Can Probiotics Help You Lose Weight?

Probiotics can help your stomach feel better, but can they “slim” your stomach too?

It’s been hypothesized that gut bacteria influence weight. The overuse of antibiotics has been linked to weight gain, and studies have shown differences in the flora of obese and thin animals.1

Researchers in Quebec wanted to test this hypothesis by giving overweight people probiotics, and the results were somewhat of a surprise. Ready?

Women Taking Probiotics Lost Weight   More>>

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Why Sex is Good For You

Having more sex could not only make us feel good, it could provide far-reaching health benefits. 

Unfortunately we are having less of it - on average we have sex fewer than five times a month, compared to six-and-a-half times 20 years ago, according to the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles.

Yet studies have linked regular sexual activity to emotional well-being, reduced migraine pain and even a lower risk of prostate cancer.

A Canadian study last month found that half-an-hour of sexual activity could burn more calories than walking on a treadmill - the researchers claimed sexual activity could be considered significant exercise.

The study measured the sexual activity of 21 couples aged between 18 and 35 - they were monitored using an armband to calculate how many calories the wearer burned, and the intensity of the activity. 

In a typical session lasting 25 minutes, the men burned an average of 100 calories, the women 69. The intensity of the activity was measured in METs (the Metabolic Equivalent of a Task); for men, the average reading was six METs, for women it was 6.6.

It's roughly the same as playing doubles tennis, or walking uphill, for 20 minutes, 33 minutes of golf on a driving range, 40 minutes of yoga or 19 minutes of light rowing.
The Canadian findings chime with past campaigns by the British Heart Foundation, which suggested that 30 minutes of daily sex is as good for you as walking the dog.
See our other stories:

New Concern About Testosterone and Heart Risks

A large new study found that prescription testosterone raised the risk of heart attacks in older men and in middle-aged men with a history of heart disease, prompting some experts on Wednesday to call for more extensive warning labels on the drugs.

The new study is one of several in recent years that have highlighted cardiac problems as a potential side effect of testosterone gels, patches, pellets and injections. The hormone is approved for low testosterone levels and is widely marketed for symptoms of “low T,” including fatigue, low libido and loss of energy. Sales in the last decade have soared.

By itself, the new study, which was not a randomized trial, the gold standard in medical research, “may not tell us very much,” said Dr. Michael Lauer, the director of cardiovascular sciences at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, who was not involved in the study. “But when you put this together with the rest of the medical literature, this tells us that we potentially have a problem.”
The drugs carry no mention of an increased risk on their labels or in their advertising materials, said Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe, a senior adviser to the Washington advocacy group Public Citizen. “Given that there have been several studies now, I don’t see how the Food and Drug Administration can justify having no warnings of heart attacks at all,” he said.

In a statement, Andrea Fischer, an F.D.A. spokeswoman, said the agency was reviewing the new findings. “We will communicate any new safety information on testosterone products when our reviews of all new information have been completed,” she said.

The new study, published on Wednesday in the journal PLoS ONE and funded by the National Institutes of Health, tracked about 56,000 older and middle-aged men around the country who were prescribed testosterone between 2008 and 2010. The study looked specifically at their rate of heart attacks in the year before receiving their new prescriptions, and in the three months after.
MORE>>>>>>>>
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Big Pharma and Corporate Media Team Up For Pro-Vaccine Propaganda



Brandon Turbeville
Activist Post

Every year, flu vaccine propaganda is ramped up by the pharmaceutical industry and its mouthpiece media, which then gives way to a second round (pun intended) of vaccine propaganda pushing toxic vaccinations for a variety of diseases, only then to be followed by the demonization of nutritional supplements. Around mid-January, rinse and repeat – (flu, childhood vaccine, and anti-supplement propaganda).

