Written by PETA | June 5, 2017

Amid reports that Youngstown may not be able to open its Northside Swimming Pool this summer because of a lack of lifeguardspossibly as a result of the high costs of certification classesPETA sent a letter to Mayor John McNally this morning offering to contribute $1,000 for training classes for lifeguard applicants if the city agrees to display PETAs pro-vegan ad at the pool.

PETA has also offered to dispatch its Lettuce Ladies to deliver vegan ice cream to the lifeguards to sweetenand cool downtheir workdays.

Vegan meals are a fantastic way to save animals lives; reduce our risk of suffering from obesity, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes; and help swimmers get that sought-after bikini body, says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. PETAs cheeky ad could help keep Northside Swimming Pool full of trained lifeguardsand families full of delicious plant-based fareall summer long.

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Will Sexy 'Go Vegan' Ads Make a Splash in City Pool? - PETA (blog) (press release)

When it comes to quality eats, Philadelphias food scene is prime real estate for creative chefs who like to push the limits. Some chefs go the traditional route perfecting classics like pizza or their family recipes for noodles, others flip it and make a vegan cheesesteak that Philadelphians actually enjoy, or mascarpone donuts that make you question how you ever ate at a chain donut shop

Whether you dig tradition or have taste buds aspiring for adventure, these Philly restaurants have cornered the market in being unique, fresh, and available whenever you want them. Check their stories, click to order with Caviar, and these inspiring dishes will be delivered straight to your door in no time. The hardest part is picking which one you want to try first.

Specialty: Brick oven, thin-crust pizza made with only the freshest ingredients, available to eat in or have delivered direct to your door by Caviar.

How its different: These handcrafted pies are created by a classically-trained, world class chef who loves pizza just as much (maybe more) than the rest of us.

When you think about it theres three simple thingsthe sauce, the mozzarella, and the doughso each of any one of those is not amazing the whole thing is ruined.

Specialty: Bowls of tasty ramen, nothing like what you made in college but everything you dreamed of being delivered to your doorstep (and Caviar makes that dream a reality).

How its different: These bowls bring big flavors to traditional dishes with a totally unique twist. If a bite of black garlic wings or spoonful of brisket ramen doesnt change your life, were not sure what will.

You can come in, listen to good music, low lights, watch your food being cookedthats the kind of room we like to eat in so thats the kind of room we tried to build.

Specialty: Chic but casual Sichuan and Taiwanese street food that the owners grew up eating. Enjoy in a sleek Rittenhouse brick-and-mortar, or have them delivered by the dependable hands of Caviar couriers.

How its different: Every dishfrom crispy cucumbers to traditional dandan noodles, lo mein to mustard greens with braised pork bellyis packed with savory flavors and just the right amount of spice.

People always think Chinese food is all spicyits actually more about flavor. Every bite is different.

Specialty: Korean-style fried chicken, cake batter donuts, and coffee you dont even have to get out of bed for (thanks to Caviar).

How its different: This delicious madness is open breakfast through dinnergiving you plenty of time to try every flavor of donut and still have space for a basket of crispy fried chicken.

We wanted to have different, unique flavors that made customers come here specifically for themyou could go to any donut shop and get a glazed donut, but you cant go everywhere and get a blueberry mascarpone donut or a burnt Brulee caramel donut.

Specialty: Savory pizza shop favorites, veganized and available daily to eat-in or have delivered by a trusty carrier like Caviar.

How its different: This Queen Village gem (also expanding to a new spot in Northern Liberties) is so good you dont need to be vegan to love it. Try the Haymaker. It will rock your world.

People in Philadelphia arent too concerned with what it isthey just want something that tastes good.

Mouth watering? Download the Caviar app to get these (and more flavor-packed favorites) delivered when and where you want them.

Videos courtesy of Luke Rafferty Visuals.

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From Brisket Ramen to Vegan Cheesesteaks: 5 Philly Restaurateurs Dish On Their Specialty - Philadelphia magazine

Superdrug are shaking up the high street beauty scene with a new vegan make up range.

