Scientists say curry compound kills cancer cells

Wed Oct 28

LONDON (Reuters) – A molecule found in a curry ingredient can kill esophageal cancer cells in the laboratory, suggesting it might be developed as an anti-cancer treatment, scientists said on Wednesday.

Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Center in Ireland treated esophageal cancer cells with curcumin -- a chemical found in the spice turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive yellow color -- and found it started to kill cancer cells within 24 hours.

Read the whole article

Beef-Dairy Fat May Fool Brain's Appetite Signals

Article from Vital Choices Newsletter

Saturated fat abundant in butter, cheese, milk and beef is seen to block fullness signals sent from rats' brains via appetite hormones

by Craig Weatherby

While the basic physiology of rodents and humans is very similar, the two species can differ significantly when it comes to weight control.

So it's smart to take weight control experiments in rodents with a grain of salt, so to speak.

But the results of a recent rat study seem to dovetail with a very human experience... that is, bingeing on burgers and ice cream seems to beget more burger-and-ice cream bingeing.

The findings from Texas suggest that we may be able to blame our bodies' reaction to a particular saturated fat - palmitic acid, which abounds in beef and dairy - for sabotaging efforts to get back on track after enjoying its major food sources ... such as beef burgers and ice cream.

Scientists from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center suggest that the specific saturated fat called palmitic acid causes rats' cells to ignore any appetite-suppressing signals received via the key weight-regulation hormones called leptin and insulin (Benoit SC et al. 2009).

read more

Tesco criticised by vegetarians for using waste meat to generate electricity

Article from Telegraph.co.uk

The Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (Viva) claims that consumers should be informed if any of their home electricity is being generated by what it described as the "macabre" recycling process.

Tesco now sends 5,000 tonnes of meat that has passed its sell-by date to be turned into enough National Grid electricity to power 600 homes for a year.

It has hailed the scheme as part of a "green" drive which has enabled it to stop sending any of the waste it produces to environmentally damaging landfill sites.

But Viva said many vegetarians would be "horrified" that their houses were being powered partly by out-of-date meat.

They said any environmental benefits of recycling the meat were far outweighed by the greenhouse gases produced by rearing more meat than was needed in the first place.

Read more

Lose a Pound a Week With a Vegan Diet

No calorie-counting or exercise necessary.

Article from planet green

You may be thinking about going vegan/vegetarian because you believe animals should be treated ethically or because you want to reduce pollution. Quitting the meat habit can cut your carbon footprint by more than 5,000 pounds a year. Pounds of carbon won't be the only thing that you'll be shedding.

According to a recent study, you can shed about one pound a week without diet or exercise simply by sticking to a low-fat vegan diet. Only 0%-6% of vegetarians are obese.

Dr. Berkow: Lead Author of the Study
Our research reveals that people can enjoy unlimited portions of high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to achieve or maintain a healthy body weight without feeling hungry. There is evidence that a vegan diet causes an increased calorie burn after meals, meaning plant-based foods are being used more efficiently as fuel for the body, as opposed to being stored as fat.

A different study, which focused on obese middle-aged women, found that the women on a low-fat vegan diet were able to lose, on average, 13 pounds in 14 weeks. While the women in the control group who were on a low-cholesterol diet only lost 8 pounds in 14 weeks.

read more

Try a Weekday Vegetarian Diet: Eat Green Food without Taking the Plunge

Article from Treehugger

To most people, meat tastes great. To ask them to go cold turkey (har, har) is a huge ask. The vegetarian movement has focused on pushing a binary decision. A "Either you're with us, or you're against us" approach. A result of this is that meat-eaters either immediately reject the concept or promise themselves that they'll go vegetarian later. And that "later" rarely comes.

Meat Ain't What it Used to Be
Over the last fifty-odd years, the meat on our plate has gone from being the garnish to being the main feature. In short, It has switched places with the vegetables. Over the same period, the manner in which we "grow" meat has gotten more and more unsustainable (via factory farming, antibiotic use, more food miles, and overall inefficient use of resources). The result is that the volume of meat and the negative ramifications of it reinforce each other and therefore meat has become a huge issue for us.

