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Category: A Better Way

Why Not Try These? Some Are Safer, Some Are More Beneficial.

Published on Leave a comment on A 60-Minute Walk In Nature Decreases Activity In Brain Regions Involved In Stress Processing

Researchers in Germany have found that a one-hour walk in nature reduces
stress-related brain activity.

The amygdala is the brain region involved in stress processing. It has been shown to be less activated in people who live in rural areas, compared to those who live in cities, hinting at the potential benefits of nature.

Nature Walks Are Good For Your Brain

However, no study so far has examined the causal effects of natural and urban environments on stress-related brain mechanisms.

"But so far the hen-and-egg problem could not be disentangled, namely whether nature actually caused the effects in the brain or whether the particular individuals chose to live in rural or urban regions," says Sonja Sudimac, predoctoral fellow in the Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience (LMGEN) and lead author of the study.

To address this question, researchers from LMGEN examined brain activity in regions involved in stress processing in 63 healthy volunteers before and after a one-hour walk in Berlin's Grunewald Forest and a busy city street using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

The results of the study revealed that activity in the amygdala decreased after the walk in nature, suggesting that nature elicits beneficial effects on brain regions related to stress.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Art of Self-Kindness and How it Helps Us Cope with Stress

By Juandri Buitendag and Prof Margareta James - Psychologists

Self-kindness can boost our mental health and help us navigate stressful situations. This is what we can do to nurture more of it.

Importance Of Practicing Some Self-Kindness - An Absolute Must!

Observing the breeze blow gently through the trees, savoring the delicate taste of a morning cuppa and curling up with a diverting novel in hand: far from being an extravagance, as these acts of self-kindness have sometimes been treated, they are in fact the fundamental building blocks of strong mental health.

In a world that is increasingly time-pressured and an economic model that has an unyielding focus on improving efficiency, it is easier than ever to overlook or de-prioritise your personal feelings and needs.

But according to psychologists, the art of self-kindness, although something that can be honed, is not something that should be optional. Whether it be in the realms of the physical, emotional, spiritual, or indeed professional, being conscious and sensitive towards yourself, they say, is key preparation for everything that life throws at us.

“It can change your life massively,” says Juandri Buitendag, a counseling psychologist who founded JB Wellness Dynamics, a London-based psychology therapy practice.…

Published on

By Andy Corbley from Good News Network Oct 2022

Joining the United States and a number of other countries, Australian officials have committed to preserve 30% of the continent’s landmass in a natural state for conservation.

Daintree Rainforest Park Queensland

The news was announced Tuesday from Environment Minster Tanya Plibersek, as part of a program called the Threatened Species Action Plan: Towards Zero Extinctions.

By prioritizing 110 species and 20 places, the plan will drive action where it is needed most and will deliver knock-on benefits to other threatened plants and animals in the same habitats.

The plan is the Australian counterpart to the “30×30” initiative that is trending among countries, and which arose out of the COP26 commitments to preserve 30% of lands and waters by 2030.

One of the most biologically diverse countries on Earth, so many of Australia’s animals, particularly her mammals, are found nowhere else on our planet.

“The Threatened Species Action Plan strengthens our commitment to stopping the extinction of Australia’s plants and animals,” said Plibersek. “Based on input from researchers and experts from the community, this plan identifies 20 priority places and 110 priority species and will guide recovery actions that will benefit a broad range of threatened species and their habitats.”…

Published on Leave a comment on What Does Reading Before Bed Do For Our Brain?

By Gemma Curtis – Sleep Matters Club Journalist

Some people can’t sleep without reading, but for others, the bedtime story is left in their child years. Reading before bed is an age-old tradition. Some people can’t sleep without reading, but for others, the bedtime story is left in their childhood. In recent times, reading interest has surged enormously. Whether it’s because people are running out of hobbies to try when they’re stuck at home or because they’re looking to expand their vocabulary is up for debate. Yet, the key question still remains: can the practice of reading before bedtime be beneficial? We explore how it affects the brain and see what the experts have to say.

