Lines from "Life Divine"

Life Divine is the magnum opus of Sri Aurobindo - A book most people view as of high values and not intended for the common man. In reality, it is a book which if read with care provides secrets to leading a life of happiness, divinity and fulfillment.

Reading it directly is not the easiest one. It requires a prepartion of the mind and body and since it is of higher dimension, not many make headway. But reading the commentaries on the Life Divine by Garry Jacobs makes it a lot more easier. I have read it again and again and gained a lot of direction from it.

Direction from a book - yes this is not an ordinary book - it has only wonderful thoughts for mankind. After reading, the best thing i thought would be to post it in my blog - a few of those outstanding thoughts...

"Life does not judge us by our actions. It responds to our consciouness. Life judges us by our impluses and our capacities."

"In life we should understand that opposition comes to us because we need it."

"One of the greatest mysteries of life is that out of evil or unpleasant things good can come."

"We can convert oppositions and disharmonies into harmonies."

"Regard every enemy as a friend. Regard every challenge as an opportunity. Regard every impossibility as a possibility that you should rise to make real. If you do that, you come upon the ultimate secret of life, the secret that spirit can move matter. If you do what you should do and can do, you can make money, accomplishment, social recognition and even matter comes under your control. "

" We have the freedom to make things happen as we want them to happen , because we are the power of that absolute."

Healthy Gain from Herbal Juices

Simple Herbs have a great use and can fetch amazing results. We have them in our own backyard and kitchen but seldom see its value. Being a health focus blog, i have collected a few of these juice making and their benefits. Many more will follow.....

Healthy Living - A Happy Living


Health / Powder Drink

In 300g of Amla powder (an ayurvedic preparation - made out of a fruit called Amla) add 100 grams of dried ginger powder, Mix them. Take one teaspoon of this powder with water twice daily or add it to green juice.

Otherwise, to four glasses of water add two teaspoons each of Amla and ginger powder ( use fresh Amla and ginger if available) and boil it and reduce it to three glasses. Filter the water and drink it during the day. If desired, honey can be added to it.

Amla is a concentrated form of Vitamin C. It has 16 times more vitamin than lemon. Such a drink will give protection to the body against cold and other diseases and increase digestive powers.

People in the West take apple cider which is also beneficial. The health drink is beneficial to all, especially to the convalescent people, old people, expectant mothers and growing children.

Green Vegetable Juice

25 gm mixture of the fresh juice of the following green leaves and vegetables is also beneficial.

Leaves of tandaljo or spinach, leaves of methi (fenugreek), Cucumber, leaves of phudina (mint), tulsi (holy basil), lettuce, coriander and cabbage leaves. All types of non poisonous leaves can be used. Even carrots and radish can be added.

How to prepare green juice.

First, wash all these leaves, vegetables etc. first with salted water, then with clean water. Then crush them or bend them. Collect the past in a piece of clean cloth and squeeze and filter it. And green juice is ready.

Face mask

The remaining can be mixed with little cream, turmeric powder and applied on face as a face mask. Keep it for 10/15 minutes. If possible, take blue light on the face for 5 to 7 minutes. Was it with fresh water. In 10/15 days the face will glow. Even white spots and pimples will vanish.

BEST YOGA SITES

Dear friends,
We hear about it, see it and know smotheing on it - Yes it is YOGA I'm talking about. It is the "In-Thing" in today's world. An art which is as old as mankind and has taken various forms and shapes across the globe and is now seen as a essential part of life.

The net provides a lot of details on Yoga forms, schools and a host of related topics. To make it easier, I'm listing out some of the top sites with thier proposals. Happy Life - Take to Yoga

Top Yoga Sites

www.theholisticcare.com

A site, which invites one to be a part of Yoga Movement. Created not just to talk about the practice of yoga but to discuss the whole movement toward starting, understanding, and progressing along the inner journey. They claim “we don’t own a yoga center or produce a line of yoga products. we simply went to a yoga class one day and became hooked.”

www.yogasite.com

This useful site is packed with information: articles about yoga and health; directories of teachers, organizations, and training; yoga products, books, and videos for shoppers; and step-by-step yoga postures and meditations. The beginner will get a heady taste of yoga here dished up in a concise and easy-to-understand style. There is a delightful down-to-earth air about this site

www.meditationsociety.com
This is the official site of the Meditation Society of America, headquartered in Philadelphia. The philosophy of this site is that no one meditation technique is right for everyone, so it is dedicated to sharing meditation techniques and concepts from all traditions. Eventually, you will find detailed, step-by-step explanations of 108 meditation techniques listed here. Not all are online yet, but there are a sufficient number to get you started. Check out “This Week’s Meditation” and the beginner's section, where you will find an illustrated article on “What Is Meditation?” You can download a free issue of the society’s newsletter, add to your inventory of meditation techniques, or ponder a few “Words of Wisdom” at this way station on your inner journey.

www.yogajillian.com
Jillian Pransky is a teacher at New York's Yoga Zone as well as founder of several yoga programs including Yoga at Work. She is also a guest instructor for Self-magazine. This well-designed site is crafted in warm welcoming colors and is easy to navigate. You'll find information about Jillian's classes and retreats as well as articles on meditation and asanas. Be sure to check out her Yogalicious newsletter (current issue and archives). The September 2001 issue, for example, offers ideas for healing, coping, and rebuilding after the September 11 tragedy.