A Proposal: A Weekday Vegetarian Diet
Paul McCartney's recent proclamation that we should all practice "Meat-Free Mondays" is a fine idea, and a fun meme, but it's impact really pales in comparison; weekday vegetarianism has five times the impact, and that can be a big boost to your footprint-cutting endeavors. If you're serious about reducing your footprint, once a week won't get the job done.
Instead, follow this one simple rule: Save your meat-eating for the weekend.
It's easy to follow.It's non-binary.It's significant (reduces impact by 70%).It's not too restrictive.It'll save you money.It's good for your health.You can start today.

"But, I need meat to be healthy!"
a) Check out these vegetarian athletes and then re-think that.
b) You can still eat some meat on the weekends.
c) There is a ton of data to suggest that most meat is actually not good for your health.

"But, I love the taste of meat!"
a) It takes a bit more work as our culinary culture has been built around meat but tasty vegetarian food does exist -- here are seven tasty recipes to get you started. Still skeptical? Check out these tasty meat alternatives.
b) You still get to look forward to the weekends.
c) By cutting it during the week, you do gain in health, helping the environment out and fattening your wallet.

Considering all this, it can really be a no brainer; here are some links to help get you started.

More on the delights of a vegetarian diet:
Vegetarian Diet Could Cut Climate Change Mitigation Costs by 70%, If Enough Of Us Make the Switch
7 Cheap and Easy Vegetarian Meals
Proven: Vegetarians Live Longer
Reduce the Meat in Your Diet: Become a Weekday Vegetarian
Vegetable Recipes on Planet Green

Vegetarian Diets Can Help Prevent Chronic Diseases, American Dietetic Association Says

Vegetarian meal of chickpea or garbanzo beans salad. Appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases, according to the ADA. (Credit: iStockphoto/Elena Elisseeva)

ScienceDaily (July 3, 2009) - The American Dietetic Association has released an updated position paper on vegetarian diets that concludes such diets, if well-planned, are healthful and nutritious for adults, infants, children and adolescents and can help prevent and treat chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

ADA's position, published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, represents the Association's official stance on vegetarian diets:

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life-cycle including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood and adolescence and for athletes."

ADA's position and accompanying paper were written by Winston Craig, PhD, MPH, RD, professor and chair of the department of nutrition and wellness at Andrews University; and Reed Mangels, PhD, RD, nutrition advisor at the Vegetarian Resource Group, Baltimore, Md.

The revised position paper incorporates new topics and additional information on key nutrients for vegetarians, vegetarian diets in the life cycle and the use of vegetarian diets in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. "Vegetarian diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle," according to ADA's position. "There are many reasons for the rising interest in vegetarian diets. The number of vegetarians in the United States is expected to increase over the next decade."

Vegetarian diets are often associated with health advantages including lower blood cholesterol levels, lower risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure levels and lower risk of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, according to ADA's position. "Vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates. Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and have higher levels of dietary fiber, magnesium and potassium, vitamins C and E, folate, carotenoids, flavonoids and other phytochemicals. These nutritional differences may explain some of the health advantages of those following a varied, balanced vegetarian diet."

The position paper draws on results from ADA's evidence analysis process and information from the ADA Evidence Analysis Library to show vegetarian diets can be nutritionally adequate in pregnancy and result in positive maternal and infant health outcomes. Additionally, an evidence-based review showed a vegetarian diet is associated with a lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease.

read more

Prevent Bone Loss: Eat Fruits!

By Eccentric Vegan on June 27th, 2009

A new study points to potassium in fruits as a bone-saver, not calcium in dairy or supplements:
"a group of 176 post-menopausal women was randomized to one of four diets based on a different protein source: animal, dairy, soy, or vegetarian. All diets were equal in calories as well as in total amounts of protein, calcium, and salt. Dietitians bought the food, weighed and measured it, and prepared it. Study participants picked up their meals every day for eight weeks."

"We used actual food that real people could buy in the store to see what kind of impact we could have", Sellmeyer [the first director of the new metabolic bone center at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center] says.

