Fantastic Voyage

Knowing the inside workings of the human anatomy is always intriguing, and the superbly created and indeed finely detailed medical animations made by Nucleus Medical Art at Nucleusinc are nothing short of breathtaking. For the most part it is akin to taking a fantastic voyage into the microscopic internal workings of humans right down to the cellular level (such as the above example). Far from being just mere works of art these custom made animations of surgery, anatomy, mechanism of action (MOA), and physiology are primarily produced for medical devices, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology, marketing agencies, lawyers etc. The company also produces a range of products other than multimedia such as such as medical illustrations, medical images, anatomical charts, anatomical models to interactive multimedia for educational and commercial use.

The nature of food during pregnancy

Ellen Connelly of news.com.au reports on a world first discovery made by Australian Scientists at the University of NSW entitled `Mum's diet shapes a child's weight'. This of which apparently is backed up by a study that was published last year in the British Journal Of Nutrition reporting that the offspring of mothers who ate junk food (especially through pregnancy) gave rise to children that craved the same food types. This would definately suggest that a baby is not just genetically predisposed to it's mother in terms of physical characteristics.

Surely an absolute confirmation on these facts would prove the inherent `addictiveness' of some food additives, the likes of which junk food has now become notoriously known for. Processed foods are also not much better either, one only has to look at the labels to find it's array of preservatives, enhancers and stabilisers. So when will we learn? Education is the key I know but judging by the magnitude of the obesity problem within the Western world I personally thinking it's going to get a whole lot worse before it begins to get any better.

Blast from the past

Since starting in the beginning of September 2006 our parent site cell-to-cell-health.com has certainly come along way (as can be seen here in January 2007). To the degree of which I had not realised until I did a search through the archive files of WayBackMachine. Apart from the many additions to the site since then there is also the absence of much material which was later to be removed for whatever reason as it was no longer considered relevant.

Nonetheless it remains here in much of it's entirety as it once was and to further show how far we have come and how much more work there is to be done. A site in progress that continues to this day. So happy you could join us....

Reference: 1.

Fountain of youth

There can be no doubt that time and gravity can be our greatest enemies in respect to maintaining a youthful complexion which could also include our own environmental lifestyle in there, indeed the afore mentioned effect our bodies considerably. However whilst we cannot halt the process we certainly have a degree of control over it. Brook Phelps, an eDiet contributor penned an article entitled `10 Secrets of Looking Younger' which does represent some thoughtful advice on this topic. After perusing it I gather this information mainly pertains to women, however though since men have skin also I believe it could equally apply, and this has nothing to do with being a sensitive new age guy either, it just makes sense right?

Whilst it did have it's merits, the advice offered mainly concentrated on facial and neck complexion. This is all well and ok however health and youthfulness radiates from inside to out. In as much we should consider diet and regular exercise as part of the whole equation to looking good. Articles such as this are like pieces of a large puzzle and as such help us all on our path to a lasting healthier lifestyle. After all it makes no sense at all if our total wellbeing is in order if it does not express itself outwardly also. To look further for a moment at the `whole' self, absolute wellbeing is pivotal on 6 foundational factors which are:

1. Thoughts
2. Breathing
3. Hydration
4. Food
5. Exercise
6. Circadian rhythms
   

These (in order of importance) form the `backbone' of total wellbeing and are explained in further detail by Holistic Health Coach Terence M. Carfrae in his profile entitled Metabolic Typing.

Reference: Metabolic Typing explained

Fitness FAQ

Lucia Schwarczova of Dante Gym and Fitness is without doubt the absolute embodiment of her beliefs and practices. After finishing her video profile I suggested (given her extensive knowledge in personal fitness coaching) that a contributed FAQ on the subject would be most beneficial to many seeking advice in this arena. With the original intent of publishing it to this blog. However it would seem that I had grossly underestimated the final result. It was far more extensive than previously imaged, and as a consequence to this it has been added as a continuation to Lucia's own profile page.

Not being just a simple FAQ, it goes into some detail and in the process debunking a few common myths concerned with not only loosing weight but in gaining physical strength also. It's resourcefulness will undoubtedly benefit many looking to create a healthier and fitter lifestyle.

Burning of the vanities

Solarium's are in the news and under the spot light once again, this time resulting in legal action being taken against a number of solarium's by several Gold Coast women as reported by Australia Business in an article entitled `Lawyers sue solarium's'. It really did get my attention especially after reading the first line which I have quoted,

"LAWYERS are increasingly suing solarium's after repeated scientific studies linking them to the risk of developing skin cancer and other skin conditions."

This goes without saying does it not? Especially since there is now plenty of evidence to show that prolonged UV exposure increases the risk of skin melanoma by up to 98%! With this I had to ask the question. With whom exactly does the responsibility lie?

Certainly true and quite possibly some of these establishments may not be accessing their clients well enough for suitability for such treatments, whilst on the other hand users of solarium's should know better. It's all a question of choice and if one so chooses to do so out of the sheer vanity of beautiful glowing dark skin then the consequential risk factor of skin damage is high. This being the case then there is a price to pay.

Maybe I just see things far to simply who knows but suing them I believe will not eliminate the hazard by any means and makes no gains at all apart from the exception of lining the pockets of money hungry lawyers. All this is just a case of responsibility negligence and these individuals got exactly what they paid for. So if you wish to have natural healthy glowing skin simply don't use them. Period.

References: 1.2.

Power nap yourself from the sleep deficiency nightmare

The following article by the Sydney Morning Herald titled `The blanket lifted on a health nightmare' so brings to the surface a dilemma of living in a modern age. Whilst these stats are alarming they at the same time come as no surprise. Speaking personally I have in the past been reduced to getting only 5 - 6 hours of sleep a night, due to work commitments. While there may be other contributing factors I firmly believe that longer work hours and stress related factors are huge culprits to this problem.

