H1N1 flu causes unusual damage to lungs: studies

I've been very busy teaching for the past few days. It's been quite nice though. I thought this was a little alarming:

H1N1 flu causes unusual damage to lungs: studies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new pandemic H1N1 flu may cause blood clots and other unusual damage in the lungs and doctors need to be on the lookout, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.

Two studies published in the American Journal of Roentgenology show the need to check X-rays and CT scans for unusual features, and also point out swine flu can be tricky to diagnose in some of the sickest patients.

H1N1 flu is causing a pandemic, and while it is not particularly deadly, it is sickening many younger adults and older children who usually escape the worst effects of seasonal flu.

"It is therefore essential that clinicians be able to recognize possible cases of pandemic H1N1 influenza in high-risk groups so that they order the appropriate diagnostic tests, begin specific antiviral therapy, and prepare to provide intensive supportive measures as needed," Dr. Daniel Mollura of the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Maryland and colleagues wrote.

One middle-aged man who died was not diagnosed until after death, but unusual findings on his X-rays may be able to help doctors save other, similar patients.

Mollura's team found irregularities called ground-glass opacities in the patient's lungs using a CT scan. Although the patient was severely ill and had a fever, he tested negative for flu and doctors did not treat him for it.

The man died five days after he went into the hospital and the autopsy confirmed he had swine flu. The lung lesions seen on his CT scan matched lung damage done by the virus, Mollura and colleagues said.

In another study in the same journal, CT scans of patients with severe cases of swine flu showed many had pulmonary emboli, which block the arteries in the lungs, a team at the University of Michigan found.

Anticoagulant drugs can break up these clots and save lives.

Dr. Prachi Agarwal and colleagues examined 66 patients diagnosed with H1N1, 14 of them who were in the intensive care unit. All 66 got standard X-rays, which can show if a patient has pneumonia.

They performed enhanced X-rays known as computed tomography or CT scans on 15 of the patients, 10 of them who were in the ICU on ventilators to help them breathe. Five of the ICU patients had the blood clots in the lungs, Agarwal reported

"Our study suggests that patients who are severely ill with H1N1 are also at risk for developing pulmonary emboli, which should be carefully sought for on contrast-enhanced CT scans," Agarwal said in a statement.

"The majority of patients undergoing chest X-rays with H1N1 have normal radiographs (X-rays)," she added. Pulmonary emboli are also not normally seen in flu, she said.

"CT scans proved valuable in identifying those patients at risk of developing more serious complications as a possible result of the H1N1 virus, and for identifying a greater extent of disease than is appreciated on chest radiographs."

(Reporting by Maggie Fox; Editing by Julie Steenhuysen and Cynthia Ostemran)

Now that winter is here, already! :( - I am keeping myself well doing Wai Lana Yoga and taking Wailana's natural supplements. Of course we're also washing our hands often and trying to keep as well as possible.

:) Happy warmth and wellness to everyone!

Wanted: Mothers for the Congress

I recently signed the Mom Congress. I encourage all concerned mothers to sign it too! It's a great opportunity to have your voice heard in the congress. This will affect our children. As parents, we are naturally concerned about our children and their well being.

This is one reason I make sure my kids are doing yoga with Wai Lana Little Yogis. I know they will be living their own lives and making their own decisions. I want them to be able to have everything they need to stay healthy, and be healthy. I trust that Wai Lana Yoga can do that for them, as it's done it for me. Of course I don't force the issue on them, and I am thankful that they actually enjoy doing their yoga and always ask to do it even on days I've forgotten to put the tapes on.

Happy living!

Swine flu preparations

With the WHO saying we should prepare for an "explosion" of swine flu cases and deaths over the next two years, I think it is a perfect time to get people aware of the fact that they need to get healthy.

I am an avid health advocate and know everyone can get healthy, after all, I too was once very out of it health wise. Practicing Wai Lana yoga has made such a huge difference in my life, you wouldn't believe it.

So get healthy, do your yoga, eat your veggies, get yourself Wai Lana easy series to start off.. and prevent swine flu!

Attention: Vegetarians

Healthy alternatives

The vegetarian diet can be difficult to adapt to, but there are so many good benefits it has on your body and the environment is well worth your attempts. In this article, we hope to fill you in on on topics regarding vegetarianism that you may not be familiar with in order to increase your knowledge of how a vegetarian diet is helpful.

