And if you decided to sign up for your own account, tell them who sent you, JJKESQ.  Thanks and enjoy.

Starting in 1999, the women of the DDS created a market with about 2,000 members, comprising ecological, self-produced food crops. The sales of their agricultural and other produce yielded a 300% profit in six years; the womens' dividends increased between Rs 30-800 annually. A mobile van selling the produce was introduced in 2001 to provide people easier access to produce and to popularise organic food. The Zaheerabad Consumers Action Group was also formed which has brought out films on local cuisine and a cookbook using ingredients based on the crops that the women produce. It even runs Cafe Ethnic, a millet restaurant!

I strongly encourage you to read it in its entirety here.

Could make me cry if I thought about it long enough, but surely that has to be for the best.

Voters to decide on naming sewage plant after Bush

Snort.

HIV vaccine trial canceled

Hm. I could write an entire post on this alone, and it wouldn't be all rant. However this whole thing is particularly fraught with blurred ethical lines. If I thought they could create a vaccine whose efficacy rate was high enough, the benefit could outweight my usual concerns with possible long-term consequences of the vaccine itself and I'd squarely place this one in the grey area. However, like the story mentions, thus far it's been a catastrophe, and previous trials have given recipients the virus. I respect the fact that the scientists are admitting they don't know enough about how HIV changes the immune system, but I also know it's just a CYA for Merck, who funded the last study. Wolf in sheep's clothing and all that. Either way, I'm interested to keep up on this, because this isn't in the same ridiculous category as say, chicken pox.

Emmy's snub Wire *again*

I am honestly offended. And in the words of my favorite leader Cedric Daniels, I think this is BULLshit.

Rick Reilly's an overpaid, under-qualified shlock writer and I can't wrap my brain around why anyone likes him.

That's all.

Today is the 90^th birthday of Nelson Mandela (‘Madiba’) and the whole world has been sending their best wishes and thanks to him.

At the risk of being accused of jumping on the bandwagon, I, too, would like to extend my own personal greetings and wishes to him. Not that they are likely to reach him, of course – I very much doubt that the great man is a subscriber to this blog. And even if he were, I suspect that he might not wish to admit to the fact. Nonetheless, my wishes for his special day and for his continued good health and longevity are sincere and heartfelt.

However, today is not as joyous as it could perhaps be for far too many South Africans and, in light of that fact, I would wish to amend my birthday wishes to Mr. Mandela as follows: ‘Many happy returns of the day, Madiba, and please could you find the strength and energy to come out of retirement for a short while and put our country back on track’.

Ordinarily, the 21^st century political and government scene should, after all the lessons of the past few hundred years around the world, be one where the characters and characteristics of individual politicians and leaders (not necessarily the same thing, by the way), whilst important, should not, however, be dominant over the system of prevailing political and economic theory and practice.

Despite considerable fear at the time of the transition from the old South African order, Mr. Mandela proved to be an acceptable exception to the above statement. His humanity, compassion, statesmanship and deep discipline marked South Africa out as being a beacon of hope to many other countries around the globe – to say nothing of those people who had, directly and indirectly, suffered under the pre-1994 government. In so doing, Mr. Mandela bequeathed a bold and immensely valuable legacy to South Africa.

Which is precisely why today is not as happy an occasion as it could – and should – be as the great man and a significant portion of the planet celebrates the start of his 91^st year.

The stark reality is that the Mandela bequest to all South Africans has been defiled and squandered by those who took up the reins of power and influence after his departure. Sure, the words of those now steering our ship of state on to the political, social and economic rocks are filled with obsequiousness to the man and his vision; but the lip-service is cynical and self-serving when compared with the actions and motivations of those now with their hands on the tiller.

Some fourteen years after the 1994 transition South Africa appears to have progressed little towards those objectives set out and exemplified by Nelson Mandela.

South Africa still has the obscenity of innumerable squatter camps. Where housing for the poor has been provided it is invariably small, mean and inadequate for the needs of growing families and entrepreneurs. The squatter camps of the next decade and on will be the RDP and low-cost housing projects of the townships.