Without saying more than needs to be said most would be well aware that sleep deficiency is detrimental to both mind and body and can over longer periods seriously reduce our concentration and work performance. Is there a solution here? One which I have found useful is the `power nap', a short half hour - hour rest period preferably where one will not get disturbed. Trust me this really does give you are boost, especially if you suffer from sleep deficiency.

References 1. 2. 3.

Little foods that mean so much

Some foods do certainly pack a punch as far as nutrition is concerned. Here are some real gems to incorporate into your diet that your body will love you for .

Peppers galore
Peppers are hugely beneficial; and the best ones for you are? Yes you guessed it, the tongue tingling hot ones known as chilli peppers. Whilst all peppers contain capsaicinoids chilli peppers in particular have very high levels of capsaicinoids (which are long chain hydrocarbons) which is mostly concentrated in the ribs and the seeds of the chillies. Chillies are also very rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, carotene and vitamin C. So they are not only good for you but they are also a great way to spice up any dish.

Allicin in the family
To get those healthy juices flowing why not include some illium in your diet. What? Well illium is the family of vegetables that includes onions, garlic, leeks and chives. These are powerpacked with heaps of phytochemicals which gives them their pungent aroma. Eat as raw as possible as cooking reduces the potency of its active ingredient allicin substantially. However their addition to cold and warm salads is highly favoured. If like me, eating raw onions doesn't come easy. You can always try chopping them up and use as a side dish and eat then with your meal,
believe me their great: )

Little legumes
All the varieties of beans are natures little helpers! Beans are not only low in calories and sodium but very high in protein, fibre and folic acid. All are tasty however many folk eat in moderation and sometimes avoid altogether due to gassy discomfort. This is a real disservice to our health because their benefit is huge. So...the solution? here is a little tip, add a little baking soda (about a teaspoon) into the pot whilst cooking will release a lot of the gas before hand. That way it saves you from being unpopular afterwards.:0

Acai break
(pronounced "ah-sigh-ee")
Still not widely known about apart from the real health conscious folks, this ones a real winner. its loaded with antioxidants, oleic acid, amino acids, fibre and phytonutrients, just about everything thats good for you barring a Hollywood celebrity workout video! Acai is harvested from various palms trees that thrive in the tropical Amazon rain forests and its taste can best be described `chocolate like' and very yummy! Sometimes it may be hard to get from local supermarkets however your best bet is from healthfood stores and or web merchants who specialise in health foods.

Mushroom madness

After the resent hospitalisation of 2 adults due to the consumption of the death cap mushroom within the ACT from the recent report by the ACT Health Department which also states of other occurring fatalities in the same manner really made me think. What happened to common sense here? Why would anyone unknowingly just consume anything out in the wild let alone mushrooms without having prior knowledge of their actions.

Anyone falling victim to such misadventure should be beaten with the proverbial `idiot stick'. Didn't their parents teach them anything? Within the mushroom world alone there are approx 14,000 differing species globally, and without prior knowledge to catergorise and guide you the consumption of any one of them can be detrimental to ones health and in some cases result in death. I seriously hope that others will heed to the advice given by the department and think before considering such.

Reference: 1.2.

Is your sex life normal?

Sexologist Yvonne. K. Fulbright (pictured left) blazes a trail of inquiry as to the sexual habits of Americans in an article entitled `Is your sex life normal?' Is there such a thing as normality within human sexual expressions given the fact that what may be considered freaky, kinky, bizarre, abnormal, weird and or downright disturbing to some may be entirely acceptable or dare I say it `normal' to some, whilst others could not even imagine such acts. It's really a question to the extent that an individual or couple will go to sexually gratify themselves. Personally I believe such extremes are only healthy as long as both individuals fully endorse and are in agreement with such actions and the other being that no physical and or mental harm arises because of such actions.

Throughout the ages humans have been torn by two forces, firstly their own internal natural drives and needs to express themselves fully and the external so called `social values' to be conformed to. External pressures then where usually forced upon us by religious doctrines through the ages. Out of these doctrines arose many accepted myths and beliefs which where perpetuated by the church and it's leaders to keep us in line.

There have been many individuals in history who have attempted to liberate us by setting the records straight. One such was the now legendary 18th century French aristocrat Donatien Alphonse-François de Sade, better known as the Marquis De Sade. Clearly in his day he was persecuted for many of his writings, which resulted in his enforced 32 year imprisonment. However if anyone (dares to) take the time and read say the classic `Justine' for example De Sade was merely holding the `mirror of contempt' to the established order of the day and revealing their so called outwardly displayed values as being nothing more than hypercritical and deceitful.

De Sade lived in a world wherein the nature of the deeds in his writings was indeed actuality not fiction and that various sexual vices were used by those in power to control and manipulate the less fortunate and poor within society, in particular younger persons of both genders, purely for their own gratification and sexual perversions. However despite all his efforts his works were systematically destroyed by the crushing religious dogma of his time and he was labeled as nothing more than a protagonist of pornography and filth.

However one more advocate for sexual liberation of the masses was non other than the more recent Alfred Kinsey who once again rocked the establishment, although this time far more successful in breaking down the barriers. Without such daring individuals we would still well an truly be gripped within the oppressive mindset of the those that seek to control our freedoms. Our needs to feel accepted `and know our place' within the scheme of things continues to this day as can be seen by the ongoing surveys published in women's magazines such as Cleo.

So in conclusion once again we must ask what is normal? Normality I believe is an illusion and non existent. Never was and never will be, thats the beauty of being individual, the continual striving for total personal expression. Being only true to oneself.