"Although she is still analyzing the data, her initial findings show that diets based on meat and other animal and dairy-based proteins cause more calcium loss because they increase the amount of acid in the body. On the other hand, low-acid vegetable and soy-based diets reduce the excretion of calcium."

Farmed fish may pose risk for mad cow disease

June 16th, 2009

University of Louisville neurologist Robert P. Friedland, M.D., questions the safety of eating farmed fish in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, adding a new worry to concerns about the nation's food supply.

Friedland and his co-authors suggest farmed fish could transmit Creutzfeldt Jakob disease--commonly known as mad cow disease--if they are fed byproducts rendered from cows. The scientists urge government regulators to ban feeding cow meat or bone meal to fish until the safety of this common practice can be confirmed.

"We have not proven that it's possible for fish to transmit the disease to humans. Still, we believe that out of reasonable caution for public health, the practice of feeding rendered cows to fish should be prohibited," Friedland said. "Fish do very well in the seas without eating cows," he added.

Creutzfeldt Jakob disease is an untreatable, universally-fatal disease that can be contracted by eating parts of an animal infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease). An outbreak in England attributed to infected beef prompted most countries to outlaw feeding rendered cow material to other cattle because the disease is so easily spread within the same species.

The risk of transmission of BSE to humans who eat farmed fish would appear to be low because of perceived barriers between species. But, according to the authors, it is possible for a disease to be spread by eating a carrier that is not infected itself. It's also possible that eating diseased cow parts could cause fish to experience a pathological change that allows the infection to be passed between the two species.

"The fact that no cases of Creutzfeldt Jakob disease have been linked to eating farmed fish does not assure that feeding rendered cow parts to fish is safe. The incubation period of these diseases may last for decades, which makes the association between feeding practices and infection difficult. Enhanced safeguards need to be put in place to protect the public," Friedland said.

There have been 163 deaths from Creutzfeldt Jakob disease in the United Kingdom attributed to eating infected beef. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been identified in nine Canadian and three U.S. cattle.

Source: IOS Press (news : web)

Broccoli slashes cancer risk, WA research reveals

10th June 2009

WA researchers have made a major breakthrough into preventing a common cancer, finding that leafy green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli can slash the risk of bowel cancer in many people.

Scientists from the University of WA and the WA Institute of Medical Research found that a common version of the gene MTHFR - already linked to an increased risk of migraines and stroke - was carried by about half the population and increased their risk of cancer.

But lead researcher Professor Barry Iacopetta, from UWA's school of surgery, said the gene variation increased the risk of cancer only in the right side of the large bowel, suggesting that tumours that developed in different parts of the bowel had different risk factors.

This led them to look at different factors, including folate, which might reduce those risks, and their findings have been reported in the International Journal of Cancer.

Fellow researcher Lyn Fritschi from WAIMR said the study found that the risk of cancer in the right side of the bowel jumped to 70 per cent if a person did not eat enough folate - a vitamin found in a range of foods, particularly green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and brussel sprouts.

"But in a fascinating discovery we've also found that by boosting their folate intake, people with the high-risk version of the MTHFR gene might be able to lower that 70 per cent risk down to an average risk," Professor Fritschi said."

"Folate is found in many everyday foods, including spinach, brussel sprouts, lentils and peanuts, and eating the right daily amount is as simple as eating an orange, a cup of cooked broccoli and a cup of baked beans. "

"And because alcohol tends to block the absorption of folate, it is also recommended that people drink it in moderation if they want to boost their levels of the vitamin."

The researchers said it was not necessary for people to find out if they had the gene version that increased the risk of bowel cancer but instead everyone should boost their folate intake, preferably through their diet rather than by supplements.

read more

Junk food, red meat, lollies linked to mental illness in teens

A WA study has found a link between Western-style diets and increased mental health problems in teenagers.

The study, completed at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, was led by Dr Wendy Oddy who said the results were based on the detailed analysis of diet records and behaviour checklists collected from more than 1600 West Australian 14-year-olds in the Raine Cohort Study.

The Raine Study started 20 years ago when 2,900 pregnant women were recruited into a research study at King Edward Memorial Hospital to examine ultrasound imaging.