Balanced diet

Be aware of what you are eating and your needs. Iron is an important mineral that is often found in meat, and so in order to meet their body’s needs, vegetarians can eat dried beans, green leafy vegetables and dried fruits. Female vegetarians in particular need to regulate their levels of iron because much of the body’s iron supply is depleted during menstruation. A lack of iron can be a risk for an iron deficiency or anemia. However, do not worry too much. If you’re unsure on how much iron you should be getting in order to be in good health, you should speak to a dietitian who can help you to identify exactly how much you need. Wai Lana Natural Supplementsis a great source of nutritional information and of of natural supplements of all sorts.

Simple truths about vegetarianism
- While most vegetarians do their best to avoid eating any meat or animal products whatsoever, it is important to note that even simply reducing the quantity of meat and dairy products that you eat can be a significant towards keeping better health. Scientific studies show vegetarians have lower risk for developing heart disease, high blood pressure, and obesity. Isn't that amazing? Even just be making simple dietary changes can be for one’s health, and decreasing meat consumption can offer similar effects albeit to a lesser degree.

Misconceptions
- Some people believe that just by not eating meat, they can maintain proper health. However, it is important to realize that there is plenty of fat that can enter your diet through processed or fried foods. Also, nuts are very high in both protein and fat, so one is encouraged to watch their intakes in order to ensure that they take in only a small amount of fat.

The king of vitamins
- Of all of the vitamins that are deemed important to the body by health experts, only one vitamin can not be found in a vegetarian diet – vitamin B12. Luckily, individuals who are worried about their bodies getting all of the nutrition that they need can take supplements in order to fulfill their daily requirement of B12. Other vitamins can be found in fruits, vegetables, and grains in abundance. Wai Lana Easy Yoga's natural supplements are a great source for natural supplements and other all-natural foods.

Add variety in your diet
- Having vegetarian friends who cook well can be one of the most important things you can have that will help you to stick to your diet. Wailana has some delightful cook books and a huge range of vegetarian recipes and meat-substitution techniques that you will find useful. She also offers tips like be sure to stock your house with all types of vegetarian food and snacks that you and your family love. You may even want to get a ‘car kit’ together full of vegetarian snacks so that you can ensure you’ll have something to eat if you end up stuck somewhere where you cannot find any vegetarian food.

Obesity and Sugar Substitutes

Obesity and Sugar Substitutes

While obesity has become an epidemic among Americans, the food industry has found ways to reduce calories and sugar content in many products. A major method of doing so has been the use of artificial sweeteners. However, by replacing natural ingredients with artificial ones, I wonder if we really are progressing and improving nutritional value. While fake sugars significantly reduce caloric values, there are side effects to sweeteners that may be more serious and worthy of our attention. I found an article that details the dangers of sugar substitutes, where it is explained that aspartame, the main ingredient in Equal and NutraSweet, has had more complaints than any other food additive available to the public, and studies have shown that it can lead to damage to the central nervous system and genetic trauma. Even though the recepients, (rodents), were receiving extremely high amounts of the sweetener, these results demonstrate that this is a potentially dangerous substance that we are putting into our bodies. And while Splenda does not contain aspartame, it is calorie-free because it's chemical composisition goes unrecognized by the body and cannot be absorbed; however, some scientists predict that after a while, our bodies will recongnize it and digest it as sugar (no longer making it "calorie-free").
Sweeteners and other food subsitutes seem to be a short-term way to cut calories and lose weight. I think that in order for this country to truly progress and improve the obesity epidemic, the American life style has to change. Substitutes allow us to continue to eat the way we have been eating, but instead, we must change our dietary habits to live healthier lives. Obviously, this would involve excersise and healthy eating, and not simply cutting a few calories here and there, but I think this would improve the American people's general wellbeing.

Source

Microwaved water, a killer?

Microwaved Water
See The Effect Upon Living
Organisms Fed With It

The experiment was divided it into two parts. The first part was heated to boiling in a pan on the stove, and the second part heated to boiling in a microwave. Then after the water treated had been cooled. The water was used to water the two identical plants to see if there would be any difference in the growth between the pan boiled water and the water boiled in a microwave. The theory was that the chemical composition of the water may be altered by the microwave. As it turned out, we were amazed by the results.

An experiment was made to see how plants or any living organisms react to microwave radiation. Bottle A is microwave-heated water, while Bottle B is purified water. See the pictures above and compare the difference of their appearance. Both of them were treated at the same time. The plant in Bottle A tends to wither so soon, while Bottle B showed that the plant is still healthy and perky.

Another experiment was done on potted plants showing the effects of Microwave-heated water, which is shown below. Day 1: The plant was pruned back to record new growth.