Bedtime reading reduces stress

Reading before you sleep could relax you significantly. A study highlighted in the Telegraph by the University of Sussex raised a number of participants stress levels and then attempted to reduce them. Cognitive Neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis found that ‘reading worked best, reducing stress levels by 68 per cent’. It was better than listening to music (61%), drinking tea or coffee (54%) and taking a walk (42%). It only took 6 minutes for participants’ stress levels to be reduced.…

Published on Leave a comment on When Selecting Commercial So-Called Natural Personal Care Products

IT'S GETTING A BIT MUCH, ISN'T IT? UNSCRUPULOUS MANUFACTURERS STOP AT VIRTUALLY NOTHING, TO COMPETE WITH GENUINE NATURAL CARE PRODUCTS WHEN IT COMES TO PERSONAL SKINCARE PRODUCTS, HAIRCARE PRODUCTS, DEODORANT, HANDWASH AND BODYWASH. IT'S CRIMINAL - REALLY REPREHENSIBLE, I KNOW, AND SINCE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE - IN TAKING CARE MEASURES - BECAUSE LIKE THE FDA IN THE USA, OUR GOVERNMENT DOESN'T PUT A STOP TO THIS OUTRAGE EITHER. I WISH TO HELP YOU MAKE SMART DECISIONS WHEN PURCHASING PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS. PLEASE DON'T BE TOO TRUSTING WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL MAKES - THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONSCIENCE. I HAVE FOUND A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR YOU, AND RECOMMEND THAT YOU FAVOR COMPANIES IN YOUR PURCHASES THAT ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING GENUINE NATURAL PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS AND EXPOSE INGREDIENTS THAT ARE TOXIC TO OUR HEALTH BECAUSE IT IS NOW PROVEN THAT INGREDIENTS WE PLACE ON OUR SKIN ARE ABSORBED INTO OUR BODY. THIS IS CALLED TRANSDERMAL, AND IS AS SERIOUS AS TOXIC INGREDIENTS WE INGEST - THERE ARE OFTEN MORE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS.

Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in So-Called "Natural" Personal Care Products

From UbanWellnessMag.Com

Caution needs to be taken when selecting among the wide range of products labeled and marketed as natural.…

Published on

A Recent ABC Article

The federal government has taken the first step towards introducing new fuel emission standards to get more electric vehicles into the domestic market, reducing price and emissions.

A number of Commonwealth, state and territory ministers will discuss the relatively slow take-up of electric vehicles in Canberra today, along with some of the biggest manufacturers and industry groups.

The Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Bowen, will soon release a discussion paper on bringing fuel standards into line with almost all other nations and ensure inefficient cars are not dumped in Australia.

"Every country except [us and] Russia has them and it does mean that we get sent substandard vehicles by manufacturers in relation to emissions, because other nations require the best emission vehicles," Mr Bowen told the ABC.

"What we're saying is now is the time to have a serious discussion about whether Australia should have fuel efficiency standards and how we should have them."

More than 80 per cent of the global car market now follows 'Euro 6' vehicle emission standards, including Europe, the United States, Japan, Korea, China, India and Mexico.

But Australia has resisted signing up to the standards, which would require more stringent restrictions on pollutants in petrol, and require new cars to emit far less particulate matter than currently allowed.…

Published on Leave a comment on Sunny Days Ahead – Don’t Stay Away From Sunshine

So many are told to "Stay Away From Sunshine" in Western Countries like USA and Australia. That is based on Flawed Health Science. The Medical Profession is into a lot of that. Many times, if something is GOOD For You, they will tell you it's Bad for you, and Visa-Versa. I've found that through the years. As for taking our beautiful SUNSHINE away, no wonder so many people are feeling Bleak. Let's have Sunshine Inside (of us) and Outside. Both are Healthy, hey!?