South Africa still has the obscenity of a gargantuan and permanent crime wave (now no longer excusable as a form of anti-Apartheid political action) which is, in terms of volume and nature, on a par – at least – with any war zone you might wish to name on the planet.

South Africa, far from leading the rest of Africa away from the stereotypes of the continent, has actively joined the club of banana republics in the race to grab the titles of the most corrupt and most politically expedient societies in the world. Political and social leaders vie with one another, it appears, to see who can extract the most money and power from the cookie jar of government service and public finance. Nepotism and cronyism are rife locally and internationally. Our foreign policies – most notably towards Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan (amongst others) – are an international joke and a domestic embarrassment.

South Africa’s education system (never noted for its egalitarianism or excellence) is collapsing under the weight of acute teacher shortages and administrative incompetencies.

Similarly, the South African public health system, under the leadership of a minister who denies the realities of HIV/AIDS and would prefer to treat those thus afflicted with beetroot, spinach and whatever local witch doctors might concoct from unprovenanced ingredients, is imploding from staff and skills shortages, graft and maladministration.

South African infrastructure is unraveling. The road system is (literally) breaking up under the traffic. No new major road or highway has been constructed since 1994. Public transport is so piecemeal as to be non-existent. Eskom and the electrical generation and distribution network under its care is a monstrous caricature of what the ANC inherited from its predecessors.

South African government is ceasing to work properly. Government departments are slothful and inefficient. Where once a passport would, routinely, be issued within ten to fourteen days, applicants now have to wait for upwards of six months. Driving tests and the issuance of licences, once accomplished within days can now – depending on the locality – take over one year.

South African public ethics and the moral fibre of the country are disintegrating. Public officials, no longer afraid of their subjection to the law of the land, openly - and oftentimes violently - compete for power. Politicians and government departments flagrantly flout or ignore court orders and rulings. The judiciary appears to be becoming enmeshed in political rivalries and factionalism.

At least 26% of all South Africans, from all racial and socio-economic groupings, are reported to be either in the process of emigration or are actively considering it.

So, Mr. Mandela, Happy Birthday.

But would you please at least consider coming out of retirement for a year in order to put our house back in some semblance of order? It’s a lot to ask and I’m sure you are tired. It would be appreciated – especially by those who are closest to your heart; the poor, the elderly, the sick, the young.

And – please – don’t die anytime soon. For then South Africa will have no-one with any political integrity or moral authority left to shield us hapless common folk from the predations of who are ambitious, greedy and ruthless.

Spearpoint.

18^th July 2008

Scientists have long been puzzled by how the Masai can avoid cardiovascular disease despite having a diet rich in animal fats. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet believe that their secret is in their regular walking.

There is strong evidence that the high consumption of animal fats increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Many scientists have therefore been surprised that the nomadic Masai of Kenya and Tanzania are seldom afflicted by the disease, despite having a diet that is rich in animal fats and deficient in carbohydrates.

This fact, which has been known to scientists for 40 years, has raised speculations that the Masai are genetically protected from cardiovascular disease. Now, a unique study by Dr Julia Mbalilaki in association with colleagues from Norway and Tanzania, suggests that the reason is more likely to be the Masai’s active lifestyle.

Their results are based on examinations of the lifestyles, diets and cardiovascular risk factors of 985 middle-aged men and women in Tanzania, 130 of who were Masai, 371 farmers and 484 urbanites. In line with previous studies, their results show that the Masai not only have a diet richer in animal fat than that of the other subjects, but also run the lowest cardiovascular risk, which is to say that they have the lowest body weights, waist-measurements and blood pressure, combined with a healthy blood lipid profile.

What sets the Masai lifestyle apart is also a very high degree of physical activity. The Masai studied expended 2,500 kilocalories a day more than the basic requirement, compared with 1,500 kilocalories a day for the farmers and 891 kilocalories a day for the urbanites. According to the team, most Westerners would have to walk roughly 20 km a day to achieve the Masai level of energy expenditure.