www.sivananda.org
Sivananda is one of the world’s largest schools of yoga. Go to the “Teachings” section of this site. You’ll find good definitions of the four paths of yoga as well as information on the five principles of yoga: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and meditation. Twelve postures or asanas are detailed on the exercise page. Vegetarian recipes ranging from baked tofu to Sivananda oatmeal cookies are available.
www.santosha.com
This site has some of the best posture displays that we’ve seen on the Net. Postures are catalogued in a helpful index and offer step-by-step instructions, animated illustrations, difficulty level, and buttons to print out the posture or e-mail it to a friend. This inviting site also features essays on meditation and random sutras (wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual insights from both the East and West) for quote lovers.
www.yogajournal.com
Yoga Journal magazine has been spreading the word about yoga since 1975, and at its new site, you can tap into that massive amount of yoga information. We were particularly impressed with its poses section, where you can search for dozens of poses by name, the part of the anatomy you want to focus on, or specific health problems. It also contains in-depth information on yoga history and philosophy; the latest medical research on how yoga affects health and healing; interviews with well-known teachers and celebrity practitioners; a travel section, with details on where to study yoga in the United States and abroad; and a food section, complete with recipes, on how eating wisely can enhance your health as well as your yoga practice. The site is difficult to use, however. Tiny type on shaded backgrounds makes it difficult to read and links are tough to locate.

www.doyoga.com
The home page of this site is a bit scary — it opens with yoga teacher Doug Keller performing some Houdini contortionist pose. Do not be afraid. That is not your typical yoga stuff. In fact, Keller includes at his site detailed descriptions of poses (including refinements if you feel pain while performing them). He also offers articles on hatha yoga, meditation, and breathing. Keller is based in Washington, DC, but he also provides a directory to “find a teacher” in your location. There’s a page on inspirational quotes as well. Keller describes yoga “as a high expression of the very best in your heart.”

www.yogaworld.org
A World of Yoga is based on yoga and meditation teacher Graham Ledgerwood’s book, Keys to Higher Consciousness. You will find here discussions of various types of yoga meditation and techniques. The site has a Hallmark card/hippy happy feel with photos of flowers and sunsets illustrating the text. The small page text format is a pain to navigate, but the information might inspire you to give meditation a try.

www.yogameditationcenter.com
This easy-to-use site provides a good directory of asanas in its Teaching Notes section. It also offers information on Primordial Sound Meditation, a mantra meditation technique revived by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and David Simon, M.D.

www.yogananda-srf.org
This site is your direct route to the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, considered one of the greatest spiritual figures of the 20th century by authorities in various religions. Yogananda founded the society in 1920 to spread the principles of kriya yoga. Here you can find information about SRF and its retreats and centers around the world, a calendar of lecture tours and retreat programs, and news about SRF’s international work. Yogananda’s teachings, including his yoga methods, are available in books and home-study lessons. Two of our favorite spots on this site are “Insights and Inspirations” and “Worldwide Prayer Circle,” where you will find step-by-step meditation techniques for healing. Whenever you read anything by Yogananda, you will find he has the gift to make complex concepts quite understandable. We recommend Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi because it offers great insight into the world of meditation

How to create cooling effect in the body

Dear friends,
Body has to have a balance in temperature else it could have adverse effects. There are instances when we feel that the body is too hot and it would have better if we could do some cooling exercise.

Normally this is not know to many except for the yoga students who can up the body heat and also reduce it. I'm not taking about experts, my hints and tips are for the common "Man" who should leave a healthy life -


How to create cooling effect in the body

Open the moth, put out the tongue and inhale air through the mouth. Close the mouth and retain the air as much as possible. Then exhale through the nose. Repeat 15/25 times. You will immediately feel cool. This method is called Sheetli in Yoga and found to be useful in summer, sunstroke, fever or whenever cooling effect is necessary.

Regular practice of pranayam and breathing exercises will ensure proper oxygenation of all the parts of the body and cure many diseases. Proper oxygenation helps in purifying the blood and removal of toxins and carbon dioxide from the body. This, in turn, will reduce the unnecessary burden on kidney reducing the possibility of skin diseases and failure of kindey. Moreover, pure blood enables proper functioning of all the organs and thereby increases vigour and vitality.

Simple Cure for Kidney ailments

Treatment for curing kidney ailments

Before starting the treatment gather the first urine of the patient in the morning in a glass and one will observe that this urine is not clear but hazy and has bad smell. It denotes kidneys are not functioning properly.

Put one cup of water to boil. Put one teaspoon of any tea in it. Don not add sugar/milk. Boil one cup of water till it is reduced to half. Filter it and then add half cup of regular water. Sip it hot. Regular breakfast can be taken 15 to 20 minutes later.

Continue for 10-12 days. Examine and check the first urine after 10-12 days. If it is clear, then you could discontinue the treatment else continue for another 15 days by which time the kidneys should start functioning well.

Phoo Phoo High Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol and the blockage in the arteries of the heart:

Cholesterol is a vital factor for maintaining the body balance and aids in the effective detoxination function performed by the liver. To produce bile, the liver uses cholesterol. High cholesterol effects the performance of the heart and prevents liver from neutralizing the toxins.

High cholesterol people could follow these simple methods and benefit from it.

· Eat 2 pieces of black pepper and clove after each meal

· Eat 1 teaspoon mixture of 50% powder of dried coriander seeds plus 50% powder of dried cummin seeds (know in India as Dhania). This is an anti-oxidant and can be taken through out life.