Thus, at the end of 2013, the American public was met with an onslaught of fear-mongering propaganda predicting flu pandemics and imminent death if vaccination was not immediately sought. We then saw the major propaganda assault regarding the safety and effectiveness of vitamins and minerals by the medical and pharmaceutical industries. Now, in early 2014, we are witnessing another propaganda assault against the “anti-vaccination” movement with claims of increased outbreaks and apocalyptic scenes of sickness.

The latest propaganda push comes not from the medical industry per se, however, but from an organization usually more focused on the spread of globalism, free trade, culture creation, and other domestic/international governmental policies, the Council on Foreign Relations.

5 Natural Products As Good As Prescription Drugs

5 Natural Products As Good As Prescription Drugs
We're a medicated nation. American doctors write more than 4 billion prescriptions for drugs every year to the tune of about $320 billion. Almost 70 percent of us take at least one drug regularly, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, the majority of Americans... [Full Story]

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Teacher reveals the ingredients of normal foods to de-bunk the myth of 'chemical-free living'

They sound like horrific chemicals you'd find in processed food.

But aspartic acid, isoleucine and ethyl butanoate are in fact found in a banana.
Likewise - did you know that when you eat an egg, you're eating glutamic acid, E160e and even formaldehyde?
Chemical world: One of the posters made by chemistry teachers James Kennedy to dispel the fear that has become associated with the word 'chemicals'
Chemical world: One of the posters made by chemistry teachers James Kennedy to dispel the fear that has become associated with the word 'chemicals'

Mr Kennedy said: 'I wanted to show that chemistry isn't artificial and dangerous; but that chemistry is natural and everywhere'
Mr Kennedy said: 'I wanted to show that chemistry isn't artificial and dangerous; but that chemistry is natural and everywhere'



The images below and their list of ingredients were made by James Kennedy, a high school chemistry teacher from Melbourne, Australia. 

He says the aim of the project was to dispel the fear that has become associated with the word 'chemicals'.

He told MailOnline: 'As a high-school chemistry teacher, I made these posters for my students as a visual introduction to our Organic Chemistry course. 

'I wanted to erode the fear that many people have of ‘chemicals’, and demonstrate that nature evolves compounds, mechanisms and structures far more complicated and unpredictable than anything we can produce in the lab.

'These posters aim to show that chemistry isn't artificial and dangerous; but that chemistry is natural and everywhere.
Lack of knowledge: Mr Kennedy and his students trawled medical literature to compile the lists of ingredients
Lack of knowledge: Mr Kennedy and his students trawled medical literature to compile the lists of ingredients



'The chemistry of fun, friendly, everyday objects like bananas is more complicated and more fascinating than that of, say, a bomb.'

He added that chemistry has suffered in recent years from a negative image. 

'Pesticides, poisons, drugs and explosives seem to dominate the public's perceptions of Chemistry while the other sciences bask in a much more positive light.
Mr Kennedy added: 'These posters prove that nature evolves compounds, mechanisms and structures far more complicated and unpredictable than anything we can produce in the lab'
 Mr Kennedy added: 'These posters prove that nature evolves compounds, mechanisms and structures far more complicated and unpredictable than anything we can produce in the lab'



'Mostly, this is because chemistry lacks a charismatic, public teacher like David Attenborough or Brian Cox, who currently inspire students into Biology and Physics, respectively. Chemistry only has Walter White from Breaking Bad, and he's done the industry a great disservice".

He added that all of the information was from reputable sources.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2543944/If-natural-products-ingredients-labe.html#ixzz2rB3K8zwD
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More Scientists Recommend Vitamin D from Sun to Prevent Heart Disease


Heather Callaghan
Activist Post

It is almost impossible to get necessary amounts of vitamin D from our daily diet; a lot of people use megadoses of supplements. UV-B radiation in sunshine is the most important factor in production of vitamin D - which is why so many people experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in winter months and possibly, more cold viruses.

There are already established health connections to vitamin D and help with diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cancer, mood and much more. But evidence is mounting that vitamin D could be one of the most important factors in preventing heart disease, the number one killer in the U.S.

