There are many different ways to have your period. For some people it comes every month like clockwork, while other people on certain types of birth control don't get it at all. Some people have a super heavy flow, while others barely spot. While there are some signs your period sends that can tell you something is off, however your period comes is natural. But Broadly recently pointed out that there are a cohort of vegan bloggers who think having a period is a sign of toxicity in your body.

Freelee the Banana Girl, a well-known vegan blogger, posted on her YouTube channel years ago that she stopped getting her period for nine months after following a raw, vegan diet. When it returned, Freelee said it was much lighter than before. Freelee interpreted this to mean that having a period is a sign of excess toxicity that needs to leave your body.

"I still believe that, largely, menstruation is toxicity leaving the body," she said in the video. "So a lot of people are having these heavy, heavy periods and painful periods because they have a toxic body or have a toxic diet."

Freelee said heavy periods are not natural, and that it's healthier to have a light flow. She continued to say people with heavy, painful periods should adopt a diet like hers (she's been known to eat up to 51 bananas per day). She's not the only one, as Broadly points out. Other bloggers also subscribe to a similar idea.

This, however, is not accurate. For those who have started menstruating, the absence of a period is called amenorrhea. According to the Mayo Clinic , natural amenorrhea occurs for reasons like pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause, while taking certain medicines and using certain contraceptives can also cause it. Hormonal imbalances and problems with your reproductive organs can lead to amenorrhea, but being underweight, exercising too much or being under a lot of stress can also prompt your periods to stop. While amenorrhea is totally healthy and normal in situations like pregnancy or while you're using a contraceptive, Dr. Jackie Maybin, a clinical lecturer in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Edinburgh, told Broadly she doesn't advise changing your diet to alter your period.

"It's difficult to recommend a strict vegan diet without investigating hormone levels and endometrial health in these women," she said. "It's likely that the complete absence of periodsamenorrheaindicates that ovulation is not occurring and could have a significant negative impact on reproductive health."

But it's also important to note that Freelee's statements also perpetuate the idea that menstruation is somehow impure or unclean. We see this idea in action in many ways some casual and others very serious. We see it when people call periods "gross" or people who menstruate go to great lengths to hide their pads or tampons. We also see it when, in rural areas of Nepal, people who menstruate are shunned during their period because of the idea that it makes them unclean. Periods are, in fact, a natural occurrence that has nothing to do with your levels of so-called toxicity, but instead is an integral part of your menstrual cycle.

Read Broadly's full story here .

Related: A Nepali Teen on Her Period Died After Being Banished to a Hut

Read more from the original source:

These Vegan Bloggers Say Periods Are Toxic - TeenVogue.com

(Imagens Portal SESCSP, Flickr)

Recent worldwide hits come frompop, rock, hip-hop, electronic anything, it seems, but classical. What stereotypes does classical music hold? Is it beautiful, euphonious, relaxing? Or is it boring, soporific, a genre reserved for older folks or very musically intellectual people? In fact, classical music can be quite unorthodox, funny, eye-opening. And yes, in some cases, these pieces can be composed by the very same people who work with the more conventional, familiar form of classical music.

Lets take a look at some of classical musics weirdest offerings.

Mauricio Kagel, a well-known German Argentine composer, composed a rather hilarious piece back in 1992. His style involves introducing theatrical elements in the piece,ranging from detailed descriptions of what emotions musicians should convey on their faces to a step-by-step account of how someone in the orchestra should move. In Concert for Timpani and Orchestra, the timpani player uses a variety of unusual instruments, such as a bullhorn, and at one point is instructed to slap the timpani with bare hands. The funniest part, however, is the ending:

(bellybutton-diary.com)

As Kagel notes, the timpani player stretches to full height before diving headfirst into the timpani.

In fact, Kagels instructions state that one timpani must be covered in paper instead of the usual cowhide and must be reserved for the final dive. The final note (the sound of the human body crashing into the timpani) is as loud as possible (fortissimo fortissimo). The musician must therefore exert this action with all of theirenergy.