· Eat a mixture of 50% powder of cinnamon plus 50% pure honey - twice a day for 45 to 60 days

· Sees the results in 15 to 30 days. This treatment is so useful that even if angioplasty or bypass is advised it will not be required.






Radiant Living

Simple remedies for Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common ailements in todays modern life. The reason is the changing lifestyle and lack of exercise. It has reached alarmaing stages and is now a bane to be fought off. How do we do it??

Nature has its own way of providing natural remedies for most of ailements. Let us talk about one such commonly available herb and work away the diabetes factor forever from our life.

Corrainder is one of the most important ingredients that go into cooking when it comes to Asian cullinary. The west uses them as decoratives or toppers and they have the same value.

Fresh corriander leaves finely grinded and a juice of them - say half a tumbler in the morning is one of the best ways to stave off diabetes.

It should be had first thing in the morning and the next following this should be only after 15 mintues. This can be done for a continous 45 days and then give a check on your sugar levels and you would be suprised on having touched normal level.

Curry leaves is another excellent natural resource used for fighting diabetes and other ailements . Eating say around 10 curry leave (raw) first thing in the morning has multiple effects.

Reduces sugar level if taken on a continous basis
Reduces weight
Prevents premature greying

Hey when i talk about premature greying its a problem for many. Curry leaves has the ingredient to prevent greying.

Curry leave oil - Method

A mixture of curry leves - say a pack (50-70 leaves) with 100 ml of cocunut oil to be grated till the leaves become brown in colour. Remove the leaves, filter and drain the oil and then use it for scalp - wonderful way to stay young and prevent premature greying.


Folks some more would be following soon.
Ashwin

Wonder Clove - Garlic - Natures Gift to Mankind

Hello friends,
Health has become a major source of worry for most of us. Increasing stress, lazy lifestyle and pollutants have made diseases like heart attack and a host of other related ailements a common feature in today's world. Still there are a lot of natural herbs that not only heal the body and provide great results in the most economical and easy way. We will be talking about such herbs - the best of them.

The first of the series is Garlic - called the stinking rose. Amazing powers this clove has and when consumed on a daily basis gives great results .

Although garlic may not always bring good luck, protect against evil or ward off vampires, it is guaranteed to transform any meal into a bold, aromatic and healthy culinary experience.
Fresh, dried and powdered garlic are available in markets throughout the year, however, fresh varieties from California are in season from July through December.

Health Benefits

A member of the lily or Allium family, which also includes onions, garlic is rich in a variety of powerful sulfur-containing compounds including thiosulfinates (of which the best known compound is allicin), sulfoxides (among which the best known compound is alliin), and dithiins (in which the most researched compound is ajoene). While these compounds are responsible for garlic's characteristically pungent odor, they are also the source of many of its health-promoting effects. In addition, garlic is an excellent source of manganese, a very good source of vitamin B6 and vitamin C and a good source of selenium.

Cardiovascular Benefits

Numerous studies have demonstrated that regular consumption of garlic lowers blood pressure, and decreases platelet aggregation, serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol (the potentially dangerous form) levels while increasing serum HDL-cholesterol (the protective form) and fibrinolysis (the process through which the body breaks up blood clots), and stimulating the production of nitric oxide in the lining of blood vessel walls, which helps them to relax. As a result of these beneficial actions, garlic helps prevent atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, and reduces the risk of heart attack or stroke.

