In an effort to sell you medical services that are not needed, hospitals have continued a practice that was adopted as a preventative measure against masturbation. Instead of abandoning the practice once Americans became more sexually liberated, doctors and nurses have begun spreading a number of falsehoods and half-truths in order to justify the amputation a fully functioning organ immediately upon birth. Yes the foreskin is an organ, it has known immunological, sexual and protective functions.

Easier to Clean

Contrary to popular myth, an intact penis is no harder to clean than a circumcised one. All it requires is simply rinsing off whenever you bathe; no soap is necessary. For care of infants, simply clean what is seen and wipe from base to tip. Never retract the foreskin on an infant because it can cause serious damage in the form of adhesions. Forcefully retracting would be like ripping your fingernail off as the foreskin is adhered to the glans and forcing it back will hurt the boy. Taking these steps to clean an intact penis is far easier than caring for a circumcised infant. A circumcision leaves an open wound vulnerable to infection, a wound that is trapped in a diaper that will likely be exposed to feces. There’s nothing cleaner about caring for a surgically altered penis; in fact, it is more difficult than cleaning an intact one.

Prevents HIV

One of the most common myths you hear with circumcision is that it prevents HIV and AIDS. This is simply not true and is based on a handful of highly flawed studies out of Africa. Some of these studies did not take into account important factors that could affect the HIV status of the men in the study. For example, condom use was not tracked in some studies nor was the HIV status of their female partners. All three of the major studies were halted early, which can cause the effects of treatment to be greatly over exaggerated. These studies also experienced high attrition rates of participants. The potential HIV status of these lost participants could potentially skew the statistics.

Many other studies have shown that circumcision did not decrease the rates of HIV among circumcised males and in some cases, being circumcised actually increased a man’s risk of acquiring HIV. One study out of Uganda showed that the female partners of recently circumcised males were at an increased risk of contracting HIV. Another study found that circumcision increased the risk of HIV by as much as 300%, since the instruments used were not sanitized and circumcision directly aided in spreading the virus from person to person.

Prevents Cancer

Another myth of circumcision is that it helps prevent penile cancer in men and cervical cancer in their female partners. This is simply not true. Abraham Wolbarst, a doctor in the early 20th century, was one of the first to hypothesize that smegma, a secretion more prevalent in uncircumcised males than circumcised males, was carcinogenic and caused cancers. This was debunked later by studies in the 1950s. Further studies found that there was no statistical difference in rates of penile cancer between circumcised and uncircumcised males. Even the American Cancer Society has categorically stated that promoting circumcision as a method of preventing cancer is not effective. In a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, they wrote:

As representatives of the American Cancer Society, we would like to discourage the American Academy of Pediatrics from promoting routine circumcision as preventative measure for penile or cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society does not consider routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to prevent such cancers. 

Research suggesting a pattern in the circumcision status of partners of women with cervical cancer is methodologically flawed, outdated and has not been taken seriously in the medical community for decades. Likewise, research claiming a relationship between circumcision and penile cancer is inconclusive.  

Penile cancer is an extremely rare condition, effecting one in 200,000 men in the United States. Penile cancer rates in countries which do not practice circumcision are lower than those found in the United States. Fatalities caused by circumcision accidents may approximate the mortality rate from penile cancer.

Portraying routine circumcision as an effective means of prevention distracts the public from the task of avoiding the behaviors proven to contribute to penile and cervical cancer: especially cigarette smoking and unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners. Perpetuating the mistaken belief that circumcision prevents cancer is inappropriate.

Even though evidence has shown that circumcision does not reduce the risks of penile or cervical cancer, many people continue to perpetuate this myth.

Babies Don’t Feel the Pain

Probably one of the most dangerous myths of circumcision is that babies do not feel pain. Most of the time, baby boys are circumcised with either no anesthetic at all or just a local anesthetic that does little to numb the pain of the foreskin being ripped back from the glans and then cut off. Many studies over the years have shown that babies do feel pain but a recent study using MRIs on infants is the most telling. This study by Oxford University found that out of the 20 areas of the brain that light up on MRIs of adults in pain, 18 will light up on MRIs of infants in pain. The study also found that babies have a lower pain threshold than adults. It is easy to see from this that yes, baby boys do feel the circumcision and are in extreme pain throughout the whole procedure.

Women Find it More Attractive

Many American women will state that they find circumcised penises more attractive than intact penises. This is simply because circumcision has been a cultural norm. This statement is not true for most women worldwide where circumcision is not the norm. As more women are educated on the benefits to their own sexual pleasure when a man is intact, this cultural norm will change.

It Prevents Urinary Tract Infections

Females are far more likely than males to get urinary tract infections. Most men will never have a urinary tract infection regardless of their circumcision status, and even if they do occur, UTIs are easily treatable.

It Doesn’t Affect Your Sex Life

Being circumcised does affect a man’s sex life. Being intact increases the sexual pleasure for both men and women. For a man, being circumcised can make it harder to reach orgasm and contribute to sexual dysfunction. Having a foreskin increases the sensitivity for both the intact male and his partner. It provides a natural lubrication for women.

It’s a Useless Piece of Skin

The foreskin is anything but a useless piece of skin, as many proponents of circumcision will try to tell you. The foreskin has more than sixteen functions and is an important part of the human body. Functions of the foreskin include:

• Protection of the glans from injury
• Provides moisture and pH balance
• Helps prevent contaminants from entering the urethra
• Contains glands that produce antibacterial and antiviral proteins such as lysozyme
• Provides natural gliding action during sex
• Contains between 10,000-20,000 nerve endings, and seven different types of nerve endings

Even though this is just a short list of the many functions of the foreskin, it is easy to see that the foreskin is not “just a useless piece of skin”.

FGM is Different and/or Worse

The differences between female circumcision and male circumcision are debated, even among intactivists. The basic concept is the same for both: the removal of erogenous tissue. Where people disagree is in how much damage it causes in victims of either gender. Both female circumcision and male circumcision result in lasting harm. Only male circumcision is legal in Western countries. While intactivists may disagree on whether female circumcision results in worse injury than male circumcision, all intactivists can agree that no circumcision should be done on infants and children who are incapable of consent.

Phimosis is a Common Affliction that Must be Corrected with Circumcision

Phimosis is a common misdiagnosis given to parents to convince them to circumcise their sons. This condition is defined as the inability of the foreskin to retract from over the glans, or head, of the penis. Diagnosis of this condition is divided into two categories: physiologic phimosis and pathologic phimosis. What many do not realize that it is perfectly normal for an intact infant boy or young child’s foreskin to not be able to retract. In fact, on average, the foreskin is not fully retractable until later in childhood, around the beginning of puberty. As a result, many doctors will diagnose a young infant boy or toddler as having phimosis when in fact his body has not reached the biological state of development where the foreskin retracts naturally. Physiologic phimosis generally resolves itself as boys reach puberty and their foreskin begins to retract naturally. Even if it does not, phimosis does not need to be ‘fixed’ with circumcision. Pathologic circumcision is due to scarring, infection, and inflammation. Treatment may be required if it begins to interfere with urination, but a true necessity for circumcision rarely exists.

Conclusion

When it comes to deciding whether to circumcise your son or not, look at the research. All of the reasons doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals give for circumcision simply are not supported by the facts. These myths need to be debunked every time you hear them. Please help us build an intact generation by educating others on the myths of circumcision and the benefits of leaving baby boys intact.