Perfect.

Finale was composed for a concert celebrating Kagels 50 years of life and was written for an indoor ensemble. A 20 minute piece, Finale starts off in truly classical form, but the theatrics creep in five minutes before the piece ends. Composer Kagels notes on the music sheet for Finale state very clearly:

The conductor suddenly stiffens, as though he/she is experiencing convulsions. The right arm goes up, the shoulder rises. The left hand loosens the necktie and lightly massages the chest. The conductor grabs the music stand, then falls, the head falling towards the floor behind the conductor. As a result, the music stand should fall as well.

The violin player steps in as a substitute conductor for the rest of the piece while the conductor lies prone on the floor.

John Cage, another avant-garde composer, wrote 433, a famous piece that is often accompanied by classical instruments, such as a piano or a string orchestra.

There is no time limit, minimum or maximum, to this piece. The title only happened to be 433 because the first performance of the song lasted four minutes and 33 seconds. There are three movements in this song, but no notes or sound. The whole song is completelysilent.

The thought behind this piece is not so much for it to be empty ordevoid of notes, but to fosteran appreciation of sound, such as the noiseof people moving around in their seats or the sound of nature outside the concert hall. During 433, these noises are not just ambient but are actually an integral part of the piece.

It does look odd, however. The performer (or performers) sits down, stays silent, then exits the stage when the piece is over.

Perhaps Cage sought tochallenge our perception of music, modern or classical. We often think of music as a piece the composer deliberately planned out, in note form, or in a format that requires intentionally created sound. However, 433 integrates inadvertently created noise and merges them as modern music.

Contact Maimi Higuchi at maimih at stanford.edu.

Originally posted here:

Who said classical music was boring? - The Stanford Daily

ACTON - Acton Public Library will hold its annual Book, Bake & Plant Sale on Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Please consider donating your divided perennials, rooted house plants or extra seedlings to help the sale.

The library also is taking book donations for the sale. For the library's book donation policy, please visit online at http://www.acton.lib.me.us.

The sale will be held at 35 H Road in Acton.

A questions, please call 636-2781.

GOODALL LIBRARY

Goodall Library is located at 952 Main Street and can be reached at 324-4714. Visit the library online at http://www.lbgoodall.org.

Coloring Calm, Goodall Librarys coloring workshop,will continue on Mondays, May 22 and June 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the library'sCommunity Room. Coloring sheets and supplies will be provided (or you canbring your own). Color in a relaxing group setting with music and refreshmentsprovided. Adult coloring, a focused and meditative activity, has been shown tohave many positive benefits, mental and physical.

Marianne OConnor, the author of"Haunted Hikes of New Hampshire,"will give a presentation at Goodall Library on Tuesday, May 23, at 6 p.m.OConnor shares more than trail mix withher readers as she recounts the ghost stories, legends and lore associated with some of New Hampshire'spremier hiking trails. Her one-hour presentation will be full of spooky surprises her Powerpoint program will highlight unusual ghost tales and will cover geological andhistorical events. Haunted locations are scattered throughout the state next door and featurelegends such as Devils Den in New Durham, Chief Chocorua in Tamworth, Sasquatch ofOssipee, the Bomber Plane in Woodstock, and a murder mystery involving Bette Davis inFranconia. O'Connoris a professional educator and has presented her program to various libraries,schools and local organizations throughout New England. Her book has been featured on "NH Chronicle," "Windows to the Wild," NH NPR and other local programs.