Let's Have Sunshine And Brighten Up Our Days!!!

By Dr Al Sears Integrative Medicine Practitioner/International Researcher

Remember the first day of Spring when you opened the blinds to let the Sunshine in? Remember that full-of-energy, ‘happy-go-lucky’ feeling? Have you been missing those Sunny Days?

Many of my patients avoid the Sun like the plague. All they hear is that Sunshine poses serious threats to your health. With all these warnings about the Sun, why wouldn’t they?

Despite the bad rap it often gets, Sunshine is Good for You — if, like everything else, you don’t abuse it. Today, I’ll share some of the benefits of enjoying Sunshine each day – to Lift your spirits and Improve your Health.…

Published on Leave a comment on Why Food Cravings? How To Stop Them And Cleanse

YOU WILL FIND TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES IN THIS ARTICLE TO HELP YOU AND I WISH YOU WELL.

This Is What Your Food Cravings Really Mean

What do your food cravings really mean? Usually, when you crave something, that is your brain signaling that it is lacking a certain nutrient, and so it will automatically gravitate to the things that are easy, un-healthy and leave us wanting more (since the foods we often gravitate to will momentarily satisfy us, however, our brains will keep on firing, and telling us to eat more – since we didn’t give it the proper nutrients – which leads us into the problem of over-eating).

Our environment is also a major trigger for food cravings. Social situations, visual cues, and smells are ways in which we delve into our deep-rooted food desires. If you want to find ways in which you can battle your cravings successfully, then you need to understand what your brain is telling you it wants. Here is a guide which can help you achieve just that!

Source HERE

How To Use Peppermint Oil To Stop Junk Food Cravings and Instead Burn Tons of Extra Calories

By Carly Fraser

Sugar addiction is real – and the science behind it goes far beyond tastebuds.…

Published on

From FarmersAlmanac.Com

Has all this hand washing left you with very dry or raw, chapped skin? We've got a few natural remedies for that, some may surprise you!

If you’re like most, you’ve been doing some crazy handwashing lately—and topping it off with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer—to keep germs at bay. This kind of frequent hand washing while a reliable way to ward off illness, can lead to dry, chapped skin, according to dermatologists.

Practicing good hand hygiene kills germs, but it also strips away your skin’s natural oils. And for those who experience cold, dry weather, it can be a double whammy. As a result, your hands may even be raw, cracked, and screaming for help. So what can you do? We have a few easy, natural solutions.

First, A Few Hand-Washing Tips

  • When heading to the sink, stick to natural, fragrance-free soaps. You can also try using liquid Castile soap to wash with. Add a squirt to a pump dispenser and fill the rest with water. You can also add a few drops of germ-fighting tea tree oil, and fractionated coconut oil, or “liquid coconut oil,” to help keep your hands smooth.
…

Published on Leave a comment on A Grass Native To Africa Could Transform The Continent Dairy Yields. Here’s How

The cows kept by small-scale farmers in Africa are notoriously unproductive. The average dairy cow, for example, produces about 540 litres of milk per lactation. By contrast, dairy cows in North America that belong to commercial or intensive farmers can produce up to 10,479 litres of milk per lactation.

Grass-Fed Is Always Better Than Grain-Fed
Brachiaria Is The Best For Dairy Farms

One of the main differences between the two animals lies in the quality of their feeds and forage. Simply put, the more nutritious cows’ diets are, the more and better quality milk they produce. And small-scale farms – of which there are about 33 million in Africa, contributing up to 70% of the continent’s food supply – usually cannot afford more nutritious feed.

Brachiaria – the genus name of Urochloa – consists of about 100 documented species of grass of which seven species used as fodder plants are of African origin. This grass may hold the key to improving milk yields from cows kept by small-scale farmers. Why is this an important goal?

First, it will help to meet rising demand for animal-sourced foods – like cow milk – as the continent becomes more urbanised and its population grows.…