Bill Flanigin Bill is a writer, teacher, speaker, and a pretty decent guy for the most part. Loving life in Denton, Tx. This post is hosted on the Huffington Post's Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and post freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.

People have been relaxing with the help of music for thousands of years. Music has fed our souls, linked our brains to our emotions, and milked our creative juices in a way that no singular outlet can match.

For many, music is a part of our daily lives, just like breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For some, that is not the case. Busy work schedules, parenting, and for some, even talk radio, has squeezed the music vitamin out of our daily allowance of nutrition. Maybe its time to reconnect?

When we think of meditation music, we usually think of naturescapes, classical, or maybe even religious chants. Thats not for me, sorry. But, if I need to lower my blood pressure, I listen to the Eagles.

A while back, I woke up to the unpleasant surprise of dog vomit by my bed. After I sopped up that mess, I hit my morning shower. My shower head then decided it wasnt going to deliver much water. While messing with the knobs and nozzle, I bent over and cracked my head on some bathroom tile. I saw stars. My day was starting off poorly. My wife heard me deliver, to this day, the longest string of cuss words I have ever uttered. I toweled off in the foulest of moods, irritated beyond description.

While I was finishing my morning routine, and yes I believe I nicked myself shaving, my wife turned on the music channels through our bedroom television, classic rock. At that moment, Take it Easy and its cool vibes and melody filled the room. The song washed over me. Without even thinking about it, I started singing right along with the music. In my mind, it was as if I was the one stranded on that corner in Winslow, Arizona. I was singing and smiling, and my wife started laughing. Never had someone gone from wanting to punch a wall to joyous chorus so quickly. Tell me music doesnt affect the body.That moment stuck with me.

Perhaps it was the combination of the music itself, or the great place that song transported me, but that song snapped me out of a very cranky disposition. Whatever happened, it was real. And powerful. I had discovered my Zen music.

It was a valuable lesson. Turn on the Eagles, chill, and Id be better for it afterwards. Isnt that what Zen music is supposed to do? So Ill listen to the Eagles, preferably on 8-track because my 1978 Camaro had an 8-track tape player in it, when I feel like it. And sometimes when I need it. Heres hoping you find your Zen music and do the same. Until next time, take it easy. (Sorry, I couldnt resist.)

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The Eagles Is My Zen Music - Huffington Post

Organic food is extremely popular and everyone wants to know about their benefits. The sweeping public opinion that organic food is healthier than conventional food is quite strong, and is the main reason for increase in its demandin its demand over the past 5-6 years.Organic Facts is a strong proponent of organic food; however, this website also believes in putting across the most accurate facts to its visitors.

This article will explain what organic food is, how it is beneficial and what are the standards for the same.This is to substantiate the public opinion that we have on organic food being good for the health.

First of all, there is a small amount of scientific evidence to show that organic food is better in quality than conventional food. Scientific research conducted thus far on various organic food items has not been able to give strong evidence about the superiority of organic food over non-organic food. This is more so because bulk of the scientific research is based onfunding provided by the governments and industry.

As a result, even the FDA and the USDA clearly mention that non-organic food is as healthy as organic food. However, there are some scientific studies that have proved organic milk and organic tomatoes to be better than the non-organic varieties. Studies are also ongoing about a variety of other types of organic food that may have additional health benefits compared to the non-organic varieties.

Organic Milk

Recent research conducted on organic milk has shown that it has more antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, CLA, and vitamins than non-organic milk. According to the researchers at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Research at the University of Aberdeen and the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, organic milk is healthier than non-organic milk, since organic cows are pasture grazed which results in the better quality of milk.

Organic Tomatoes

According to a 10-year study conducted by the University of California, Davis, organic tomatoes are produced in an environment that has a lower nutrient supply since nitrogen-rich chemical fertilizers are not added. This leads to an excessive formation of antioxidants, such as quercetin (79% higher) and kaempferol (97% higher) in organic tomatoes. As we all know, antioxidants are good for health and help in reducing heart disease and the chances of developing cancer.

These studies haveincreased the hopes of numerous people who strongly believe that mankind should stop using chemical fertilizers and pesticides and shift to more sustainable organic farming practices. There are many studies that prove that there is some pesticide and fertilizer contamination in non-organic food, and there are others whichclaim that organic food is not healthy because they contain harmful bacteria and viruses because of not using strong chemicals to protect against these toxic substances. However, none of these studies that show chemical contamination or the presence of bacteria/viruses show any direct impact on the overall health of individuals.