Plunk will meet funk when musicianPeter Mezoian will perform on the banjo during a special showat Goodall Library on Tuesday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. The roots of the banjo are in American popular and jazz musicfrom the early 1900s, but, unlike many banjoists, Mezoian decided thatthose syncopated, infectious rhythms and melodies could transfer to other genresand generations of musicwhere Cole Porter crosses Paul Simon and Broadwayintersects with the Beatles, and where the Roaring '20s catch up with thepsychedelic '60s.This funny and engaging performer will keep you wondering what he will playnext. Mezoian has spent years taking the banjo across the world as a feature act ontheater and nightclub stages in America, England, and Japan, at music festivals and on more than 50 different cruise ships. He'sjust your typical native Maine, Steve Martin-influenced, donut-eating,espresso-drinking, half-Armenian, half-Greek, four-string banjoist.

Goodall Library will continue itsMeditation Seriesin June.Whether youre a beginner or looking to deepen your practice, head to the library for this series, led by Cindy Simon, M.A., NCC, RMT.Relieve anxiety, anger and depression by learning to live in the present moment.Enjoy deep stillness and quiet and rid your mind of negative chatter. Live withmore acceptance, letting go, happiness, and gratitude.Class will be held on Monday, June 19, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Romp & Rhyme: Baby & Toddler Timeis held at Goodall Library on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m. This program, for children ages 3 and younger, lasts 30 minutes and is filled with music, movement, fun, rhymes and books.

Creative Chaos Story Time For Pre-schoolersis offered at Goodall Library for children ages 3 through 6 on Thursday mornings at 11 a.m. This 45-minute program involves stories, crafts, fun and an occasional surprise.

Goodall Library offersfree passesto the Portland Museum of Art, Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport. Stop in and start enjoying the benefits of becoming a member of the library.

SPRINGVALE PUBLIC

Springvale Public Library is located at 443 Main Street. For more information, call 324-4624, send an email to spl@springvalelibrary.org, or visit online at http://www.springvalelibrary.org.

Story timesare held at Springvale Public Library for children ages 3 through 6 every Monday at 10 a.m. Baby Rhyme Time, for children under the age of 3, is held at the library on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

PARSONS MEMORIAL

Parsons Memorial Library is located at 27 Saco Road in Alfred. It can be reached at 324-2001 or alflib@roadrunner.com. Hours are from 3 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

E-Booksare available at the Parsons Memorial Library.The library has three Kindle e-readers with a total of 22 titles on each. Contact the library for the full list.

Parsons Memorial Library hosts aLego Clubfor children ages 4 through 12 on Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. The Legos are supplied. Donations of additional Legos would be appreciated.

The Friends of Parsons Memorial Library are having anongoing book salein the Reading Room. Hardcovers cost $2; paperbacks, $1. You can fill a PML tote bag with books for $12. All proceeds support the librarys programs.

Preschool Story Timesare held at the library with Miss Karen on Tuesdays at 10 a.m.

TheGames Clubmeets at Parsons Memorial Library on Wednesdays at 1 p.m.

Parsons Memorial Library tote bagsare now available for $8 apiece. Proceeds go toward expanding library collections.

Discount passesto the Portland Childrens Museum are available at the library year round.

ACTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Acton Public Library is located at 35 H Road in Acton and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon on the second and third Saturdays of the month.

Acton Public Library is now offering aStory & Activity Hourfrom 10 to 11 a.m. on Fridays with two volunteers leading the fun. Parents and caregivers and their children, ages preschool and younger, are welcome to attend and listen to a story, participate in finger-play and movement activities and make light crafts. The library will also have "community celebrities" lined-up to attend once a month and share their talents.

Here is the original post:

Acton Public Library's annual sale return June 10 - Foster's Daily Democrat

By: Dr. Joel Fuhrman - Updated: 10 hours ago

VALLEY There is not a definite yes or no answer to this question. There may be important time periods at which people are more vulnerable to the potential harm of pesticide residues on our food: just prior to conception, during pregnancy, and during early childhood. There is evidence that organophosphate pesticide exposure during these time periods is associated with deficits in cognitive and behavioral development in children.

There are some clear environmental benefits to buying organic produce. However, it is unclear whether there are health risks to consumers from ingesting pesticides from conventional produce. Each year the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases their Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists. Using pesticide residue data from the USDA, the EWG ranks the highest and lowest pesticide fruits and vegetables.

