Blog Archives - Anima Journey

Are Drones a Good Use for Exposing Animal Cruelty?

9/25/2014

From Will Potterʻs Kickstarter website:

"… New “ag-gag” laws make it illegal to photograph animal cruelty on factory farms; in some cases, exposing cruelty can lead to more jail time than committing it. These bills have already become law in Utah, Iowa, Missouri, and Idaho. Right now, more states are considering them, and they are spreading globally. The agriculture industry in Australia is modeling its “ag-gag” laws after those in the states.

The latest trend is that the agriculture industry is even trying to ban photographs of farms taken from the air. It is unlikely that aerial photography can document animal abuse, but these industries are clearly concerned. So what are factory farms trying to hide? Will a drone allow us to see the scope of pollution caused by these industrial operations? I’m going to find out…"

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Personally, I have VERY mixed feelings about drones. But, I donʻt have mixed feelings about animal cruelty. So, check out Will Potterʻs website and see what you think. Support or donʻt support his cause. I found the idea of using drones to document animal cruelty an interesting one. I was also aghast to learn that the agriculture industry has been successful in formulating laws to make it a crime to photograph animal cruelty! It seems that in the U.S., whistleblowers are being punished more and more...

Can having a bigger waist size be a good thing? Apparently, yes

9/23/2014

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

by Willow Aureala

Of course, no one thing is THE main factor or variable that accounts for something. However, just looking at the topic of waist fat or waist circumference, according to research by Dr. Lavie and others [and thousands of participants], People who have a larger waist size have been found to live longer and survive a heart attack, cancer, kidney disease and deadly infections. It seems that for some percentage of people, being overweight may actually have some protective factors.

One important question Dr. Lavie asks in his book The Obesity Paradox is "Could there be a genetic, evolutionary reason to be a little chubby when we're older and at greater risk for disease (and not beat ourselves up while trying to get down to what we think is an ideal weight"? (p. 15). I think that's a really good question. I do have concerns about the extreme focus that seems to be occurring in research on genetics because that in itself could lead to the sort of attitude like 'well, there's nothing I can do about it; it's just in my genes' and people could be defeatist and not attempt to make any lifestyle changes. But, it is also just as valuable to look at components such as genetics because this can give us a more balanced or rounded [pun intended] or inclusive idea of how the body works.

Dr. Lavie shares that in his practice and research, he noticed that "the people who fared the worst weren't just low in body fat, but they were low in muscle mass and cardio fitness, too. So, it's not only the presence of fat that helps us to live long past a horrible diagnosis of a chronic condition, but it's also the existence of what's called cardiorespiratory fitness. There's a great divide between being just fat and being fit and fat" (p. 15).

Dr. Lavie goes on to ask some other important questions that I'll also address in this blog post; for example, how much exercise is enough; is there such a thing as too much? Does running long distance or working out for long periods of time put too much strain on our hearts and actually reduce our longevity? What Dr. Lavie and others have discovered about fitness is that "We are not so much born to run as born to walk" (p. 16). So, just as too little exercise or too little fat may not lead to optimal health, so too could too much exercise or too much fat.

Here are some pieces of information, based on research, that I have found fascinating, and perhaps you will too:

Diabetes patients of normal weight are twice as likely to die as those who are overweight or obese
Heavier dialysis patients have a lower change of dying than those who are of normal weight or underweight
Mild to moderate obesity poses no additional mortality risks to those already suffering from heart disease
Being overweight is not related to increased mortality in the elderly
Obesity can help someone with cancer or an infection such as HIV live longer

Do these issues sound counter-intuitive to you? They certainly do to me! I have a really hard time wrapping my mind around those bullet points above! And, this is one reason I'm reading Dr. Lavie's book; to learn more about these topics.

As Dr. Lavie points out: "A good paradox in science is a good problem to have if you're looking for the truth; it opens the door to new information" (p. 17). So, I'll be sharing more of this paradox with you as I learn more! :)

The Fat is Fit [or it could be] Paradox

9/21/2014

Iʻve been reading a very interesting book called The Obesity Paradox by Dr. Carl Lavie [a cardiologist and researcher].

One point that Dr. Lavie writes about is that the notion that being fat also means that a person is unhealthy has actually been dis-proven by many studies over the last decade or so. Researchers have been learning that people who are in the overweight or obese BMI [body mass index] categories may actually be metabolically healthy [show no indicators of increased cholesterol, C-Reactive Protein, insulin resistance, and other common indicators of unhealthiness]. And, other studies have shown that many overweight people who have had myocardial incidents [such as heart attacks] seem to recover better and live longer than those with leaner BMI.