Further Reading:

• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children
• Circumcision, the Primal Cut – A Human Rights Violation
  
• Common Bad Parenting Advice You Should Ignore
• Doctors Against Vaccines – Hear From Those Who Have Done the Research

Sources:

• How to care for your intact son – DrMomma
• Male circumcision is not the HIV vaccine we have been waiting for! – Future Medicine
• Penile Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Circumcision – CIRP
• American Cancer Society letter to American Academy of Pediatrics – CIRP
• First infant MRI study finds babies feel pain ‘like adults’ – Reuters
• The Foreskin, Circumcision, and Sexuality – Circumstitions
• Functions of the Foreskin: Purposes of the Prepuce – DrMomma
• 20,000 Nerve Endings – The Circumcision Decision
• FGC vs MGC – Circumstitions
• Do You Know About Phimosis? – Marilyn Milos, RN
• Phimosis – UCSF Department of Urology

This time of year is not just about gifts and celebrations – for many, it’s also about taking stock of the year that has been and reflecting on what can be better for the year ahead.

Many of us even make promises to ourselves so that we feel more accountable for making certain improvements.  You might resolve to spend more time with family, follow a long-held professional dream, or just get to the gym more often.

As a dentist, I’d like to recommend that at least one of the promises you make to yourself this year be about your dental health and here’s why. The health of your teeth and mouth are closely linked to the health of your whole body, and research has even shown associations between poor oral health and diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.  That’s why it’s so important to care for your teeth and gums. So, if you know that you could stand to do a little better, start by adding a couple of these dental health resolutions to your list.

1. Floss Like a Boss

Flossing is the single biggest thing that most people can do to improve their dental health, yet it’s the thing that is most often neglected.  The fact is that hardly anyone particularly likes flossing, but it’s something you need to do every day if you truly wish to have healthy teeth and gums.

One challenge many have is that they simply don’t know how to floss properly, so it ends up taking a long time and not really getting the job done anyway.  If that’s the case for you, ask your dentist for a quick tutorial at your next check-up or check out this dentist’s genius one-minute flossing technique.  And if you really loathe the traditional string floss, consider investing in a water flosser, which may make the job a little more pleasant for you.

2. Commit to 2 Minutes

Did you know that to effectively clean your teeth you’re supposed to be brushing for a full 2 minutes in the morning and at night before bed?  Even though you may be using your toothbrush two times a day, chances are that you’re not brushing for long enough, in which case you’re not keeping your teeth as clean and healthy as you should be.

Try to get in the habit of using your phone’s timer app or a basic kitchen timer to ensure that you’re brushing for 120 seconds.  Some electric toothbrushes even come with a 2-minute timer so you can just keep brushing until it goes off.  It might feel like a long time at first if you’re used to brushing for only a minute or so, but consider the time a chance to reflect on the day that’s been or on the one ahead.

3. Get Yourself Something Nice

Sometimes all we need to motivate us to take better care of ourselves is some new toy that makes the routine a bit more fun.  If all you’ve got is a standard toothbrush and string floss, think about treating yourself to some new tools that can reignite your interest in oral care.  Here are a few suggestions that are both cool and useful:

• Water flosser
• Electric toothbrush
• Wall-mounted toothpaste dispenser
• Fancy toothpaste
• Tongue scraper
• Toothbrush sanitizer

4. Say No to Soda

If you’re still guzzling soda on a regular basis, now is the time to quit.  Both regular and diet or sugar-free soda is extremely harmful to your oral health and overall health.  The huge amount of sugar that is in soda and many other sweet beverages rots your teeth and widens your waistline at a dangerous rate.

Your brain might not register it as you enjoy these drinks, but you should look up exactly how much sugar you’re ingesting each time you down one of these beverages. It just might be the wake-up call you need in order to commit to giving up those sweet drinks. And for a replacement, try the healthier and more economical alternative of plain carbonated water flavored with a bit of natural fruit juice.

As you can see from these simple tips, improving your oral health doesn’t require any massive lifestyle changes, just a few tweaks to your everyday routines.

And taking on just a couple of these resolutions will help you make sure that 2016 is your healthiest year yet.

Reccommended Reading:

• Heal Cavities, Gum Disease, Naturally with Organic Oral Care – Toothpaste recipes included
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
  

For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” –Nelson Mandela

Medical care has never been a tough sell as long as the public believes the benefits outweigh the risks. Vaccination has remained popular due to this belief. In reality, the benefits accrue to the pharmaceutical companies and the salespeople (medical staff) who administer them. There is no risk for the vaccine manufacturer, as they are immune to all liability. The risk is borne solely by the patients and their caretakers. All vaccines have a risk of severe side effects, including death. If there are, in fact, benefits to vaccines, they have not been proven. Vaccines generate antibodies, but this does not equate to meaningful protection, resistance or immunity.

Also check out Doctor's Against Vaccines and Scientists Against Vaccines.

Thousands of industry-funded, pseudo-scientific studies have been failing to convince all of the public that vaccines are safe and effective. When the placebo is another vaccine, only the uninformed fall for the hype. Unfortunately, some of the most poorly informed people are often medical professionals. With the advent of the Internet, information is just a click away. Stories of vaccine fatalities, pharmaceutical company corruption, and vaccine-injured children are all over the Internet. Doctors like to counter these criticisms of vaccines with a dismissive “you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the Internet”, but then again you shouldn’t believe everything you hear on TV or any other source of media. To those willing to do the research and hear both sides of the argument, the truth is out there.

Both in the past and the present there have been influential leaders willing to speak out against either the vaccine schedule or vaccine mandates. And there is one statesman who has always been opposed to vaccines of any kind, for any reason.

Mahatma Ghandi

Mahatma Gandhi is well known for being a civil rights activist and leader of the independence movement in India. He espoused the use of non-violent protests and fasting as a means of civil disobedience. He studied law in London and at home in India. In particular, he is known for the Salt March, a public display of civil obedience against Britain’s Salt Laws, which prohibited Indians from gathering salt. This brought international recognition to his cause and resulted in him being named Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1930. He was also outspoken against vaccines, writing about them in his book, A Guide to Health.

The original theory was that a single vaccination would suffice to keep a man immune from this disease for life; but, when it was found that even vaccinated persons were attacked by the disease, a new theory came into being that the vaccination should be renewed after a certain period, and to-day it has become the rule for all persons-whether already vaccinated or not-to get themselves vaccinated whenever small pox rages in any locality, so that it is no uncommon thing to come across people who have been vaccinated five or six times, or even more.

…Its supporters are not content with its adoption by those who have no objection to it, but seek to impose it with the aid of penal laws and rigorous punishments on all people alike.

…No one can say that small-pox will necessarily attack those who have not been vaccinated; for many cases have been observed of unvaccinated people being free from its attack. From the fact that some people who are not vaccinated do get the disease, we cannot, of course, conclude that they would have been immune if only they had got themselves vaccinated.

…As has been well said, cowards die a living death, and our craze for vaccination is solely due to the fear of death or disfigurement by small-pox.

…Vaccination, instead of doing good, works considerable mischief by giving rise to many new diseases. Even its advocates cannot deny that, after its introduction, many new diseases have come into being.

…The vaccine is a filthy substance, and it is foolish that one kind of filth can be removed by another.