In general, organic food consumers, manufacturers, and farmers strongly believe that organic food has the following benefits compared to conventional food. Antioxidant Capacity

A number of studies have been completed regarding the effects of antioxidants derived from organic foods on your overall health, and the predominant results have shown that antioxidants tend to have more of an impact when they come from organic foods. This may be due to the fact that foreign chemicals are not negatively interacting with the different vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds that are so essential for the positive impact of fruits and vegetables in the prevention of things like cancer, heart disease, premature aging, vision problems, and cognitive malfunction.Recentresearchsuggests thatchoosing organic food can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals.

Pesticide Reduction

One of the major complaints that organic food consumers cite when choosing organic over non-organic is the presence of pesticides. In order to keep crops from being attacked by the natural world, including bugs, pesticides are required. Although they do a good job keeping certain pests away from the crops, they also are composed of powerful chemicals like organophosphorus. This is an unnatural mineral compound that is not required by humans, but more than 80% of this material in our bodies comes from eating pesticide-coated foods. Organophosphorus has been connected to a number of developmental problems, including autism and ADHD, so those organic food lovers do have a pretty strong argument in this case. To be fair, many people do choose to go organic to make sure that their children grow up healthy and unaffected by the toxins of the world during their developmental years.

Heart Health

Increased amount of time grazing on grass also increases the amounts of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) that can be found in the animal products. CLA is a heart-healthy fatty acid that can boost cardiovascular protection, and it is found in higher quantities in breast milk and in meat for animals that have been raised free range or cage-free.

Immune System

In recent decades, one of the biggest projects for farmers and food growers has been genetic modification. Making tomatoes six times larger might sound like a possible option for solving some world hunger issues, but there is another side to it. Genetic modification is still in its early stages, so the long-term effects of it on human health arent understood as well as we would like. In animal testing genetically modified food showed a major reduction in immune system strength, an increase in birth mortality, as well as in certain sexual dysfunctions, cancers, and sensitivity to allergens. Although there are some good things about genetically modified food, organic food advocates point to the lack of concrete details about the long-term effects.

Antibiotic Resistance

People are very sensitive to issues of their health, and they often take precautions to make sure they remain healthy, like getting various vaccines and taking antibiotics as soon as a new strain of bacteria makes them ill. However, non-organic food sources, particularly livestock and feed houses, also use antibiotics to feed their animals. This extra dose of antibiotics may actually be weakening our immune system by basically overdosing on antibiotics, thereby reshaping our immune system so many times that it will eventually be unable to defend itself. Organic food growers and dairy farmers do not use antibiotics in their processes.

Overall Health

Since organic food is not prepared using chemical fertilizers, it does not contain any traces of these strong chemicals and might not affect the human body in negative ways. Natural fertilizers, like manure, work perfectly fine, and organic farmers are happy to use this smellier, yet safer, form of fertilizer.

Better Taste

Some people strongly believe that organic food tastes better than conventionalfood. The prominent reason for this belief is that it is produced using organic means of production. Furthermore, organic food is often sold locally, resulting in availability of fresh produce in the market, which usually does taste better than produce that has been frozen, shipped, and transported across long distances.

Environmental Safety

As harmful chemicals are not used in organic farming, there is minimal soil, air and water pollution; thus ensuring a safer and healthier world for future generations to live in.

Animal Welfare

Animal welfare is an important aspect of producing organic milk, organic meat, organic poultry, and organic fish. People feel happy that the animals are not confined to a miserable caged life when they eat organic animal products.

The below FAQs will help you understand organic food and its benefits in a better way

What is Organic Food?

Organic food refers to food items that are prepared according to the norms set by an organic certifying body. On an overall basis, organic food is food prepared and processed without using any chemicals. That is, organic food production does not involve the use of chemical fertilizers, chemical pesticides, or chemical preservatives.

The USDA categories food products into the following sections:

100% organic: Must contain 100% organically produced ingredients.

Organic: Must contain at least 95% organic ingredients.

Made of organic ingredients: Must contain at least 70% organic ingredients.