The 2017 Dirty Dozen list contains strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, celery, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and potatoes. The 2017 Clean Fifteen list contains sweet corn, avocados, pineapples, cabbage, onions, sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower, and grapefruit. EWG recommends buying the organic versions of the fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list to minimize exposure to synthetic pesticides.

Organic agriculture utilizes crop rotation, compost and manure as fertilizers, soil and water conservation practices, natural methods for managing pests, and no synthetic pesticides. Some of the goals of organic agriculture, according to the USDAs organic program, are to promote ecological balance and conserve biodiversity.

Pesticide exposure: The Environmental Protection Agency sets limits for safe consumption of pesticides; they estimate an exposure level called the chronic reference dose, the amount of a chemical a person could be exposed to daily throughout life without any harmful effects. A 2011 study estimated typical amounts of exposure to synthetic pesticides based on the USDAs pesticide residue data for fruits and vegetables on the Dirty Dozen list. They found that most pesticides were present at amounts one thousand times smaller than the chronic reference dose. Even the highest pesticide residue detected was only 2 percent of the chronic reference dose. This puts the Dirty Dozen list in perspective: it means that even the highest pesticide conventional produce is very low in pesticides.

Is that small amount of synthetic pesticide any risk to consumers? Some scientists think that pesticide residues do not pose health risks, because humans and other animals are exposed to small amounts of naturally occurring toxins in every plant food we eat. The body regularly breaks down self-produced metabolic wastes and naturally occurring carcinogens in foods, as well as pesticides, and excretes these harmful substances.

Greater concentrations of urinary breakdown products of synthetic pesticides have been found in frequent consumers of conventional produce compared to frequent consumers of organic produce, and several short-term studies have shown that switching conventional foods for organic foods reduces urinary pesticide metabolites. However, evidence is lacking whether the consumer gains any significant health benefit by eating organic instead of conventional produce.

What about people who work with pesticides in agriculture? Studies suggest a link between pesticide exposure and brain cancer, Parkinsons disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia, lymphoma, and cancers of the stomach and prostate. A study comparing several markers of DNA damage in blood samples of conventional and organic farmers found evidence of greater DNA damage in conventional farmers. This suggests supporting organic agriculture can help to reduce the harmful effects of synthetic pesticide exposure for those who work in agriculture and are exposed to very high doses.

There are environmental advantages. Organic agriculture avoids conventional fertilizers, aiming to prevent harmful nitrogen runoff into waterways. Avoiding synthetic pesticides prevents pesticide contamination of groundwater. Although organic pest management methods may not work as well as conventional in some cases, there is a great deal of evidence that organic crops bring better soil quality, less soil erosion, more plant diversity, and more diversity in insects, soil organisms, and birds.

Regarding nutritional differences, there appears to be a small increase in antioxidant content in organic fruits and vegetables compared to their conventional counterparts.

There is growing evidence that exposure to a mixture of synthetic pesticides is harmful to the bees we depend on as pollinators for many crops. A shift toward organic agriculture could help to alleviate some of the stress on bee populations.

Note that the Dirty Dozen are not our major dietary source of exposure to harmful chemicals. Exposure to persistent organic pollutants such as organochlorine pesticides and PCBs occurs primarily via fatty animal foods like fish, dairy products, and meat. Also, glyphosate, an herbicide linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, is present primarily in processed foods.

By centering your diet on unrefined plant foods, you will automatically reduce your exposure to potentially dangerous chemicals. The large volume of studies performed on typical, pesticide-treated produce has demonstrated that consumption of produce, whether organic or not, protects against chronic diseases. For your health, consuming a diet of vegetables, beans, fruit, nuts, and seeds is the most important action you can take. If you are able to buy organic vegetables and fruits, that is preferable, especially for our children, the environment and for farmers.