… The fact of the matter is that it is only the self-interest of doctors that stands in the way of the abolition of this inhuman practice, for the fear of losing the large incomes that they at present derive from this source blinds them to the countless evils which it brings. There are, however, a few doctors who recognize these evils and who are determined opponents of vaccination.

…Those who are conscientious objectors to vaccination should, of course, have the courage to face all penalties or persecutions to which they may be subjected by law, and stand alone, if need be, against the whole world, in defense of their conviction.”

Ron Paul

https://youtu.be/E2Gi47Hd8xQ

Ron Paul is known for being a libertarian-leaning Republican politician. After graduating from Gettysburg College, he attended medical school at Duke University and specialized in obstetrics-gynecology. He served in the Air Force and National Guard as a physician before entering politics in the 1970s. He was a Representative for Texas for a total of twenty-four years and has run for President numerous times, most recently in 2012. He also published three books back in the 1980s. Representative Ron Paul has been outspoken on his beliefs for less governmental control, and he is critical of the war on drugs. He is adamantly against mandatory vaccines, believing it will lead to further governmental control in other areas.

If I were still a practicing ob-gyn and one of my patients said she was not going to vaccinate her child, I might try to persuade her to change her mind. But, if I were unsuccessful, I would respect her decision.

…Those who are willing to make an “exception” to the principle that parents should make health care decisions for their children should ask themselves when in history has a “limited” infringement on individual liberty stayed limited. By ceding the principle that individuals have the right to make their own health care decisions, supporters of mandatory vaccines are opening the door for future infringements on health freedom.

If government can mandate that children receive vaccines, then why shouldn’t the government mandate that adults receive certain types of vaccines? And if it is the law that individuals must be vaccinated, then why shouldn’t police officers be empowered to physically force resisters to receive a vaccine? If the fear of infections from the unvaccinated justifies mandatory vaccine laws, then why shouldn’t police offices fine or arrest people who don’t wash their hands or cover their noses or mouths when they cough or sneeze in public? Why not force people to eat right and take vitamins in order to lower their risk of contracting an infectious disease? These proposals may seem outlandish, but they are no different in principle from the proposal that government force children to be vaccinated.

Rand Paul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWcDDZ1w38

Rand Paul is known for being a political activist and U.S. Senator from Kentucky since 2010. He attended Baylor University before obtaining a medical degree from Duke University like his father, Ron Paul. He specializes in Ophthalmology and provides free eye services for those in need through a charity, Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, that he founded. He also performs free eye surgeries through another international charity. Rand Paul joined the political arena in the 1990s in Kentucky through an activist organization, Kentucky Taxpayers United, which focused on taxation and spending issues within the state of Kentucky. After campaigning for his father in 2008, Rand Paul became a Senator in 2010. He is currently a Republican presidential candidate. He has been outspoken against the current vaccine schedule and vaccine mandates.

I guess being for freedom would be really unusual. I guess I don’t understand the point of why that would be controversial.

…I think vaccines are one of the greatest medical breakthroughs that we have. I’m a big fan and a great fan of the history of the development of the small pox vaccine for example. But you know, for most of our history, they have been voluntary. So I don’t think I’m arguing for anything out of the ordinary. We are arguing for what most of our history has had.

…I don’t think there is anything extraordinary about resorting to freedom. I’ll give you a good example. The hepatitis B vaccine is now given to newborns. We sometimes give five and six vaccines all at one time. I chose to have my [children’s vaccines] delayed. I don’t want the government telling me that I have to give my newborn hepatitis B vaccine—(the CNBC reporter tried to cut him off here)

…Which is transmitted by sexually transmitted disease and/or blood transfusions. Do I ultimately think it is a good idea? Yeah. And so I had my [children’s] staggered over several months. I have heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines. I’m not arguing vaccines are a bad idea. I think they are a good thing, but I think the parent should have some input. The state doesn’t own your children. Parents own the children. And it is an issue of freedom and public health.”

Robert Kennedy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSwXNkcOWKc

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a successful environmental lawyer. He has published numerous books, including the New York Times’ best-sellers The Riverkeepers (1997) and Crimes Against Nature (2004). He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University before finishing law school at the University of Virginia and then receiving a Masters Degree from Pace University in Environmental Law. He currently teaches at Pace University’s Law School. In the past, he has served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York City and has worked on political campaigns for Al Gore, Edward Kennedy, and John Kerry. Though he supports vaccination and has had all six of his kids vaccinated, he is against the use of thimerosal in vaccines and is strongly against mandatory vaccines.

Vaccines are big business. Pharma is a trillion-dollar industry with vaccines accounting for $25 billion in annual sales. CDC’s decision to add a vaccine to the schedule can guarantee its manufacturer millions of customers and billions in revenue with minimal advertising or marketing costs and complete immunity from lawsuits. High stakes and the seamless marriage between Big Pharma and government agencies have spawned an opaque and crooked regulatory system.

…Big money has fueled the exponential expansion of CDC’s vaccine schedule since 1988, when Congress’ grant of immunity from lawsuits suddenly transformed vaccines into paydirt. CDC recommended five pediatric vaccines when I was a boy in 1954. Today’s children cannot [attend] school without at least 56 doses of 14 vaccines by the time they’re 18.

An insatiable pharmaceutical industry has 271 new vaccines under development in CDC’s bureaucratic pipeline in hopes of boosting vaccine revenues to $100 billion by 2025. The industry’s principle spokesperson, Dr. Paul Offit, says that he believes children can take as many as 10,000 vaccines.

Public health may not be the sole driver of CDC decisions to mandate new vaccines. Four scathing federal studies, including two by Congress, one by the US Senate, and one by the HHS Inspector General, paint CDC as a cesspool of corruption, mismanagement, and dysfunction with alarming conflicts of interest suborning its research, regulatory, and policymaking functions.

…The corruption has also poisoned CDC’s immunization safety office, the research arm that tests vaccines for safety and efficacy. In August 2014, seventeen-year CDC veteran, Dr. William Thompson, who is author of the principal study cited by CDC to exculpate mercury- preserved vaccines from the autism link, invoked whistleblower protection, and turned extensive agency files over to Congress. Thompson, who is still employed at CDC, says that for the past decade his superiors have pressured him and his fellow scientists to lie and manipulate data about the safety of the mercury-based preservative thimerosal to conceal its causative link to a suite of brain injuries, including autism.

Thimerosal is 50% ethylmercury, which is far more toxic and persistent in the brain than the highly regulated methylmercury in fish. Hundreds of peer reviewed studies by leading government and university scientists show that thimerosal is a devastating brain poison linked to neurological disorders now epidemic in American children. My book, Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak, is a summary of these studies, which CDC and its credulous journalists swear don’t exist. Although Thompson’s CDC and vaccine industry colleagues have created nine patently fraudulent and thoroughly discredited epidemiological studies to defend thimerosal, no published study shows thimerosal to be safe.

Donald Trump

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AffuKjGV6BA

Donald Trump, a real estate mogul and aspiring politician, graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1968 with a degree in Economics. He is known for his many successful and unsuccessful real estate ventures including the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City and Trump Tower. Donald Trump has filed for corporate bankruptcy four times in relation to hotel and casino properties in Atlantic City that were over-extended. He is also known for his reality show, Celebrity Apprentice and other media ventures. Trump is currently on his third marriage. He has openly admitted that he supports vaccinations, but on a more spread out schedule and has had his children vaccinated on an extended schedule. Currently a Republican presidential candidate, he attempted to run for President in the 2000 election, the 2012 election and he is currently the frontrunner in the Republican party for the 2016 presidential election.