With health and wellbeing trends influencing more than our what's on our plates, many beauty fans are looking for cruelty-free beauty options that are inexpensive yet still high quality.

The relaunch of British beauty brand B. , originally created in 2013, offers conscious shoppers high quality, vegan products at an affordable price - with nothing costing more than 10.

The collection, which was formulated using beauty insider expertise, includes a full range of skincare, make up and mens grooming products , plus an entire range of beauty accessories and makeup brushes .

There's also a capsule collection by celebrity make up artist Cassie Lomas.

Cassie Lomas said: It has been amazing to work with the team at B. on the make up collection. As well as inputting into the shades and formulations of the launch range being able to create my own capsule collection of products has been a dream.

Top buys for summer include the 7.99 brow contour kit , Cassie Lomas' 9.99 sheer liquid highlighter and the 6.99 dual lip and cheek tint which comes in six shades.

Sarah Gardner, Superdrug Head of Beauty said: Animal derived ingredients are in a multitude of make up products and its not easy to create high quality cosmetics without compromise. Weve worked for almost two years on the new B. Makeup collection and cannot wait for it to be revealed to beauty lovers.

B. Makeup is available online at Superdrug.com and in selected stores now.

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Superdrug launch exclusive vegan make up and skincare line and all the items cost 10 or less - Mirror.co.uk

DENVER - You dont expect to hear people singing and playing classic songs in an hospital. But on the 10th floor at Presbyterian/St. Lukes Medical Center in Denver, Lee Newman is being treated to live music.

Its being performed by a group who not only sings there, but works there.

Lela Monsoori, Brandt Miller, Angie Appel, Daniel Rule and Sam Helgesonare physicians, nurses and staff members who not only provide patients with medical care, but musical care.

For them, making rounds take on a whole new meaning.

For transplant patient Rick Almond, they are a welcome sight.

"Ive been really sick for a few years here, and liver gave out, and the kidneys started giving out and was close to not making it, Almond says.

As they performed it wasn't hard to tell how much the music moved him. And it's moments like that, that makes them glad they started the group.

We all sort of realized that we were all musicians, says Miller.

Six months ago they began sharing their love of music with their patients between their other hospital duties.

The space in this hospital can be really hard and intense for patients, says nurse Angie Appel. And so we get to come in and bring a sense of lightness and help, and it's so inspiring for me I love it.

Endocrinologist Dr. Lela Mansoori sings with the group as well and says the impact is far reaching.

It releases stress, Dr. Mansoori says. It lowers cortisol and it actually has been shown in several scientific studies to decrease the length of stay to decrease the disease progression and it's just been very beneficial for patients.

In the short term, it's bringing a huge smile to Steve Barbier's face, even as he battles cancer.

It's nice to have a little change of pace, Barbier says. Because i can't go out or anything so yeah they did raise my spirits.

As duty calls, the group gets smaller, but their determination doesn't.

The next stop is Don Grosser's room.

After hearing the group play Brown Eyed Girl, Grosser says, It was wonderful. Wonderful.

It's said that music can touch the soul, and this group is proof that it can do so much more. It's building connection and trust.

To come in and have a relaxing music side of them is really great, Almond says. It just makes it more person to person, more one on one. And its bringing joy to those who play and listen.

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Medical musicians give unique care at hospital - WCPO

Located in Maslak district of Istanbul, Tamirane is designed as a new living space in town with the aim of repairing souls with art. Surrounded by the forest, the art venue Tamirane has a vivid summer program filled with concerts, dance nights and karaoke events throughout June.

INDIE SESSIONS

The concert series Indie Sessions, designed by Tamirane for those who want to avoid the rush of the city and relax with good music, will be hosting the best musicians in town on Saturdays throughout June.