A study published in the November 2004 issue of Preventive Medicine shows that garlic also inhibits coronary artery calcification, a process that serves as a marker for plaque formation since the body lays down calcium in areas that have been damaged. In this year-long study, patients given aged garlic extract daily showed an average increase in their calcium score of 7.5%, while those in the placebo group had an average increase in calcium score of 22.2%.
One reason for garlic's beneficial effects may be its ability to lessen the amount of free radicals present in the bloodstream. According to a study published in the September 2004 issue of Life Sciences, a daily dose of 1 ml/kg body weight of garlic extract for six months resulted in a significant reduction in oxidant (free radical) stress in the blood of patients with atherosclerosis.
Since atherosclerotic plaques develop when cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream is damaged or oxidized, garlic's ability to prevent these oxidation reactions may explain some of its beneficial effects in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. A German study published in November 2004 indicates that garlic also greatly reduces plaque deposition and size by preventing the formation of the initial complex that develops into an atherosclerotic plaque. Called "nanoplaque," it is formed when calcium binds to proteoheparan sulfate and then to LDL cholesterol. Garlic prevents the binding of calcium to proteoheparan sulfate, thus decisively inhibiting plaque generation.
Research presented at the 6th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology held by the American Heart Association April 29, 2005 in Washington, D.C., suggests that garlic can help prevent and potentially reverse atherosclerotic plaque formation. The laboratory studies, conducted by well-known German scientist Professor Güaut;nter Siegel, M.D., from the University of Medicine in Berlin, Germany, found that powdered garlic (Kwai ® garlic) reduced the formation of nanoplaque (the first building blocks of atherosclerotic plaque) by up to 40% and reduced the size of the nanoplaque that did form by up to 20%.
Dr. Siegel s research shows that garlic acts in a manner similar to HDL ("good") cholesterol, which prevents the build-up of nanoplaques by hindering the docking of LDL ("bad" cholesterol) to its receptor sites in blood vessels or existing plaques.
Both garlic and HDL were able to reduce plaque formation and size within 30 minutes of incubation in these experiments. Existing plaques were dissolved by up to 25% within 15 minutes after the garlic was introduced, indicating a reversal of existing problems related to build-up of arterial plaque. In addition, calcification of the cholesterol docking sites in the arteries was reduced by up to 50% in the presence of the garlic extracts. (Calcium, although a vital mineral for bone formation and other essential physiological processes, is also one of the key factors involved in the formation of plaque.)
New Research More Fully Explains Garlic's Cardiovascular Benefits
Laboratory research by US and Swedish scientists published in the August 2005 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals the mechanism behind garlic's cardiovascular benefits.
The compounds in garlic responsible for its pungency also excite a neuron pathway providing cardiovascular benefits.
Garlic's pungency—and that of the other members of the Alliumgenus of plants, such as onions, leeks and chives—results from its organosulphur compounds, allicin and diallyl disulphide (DADS).
Allicin and DADS are structurally similar to allyl isothiocyanate, a compound found in plants such as mustard, which induces pain and inflammation by activating an excitatory ion channel on neurons in the pain pathway called TRPA1. Exciting these TRPA1 pathway neurons also activates capsaicin-sensitive perivascular sensory nerve endings, which induces vasodilation, the relaxation and enlargement of blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow throughout the body. In the current in vitro (laboratory) study, allicin and DADS were also found to activate the TRPA1 channel.
Garlic's numerous beneficial cardiovascular effects are due to not only its sulfur compounds, but its vitamin C, vitamin B6, selenium and manganese:
Garlic is a very good source of vitamin C, the body's primary antioxidant defender in all aqueous (water-solouble) areas, such as the bloodstream, where it protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation. Since it is the oxidized form of LDL cholesterol that initiates damage to blood vessel walls, reducing levels of oxidizing free radicals in the bloodstream can have a profound effect on preventing cardiovascular disease.
Garlic's vitamin B6 helps prevent heart disease via another mechanism: lowering levels of homocysteine. An intermediate product of an important cellular biochemical process called the methylation cycle, homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls.
The selenium in garlic not only helps prevent heart disease, but also provides protection against cancer and heavy metal toxicity. A cofactor of glutathione peroxidase (one of the body's most important internally produced antioxidants), selenium also works with vitmain E in a number of vital antioxidant systems. Since vitamin E is one of the body's top defenders in all fat-soluble areas, while vitamin C protects the water-soluble areas, garlic, which contains both nutrients, does a good job of covering all the bases.
Garlic is rich not only in selenium, but also in another trace mineral, manganese, which also functions as a cofactor in a number of other important antioxidant defense enzymes, for example, superoxide dismutase. Studies have found that in adults deficient in manganese, the level of HDL (the "good form" of cholesterol) is decreased.
Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Viral Activity
Garlic, like onions, contains compounds that inhibit lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, (the enzymes that generate inflammatory prostaglandins and thromboxanes), thus markedly reducing inflammation. These anti-inflammatory compounds along with the vitamin C in garlic, especially fresh garlic, make it useful for helping to protect against severe attacks in some cases of asthma and may also help reduce the pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, allicin, one of the sulfur-compounds responsible for garlic's characteristic odor, is a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that joins forces with vitamin C to help kill harmful microbes. Allicin has been shown to be effective not only against common infections like colds, flu, stomach viruses, and Candida yeast, but also against powerful pathogenic microbes including tuberculosis and botulism. Although garlic alone appears unable to prevent infection with Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for most peptic ulcers, frequently eating this richly flavored bulb may keep H. pylori from doing much damage. A study recently conducted at Faith University in Istanbul, Turkey, compared two groups containing 81 healthy individuals each. One group was selected from individuals who regularly ate lots of raw and/or cooked garlic, while the other group was composed of individuals who avoided it. For 19 months, blood samples were regularly collected from both groups and evaluated for the presence of H.pylori. While the incidence of H.pylori was pretty comparable—the bacterium was found in 79% of garlic eaters and 81% of those who avoided garlic—the garlic consuming group had a clear advantage in that antibodies to H.pylori were much lower in their blood compared to those who ate no garlic. (Antibodies are formed when the immune system reacts to anything it considers a potential pathogen, so less antibodies to H.pylori means less of the bacterium was present.) Among those who ate garlic, those who ate both raw and cooked garlic had even lower levels of antibodies than those who ate their garlic only raw or only cooked.Laboratory studies recently conducted at the University of Munich, Germany, help explain why garlic may be such a potent remedy against the common cold. In these studies, garlic was found to significantly reduce the activity a chemical mediator of inflammation called nuclear transcription factor (NF) kappa-B.
NF kappa-B is itself activated as part of the immune system's inflammatory response to invading organisms and damaged tissue. So, anything that sets off an inflammatory response -e.g. allergenic foods, a cold or other infection, physical trauma, excessive exercise, excessive consumption of foods containing high levels of omega 6 fatty acids (e.g., meat, corn or safflower oil) - can trigger a surge in NF kappa-B, which in turn not only promotes inflammation but sets up ideal conditions for viruses, including HIV, to replicate. In the blood samples tested in these just published German studies, unfertilized garlic caused a 25% drop in NF kappa-B activity, while sulfur-fertilized garlic lowered NF kappa-B activity by a very robust 41%!
Potent, Even Against Drug-Resistant Strains of Bacteria
Results of two recently published studies suggest that garlic is a potent antibiotic, even against strains that have become resistant to many drugs. One study conducted at the University of California Irvine Medical Center and published in the December 2003 issue of Nutrition showed that garlic juice, even when diluted up to 1:128 of the original juice, demonstrates significant antibacterial activity against a spectrum of pathogens including antibiotic-resistant strains such as methicillin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant staphylococci, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, and ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A second study found that garlic was able to inhibit methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) from human patients that was injected into mice.(MSRA is one of the antibiotic resistant bacteria whose incidence has risen dramatically in recent years in hospitals.) Sixteen hours after the mice were infected, garlic extract, diallyl sulphide or diallyl disulphide (two of the active compounds found in garlic), was given orally. Twenty-four hours after they were infected, the mice were sacrificed and examined. Both garlic extract and its compounds were found to have exerted a number of protective actions against MSRA that significantly decreased the infection while also providing antioxidant protection in the blood, liver, kidney and spleen.
Cancer Protection
The organosulfur compound found in garlic called ajoene may also be useful in the treatment of skin cancer. In a study published in the July 2003 Archives of Dermatological Research, researchers applied ajoene topically to the tumors of patients with either nodular or superficial basal cell carcinoma, and in 17 of the 21 patients, the tumors shrunk significantly. Lab tests of the tumors before and after the application of ajoene revealed a significant decrease in Bcl-2, an apoptosis-suppressing protein. (Apoptosis is the self-destruct sequence used by the body to eliminate cancerous cells.)
Other studies have shown that as few as two or more servings of garlic a week may help protect against colon cancer. Substances found in garlic, such as allicin, have been shown to not only protect colon cells from the toxic effects of cancer-causing chemicals, but also to stop the growth of cancer cells once they develop. While more research is needed to confirm, recent animal research has also suggested that garlic may confer protection against the development of stomach cancer through its potential abilty to decrease H.pylori-induced gastritits.
Cooking garlic with meat appears to reduce the production of carcinogenic chemicals that can occur in meat as a result of cooking methods, such as grilling, that expose meat to high temperatures. Research presented July 2005 at the American Association for Cancer Research's Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting in Baltimore, MD, suggests that the phytochemical responsible for garlic's pungency may help prevent cancer by inhibiting the effects of one such carcinogen called PhIP.
A cancer-causing heterocyclic amine, PhIP is thought to be one reason for the increased incidence of breast cancer among women who eat large quantities of meat because it is rapidly transformed into DNA-damaging compounds.
Diallyl sulphide (DAS), an organosulfur compound that gives garlic its unique flavor, has been shown to inhibit the transformation of PhIP into carcinogens. DAS blocks this transformation by decreasing the production of the liver enzymes (the Phase I enzymes CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1) that transform PhIP into activated DNA-damaging compounds.
In addition, DAS signals the genes responsible for producing two protective antioxidant enzymes, (glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which help protect the body against harmful compounds such as those produced from PhIP.
Ronald Thomas and a team of researchers at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee treated human breast epithelial cells with equal amounts of PhIP and DAS separately, and the two together, for periods ranging from three to 24 hours.
When PhIP was used alone, it caused the production of a cancer-causing enzyme at every time interval, up to 40-fold, while DAS completely inhibited PhIP from becoming carcinogenic.
Thomas and colleagues found that when DAS and PhIP were added to cell cultures, over the next 24 hours, DAS caused a time dependent increase of protective SOD of 3, 25, 29, and 39-fold, and similar results were seen with increased GST production. These findings suggest that making garlic, onion, chives and other allium vegetables, all of which contain DAS, a staple part of your healthy way of eating may help in preventing breast cancer induced by PhIP in well-done meats. And enjoying these DAS-rich foods may help protect the men you love as well: Consumption of allium vegetables has also been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.Good intakes of vitamin C and selenium, with which fresh garlic is well-endowed, are also associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer, making garlic a smart addition to any colon cancer prevention plan.