Day 3: The plants are continuously watered regularly with Pot A in microwave-heated water and Pot B in purified water. See the difference between the two? Pot A seemed to be a bit thin and stopped sprouting leaves, unlike with Pot B; plus the color of the leaves started to differ. Pot B has a healthier color of leaves than Pot A.

Day 5: On day 5, you can see the major difference of the two pots. Pot A seems to be slowly drying out and dying while the plant in Pot B continues to grow and have a healthy color on its leaves.


Day 7: By this time, the plant in pot A looses its leaves and withers. You can tell how a microwaved-water affected the plant in pot A.
What happens to all of the food we heat in our microwave ovens? What of the baby's formula we heat in the microwave? What is the effect upon the babies gentle developing organs? What does over 20 years of using water and eating food heated out of a microwave do to our bodies? We need to stop and think about these plants above and what they are trying to tell us through this experiment. Repeat this at home and you will find the same results. This may give you a clue as to why the Russian banned it from their country after World War 2 even though they invented it.

Source

Watch what you wear

Here's a little explanation on how wearing high heels ruins your posture and everything else.



While yoga can help you correct this, it's better to be on the side of prevention rather than trying to fix the problem!

Lessen Your Baby's Toxic Load

Here's a very useful little article about how to keep you and your baby healthy for longer!

Lessen Your Baby's Toxic Load (Part 3): Skin and Bath Products

Baby care products such as shampoos, lotions and powders fall under cosmetics` regulations and the FDA is not required to test their safety. The only way to be assured a product will not contain harmful compounds is that it be certified organic, and better yet, certified organic to food standards. Infants and children are extremely vulnerable to the harmful effects of these chemicals because their brains and organs are still growing and developing. You need to know how certain ingredients cause harm, how to read labels to avoid toxins and how to find acceptable substitutes.

MAJOR TOXINS
•PHTHLATES: Phthlates are known to disrupt the endocrine and reproductive systems, especially in young boys and it is suspected that the increase in male infertility is directly related to exposure to phthalates.

Phthalates have been in the news a lot lately but did you know that they are present in most baby care products such as lotions and shampoos? Europe and Canada are taking action, but the US is still dawdling and allowing the FDA to try and convince us they are safe. They aren't. Although the California law will ban 6 types of phthalates in bottles and toys, phthalates in other products such as bath and skin care products have not been addressed, As there is no requirement to fully disclose ingredients on the label, there is no way to determine if they are phthlate free UNLESS you buy certified organic products.

A recent study from the University of Washington determined that children weren't just being exposed through bottles, formula and chew toys, but were absorbing phthalates through their skin when products were applied. Researches checked the urine of 163 infants aged 2 to 28 months. More than 80 percent of these children had 7 or more types of phthalates in their urine. The more a baby was bathed, the more lotions used, the more phthalates were detected. Baby shampoo had been used on more than half the infants within 24 hours of the urine tests. Fourteen percent of the babies had had powder applied and over 30% had lotions applied. These babies had FOUR times the level of phthalates in their urine than those babies whose parents had used no products on them.

The industry counters this study by stating the only phthalate used in baby products is DEP which they claim has been proven safe, so how could 7 or more different types be found? Yes, babies and children are exposed via many routes, but the fact remains that all phthalates were dramatically increased in babies whose parents had done nothing differently other than use shampoos, lotions and powders. This strongly indicates the increased phthalates came from these products. Remember, full ingredient disclosure isn't required, so we don't know exactly what the manufacturer is putting in these products.

•CARCINOGENS or cancer causing agents: "Though its review of 23 peer-reviewed studies of cancer incidence from the past 50 years, EPA has determined that infants up to age two are, on average, ten times more vulnerable to carcinogenic chemicals than adults, and for some cancer-causing agents are up to 65 times more vulnerable. The Agency also found that children from age two to 15 are three times more vulnerable to carcinogens than adults. By incorporating these factors, the new risk assessment methods show that children accumulate up to 50% of their lifetime cancer risk by their second birthday." http://www.ewg.org/node/8683, April 2, 2008. Here are just a few ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer: Alkyl-phenol-ethoxylades, Ammonium laureth sulphate, Benzene, Cocamide (and cocomide)DEA, FDC- (FD&C) Colors, Glycols - Propylene glycol, Diethylene glycol, carbitol, Ethylene glycol.

•FRAGRANCES: "Fragrance" can contain up to 4000 separate ingredients, almost all of them synthetic. Synthetic fragrances cause headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, asthma and allergic skin reactions. They also affect the central nervous system causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.