MORNING JAZZ SESSIONS

Tamirane's new classic daytime concert series, which has an important place in making the concept of daytime jazz in Istanbul, Morning Jazz Sessions' June Program is full of virtuosic musicians. Listeners of all ages are welcome at Tamirane's comfortable and relaxing atmosphere each Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

JAZZ OPEN MIC

The only open jazz stage performance organized once a month, the Jazz Open Mic selects from among 200 of the best jazz songs and with the best jazz orchestra, giving karaoke lovers the chance to sing their hearts out.

DANCE SESSIONS

After Morning Jazz Sessions, Indie Sessions and Jazz Open Mic comes Dance Sessions. Carried out twice a month, these sophisticated dance parties to which many dance lovers attend let guests be free and happy.

LATIN & MORE DANCE PARTY

The most pleasant Latin dance meeting in town kicks off with Brazilian Helio Faria and the energy of percussion on June 7. The choreographers will teach the basic and main dance steps dance and people may enjoy the Latin rhythms or dance the whole night away with popular Latin pop songs.

FLAPPER SWING DANCE PARTY

At Tamirane once a month, Swing Istanbul Dance Party is welcoming swing's leading representative Flapper Swing for a live performance in Istanbul for the second time on June 9.

The Gypsy jazz band Flapper Swing, following in the steps of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli, will be refashioning the atmosphere of the 1920s and 1930s with the best songs from the eras and Reinhardt's compositions.

The Swing Istanbul team will also kick start the party with a mini swing workshop for beginners between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Whether you dance or not, everyone will enjoy Jazz Age's Gatsby cocktails from Tamirane award nominated bar along with good music, dance and intimate fun.

SHAKE!

Five talented musicians who got together at the Music Department of Istanbul Bilgi University full of soul, R&B and funk will perform at Tamirane. Vocalist and percussionist Bidar Kalender, zgn Tuncer on saxophone, Ahmetcan Gkeer on electronic bass, Artum ekem on guitars and Berke Kymen on drums will come to Tamirane for a night of fun on June 10.

Kaan Mete Quartet

Discovering Django Reinhardt's music in his 20s and since then playing Gypsy jazz, Kaan Mete's debut album "l'apres-midi" was released on Hot Club Records, which discovered masters of the Rosenberg Trio and Angelo Debarre. Kaan Mete on guitars will be accompanied by Ahmet Elmas on saxophone, Ozan Tun on rhythm guitar, Aydn Balpnar on double bass on June 11.

Jazz open mic

Do you want to sing jazz? The mic is yours!

A breath of fresh air in the city's musical entertainment life, Jazz Open Mic invites attendees to sing their hearts out by selecting whatever they like from over 200 of the best jazz songs. Tamirane's unique stage is prepared to welcome all those who want to sing for the first time on stage with a great orchestra on June 16.

Rockfather Rockfather is offering a night full of classic rock at Tamirane. Indie sessions' Rockfather night will offer the audience the chance to sing along to the most popular classic rock songs and dance all night with Rockfather on June 17.

Fulya Aka Trio

After a pleasant Sunday brunch, stop by Tamirane for a pleasant Sunday afternoon full of music with up-and-coming new jazz vocalist, Fulya Aka, accompanied by Kerem Trkaydn on guitars and Enver Muhamedi on double bass on June 18.

Jazzmatiz

Drawing attention with an innovative interpretation of classic jazz songs, Jazzmatiz will perform on the Tamirane stage on June 24. With a voice resembling that of Tom Waits, Mesut Ahmet Demir on guitar and vocals, Deniz Tanyeli on bass guitar, Zeynep Oktar on keyboard, Bora Tanyeli on saxophone and Mert Kazak on drums will create an ideal summer night full of music.

Manouche-u l

Manouche-u l is an acoustic, modern Gyspy jazz band inspired by Django Reinhardt's music. Along with standards, they also perform Turkish and popular foreign songs from the last three decades with vocalist Gizay Bykdoanay, Bar Ertrk on saxophone, Kaan Bykdoanay on guitar, Sinan Erbelger on double bass and Turgut Alp Bekolu on Sunday afternoon, June 25.