The trick is, there's a very important reason it must come from the sun, not just supplements.

Scientists say sex encourages the growth of brain cells and improves long-term memory

University of Maryland Logo
University of Maryland Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
 Scientists at the University of Maryland found that sex enhanced the number of newly generated neurons in the hippocampus, where memories are made

It gives night classes a whole new meaning.

Having sex makes you smarter, research suggests.

A study found that middle-aged rats made more new brain cells after mating.

Researchers at the University of Maryland also credited frequent sexual activity with increased brainpower.

However, the benefits to the brain were lost if the creatures stopped mating.

HOW SEX MAKES YOU SMARTER

The study found that middle-aged rats made more new brain cells after mating.
Scientists noticed that sex increased the number of newly generated neurons in the hippocampus, where long-term memories are made.

This stimulation of adult neurogenesis - or the development of neurons - is thought to restore cognitive function in middle-aged rats.

However the scientists found that after sexual activity was stopped, the improvements in brain power were lost.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2539416/How-sex-make-smarter-Scientists-say-encourages-growth-brain-cells-improves-long-term-memory.html#ixzz2qSf6t2DE
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'Natural' breast enlargement using stem cells from spare fat to be made available in Britain


breasts
'Natural' breast enlargement through stem cell therapy is said to be an improvement on implants
A stem cell technique that can enlarge breasts while reducing the waistline is to be made available to British women.

The treatment involves taking stem cells from excess fat on the stomach or thigh, and then 'growing' them in the breasts.

Surgeons say the result gives a more natural look than many synthetic implants.

The process can only make breasts one cup size larger at this time, but it is expected bigger
augmentations will be possible as the technique develops.

Around a dozen Britons have had breasts repaired with stem cells after cancerous cells were removed, but this is the first time the treatment will be carried out on healthy women. 

The stem cell technique would produce more natural-looking breasts than silicone implants.

'This is a very exciting advance in breast surgery,' he said. 'Breasts treated with stem cells feel more natural because this tissue has the same softness as the rest of the breast.

'Implants are a foreign body. They are associated with long-term complications and require replacement. They can also leak and cause scarring.'

Stem cells are early-stage cells which can grow into any tissue of the body - organs, skin or blood.


ALSO:
Actress and breast cancer survivor Suzanne Somers recently made headlines when she opted to have her breast reconstruction done using this fairly new method. After undergoing a lumpectomy and reportedly waking up with ‘half her breast gone,’ Somers had her breast restored to its original size using fat and stem cells harvested from her abdomen.
While noting that this method has only been around for about two years and isn’t yet widely used among plastic and reconstructive surgeons, Dr. Shahram Salemy, MD, FACS, and RealSelf.com Medical Expert, says with advances being made, “we’re now seeing outstanding, lasting results from this approach.” The doctor first performs liposuction to remove some fat from areas like the hips or the abdomen, filters and concentrates it, and then injects it into the breasts.
“This is a good option for women who are not interested in having implants, have some excess fat in other areas of their body, and want a fuller look to their breasts,” Dr. Salemy says. It can also be used to correct size discrepancies between the two breasts.

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The Antibody Deception

The Antibody Deception

image source
Brandon Turbeville
Activist Post

Over the last several years, more and more people have become aware of the enormous dangers of vaccination. This is due, in large part, to the tireless work of a number of researchers and activists who have pointed out the horrific side effects attached to the use of toxic vaccine ingredients such as aluminum, polysorbate 80, thimerosal, and squalene among a host of other harmful results of vaccination that can manifest in lasting impairment and even death.

Yet, the pharmaceutical industry, medical doctors, and corporate media outlets continue to push toxic injections as the only way to prevent disease and ridicule those individuals who refuse to take seasonal flu shots and other vaccinations as crackpots and paranoid conspiracy theorists. Even those individuals who have been afflicted with the negative side effects of vaccines are themselves attacked and marginalized after coming forward with their injuries.

