from meat; gorillas all but entirely from plants, and horses from plants exclusively.The greatest of human muscles is inconsequential as compared to any of these.

Some species are obligate herbivores, and some others are obligate carnivores; neither has a choice about how to grow their muscles, because choice is constrained by their anatomy, physiology, and underlying adaptations.We humans are decisively omnivorous, meaning its a matter of choice.We can grow our muscle, and even fuel world-class athletic prowess, with plant or animal foods.Any argument that meat is necessary is simply misguided, uninformed, and ignorant.Among factors that matter in the determination of human muscle mass, strength, fitness, and performance- meat is moot.

Thus fail the arguments at the extremes in either direction, from my perspective.But lets be clear that arguments for vegan diets at a time of climate change, drying aquifers, industrial farming, assaults on biodiversity, rampant chronic disease, and global population pressures are anything but moot.

Consider, for example, just these two facts.A study out of Harvard, published in 2010, compared various sources of protein in the diet with regard to cardiovascular disease in over 80,000 women.The single, greatest beneficial effect observed derived from the displacement of beef in the diet, by beans.A study out of Loma Linda University, published in May of 2017, projects that the routine substitution of beans for beef by Americans- independent of any other climate control strategy- could achieve over 50% of the greenhouse gas emission reductions targeted for 2020 in the Paris Accord we have since decided to abandon.

Just those two facts make for a formidable argument on their own: humans can choose to grow their muscles out of beans, or beef, and beans are almost certainly, massively better for the health of humans, and the planet, alike.Mic drop.

But, actually, there are reasons to keep talking.

Beans are a staple in the diets of the worlds longest-lived, most vital peoples, among the more salient of themes running through the worlds Blue Zones.While absence of evidence on behalf of other diets is not reliable evidence of absence, the fact is that only vegan and near-vegan diets have been shown to shrink atherosclerotic plaque; reduce LDL as effectively as statins; and modify gene expression in a manner suggesting the potential to prevent the development and progression of cancer.Maybe other diets can do all this- but the burden is on them to prove it.

There are also the dire ethical implications of animal food, mass-produced.The only way anyone who has ever loved a dog can think of bacon as the casual, fun garnish into which our culture has turned it is either willful hypocrisy- or this.Pigs are highly intelligent, often claimed to be more intelligent than dogs; are sociable and can form bonds with humans just like dogs; and are routinely slaughtered in callous cruelty to embellish our cheeseburgers.

Yes, its true that vegans need to supplement vitamin B12.But so what?The argument that this requirement makes the dietary approach flawed or incomplete tosses out the baby for the sake of an inconsequential drop of bathwater, and fails the meanest test of parity.

These days, with marketing claims based on the gratuitous addition of vitamins to water, its harder to avoid nutrient supplements than to acquire them.All routinely clothed, indoor-working, northern-living humans need to supplement vitamin D, one way or another.Most humans exposed to modern living, and certainly those exposed to the liabilities of mass-produced animal foods such as second-hand antibiotics, are apt to benefit from probiotics.Veganism obligates select supplementation little more than modern living does.

Can we say that a balanced vegan diet is the single, best option for human health?No, we can only say it is among the likely contenders.Can we say that veganism is compatible with the adaptations of our omnivorous species?Certainly yes.Can we say that it allows for peak performance and muscle mass?Certainly yes.Can we say that it reliably garners the votes of the climate, the pigs and all other animals, and the planet?Certainly yes.

Argue against veganism if you choose, but concede it is because you like- or are selling- cheese, or meat.Other arguments are mostly just so much baloney.

Editorial note: for those wanting to know, the author is not vegan- although he eats a diet of minimally processed foods, predominantly plants, and does not eat any mammals and most other animals for ethical reasons.He counts four 4-legged animals, 3 dogs and a horse, among his closest friends.

Senior Medical Advisor, Verywell.com

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The Vegan Argument - HuffPost

SPOILER WARNING: This issue contains spoilers for Deathstroke #21, on sale now.

After spending the bulk of last issue in a gathering the team excercise for the series new status quo, Priest and artist Diogenes Neves devote Deathstroke #21 to gathering the team, albeit from a few different angles. Agendas are revealed, mysteries deepened, and the sincerity of Slade Wilsons conversion is called into question. But perhaps the biggest revelation comes on the final page, where Defiances missing member makes her debut.

It sure looks like Terra is a double agent. Again.

This issue, like most of Priests run on the title so far, is broken up into segments delineated by a word or phrase in an all-black panel. Here, the marker is the character or characters in focus for the scene. The opener is dedicated to the League of Assassins Willow, who executes a genocidal butcher known as the Grocer. Its unclear, though, how she fits into the series will she join Deathstrokes team Defiance? Oppose them? Or simply complicate things?