The scientists believe that the Masai are protected by their high physical activity rather than by some unknown genetic factor.

“This is the first time that cardiovascular risk factors have been fully studied in the Masai,” says Dr Mbalilaki. “Bearing in mind the vast amount of walking they do, it no longer seems strange that the Masai have low waist-measurements and good blood lipid profiles, despite the levels of animal fat in their food.”

---

Journal reference:

1. Mbalilaki et al. Daily energy expenditure and cardiovascular risk in Masai, rural and urban Bantu Tanzanians. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2008; DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2007.044966

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="200" caption="Colonics in Florida"][/caption]

Colonics in Florida:

In Florida colonics detox services are available at: Dot Fleisher Miami Colonics (861 North Venetian Drive, Miami); Gentle Waters: Colon hydrotherapy & massage healing center (1215 NW 23rd Ave, Gainesville); and Vita Health Medical Spa and Acupuncture (6840 Dykes Road, Southwest Ranches).

SOURCE: Colonics Florida

Friday Reflection: Cholesterol- Lowering Drugs for Children

Dr. Robyn J.A. Silverman for Dr. Robyn's Powerful Parenting Blog

As you know, I'm passionate about children's positive body image-- but that doesn't mean I want us all to throw children's health into the toilet. Let me know if you feel the same way.

Today, I'm feeling frightened. Have we hit a new low? The diet, physical activity, school lunch options and overall health maintenance plan for school-age children has been so compromised in recent years that the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending “statins,” drugs to lower high cholesterol levels, as part of the health plan for “at-risk” children as young as 8 years old. What are we saying to these children about their own ability to be in control and take care of their bodies without having to rely on medical and drug assistance? Part of positive body image comes from feeling in control and positive about your own body health.

“Obviously all of us want kids to really take care of their health,” said Dr. Marcie Schneider, a member of the nutrition committee who is an adolescent medicine specialist in Greenwich, Conn. “We want them exercising, we want them eating well. You try the least invasive things always first, but at some point if that’s not helping enough, you need to go to the next level.”

While some youngsters have genetic predispositions towards higher cholesterol, statins will also be geared towards children as young as 8 years old with LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) at 190 milligrams per deciliter or higher, of those with an LDL of 160 and a family history of heart disease or 2 other risk factors such as being diagnosed medically with diabetes, high blood pressure or clinical "obesity."

“When you have a kid whose cholesterol looks like an overweight 65-year-old, what do you do?” said Dr. David Ludwig, director of the childhood obesity program at Children’s Hospital in Boston. “The committee had to balance the risks of treating children with powerful drugs, about which there is limited long-term data, with the risks of not treating children with unprecedented cardiovascular disease risk factors.”

The Issue: Concern that children are at risk for heart disease and heart attacks due to high cholesterol.

The New Guidelines: Issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, citing that children as young as 8 should be put on cholesterol-lowering drugs if they meet the criteria for being “at-risk.”

The Problems: Several problems with these new recommendations have been cited.

Here are a few:

1. There are no long term studies on how these drugs will affect the children in the long run—especially if they plan to take it for the rest of their life.
2. The side effects are unknown for children. Adult side effects have been noted; such as cognitive problems and muscle pain.
3. There is fear that the drug companies are now going to be advertising these drugs for children. “It will open the door for pharmaceutical companies to heavily advertise and promote their use in 8-year-olds, when we don’t know yet the long-term effect on using these drugs on prepubertal kids,” said Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician in Danville, Calif., and the founder of the popular Web site DrGreene.com.
4. As reported in the New York Times, “We’re talking about potentially treating thousands and thousands of children simply to possibly prevent one heart attack,” says Dr. Sanghavi, from the University of Massachusetts. “That kind of risk benefit calculation is entirely absent from the A.A.P.’s policy.” Dr. Sanghavi, went on to say that statin drugs may affect a child’s endocrine system, which regulates growth and development, among other things. “I, for one, feel unsafe simply saying children are little adults in this case,” he said.
5. There is no evidence that these drugs will prevent heart attacks later in life.
6. It’s so easy to pop pills; A “push-button” solution may encourage children to continue eating a poor diet, refrain from getting enough exercise, and embracing an overall positive health maintenance plan. This can lead to many more dangerous health problems and a perceived “lower priority need” for good health education and lunch programs in school.
7. The drugs are expensive and require consistent blood tests to rule out any complications.
8. Proposing these kinds of drugs for young children may unleash widespread use of drugs for children.
9. There is concern that there are financial ties between the doctors who prescribe and the drug companies who supply.
10. People are concerned that children are not “little adults” and should not be treated as such.