The mothers to be were assessed at 18 weeks of pregnancy, then again at 24, 28, 34 and 38 weeks of pregnancy. During this time information was collected on the mother and the father, relating to diet, exercise, work and health.

Further information was collected during the child's teenage years.

"Our analysis found that higher levels of behaviour and emotional problems were associated with a more Western-style way of eating, namely a diet high in takeaway foods, red meat, confectionary, soft drinks, white bread and unrefined cereals," Dr Oddy said.

"We also showed that these problems were less among teens with a healthier style of eating, specifically those who ate more fruit and vegetables.

“This suggests that if we want to reduce the high rates of mental health problems among young people, then improving their overall diet could be a good place to start."

Dr Oddy said the study found there has been an increase in depression, anxiety and aggressive disorders among children.

She said previous studies had shown one in five children were expected to develop some form of mental health problem by the time they reached adulthood, and that 50 per cent of all adult mental health problems developed during adolescence.

"We know that since 1985, children and teenagers have been increasing their energy intake by consuming more soft drinks and processed foods," Dr Oddy said.

"The number of overweight adolescents has doubled and obesity has tripled in that age group."

read more

Are We So Addicted to Meat That We Can't See Where the Swine Flu Came From?

By Kathy Freston

A virus like swine flu is a completely predictable outcome of our cruel and appallingly filthy factory farming systems.

Are we killing ourselves?

There has been a lot of talk in recent days about how factory farmed animals are the cause of the deadly hybrid virus that is eerily mutating, and some are calling it cosmic retribution, a sort of "chickens coming home to roost" scenario. I don't know about that, but an animal virus like swine flu is a completely predictable (and was a widely predicted) response to our modern horribly cruel and appallingly filthy factory farming systems.

Undoubtedly, some animal welfare people are hoping that swine flu will serve as a wake-up call for humanity, that the "groupthink" in support of intensive farming might move toward thoughtfulness about the health hazards and cruelty of intensively confining animals, and that governments will pass laws to make these "confined animal feeding operations" (CAFOs, the industry term for "factory farm") smaller, cleaner, less cruel, and less dependent on drugs--which are used to keep the animals alive through the filthy and stressful conditions that would otherwise kill them in much greater numbers.

I must admit that this does feel like a wake-up call: Are we really so addicted to eating meat (even as we demand that meat be inexpensive, meat processors want to make more money, which means faster, meaner ways of raising and slaughtering animals for food) that we're willing to risk the millions who could die from such mutating viruses? Has our desire for gustatory pleasure at any cost pushed us into terrible consequences as we creep toward an ugly future? The "big one" may not be this particular version of the flu, but scientists say we have not seen the last of H1N1; not by a long shot.

When the swine flu hit, I was already wondering and talking with friends about whether the economic crisis might inspire a paradigm shift in how we live our lives, especially after reading a remarkable column by generally sober and hyper-realistic Thomas Friedman in the New York Times. Writes Friedman, "What if the crisis of 2008 represents something much more fundamental than a deep recession? What if it's telling us that the whole growth model we created over the last 50 years is simply unsustainable economically and ecologically...?"
Friedman concludes that "Often in the middle of something momentous, we can't see its significance. But for me there is no doubt: 2008 will be the marker--the year when 'The Great Disruption' began."

Of course, the economic meltdown is already forcing us to rethink our priorities and what we value, so there is a process of letting go of a lot of things we considered important. People have cut back on buying non-essential items; we're eating out less, using the library more, and generally becoming more reasonable in our consumption and more civic-minded in our overall way of being--the economic crunch is, as Friedman predicted, causing a reevaluation of our priorities.

But will the changes be as massive as Friedman predicts? President Obama certainly hopes so. I recently saw a quote by the president: "History reminds us that, at every moment of economic upheaval and transformation, this nation has responded with bold action and big ideas." Yes, we have; and we can again, of course.

In the past, America has faced and overcome enormous difficulties again and again, from the Revolutionary War to World War II to the obstacles of racism and sexism. These challenges, and our ability as a people to address them--with both individual and societal change--should inspire us to optimism in the face of current challenges.