Autism has become an epidemic. 25 years ago, 35 years ago, you look at the statistics, not even close. It has gotten totally out of control. I am totally in favor of vaccines but I want smaller doses over longer periods of time. Because you take a baby in, and I’ve seen it, and I’ve had my children taken care of over a long period, over a two or three year period of time, same exact amount. But you take this little beautiful baby, and you pump, and it looks just like its meant for a horse and not for a child, and we’ve had so many instances, people that work for me. Just the other day, two years old, two and a half years old, a beautiful child, went to have the vaccine and came back, a week later got a tremendous fever, got very very sick, now is autistic. I’m in favor of vaccines, do them over a longer period of time, same amount, just in little sections.”

A series of tweets further confirms his stance on vaccines.

No more massive injections. Tiny children are not horses-one vaccine at a time, over time.

I am being proven right about massive vaccinations-the doctors lied. Save our children and their future.

I’m not against vaccinations for your children, I’m against them in one massive dose. Spread them out over a period of time & autism will drop!

So many people who have children with autism thanked me-amazing response. They know far better than fudged up reports. 

I’ve gotten to be pretty familiar with the subject. You know, I have a theory, and it’s a theory that some people believe in, and that’s the vaccinations. We never had anything like this. This is now an epidemic. It’s way, way up over the past 10 years. It’s way up over the past two years. “

Donald Trump is well aware of the fact that his views are contrary to most physician recommendations.

But I couldn’t care less, I’ve seen people where they have a perfectly healthy child, and they go for the vaccinations and a month later the child is no longer healthy.”

Conclusion

When a financially significant portion of the public becomes too well informed to routinely vaccinate their children, the results are predictable: either pharmaceutical profits margins take a hit or freedom has to go.

Big Pharma has chosen corporate fascism over losing profits under the guise of the “greater good.” In California and Mississippi, you can no longer refuse vaccines for your children if they attend public school or attend day care. SB277 in California and a similar bill in Mississippi removes religious and philosophical exemptions and makes getting a medical exemption almost impossible. If you need your children to attend public school in CA or MS you have no choice but to inject your children with aborted fetal cells, aluminum, formaldehyde, and other toxins.

Unfortunately vaccine mandates have not ended with children. Section 101 of Senate Bill 1203, named the 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, mandates vaccines for all veterans. As a lasting insult to those brave men and women who have served the United States, they will no longer have the right to refuse any vaccines, even experimental ones, without risking the loss of their VA benefits. Despite the well founded allegations that Gulf War Syndrome was caused by the experimental anthrax vaccine, there is now no limit to what may be injected into our veterans. They defended freedom overseas, only to return home and be stripped of their personal freedom to decide their own medical treatment.

California legislators have already passed a state bill SB 792 to mandate vaccines for adults. This bill targets those who work at or volunteer at daycare centers, and it offers no exemptions. It also includes criminal penalties for noncompliance.

Introduced by Rep. Wilson, Congressional Bill HR 2232 seeks to remove all vaccine exemptions from all public schools, similar to California’s SB277. This bill seeks to mandate vaccines for all children in all public schools in order for the schools to receive any federal funding.

Other government plans to both track vaccine compliance, and impose new mandates on vaccines are currently underway.

Even those who are pro-vaccine should be opposed to medical tyranny. No medical procedure should be forced on anyone without their informed consent. These ethics were conceived of after WWII, once the horrifying atrocities of Nazi medical experiments came to be known.

If you believe vaccines should be mandated, then we implore you to reconsider your position and to learn more about vaccines. People are far more likely to feign informed knowledge of a topic than to admit profound ignorance. To date, we know of no one without a vested interest in vaccines or anyone else who is well informed on the dangers of vaccines or well read in history who could possibly support such a tyrannical notion. Slavery has always been ubiquitous in human history. It is freedom that has been the exception and not the rule (even in America). Freedom is precious. It is hard fought for and very easily lost. As a nation, we have sacrificed a great deal for the limited freedoms we currently enjoy. It is our freedom that is under siege, not just the right to refuse vaccines. The U.S. has fought for far too long against tyranny, to once again let it thrive within our borders, under the guise of healthcare.

Further Reading:

• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children
• Doctors Against Vaccines – Hear From Those Who Have Done the Research
• A Burden of Guilt – Learning About Vaccine Dangers the Hard Way
• Why Antivaxxers Don’t Vaccinate

Sources:

• Lyceum Address – Abraham Lincoln Online
• A Guide to Health by Mahatma Ghandhi
• Vaccine Controversy Shows Why We Need Markets, Not Mandates – Ron Paul Institute
• CNBC Transcript: Senator Rand Paul Speaks with CNBC’s Kelly Evans on “Closing Bell” – CNBC
• Donald Trump: The only presidential candidate to tell the truth about vaccines –Intellihub News & Politics
• California Now Wants to be First State to Mandate Adult Vaccines – Criminal Penalties for those Who Refuse – Health Impact News
• 21ST CENTURY VETERANS BENEFITS DELIVERY ACT -Gov

If you have decided to commit to living a more organic lifestyle (for personal health and for the preservation of the environment), the transition is one that does not happen overnight. Every step you take that transforms your daily habits to healthy ones will have an impact on your wellness.

The hard part is not deciding whether or not an organic lifestyle will benefit you and your family, but rather knowing where to begin. The conscious choice to use organic products in your home is a positive step, but finding a way to make organic living fit with your budget can be a challenge.

Organic products are harder to find and typically more expensive than mass produced products. To the average consumer, this makes buying organic “extra work” compared to shopping for other brands and products. But you will need to decide if the benefits outweigh the financial cost of living an organic lifestyle.

Organic Product and Groceries: How to Spot Fake “Organic” Labeling

If you visit your local grocery store, the first thing you will notice is that organic produce (fruits and vegetables) and dry goods tend to be higher priced. It is unfortunate that making a healthier choice costs more money, but understanding why organic products are more expensive is important to support your purchase decision.

The impulse to save money is a good one, and natural. Mass produced foods have an advantage over foods that are manufactured, grown, and harvested in a more conscientious way. Certified organic food is limited in quantity because it is produced without the use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides.

Know your labels and your suppliers. Eager to capitalize on consumers who want truly organic products that are devoid of harmful pesticides or preservatives and other chemicals, many food manufacturers like to use the term “organic” on their packaging. This makes differentiating between truly organic foods and imposter brands, which are permitted to mislead consumers with vague and inaccurate advertising.

In the United States, the problem begins with the USDA which allows manufacturers some leeway in the way they advertise and package their foods.

• Organic can refer to products that contain at least 90% organic ingredients. These products may have pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics and other chemical agents in them that have shown to be harmful to human health. They can still be labeled ‘Organic’ according to the USDA guidelines.

• Labels that read ‘Made from Organic Products’ are required to have 75% organic ingredients. Again, there are no guidelines about the other 25% of the ingredients, which can pose a health risk if used or consumed.

• Some products are advertised as ‘natural’ or “grass fed” with regards to meat products. The USDA does not recognize these terms, and no guidelines are provided for manufacturers. A “natural”product can contain unlimited unnatural and harmful ingredients, and still inaccurately represent itself as a “natural” brand.