Dr. Fuhrman is a #1 New York Times best-selling author and a board certified family physician specializing in lifestyle and nutritional medicine. The Eat To Live Cookbook offers over 200 unique disease-fighting delicious recipes and his newest book, The End of Heart Disease, offers a detailed plan to prevent and reverse heart disease using a nutrient-dense, plant-rich eating style. Visit his informative website at DrFuhrman.com. Submit your questions and comments about this column directly to [emailprotected]

Original post:

Fuhrman: Should we only buy organic produce? - Valley Courier

Tom Leyde 9:07 p.m. PT May 15, 2017

Fresh flowers are among the crops JSM Organics grows in north Monterey County. Zamora picks a fresh bouquet at one of his farms.(Photo: Tom Leyde/For The Salinas Californian)Buy Photo

Javier Zamora looks proudly at a rolling field full of flowers, fruits and vegetables.

I like being out here, he said. It calms you down.

On a walk to the top of the hill, he points out certified organic heirloom tomatoes, beets, parsley, cilantro, sugar peas, squash, strawberries and lavender. His organic growing business, JSM Organics, grows a variety of crops but focuses heavily on strawberries.

In five years, Zamora, 43, has gone from near ruin to becoming a successful grower. He came to the United States from Michoacan, Mexico, at age 20 and climbed the ladder to success at a restaurant corporation in Los Angeles. He had a large home and expensive cars.

But the housing crisis in 2006-2007 sent his life into a tailspin. He, his wife Paola and two daughters wound up in a one-bedroom apartment. The couple decided to move to Stockton, where his wife had relatives. Zamora found work and went to school to obtain his GED.

One of his teachers encouraged him to go to college. He did and earned associate of science degrees in horticulture and landscaping, studying at Delta College in Stockton and Cabrillo College in Aptos.

The couple then moved to the Watsonville area, where Zamora worked for a flower grower. He then attended classes to learn how to become an organic grower at Agriculture and Land-Based Training Associaton (ALBA) in Salinas. He graduated and went off on his own.

I started with zero money zero. Just my passion for growing my own food, Zamora said.

He began by obtaining a $5,000 loan and leasing one acre of land. He now leases several farms, totaling 60 acres that he works with the help of more than 20 employees. He recently purchased 200 acres of his own in the Royal Oaks area.

Although he didnt start out to be a farmer, he grew up in a farming family in Mexico. His father farmed there and so do his brothers.

At 7, I was farming with them in Michoacan, Zamora said.

Today, he willingly shares his farming expertise with other growers and students. In April, he was honored at the Salinas Sports Complex by the Monterey County Resource Conservation Districts annual stewardship and scholarship barbecue. Zamora was presented with the Cooperator of the Year award.

This is my Oscar for farming, Zamora said after receiving the honor.

The award acknowledges his successful farming operation and his contributions to organics. He has developed contacts with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement projects and practices to address erosion, soil health, water quality and water conservation and pollinator and wildlife habitat on his ranches.

Zamora has shared his knowledge at the EcoFarm Conference, the Salinas Ag Expo, the Latino Farmer Conference and elsewhere. He also sits on the boards of ALBA, the USDAs Small Farmers and Ranchers Advisory Committee and the Pajaro Valley Water Management Association. He has even helped four of his employees start their own farming operations.

His lifes philosophy is about giving.

I think its more of how many people can you help and what can you leave behind, he said. I thank God and Im really blessed As long as were healthy and were still here and have a positive attitude I think we will be OK.

Tom Leyde is a freelance writer and former Californian staff member living in Salinas. Contact him at thomasthomas9330@sbcglobal.net.

Read or Share this story: http://bit.ly/2rkvOBD

Original post:

Javier Zamora outlines his path to growing organic produce - The Salinas Californian

While his peers were chasing B-school placements, MNC jobs, and the big moolah, Raghav decided to venture into organic farming.

In an age where people are chasing B-school placements and those big pay cheques, few choose to tread a different path and follow their passion.