RELATED: Titans #11 Finally Brings the Flash Face-to-Face with [SPOILER]

From there, were on more solid footing as Adeline, Slades ex-wife and the mother of his sons, takes center stage. Adeline and Slade did not part amicably, as recounted in this issue the former Mrs. Wilson shot Deathstroke in the eye after holding him responsible for their son Grants death and in retaliation for his reunion with Rose, his daughter from outside of their marriage. (Addie doesnt put things quite so kindly.) Now, though, shes ready to lead Project Defiance as a secret government initiative, with Deathstroke reporting directly to her.

Deathstroke goes along with it sort of.

The next section, Wally and Tanya, brings a moment of levity to the issue, while also giving a pretty intriguing look at what drives these characters, their similarities and differences. Wally West Kid Flash asks Tanya Spears, aka Power Girl, what grade shes in. A perfectly reasonable question, given their similar ages. I have two PhDs, she replies. Tanya also recaps her origin story, noting that her mentor Karen Starr, the original Power Girl, left Tanya her name, powers, and access to her technology empire, when Ms. Starr returned to her own Earth.

This is worth noting because, in the shifting sands of post-Rebirth continuity, the status of Earth 2 is still a huge question. In the New 52 universe still in many ways the operative timeline Earth 2 was an alternate reality in which a war with Apokalips brought the planet to its knees, and the world was only saved through the heroic sacrifices of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Eventually, this version of Earth was destroyed, though its heroes found and colonized a new planet in the aftermath of Convergence. But in pre-Flashpoint continuity, which is stridently reasserting itself elsewhere in the DCU, Earth 2 was home to the Justice Society and other Golden Age originals, of which the classic version of Jay Garrick, Earth 2s Flash, recently made an appearance in the Batman/Flash crossover The Button. In both continuities, Karen Starr was originally from Earth 2 before emigrating to Earth 1. Tanyas statement here suggests that Power Girls repatriation which occurred in the New 52 definitely took place; the question now is, from the current point of view, which Earth 2 she returned to.

RELATED: Why Arrows Deathstroke Deserves His Own TV Spinoff

Later, in the issues final scene, Adeline reveals that the black kids were not part of her plan for the team, which could lead to an interesting dynamic when loyalties are tested. Its also worth noting that Kid Flash and Power Girl, the only unambiguously heroic members of Defiance, are also the only ones without a deep-seated hatred for Deathstroke.

His kids, for example, certainly bear a grudge.

In the Jericho and Rose scene, the half-siblings debate whether or not Deathstroke killed Jerichos fiance tienne, and both agree that yeah, probably he did. Jericho maintains some doubt though, and states that learning the truth is my only motivation for joining Pops team.

Slade, meanwhile, is taking his mentorship of a new generation of heroes very seriously. First, in the Slade chapter, he scours news reports for a world crisis suitable for testing Defiances mettle. He finally finds it, oddly enough, in recognizing the chauffeur of a small nations president as a former notorious drug kingpin. Though there is a contract out on the man, Deathstroke executes him on the house, and in so doing sets off an international incident. Now call in Defiance!

But of course the twist comes in Wintergreen, the final chapter, where we learn that Slades not-always-trusty confidant is conspiring with Adeline to end Deathstroke forever. Wintergreen and Adeline also implicate themselves in tiennes death by noting that they both know that Deathstroke was not responsible.

And then, theres the final page reveal of Terra. Who not only has the stomach for a little back-stabbing, as Adeline puts it, but is positively eager to dive in.

Though Terra has appeared in a variety of Titans-related series through the years, the conflicted earth-powered characteris most famous for her role in the Marv Wolfman and George Perez classic The Judas Contract, where she charmed her way into the Teen Titans before revealing herself as a spy for Deathstroke. That story arc also strongly suggested that Slade and the underage Terra were engaged in a sexual relationship. Early in his run on the current Deathstroke series, Priest had said he would clear up once and for all the truth of Slade and Terras relationship, which he said would take place in a crossover with Teen Titans. Plans clearly changed, as Terra did not even appear in that recently-concluded crossover, but perhaps that story is coming soon.

RELATED: Deathstroke, Kid Flashs New Team Teased in Lazarus Contract Finale

At any rate, that Terra would feature in the Defiance lineup was never a secret; shes right there on the cover, after all. But her role as saboteur is a twist. Of course, nothing is ever straightforward in Deathstrokes world, where rival assassins are always thinking five moves ahead; its entirely possible that Slade recruited Terra before Wintergreen and Adeline even had the chance.