***I’d love to hear the opinions of all you out there on the new guidelines and if you feel that it’s a good move, a cop-out, a poor reflection on the state of children’s health today, or the best solution for our times. What do you think? Please comment below.

Have a powerful weekend!

top image: Jupiter

]]> http://esperanzacommunityhousing.wordpress.com/?p=285 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:30:33 +0000 arizbe http://esperanzacommunityhousing.wordpress.com/?p=285 Figueroa Corrrido Community Landtrust in company of closest allies, Esperanza and SAJE, united this past weekend with the community at the "Estrella Block Party".  The main purpose of this gathering was to bring to community residents different resources in the following areas: Health, Housing, and Legal services.  

The event was uniquely celebrated with different activities such as live music, dancing, and very talented singers.  Inside the park, children and adults played delighted music at the beat of the drums-face-painting bringing a smile to all the kids, and a group of talented ladies delighted the audience with an exercise routine filled with excitment and energy. 

The "Estrella Block Party" brought an opportunity for family members and neighbors to united and fight against displacement.  In addition, the participation from many promotoras/es made an enourmous impact on the event by representing with great honor each of their programs.

Our community is conscience about the displacement problem in our area and we decided to be united and fight for our neighborhool and declare it a displacement free-zone" said Monic an Esperanza health promoter. 

       Britney Spears continues to receive visitation; which at this point, according to media reports, includes one, over-night visitation and a couple of visits per week.  Britney has had a rough time physically and emotionally over the last year or two; since her divorce. 

         Britney had very public outbursts and was hospitalized twice, involuntarily.  She has been doing remarkably well since her father Jaime took over a conservatorship many months ago.  He was successful in removing some negative influences by having the court's approval in deciding who could be physically present around Britney.  She has had more stabilized public appearances and has even been productive professionally.  She has appeared on television in a couple of acting roles and she has been getting back to her music.  This, after a much publicized effort to get back into shape physically by working out. 

      All of those accomplishments have allowed the courts to reward her efforts, to get her life back on track, by increasing her time with her boys; after having stopped visitations previously.  It is crucial for Kevin Federline and those in the court system to continue to see Britney Spears'  improvements in areas of concern that affect her children and herself.  Working on the relationships in their family is wise and will be to the benefit of the children as well as the adults involved.

       If things continue to stablize in her life; the court could always increase her visitation time with her children.  This agreement by the parents shows their ability to put their children's needs ahead of their own desire for control.  Well done!      

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="326" caption="Yeah these are her legs alright"][/caption] ]]> http://drrobyn.wordpress.com/?p=295 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:18:53 +0000 drrobyn http://drrobyn.wordpress.com/?p=295

Friday Reflection: Cholesterol- Lowering Drugs for Children

Dr. Robyn J.A. Silverman for Dr. Robyn's Powerful Parenting Blog

Today, I am frightened. Have we hit a new low? The diet, physical activity, school lunch options and overall health maintenance plan for school-age children has been so compromised in recent years that the American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending “statins,” drugs to lower high cholesterol levels, as part of the health plan for “at-risk” children as young as 8 years old.