Still, after all of the available evidence proving vaccine dangers and lack of efficacy, and after all of the suffering so easily seen amongst those who have experienced side effects of vaccines, the pharmaceutical and medical industries still maintain that vaccines are both safe and effective. However, despite the nature of the vaccine debate, one area of vaccination theory is scarcely mentioned in regards to the question of whether or not vaccines are even effective – the presence of antibodies and what they mean in terms of vaccine efficacy.


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Could Marijuana have been used in Holy Oil?

Cannabis in the Holy Anointing Oil?  "Exodus 30:23"

Exodus 30:23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary : it shall be an holy anointing oil.
The original Hebrew for calamus, is Kaneh-bosem or Qaneh (Kaw-naw) Bosem.  Some translations have this as “fragrant cane” or “aromatic cane.”  Some researchers have argued that this is actually  Sweet Cane or Sugar Cane, although the term sweet does not occur in the original manuscripts.
 
In the Hebrew terms such as  Elohim (Pronounced El- Oh- Heem ) is rendered plural.  So in the Hebrew Kaneh-bosem is also plural.  The singular then is rendered Kaneh-bos.
 
Kaneh-Bos  sounds  remarkably close to the modern day word Cannabis.  Could it be that cannabis was the plant given by God to be used in the Holy Anointing Oil?   
 
Cannabis has certainly been cultivated since the beginning of recorded history.  Its uses for rope, sails and rigging into ancient times are well documented.
 
Imagine the amount of cannabis  rope it would have taken to construct the Temple of Solomon. What other way was there to construct ropes at that time, which could lift the weights of not only the Temple of Solomon, but in fact,  the Pyramids themselves.
 
Cannabis was thought to be an Indo-European  word specifically of Scythian Origin.  The Scythians were largely responsible for the spread of cannabis into Europe. The Scythe, was an invention of the Scythians, used for the harvest of cannabis.  This has come to us in the legends of the “Grim Reaper”
 
Herodotus, an early Greek ethnographer, in the 5th Century BC wrote of the Scythians and their use of cannabis.  

Be Aware, most do not agree with this assessment. Read Here for what sweet calamus really may be....

Who is Prohibited to Make or Use the Holy Anointing Oil?

Anointing oil is one the few tangible elements used in the Old Testament which was carried over for use into the New Testament  (James 5:14,  Mark 16:13).  A very descriptive recipe of how to make the Holy Anointing Oil can be found in the 30th chapter of Exodus.

However much ignorance and fear of the prohibition in this chapter have prevented many capable believers from using it.

Is it indeed prohibited for believers to make and/or to use?   Who has the right to use this sacred substance?

It was forbidden to be used on an “outsider” or to be used as an emollient on the body of any common persons and the children of Israel were forbidden to duplicate any like it for themselves.
In this article we will attempt to discover who, in this modern age, is permitted to be anointed with this most precious oil.

Let us take a closer look at the instructions for the manufacturing and use of the Holy Anointing Oil in Exodus 30. God gives TWO messages to TWO different groups of people in this chapter concerning the anointing oil. Not knowing which messages pertains to which group has been the source of much confusion in the past.  Read More>>>>>>>>>>>

also: What is Aromatic Cane?
AROMATIC CANE (קָנֶ֔ה, or קְנֵה־בֹ֖שֶׂם, meaning “spiced cane.” The word qaneh, CALAMUS, is found in Ezekiel 27:19 and Song of Solomon, and qāneh bōsem in Exodus 30:23).
The aromatic cane (Andropogon aromaticus) is not the sugar cane as people know it today, but a grass which gives out a strong smell when bruised, and which has a taste of ginger. Cows and goats like it, but when eaten it can taint their milk and even their flesh. When processed, it produces an oil called ginger grass. It is similar to the lemon grass (Andropogon schoenanthus) found in Pal., as well as Arabia and India.