Have some organic ingredients: May contain less than 70% organic ingredients.

Is ItGood for Health?

Normally people believe that organic food is better for your health than conventional food. However, the USDA and the FDA clearly state that conventional food is as healthy as organic food. Scientific research has also not been able to conclusively prove that organic food is healthier than conventional food because there has been counter research too to prove conventional food is better than organic one. The exceptions are organic milk and organic tomatoes. Recent studies on organic milk and organic tomatoes have shown that these food products are healthier than non-organic milk and non-organic tomatoes, respectively.

Where Can I Buy Organic Food?

Some of the best avenues for buying itare given below:

Directly from an organic farm

Local organic food markets

Health food stores

Retail chains such as Walmart or Whole Foods

Conventional stores that also stock organic food

Online

How Do I Know Something is Organic?

Organic food can be identified with the help of an organic logo on the packet. Companies, farmers, manufacturers, and suppliers, which follow all the norms set by a certifying body of their region, can put a logo of that certifying body on their food items.

Are Standards the Same for All Organic Food Products?

No, since the mode of production and processing is different for different food items, the standards are also different. For example, the standards for organic honey production are different from the standards for organic milk production or organic coconut oil production.Note that thestandards vary from region to region. Some countries may follow a uniform set of codes. For example, about 18 countries follow the rules set by the International Olive Oil Council for organic olive oil production. However, there are some countries such as the US, which have their own standards for organic olive oil production.

Should I look for the word organic on the food item?

Yes, you should look for the word Organic. However, you should also check the logo of the certifying body.

It is illegal to sell non-organic food with an organic label. However, there have been cases of fraud before, which when brought to the attention of the authorities, have been dealt with strongly. Therefore, you should always check the logo of the certifying body properly and you should buy organic food items that have an authentic label on them.

Does organic food cost more than conventional food?

Yes, organic food normally costs 20% to 100% more than conventionalfood.Organic food production is generally labour-intentsive and involves the use of organic fertilizers and organic pesticides, which are more expensive than chemical fertilizers and pesticides. That is why itcosts more.

Can I produce it in mygarden or farm

You can also produce organic food in your garden, organic gardening is a very common hobby for many people.you do not need any permission to produce it. However, if you intend to sell organic food, you need to follow the guidelines set by a certifying agency and get approval from them for using their logo.

Is organic food the same as natural food?

No, organic food refers to food items prepared without using chemicals. Natural food refers to food items that are only minimally processed.

Is itsafe for children?

Many parents believe that organic food is safer for their children, since it does not contain any chemical pesticides and fertilizers. However, there is no scientific research to prove this.

Does itcontain more nutrients?

So far, scientific research has proven this only for organic milk and organic tomatoes. Organic milk has more omega-3, CLA, vitamins, and antioxidants than non-organic milk. Similarly, organic tomatoes have more antioxidants than non-organic tomatoes.Recent research suggests thatchoosing organic food can lead to increased intake of nutritionally desirable antioxidants and reduced exposure to toxic heavy metals.

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Organic Food - Benefits, Scientific Research & FAQs

Submit the press release

Global Organic Food and Beverage Market accounted for $89.8 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 14.9% to reach $238.4 billion by 2022. Growing consumer awareness, rising government support for organic agriculture, increasing interest of large retailers, health benefits and the promotion by regulatory and government authorities of several countries for organic food and beverages over the conventional foods are some of the major factors driving the market growth. However, high cost and lack of awareness on availability of products are some of the major restraints hampering the market. Moreover, growing usage of organic products provides a significant growth opportunity for the market.

Request a sample copy of Report @http://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/184814

In Organic Food and Beverages, organic foods segment is expected to grow with a highest share during the forecast period owing to its government funding and growing digit of retailers providing a variety of organic products. North American organic food and beverages market accounted more than 90% of share and dominated the global organic food and beverages market. Asia Pacific is witnessed to be the fastest growing market over the forecast period.

Some of the key players in this market include Conagra Foods Inc., Amys Kitchen Inc., Kraft Foods Group Inc., Eden Foods, Dean Foods Co., Organic Valley, Dakota Beef LLC, Whole Foods Market Inc., Tesco plc, Waitrose Ltd., Koninklijke Ahold, Florida Crystals Corporation, Carrefour, Hipp Gmbh & Co. and REWE.