“Obviously all of us want kids to really take care of their health,” said Dr. Marcie Schneider, a member of the nutrition committee who is an adolescent medicine specialist in Greenwich, Conn. “We want them exercising, we want them eating well. You try the least invasive things always first, but at some point if that’s not helping enough, you need to go to the next level.”

While some youngsters have genetic predispositions towards higher cholesterol, statins will also be geared towards children as young as 8 years old with LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) at 190 milligrams per deciliter or higher, of those with an LDL of 160 and a family history of heart disease or 2 other risk factors such as being diagnosed medically with diabetes, high blood pressure or obesity.

“When you have a kid whose cholesterol looks like an overweight 65-year-old, what do you do?” said Dr. David Ludwig, director of the childhood obesity program at Children’s Hospital in Boston. “The committee had to balance the risks of treating children with powerful drugs, about which there is limited long-term data, with the risks of not treating children with unprecedented cardiovascular disease risk factors.”

The Issue: Concern that children are at risk for heart disease and heart attacks due to high cholesterol.

The New Guidelines: Issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, citing that children as young as 8 should be put on cholesterol-lowering drugs if they meet the criteria for being “at-risk.”

The Problems: Several problems with these new recommendations have been cited.

Here are a few:

1. There are no long term studies on how these drugs will affect the children in the long run—especially if they plan to take it for the rest of their life.
2. The side effects are unknown for children. Adult side effects have been noted; such as cognitive problems and muscle pain.
3. There is fear that the drug companies are now going to be advertising these drugs for children. “It will open the door for pharmaceutical companies to heavily advertise and promote their use in 8-year-olds, when we don’t know yet the long-term effect on using these drugs on prepubertal kids,” said Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician in Danville, Calif., and the founder of the popular Web site DrGreene.com.
4. As reported in the New York Times, “We’re talking about potentially treating thousands and thousands of children simply to possibly prevent one heart attack,” says Dr. Sanghavi, from the University of Massachusetts. “That kind of risk benefit calculation is entirely absent from the A.A.P.’s policy.” Dr. Sanghavi, went on to say that statin drugs may affect a child’s endocrine system, which regulates growth and development, among other things. “I, for one, feel unsafe simply saying children are little adults in this case,” he said.
5. There is no evidence that these drugs will prevent heart attacks later in life.
6. It’s so easy to pop pills; A “push-button” solution may encourage children to continue eating a poor diet, refrain from getting enough exercise, and embracing an overall positive health maintenance plan. This can lead to many more dangerous health problems and a perceived “lower priority need” for good health education and lunch programs in school.
7. The drugs are expensive and require consistent blood tests to rule out any complications.
8. Proposing these kinds of drugs for young children may unleash widespread use of drugs for children.
9. There is concern that there are financial ties between the doctors who prescribe and the drug companies who supply.
10. People are concerned that children are not “little adults” and should not be treated as such.

***I’d love to hear the opinions of all you Powerful Parents and educators out there on the new guidelines and if you feel that it’s a good move, a cop-out, a poor reflection on the state of children’s health today, or the best solution for our times. What do you think? Please comment below.

Have a powerful weekend!

top image: Jupiter

]]> http://arionthedaily.wordpress.com/?p=344 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:12:01 +0000 Ari http://arionthedaily.wordpress.com/?p=344 Further destroying any confidence we had in them, the FDA is now reporting that tomatoes were not to blame for the salmonella outbreak a couple weeks ago. They are now concentrating their efforts on jalapeno and serrano peppers. Feel any safer? I sure as hell don't. Click here for the article from the NY Times.

By Daniella Adler

Well over a quarter of a million Nassau County residents have no health insurance or are under-insured, according to estimates by the office of the Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman. Yet, only about 20 percent of those people, about 60,000, take advantage of a program that grants users significant discounts on prescription medications.

The program is called NassauRx. It was instituted by Weitzman’s office in 2004. Four years later, with the economy floundering, it is an under-utilized opportunity for cash-strapped Long Islanders to save money on virtually every prescription at participating pharmacies.

