July 20th, 2011 by Phil
Individuals make decisions each day, from the banal choice of what to eat for breakfast to important distinctions between choosing a school to attend. However, few actually think about the actions that the brain makes in even the most simple of decisions.
Researchers at Rutgers University have found that making a choice activates regions in the brain associated with reward, suggesting that the action is an adaptive trait to help humans achieve what they desire.
"It makes sense that we would evolve to find choice rewarding, since the perception of control is so adaptive. If we didn't feel that we were capable of effectively acting on our environment to achieve our desired goals, there would be little incentive to face even the slightest challenge," said co-author Lauren Leotti.
The team of scientists conducted a study wherein participants were either allowed to make choices in a computerized game or the machine would make the decisions for them. Participants were able to receive rewards for certain answers. Results revealed that individuals who were given the option to choose felt a stronger sense of control, when compared to their counterparts.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that people's choices are key drivers in their life success. In fact, his Brain Education research reveals that individuals may be able to choose to see the positive in life over the negative, thereby boasting a stronger, more pure mind.
Brain Education and learning are key components to reaching a heightened state of mental well-being. The technique has been shown to yield positive results in people worldwide, helping them on their journeys toward betterment and fulfillment.
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July 19th, 2011 by Phil
Individuals who are interested in practicing holistic health often take vitamin C supplements, as well as consume ample citrus fruits, in an effort to boost their immune systems and keep their hearts healthy.
Now, researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University discovered that vitamin C plays a very important role in keeping the eyes and brain functioning at their optimal levels.
"We found that cells in the retina need to be 'bathed' in relatively high doses of vitamin C, inside and out, to function properly," said co-author Henrique von Gersdorff, Ph.D. "Because the retina is part of the central nervous system, this suggests there's likely an important role for vitamin C throughout our brains, to a degree we had not realized before."
The researchers found that a lack of vitamin C caused GABA receptors in the brain to malfunction, hindering communication between the brain and cells. Additionally, the study authors noted that the antioxidant vitamin C may act to preserve receptors and cells from deterioration.
The scientists said their findings may have implications for individuals looking to stave off glaucoma and epilepsy. Vitamin C has also been known to prevent the onset of scurvy, which often leads to other conditions like depression.
The best holistic health practices involve things that individuals always knew were good for them: a proper diet, physical exercise and a strong connection between the mind, body and spirit. To attain the latter aspect, author and philosopher Ilchi Lee recommends practices like meditation and yoga, which do more than strengthen muscles, as they have also been shown to improve concentration and brain function.
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July 19th, 2011 by Phil
With obesity rates higher than ever, scientists have been searching for both traditional and holistic health approaches to curbing the trend. Recently, researchers from the Technical University of Lisbon and Bangor University have suggested that having a positive body image could help people lose weight.
The scientists took a group of women and gave half of them general health and nutrition information, while the other group attended sessions where the possible causes of their overeating as well as their issues about their bodies were discussed.
After attending the more in-depth sessions, women reported feeling better about their bodies. This led to them being more confident in the choices they made and better able to regulate their eating habits than the women who just received basic nutritional information.
"Our results showed a strong correlation between improvements in body image, especially in reducing anxiety about other peoples' opinions, and positive changes in eating behavior," said Pedro Teixeira from Technical University of Lisbon, who led the research. "From this we believe that learning to relate to your body in healthier ways is an important aspect of maintaining weight loss and should be addressed in every weight control program."
Women in the group that discussed their emotions along with nutrition saw a 7 percent weight loss, compared to women in the other group that only saw a 2 percent change.
Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in the importance of body and Brain Education, so that people may know how to better keep themselves healthy. He also supports using holistic health approaches to find inner and outer health.
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July 15th, 2011 by Phil
Individuals who have kidney disease may want to consider losing weight around their midsection, since researchers at the Loyola University Health System found that patients with a high waist circumference were at a higher risk of mortality, when compared to their slimmer counterparts.
A team of scientists examined the health data of more than 5,800 individuals with kidney disease over a four-year period, over which time 11.8 percent of participants passed away.
Interestingly, those who died had a body mass index (BMI) that was lower than the average for the study group, but they were shown to have larger waist circumferences, at 40.1 inches, compared to the survivors who had an average measurement of 39.1 inches.
"Waist circumference reflects abdominal adiposity [fat] alone and may be a useful measure to determine mortality risk associated with obesity in adults with chronic kidney disease, especially when used in conjunction with BMI," said the study authors.
Authors of the study noted that the findings may be useful in determining which patients have a higher risk of premature death.
Practicing holistic health techniques, like eating healthy, getting plenty of physical activity and taking vitamin supplements, may help individuals to reduce their waist circumference. Additionally, methods that help to strengthen the connection between the body and mind may help people gain better self control.
Brain Education research has shown that the meditation technique may be an effective way for people to gain control over their minds. In turn, such practices can help individuals let go of unhealthy life habits that may be contributing to excess body fat as well as kidney problems.
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July 15th, 2011 by Phil
The 1989 film "Dead Poets Society" is a good example of a story about brain education and the transformative power that new perspectives can have on one's life. This classic film won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and has since endured as a truly classic tale of education and learning.
At the restrictive Welton Academy prep school, a group of young teenage boys are surprised to find that their English class is taught by John Keating (Robin Williams), who espouses a philosophy directly at odds with the conservative upbringing of the rest of the school.