When a product is 100% Certified Organic, you can be certain that you are purchasing a quality, naturally grown, chemical free product, fruit, vegetable, or consumer good. In order for a manufacturer or producer to advertise as 100% Certified Organic, they must use organic ingredients only and follow very strict guidelines from the USDA.

Read your labels carefully and wherever possible, purchase only products that are 100% Certified Organic for peace of mind and healthy living. Other types of products which contain “mostly” organic materials or food ingredients are better than choosing brands that are not organic at all.

Ultimately, the higher the percentage of organic food and products you consume, the lower your intake and exposure to harmful carcinogens, antibiotics, hormones, and other compounds that have been clinically shown to increase rates of cancer and chronic disease in human beings. Avoid processed foods for higher quality nutrition and reduced toxins in your food.

Going Organic in Your Home

Did you know that you spend approximately 2,300 hours per year sleeping? During that time you are exposed to a variety of chemicals that are discharged from the type of bedding you choose, the detergents you use, and other elements within your bedroom that are inhaled with toxic effects.

Everyone loves a scented oil burner and they are a convenient way to add a pleasing fragrance to your bedroom. Did you know that scented burners (whether melted wax or plug-in heated oil diffusers) contribute to increased levels of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) in your home? At night, you could be spending as much as eight hours inhaling a cocktail of chemicals that can create a significant health risk over time. The bedroom is the most hazardous place to add artificial scents simply because of the amount of time you spend there.

Scented air fresheners (including spray bottles used in bathrooms) can contain phthalates and terpene. Both compounds when combined with ozone and oxygen create formaldehyde indoors, similar to the toxicity levels of sleeping beside a photocopier or laser printer. The particles in the air (formaldehyde) are classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization. They are also reported to increase rates of respiratory disorders including the formation of asthma; some studies have linked the increased cultural acceptance of indoor air fresheners with pandemic levels of new asthma cases around the world.

There are a number of resources online that can help you make the switch and reduce the chemical load in your home by suggesting 100% Certified Organic cleaning products. Many consumers have researched homemade cleaning solutions that can be affordably made at home, which include natural antibacterial agents in lemon and oranges, and white vinegar. Your health (and home) will thank you for making the switch.

Other sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) include:

• Artificial and non-organic bedding and linens.
• Stain-resistant coatings and treatments on furnishings and carpets.
• Commercial versus organic mattresses and bedding.
• Scent-boosting laundry products and anti-static sheets.
• Perfumes and scented body products.
• Flea and tick medications (pesticides applied to pets).
• Mold from houseplants.
• Cat litter.
• Carpet powders and cleaning supplies.

Conclusion

It is never too early or too late to begin making the change to organic products and groceries. To save even more money and prevent waste, shop for smaller amounts of fresh produce more regularly. Eating fruits and vegetables at their peak in freshness helps optimize the amount of nutrients you receive (and health benefits) from your produce. Support organic brands and manufacturers and feel good about a new lifestyle that protects your health and the environment.

Recommended Reading:

• 8 Easy Steps to Health
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
• How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

These days, the media and the general public label anyone who questions the overblown, profit-driven vaccine program as an “anti-vaxxer,” a label synonymous with “anti-science.” Many, if not most, of the people who have questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccines attest that they themselves are not “anti-vaccine” at all. They want vaccines cleaned up and a vaccine schedule that makes sense.

We at Organic Lifestyle Magazine are in fact fully in the anti-vaccine corner. We are “anti-vaxxers” and we are proud of the label. At the time this article was written, everyone that works at OLM chooses not to vaccinate. Why do we choose not to vaccinate? For many of the same reasons others don’t vaccinate. But it’s not due to just one reason, or even just a few. If you’re on the fence about vaccinating, or if for any reason you’re looking for information regarding reasons one should rethink immunizations, then this article was written for you.

The bottom line is we do not trust vaccine companies with our health any more than we trust any other profit driven corporation with our health. We know how corrupt the government is in every other way, and we know that extends to vaccines as well. We see, just by looking at the ingredients, that every single vaccine contains toxins and many contain DNA disrupting viruses.

Recommended: How To Heal Your Gut

We know that vaccines rarely, if ever, deserve the credit they get for eliminating disease. We believe every vaccination causes vaccine damage. Toxic chemicals cause damage; it’s that simple. But even if we discovered that we were wrong, and/or vaccines were suddenly made to be much safer and proven to be truly effective, there is still a reason why we would not, will not vaccinate.

Vaccines are produced by large corporations that are so profit driven they are perfectly willing to cut corners at the expense of people’s lives. They will harm children, infants, anyone, and sweep it all under the rug. We have seen this. We’re not talking about unproven conspiracy theories. We’re not talking about just a handful of incidences either. The vaccine industry has proven itself to be corrupt, time and time again.

We do our best to boycott companies that prove themselves to be unethical. But more importantly, if we’re going to trust someone to inject something directly into our blood, we absolutely need to completely trust the product and the people making it. When the products are not ethically and precisely produced, the results are catastrophic.

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg-52mHIjhs

This video above is one of countless examples of pharmaceutical corruption. There are so many. Do you really want to trust a company with your life that would do something like this?

Still not convinced?

Maurice Hilleman, PhD

Maurice Hilleman, PhD was a microbiologist, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Science, the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. He received the National Medal of Science and a special lifetime achievement award from the World Health Organization (along with other awards) after developing more vaccines than any other scientist (more than forty), including the vaccine for mumps, measles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox, meningitis, rubella, and pneumonia.

Dr. Hilleman headed Merck’s vaccine program. Due to mandatory retirement, he left his position as a senior vice president of Merck Research Labs at age 65 to direct the new Merck Institute for Vaccinology and serve as an advisor to public health organizations, including the World Health Organization. He died at age 85.

This is but a small token of the accolades for Dr. Hilleman, but the cited information should suffice in establishing his credibility. It seems whenever the safety or efficacy of vaccines is questioned, the first knee-jerk reaction is to discredit the source.

Dr. Hilleman, in an interview with PBS, revealed that back in the 1950s, there were “forty something viruses” in vaccines that they were inactivating. As an example, he said, “Yellow fever vaccine had leukemia virus in it.”

SV40 and the Cancer Connection

He recounted a conversation he had about the simian virus, SV40, that he found in his good friend’s, Albert Sabin’ s, live-virus polio vaccine. When Sabin asked why he was concerned about it, Hilleman said,

…I have a feeling in my bones that this virus is different. I don’t know why, to tell you this, but I’ve been around biology a long time. I just think this virus may have some long-term effects.”

When Sabin asked him what he thought the long-term effects might be, Hilleman said, “Cancer.”

Hilleman’s team injected hamsters with the virus.

…We knew it was in our seed stock for making vaccines. That virus, you see, is 1 in 10,000 particles, [it] is not inactivated by formaldehyde. It was good science at the time because that was what you did. You didn’t worry about these wild viruses.

So then, the next thing we know is, three or four weeks after that, there were tumors popping out in these hamsters.”

Conservative estimates determine 30 million Americans and hundreds of millions more around the globe received a vaccine contaminated with SV40. Both the Sabin and the Salk polio vaccines were contaminated, as were different adenovirus vaccines used with the U.S. military in the first half of the 1960s.

Today, decades later, SV40 has been found in many kinds of human cancers including cancer of the lung, brain, bone, and lymphatic system. Whether the virus causes cancer in humans has been a matter of debate.