Researchers are trying to tease out the variables that could be in play in this evidence; some hypothesize that certain kinds of fat in certain places in the body may actually have protective factors.

But, as we all know, the body is a complex creature, and the variables at play are many.

Lavie does not recommend that those who are lean should bulk up and become fatter. However, his and other research indicates that it may well be that fitness, cardiovascular and muscle mass in particular, may sometimes or often be better indicators of health than BMI alone. People who are overweight but are fit seem to fare better against disease and disorders than those who are lean and unfit [and they are called metabolically healthy].

I havenʻt yet finished the book, so Iʻll be sharing some additional insight and information from Dr. Lavie. Itʻs quite fascinating to read about the debates that researchers are having regarding BMI [it appears to be a somewhat poor indicator of health, and researchers are proposing other indicators in addition to that], as well as the fat/fitness debate.

So, more to come! :)

The Human Connectome Project

9/16/2014

I [Willow] was quite fascinated to learn about this NIH-run project where scientists are using the latest technology to map neural pathways in the human brain! Itʻs just amazing what can be accomplished these days with technology! I hope you check it out! Not only are scientists mapping neural pathways, but they are also sharing the data with others, for free! Very interesting!

http://www.humanconnectomeproject.org/

23 Places You Absolutely Must Poop Before You Die!

9/16/2014

Check out some amazing toilet/bathroom areas! Some of them are just amazing! And, beautiful!

http://news.distractify.com/culture/arts/17-places-you-absolutely-must-poop-before-you-die/

The First Ever HawaiiCon! Sept 2014

9/7/2014

I [Willow] was shocked to hear on the radio a few days ago that there is going to be a "HawaiiCon" Sept 12 thru 14, 2014 on the Big Island! These sorts of sci fi conventions rarely come to Hawaii, and even rarer to the Big Island!

I would really like to go, but it is pricey and it's a long drive. But, here is the website for those who'd like to check it out and see what is planned for the first ever Big Island HawaiiCon!

http://www.hawaiicon.com/

The 80% Rule: One way to maintain or reduce weight

9/3/2014

by Willow Aureala

About nine or so years ago, I was really struggling to maintain my weight, and not gain weight. Even though I was eating about the same amount and types of foods [mostly raw, fresh fruits and veggies as I was eating about a 99% raw food diet] and doing the same activities as I had been for a while, I was gaining a bit of weight - more than I wanted to, anyway. It seemed that perhaps my metabolism had been shifting or changing, as I was growing older, and I could no longer eat the large salads I was used to eating [yes, I was struggling with eating ʻtoo muchʻ salad!].

I found this weight gain very frustrating and had a very hard time with figuring out how to deal with it. I guess I wanted to keep eating the same amounts, but apparently I couldnʻt and thatʻs where my frustration was [not to mention gaining weight]. I had made great progress, or so I thought, in mostly conquering my overeating - I worked on that issue for about a year or so and was finally able to not overeat most of the time Now, even though I wasnʻt eating until I was overfull, my body was still treating my intake as ʻtoo muchʻ.

The Japanese have a saying that is part of their cultural tradition, and one of the factors that makes them one of the healthiest group of people on the planet. Before eating, they say "Hari hachi bu" which is translated as ʻeat only until 80% fullʻ. I had also read Harvey and Marilyn Diamondʻs book "Fit for Life" many years earlier and I remember on one of their pages they had written "Do Not Overeat" a LOT of times. They certainly were stressing the importance of not stretching oneʻs stomach, as well as keeping portions smaller.

I donʻt consciously think "Hari hachi bu" before I eat, but I did finally learn two things from my struggle with weight gain:

1) sometimes it is biomedical. I went to a doctor who focuses mostly on anti-aging medicine, but who also is very knowledgeable about the issues with thyroid testing [that information could be explored in a lengthy article all in itself!]. She determined that I needed a mixture of T3 and T4 to get my thyroid hormones back into balance, and that this was one contributing factor to my weight gain.