Product Covered: Organic Food Organic Fruits and Vegetables Organic Dairy Products Fish and Poultry Products Packaged Grocery Cereals Frozen and Processed Foods Others Organic Beverages Organic Coffee and Tea Organic Non-Dairy Beverages Organic Beer and Wine Others

Consumption Type: Fresh Organic Foods Processed Organic Foods

Distribution Channel: Organic retailers Super Markets

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Regions Covered: North America US Canada Mexico Europe Germany France Italy UK Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific Japan China India Australia New Zealand Rest of Asia Pacific Rest of the World Middle East Brazil Argentina South Africa Egypt

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Organic Food and Beverage Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR During 2016 2022 - Satellite PR News (press release)

Everyone loves endorphins those naturally occurring chemicals in the body that are commonly credited with the euphoric highs caused by running or sex or even hot peppers.

But theres another compound a cousin to the endorphin that deserves similar accolades. Enkephalinsare peptides that are produced in response to certain stimuli such as stress, fear or pain that also have potent painkilling properties.

In a Stanford study published recently in Neuron,researchers identify a neural circuit in the brain that helps explain how the body uses these painkillers. This circuit can reduce or increase pain thresholds, by either increasing or decreasing the level of enkephalins released in response to a particular stimuli.

We propose that this system could underlie the increase in pain caused by stress and anxiety, and the decrease in pain caused by positive expectations, the placebo effect, and meditation, saidGregory Scherrer, PhD, Pharm.D., senior author of the study and assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine and of neurosurgery. This is also useful because it could be targeted to make new pain medications.

The authors write that this pain-stress loop might even contribute to the sensation of pain in patients with psychiatric disorders or underlie pain catastrophizing, which is characterized by exaggerating the severity of pain and ruminating on it.

In the 1970s, scientists discovered cells in the brainstem that can both increase and decrease pain, Scherrer said. And its been known there are neurons in the brain that can alter the transmission of pain signals via the spinal cord, a process known as descending pain control. But it hasnt been shown exactly how this system works.

To explore this, the researchers first determined the source of enkephalins using mice. They then took a version of the rabies virus that could only infect the neurons that produce enkephalins to find out how these neurons are connected to the rest of the brain. What they saw was that the neurons that produce the painkilling chemicals were connected to only one place within the brainstem known to be important for descending pain control.

Further results showed the cells in the brainstem that release these enkephalins have the ability to either increase or decrease the amount released depending on what stimulates the pain circuit. Researchers surmise that stress activates the circuit so that there are fewer pain relievers released, while meditation or other positive influences inhibit the circuit so that more enkephalins are released.

This is important because this descending pain system, which works through the spinal cord to trigger neurotransmitters, is involved in the placebo response and meditation, Scherrer says. Or when youre hungry or not sleeping, or in a bad mood or stressed all this can affect this system of descending pain control.

Scherrer added the results of the study were unexpected because they are counterintuitive.

If you activate this circuit, which we have discovered facilitates pain, it uses the inhibition of a pain inhibitor to cause pain, Scherrer says. It works by inhibition of inhibition. We dont know why. It is surprising.

Previously: Existing drug found to limit some side effects of opioids in miceandIs pain in the brain? A pain psychologist discusses alternative to opioids Image byBryan Jones

See original here:

Research reveals circuit that clarifies how stress exacerbates pain and meditation eases it - Scope (blog)

Summary: He did not indulge in a chat with the media persons who had assembled at the mess where a lunch and media interaction session, as the invite read, was being hosted by the Delhi Police. In the run up to the media interaction, there were verbal assurances from senior officers that the excercise meant the same and only the nomenclature had changed. Speculations put to restThis also put an end to speculations over whether the annual press conference, a trend followed for several years, will be held or not. Intially it was expected that after the change of guard, the press conference would be rescheduled. The supposed media interaction with Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was anything but an interactive session as the recently appointed police chief hardly allocated any time for the journalists, save for the occasional exchange of plesantries.

The supposed media interaction with Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik was anything but an interactive session as the recently appointed police chief hardly allocated any time for the journalists, save for the occasional exchange of plesantries. In what was a strong indication of him staying away from the media and continuing the policy of his predecessor and current Central Bureau of Investigation Director Alok Verma, Mr. Patnaik, arrived and left soon after the session. He did not indulge in a chat with the media persons who had assembled at the mess where a lunch and media interaction session, as the invite read, was being hosted by the Delhi Police. Speculations put to rest This also put an end to speculations over whether the annual press conference, a trend followed for several years, will be held or not.