“The beauty of the program is that it costs nothing,” said Jostyn Hernandez, assistant communications director for the comptroller’s office.

“There is no paid advertising,” he added, which may account for the program’s relative obscurity. An example of the steep discounts available to holders of the NassauRx card is the commonly prescribed drug Allegra, which costs between $85 and $115 at full retail. With the NassauRx card, uninsured users would pay only $60.

The program can be especially beneficial to senior citizens enrolled in Medicare Part D, who pay out of pocket for their prescription drugs.

The card is of little or no value to people with health insurance; it cannot be combined with insurance coverage or other discounts.

“If you have prescription coverage, then the Nassau card is pretty much useless,” explained Howard Friedman, a pharmacist at West Hempstead Pharmacy. “Our discounts are as good as that card or better. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred your insurance is better.”

The Five Towns Pharmacy offers discounts without a card, according to owner Saud Ansari. He considers the NassauRx card “just a gimmick.”

Hernandez disagrees. He points out that the card covers all prescription drugs, even those that are not covered by insurance.

George Winter, at the Ocean Chemists pharmacy in Oceanside, calls the NassauRx card “a great thing.” The card “is for someone who isn’t insured or someone whose drugs require prior authorization from insurance or are not covered by insurance,” he explained.

While the program is free to consumers, there is a cost to pharmacies to participate, which could explain why some, like Caliber Pharmacy in Hewlett, choose not to. A pharmacist there cited higher profit margins at chain pharmacies to explain why mom-and-pop stores find it difficult to offer similar discounts.

The NassauRx card is easy to obtain. No application form or registration is required; it is available regardless of age, income and marital status. The card can be printed directly off the Internet at www.caremark.com/nassaurx. Participating pharmacies are listed online. For more information, Long Island residents can also call toll-free 877-321-2652.

“Climate change will pose ’substantial’ health threats including heat waves, hurricanes and pathogens in coming decades,” according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition, “‘it is very likely’ that more people will die during extremely hot periods in future years, with the elderly, the poor and those in inner cities at the highest risk.”

July 18, 2008. 8:30 am.

Thursday.

Full Moon of Guru (Guru Poornima).

Grace Light pours down, pours deep and pours unconditionally.

The vapours of incense rise to welcome the unseen.
The golden-yellow spear-like flame rests motionless on the wick of the all-witnessing lamp.

Mind stands silent too.
Impurities of the unknown past dissolve like salt in water.
Petals of the heart unfold to hold the overflowing splendour.
Unable to contain the bliss, the heart passes on the joy to blood, hair, cells, spine and head.

The throbbing third-eye jumps with excitement.
The sun and the moon breaths merge with the channel divine.
Coolness is what remains in the body.
Grand emptyness revealed within.

People seem lot closer.
It seems easy to forget, simple to forgive and wonderful to embrace everyone.

Who am I?
What happened to me?
Where is that 'me' of the 'i'?
What did i do to deserve this adventure?
What's coming next?

Peace.
Creativity.
Health.
Love.
Beauty.
Prosperity.

Wait until it pours on you too.
Then my joy shall be yours.
Your joy shall be mine.

O Evershining Effulgence, thank you forever!

Can i have more?

(GraceLight.Com Is The New Home Of Humanity)

Every day, we spend $5 - 10 on coffee, energy drinks, fast food, etc... We don't eat enough fruits or vegetables anymore, most of our meals are processed or micro waved.

Fruits are an essential part of our daily diet and yet only 10% consume the recommended daily intake. This is because today, people are too busy and simply forget. We get tired of eating the same old fruits and some fruits are becoming more and more expensive to buy. Fruit even decay's faster than it did 50yrs ago due to modern agricultural practices, transportation time and the chemicals sprayed over them to last the trip! Watch 'Foodmatters' video.

Why the Premier Acai Blend

Acai juice is packed with powerful anti-oxidants to boost your immune system and fight free-radicals to support your body’s natural ability to heal itself and to prevent long-term disease. Acai is the best antioxidant known to man and the Premier Acai Blend is made from the highest grade of acai available.