•1,4 DIOXANE: Companies use ethylene oxide to make harsh, petroleum based ingredients gentler. A byproduct of this ethylation is the production of 1,4 Dioxane, a known carcinogen and suspected to cause kidney damage. Recently several supposedly "green" companies were exposed because their products contained this chemical which is direct proof of the presence of petroleum based chemicals. Again, you will not find this listed in the ingredients, especially because it is a byproduct and not part of the formula. If you see any of these ingredients listed on the bottle, stay far away from it: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, any other "eth," or PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol

•MINERAL OIL: Would you put gasoline on your child? According to Environmental Working Group, 40% of all baby lotions and oils contain petroleum, a non-renewable hydrocarbon made from crude oil. This oil coats your baby's skin in a non-breathable toxic film. According to Australia's National Occupational Health and Safety Commissions (NOHSC), "Prolonged contact with mineral oil has the associated risk of developing skin conditions such as oil folliculitis, eczematous dermatitis, melanosis of the face and plantar warts." Petroleum also disrupts hormones and diminishes the skin's ability to detoxify. It is the 2nd most likely cause of premature skin aging following excessive sun exposure. Mineral oil based sunscreens are now being implicated in promoting skin, colon and breast cancer and in fact, are found in most breast cancer tissue. Petroleum is a known carcinogen, known to adversely effect health, yet still approved as safe by the FDA.

•SODIUM LAUREL SULFATES(SLS)/SODIUM LAURETH SULFATES(SLES): These ingredients are used to make shampoos, soaps, toothpaste etc sudsy. According to the Journal of American College of Toxicology (Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983), SLS can damage the immune system; cause separation of skin layers and inflammation of the skin. The American College of Toxicology states that SLS/SLES can cause malformation of a baby's eyes. These chemicals are absorbed easily through the skin and wind up in the heart, liver, lungs and brain.

•PARABENS: Are often used as a preservative in everything from food to shampoo to baby wipes. Even at very low doses, parabens are known to cause reproductive damage and systemic organ toxicity.

•"NATURAL": This term is not regulated and no guarantee of safety. Most products labeled "natural" contain at least one of the above ingredients and have petroleum chemicals in them.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CHILD`S TOXIC LOAD:
•READ LABELS: Carry a list of the above ingredients with you when you go shopping.
•KEEP IT SIMPLE: Before a baby becomes mobile, warm water and a washcloth is usually all you need.
•CHOOSE CERTIFIED ORGANIC: When you do use products, choose products that are certified organic. You can be assured that these products contain nothing but pure, truly natural, non-toxic ingredients that are safe for your baby, your family and the environment. Miessence Baby is an excellent example of a product line certified organic to food standards. (A review of some of the Miessence Baby products will be forthcoming in another article).

Remember, the skin is the largest organ in the body and readily absorbs almost anything placed on it. The above ingredients are just some of the major toxins. There are many more. Assure your children's future health by protecting them now. If you can't pronounce the ingredients or have no idea what something is, if the label reads like a chemistry textbook instead of a garden, don't buy it. Know what you are putting on your baby's (and your own) skin.

Source

I've noticed that I have a much easier time keeping off weight now. I used to eat desserts after each meal- or at least after lunch and dinner, and I always had an extra roll or two all around. Now that I've hardly been eating sweets, it's great! I don't gain weight either.

Cough medicine worries

Kids and Cough -- What You Need to Know About Your Child's Cough Medicine

For the record, I have to state I am not a medical professional and certainly not a doctor. The below information is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. For goodness sake, see your doctor already!

There are many products to help us with the common cough. Currently, some things you might find include:

antihistamines (eg, brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, loratadine, and diphenhydramine) which help you to produce less mucus by blocking histamine. Most of them can cause drowsiness and some (such as diphenhydramine) are also packaged as both antihistamines (Benedryl) and sleeping pills (Unisom & Nytol). Later antihistamines, such as loratadine (Claritin) are supposed to be non-drowsy, although truthfully it can be said they cause drowsiness in a much smaller group of people.

decongestants (eg, phenylephrine and pseudoephedrine) which help dry you up by constricting blood vessels. Narrower blood vessels in your sinuses reduces inflammation, but narrower blood vessels elsewhere can be bad if you have conditions such as high blood pressure, arrythmia, or history of stroke. Phenylephrine used to be prescription only (as Entex) and it was pulled from the market voluntarily because a study showed it may increase the risk of stroke. But when the restrictions on pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) tightened to try and reduce the presence of meth (of which, Sudafed is a key ingredient), phenylephrine reappeared as a lower dose over-the-counter. Pseudoephedrine has been linked to heart attack and arrythmia at higher doses, which is why you no longer can buy "little white crosses" or "pink hearts" through the mail. Those "stay-awake pills" were nothing more than 60mg-120mg doses of pseudoephedrine.

antitussives (eg, codeine, dextromethorphan, and benzonatate) are supposed to reduce the cough reflex.

expectorants (guaifenesin) loosen mucus and help you cough it up.