The annual press conference, which provided journalists across the city a chance to put forward their questions to the numero uno of Delhi Police, would not be held this year, said police officers. Past commissioners also made presentations on crime statistics while it would merely be the distribution of the annual report this year. Intially it was expected that after the change of guard, the press conference would be rescheduled. In the run up to the media interaction, there were verbal assurances from senior officers that the excercise meant the same and only the nomenclature had changed. The seven minutes that the journalists got to spend with the New Commissioner of Police on the day he took over was significantly more than the time allotted to them at Monday's event. Speaking to journalists later, some senior police officers reasoned that since Mr.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/An-interaction-that-wasn%E2%80%99t/article17298891.ece

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An interaction that wasn't - NYOOOZ

Lucknow, Feb. 13: For the first time in Rishikesh, the Beatles don't matter.

Nobody has yet demanded that the place where John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison had stayed in February 1968 be turned into a heritage site.

No political party has promised to preserve the fame that had travelled to this holy city in Uttarakhand with the British rock band.

The band doesn't figure anywhere on the 2017 Assembly poll canvas.

Back in 2012, the Beatles were on everybody's lips when most candidates had promised to develop Chaurasi Kutia - the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - as a tourist spot.

"They believed that there were a large number of youths who loved their association with the town because of the Beatles. But we are surprised that the politicians are forgetting this," a Beatles chronicler in India told this correspondent.

The chronicler, based in Dehradun, 45km north of Rishikesh, asked not to be named.

But it's true that politicians seem to have forgotten the band. Prem Chand Aggarwal, a sitting BJP MLA, had in 2012 promised to take good care of the portion of the ashram where the Beatles had stayed. This time, the ashram hasn't even figured in his campaign.

"This electoral war between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Harish Rawat (of the Congress) has unfortunately overshadowed other issues," said Ram Krishna Tiwari of Sarv Vikas Party, who is contesting from Rishikesh, which would vote on February 15 along with 68 other constituencies in the state.

Polling in one Assembly seat, Karnprayag, has been deferred after the death of the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate yesterday.

In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, Satpal Maharaj (Satpal Singh Rawat), a spiritual leader who was contesting from Pauri Garhwal as a Congress candidate, had made several promises regarding the ashram because he didn't want "the rich spirituality of the area to die".

Spread over 15 acres, the ashram borders Rishikesh in Dehradun, Yamkeshwar in Pauri and Narendra Nagar in Tehri.

Maharaj then remained dormant for four years before waking up again in 2013 - a year before the last parliamentary elections - with the promise of preserving the "glorious history of the Beatles".

Maharaj has since switched camps to the BJP, frustrated after being overlooked for chief minister in February 2014.

The group had visited Rishikesh to stay for three months and learn advance transcendental meditation. They returned early but not before triggering a rush of footfalls as thousands of British and American fans flocked to Rishikesh for a glimpse of the quartet.

The band is said to have composed more than 40 songs, including The Happy Rishikesh Song, in the ashram or just after leaving it.

If politicians have ignored the Beatles this time, consciously or unconsciously, the forest department has been counting the gains since the ashram - in the possession of the Maharishi's disciples till 2003 - was thrown open to the public on December 8, 2015.

"We counted the visit of about 10,000 tourists in the first 365 days of opening The Beatles ashram to the public. The number included 2,000 foreigners. This year we hope the number will multiply because now the entire world knows that it is open for all," Rajendra Nautiyal, a ranger of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, told this newspaper. The ashram falls under the reserve.

The entry fee for foreign tourists is Rs 600. Indians have to pay Rs 150 and students, Rs 50.

"We are planning to develop a nature centre in the ashram where students of nature can be trained," Nautiyal added. "There is also a plan to build a bird sanctuary on the ashram area. Let us hope it materialises soon."

Read the original:

Beatles forgotten in poll war - Calcutta Telegraph

Miscreants decamp with Rs 4 lakh and ornaments at Chudi Bazaar under Shahinayathgunj police station limits.