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Repair your soul with art at Tamirane - Daily Sabah

From a powerful national anthem to church hymns and classical masterpieces, music has always been able to evoke emotion, affect your mood, and influence the brain and body. Scientific studies throughout the years have proven how beneficial music can be both emotionally and physically. However certain types of music are better suited for healing than others. For example, you may find that while you truly enjoy rock music, this music may not be the most ideal music for your own emotional or physical needs.

Generally speaking, you want to search for music which is soft, soothing, and geared toward relaxation or meditation. Many classical music recordings have these qualities as do New Age compositions. You can even acquire music which is specially geared toward meditation, yoga, and other wellness programs. I highly recommend the music of Daniel Kobialka for all of your wellness and meditation needs. Mr. Kobialkas focus is the rejuvenative power of music. He has led didactic and interactive workshops and seminars, traveled the world bringing his violin virtuosity to hospitals from Beijing, China to Plainville Ohio, and recorded music for meditation and guidance with alternative healing pioneers including Joan Boreysenko and Bernie Siegel. If you are seeking healing, inspiration or spiritual fulfillment, you will discover in Kobialka the transformative power of music, Larry Dossey, M.D.

Music has always been loved and embraced by the public, from catchy jingles that influence their purchases to cherished childhood songs that bring back a nostalgia for friendlier times. As such, it is no surprise that science, as well as medicine, have turned their attention to the therapeutic powers of music.

Music, the undefined sounds of universal language, says Daniel Kobialka, has the remarkable ability of speaking to each of us in a very personal and profound manner.

The many uses of music in therapeutic situations vary largely and may include, but are not limited to, motor skills, social/interpersonal development, cognitive development, self-awareness, and spiritual enhancement.

The idea of music as a tool for healing dates back to the beginnings of history, and some of the earliest notable mentions in Western history are found in the writings of ancient Greek philosophers.

Robert Burton wrote in the 16th century in his classic work, The Anatomy of Melancholy, that music and dance were critical in treating mental illness, especially melancholia (depression).

Using music and sound for healing is not yet a mainstream practice, however many groups have already begun to implement music therapy to their advantage. For example, some schools have initiated programs including music to benefit their students learning abilities. They have begun to hire therapists or other specialists who use music to strengthen nonmusical areas such as communication, physical coordination, teamwork, or even math.

If this article still hasnt convinced you of the value of music for healing, consider the case of Dr. Michael J. Crawford and his colleagues, who in November 2006, again found that music therapy helped the outcomes of Schizophrenic patients.

His study showed conclusive evidence of the value of music in healing therapies. His November 2006 study included a total of 115 patients. Of these 115 patients, 81 of these were were subjected to various music therapies. Multiple methods of analysis demonstrated a trend towards improved symptom scores among those which were subjected to healing music therapy, especially in the area of reducing symptoms of schizophrenia. They further concluded that the effects as well as cost-effectiveness of music therapy for acute psychosis should be further investigated in further trials.

As you can see, there is a strong case for the value of music in everyday wellness as well as for your health and even to assist in the care of specific ailments. You can use music as a wellness method in your own home in a variety of ways, such as setting aside 15 minutes when you wake up in the morning and before bed at night to listen to relaxing music and calm your mind. You may also wish to listen to healing music on an mp3 player or CD player while you work during the day, if it is possible in your workplace to do so, or if you work from home. You can also play soothing, healing music for your pets or to even calm down and relax a baby!

Music can be used in such a large variety of ways for healing both our bodies and minds that you simply cant go wrong by listening to this type of music! Even if your normal playlist includes rock, country, or even rap, you too can appreciate the benefits given by listening to relaxation music. There are such a large variety of styles, instruments, and cultural influences available in healing music that you can usually find something to suit everyone. So give music healing a try and start feeling the benefits today!

Stephanie Davies,a 28 year old woman from Missouri, has always been interested in alternative healing therapies. She owns her own hosting company, at Hosting WAHMs offers premium webhosting from $2 per month and up, with an easy to use sitebuilder!

