Chi-elements

I recently saw an interesting program aired by ABC and hosted by Peter Jennings. In this program, they turn an investigative eye on how the food industry is contributing to making Americans fat. In the US, 2/3rds of the population is overweight, with 1 in 3 being obese. The report poses some interesting questions around the link between US Agricultural policy and how this contributes to people eating bad food. Here are some of the highlights of this program: Agriculture in the US works with subsidies. The government gives out subsidies to grow specific types of crops. According to critics, the government gives out subsidies without considering the health impact. It is clear that if certain types of foods are subsidized more; those are the ones that are being produced on a larger scale. If you look at the USDA food pyramid, meat, sugars and fats are the food groups we should eat the least of. Now get this, these food groups receive 20 times more subsidies than fruits and vegetables! N...

I’ve already added a few posts talking about the harmful effects of microwave radiation emitted by wireless internet connections and mobile phones. We have the group that thinks we can use mobile phones as much as we want and not worry about any adverse effects on our health, and then there’s the group that says that by doing so we are increasing our risk for serious health issues like cancer. Well, I’m sure this is not he last we’ll hear of it. A couple of recent articles captured my attention. One was from Computerworld (18/09/2007) which talked about how frequent cell phone use may slow down brain function. The study cited in this article has been limited to just 300 people conducted by researchers in Australia, England and the Netherlands. While frequent mobile phone users did show a slowing of brain function, the catch was that the “slower function” was still within what is considered to be normal brain functioning. Watch this space though, as these researchers plan to expand th...

On the September 2007 issue of Self magazine, they site some recent research from the Boston University School of Medicine which reveals that regular practice of yoga can boost levels of a neurotransmitter (known as gamma-aminobutyric acid) which helps ward off depression. According to the research, after an hour session, those practicing yoga had a 27 percent increase in this neurotransmitter (apparently a deficit in those with depression) when compared to people who just read quietly. In case you didn't know, yoga is associated with numerous health benefits. Here are a few more for you to consider: Strengthens organ function Improves digestion Helps remove waste products from the body Relieve common aches and pains, particularly in neck/shoulder, upper/lower back and hips/knees Improves lung function Relieves stress Increases strength and flexibility If you haven't already done so, try out a least one yoga session and see for yourself!

Many of you have undoubtedly heard of the health benefits of drinking green tea. Many studies have shown that the greatness of green tea comes from the high level of antioxidants that help protect the body against cancer and heart disease. Interestingly enough, black tea (which in the last few years has been taking a back seat to green tea), appears to have more disease-fighting antioxidants than green, oolong, white or red teas according to findings presented at the recent American Dietetic Association meeting in Honolulu* (*as presented in Self Magazine May 2007 issue). The reasoning seems to stem from a long misconception that the processing removes the antioxidants and that green tea was less processed than black. The important point is that all tea gets the thumbs up from a health point of view. But take note, adding milk to your tea may block the tea’s benefits. The reason is casein – a milk protein which will bind itself to the molecules in tea and inhibit its benefits from bein...

Ensure your home is not too close to the following external sources of EMF emissions: High voltage electrical power lines High voltage electric railway line Satellite dishes or satellite decoders that are not earthed Digital TV receptor Ensure your home is not too close to the following external sources of Microwave emissions: Mobile phone masts (base stations) Radars Local Radio communication services Local broadband services (wireless connections) How to protect your home: It is much more difficult to shield your home from magnetic and microwave fields than electrical ones because they can travel through walls. Nevertheless, there are some options out there. You can use aluminum foil on your walls (this must be heavy duty foil and needs to be earthed in order to be effective) Paint (there are certain paints available in the market place such as "Ecos" that shield against microwave emissions). Screens/nets/headnets/bed canopies: these are great for windows, over your bed an...

Having seen from previous posts how much extensive research is now available showing a clear link between compromised health and exposure to EMF's /Microwaves, I thought it would be helpful to give some guidelines around how to keep your home EMF/Microwave safe. This post will focus on things to look out for inside the home: Microwaves: Mobile phones: use as little as possible and never store it anywhere near your body (i.e. pockets, attached to belt, etc...) Microwave ovens: best option is to not have one, however if it must be used ensure you stay far away from it while it is on. DECT cordless phones: these are even more damaging then mobile phones because they are constantly emitting pulses of microwave radiation (whereas a mobile phone only does so when a call is incoming or outgoing). It is best to replace all cordless phones by regular landlines. If it is not feasible, ensure you keep these phones away from any bedrooms (keep in mind microwaves can travel very easily throug...

Here is the continuation to Powerwatche's defense against the criticisms received. Enjoy! 4. What we measured and how it was measured was "bad science". I believe that the science behind our measurements at the Norwich School was absolutely fine. I had put together what I though was a balanced and interesting PowerPoint presentation for the school pupils which had much of relevance for the GCSE KS4 science curriculum. Apparently, according to Goldacre, it was the teacher who decided that I was not going to be allowed to talk to the class - "I've just had to ask a BBC Panorama film crew not to film in my school or in my class because of the bad science they were trying to carry out". My presentation will soon be available from this website (we are currently attaching an audio track to it so it is more than just slides). Instead the science teacher told them about our "bad science" and showed them the Powerwatch and EMFields websites. According to Go...