There would have been no difficulty in importing the ginger grass to Pal., for there was a regular caravan traffic between the two countries.

In Jeremiah 6:20 the tr. “sweet cane” (qāneh) is prob. sweet-smelling cane. In fact Moffatt uses the words “perfume fetched from lands afar.” The word qāneh, however, in Isaiah 43:24 may mean Sugar Cane (q.v.).

It is thought that the Queen of Sheba brought King Solomon spiced cane, and the word “spices” in 1 Kings 10:10 definitely refers to Andropogon aromaticus. It must be remembered that she brought an abundance of these spices, presumably from Ethiopia, where the canes would have grown well.
 SOURCE

How Government Allows Dangerous Food Additives Like MSG To Stay in Our Food


Melissa Melton
Activist Post

“The thing that bugs me is that the people think the FDA is protecting them. It isn’t. What the FDA is doing and what the public thinks its doing are as different as night and day.” Dr. Herbert Ley, Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner


The year was 1969, and the “flavor enhancer” monosodium glutamate (MSG) was all over the grocery store, even in baby foods. Despite a place on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s GRAS (generally recognized as safe) list, scientific evidence had been mounting against the stuff that it was anything but safe. Psychiatrist Dr. John W. Olney had published a study in Science magazine (spurring even more studies) that year showing that MSG caused irreversible brain damage in infants.

Enough Pot Happy Talk: Marijuana Can Be Gateway to Harder Drugs

There was way too much giddiness in the media about the first day of legal pot selling in Colorado.

Instead of all the happy talk, I think it’s time for some sober discussion and a strong dose of education about the addiction risks of smoking marijuana — particularly among young people. It may start out as a party, but it often ends up as something much, much worse.

With the grace of God, I’ve been clean and sober for over 18 years — a recovery experience that still has me going to a lot of 12-step meetings.

And I hear time and again from young people coming into the rooms to get sober how pot smoking led to harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.moneynews.com/LarryKudlow/Pot-Marijuana-Drugs-Colorado/2014/01/03/id/545126#ixzz2pSdZIP7m
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Can Nail Polish Give You Cancer?

Questions about the health risks of chemicals in nail polish are gaining new attention, The New York Times reports.

Concerns about potentially risky substances in nail polish were raised in 2006 when public health advocates began a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about three compounds in leading product brands — formaldehyde, a known carcinogen used as a hardening agent, and two materials linked to developmental defects: toluene, to evenly suspend color, and the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate, or DBP, to add flexibility and sheen.

Read Latest Breaking News from Newsmax.com http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/Health-News/nail-polish-cancer-chemicals/2014/01/03/id/545108#ixzz2pSbVXeNj
Alert: What Is Your Risk for a Heart Attack? Find Out Now

Why your grandparents didn’t have food allergies…but you do

Why your grandparents didn't have food allergies | Butternutrition.com
Did your grandparents have food allergies? Mine sure didn’t. A stark comparison to the growing epidemic of food allergies, worsening with every generation.


So why did your grandparents not have food allergies? It’s really quite simple…
                                                  CLICK HERE

Perfumes and oils in the Bible and history

Perfumes and oils in the Bible and history
To discuss perfumes unavoidably involves discussing oils, since historically oils have been the base of perfumes, and in many cases, comprise all the ingredients of perfumes. However, once man learned to produce synthetic compounds that are less expensive than obtaining the natural aromatic ingredients, the synthetics have been used increasingly in the composition of perfumes. (Generally the base of colognes is alcohol, even though the word comes from the French eau de cologne, meaning “water of Cologne.”)
“‘Ointment and perfume delight the heart’ (Proverbs 27:9). Historically “ointment” and “perfume” were made with natural and harmless ingredients, such as myrrh, frankincense, aloes and cinnamon (Song of Solomon 3:6; Proverbs 7:17).
Colognes aren’t needed to cover up foul body odors like they were in ages past when people didn’t bathe regularly. Today’s popularity is akin to cosmetics, a customary part of dressing up. Advertising and imagery certainly play major roles in boosting sales and usage. This may seem harmless, but the fly in “the perfumer’s ointment” (Ecclesiastes 10:1) is the increasing use of chemicals in fragrances to make the scents travel farther, increase the time they linger in the air, cut costs and boost profits.”
from “Colognes, Chemicals, Compassion, and the Church
Fragrant aromatic substances, including ointments, anointing oils, and incense are mentioned in quite a few places in the Bible. They were used for religious (rituals, etc.), health (medicinal), personal (pleasure, cosmetic), and funeral purposes. When a useful substance (like olive oil for anointing or to protect the skin in the hot, dry climate) didn't smell particularly good by itself, adding a fragrance added pleasure, a sense of significance, and a distinctive association.