That unknowability goes a long way toward elevating the tension and excitement of Deathstroke. What is Slade up to, really? Can he prevail over his adversaries? Should we even want him to? Hes smart enough not to trust his ex, surely; but what does he know? And of course, what are the consequences for the young heroes who follow his lead?

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Terra's Secret Revealed as Deathstroke's Titans Team Assembles - CBR (blog)

(CNN)

His disciples maintain he is in a deep meditative state, others say he is dead.

Now a court in India has ruled that the followers of deceased spiritual guru Ashutosh Maharaj can continue to preserve his body in a commercial freezer, indefinitely.

Founder of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (Divine Light Awakening Mission), Maharaj was declared dead by authorities in January 2014.

But disciples at his 100-acre ashram in northern India claim he is in a state of samadhi -- the highest plane of meditation -- and will return to life after the fulfillment of his spiritual mission.

A court battle over the body began almost immediately after Maharaj's death.

Dalip Kumar Jha, who claims to be Maharaj's son, had filed a petition demanding the right to cremate his father's body in line with traditional Hindu rituals.

But on Thursday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed his petition.

The court cited "freedom of religion" and a "lack of cremation laws" in ruling in favor of the continued preservation of Maharaj's body.

Maharaj was apparently born in the northern state of Bihar and left his family to become a religious preacher. He founded his sect in 1983 in Punjab to promote "self awakening and global peace" amid a period of militancy and armed conflict.

Maharaj is a controversial figure in Punjab, with local media alleging he had faced protests and threats to his life from conservative Sikh groups in the region.

His sect claims it has over 5,000 volunteers and conducts more than 40,000 events across the world. Its followers took to Twitter to celebrate the court's decision.

The court also overturned a 2014 ruling by a lower court that had ordered the state to cremate the guru.

In a 40-page judgment, the court remarked that since no laws existed to make disposal of a body by the state compulsory, no action could be taken against the ashram or its preservation of the body.

"We thus, find ourselves in a piquant situation where in the absence of any law or obligation flowing therefrom, to give any directions to dispose of the body even if one were to venture considering to do so," read the ruling.

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Court rules dead guru can be preserved in a freezer - WCVB Boston

Grace Vincent founded the Ashram Community with her husband, John, a Methodist minister

My friend and colleague Grace Vincent, who has died aged 83, was committed to the cause of social justice, and her example inspired many others.

With her husband, John, a Methodist minister, Grace founded the Ashram Community in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, in 1967. They were part of a movement that asserted the importance of following the radical example of Jesus in living a Christian life, with the aim of making a significant difference in the world. The community adopted both the eastern concept of building a spiritual resource and the western emphasis on commitment to working among people experiencing poverty.

Grace and John encompassed the very best of modern Christianity, combining vision with day-to-day application. This always took a bottom-up approach, working with people rather than on their behalf, both in community work and in style of worship. Through the Ashram Community, Grace provided support and encouragement to several generations of people living in disadvantaged urban areas.

Grace was born in Kodaikanal, south India, daughter of the Rev Wilfred Stafford and his wife, Dora (nee Johnston), Irish Methodist missionaries. The family remained in India until Grace was 14, when she was sent to school at Methodist college, Belfast. She later studied English literature at Queens University Belfast and in 1958 married John Vincent.

From the Rochdale mission, Grace and John moved in 1970 to inner-city Sheffield, where Grace taught English as a second language at local schools. She set up New Roots, a wholefoods shop for justice that inspired many, including me and other local students, with its evident call to environmental and social justice.

This stands alongside the inner-city work the Ashram Community established and still sustains, most notably at the Burngreave Ashram in Sheffield, which offers a weekly free meal to all (Grace last took part a week before her death) and where destitute migrants and homeless people are often housed. There are also a number of community houses in the area and those living in them work and volunteer locally. The Ashram Community has spread throughout the UK and continues to be inspired and guided by Grace and Johns vision, writings and dedication.

John and their three children, Christopher, Faith and James, survive her.

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Grace Vincent obituary - The Guardian

Shares of Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) touched a high of 1.20and dipped down to a low of 1.20before settling at 1.20in the most recent session. The stock has experienced bearish momentum as its ATR or Average True Range has dipped consistently over the past 10 sessions.

When focusing on technical stock analysis, traders and investors may choose to also study the ATR or Average True Range. The present 14-day ATR for Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) is currently standing at 0.04. The ATR basically measures the volatility of a stock on a day-to-day basis. The average true range is typically based on 14 periods and may be calculated daily, weekly, monthly, or intraday. The ATR is not considered a directional indicator, but it may reflect the strength of a particular move.