Photo By OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

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Music For Healing, Relaxation, and Wellness - Good Herald

Published: 16 hours ago

Last Updated: 02 Jun 2017

If youre at all familiar with the spinning wheel of death, mocking your vain attempt to salvage seven hours of lost work from your laptop, youll probably take issue with the idea that technology could be good for mental wellbeing. The smartphone indeed has brought in its wake distraction, sleep deprivation and even addiction.

Yet maybe it doesnt have to be that way. The problem, after all, isnt really with the technology itself but how we use it. Used the right way, tech could actually help.

Technology plays an important role in helping to provide support to people experiencing mental health issues. For a start, its instantly accessible to anyone and tends to be free or inexpensive, says Barbara Harvey, mental health executive sponsor at Accenture.

Many apps, chat lines and services are available at any time of the day or night, she adds, while for people who find it difficult to talk about mental health, the ability to open up anonymously is a huge benefit and can represent an important step on the path to getting help.

Accenture gave MT an exclusive window on their internal mental health training for some examples of techs that can help in the workplace. Heres what we found.

Theres a reason all those commuters have their eyes closed when you know full well theyre awake. Mindfulness, which is all about being in the now, is a great way to relieve stress. PauseAble founder Peng Cheng discovered it during six months off work for depression and stress. Finding it a great help, he approached designers ustwo and created Pause.

This calming app (1.99) is all about moving your finger very slowly across a screen, as you listen to relaxing music, growing circles as you go along. There are also free apps like Headspace, which offer guided meditation to improve your mental state.

Apps can also help with mental wellbeing by monitoring patterns and motivating you to progress towards your goals. Bupa Boost, for instance, lets you set targets for wellness, nutrition, fitness and relaxation, while encouraging social support from colleagues or friends (likes, comments etc). Sleepio, meanwhile, is all about helping you get that solid nights kip, through breathing exercises and heart rate monitoring, which allows you to see when youre most stressed and why, so you can do something about it.

Among the most interesting solutions was Ainxiety, an immersive VR chatbot still in development that asks you questions and then sets you appropriate tasks. For instance, if youre angry you have to/get to smash virtual objects, whereas if youre stressed youre taken to a VR beach to chill. You can imagine a day when other VR programmes are used to put you in realistic situations that you find induce stress (eg an interview), to help desensitise you in a safe environment.

So tech could be useful in helping people manage their mental health and wellbeing, but no matter how advanced it gets, you will of course never be able to just plug it in and just wait for mental health problems to disappear.

They are far too complicated for that, and frankly the environment and culture at work are likely to be more significant factors than the presence or absence of technology. After all, guided meditation on your phone could well be fantastic, but if youre judged and berated for taking a ten minute break to do it, its not going to be much help.

Next: Managing mental health at work

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3 ways tech could boost your mental health at work - Management Today

Chives bloom at the Student Organic Farm at Iowa State University. Sales of organic produce continue to rise, according to the Organic Trade Association.

Sales of organic food reportedly climbed to record highs in 2016, an indication organics are edging toward the mainstream.

In a new industry report, the Organic Trade Association says American consumers spent $43 billion on organic products in 2016, which accounts for more than 5 percent of total U.S. food sales, a high water mark for the organic industry.

The counter-culture movement that once agitated the food industry from the periphery has grown much closer to conventional says Iowa State University sociologist Carmen Bain.

I think theres a real tension among some producers, organic producers, consumers, advocacy groups, and so forth about what direction to they want organic to go in, Bain says.

With organic products now coming from some of the nations largest growers and processors, such as Driscolls berries and Kelloggs cereals, many early advocates have turned their attention to small, local farms.

Bain says with demand for organic produce continuing to grow, though, more farmers are likely to look toward organic production. It remains a challenge.

Theres opportunities there for organic farmers and there are farmers who want to take advantage of this demand, Bain says. But they need some help in terms of some investment.