Many who are pro-vaccine will search just long enough to find a source that discounts this possibility (such as Wikipedia). Many such sources are easy to find. Dig a little deeper and you will find current peer-reviewed sources that say the opposite.

Persuasive evidence now indicates that SV40 is causing infections in humans today and represents an emerging pathogen. A meta-analysis of molecular, pathological, and clinical data from 1,793 cancer patients indicates that there is a significant excess risk of SV40 associated with human primary brain cancers, primary bone cancers, malignant mesothelioma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Experimental data strongly suggest that SV40 may be functionally important in the development of some of those human malignancies.”

So we now know that SV40, “a potent DNA tumor virus,” is associated with our cancer epidemic that afflicts 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women.

We have learned this information through the revelation of Dr. Hilleman, a renowned scientist who is now deceased, and today’s research scientists. In his interview, Hilleman stated that there was no press release to inform the public about the SV40 contamination because it was “…a scientific affair within the scientific community.” The scientific community closed ranks to protect both the pharmaceutical companies and the vaccine program.

Judy Mikovits, PhD

Fast forward to today. The vaccine program is a multibillion-dollar industry under attack by concerned citizens due to the rise of autism and other neurological impairments they believe are caused by vaccines. No longer dependent upon the press for information, concerned parents and advocates for change communicate via the Internet.

Another internationally known scientist, one with a previously flawless reputation, a “rock star among her peers”, Dr. Judy Mikovits, stepped forward. Mikovits, a molecular biologist and biochemist with more than 30 years experience served as the director of the lab of Antiviral Drug Mechanisms at the National Cancer Institute before directing the Cancer Biology program at EpiGenX Pharmaceuticals. She later developed the first neuroimmune institute. Her early work focused on cancer and HIV, her later work focused on chronic fatigue syndrome and autism. She has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles.

Related: Vaccines, Retroviruses, DNA, and the Discovery That Destroyed Judy Mikovits’ Career

https://player.vimeo.com/video/146831570

Retrovirus Autism Connection

In 2011, she came forward with the discovery that at least 30% of our vaccines are contaminated with a retrovirus, one associated with autism and chronic fatigue syndrome. But that’s not all. The virus is also associated with Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Alzheimer’s. This retrovirus comes from lab mice.

Mikovits was threatened and told to destroy her data. She refused. She was fired and later arrested for stealing her data, an act she denies. Years later, charges were finally dropped and the 4-year gag order imposed by the court was lifted. Now Mikovits is speaking out. She asks,

How many new retroviruses have we created through all the mouse research, the vaccine research, gene therapy research? More importantly, how many new diseases have we created?”

And she says,

When they destroyed all of our work, and discredited everything I or Frank Ruscetti had ever published, and arranged for the publication of my mug shot in Science, the NIH very deliberately sent the message to researchers everywhere about what would happen to any honest scientist who dared ask those important questions.”

You can do a search for Judy Mikovits on the Internet and easily find that she lost her job, was arrested, and discredited. The question is why. The answer? Because she dared to come forward and tell the public that vaccines are associated with autism and other diseases. And because she is telling us that the labs are responsible for the contamination, the reason for the association.

If you are pro-vaccine, know that you believe in the promise that we have been given, that vaccines are safe and effective. When you seek out and find a source to confirm this belief, what is that source? Is it the pharmaceutical industry? Is it someone who receives funding from the pharmaceutical industry?

Why Big Pharma Will Hide the Truth

If the pharmaceutical industry admits their contaminated vaccines are implicated in millions of cases of cancer and if clear, conclusive evidence proves the link between vaccines and the devastating rise in autism, what would be the result? How many victims and parents of victims will demand compensation? How many will refuse vaccines, deciding that the risks outweigh the benefits?

Instead of taking that risk, pharmaceutical companies will continue to protect their corporate interests. Doctors with enough clout or with evidence that is highly damaging to the industry will be silenced or discredited. Mainstream media will be controlled through coercion (pharmaceutical companies control media through advertising dollars – huge budgets the news outlets depend on for revenue). The media will continue to be used to promote fear, stirring up the ludicrous belief that unvaccinated children pose a risk for vaccinated children.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP)

The ever-growing threat to the vaccine program has taken a new turn with mandated vaccinations. The federal government is now considering a federal law to force parents to vaccine their children regardless of their beliefs or concerns about toxic, contaminated vaccines. The federal government has already eliminated a parent or an adult victim’s ability to sue pharmaceutical companies for damages from vaccines. Our right to sue has been replaced with adjudication through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), regularly called vaccine court. Financial compensation is entirely derived from taxes placed on vaccines.

A document from the Health and Human Resources Department about VICP compensations clearly shows the current level of deception our government is using to assuage fears of vaccinations and support any and all questions from wavering pro-vaccine citizens. The document opens with these words:

The United States has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. In the majority of cases, vaccines cause no side effects, however they can occur, as with any medication—but most are mild. Very rarely, people experience more serious side effects, like allergic reactions.

In those instances, the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) allows individuals to file a claim for financial compensation.”

This makes it sound like claims are being made for allergic reactions, not for neurological damage, for autism, paralysis, death, or any number of other outcomes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueKVez4W54g

MMR II Adverse Reactions

Compare the benign statement from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program suggesting allergies are the adverse reactions causing concern to the actual adverse reactions listed in the insert from the MMR II or the following information extrapolated from the insert.

“While Merck, the MMR II manufacturer, does not list autism as one of the possible side effects of this vaccine, it does list many other serious, adverse reactions. This list includes meningitis, encephalitis, pancreatitis, diabetes, decreased blood platelets, convulsions, seizures, arthritis, bronchial spasm (asthmatic reaction), pneumonia, anaphylactic shock, and death. The list also includes many severe illnesses/reactions that are not commonly recognized or understood by the general public. These include:

• Pneumonitis – inflammation of the lungs
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) – a severe, life-threatening disease in which the body attacks the nervous system causing paralysis.
• Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) – a rare, fatal neurological disease
• Encephalopathy – abnormal brain function that may denote structural damage
• Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) – a post infection or post vaccine inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. (Attacks brain tissues and nerves).
• Transverse myelitis – an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord that causes weakness and loss of sensation and it affects the autonomic nervous system (breathing, the heart, digestion, reflexes).
• Ataxia – lack of control of muscles suggesting brain and nerve damage.
• Polyneuritis – weakness, numbness and pain – nerve damage
• Polyneuropathy – damage to nerves causing tingling and pain that may begin in the hands and feet and spread to other parts of the body and may affect the autonomic nervous system
• Ocular palsies – Damage to the nerves of the eye affecting eye movements, pupil constriction, and eyelid movement often resulting in an inability to focus without double vision.
• Panniculitis – inflammation of the fat layer and connective tissue just under the skin
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome – following a painful rash, the top layer of skin blisters, dies, and sheds.
• Erythema multiforme – skin reaction similar to Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
• Nerve deafness – hearing loss and dysfunction.
• Retinitis – damage to the retina causing damage to vision.
• Optic neuritis – inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause temporary blindness.
• Papillitis – Inflammation of the optic nerve head
• Epididymitis – Inflammation of the tube at the back of the testicle.
• Orchitis – inflammation of the testicles.