Currently, the 14-day ADX for Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) is sitting at 33.16. Generally speaking, an ADX value from 0-25 would indicate an absent or weak trend. A value of 25-50 would support a strong trend. A value of 50-75 would identify a very strong trend, and a value of 75-100 would lead to an extremely strong trend. ADX is used to gauge trend strength but not trend direction. Traders often add the Plus Directional Indicator (+DI) and Minus Directional Indicator (-DI) to identify the direction of a trend.

Checking in on some other technical levels, the 14-day RSI is currently at 34.10, the 7-day stands at 31.60, and the 3-day is sitting at 37.17. Many investors look to the Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading of a particular stock to help identify overbought/oversold conditions. The RSI was developed by J. Welles Wilder in the late 1970s. Wilder laid out the foundation for future technical analysts to further investigate the RSI and its relationship to underlying price movements. Since its inception, RSI has remained very popular with traders and investors. Other technical analysts have built upon the work of Wilder. The 14-day RSI is still a widely popular choice among technical stock analysts.

Investors may be watching other technical indicators such as the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R. The Williams %R is a momentum indicator that helps measure oversold and overbought levels. This indicator compares the closing price of a stock in relation to the highs and lows over a certain time period. A common look back period is 14 days. Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO)s Williams %R presently stands at -91.84. The Williams %R oscillates in a range from 0 to -100. A reading between 0 and -20 would indicate an overbought situation. A reading from -80 to -100 would indicate an oversold situation.

Taking a closer look from a technical standpoint, Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) presently has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of -53.97. Typically, the CCI oscillates above and below a zero line. Normal oscillations tend to stay in the range of -100 to +100. A CCI reading of +100 may represent overbought conditions, while readings near -100 may indicate oversold territory. Although the CCI indicator was developed for commodities, it has become a popular tool for equity evaluation as well.

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Putting the Technicals Into Perspective For Ashram Onlinecom Ltd. (ASHRAM.BO) - Union Trade Journal

Amazon Inc.'s (AMZN) $13.7 billion industry-transforming acquisition of grocer Whole Foods (WFM) is putting the takeover spotlight on Hain Celestial (HAIN) , the only remaining publicly traded pure-play natural- and organic-food company.

WFMis Hain's largest customer (indirectly), and it's where HAIN sells a variety of organic products, including well-known brands Terra Chips and Celestial Seasonings teas.

"Whole Foods has not been doing that well from a sales perspective," said Amit Sharma, analyst at BMO Capital Markets."If Amazon can turn that around, it would be a boost to Hain because [Hain] is one of the largest suppliers to Whole Foods."

Akshay Jagdale, analyst at Jefferies, agrees, noting that he thinks the market is missing the potential positive impact on consumption, assuming Amazon is successful in gaining share in the natural- and organic-food space.

However, even more importantly for shareholders is that Hain also has an activist investor at its gate. Engaged Capital's Glenn Welling launched a campaign last week that included the beginnings of a rare change-of-control director election battle at Hain. If successful at taking control of Hain's board - Welling seeks seven of eight director slots -- it is extremely likely that Engaged will seek to bolster sales through investment in promotion at the same time that the insurgent fund seeks to find a buyer for the company or some of its brands.

Wellinghas already taken a big step towards victory by accumulating a 10% stake -- and his track record suggests that some of Hain's big institutional investors already have his back.

As far as acquisitions go, some traditional packaged food companies could be interested in Hain or some of its brands, as they seek to increase their exposure to organic foods. These include PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) , Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) , General Mills Inc. (GIS) , Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC) , Nestle SA, and Unilever NV (UN) . A Hain auction would follow France's Danone SA's $12.5 billion acquisition of organic foods company WhiteWave Foods Co.

"It is easy to see why traditional packaged-food companies want to buy organic-food businesses," said Sharma. "Organic natural foods are growing at 8% to 10%, while traditional packaged foods are hardly growing. Conceptually, it makes sense for these companies to want to buy Hain, which could be that growth for them."

Also, consider also that Engaged, based in Newport Beach, Calif., has a mostly successful track record when it comes to organic- and healthy-food companies and M&A. Boulder Brands, which makes Earth Balance and Evol Foods, was sold to Pinnacle Foods in 2015 shortly after Engaged became involved.

Also, Engaged Capital helped negotiate an $85 million investment by Oaktree Capital in October at Canadian natural- and organic-foods processor SunOpta Inc. (STKL) , an investment that helped drive the company's shares up to its recent price of just under $10 a share (from about $6 at the time). Engaged has been successful at driving recent sales of companies in other sectors, including Redbox kiosk maker Outerwall Inc.'s sale to Apollo Global Management for $1.6 billion and medical device maker HeartWare International Inc. purchase by Medtronic plc (MDT) for $1.1 billion.