She says that could include government or private sector financial help in transitioning land to organic production, such as a program to help sustain profitability during the three years it takes to transition to organic certification. But she says its also important to resolve differences in supports for conventional crops and organic ones, such as crop insurance.

The OTA report also shows growth in sales of organic products such as personal care items and cleaning supplies. Organic produce remains the driver in organic sales, growing last year almost three times as much as the growth in total fruit and vegetable s

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As Organic Industry Grows, It Edges Toward Mainstream - HPPR

Inside a South Carolina factory, in industrial vats that stand five stories high, batches of algae are carefully tended, kept warm and fed corn syrup. There the algae, known as schizochytrium, multiply quickly. The payoff, which comes after processing, is a substance that resembles corn oil. It tastes faintly fishy.

Marketed as a nutritional enhancement, the oil is added to millions of cartons of organic milk from Horizon, one of the nation's largest organic brands. Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, the oil allows Horizon to advertise health benefits and charge a higher price.

"DHA Omega-3 Supports Brain Health," according to the Horizon cartons sold in supermarkets around the U.S.

What the Horizon milk carton doesn't advertise is that some of its contents were brewed in closed stainless steel vats of schizochytrium. This omission avoids any ick reaction from shoppers, but consumer advocates say it also dodges a key question: Is milk supplemented with an oil brewed in a factory really "organic"?

"We do not think that [the oil] belongs in organic foods," said Charlotte Vallaeys, a senior policy analyst, at Consumer Reports. "When an organic milk carton says it has higher levels of beneficial nutrients, like omega-3 fats, consumers want that to be the result of good farming practices. . .not from additives made in a factory."

Exactly what should be considered an "organic" food? A closer look at how the oil winds up in organic milk offers insight into how the U.S. Department of Agriculture determines what foods may be sold with its coveted "USDA Organic" seal, a label that can double a product's price. At least in part, it's a lobbying tug-of-war: On one side, many companies, seeking to maximize sales, push the USDA for an expansive definition of "organic." On the other, consumer groups advocate for a narrower, "purer," definition.

In deciding to allow the use of the oil and similar additives, USDA officials, at least initially, misread federal regulations. In 2012, five years after the algal oil was introduced into milk, it quietly acknowledged that some federal regulations had been "incorrectly interpreted." The USDA then maintained the status quo - allowing the use of algal oil, among other things - in order not to "disrupt" the market.

Asked this month about the issue, a USDA spokesman declined to address the confusion saying that current regulations have been "interpreted to allow for the use of ...(DHA) algal oil in organic processed products."

Whatever the legalities, the Horizon milk with the DHA algal oil is popular. In the past year, consumers bought more than 26 million gallons of the milk supplemented with the DHA, according to Horizon, representing 14 percent of all organic milk gallons sold. Retail sales of the milk topped $250 million in the past year, the company said. The Horizon milk with DHA typically costs about 30 cents more than plain Horizon milk.

"Millions of people choose our Horizon Organic milk with DHA Omega-3 for the added benefits DHA Omega-3s are thought to deliver," a Horizon spokesperson said in a statement, which says the additive may improve heart, brain and eye health.

To critics, though, the popularity is based on a misconception of what is and isn't organic. They argue that supplementing "USDA Organic" products with algal oil betrays consumer expectations that organic foods need no laboratory-inspired razzle-dazzle, and that the nutrients in organic products are good enough without additives.

"Additives just don't have any place in organics at all," said Barry Flamm, former chair of the National Organic Standards Board, which makes recommendations to the USDA. "You might say additives should be allowed for health reasons, but I never saw an additive that you couldn't get in real foods."

Indeed, when milk is produced by grass-fed cows - as required by organic regulations - it contains substantially more Omega-3 fatty acids than conventional milk, as recent testing conducted by The Post shows.

Some companies, like Horizon, nevertheless like to boost their Omega-3 claims using algal oil.

Costco does something similar with its Kirkland brand "organic" milk. It adds "refined fish oil" to the milk and boasts of high-levels of Omega-3 fats. But Costco acquires much of that milk from Aurora, a mega-dairy of 15,000 cows in Colorado. According to The Post's nutrient analysis, without supplementation, Aurora milk lagged behind other organic milks in the amount of Omega-3s.