What can we do, as individuals, to create a sea change, to halt the mutation of deadly viruses, to say no to out-of-control business practices, to stop creating environmental havoc, and to bring our health up to a better level? All of this can be covered, incredibly, by thinking very seriously about the foods we choose to eat, and then changing our habits if we find that our choices are generating problems. And as we change as individuals, society and governments will change with us.

Here's a home run solution that I can't help coming back to: eat less (and eventually no) animal protein. A diet high in animal protein bloats us physically by clogging our bodies with saturated fat, growth hormones, and antibiotics; it has been proven conclusively to cause cancer, heart disease, and obesity.

And the meat industry poisons and depletes our clean air, potable water, and fertile topsoil almost more than any other sector of business. As just one example, the meat industry is responsible for about 18 percent of all global warming--that's almost half again as much as all cars, planes, and trucks combined. And now it's become all too clear that factory farms are breeding grounds for viruses to mutate and become deadly.

Basically, our current food choices (the average American eats about 200 pounds of meat annually) are killing us on a host of different levels. Perhaps now more than ever, it's time to clear out old, tired, uninformed ways of eating and opt instead for food that nourishes us, is easy on the planet, and gives the animals some breathing room.

Oh, and especially useful in these exceedingly difficult economic times: Eating a plant-based diet is cheap relative to eating meat. Compare the price of grains and beans with that of chicken and cheese. And growing grains and vegetables is by no means the filthy business that animal agriculture has become.

I realize it's not painless to give up what we are used to, what we like the taste and tradition of, in favor of a diet that we know is better for us and the planet. But if we lean into the shift of eating consciously by giving up one animal at a time (give up chickens first, as I discuss here), or eating only vegetarian for two out of three meals, we will find our way and get used to new tastes. We will grow to love different foods that are kinder to our bodies, the environment, and the animals.

read more


*Kathy Freston is a health and wellness expert and a New York Times best-selling author. Her latest book is The Quantum Wellness Cleanse: A 21 Day Essential Guide to Healing Your Body, Mind and Spirit. Freston promotes a body/mind/spirit approach to health and happiness that includes a concentration on healthy diet, emotional introspection, spiritual practice, and loving relationships. Kathy's recent television appearances include The Oprah Winfrey Show, Ellen, The View and Good Morning America. www.kathyfreston.com

Swine Flu: Factory Farming at the Root of the Cause?

U.S. Declares Public Health Emergency Over Swine Flu

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Published: April 26, 2009

Responding to what some health officials feared could be the leading edge of a global pandemic emerging from Mexico, American health officials declared a public health emergency on Sunday as 20 cases of swine flu were confirmed in this country, including eight in New York City.

Other nations imposed travel bans or made plans to quarantine air travelers as confirmed cases also appeared in Mexico and Canada and suspect cases emerged elsewhere.

Top global flu experts struggled to predict how dangerous the new A (H1N1) swine flu strain would be as it became clear that they had too little information about Mexico's outbreak - in particular how many cases had occurred in what is thought to be a month before the outbreak was detected, and whether the virus was mutating to be more lethal, or less.

"We're in a period in which the picture is evolving," said Dr. Keiji Fukuda, deputy director general of the World Health Organization. "We need to know the extent to which it causes mild and serious infections."

Without that knowledge - which is unlikely to emerge soon because only two laboratories, in Atlanta and Winnipeg, Canada, can confirm a case - his agency's panel of experts was unwilling to raise the global pandemic alert level, even though it officially saw the outbreak as a public health emergency and opened its emergency response center.

As a news conference in Washington, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano called the emergency declaration "standard operating procedure," and said she would rather call it a "declaration of emergency preparedness."

"It's like declaring one for a hurricane," she said. "It means we can release funds and take other measures. The hurricane may not actually hit."

American investigators said they expected more cases here, but noted that virtually all so far had been mild and urged Americans not to panic.

The speed and the scope of the world's response showed the value of preparations made because of the avian flu and SARS scares, public health experts said.

The emergency declaration in the United States lets the government free more money for antiviral drugs and give some previously unapproved tests and drugs to children. One-quarter of the national stockpile of 50 million courses of antiflu drugs will be released.

Border patrols and airport security officers are to begin asking travelers if they have had the flu or a fever; those who appear ill will be stopped, taken aside and given masks while they arrange for medical care.