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Amazon's Deal for Whole Foods Could Mean This Organic-Food Company Is Sold Next - TheStreet.com

Most of us wish that we ate a little healthier, but according to meditation app Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe, theres a different approach we should be taking when it comes to looking at the connection between ourselves and our food. Mindfulness has less to do with what we eat and more to do with how we eat, Puddicombe says. Somewhat inevitably though, as we slow down and become more aware of what we are eating, we often end up making some changes to our diet.

Years before co-founding Headspace, Puddicombe, now 44, spent a decade training as a Buddhist monk, studying in Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia and Russia, before setting up his own meditation consultancy in 2006 back in the U.K. In 2013, three years after launching Headspace, which has since gone on to become one of the most successful apps in its category, he wrote The Headspace Guide To... Mindful Eating, a book designed to help you better understand your relationship with food. However, Puddicombe's strong connection to food dates even further back into his childhood when he worked in a restaurant kitchen in his native Bristol from the ages of 11 to 17.

We spoke to him about mindful eating and how his diet has changed since moving to southern California, getting married, having kids and battling testicular cancer, all in the past 10 years.

For anyone not familiar with mindful eating, its really the practice of eating without distraction. Obviously, this is easier to do when we are alone, but, with practice, its quite possible to do this when enjoying and sharing food with others, too. The result is that we feel more in tune with our senses, we begin to appreciate and enjoy our food that little bit more and we begin to develop a healthy relationship with our diet.

Both my wife and myself have always been passionate about food and nutrition, and parenthood has not changed that. The biggest change to our diet was just before our first child arrived. I got testicular cancer and, post-op, we decided to not only go vegan, but to also go exclusively raw, for a year. There were many aspects to my recovery, but this was a key part of a holistic approach. It really set the tone for how we have chosen to eat in the years since and whilst it is considerably more relaxed now, that way of eating is still very much part of our and our childrens lives.

While we experiment with new things once in awhile, we definitely have a few staples that we enjoy together. Tofu Thai curry is usually atop the list and jackfruit curry comes up pretty often too, usually with Indian spices, though. We all have a sweet tooth, so my wifes homemade chocolate-orange vegan ice cream usually goes down well. However, our collective favorite is probably a weekend breakfast, whether its homemade granola with coconut yogurt or avocado and chili flakes on toast, its the one time in the week we all get to share food free from any time constraints.

Headspace keeps me pretty busy, so Im very fortunate to be married to someone who likes to cook. Its something I look forward to doing more of in the future, though, as its something I love to do. I studied cooking and nutrition growing up and worked in a restaurant kitchen on nights and weekends from the age of 11 to 17. It was so rewarding and gave me a lifelong appreciation of food, and wine for that matter.

Well, the foods that I enjoy that some might consider guilty pleasures are probably of the sweet variety, namely chocolate and ice cream. About 10 years ago, a friend in London introduced me to the world of artisan chocolate. It quickly became a passion and I continue to hunt down strange, unusual or exceptional chocolate bars from around the world. I have one mindful square following dinner each nightunless theres a truly amazing bar lying around, and then I might have a square upon waking, too.

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How Meditation, Marriage and a Cancer Diagnosis Changed the Way This Tech Entrepreneur Eats - Food & Wine

Before I started meditating daily starting on November 1st, 2015, I had tried meditation on and off several times. I had heard about many of its benefits and had even witnessed its benefits in friends and family members. Nevertheless, part of me was still skeptical. I struggled with my racing mind and at sticking with a practice that I felt that I had no aptitude for whatsoever. The perfectionist in me saw it as a waste of time when there were so many things I had to do or could be doing that were more "productive."

Though I continue to struggle a lot with my monkey mind and have days where I don't stay present for more than 30 seconds, meditation's impact on my life has been nothing short of miraculous and transformational.

Today, I would like to share 5 common mistakes that people make while starting a meditation practice that I wish that someone had shared with me earlier.

1. Believing That There Is A Certain Way That Meditation Has To Happen

I am a very by the book kind of girl. So realizing that there are no strict rules for how meditation has to happen felt both liberating... and scary. The reality is that you don't have to be sitting up to meditate. You don't need to be cross legged on a cushion. You don't need to close your eyes. You don't need to empty your mind. You don't have to meditate at the same time or in the same place or for a specific period of time. You don't need to use a mantra and you don't need to follow your breath the entire time.

You are naturally a spiritual being with or without these things and it is about connecting to that part of you (that connects us all) is a ways that is accessible and that works for you. It less about something you work to achieve and more about something you let yourself be, sink into, and connect with. The real work is being aware and present that it is happening.