2) I finally learned [I ʻgot itʻ] that I could no longer eat the same portions as just a short time before my weight gain started. I finally ʻgotʻ that I needed to start eating smaller portions. In particular, my salads had to be smaller. When I eat my smoothies, I need to eat/drink less amount of them at one time. This does relate to the concept of the 80% rule that many Japanese follow. I think it is an excellent one for just about anyone to follow, especially as the metabolism changes as we get older [as it does for just about everyone].

The psychological and attitude adjustments were harder for me to make than changing my portion size. For whatever reason, I ʻhadʻ to go through the struggle of finally ʻgettingʻ that I could no longer eat the same amounts. Perhaps if I had known then about the 80% rule, I might have elected to adopt that practice rather than struggle for such a long time [probably about a year] with my portion size. Maybe it would have helped me get to the ʻaha!ʻ moment faster; but then again, maybe not!

I encourage folks to give the 80% rule a try, especially if you are struggling with weight gain. Instead of eating until you feel full [it takes a little while for your body to recognize that you have had enough, and at that point, youʻve probably eaten ʻtoo muchʻ], eat until you feel 80% full. It also helps to make the portions on your plate, or in your bowl, smaller. America has become the land of ʻsupersizeʻ so this, too [smaller portions], may take some practice and mindfulness. But, if I can do it, you can too! For most of the last decade, I can say that probably 90% to 95% of the time, I do not overeat [potlucks are one of the hardest places to not overeat for me, so I tend to avoid them, although not all of the time]. I also prefer to eat my last meal as early in the evening as I can so that I do not go to bed full. Going to bed full now feels very uncomfortable to me, and makes it harder to fall asleep. My weight has also been pretty steady in the last eight or nine years. I usually get my thyroid hormones tested annually, to see if any adjustments are needed in the compounded prescription I take.

These practices take time, patience and perseverance to put into place and make them regular habits. Build in some rewards and motivators for yourself. I know that one practice that some use to remind them of their developing new habits is to wear a wristband, which serves as a reminder to continue working on their new habit or habits. I have been thinking about this wristband idea to develop more of an ʻattitude of gratitudeʻ as I think I could use more of that in my life. So, I plan to get one and test it out. Some people really like apps on their mobile phones. Use whatever works!

What about you? What methods do you employ to eat more healthily? Do you struggle with weight gain? Does it seem that your metabolism is changing? If so, perhaps some of the above will be helpful to you. And, sometimes seeing a doctor and having some blood tests done is also very beneficial. When I found out that part of my struggle included biochemistry that was out of my control [and therefore, I could stop feeling ʻbadʻ about it], that really helped me get to a new level with my portion size. Share your stories on this topic if youʻd like!

Optimism and denial

9/2/2014

by Willow Aureala

Iʻve been reading Counterclockwise by Ellen Langer. Her main topic is the concept of mindfulness. For whatever reason, that word ʻmindfulnessʻ bugs me; I think because it sounds ʻnew age-yʻ or something and some new age concepts just bug me. However, I do agree with many things she writes about, and I appreciate the research studies she has included in her book to support some of her statements [of course, most people donʻt discuss any contrary research studies in their books, so that needs to be taken into consideration].

Anyway, one thing she wrote about is the correlation between optimism and recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery, and other studies about attitudes affecting recovery. She wrote "This improvement is not a function of a patientʻs tendency to deny that he was ill. Those who hold optimistic beliefs actually pay greater attention to their recovery, and in so doing they aid the recovery process and help anticipate complications. This optimism is highly correlated with mindfulness (and also may be causally related)" (p. 64). Mindfulness means to be aware, to focus slightly more attention on something that one may do otherwise. So, if someone is paying greater attention to their recovery, what might they be doing differently than those who donʻt? I would suggest that attention also means that a person could have more of a will or drive to recover, and perhaps those who donʻt place as much attention on their recovery are less inclined to get better, for whatever reasons. These could be familial, environmental [yucky surroundings], not really having much to look forward to when one has recovered, or other things. Langer doesnʻt really address these things. Does optimism follow from personality and/or environmental factors, or the reverse - do environmental factors and personality lead to more optimism, and thus, better recovery?

I donʻt think it is a one-to-one relationship; there are likely to be other variables involved than simply being optimistic means more will recover from something. I think mindfulness, or attention, is very important to oneʻs health and well-being, but to attribute optimism and attention as directly or as primary contributors to recovery from surgery seems inaccurate. How much ʻmindfulnessʻ is necessary to show better recovery? How much optimism? Where is the line on the continuum for those concepts? Certainly, our psychology is very important in our lives; mind & body, after all, do impact each other. But, other variables are important, as well.