Several fragrant spices and oils are mentioned in the Scriptures. A few of the fragrant substances were native to Palestine, and the others had to be imported, mostly from tropical countries. Most were relatively expensive, so. their uses were reserved by most (the non-rich) for special occasions.

The “sweet incense” (lit. “incense of the aromas) burned on the altar of incense in the tabernacle was fragrant incense made of equal parts of stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense (Exodus 30:7, 34-35). This was for this sacred use only; God did not permit any personal use. “Whoever makes any like it, to smell it, he shall be cut off from his people” (Exodus 30:37-38). The Scriptures clearly show that the burning of incense is a type of prayers going up to God (Psalm 41:2; Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4). Our prayers are a sweet smell to God.

The word “perfume” occurs only three times in the KJV of the Bible, all in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word translated “perfume” (including the famous Proverbs 27:9) occurs about 58 times in the Old Testament. In almost all the other places, it is translated as “incense” or “sweet incense,” meaning fragrant incense. The Hebrew word translated “perfumes” (plural) in Isaiah 57:9 occurs only that once in the OT.

The word “ointment” occurs 15 times and the word “ointments” occurs 3 times in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word translated as such is usually translated as “anointing oil.” In the New Testament, “ointment” and “ointments” together occur 14 times. They are translated from the Greek word “muron,” meaning fragrant anointing oil. It is closely related to the Greek word “smurna” (or “smyrna”), which is the word for myrrh.

The predominant oil of the Bible is olive oil. Olive trees grow naturally in the Middle East. The word “oil” is derived from the word “olive.” It had many purposes: food, cosmetic, funereal, medicinal, fuel for lamps, and ritual. In the United States, the popularity of olive oil is increasing as people are rediscovering the healthful benefits of it.

The use of olive oil in Isaiah 1:6 and Luke 10:34 for “wounds and bruises and putrefying sores” has largely been viewed as strictly an emollient to soothe and soften the skin and scabs. However, the more we learn about olive oil, the more we understand that there are other medicinal benefits. And sometimes other medically beneficial oils were mixed with olive oil. Olive oil used to anoint the sick (Mark 6:13; James 5:14) was a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which God uses to miraculously heal. It also was strikingly appropriate to anoint with a substance that has healthful properties.

Many aromatic ointments mentioned in the Bible were olive oil with aromatic oils and resins added. In fact, the holy anointing oil used by the priests was mixture prescribed in Exodus 30:23-25. It was olive oil, myrrh, cinnamon, “sweet-smelling cane” (calamus), and cassia. Like the incense, any other use of this recipe than the God-ordained sacred uses was strictly forbidden (Exodus 30:31-33).

Most of the other oils mentioned in the Bible are what today we call essential oils. Why are they called “essential oils?” Each of these extracts or oils is the “essence” of the plant it comes from. Here are three definitions of “essence” from the 1969 American Heritage Dictionary: 1.) The quality or qualities of a thing that gives it its identity; the intrinsic or indispensable properties of a thing. 2.) The most important or effectual ingredient; crucial element. 3.) An extract of a substance that retains its fundamental or most desirable properties in concentrated form.