2. Not Fully Comprehending What Meditation Is

You know that meditating is good for you. And the Internet is filled with reasons to meditate and the benefits of meditation. But what IS meditation? In the words of Swami Rama: Meditation is a word that has come to be used loosely and inaccurately in the modern world. That is why there is so much confusion about how to practice it. Some people use the word meditate when they mean thinking or contemplating; others use it to refer to daydreaming or fantasizing. However, meditation (dhyana) is not any of these.

Meditation is a precise technique for resting the mind and attaining a state of consciousness that is totally different from the normal waking state. It is the means for fathoming all the levels of ourselves and finally experiencing the center of consciousness within. Meditation is not a part of any religion; it is a science, which means that the process of meditation follows a particular order, has definite principles, and produces results that can be verified.

Though I believe that the meditative experience varies from person to person and even from day to day and minute to minute, I believe that meditation involves a clear, relaxed, and inwardly focused mind. When someone meditates, they are fully awake and alert, but their mind is not focused on the external world or on the events taking place around them Meditation involves and still inner state that allows the mind to become silent. When the mind is silent and no longer distracts, meditation deepens.

3. Not understanding what being in a meditative state feels like.

As I alluded to above, the experience of meditation varies from person to person and even varies for the same person depending on the day, type of meditation, life circumstances, etc. Some people feel a sense of peace and calm. Others feel frustrated and impatient. Others feel more anxiety at first. You can feel dizzy or a vibrating inside or outside of your body. You may feel warmer or cooler. You could feel numb or as though you are being pulled upwards. You may also feel as though your energy is spilling out into the entire room. Or you might feel something else entirely.

Get curious about how meditation makes you feel on different days. There are an infinite number of variable that can impact how meditation might feel to you. Its not static. Some people believe that you are supposed to feel a certain way or you did not achieve a meditative state. That is not true.

4. Not knowing what it means to "achieve" a meditative state.

Some people believe that in order to achieve a meditative state, one needs to be in a quiet room, sitting in a certain position, controlling the breath. Well, guess what? You (and most people) are likely meditating every day without even knowing you're doing it. Also, meditation isn't something to be achieved in the sense of something that is completed, mastered, or checked off once you get there.

You can be in a meditative state when youre staring into space, when youre daydreaming, when you're relaxing in a chair, and even when youre staring at the TV. When your body is relaxing and your mind is quiet, you naturally achieve a meditative state.

5. Believing that one type of meditation is better than another.

Meditation is about being about awareness and connection with your spiritual center on a conscious level, and it doesnt matter how you achieve that awareness. If you find this space through guided meditation, then do guided meditation. If you prefer breath awareness or mantras or something else altogether, do that. Be flexible and patient with yourself and curious and non-judgmental about your experience. Try to see things with a Beginner's Mind as though you were approaching and seeing your experience and yourself for the first time.

People meditate for different reasons and people approach meditation with different goals and hopes. Some people might desire a deeper spiritual connection while others seek to learn how to relax and improve their cardiovascular health. Still others might be in it for a challenge or to try something new.

Whatever draws someone to meditation, there are no rules when it comes to achieving a meditative state. The key is awareness becoming more aware of when you reach this state, more aware of when and how many times during the day you achieve this state, and more conscious of what you are thinking about and doing when you reach this state and while you are there.

Ultimately, remember that meditation is a practice, not a box to be checked or a skill to be mastered. Mistakes happen, even for advanced meditators. I would love to hear about your experiences with meditation, or what keeps you from wanting to meditate. And, I would love to hear about some of your favorite meditations/ experiences with meditation.

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Meditation Misconceptions - HuffPost

SALT LAKE CITY Thomas McConkie sits in a tall, straight-backed chair, the sleeves of his crisp, button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows. He smiles at men and women in sandals, T-shirts and summer dresses, who watch him from two sections of chairs, four rows in each, placed to face the center of the room.

Were just a bunch of adults out on the town doing a little mindfulness, McConkie jokes, referring to the activities hell soon lead. Nothing unusual about it.

Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Meditation groups may not be unique, but this gathering is. McConkie, an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is also trained in Buddhist mindfulness, is pushing the boundaries of traditional religious practice, helping people of varied faith backgrounds use meditation to deepen their spiritual lives.

"We are not here to tell people whether they should continue in their religious tradition or not. We want to provide space and practice where they can come to a new level of honesty and truthfulness within themselves," McConkie said in an interview, referring to his meditation community, Lower Lights Sangha (pronounced suhng-guh.)

McConkies group meditation work recently caught the attention of a couple of Harvard Divinity School scholars who invited him to apply to a conference they hosted in December. He was one of 80 leaders gathered there to discuss the future of faith and community building at a time when organized religion is on the decline.

Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.| Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Someone described it as the Silicon Valley of religion, said Casper ter Kuile, one of the events organizers. That felt true to us because there was such a sense of deep honoring of history and tradition, but also such openness to how religion is changing.

The conference was part of a broader effort by ter Kuile and Angie Thurston, who are ministry innovation fellows at Harvard, to understand where millennial Americans go to find community and how leaders like McConkie can expand the spiritual offerings of traditional churches.

"We're really thinking about how to help build bridges between what has been and what is coming into being," Thurston said.

Millennials' (lack of) faith

McConkie, 37, didn't set out to create a spiritual haven for millennials in Salt Lake City. He arrived a year too early for that generation, but grew up with the same sort of discomfort with organized religion that's linked to Americans born between 1980 and 1996.

Attendees leave after taking part in Lower Lights group mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.| Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Born into a blue-blooded LDS family with relatives that included high-level church leaders, McConkie left the faith as a teenager, spending his 20s traveling and working in Europe and Asia while studying Buddhism and developing a meditation practice. It took more than 15 years for him to make peace with his Mormon upbringing and to realize he wasn't done with the faith.

"It was my Buddhist meditation practice that helped deepen my understanding of Christianity and deepen my Christian faith," he said.

McConkie moved back to Salt Lake City almost five years ago, ready to reconnect with family members and old friends. Some expressed interest in learning more about meditation, and Lower Lights Sangha, which launched formally in September 2016, grew out of years of smaller gatherings in McConkie's home.

The meditation community is open to anyone, but around two-thirds of the 80 attendees at a recent meeting in June appeared younger than 40. McConkie said his efforts to deepen faith by drawing on diverse religious practices likely resonates best with millennials.

"There's a huge need, especially in the millennial generation, to start to explore what's beyond partisan and religious divides," he said.

Around 1 in 3 millennials are religious "nones," meaning they don't affiliate with a particular faith group, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of these religiously unaffiliated Americans believe in God and pray regularly but don't want to stick within the limits of a single faith.

"Various practices are being unbundled and remixed in people's individual, spiritual lives," Thurston said.

McConkie begins Lower Lights Sangha's monthly gatherings with a brief breathing exercise. Chairs squeak and groan as people adjust their posture and clear their minds.

People meditate as they listen to Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"I want to invite you for a moment to do absolutely nothing," McConkie says, the words delivered slowly and deliberately in a deep, soothing voice.

Next, McConkie offers a brief description of his meditative philosophy, which blends Buddhist practice with developmental psychology. He asks people to introduce themselves to their neighbor, encouraging them to share what made them want to meditate.

The main event during the two-hour meeting is a group meditation. McConkie asks people to move their chairs into circles of four or five, then provides speaking prompts.

Participants complete sentences like "Something you don't know about me is" with stories from their own lives, describing their siblings, favorite vacation spots or how lost they've felt for the last 12 months.

Community builders

As people sit in their circles, sharing and listening, McConkie strolls around the room, a smile playing on his lips.

A calm has settled over the room since he cracked his mindfulness joke. He's successfully ushered another group into deeper awareness of themselves and others.

McConkie said nurturing new connections and growth is one of his strengths. The spiritual side of Lower Lights Sangha's work comes naturally to him; the business aspects of community building are a little trickier.

People meditate as they listen to Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"What I noticed at the December gathering (at Harvard) is that some people are brilliant social entrepreneurs (and) killer marketers. At Lower Lights, I would not say our strength is our business model or marketing plan," he said.

All 80 leaders invited to the Harvard conference lead some kind of community, which ter Kuile and Thurston define as a group of people who know each other, care for each other and work together to weather life's storms. These leaders came from sacred and secular contexts, including art cooperatives, fitness studios and faith groups that meet at bars.

Samantha Nielsen takes part in discussion as Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"The focus in putting that gathering together was trying to understand what these leaders need," Thurston said.

Conversations centered on issues like funding, overcoming conflict and maintaining relationships even as a community grows. People leading secular groups were encouraged to think about how they could support members spiritually, while leaders from religious contexts like McConkie brainstormed ways to track membership and increase their impact.

"I came back from Harvard in December and said we have got to tighten up the organizational side of what we're doing," McConkie said.

Over the past six months, he and his team have designed a website and debated as to which type of nonprofit corporation they should register as.

McConkie also had the chance to pick the brains of other leaders, who continue to support him from across the country. Although they were only together for a few days, the 80 leaders and others brought in to advise them quickly became their own community, listening and responding to one another's needs.

These relationships "provide for them what they're providing for others," said the Rev. Sue Phillips, a Unitarian Universalist clergy member who helped organize the conference.