For Raghav Baldwa, a 24-year-old from Indore, growing food organically, farming, and leading the lifestyle that it entails meant much more than pursuing a degree in business administration. And thats how Mangalam Organic Foods was born.

Raghav, who is an MBA dropout from T.A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal, began researching organic farming and its scope in India. The more time he spent learning about it, the more he was convinced of becoming an organic farmer and addressing the issues faced by farmers in the country.

Raghav, who took a keen interest in organic farming, soon found out that there were major grey areas in the field. I realised that no matter how educated people are, they give almost no importance to the source of the food they eat every day. Many people claiming to sell organic produce failed to show any certifications related to it. Using this level of ignorance and the lack of information, organic retailers started taking advantage of the situation, says Raghav.

Raghav also points out that most retailers who sell organic produce at a premium price do so without any certification from a public or private entity. The middlemen who claim to sell organic produce, meanwhile, often have no clue as to how and where the produce they are selling is grown.

Raghav was concerned about the huge problem that the use of pesticides and fertilisers was giving rise to. Be it the increasing health problems, the degrading quality of the land, or farmers woes, everything could be traced to how our food was grown, and thats exactly what Raghav decided to focus on.

Having witnessed ignorance and malpractice in his very hometown, Raghav decided to start organic farming the right way, and started Mangalam Organic Foods.

In May 2015, a month after dropping out of his MBA course, Raghav, along with his father, purchased 20 acres of barren land in Harjipura village, about 80 km from Indore.

The barren land was converted into highly fertile organic farmland using natural methods. We practisedchemical-free agriculture, and focused on all the naturalways. We consciously chose not to use any chemicals or fertilisers on our farmland. We used naturally grown neem manure, gobar manure made of cow dung, vermi compost, and so on. We use techniques such as crop rotation, manual weeding, mulching, and composting, says Raghav.

We received certification after high level scrutiny and multiple lab tests of our produce and soil in May 2016. Officials from MPSOCA (Madhya Pradesh State Organic Certification Agency) visit every now and then for surprise checks, says Raghav.

Apart from managing the land that has been purchased, Raghav is also working towards developing land by taking it on lease from farmers nearby. He is currently leasing lands from farmers who are in debt and have land to spare but no resources to cultivate it.

We prepare such land for farming, train those farmers in organic farming, and take care of all the certifications, rules, and regulations. Employing those farmers again on their land means that they do not have to shift to cities for work, says Raghav.

Raghav and his team are currently managing 42 acres of land, including land that is under lease from six different farmers. The venture employs over 150 farmers and workers.

The produce from the land is sold directly to the consumers, doing away with middlemen, which has allowed Mangalam Organic Foods to sell the produce at prices 15-20 percent lower than those in the market.

We even sell our produce to Big Basket in Indore, and also ship it on demand to various cities in MP, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. We are currently selling over four tonnes of produce every month, with some handsome month-on-month increases in sales, says Raghav.

Raghav and his family rely completely on the produce from the land. The land currently produces multiple crops on rotation, such as grains, pulses, vegetables, pomegranates, oranges, drum sticks, and pulses like tuar, moong, and urad. The farm also has 12 desi cows and four bulls, a gobar gas plant, and a vermicompost pit as well.

Raghav mostly lives on the farm now, and intends to make a homestay out of the place pretty soon. I want this to be a place where people get to take a break from their busy and hectic lifestyle. A couple of tree houses are already under construction. The idea is about making people acquainted with organic farming and its benefits while they enjoy a relaxing short stay, he says.

Raghav also hopes to launch organic food trucks, which can supply Indore according to a fixed bi-weekly schedule, so that people can buy organic produce at a highly competitive price at their ease.

Raghav is currently working on various methods to increase their production and yield, including a moisture sensing technology. Presently in its nascent stages, the technology would be able to sense the moisture in the soil, which can enable them to time watering accordingly and save a lot of water.

