Guarding Against Autism

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

autism

How Environmental Toxins May Contribute to Autism Spectrum Disorder

When the autism study results were published in the journal Pediatrics in October 2009, the figures were shocking—one in every 91 U.S. children was reported to have autism. That was up from one in 500 a decade ago, with boys four times as likely to acquire the disorder.

Behaviors of autism include: failure to respond to stimuli or make eye contact; speech delays; compulsive behavior like head-shaking; stacking objects or intense repetition of daily activities; and extreme noise sensitivity. For years, research into the causes of autism has revolved
around genetics. Even as the rate of autism among the nation’s children continues to rise at an astonishing 10 to 17 percent a year, research has been slow to shift its focus to other factors—namely, environmental toxins.

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Nature’s New Antibiotic

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

Manuka honey, from New Zealand, kills common Staphylococcus bacteria, manuka honeyreports a study published by the Society for General Microbiology.  Staphylococcus is responsible for many infections, and scientists now hope <read more>


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Yoga’s Mindfulness Helps Control Weight

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

New long-term research by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center shows that middle-aged people who practice yoga gained less weight over a 10-year period than those who did not, independent of other physical activity and changes in dietary habits. The difference is that yoga teaches mindful eating.

The researchers found that people who were aware of why they ate and stopped eating when satisfied—weighed less than those who ate without that awareness. Yoga cultivates mindfulness in a number of ways, starting with being able to hold a challenging pose. A practitioner’s ability to be calm and observant during physical discomfort teaches how to maintain calm in other challenging situations as well, such as declining to eat when we’re not hungry or eating extra food when it tastes especially good. Satisfaction also comes in awareness of how food looks, tastes and smells.

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Breakthroughs in Anti-Aging

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

by Lisa Marshal

anti-aging

“What we have learned in the past few years is that you can literally exercise your brain and add in new circuitry. You can rewire it.”~ Andrew Carle

Five hundred years after explorer Ponce de Leon roamed the West Indies in search of a vigor-restoring, “fountain of youth,” we have yet to come up with a way to turn back time. But according to physicians and researchers at the cutting edge of anti-aging research, we’re learning a lot about how to keep the signs of aging at bay.

“We’re seeing a ton of compelling research lately on how to slow down the clock and live better and longer,” says Dr. Andrew Weil, an integrative physician and author of Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Well-being. “Happily, most of us will not have to age the way our parents and grandparents did.”

In the past decade, breakthrough research has radically changed our understanding of why our brain, organs and skin age and what we can do, eat or apply to slow the process.

Here’s a look at some of the latest science and the technologies to grow out of it.

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Healing Rituals Around the World

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

Many of today’s healing rituals draw from the tried-and-true wisdom of our ancestors

From acupressure massage, Ayurvedic facials and Shiatsu to hot stone massage, seaweed treatments and the use of herbs and botanical oils, many of today’s healing rituals share a vital component. Each has a firm foundation in an ancient, respected healing modality that’s recently made its way back into our collective awareness. Thanks to migrating populations and the efforts of world explorers, a glorious overlapping of regions and practices has occurred.

Along the way, these traditions have gained renewed respect in today’s forward-thinking wellness communities.

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Three Dog Night

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

Should Fido and Fluffy Share our Bed?

Giving pets bed privileges is an age-old issue, with convincing arguments on both sides. The history of the pros and cons are evident in The International Encyclopedia of Dogs, which reports that in pre-Aztec Mexico, the Xoloitzcuintl, now known as the Mexican hairless breed, was a pet and a bed warmer. Today, an American Pet Products Association survey indicates that nearly half of all dogs, 46 percent, at least sometimes sleep in the owner’s or a child’s bed. Cats fare even better, with 79 percent sleeping with their people when they’re in the mood.

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Dueling New Year’s Lists

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Natural Awakenings

by Scott Blum

“What you should or could do with your life no longer matters. The only thing that matters, from this day forward, is what you must do.”

I was fortunate to spend time with an enigmatic man named Robert during a very special period of my life. Robert taught me many things during our days together, and this time of year reminds me of one particular interaction we had.

“Now that you are becoming more aware,” Robert said, “you need to begin to set goals for yourself, so you don’t lose the momentum you have built.”

“Like New Year’s resolutions?” I asked.

“That’s an interesting idea,” he smirked. “Let’s do that.” By then, I was used to his cryptic responses, so I knew something was up because of the way his eyes sparkled as he let out an impish laugh.

“Tonight’s assignment is to make two lists,” Robert continued. “The first is a  list of all the New Year’s resolutions you want to keep, and the second is a list of all the New Year’s resolutions you will keep. Write the want list first, and when you have exhausted all of your ideas, then write the second list on another sheet of paper.”

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