As an example, on the first day of class, Keating has the students read from a poetry textbook. The book talks about how one can read a poetry and determine how great it is by applying a mathematical formula. Keating finds this ridiculous, so he has the class tear the pages out of the book – something that shocks the more uptight members of the group.
Keating's teaching philosophy is ultimately about whole brain education. Not only does he instruct them in the ways of English, but he attempts to educate them on life in general. He often repeats the phrase "carpe diem" ("seize the day") and even has the class stand on their desks to get a new perspective on life.
This inspires the students, who decide to form a literary club called the Dead Poets' Society. Of course, as the boys become more and more daring in their rebelliousness, they begin to butt heads with the school administration, which forms the main conflict in the film.
When it comes to movies about brain education and learning, it's tough to beat Dead Poets' Society, which mixes a good bit of humor with serious issues about the philosophy of education.
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July 13th, 2011 by Phil
Although many Americans have the urge to seek out a higher degree, their schedules may not make it possible. However, brain education online is a great way for students to balance work, school and family, particularly for those with a full-time job who are looking for better options. As a result, more schools are increasing the amount of degrees that are available through the internet, not only to reach out to a wider student base, but also make education attainable for nontraditional learners who are unable to commit to a full-time curriculum.
Arkansas State University (ASU) is just one of the schools that is looking to make a bachelor's degree more attainable for everyone. Through the Compact With the People of Arkansas, which ASU was a part of earlier this year, the school is launching a bachelor of science in interdisciplinary studies (BSIS), which will be offered completely online.
Officials at the school noted that they wanted to do their part to help with the compact, which was outlined by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. Governor Beebe is trying to double the current number of degree holders in the state by 2025.
"ASU takes seriously the governor's call to stay competitive and to prepare better for the future by increasing the state's number of college graduates in Arkansas," said Dan Howard, interim chancellor at the school "This new online degree program is an effective option for both students just entering college, as well as for non-traditional students already in the work force who have previously earned college credits, but who never graduated."
This could be a great opportunity for people who are looking for more brain education and learning programs.
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July 7th, 2011 by Phil
A new study has suggested that meditation may change brain activity. The study, which will be available in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, shows that changes can be seen in brain activity after 5 weeks of meditation.
The organizer of the study, Jane Anderson, is a landscape architect who was looking to combat seasonal affective disorder. After feeling the benefits of meditation, she decide to conduct a study as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, Stout. The study saw a group of people practicing meditation for seven hours over the course of five weeks and a control group who were not engaging in the contemplative activity.
After five weeks, researchers measured the brain activity of both groups and found that the people who meditated had more activity in the left frontal region of their brain.
"I think this implies that meditation is likely to create a shift in outlook toward life," Anderson wrote. "It has really worked for me."
Author, philosopher and trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes in the power of meditation to transform lives and benefit a person's personal development.
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July 7th, 2011 by Phil
Sara O'Meara, an Arizona resident, is practicing spiritual healing in her community with reportedly positive results. According to the Times Union, an Albany, New York, news source, O'Meara has been going on tour to promote the power of spiritual healing.
The Times reports that O'Meara and her partner, former Oregon businessman Nick Bunick, have been traveling with their Love.Healing.Miracles tour, attempting to heal those in pain who come to them.
Audrey Baron Dunning, a lawyer who was experiencing chronic neck pain after a car accident told the news provider that O'Meara was a great help to her. She claims that after a conversation with O'Meara, she experienced a greater range of motion in her neck than she had since her accident.
"I left the service very moved and thought 'What do you do when something like this happens to you?'" Dunning told the Times.
Trailblazer Ilchi Lee believes in the power of spiritual healing and self-improvement to potentially relieve some of the common pains in life.
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July 7th, 2011 by Phil
The science of what keeps brains healthy is still a relatively new field, and researchers are making new discoveries on a daily basis. Improving brain health is key to keeping memory intact into the later years of life. The Huffington Post recently reported on some simple ways to potentially improve brain potential while at work.
The first tip the news provider suggested was keeping an organized desk. Organization helps a person remember more, by allowing them to know where their items are at all times. Another recommendation the Post had was to wear a watch upside down. The small change forces the brain to work harder. Finally, the website mentioned the importance of aerobic exercise. Doing a few jumping jacks daily may reduce long-term risk of dementia.
One suggestion that both the Post and the Mayo Clinic have for improving brain health is to stay socially active. According to the latter, socializing regularly helps ward off both stress and depression, two conditions that can damage the brain. Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in the importance of keeping the brain healthy and active.
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July 7th, 2011 by Phil
Ilchi Lee tells us that it is very important to meditate and reflect upon the state of our bodies, minds and spirits. Sometimes in the real world, however, it is challenging to put time aside each day in order to establish harmony in our lives. Due to the distractions that work, family and general day-to-day stress can pose, individuals may find that getting away from it all helps implement personal change in ourselves.
A fantastic place to escape from the busy world and engage in meditation is Mount Ranier National Park in Washington. Home to the Wonderland Trail, this amazing natural site should provide enough peace and quiet to put even the most stressed out individual at ease.
The Wonderland Trail got its name due to its incredible beauty. National Geographic suggests that visitors hike the path in order to experience all of its majesty. Individuals who do so will be afforded amazing views of Mount Rainier, as well as of glaciers, fields of wildflowers and mighty, roaring rivers. According to the travel magazine, this trail is one of the most epic hikes in North America.
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