More here:

Dropping out of his MBA to become an organic farmer, this 24-year-old is lifting farmers out of debt - YourStory.com

The Mindfulness Room at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh. Courtesy of Carnegie Mellon University

At the University of Vermont, a popular brain science class begins and ends with mindful meditation.

The class is part of the

"Mindfulness can take many forms meditation, mindful eating, mindful walking, mindful relationships," said Dr. James Hudziak, chief of child psychiatry at the UVM College of Medicine and program founder.

It can help regulate aggression and impulsivity, as well as improve attention and performance on academic tests.

"It's weightlifting for the brain," he told NBC News.

And research backs this up.

A

The randomized study recruited unemployed adults and took them to a three-day retreat. Half the group got skill training and did mindful meditation and the other half had a relaxing group activity.

Researchers took brain scans before and after the retreat.

"We know that unemployment is a massive stressor for folks and we wanted to see if mindful meditation could manage that," said lead author J. David Creswell, who is an associate professor of psychology and the director of the Health and Human Performance Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University.

The researchers did brain scans before and after the experience.

"The folks in both programs loved it," Creswell told NBC News. "But what we found were changes in how the resting brain was wired in the mindfulness group."

In those who meditated, scans showed more connections in the stress regulatory areas of the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that manages emotions and attention.

"It suggests how meditation training might foster resilience," he said.

But are those changes permanent? Scientists don't know, said Creswell, but a four-month study follow-up suggests, "there is some lasting benefit."

"Like any other type of behavior, it has a benefit over time, but won't persist, if we don't do it," he said.

But CMU senior Rob Stephens says that for him, he hopes mindfulness will be a lifelong practice.

"You have this one body and this one life to live," he said. "Especially at a place as rigorous as CMU, we often don't check in with ourselves. I always make sure to take a moment to see how how I am doing with life."

"Less stressful people are more successful because they lead more fulfilling lives."

Read more here:

Mindfulness Meditation May Help Students Combat High Levels of Stress, Depression - NBCNews.com

Photo credit: Shutterstock.

Here are two verses from the New Testament for your consideration.

First:

For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. I Corinthians 2:10

And:

Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Romans 5:5

Please join with me in reflecting on these two verses.

First, the Holy Spirit of God is a gift, given to us. This is hardly controversial: Jesus himself breathed on his disciples, giving them the Holy Spirit (John 20:22). But what I love about the verse from Romans is this notion that the Holy Spirit is the means by which the love of God has been poured out into our hearts.

Consider this. Your heart is a chalice into which the love of God has been poured, through the Holy Spirit, Gods gift to us.

Now, hold this thought alongside the verse from I Corinthians. Here we see Paul proclaim that the Spirit scrutinizes (beholds) everything eventhe very depths of God. This is the same Spirit given to us, mind you. The same Spirit through which the love of God has been poured into our hearts.

So, to the extent that we calibrate our hearts or, should I say, that we allow God to calibrate our hearts to live with trust and gratitude in that Spirit so generously given to us, we can joyfully live into these promises:

In other words, when we pray by the aid of the Spirit, who intercedes beyond the depth of words (Romans 8:26), we ourselves areinvited, our hearts filled with Divine Love, to gaze into the very depths of God.

My friends, with this in mind, let us pray.

Stay in touch! Connect with Carl McColman on Facebook:

Read more:

Even the Depths of God A Brief Meditation - Patheos (blog)

Josie Gibson got really graphic about her surgery (Picture: Getty/ Instagram)

Josie Gibson displayed the results of her recent surgery with a really graphic Instagram photo.

Josie recently underwent abdominoplasty to remove excess skin after the reality TV star lost weight.

To show the results of the surgery, Josie showed her fans a picture of herself in excercise gear, clearly happy with her figure.

But she went one further and included an image of the skin and fat that was removed from her stomach in the procedure resting on scales.

The picture is seriously ickyso make sure youre not eating if youre going to take a look.