Authority shifts

Ter Kuile and Thurston's work, including the December conference, grew out of their shared sense that reports on the decline of organized religion were missing the real story: the rise of new types of communities.

"There's such a sense of doom and gloom within religious institutions. But we see an inspiring story of how people are coming together. We want to tell that story," ter Kuile said.

The pair have published a series of reports outlining how millennials build communities at their gym or through regular dinner parties, and offering tips for how established faiths can evolve in order to attract younger members.

"We're trying to navigate between institutions and the growing number of young people who are finding different ways in which to bring belonging and meaning to their lives," ter Kuile said.

Olivia Knudsen listens to Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights as he leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.| Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

New developments at the fringes of a faith group can sometimes create a crisis of authority, as more established religious leaders worry about shifts in practice. Denominational leaders must search for a way to welcome new initiatives like a social justice group or service-oriented gathering without compromising on leadership training or core teachings.

"What's emerging asks us to be different, a new 'us,'" the Rev. Phillips said. "The truth is that a lot of denominations focus on propagating the 'us' that they currently are."

The Rev. Phillips urges clergy members to embrace novel ideas and to be patient when there are bumps in the road.

Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"The most powerful things traditional leaders can do is come alongside these innovators and say 'yes' at every junction," she said. "That's what I am trying to do and that's what I believe we have to do to become all of who we can be."

Lower Lights Sangha is not linked with the LDS Church, beyond McConkie and some participants' personal involvement in the religion.

McConkie said Mormon doctrine and practices inspire his meditation and vice versa, and he believes his meditation community calls to younger Mormons looking for new ways to express their faith.

"We're discovering new truths together in community. I hope how we evolve is in service of what the church is trying to do and how it's trying to grow," McConkie said.

At the end of June's Lower Lights gathering, McConkie invited people to shout out what they were feeling. They said they were grateful, happy and feeling connected to everyone around them.

"I'm feeling like I should have come months ago," one woman says.

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What a Mormon doing Buddhist meditation has to do with the future of faith - Deseret News

327 0 Posted on Jul 06, 2017, 6 a.m.

Meditation and yoga are not only relaxing; they can also 'reverse' molecular reactions in DNA which trigger ill-health and depression.

Research recently published in theFrontiers in Immunologyjournal shows the behavior of human genes is impacted by different mind-body interventions including yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation. Mind-body interventions, commonly referred to with the acronym of MBI, do much more thanrelaxpeople. They also reverse molecular reactions within DNA that spurthe onset of depression and health maladies. The research was conducted by Radboud University in the Netherlands and Coventry University in the United Kingdom. Ivana Buric of Coventry University's BrainBelief,and Behavior Lab served the study's lead investigator.

About the Research

The academicians at the above-referenced universities reviewed 18 studies encompassing 846 individuals across 11 years. They determined a pattern of molecular changes that result from MBIs and how those alterations benefit mental health as well as physical health. The research team zeroes in on how gene expression is impacted. This phraseology refers tothe manner in which genes are activated to produceproteins that influence the body's biological make-up, the immune system, and the brain.

When an individual endures a stressful event, his sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is stimulated. This is the system that is responsible for the human body's fight or flight response. The triggering of this system boosts the production of a molecule referred to as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) that regulates the manner in which genes are expressed. NF-kB activates genes to create proteins known as cytokines that spur inflammation at the cellular level. This reaction is helpful as it serves as a temporary fight or flight reaction. However, if it is persistent, there is a higher chance for the onset of cancer as well as faster aging and even psychiatric disorders such as depression.

The Power of MBIs

The study reveals those who practice MBIs experience a reduction in NF-kB and cytokines that spur a reversal of the pro-inflammatory gene expression as well as a reduction in the risk of conditions and diseases related to inflammation. The study's authors state the inflammatory effect of the body's fight or flight response plays a key role in humanity's hunter-gatherer prehistory when there was an enhanced risk of infection resulting from wounds. Yet in modern day society stress is more psychological in nature and sometimes longer-term. As a result, pro-inflammatory gene expression might be persistent and more inclined to spur medical and psychiatric problems.

The Rise of MBIs

In summary, the benefits of MBI commence at the molecular level and alter the ways in which our genetic codes operate. This is fantastic news for the millions of people who engage in MBIs on a regular basis. These individuals already enjoy the health benefits of such exercises. It appears as though they also enjoy the reversal of DNA reactions that induce stress and anxiety. Inlayman's terms, MBIs allow the brain to steer the human body's DNA processes along a route that improves well-being. Additional studies must be conducted to gain a more in-depth understanding of these effects. It will be interesting to find out if the benefits of MBIs are comparable to those provided by traditional exercise or a healthy diet.

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Meditation and Yoga Change DNA - Anti Aging News