Langer also discussed that when someone is told that they have cancer and are given a low prognosis for recovery [you have X months to live], then many people accept that and this can lead to a doctor-fulfilling prophecy [she calls it a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I wonder; doctors words influence many people]. She wrote "When we learn the correlational finding - say, that cancer kills - and mindlessly accept as necessarily true, then a diagnosis of cancer may unwittingly lead us to see ourselves as victims of self-fulfilling prophecies" (p. 65).

Certainly, unwittingly believing what anyone says could have a negative impact on us. A curious question comes out of this ʻcancer is a killerʻ issue, too: why do so many people ask the doctor "How long do I have?" Langer also discussed how many doctors are asked this question, and yet, they really are reporting statistics, and there are always outliers on statistics. Perhaps some people have a ʻdeath wishʻ and thatʻs why they ask the question "How long do I have?" That would be an interesting study to me: to learn more about why people ask that question.

So, yes, mindfullness, or attention, is very important. There is an old saying, you get what you focus on. But, I think, too, that there are other variables or factors that Langer doesnʻt address in her story about cancer or recovery from surgery. If someone is of older age, and all they have to look forward to is returning to a nursing home where they have little to say about their world [Langer also discussed control for nursing home residents and how much that can impact their lives and longevity], then there probably is a good reason why they may not recover well... They may be focusing on what they donʻt have to look forward to, and thus, are not that interested in ʻrecoveryʻ.

Our brains and minds are so fascinating, and researchers are attempting to tease out the different components of what makes us tick [or not]. I appreciate many of Langerʻs observations and the value that mindfulness has in our lives, but itʻs not always mindfulness that is relevant in a given situation.

Reference:

Langer, Ellen 2009. Counterclockwise: Mindful health and the power of possibility.

How does a vegan [and especially a raw fooder] prep for 'disasters'?

9/1/2014

Have you been following the 'doomsday prepper' movement or know anyone who has a 'go bag' and prepares for potential disasters? Ever watch the series "Doomsday Preppers"?

I have, and Allan and I have talked about how to prep for different disasters. Unfortunately, it seems that most of the stuff that preppers have on hand for food would be canned or bottled items, and it certainly doesn't seem like one could really prepare to be a 'raw fooder' in the face of a nuclear disaster or something along those lines. I've seen some of the "Doomsday Prepper" shows. Some folks are growing a lot of stuff and canning/bottling it; others claim that they will be able to live off the wild stuff growing along the highways and byways. But what if that stuff growing along the highways and byways is filled with radiation?

Mostly, it seems like we would stock up on things like rice [and have to be sure to keep the bugs out of it], and maybe purchase some cans of veggies [maybe we should be canning our own?]. We should also have 'go bags' ready, as well as large supplies of water [again, got to keep it fresh if we put it in a large container, unless we buy bottled water - but then there is the plastic/BPA issue]. We could also have things like millet, oats [for oatmeal], dried fruit [we could dry our own but how long would it last?], nuts [again, how long would those remain good], seeds and the like. But, I haven't quite figured out how to prep for having fresh raw fruits and veggies; that just doesn't seem possible. So, if a disaster such as nuclear radiation occurs, then it would be pretty difficult to remain a raw fooder. A vegan, perhaps, but not raw foods.

What about you - are you prepping for a possible disaster [as in, better to be safe than sorry]? If so, what items are you putting away and how much? How does a raw fooder prep for possible disasters, especially something like nuclear radiation disasters or the like?

Tropical blueberries - they exist!

9/1/2014

Did you know that there are varieties of blueberries and raspberries [and maybe some other 'cool weather' berries that I haven't yet learned about] that grow in the 'tropics' [or, at least, in Hawaii]??!! I learned about them approximately two to three years ago. Now we have two varieties of tropical blueberries growing; one looks like a regular blueberry and one looks very different and has a skin that you peel away to eat the fruit inside. I've had pretty good luck with the two tropical blueberry varieties [actually producing fruit], but not as much [at least not yet] with the raspberries. I'm still working on the raspberries - planing them in different places and trying different soil amendments and different water amounts with them. But, it really 'tripped me out' when I learned that these tropical berries actually exist [someone has been hard at work playing around with these typically cool-weather plants - thank you whoever you are!] and that they actually produce berries! What a great thing, to grow our own berries in Hawaii!! :)