One of the definitions of “essential” is “absolute, undiluted.” So essential oils are the extracts from plants that are distilled into concentrated, pure oils that retain the unique aromatic and medicinal qualities of that plant but in concentrated form. This dictionary also lists “essential oil,” and defines it as A volatile oil, usually having the characteristic odor or flavor of the plant from which it is obtained, used to make perfumes and flavorings. The main thing missing from this definition is the healthful benefits that can be obtained from many of the oils.

Historically, most “perfumes” were essential oils. The production and use of essential oils has been going on for thousands of years. but not until recent times could man view them microscopically and understand them scientifically as we can now.

A good example of a vegetable that is claimed to have powerful health benefits is garlic. The juice can be bought in concentrated form as oil of garlic. (Garlic, though, fails to be aromatic!) Cinnamon oil or clove oil have been sold at pharmacies, and they are indeed concentrated. A drop can burn one’s skin and one drop goes a long way in flavoring something. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) has been fairly popular as a topical treatment for several conditions.

Esther was given oil of myrrh (Esther 2:12). (According to the KJV, she was also given “sweet odours,” and according to the NKJV, she was given “perfumes.” The Hebrew word here is usually translated “spices.”) Several sources of essential oils are listed in Song of Solomon 4:13—“Fragrant henna with spikenard, spikenard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense (galbanum), myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.” Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) and myrrh, two of the gifts to Jesus from the magi, come from aromatic gum resins from certain trees.

Some other oils mentioned in the Bible are algum (probably what is known as sandalwood today), amomum, balm (balsam), cassia (similar in flavor and aroma to cinnamon), coriander, dill, lily, mastich, mint, mustard, and stacte.

Today, many people use essential oils. Some use them merely for the pleasure of their smell, but more use them for the healthful benefits of their special properties. Some easily-recognizable names of oils are basil, cedarwood, chamomile, citronella, eucalyptus, frankincense, ginger, hyssop, juniper, lavender, lemongrass, myrtle, oregano, peppermint, pine, rosemary, rosewood, sandalwood, spikenard, tarragon, thyme, and valerian.

Generally, some oils are ingested orally, some are absorbed through the skin, with some, the scent is inhaled, and some are enjoyed in all three ways. The fastest way a person receives either the benefit or harm from any substance is inhaling. The efficiency and speed of the olfactory system is amazing.

The use of essential oils for aromatherapy has become popular again, so producers and sellers naturally jump on the aromatherapy bandwagon, hoping to profit. The competition leads some to produce or sell lower quality, less costly oils. Low-cost oils may be satisfactory if one’s goal is merely emotional benefits—a pleasant, soothing, uplifting experience. But true therapeutic benefits are not likely to be had with inferior quality oils. It takes time and a larger investment to produce pure, potent essential oils. “You get what you pay for.”

Why don’t doctors prescribe essential oils? This article won’t get into that, but to some extent, they do, because sometimes an ingredient in a prescription is an essential oil more or less disguised with another name.

This article has three goals in introducing this subject of essential oils. The first is to show how essential oils have played the major role in the history of perfumes. The second is to help people become aware of a perfume option. If someone likes to wear fragrances, but wants them to be environmentally-friendly (harmless to themselves and harmless to others), there are two options: essential oils and perfumes that have all natural ingredients. But that kind of perfume may be more expensive than essential oils, and the ingredients may be essential oils!

That is not to say that no one would be bothered by the scent of any essential oil. It seems that people can become allergic to almost anything. Many people are allergic to certain flowers. They likely would be allergic to the essential oils made from those flowers. But if it is chemical sensitivity that makes someone intolerant of most commercial colognes, that person probably would not feel any unpleasant symptoms from the scents of pure essential oils.

Essential oils are commonly sold both as single oils and blends of several oils. After smelling various products of essential oils, one may decide he/she prefers some with a single oil and some with a mixture of oils. Learning about this option may be “a breath of fresh air” to some readers.

