Meditation is said to be a great stress reducer.
The first significant studies, in the ’60s and ’70s, proved that meditators could get themselves so deep into trances that they wouldn’t react when they were prodded and burned. Another study showed that meditators, unlike marksmen, didn’t flinch at the sound of a gunshot. And a Harvard Medical School professor studied 36 meditators and found that they used 17% less oxygen, lowered their heart rates by three beats a minute, and increased their theta brain waves – the ones that appear right before sleep – without slipping into actual sleep. A later Harvard test showed that the EEGs of meditators were significantly different than those of a control group.
Later studies became more sophisticated with brain imaging. One study showed that the brain doesn’t shut off when it meditates but rather blocks information from coming into a certain portion of it – the parietal lobe. Another study showed that meditation slows blood flow to all portions of the brain but the limbic system, which generates emotions and memories and regulates heart rate, respiratory rate, and metabolism.
For 30 years, meditation research has told us that it works beautifully as an antidote to stress,” says Daniel Goleman, author of “Destructive Emotions.” “But what’s exciting about the new research is how meditation can train the mind and reshape the brain.” Tests using imaging techniques suggest that it can actually reset the brain, changing the point at which a traffic jam, for instance, sets the blood boiling.
Good news: You don’t need a guru, weird clothes, or a monastery to meditate. It’s pretty simple:
1. Find a quiet place and turn out the lights.
2. Close your eyes.
3. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
4. As you exhale (slowly), say a word or phrase that has a soothing sound.
5. Repeat.
Start with 10-minute sessions. If desired, increase gradually.

“This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise’s Total Health Breakthroughs which offers alternative solutions for mind, body and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.totalhealthbreakthroughs.com”

By Shane “The People’s Chemist” Ellison

Millions of American’s suffer from fatigue. Their energy levels are so low that they require a pot of coffee to crawl out of bed. When afternoon hits, caffeine rich energy drinks flow freely to keep up at work. By evening, exhaustion sets in and it’s straight to bed – only to repeat the lethargic process tomorrow. This isn’t how the body was meant to operate.

Massive amounts of energy can be had without “fatigue masking” substances. Once possessed, anything is possible. Your energy will be the fuel behind your life’s most important projects, thoughts, creativity and relationships. It’s what the best athletes and entrepreneurs in the world are made of. And to get it, you have to adhere to three energy building requirements.

First, replace carbohydrate consumption with healthy fats three times per day. I’m not talking about heart disease causing-trans fats and vegetable oils. I’m talking about Mother Nature’s energy boosting fats like whole eggs, grass fed beef, coconut oil, seeds, nuts and avocados, just to name a few. Unlike carbohydrates, consuming healthy fat does not cause a spike in the fatigue causing, fat storing hormone insulin. But even better, it exponentially increases the production of a molecule known as ATP. ATP is the master energy and strength producing molecule within the body. The more you have, the better you perform.

A single fat molecule can produce a whopping 129 molecules of ATP. In contrast, if you are not consuming enough healthy fat the body is forced to utilize an inferior source of ATP production - carbohydrates. A single carbohydrate molecule produces a paltry 38 molecules of ATP! Do the math – fat yields more than three times the energy as a carbohydrate!

Second, ensure that your body has sufficient amounts of acetyl-L-carnitine (ACLAR). This essential molecule acts as a chaperone to fat. It works by carrying it to our energy furnace – the mitochondria. Without ALCAR, fat remains stored – usually in the belly – and you grow tired. The best way to obtain this energizing molecule is from your own “internal pharmacy.”

The human body makes ALCAR from the amino acids lysine and methionine. The best sources of these essential building blocks are spinach and whey isolate. Consuming these daily ensures that your internal pharmacy is pumping out plenty of ALCAR for your much needed energy - mental and physical.

The Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics recently highlighted the effectiveness of ALCAR among the elderly. They showed that ALCAR was successful at boosting both mental and physical energy among those over 70 years old.

Finally, replace sugary energy drinks with water, green tea or yerba mate. Each one of these health drinks mobilizes fat into the bloodstream to ensure energy production. Green tea and yerba mate can also boost mood and serve as a great pre and post exercise drink.

As these requirements become habit, expect a life filled with sustained energy. Say goodbye to the highs and lows associated with the use of fatigue masking substances. And regardless of your age, say hello to a new found energy that will fuel success in all areas of your life.

About the Author
Shane Ellison holds a master’s degree in organic chemistry and has first-hand experience in drug design. After abandoning his career as a medical chemist, he dedicated himself to stopping prescription-drug hype. He is an internationally recognized authority on therapeutic nutrition and author of Health Myths Exposed, The Hidden Truth about Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs and The AM-PM Fat Loss Discovery.

Get his Secret Cures newsletter and controversial Stinky Sulfur Awards at http://saiseva.thepc.hop.clickbank.net

Michele Malaguarnera, Maria Pia Gargante, Erika Cristaldi, Valentina Colonna, Masa Messano, Aleardo Koverech, Sergio Neri, Marco Vacante, Lisa Cammalleri and Massimo Motta. Acetyl l-carnitine (ALC) treatment in elderly patients with fatigue. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. Received 24 October 2006; revised 15 March 2007; accepted 22 March 2007.