The former Big Brother star said: So happy with the results of my abdominal plasty in September. Scar is amazing and healing nicely. Elain Sassoon was my surgeon and she is an incredible woman. Thank you botch up bodies.

Speaking about the abdominoplasty in November, Josie revealed she had 6lbs of skin removed.

Last year she appeared on Loose Women after losing six stone to convince people she had not undergone surgery to lose the weight.

Showing the excess skin she had been left with, she explained: I cant do anything about it and I worked so hard. The only thing I can do with it is cut it away.

Part of me thinks, Josie, be happy with what youve got but the other part thinks, well you only live once you might as well have the body you want to have.

This isnt the first time Josie has shared pictures of her, erm, excess bits. After undergoing a dermaplane facial, a physical exfoliation procedure that shaves the skins surface to remove dead skin and peach fuzz, she posted an Instagram picture of herself alongside a handful of the peach fuzz hair that was taken away.

MORE: Big Brother lovebirds Josie Gibson and John James Parton had a really awkward reunion

MORE: Josie Gibson shows off her excess skin after six-stone weight loss

Excerpt from:

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Indore: Aerobics Club Meghdoot organises an hour of free aerobic exercises for 1600 club members at Meghdoot Garden everyday from 6:30 am to 7:30 am. The club was started on January 26, 2015 by Suresh Baitwal (60), Jitendra Mishra (46), Vikram Tripathi (48) and Vikas Vijaywargiya (44) with a motto of increasing awareness on healthy lifestyle. Club administrator Vikram Tripathi said that around 400 people follow a combined regime of aerobics with guidance from coach Jitendra Meshram. Yoga instructor Vipin Khandelwal and acupressure expert Dr Surendra Verma also provides assistance in the camp.

Tripathi also informed about the clubs alliance with city hospitals like Greater Kailash, Medanta and Apollo Hospital to provide 10% to 20% discounts to club members undergoing check-up or treatment at these hospitals. The club only charges a onetime membership registration fee of Rs 100.

FREE PRESS catches up with club members to know about their personal experiences.

SPEAK UP

For past two years, continuous aerobics has brought tremendous changes in my body. I have reduced 12 kg weight

Mahesh Rasal (46), Club Coordinator

I started aerobics at age of seven in the club. I have twice won National Aerobics Competition held in my school

Drashti Ralebhat (9), student of SICA school

I started practicing aerobics five months ago and have gained 10 kg weight. I get inspired by other members and now, my energy level has increased

Sada Shiv Joshi (78)

I have been practicing aerobics for last two years. It has brought discipline in my life. I started this activity for fun and have now achieved a better personality

Yogesh Kumar Bhatt (42)

I have seen unexpected changes in my body. Aerobics has become a part of my daily routine and it gives me relief from body pain

Poonam Bhagat (62)

I was suffering from slip disk, which restricted most of my movements. But, now I can easily perform aerobic workout for one hour at a stretch

Chhaya Rasal (41)

I was suffering from blood pressure fluctuations. Continuous exercise helped me stay fit and stop my medications

Maya Meshram (42)

Due to my knee joint problem, I was suggested by friends not to do aerobics and other exercise. But, aerobics strengthened my joints and helped in keeping myself fit. Club members are very punctual and they even practice aerobics outside on road when the garden is closed due to rains

Shakuntala Agrawal(62)

I have been feeling very energetic for last one year after doing aerobics regularly. Problems like fatigue and weakness have reduced

Kuldeep Singh (27)

I was motivated by my mother a month ago. Aerobics helped me reducing 2 kg weight in just four days after I joined the club. Now, I have become a motivation for my friends and relatives

Akshita Trivedi (15)

I came across this aerobics group while strolling in Meghdoot and felt an urge to participate. Now, I feel active throughout the day

Manish Pithdiya (42)

I do not follow any medication, as aerobics have kept me away from any illness and injuries

Usha Khator (52)

I was suggested physiotherapy due to my frozen shoulder, but I started aerobics and now, have overcome my illness

Vranda Uikey (52)

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