Of course, less serious reactions also occur including fever, vomiting, swollen glands, diarrhea, rashes, pain and swelling of the injection site, and contracting measles, mumps, or rubella from the vaccine.” (For more on the MMR II see our full article, The MMR Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness.)

Face the Truth

For far too many, simple statements made by the government such as “Very rarely, people experience more serious side effects, like allergic reactions.” obfuscate the truth. And then, any claims that vaccines cause autism or other serious side effects are swept aside with, “At least 250 studies have proven there is no link between autism and vaccines.”

Those who still believe our vaccines are safe and effective are ignoring these truths:

• The inserts show very real and very serious risks associated with vaccination including possible death.
• Pharmaceutical companies are not benevolent or trustworthy.
  • Big pharmaceutical companies have been fined billions for illegal activities. The top 6 are:
    • GlaxoSmithKline PLC, fined 7.56 billion for 20 settlements
    • Pfizer Inc., fined 2.96 billion for 15 settlements
    • Johnson & Johnson, fined 2.33 billion for 14 settlements
    • Merck & Co. Inc., fined 1.86 billion, for 27 settlements
    • Abbott Laboratories, fined 1.82 billion for 12 settlements
    • Eli Lilly & Co., fined 1.71 billion for 13 settlements
  • Two former Merck scientists, whistleblowers, contend that Merck “fraudulently misled the government and omitted, concealed, and adulterated material information regarding the efficacy of its mumps vaccine in violation of the FCA [False Claims Act].” Merck stands accused of defrauding the U.S. government in order to procure government vaccine contracts. This, of course, is not the first time they have faced state and/or federal fraud charges.
• The CDC cannot be trusted to tell the truth in regards to the vaccine/autism connection.
  • A whistleblower has come forth from the CDC in regards to suppressed data regarding a correlation between the MMR vaccine and autism in black male children
  • Pharmaceutical company executives have served as advisory panel members for the CDC.
  • Dr. Julie Gerberding, who headed the CDC from 2002 through 2009, became the new President of Merck’s vaccine division.

If you are still not convinced that injecting mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum, polysorbate 80, and animal or human tissue with whatever viruses they carry into your body or your child’s body is not safe, speak to a parent who knows a vaccine caused their child’s autism. Listen as a mother tells you her healthy, happy, verbal child received a shot, spiked a fever, and disappeared. It only takes hearing the story once to know the truth. When you hear the same story again and again, denial is much harder.

Today, 1 in every 45 children are diagnosed with autism, but how many others are suffering in ways that manifest with other disabilities from ADHD to diabetes, auto-immune disorders and other chronic disorders? With so many toxins in our air, water, and food, injecting more of them directly into the bloodstream is asking for an epidemic. And that’s what we have on our hands, a brain-damaged, vaccine injured society. It is an epidemic, to say the least, and it’s growing rapidly.

Diseases are scary. The idea of dying from a disease that one could be vaccinated for is scary. There are potential risks on both sides. We choose to minimize our risk on this matter in two ways. First, we know that the right nutrition and a truly healthy lifestyle is a better defense against disease than any corporation can concoct in a lab. Second, we choose not to trust companies with our life when those companies have proven they cannot be trusted. It’s that simple.

Disease is a symptom of cellular malfunction. Cells malfunction due to a lack of nutrition and/or toxicity. Health starts in the gut because it’s all about what you put in it. And, the truth is, with a healthy gut, the body can withstand a remarkable toxic load. If you have to vaccinate, if you don’t have a choice, and especially if you have to do multiple shots in a short period of time, we recommend you get your gut as healthy as possible and keep it that way. Eat and drink in a manner that allows you to always be properly detoxing. Check out the three articles below for more information.

Sources:

• The MMR Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness
• Emergent Human Pathogen Simian Virus 40 and Its Role in Cancer – NCBI
• Maurice Ralph Hilleman, American microbiologist – Encyclopedia Britannica
• 60 Lab Studies Now Confirm Cancer Link to a Vaccine You Probably Had as a Child – The Edgy Truth
• Data and Statistics (Vaccine Compensation) – Department of Health and Human Resources
• CDC: 1 in 45 Children Diagnosed With Autism – National Vaccine Information Center
• One thing Ackman’s right about — drug companies survive billions in fines – MW Market Watch
• Merck Has Some Explaining To Do Over Its MMR Vaccine Claims – Huffington Post

From hot cocoa to cheery clementines, the winter months are associated with delightful smells. Whether you revel in the pungent aroma of a holiday tree or a sprinkle of cinnamon on a festive dessert, aromatics have a positive effect on wellbeing.

The days are short during the cold months, and that means most of us don’t wrap up the work day in time to have a chance to soak up some sunlight. Less sunlight affects our mood, and the reason goes way beyond the dismal tone of gray days. Serotonin and other feel-good neurochemicals in our bodies are stimulated by natural, full-spectrum light, and without it, sadness, depression, and lassitude can become a problem.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a form of depression that accompanies the change of seasons and can be debilitating. Seasonal Affective Disorder is often dismissed as the “winter blues”, but for many individuals, it is an annual descent into deep melancholy and moodiness. SAD can be treated with light therapy, medication, herbal supplements, and clinical aromatherapy. The latter is a delightful and nourishing tool for self-care during the winter months.

Aromatic medicine is not only ideal for improving mood but also for boosting immunity. Lung-supporting steams, fragrant baths, invigorating showers, cold-soothing chest rubs, and delicious-smelling potpourri take only minutes to create and can make winter an easier passage.

Looking at the scents we most commonly gravitate toward this time of year validates the deeper wisdom of our sense of smell. Here are a few:

Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea)

Balsam fir, the quintessential scent of the Christmas tree, is an uplifting scent that has a wonderful effect on frazzled nerves. Its superpower is the ability to lower excess cortisol in the body and support the adrenals, the body’s stress glands. Balsam fir is the ideal aroma to reach for when exhausted, emotionally spent, fighting a cold or battling the flu, or feeling off kilter from stress. It can be applied to a tissue and inhaled, diluted in unscented lotion or vegetable oil and rubbed on the chest, or added to distilled water in a spray bottle for disinfecting surfaces or clearing the air of unwanted odors. Balsam fir is an uplifting oil that can be inhaled to soften the edge of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and other forms of depression.

Cacao (Theobroma cacao)

Cacao, the euphoric aroma of chocolate, stimulates serotonin and dopamine within seconds, therefore, flooding the brain with feel-good chemicals and inducing a better mood. Cacao is a good scent to reach for when irritability and holiday stress take the joy out of winter festivities. It is also invaluable in helping to ease cravings for chocolate, white-flour carbs, and sugary treats. Inhaling cacao when a craving comes on can reduce the need to grab the nearest cupcake or candy bar.