Diabetes Mellitus

Garlic may be able to help protect against a number of the most damaging degenerative effects of diabetes—retinopathy disease of the retina), nephropathy (kidney disease) and neuropathy (nervous system disease)—all of which are caused by an imbalance between the free radicals generated when blood sugar levels remain high and the body's protective antioxidant defenses. A study published August 2003 showed that when diabetic rats were exposed to the cancer drug, streptozotocin, which would normally have produced not only a significant rise in blood sugar levels, but an increase in triglycerides, cholesterol, damaged fats, and other markers of increased inflammation, along with a decrease in the antioxidants the body produces to protect itself, that giving the rats garlic oil both lowered the drug's negative effects while boosting protective antioxidant levels. The rats in this study were given 10 mg of garlic oil per kilogram of body weight daily for 15 days. In humans, a comparable dose of garlic oil would be .7 grams per day, an amount that could be easily consumed if using a garlic oil product, but would take real dedication if consuming cloves. Since a typical garlic clove weighs 3 grams and contains 15mg of total fat, which we can treat as basically synonymous with oil, this would translate to about 46 ½ cloves of garlic!
Protection Against Diabetes-Linked Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a well-known side-effect of diabetes, but garlic may provide some protection, according to a study published December 2003. When diabetic rats were given garlic extract for an 8-week period, the hyperreactivity of their blood vessels to noradrenaline (a vasoconstrictive hormone) and acetylcholine (a compound involved in nerve transmission) was significantly lessened. According to the researchers, their results suggest that garlic may help prevent the development of abnormal vascular contraction seen in diabetics.
Weight Control
The most potent active constituent in garlic, allicin, has been shown to not only lower blood pressure, insulin and triglycerides in rats fed a fructose (sugar)-rich diet, but also to prevent weight gain, according to a study published in the December 2003 issue of the American Journal of Hypertension. In this study, after 5 weeks of being fed a high fructose diet consisting of 21% protein, 5% fat, 60% carbohydrate, 0.49% sodium and 0,49% potassium, male rats had developed high insulin levels, high blood pressure and high triglycerides. The rats were then divided into 3 groups for the remaining 5 weeks of the study: the first group served as a control; the second was given allicin during the final 2 weeks of the study, and the third was given allicin during the initial 3 weeks. Despite the fact that all three groups consumed the same amount of food, weight rose in the control group and in groups 2 and 3 when not receiving allicin, but remained stable or declined slightly when allicin was given. The researchers concluded that allicin may be of practical value for weight control.