When compared to other acai products on the market, the maximum concentration of SOLIDS (skin and pulp) that can be made is 14% but most acai blends being sold today contain only 3-5% solids -- with the rest of the content being primarily water.

The Premier Acai Blend uses not only the highest possible percentage of solids, but ALSO include a substantial amount of powerful, freeze dried acai powder (Opti Acai).

This powder is exclusively available to the Premier Acai Blend and NO other company. It comes from the Brazilian processing plant owned by Dr. Schauss and his partners, the entire freeze drying process being patent protected.

Aside from the exclusivity significance of this, one of the core reasons why the Premier Acai Blend is delivering such sensational results, is that a maximum amount of the tremendously beneficial phytonutrients in Acai fruit are captured and preserved by the proprietary methods of processing.

When compared on the basis of ONE gram of powder, the "past champion" cranberry's ORAC value stands at 94. ONE gram of Opti Acai delivers a thunderous ORAC value of 1027!! Learn more about ORAC, antioxidants and free radicals...

The Acai Berry has a high level of anthocyanins, which are responsible for the red, purple and blue hues of many fruits. Anthocyanins have been the focus of many studies which have concluded that anthocyanins benefit the cardiovascular system. Specifically, they can improve blood circulation, prevent blood clots, relax blood vessels and prevent arteriosclerosis. Furthermore, scientists have also found that anthocyanins have anti-viral and anti-allergenic properties.

The Acai Berry also contains essential fatty acids Omega 3, 6 and 9. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 acid, and linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated omega-6 acid, help lower unhealthy cholesterol (LDL) levels and maintain healthy cholesterol (HDL) levels. They also increase the absorption vitamins like vitamin A, E, D, and K, which are important to good health.

The benefits of Acai, as you can see, are numerous. However, the list doesn't end here. The Acai Berry contains nutrients like phytosterols, fibre and vitamin C. It's no wonder the Brazilians call the Acai Palm 'the tree of life'.

Conclusion

The Premier Acai Blend is a great tasting premium nutritional 19-fruit juice. It is loaded with anti-oxidants, Omega 3's, 6's, and 9's fatty acids, natures anti-inflammatory's and phytonutrients. The Premier Acai blend delivers a simple and convenient way to ensure you are getting the required nutrition and antioxidants your body needs on a daily basis. The best antioxidants the world has to offer!

David and I went to The Grove for dinner, since he had to be at his show at 6:30 and I had to be out in New Berlin at 7. It's kind of backwards... we save gas money on driving between Elm Grove/New Berlin and home, but then we drop $30 on dinner. But it gives us some quality time together, rather than rushing through dinner at home.  I had the most amazing salad- spinach, mandarin orange slices, slivered almonds, and a toasted sesame dressing. It was simple and delicious. I may have to try to recreate it. It was soooo good.

While at dinner I found out my Pole 2 class was cancelled, so our/my plan for the evening was shot. The whole point was to stay out west and not have to drive back and forth multiple times. But I didn't feel like hanging out for 4 hours waiting for David. So I accepted the gas mileage.

But first, I went to the YMCA and put in a long workout. 30 minutes on the elliptical, all the weight machines (that I know how to use) and a stretching session later it was after 8:00 and I felt great. It was the longest workout I've had in months, and I miss it. I had planned on going to the Y after work a couple times a week for a long workout, but that hasn't happened this summer. David and I carpool, so it's not as simple as me just GOING. I dislike doing exercise outside when it is super hot and humid, so maybe we'll have to try to work something out again. My lunchtime sessions are fine, but I don't feel like I get a REAL workout.

So, onto tagging. Ginesa over at Adventures of a Family Through the Little One tagged me and it seems kind of fun, so I'll join in.