Senior police inspecting the ashram where transgenders stay was burgled at Chudi Bazaar in Shahinayanthgunj in Hyderabad on Monday.

Hyderabad: Burglars struck an ashram in which members of the transgender community take shelter and decamped with Rs 4 lakh and gold ornaments at Chudi Bazaar under Shahinayathgunj police station limits on Monday afternoon.

Ashram in-charge Saber Baksh alias Jyothi Naik and others had gone out at around 10.30 am and returned to the ashram at around 12.30 pm only to find that the lock of the main door was broken. They then entered the ashram to find the entire place ransacked.

Intruders had broken open the almirah and made away with Rs 4 lakh and gold ornaments and other valuables. The number of ornaments stolen from the almirah and the worth is yet to be ascertained as the complainant Jyothi Naik is yet to furnish more details about the incident, Shahinayathgunj Detective Sub-Inspector C Venkatesh said.

Based on Jyothi Naiks complaint, the police have booked a case of theft and pressed into service Clues Team to collect fingerprints from the spot. A dog squad too also inspected the premise for evidence. We have some clues and are hopeful of cracking the case soon, Venkatesh said.

Jyothi Naik, along with four others, stays in the ashram where shelter is provided to transgenders. The ashram helps people who require financial assistance or medical aid.

Originally posted here:

Ashram burgled, cash and ornaments stolen - Telangana Today

Easy-listening New Age stable music and relaxing daily equine massages are excellent antidotes to the pressures and strains of racehorse training, a study in Poland has shown.

Scientists from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin used 60 healthy purebred Arabian racehorses in their research, centred on Suewiec racecourse in Warsaw.

Witold Kdzierski, Iwona Janczarek, Anna Stachurska and Izabela Wilk set about comparing the effects of massages and easy-listening music on stress levels in the horses.

Racehorses, they noted, can come under stress from unfamiliar environments, transport, training routines and the challenges of stable living.

The study team said relaxing music and relaxing massage had been shown in previous research to calm horses, but it was less clear how much was needed for the desired result.

The 60 stabled three-year-old animals used in the study were divided into four experimental groups of 12 horses each, as well as a control group, for the six-month racing season. They were stabled across four buildings and were managed comparably.

The experimental groups were treated with various mixes of New Age music and massage. Different groups were exposed to the music at a sound level of 65 to 70 decibels for either one hour a day or three hours a day, always after their training sessions.

Two massage protocols were used across the different groups: they either received daily massages or only on the day before their races, which was every three weeks or so.

The same two masseurs were used throughout the study, both with the same horse physiotherapy qualifications. The 25 to 30-minute massages, designed to be relaxing rather than therapeutic, were given after the horses training sessions.

The study team checked heart rate and heart-rate variability, as well as salivary cortisol levels an indicator of stress before and after training sessions.

The measurements were taken three times during the study. The first was at the start of the season, before the horses had been exposed to the music or received any massages. They were taken again mid-season and just before the end of the season.

The researchers also examined the horses racing performances, relating their results back to their massage and musical exposure.

The most positive changes in the parameters under study were found in horses massaged every day, which shows that relaxing massages are beneficial for horses welfare and performance, Kdzierski and his colleagues reported in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

The massages given only once every three weeks or so (the day before racing) also provided some positive effects.

The findings showed that playing relaxing music for three hours a day had a more positive effect on the horses emotional state than for one hour.

A comparison of race performance showed that horses massaged every day achieved the best race results, whereas listening to music one hour a day had no significant effect on a horses race performance.

The practical goal of the study, they said, was to find the most optimal frequency of massages and how many hours of music are the most effective.

The results indicate that horses which had a relaxing massage every day were much more relaxed than those in other groups.

The results . . . indicate that having a relaxing massage every day is much more beneficial for the horses emotional excitability than a massage only given a day preceding the start in an official race, i.e. about once every three to four weeks.

It seemed that the more often a relaxing massage was given, the better the results, they said.

The study was supported by a grant from Polands National Centre for Research and Development.

Comparison of effects of different relaxing massage frequencies and different music hours on reducing stress level in race horses Witold Kdzierski, Iwona Janczarek, Anna Stachurska, Izabela Wilk. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2017.02.004

The abstract can be read here.