Increased Antioxidant Protection

A study published in the November 2003 E-version of the journal Carcinogenesis showed that levels of a critically important internally produced antioxidant enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase, rose substantially in the stomach and small intestine, and to a lesser extent in the liver and colon, in rats that were put on a short-term feeding regimen that featured two compounds from garlic, diallyl disulfide and diallylthiosulfinate (allicin). Researchers discovered that these garlic compounds selectively induced two genes to produce more of the messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that encode glutathione-S-transferase, and the greatest increases were noted in mRNAs that are normally present only at low levels. The bottom line: eating more garlic may help increase your body's production of this vitally important antioxidant enzyme.

Protection against Asbestos

Asbestos, a well known carcinogen, is thought to cause cell mutations by generating reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and depleting one of the body's most important internally produced antioxidants, glutathione. Garlic contains numerous sulfur compounds and glutathione precursors that act as antioxidants and also demonstrate anti-carcinogenic properties. In a laboratory study published in the November 2004 issue of Toxicology Letters, garlic extract, when administered along with asbestos, so significantly reduced DNA mutations in human blood lymphocytes (a type of immune cell), that the researchers concluded: "garlic extract may be an efficient, physiologically tolerable quencher of asbestos-induced genotoxcity."

History

Native to central Asia, garlic is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world and has been grown for over 5000 years. Ancient Egyptians seem to have been the first to cultivate this plant that played an important role in their culture.
Garlic was not only bestowed with sacred qualities and placed in the tomb of Pharaohs, but it was given to the slaves that built the Pyramids to enhance their endurance and strength. This strength-enhancing quality was also honored by the ancient Greeks and Romans, civilizations in which athletes ate garlic before sporting events, and soldiers consumed it before going off to war.
Garlic was introduced into various regions throughout the globe by migrating cultural tribes and explorers. By the 6th century BC, garlic was known in both China and India, the latter country using it for therapeutic purposes.
Throughout the millennia, garlic has been a beloved plant in many cultures for both its culinary and medicinal properties. Over the last few years, it has gained unprecedented popularity since researchers have been scientifically validating its numerous health benefits.
Currently, China, South Korea, India, Spain and the United States are among the top commercial producers of garlic.

How to Select and Store

For maximum flavor and nutritional benefits, always purchase fresh garlic. Although garlic in flake, powder or paste form may be more convenient, you will derive less culinary and health benefits from these forms.
Purchase garlic that is plump and has unbroken skin. Gently squeeze the garlic bulb between your fingers to check that it feels firm and is not damp.
Avoid garlic that is soft, shriveled, moldy or that has begun to sprout. These may be indications of decay that will cause inferior flavor and texture. Size is often not an indication of quality. If your recipe calls for a large amount of garlic, remember that it is always easier to peel and chop a few larger cloves than many smaller ones. Fresh garlic is available in the market throughout the year.
Store fresh garlic in either an uncovered or a loosely covered container in a cool, dark place away from exposure to heat and sunlight. This will help maintain its maximum freshness and help prevent sprouting, which reduces its flavor and causes excess waste. It is not necessary to refrigerate garlic. Some people freeze peeled garlic; however, this process reduces its flavor profile and changes its texture.
Depending upon its age and variety, whole garlic bulbs will keep fresh from two weeks to two months. Inspect the bulb frequently and remove any cloves that appear to be dried out or moldy. Once you break the head of garlic, it greatly reduces its shelf life to just a few days.

How to Enjoy

Tips for Preparing Garlic:
The first step to using garlic (unless you are roasting the entire bulb) is to separate the individual cloves. An easy way to do this is to place the bulb on a cutting board or hard surface and gently, but firmly, apply pressure with the palm of your hand at an angle. This will cause the layers of skin that hold the bulb together to separate.
To separate the skin from the individual cloves, place a clove with the smooth side down on a cutting board and gently tap it with the flat side of a wide knife. You can then remove the skin either with your fingers or with a small knife. If there is a green sprout in the clove's center, gently remove it since it is difficult to digest.
Chopping or crushing stimulates the enzymatic process that converts the phytochemical alliin into allicin, a compound to which many of garlic's health benefits are attributed. In order to allow for maximal allicin production, wait several minutes before eating or cooking the garlic.
A Few Quick Serving Ideas:
Marinate pressed garlic in olive oil and use this flavored oil in dressings and marinades.
Purée fresh garlic, canned garbanzo beans, tahini, olive oil and lemon juice to make quick and easy hummus dip.
Healthy sauté steamed spinach, garlic, and fresh lemon juice.
Add garlic to sauces and soups.
Purée roasted garlic, cooked potatoes and olive oil together to make delicious garlic mashed potatoes. Season to taste.