The third goal for discussing essential oils is to use this as an example of a healthful alternative to encourage the readers to become more interested in building and maintaining good health. (Essential oils are generally beneficial for health, whereas many commercial colognes are deleterious to health.) Humans tend to forget the lessons of history and make innumerable mistakes that could be avoided. The way to good health if by taking full personal responsibility for one’s health. Doctors, supermarkets, advertising—none of them are going to guide you to make the thousands of good decisions about what to do and what not to do, what to eat and what not to eat, what to inhale and what not to inhale, and so on, ad infinitum.

Satan wants to destroy us in any way he can, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Satan has led the world to be a Babylon of complexity to make if difficult to find spiritual truth and the ways to good health and safety. This means we must be diligent in constantly learning what is right and wrong, what is healthful and what is unhealthful. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowleldge” (Hosea 4:6).

Please don’t misunderstand. This is not meant to promote essential oils as a magic bullet for good health. A major mistake commonly made is for people to latch on to one healthful product or activity and expect it to make them healthy. The best health is achieved by conforming one’s total lifestyle to healthful choices—good nutrition with natural foods, adequate sleep, exercise, maintaining positive attitudes and peace of mind through a close relationship with God, keeping stress down, maintaining a safe and clean environment, avoiding accidents and injuries, etc.

Now let’s summarize the history of perfume and the present time we live in. Historically, humans have used fragrances to add pleasure, attraction, and special significance to many activities. In hot climates conducive to profuse perspiration, the use of fragrances became important to cover up and mask bad odors from a lack of bathing. It’s interesting and telling that the Hebrew word for soap (spelled “sope” in the KJV) occurs only twice in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 2:22; Malachi 3:2). The words “soap” and “sope” do not occur in the New Testament. Apparently God doesn’t emphasize soap as an important factor in bathing, even though water for bathing is emphasized a great deal. But plentiful water has not been available in many parts of the world.

When a bath or shower was not accessible, fragrances were especially important when large groups of people were in close quarters, such as at feasts, wedding, and other special occasions. Thus, those natural oils and ointments aided large gatherings, whereas today, most commercial colognes hinder large gatherings, somewhat by excessively powerful scents, but more importantly by causing negative physiological reactions, ranging from mild discomfort to intense suffering. With indoor gatherings, the combination of different airborne chemicals plus the elevated concentration equates to serious air pollution.

Until recent times, the sources for "ointment" and "perfume" were natural and harmless. They were flowers, wood, gums, resins, spices and oils, and we cannot improve upon God’s perfect and awesome creation. Ah, let’s thank God for the sweet and spicy smells He has created!

Today, most fragrances are totally or in part chemically-synthesized. Modern man has the impressive ability to make imitations of natural fragrances, invent new scents, and to extend the reach and lingering capacities of those products. But some of these efforts are showering our environment with more and more chemicals whose biological effects are largely untested.

The big question is: What price are we paying health-wise?
by Don Hooser


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Could seaweed help cut fat in your chocolate? Scientists develop alternative that use microscopic agar bubbles to bulk out the treat

AGAR- The NEW Miracle Food????

It would be the perfect festive treat for those looking to keep the weight off –  low-fat chocolate.

And scientists claim to have found a way to make it happen. 
The have come up with ‘choco-lite, which contains microscopic bubbles of a jelly made from seaweed that bulk out the chocolate. 
Scientists at Warwick University claim they have found a way to make tasty low-fat chocolate using agar bubbles
Scientists at Warwick University claim they have found a way to make tasty low-fat chocolate using agar bubbles

The agar bubbles are also high in fibre, a natural appetite suppressant.
Previous attempts to reduce the fat content of chocolate – usually about 30 per cent – while retaining the taste and texture have failed.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2526156/Could-seaweed-help-cut-fat-chocolate-Scientists-develop-alternative-use-microscopic-agar-bubbles-bulk-treat.html#ixzz2oJTzBv00
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