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)

The scent of artificial cinnamon is often sprayed on pine cones and potpourris during holiday time. These chemical imposters greet shoppers at the market and florist, but the real thing is not only better for your health but a great way to increase energy and fight viruses. Cinnamon bark essential oil is a powerful substance and must be used with caution, but its benefits are worth investing in a little know-how. 1 drop or 2 applied to the soles of the feet can ward off influenza and other nasty illnesses. It can be sprinkled onto dry leaves and pine cones for a spicy potpourri that not only delights the nose but uplifts the mood, increases vitality, and wakes up sluggish minds. When diffused into the air via a nebulizer, cinnamon will kill bacteria, molds, and viruses upon contact. *Caution: Cinnamon can irritate the mucus membranes, so please do not inhale directly or allow it to come in contact with the eyes. Do not apply to any other part of the body, only the soles of the feet. **Tip: cassia is a great substitute for more expensive cinnamon for scenting the home or office.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)

Menthol, the major component of eucalyptus, is most commonly used in chest rubs and cough drops. Its slap-you-in-the-face coolness is excellent for bronchial and sinus congestion, aches and pains, and boosting immunity. Add a few drops in Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt for an invigorating, nourishing bath. For a healing steam that can unblock sinuses, ease colds and flu, and improve the effects of winter depression, add 1-3 drops to a bowl of hot water and inhale with a towel over the head. A drop or two is a wonderful addition to natural potpourri: sprinkle 3 drops of eucalyptus, 5 drops balsam fir or pine needle, and 4 drops of sweet orange oil on dried leaves or pine cones. *Caution: do not use near the face or on the chest in cases of asthma, for menthol can trigger asthmatic attacks in some individuals. Avoid the eyes.

Frankincense (Boswellia carteri)

Frankincense, most commonly associated with biblical times, is derived from a resilient desert tree that exudes a fragrant resin when the bark is wounded or slashed. The essential oil is supportive to the lungs, endocrine system, and nerves. It is also a wonderful scent to inhale to increase oxygen in the brain and other tissues. Frankincense is a fine oil to use during meditative times to deepen relaxation and spiritual connection. This oil may be blended with lavender, ylang ylang, and myrrh to enhance its nerve-calming abilities. *Tip: Frankincense is one of the most important essential oils in modern clinical aromatherapy and is used for everything from panic disorders to cancer prevention and treatment.

Peppermint (Mentha piperata)

Peppermint is such a part of everyday life, it is easy to forget its deeply medicinal properties. Found in everything from toothpaste to candy canes, this essential oil is useful for every facet of life and health. It is invaluable for digestive woes, especially after eating too rich foods during holiday time. A few drops can be added to a little vegetable oil or unscented lotion and rubbed on the belly for fast relief of gas, bloating, cramping, intestinal distress, and general indigestion. A speck under the tongue can relieve nausea. Add a few drops in Epsom salts or evaporated sea salt for an invigorating, nourishing bath. For a healing steam that can unblock sinuses, ease colds and flu, and improve the effects of winter depression, add 1-3 drops to a bowl of hot water and inhale with a towel over the head. *Caution: do not use near the face or on the chest in cases of asthma, for menthol can trigger asthmatic attacks in some individuals. Avoid the eyes.

Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)

Tangerine, similar to sweet orange essential oil in scent, is a delightful citrus aroma that induces happiness, calm, and hope when inhaled. It is a gentle oil, especially beneficial for irritable children and a lovely addition to bedtime. It is a great pick-me-up when added to household cleaners, room sprays, potpourri, and air fresheners.

Essential oils are the ideal choice for aromatherapeutic inhalation, but if you don’t have any on hand, simply crush an orange peel or pine needles and inhale deeply; brew a pot of tea with a couple of cinnamon sticks and inhale the steam. With a little fragrance, winter and its challenges can be tamed, and life, just a little bit sweeter.

Sources:

• Multidimensional Aromatherapy: Clinical, Practical, and Vibrational Applications by Marlaina Donato

One of the fastest-growing causes of death in the world, diabetes is especially prevalent in the United States as about 1 in every 11 people has been diagnosed with the condition. Medical costs for treating the disease are considerable, with worldwide costs reaching 548 billion dollars in 2013. The U.S. is responsible for around 35 percent of that figure, but despite that robust amount of spending, the numbers of those with diabetes are still rising. Traditional disease prevention and management strategies focus on being active, watching your weight, and eating healthy with a particular emphasis on avoiding sugar and paying attention to the glycemic index. But sugar isn’t the only villain in the diabetes narrative. Here are some of the other kinds of foods that can aggravate and contribute to your diabetes.

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners don’t provide any actual health benefit. Instead, they serve as a way for people with diabetes to get a sugar fix. There are five artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States: saccharin, sucralose, aspartame, neotame and acesulfame K. While most of these are usually used by and marketed towards those with diabetes or people trying to avoid sugar, there is evidence to suggest that consuming artificial sweeteners, specifically saccharine, disrupts the bacteria in your gut. Gut health is especially important for people with diabetes since changes to the bacteria in the gut have been associated with a disposition towards diabetes. Artificial sweeteners frequently pass through the gastrointestinal tract without being digested, allowing the unaltered particles to wreak havoc directly on intestinal bacteria. If you have sugar cravings, do your gut bacteria a favor and check out healthy sugar alternatives before you reach for the artificial sugar packets.

Fructose & High Fructos Corn Syrup

Fructose occurs naturally in fruits, sugars, bread, and cured meat products. It has also found its way into the majority of pre-packaged foods with high fructose corn syrup and other sugars being routinely added to these products. A small amount of fructose, especially from whole food sources that provide other nutrients and enzymes, in of itself isn’t a bad thing, but problems occur with excessive fructose consumption. Fructose is only processed in the liver. Too much fructose causes insulin resistance in the fatty triglycerides in the membranes surrounding the cells of ourperipheral tissue. The more insulin resistant cells you have, the more likely it is that the levels of insulin in the bloodstream are too high since the insulin has nowhere else to go. This is one of the first steps on the way to diabetes.

Fruit is often seen as the biggest contributor to fructose issues, but fruit in moderation has a multitude of health benefits. It makes more sense to avoid manufactured fructose and eat real food, rather than packages of extra calories with potential health problems. The real problem is high fructose corn syrup. There is a direct correlation between the rise of HFCS use and type 2 diabetes.

Refined and Processed Foods

Refined and processed foods like white rice, most of the commercially available breads, and snack foods contain simple carbohydrates and they have had all of their natural nutrients stripped away. This leaves empty calories and easily digestible sugars, spiking insulin and blood sugar levels. People who consume a steady supply of these foods, rather than whole foods with their nutrients intact like brown rice or steel cut oats, are much more likely to be at risk for type 2 diabetes. Processed foods that contain chemicals to enhance their taste can also trigger inflammation, damage tissue, and cause insulin resistance.

Your Diet is Key to Avoiding and Managing Diabetes

Almost ten percent of the population in the United States has diabetes, and that number is on the rise, with even children and young adults developing the disease at alarming rates. Conventional wisdom touts the importance of diet and exercise as ways to manage the risk of diabetes, but the connection between a society facing a growing diabetes epidemic and a society that offers more packaged and fewer whole food options cannot be ignored. Eating a diet rich in fresh, raw, organic produce (mostly vegetables) and with minimal amounts of unhealthy packaged an artificial foods, can make keep you from joining the ranks of those dealing with diabetes.

Recommended Reading:

• How to Improve Blood Sugar Levels and Reverse Diabetes For Good
• Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases
• Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included
• Cinnamon – Ceylon Vs Cassia, Health Benefits, and Other Interesting Facts

Sources:

• Artificial Sugars May Cause Diabetes Risk – MedPageToday
• Healthy Sugar Alternatives – Organic Lifestyle Magazine
• Four Food Choices That Greatly Increase Your Diabetes Risk – Healthline
• How Triglycerides Affect Your Risk of Diabetes – Web MD
• 10 Reasons Why Fructose is Bad –  Paleo Leap
• Diabetes Latest – CDC