Safety

Garlic is not a commonly allergenic food, is not known to contain measurable amounts of goitrogens, oxalates, or purines, and is also not included in the Environmental Working Group's 2003 report "Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce" as one of the 12 foods most frequently containing pesticide residues.

Flowers and their messages

The following article speaks on the importance of flowers and how they bring about a positive change in our environment. These are the extracts which are taken from the writings of the Divine Mother of Pondy.

Flowers and their Messages

"Flowers speak to us when we know how to listen to them--it is a subtle and fragrant language." (The Mother)

The Jasmine flower, is revered for its pure white color and its sweet fruity fragrance. The particular consciousness of jasmine is purity. By offering it at the temple or to the guru, man aspires for that purity in his own being. By wearing it in the hair and decorating the home, vibrations of purity are attracted to the place where these flowers are kept.

the rose, for example. Its great perfection of form, color and smell expresses an aspiration of the soul. It is a psychic gift. Look at a rose opening in the morning with the first contact of the sun--it is a magnificent self-giving aspiration.

Every flower has its own unique quality of consciousness. For example, the Gladiolus is known as "Receptivity" for its spontaneous openness to the higher consciousness. The Geranium is "Spiritual Happiness". It radiates a feeling of smiling serenity.

The Mother has described the process and given names to over 800 varieties of flowers. She says that there is a spontaneous vibration or movement in a flower like the movement of a body, neither a sensation nor a feeling but something of both. If you contact it and feel it, it gives rise to a certain experience. If you are able to identify fully with the experience, you can perceive the quality of its vibration. The Mother found flowers a very effective medium for transmitting a particular spiritual help to the aspirants. Most commonly red and white roses were given because they were able to retain the spiritual blessing longer than other flowers. But sometimes a group of flowers would be given whose combination conveyed a certain meaning and consciousness to the recipient.

If one sits very quietly holding a "Passion flower" there can come the experience of "Silence".
The flower of the Night Jasmine tree radiates "Aspiration" which is like a flame of self-giving leaping forth from the heart. Day Jessamine is the flower of "Light", and meditation with it can bring a flood of pure light into the mind.
The solitary pink rose brings the vibration of "Loving Surrender" to the Divine. Honeysuckle helps one develop "Constant Remembrance of the Divine".
Lavishly scented Sweet Basil brings the "Joy of Union with the Divine", and fills the heart with its sweetness.
Sunflowers are "Consciousness turned towards the Light". They evoke a thirst for light and a joyous seeking after it.

Color is a significant aspect of a flower’s consciousness. Each color represents a certain kind of aspiration. Ivory white or light cream is the color of divine bliss, "Ananda," as in the small cream-white Hibiscus. Pure white flowers generally denote purity or integrality.
the white Bougainvillea is "Integral Protection". It offers protection to the entire personality.
The white Gardenia, a relative of jasmine, is "Radiating Purity". Golden-yellow and orange are colors of the highest supramental or spiritual qualities.
The large double golden-yellow hibiscus is "Power of the Supramental Consciousness".
Yellow is the color of mental aspiration like the flower "Mind" (Yellow Oleander) and "Mental Love for the Divine" (Yellow Rose). Usually this is greenish yellow and is distinct from yellow shading into orange which indicates light. Cream yellow flowers frequently represent vibrations from the higher mind or intuitive mind which lies beyond the normal sense and thought mind as in pale yellow Canna which is the "Illumined Mind Center." Various shades of lighter blue represent different levels of the spiritual mind, the higher, illumined and intuitive planes of truth. Pink or pale rose are the colors of the soul or psychic region which lies deep behind the heart. Pink Crepe Myrtle is "Intimacy with the Divine in the Psychic", while the "Psychic Center" itself is the salmon-pink Canna and the pink Snapweed is "Psychic Generosity". The heart or emotive center is often expressed by light-mauve or lilac-pink as in "Offering of the Emotions" (mauve-pink Hollyhock).
The darker colors denote the vital, the physical or Matter. The vital is the center of power, nervous energy and desire in man. It is usually divided into three layers. The higher vital which is closely linked with the emotions is represented by lavender, deep mauve or carmine as in "Enthusiasm in the Higher Vital" (bluish-mauve Petunia). The vital proper is often blue or dark red as in "Offering of the Vital to the Divine" (dark red Hollyhock) and "Vital Progress" toward the Divine (rose-violet Vinca Rosea). The lower material vital is denoted by dark blue, violet blue or dark purple. Red is the color of the physical, usually a clear bright red. "Ananda in the Physical" is a small cream yellow Hibiscus with a deep red center. "Physical Endurance" is a dark red Zinnia.
These are a few general guidelines, but, as we said earlier, there is a lot of variation. Flowers such as "Offering" (Hollyhock), "Protection" (Bougainvillea), "Center" (Canna), "Progress" (Vinca Rosea), "Intimacy with the Divine" (Crepe Myrtle), "Enthusiasm" (Petunia), "Generosity" (Snapweed), "Sincerity" (Aster) usually take on the quality of the center corresponding with their color.
But there are other flowers where mere color does not clearly denote the meaning. For instance, rose is "Love for the Divine" and red roses "Human Passion changed into Love for the Divine". But white roses tinged pink are "Affection for the Divine"; orange roses are "Flaming love for the Divine"; "Humility in the love for the Divine" is a lavender rose, "Surrender" is a pink Edward or Country rose, and "Integral Love for the Divine" is a solitary pure white rose. With Hibiscus the variation in consciousness is even greater depending on size, color, number of petal layers. The single red Hibiscus is "Dynamic Power" and there are many other aspects of power such as "Power of Integral Purity" which is white with a red center. A few in the Hawaian family relate to beauty such as "Beauty of Supramental Love" (a large salmon pink flower with pink center and pale pink aura). "Consciousness One with the Divine Consciousness" is a large double light pink flower with deep pink center and cream border on the petals. The very special "Divine Grace" (Hibiscus mutabilis or Cotton Rose) is a large double flower which opens pure white and gradually turns pink. For purposes of meditation one of the most effective is "Godhead" (Hawaian, Cromwell variety, large single flower with cream or yellow gold petals and a pink center).
Certain flowers can play a very useful role in supporting physical health. A powerful remedy for fatigue or lack of energy whether occasional or recurring is the "Life Energy" flower (Florist’s Chrysanthemum). Just holding these flowers can revive one’s energies very quickly, and meditation or concentration on them can relieve even a prolonged condition of exhaustion due to physical or psychological stress. The flower "Wakefulness in the Mind" (West Indian Holly or Sage Rose) can help awaken the mental faculties, remove drowsiness and inertia. The Portia Tree is called "Health" and it is known that its presence in large numbers can diminish or prevent the occurrence of disease in a large community. There are other flowers which can help attract forces of material plenty such as "Wealth" (Water lily), "Material Abundance" (Cotton Plant), "Riches" (Cactus flower) and "Prosperity" (Cannonball Tree). Another very useful flower is "Common Sense" (Sweet-scented Tobacco). Whatever one’s goal in life "Equanimity" (Candytuft) creates a firm foundation and "Cheerful Endeavour" (African Daisy) provides the right attitude for sure success. In India the most highly revered of flowers are the white Lotus, flower of "The Divine Consciousness", and the red Lotus, flower of "The Avatar--The Supreme Manifested on Earth in a Body".