Costco did not respond to questions about the fish oil additive.

The idea for creating the DHA algal oil that goes into Horizon milk is credited in part to Bill Barclay, a scientist whose quest, in many ways, was as idealistic as those who champion organics. He, too, aimed to remedy the modern diet.

For years, a group of scientists had argued that contemporary meals were lacking in substances known as Omega-3 fatty acids, which are commonly found in larger amounts in fatty fish and grazing animals. Since so many farm animals are fed a grain diet and no longer graze - a practice that leads to more Omega-3s in their meat and milk - these scientists argued that supplementing modern diets with more Omega-3s would provide health benefits.

While recent studies have indicated the Omega-3 supplementation does not produce measurable health benefits, the argument among some scientists continues, and many people still turn to fish oil pills to goose up their Omega-3 consumption.

"In the 70s and 80s there was a lot of medical data that DHA could have a significant impact on human health," Barclay recalled in a phone interview.

Fish oil pills had taste and odor problems, as Barclay noted, so he set out to find an alternative source of Omega-3s. He quickly turned to algae. The challenge was finding a strain that was commercially suitable - one that would grow fast and yield the oil. He persuaded his wife to allow him to take out $25,000 from their mortgage and take a year to lay the groundwork for a business.

Somewhere on the coast of Southern California - he won't say where - Barclay came upon the schizochytrium. While lots of algae replicate just once a day, this strain, when fed properly, could replicate five to nine times a day. Others, too, had been looking at algae as a way of feeding NASA astronauts in space.

DSM, which has succeeded Barclay's start-up, now produces the algal oil and has sold it for use in milk, cheeses, yogurt, cereals and protein bars. When destined for food products, the oil is processed without the use of harsh solvents such as hexane, the company said.

The oil is vegetarian, sustainable and "does not contribute to overfishing," DSM said in a statement. "We highly value our organic partners and believe that our products are consistent with the important values of the organic industry, including health and nutrition, quality, and sustainability."

After Horizon began selling the organic milk supplemented with the algal oil in 2007, sales took off.

There was just one problem. The additive might have violated organic regulations.

In January 2012, after five years of sales, the USDA issued a complicated notice in the Federal Register explaining that the USDA's National Organic Program had "incorrectly interpreted" some federal regulations. The result was that some supplements to organic products had been allowed that shouldn't have been. Among those allowed by mistake was DHA algal oil.

"Examples of ingredients added to organic products which are outside [the regulation] include certain forms of DHA...in fluid milk and dairy products," it said.

Several months later, the USDA issued a new "interim" rule regarding the supplements for organic products. Its intention, the USDA said, was to "provide continuity to the organic industry" and to avoid "widespread disruption."

In ruling at least temporarily in favor of algal oil and other additives, the USDA noted that an advisory board had recommended to allow the oil's use in organic products.

"This action enables the industry to continue with the status quo until additional public comments are received and a final rule is published," the USDA said.

Almost five years later, the status quo continues. A final rule has not been published.

That leaves consumers buying an "organic" milk supplemented with algal oil, though many likely don't know that stainless steel vats of schizochytrium are the source of the Omega-3s in the milk. According to Consumer Reports surveys, 7 out of 10 consumers think the USDA should not permit the use of non-organic ingredients in organic food production if they are not deemed essential, Vallaeys said. The USDA position means that millions of people buying milk may be getting something different than the "USDA Organic"- seal seems to promise.

"Algal oil is one of several nutrient additives that have not gone through this proper review and approval process," Vallaeys said. "It's very disappointing that we have yet to see proper enforcement action from the National Organic Program on this issue."