Continue reading here:

Music and massage the perfect remedy for the stresses of race training, study suggests - Horsetalk

Whos ready for The Weeknd?! Have you set aside plans yet to tune into the music-filled star fest Sunday evening? Is the homework load becoming a bit too overwhelming and you need a small dose of silly entertainment, lovely fashion outfits, and relaxing music all in one fun zone?

Here are some fun tips on how to gear up for musics most exciting night returning to CBS Television at 8 p.m. E.T./5 p.m. Pacific Time where there will be several winners of the Grammy Awards.

Just hours ago, the list of our favorite performers was released on Grammy.com. How Taylor-like Swift is that?!

Is your favorite performer on the list? If you currently havent watched last years awesome Carpool Karaoke episode featuring Justin Bieberto get you excited about enjoying the Sunday evening, then you are truly not prepared for this years performances!

Credits: http://www.pixabay.com

This years show is hosted by The Late Late Shows very own James Corden who wants the viewers to have loads of fun for a few hours this Sunday night! Are in you in to watch the televised ride?

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Chances are you still a bit overstuffed from Super Bowl weekends festivities and do not feel like having another round of vegetable dip for this weeks watch party menu. Perhaps you had one too many buffalo wings this past weekend and are not tempted by eating a dish that is too spicy. Here are a few nominees of refreshing recipes you might want to try out as you watch the Grammys with your favorite classmates.

What has a few dashes of spinach leaves and combines your favorite green veggies and cheeses? Thin crustMargherita pizza byPillsbury! This is not your average pizza folks, its the best alternative to detoxing while making your dish from pretty much scratch (aside from the crust you might be pressed for time and may need to buy it instead).

Credits: http://www.pexels.com

If youre a huge fan of pasta youll enjoy penne or pick your type of noodle (aka -ini)to prepare with your favorite jar of alfredo sauce. I would substitute the peas for more steamed veggies and herbs and extra cheeses if you are extra hungry. Check out this dish by our favorite bakery boy doll and customize it within minutes for your taste buds. Head on over herefor a simple version of chicken penne.

You just need Fiber One snacks and fruit smoothies to set out! Just look for fresh strawberries and more fruits like watermelons.

Credits: http://www.pexels.com

Time to put the headphones on. To check out the music and the pre-show festivities, check outDigsterfor the tunes.

Now that your party platter isset for the table, youroutfit must come to life. Check out US Magazinefor last years look and see if you can gather up an outfit with your friends and family! Who needs it to be Halloween to dress up as your favorite celebrity anyway the celebrity list is quite impressive and your outfit should be too.

Credits: http://www.pexels.com

Now that youre all set for the show, enjoy the behind the scenes footage, predict who will steal the red carpets best looks, and have fun this weekend while you can actually feel your face while you LOL at all the comedy, diva-licious looks, and remember that you dont have to write a report about this TV hit!

Cheers and whistles for The Grammys!

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February 12: Let's Celebrate 'Grammy Awards' Day - Uloop News

As Google Home continues to compete with Amazons own smart Bluetooth speakers Echo and Echo Tap, it only makes sense that it integrates more Google products to make it even more of a powerhouse. Music streaming service Google Play Music is now even more integrated into the speakers system to make it easier for you to play music, even when your hands are fully occupied, using a wide variety of voice commands to get the music just right.

Google Play Music not just gives you songs, albums and artists that you want to play on demand. It uses machine learning on all your past activity, as well as weather, activity, and location to create playlists for you that will be appropriate for whatever it is youre doing. You simply have to say Ok Google, play some music, and hopefully, it will be smart enough to get you the right kind of music. If you want to be more specific, you can say something like Ok Google, play music for cooking or Ok Google, play some relaxing music.

Google Assistant is of course integrated into Google Home as well, so you can also ask it some questions related to the song thats playing. You can say Ok Google, whos singing this song? or Ok Google, from what album is that song playing? You can also ask it to turn up or turn down the music and even give it a thumbs up. If you dont like the current song thats playing, you can ask Google Assistant to play something else.

If you buy a Google Home device now until February 27, youll get 6 months free Google Play Music subscription, only if youre a new user. And if you buy it together with a Chromecast, you get $15 off. To celebrate this integration, theyre throwing a block party in Los Angeles (February 11-12) and New York (February 24-26).

SOURCE: Google

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Google Play Music now integrated with Google Home - Android ... - Android Community