Growing flowers, keeping them in the home, meditating with them creates a purified and inspiring atmosphere much like burning of incense. In fact, the perfume of a flower is closely related to its significance. Flowers teach us the charm of silence and thus the self-giving which demands nothing in return. The best way to open oneself to the deep influence of flowers is to love them and to seek to discover the same qualities in oneself. Love of flowers can be a valuable help in finding and uniting with one’s own true psychic being. This love means that one is drawn by the psychic vibration in the vegetal kingdom and consequently by the psychic presence in one’s own self. The beauty of flowers is one of Nature’s means of awakening in man the quest for his own soul.

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Self Development - A sure return on investment

In todays world where the returns are always carefully probed before any sort of investment is made, there is one investment - self developement where the returns are for sure. What do we mean by self developement.

Activities where we spend some time on our self improvement - This could be exercise, yoga, reading, playing. These activities though seem to be simple ones have a lot of influence on our body and count in the long run. For a radiant life we need these activities to be a part of our daily life so that as we progress in years, the body maintains its youthful glow and aging is less evident. Here are the tips for pursuing these gems. Each individual must set aside at least a minimum of half an hour at least 3 days a week for such activities.


Start your day by rising up early. It should be 5AM. Early rising are the ones who gain the maximum out of the day. Make it a point to do such activities on a regular basis and the results are there for you to see.

When you begin the day with self developement activity, you are giving importance to your own self which very few of us do. By doing so, you send positive singals to your body system and create a positive flow of energy.

Agility, health and peace of mind is attained when such practices become regular.

Also you build up your will power and eliminate any negative feelings.

Dear friends, hence begin the day early, earmark a time for your self developement activity and see what a change this habit of yours will bring about in your daily activities.

Radiant Steps for Radiant Living

Sleep which is considered the most ordinary of human activity is the most vital. A good quality sleep ensures that we are prepared to face the life ahead and focus in a better way. Most people have a nonsense attitude to sleep and that it turn tells on their lives. Here I'm discussing some important facts related to sleep.

As we prepare for a meal by taking the starters and then move on to the main course, so too is preparation required for a good quality sleep. The first step before unwinding is make it a point to listen to some soft music. Music is one of the greatest healers and listening to a soft theme just before going to bed will prepare oneself for a quality sleep. The next step is recall the positive acts you have done during the day, also envision the aspirations within you. It could be anything right from passing in exams, getting a better job, losing weight or family reunion.

Done, then you retire to sleep. The process does not stop here. For all acts to become real, they have to be realised in the astral world. In the dream world - astral world, anything is possible. There are no constraints or limitations. During sleep we are in touch with the astral world. Our astral body comes to the forefront and with it the subconcious mind takes control. Thats why we find that in dreams a poor man can become a rich man and all the rules are broken. To tap this astral thought and make it into reality is a key factor.

The method - As soon as we wake up from sleep, the subconcious mind remains for a few minutes in the front. By regular practise we should at this juncture (when awakened) spend a few minutes by thinking about all the great and good things we would want to achieve in life.
A regular practise when done will bring amazing results.

First of the series on radiant living - sleep- has been discussed here. Many more quality life enhancers will follow