"This is moving fast and we expect to see more cases," Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at the news conference with Ms. Napolitano. "But we view this as a marathon."

He advised Americans to wash their hands frequently, to cover coughs and sneezes and to stay home if they felt ill; but he stopped short of advice now given in Mexico to wear masks and not kiss or touch anyone. He praised decisions to close individual schools in New York and Texas but did not call for more widespread closings.

Besides the eight New York cases, officials said they had confirmed seven in California, two in Kansas, two in Texas and one in Ohio. The virus looked identical to the one in Mexico believed to have killed 103 people - including 22 people whose deaths were confirmed to be from swine flu - and sickened about 1,600. As of Sunday night, there were no swine flu deaths in the United States, and one hospitalization.

Other governments tried to contain the infection amid reports of potential new cases including in New Zealand and Spain.

Dr. Fukuda of the W.H.O. said his agency would decide Tuesday whether to raise the pandemic alert level to 4. Such a move would prompt more travel bans, and the agency has been reluctant historically to take actions that hurt member nations.

Canada confirmed six cases, at opposite ends of the country: four in Nova Scotia and two in British Columbia. Canadian health officials said the victims had only mild symptoms and had either recently traveled to Mexico or been in contact with someone who had.

Other governments issued advisories urging citizens not to visit Mexico. China, Japan, Hong Kong and others set up quarantines for anyone possibly infected. Russia and other countries banned pork imports from Mexico, though people cannot get the flu from eating pork.

read more

Go Meatless On Monday: Even Just One Day a Week Makes a Difference

Article from Treehugger
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 04.24.09

Diet is really one of the most commonly overlooked things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. That's a message I never tire of getting out there; and while I'd recommend a completely vegetarian diet (for the planet, your health and for the cultivation of compassion), even just one day a week really can make a difference. That's the message Meatless Monday is sending:

If we all just commit to one day a week without eating meat, the effect will be great over the course of the year:

*Our greenhouse gas emission reductions equal US switching from a car with average fuel efficiency (that's about 22 mpg for the entire fleet) to a high efficiency car such as the Toyota Prius (50 mpg).
*We will save about 1 ton of water, enough to fill up the bathtub 22 times per week.
*If everyone in the US did this, we'd collectively save about 12 billion gallons of gasoline.

Climate Change Mitigation Costs Slashed by Vegetarian Diet
Though the exact figures vary depending on which study you look at, according to a recent study done in the Netherlands, if the majority of the population adopted a completely vegetarian diet the costs of climate change mitigation could drop by 70%. And even if people just cut back their meat consumption to more reasonable levels—particularly in the US where meat consumption is well out of line with the recommendations of doctors and nutritionists—the costs of climate change mitigation can drop by 50%.

More: Meatless Monday

Vegetarianism
Vegetarian Diet Could Cut Climate Change Mitigation Costs by 70%, If Enough Of Us Make the Switch
Study Finds Meat and Dairy Create More Emissions Than Miles
Reduce the Meat in Your Diet: Become a Weekday Vegetarian

Autotrophs: new kind of humans appears who neither drink nor eat

It is not ruled out that they will replace us at a new evolution stage

People all around the world were storming supermarkets and grocery stores on Christmas and New Year's Eve. There was a small group of people, though, who did not even think about eating anything for Christmas. In fact, they do not think about food at all. Such people call themselves autothrophs - they do not eat at all. The term designates an organism that makes its own food. Autotrophs can go on hunger strikes for years and even decades.

Irina Novozhilova, the president of the center for protection of animals' rights, expressed her opinion about phenomenal individuals, who can live without food and water.

"The idea to turn down food as it is appeared long ago. Russian philosophers, particularly Vernadsky, were thinking about a possibility for a human being to live on something non-material. Vernadsky was certain that man is an energetic creature that can nourish himself from the energy of space. Some people can prove it today that it is possible to live a normal life without physical food.