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How millions of cartons of 'organic' milk contain an oil brewed in industrial vats of algae - Chicago Tribune

Fear is a negative emotion, unless youre facing an actual threat and need to fight or flee. And the usefulness of fear is minimal in daily life, particularly in the form of anxiety. Stressful events can produce short-term anxiety in almost everyone, which disappears after the event. But foran estimated 6.8 million Americans with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), anxiety is a chronic condition they cant shut off. All of us know people we accept as born worriers, but their reality is much more debilitating than that title describes. Being in a state of chronic anxiety can severely limit their daily activity.

You probably know already if you worry excessively. In fact, if you have chronic anxiety, even the smallest thing can trigger it. You find yourself with fearful thoughts about finances, family, your health, and whats happening at work. Some days youd rather hide under the covers.

The first thing to realize is that reality isnt whats actually worrying you, but its your fixed habit of mind thats causing you to respond to everything with anxiety. Second, you need to look rationally at the anxiety response and concede that youre not improving it by feeling anxious. This seems obvious to non-worriers, but somewhere inside, many born worriers believe they are taking care of situations that others are overlooking, like whether they remembered to lock up the house or turn off the gas stove. Any trigger can provoke worry, so the question is how to prevent this from happening.

Because of the mind-body connection, you should also consider the physical side of anxiety. Even if you have accepted worry as a tolerable trait, it exacts a price in the form of insomnia, easy startle response, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, headaches, inability to relax, trembling, twitching, feeling out of breath, and various stomach and digestive problems. If these persist for more than six months after something bad has happened to you, a diagnosis of GAD may be appropriate. Even if your symptoms are manageable, you shouldnt have to live this way. Anticipating the worst, which has become a habit even when no threat is in sight, distorts how you approach work, family, and the world in general.

There are many theories about what causes chronic anxiety, but they are as diverse as explanations for depression. Its more useful to consider how to retrain your mind so that your worry subsides and is replaced by a normal undisturbed mood. The standard medical advice is to take medication (usually some form of tranquilizer), augmented by talking to a therapist. However, self-care has other tools, such as meditation, diet, sleep, massage, and exercise that you can pursue on your own.

One aspect of anxiety is racing thoughts that wont go away. Meditation helps with this part of the problem by quieting the overactive mind. Instead of buying into your fearful thoughts, you can start identifying with the silence that exists between every mental action. Through regular practice, you experience that youre not simply your thoughts and feelings. You can detach yourself from these to rest in your own being. This involves remaining centered, and if a thought or outside trigger pulls you out of your center, your meditation practice allows you to return there again.

Being able to center yourself is a skill that anyone can learn, once they have the intention and the experience of what it feels like. Anxious people often shy away from meditation for various reasons. I cant meditate is code for feeling too restless to sit still or having too many thoughts while trying to meditate. With a patient teacher, these objections can be overcome. Anyone can meditate, even if the first sessions are short and need to be guided. Being on tranquilizers, which for some anxious people is the only way they can cope, isnt a block to meditation.

Numerous scientific studies have found meditation to be effective for treating anxiety. One study, published in the Psychological Bulletin, combined the findings of 163 different studies. The overall conclusion was that practicing mindfulness or meditation produced beneficial results, with a substantial improvement in areas like negative personality traits, anxiety, and stress. Another study focused on a wide range of anxiety, from cancer patients to those with social anxiety disorder, and found mindfulness to be an effective management tool.

The researchers analyzed 39 studies totaling 1,140 participants and discovered that the anxiety-reducing benefits from mindfulness might be enjoyed across such a wide range of conditions because when someone learns mindfulness, they learn how to work with difficult and stressful situations.

All mental activity has to have a physical correlation in the brain, and this aspect has been studied in relation to anxiety. Chronic worriers often display increased reactivity in the amygdala, the area of the brain associated with regulating emotions, including fear. Neuroscientists at Stanford University found that people who practiced mindfulness meditation for eight weeks were more able to turn down the reactivity of this area. Other researchers from Harvard found that mindfulness can physically reduce the number of neurons in this fear-triggering part of the brain.

Here are three simple, practical ways to take advantage of all this knowledge:

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How Meditation Can Help Anxiety | The Chopra Center