5 things found in your bag1) Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm 
          
2) Bright pink wallet
3) Beat up cell phone
4) Random receipts, coupons, papers
5) Checkbook with this chicky cover:
       

5 favorite things in your bedroom
This is tough, because lately we've been pulling the mattress into the living room where the A/C is, so our bedroom is kind of limbo right now.
1) I'm eternally grateful for the ceiling fan
2) My pretty, large, antique-y white dresser with gold trim. It's been my dresser since high school.
3) Random shoes strewn about
4) Kind of cool lamp from Ikea. I love lamp!!
5) Pretty wall-mounted candle holder that was a housewarming present

5 things I have always wanted to do
1) Leave the continent... but I've done that now! So I guess... leave the continent again!
2) Be in a movie
3) Audition for a Broadway show
4) Travel to every continent, including Antarctica!
5) Work in events/planning/PR

5 things I am currently into
1) South Beach Diet
2) Trashy TV Shows
3) Not melting into a humid puddle
4) Paying off credit cards
5) Photography

Wanna play? Then TAG, you're it!

Every week I read tens of thousands of blog posts. Here, for your weekend enjoyment, are some highlights from my recent reading, for you.

On Starting Up...
http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/28055
On the health of the Venture Capital market.

On Design & Product Experience...
http://www.slideshare.net/garrettdimon/improving-interface-design/
Presentation and tips on improving interface design.

On Modular Innovation...
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by David Derbyshire
Updated 4th July 2008

A natural sugar found in fruit is fuelling the obesity epidemic, scientists say.

A study has shown that fructose - which is used to sweeten soft drinks and junk food  - might be more harmful than other types of sugar.

In tests, fat people given large doses of fructose were more likely to put on weight around the stomach than those given glucose. Doctors say this 'intra-abdominal fat' is the most harmful type and is linked to diabetes and heart disease.

Pure fructose is found in fresh fruit, fruit juice and jam. However, it also sneaks into our diet through the high-fructose corn syrup used in food manufacturing.

Concerns about fructose and high-fructose corn syrup have been growing.  Some experts believe they play a major role in the obesity crisis sweeping Britain and the U.S.

Scientists at the University of California put 33 overweight adults on a diet comprising 30 per cent fat, 55 per cent complex carbohydrates such as bread and rice, and 15 per cent protein for a fortnight. For a further ten weeks they were moved to a diet in which a quarter of their energy came from either fructose or glucose, New Scientist reports today. Both groups put on the same amount of weight - 1.5kg or 3.3 pounds.

However, volunteers on the fruit sugar diet put on more intra-abdominal fat, which wraps around their internal organs and causes pot bellies.

Those eating fructose also had higher levels of cholesterol.

The study, led by Dr Peter Havel, looked only at pure fructose - not high-fructose corn syrup. However the syrup breaks down into fructose and glucose in the body. Dr Havel said: 'The question is what is the amount of high-fructose corn syrup or normal sugar you need to consume to get these effects?'

The finding suggests that the number of calories in food might not be as important as the type of sugar it contains. A cake made with fructose could do more harm than one made with glucose.

A spokesman for PepsiCo, which sponsored Dr Havel's work, said: 'This is a very interesting and important study. But it does not reflect a real-world situation nor is it applicable to PepsiCo since pure fructose is not an ingredient in any of our food and beverage products.'

In a separate study, Dr Havel's researchers compared the immediate effects of consuming a meal in which 25 per cent of the energy came from either high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, fructose or glucose.

The level of triglycerides - or fats - in the blood were all elevated to a similar level 24 hours after consuming fructose, sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup, but not glucose, according to the findings published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Sucrose breaks down into fructose and glucose in the body.

Dr Francine Kaufman, of the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, said: 'It adds to what we have known for a long time.  'It's probably not a good idea to consume too much sugar.'

Experts point out that this does not mean we should stop eating fruit. Fresh fruit contains relatively low levels of fructose - and the risks are outweighed by health benefits.

(c) Daily Mail

While looking for alternatives to my chocolate bar, which by the way contained 110 fat calories, I ran across the following tips on boosting your afternoon energy. Find the 9 things you can do to prevent you from having a tired afternoon!

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