"All living beings on our planet can be divided into two categories - autotrophs and heterotrophs. The majority of plants constitute the first category - they receive energy from non-organic substances - sunshine or air - and process it during the photosynthesis. Humans and animals make the second category: they nourish themselves with other living beings. Therefore, the people, who can live on the solar and space power, are closer to plants than to other humans. There is a group of autotrophs in Moscow. They gather in the Konstantin Vasiliev Museum, where they share experience with others. If a woman breastfeeds her child until it turns seven years old, for example, a child will be able to become an autotroph already by eight - simply and painlessly. A mother neither drinks nor eats, but she has enough milk to feed the baby. There are such women in Moscow. I often interact with people, who reject food completely. At first they become vegans - they exclude all products of animalistic origin from their menu in other words. After that they gradually turn down the vegetal food too. When people stop eating physical food, they also stop consuming any kind of liquid. They drink nothing.

"I would not say that scanty nourishment exerts a negative influence on their state of health. They are rather vigorous and cheerful people. However, I would like to warn everyone that it is impossible to quit drinking water and eating food in a moment. It should be done slowly, step by step, with short-term temporary starvation. A lethal outcome would be inevitable otherwise. A person will be killed either with starvation or their own wastes. The 70-year-old Indian yogi Pralad Djani is one of the most renowned contemporary autotrophs. This man has not been eating or drinking anything for 62 years, since the age of six. Indian doctors examined and tested him: they placed the man in a special room, outfitted the room with surveillance cameras and sealed the bathroom. As it turned out, Pralad Djani´s body was functioning absolutely normally. The body was producing urine, although it was being absorbed into the urinary bladder. The yogi said that he was receiving water from air. He also said that there was a tiny hole in the palate, from which drops of "heavenly" water penetrated into his mouth.

"Russian most famous autotroph´s name is Zinaida Baranova. The old lady from the city of Krasnodar is 67 years old. She was approaching her new existence very slowly. At first she gave up meat, then she turned vegetables down. She has been living without food and water for 4.5 years already. Scientists of the Bauman Institute examined her organism and were very surprised to find out that the woman´s biological age corresponded to 20 years. Professor Spiridonov came to conclusion that the pensioner was a perfectly healthy lady; all her systems and organs, except for the stomach, were functioning normally. Indeed, she is a very energetic and bubbly person. She got rid of all diseases, even chronic ones. She said, however, that it was rather hard for her to get used to the new lifestyle. She was suffering from cramps, exhaustion, dry mouth, etc. There were moments, when she thought she was dying. The woman´s health improved in 1.5 months.

"Doctors say that autotrophs make a fundamentally new type of self-sufficient human beings. It is not ruled out that they will replace us at a new evolution stage. Modern science has already confirmed the ability of a human being to maintain itself. Dietitians were recently saying that the B12 vitamin was naturally contained only in animal foods. Vegans, therefore, were supposed to die, since they could not receive the vitamin. However, doctors found out that the concentration of the B12 vitamin was fine with vegans. The situation became clear, when scientists discovered the synthesis process in the intestines. It became known that human beings could live on their own microflora. Medics have already discovered that the human intestines produce microorganisms that can synthesize amino acids.

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message69771/pg1

Mushrooms, green tea cuts breast cancer risk

Mushrooms and green tea could be the simplest way for women to reduce their risk of breast cancer.

An Australian study has sought to determine the protective qualities of the traditional diet in China, where the incidence of the cancer is up to five times lower than in western countries.

Dr Min Zhang, of the University of Western Australia, looked at differences across the diets of more than 2000 Chinese women, half of whom had the cancer.

He found mushrooms were the key and eating as little as 10 grams, or less than one button mushroom, daily could protect against breast cancer.

Women who consumed the most fresh mushrooms were around two-thirds less likely to develop breast cancer, in comparison to those who did not consume mushrooms.

There was also reduced incidence of the cancer among women who drank green tea, according to the research published in the International Journal of Cancer.

Commenting on the research, WA-based dietician and healthy eating specialist Glenn Cardwell said it supported earlier studies which showed how natural compounds in mushrooms could inhibit breast cancer growth.

"While the researchers have stressed that this study does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, the study has shown that it is biologically plausible for mushrooms and green tea to play a significant dietary role in reducing the risk of breast cancer," Mr Cardwell said.

(read more)