HOW THE FDA AFFECTS YOU:
A little history is necessary to understand the problem we face with some cough medicines today. The original FDA in 1906 was concerned more with accurate labeling than drug safety, and primarily people were worried about dangerous food additives rather than medications. Food and drug labels had to be accurate, and the presence and amount of eleven dangerous ingredients, including alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, had to be listed. In 1938, a new act expanded the FDA to allow them to perform inspections, control cosmetics, and to make it illegal to make false or misleading claims about medical products. This also brought about the first prescription-only medications. But it wasn't until an amendment in 1962 that the FDA made it necessary to really prove the safety and efficacy of a drug before it went on the market. The problem was what to do about commonly used drugs that had been out long before 1962. Well, those drugs pretty much stayed on the market. That's why we have stuff like aspirin over-the-counter, even though we still aren't 100% sure exactly all that it does to the human body. In the past couple of years, the FDA has begun a program to evaluate and possibly remove drugs from the market that were brought out before 1962.

SAFETY OF COUGH MEDICINE QUESTIONED:
Between 2004 and 2005, the CDC reported more than 1500 emergency room visits in which children under two were given some form of cough medication. About 10 of 90 sudden infant deaths involved children under 12 months being given a cough medication, many of them were NOT under a doctor's supervision at the time. Even worse, various placebo studies over the last twenty years have indicated that cough medications simply don't work in young children, yet some doctors are unaware of these new studies. Children under 2 also don't have the ability to process codeine, making it much more lethal.

IMPORTANT NOTES TO REMEMBER! WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW


* Don't give children medicine labeled for adults. Children process medications differently because their livers, etc. aren't fully developed. It is also more important to base children's medication on an accurate weight as they have less margin for error. Most bathroom scales are not terribly accurate.
* Buy products with child-resistant caps, but also keep medications out of reach of children and pets. Children are sometimes better at figuring out how to open a bottle than their adult counterparts. And I still tell with horror the tale of the woman who gave her new puppy a prescription of hers to play with. "But it was childproof!" she protested as I explained childproof did not mean puppy-proof. Sure enough, the dog ate the bottom of the bottle right off and then ate her pills and had to be rushed to the vet. I sure hope that woman never has children. Can you imagine giving your child a pill bottle as a fun rattle?
* Don't go by the brand name. Always check the ingredients list to make sure you aren't mixing two types of drugs. You can only take one of each category at a time. That means only one type of antihistamine, only one type of decongestant, only one type of pain medication. (Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are pretty much the only type of OTC pain medications which can be taken together on the same day, and that's another topic altogether.)
* I repeat, FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. Don't give more medication than is called for, especially not to your kids. More is not always better. In fact, cough medications may not even work on children as the final studies are still out.
* Use the measuring devices provided with the medication. Don't use regular silverware to measure out a spoonful. Even kitchen measuring spoons don't have to be all that accurate.



Medications are not the cure all for every ailment. People get sick, adults catch 2-4 colds a year and kids usually get 3-10 annually. That's NORMAL. And no medicine can cure the common cold, it only lessens the symptoms to make the cold bearable while it runs its natural course. If your child has a common cold, no medicine is required to make your child well. It will take care of itself in a few days. Now if your child exhibits symptoms that may point to something worse than a simple cold, contact their doctor right away. Don't wait! A phone call doesn't hurt anything and nurses on the phone will be able to tell you whether or not your child needs to be seen. Things to be concerned about include high fever (higher than 102), rash with fever, a cough or congestion bad enough to inhibit breathing, or a 'cold' that refuses to get any better after 3-5 days.

Emotional Stress Linked to Premature Aging

So do yoga with Wailana, and age as gracefully as she!

Emotional Stress Linked to Premature Aging

(NaturalNews) Stress is everywhere. Simply living in the modern world is incredibly stressful. We generally work hard and there is so much pressure to keep going until exhaustion. A significant amount of people are also under incredible emotional stress.

There is a lot of evidence to suggest that emotional stress is perhaps the single greatest aging factor. We have all seen how quickly presidents age after four years (of fighting unnecessary wars, for example). This is because stress damages the body in many different ways.

One direct link between psychological stress and premature aging has recently been identified by scientists.

The study involved 39 women, aged 20- to 50 years, who had been experiencing extreme stress for years as a result of caring for a child with a chronic illness, and 19 other similar women whose children were healthy.

The researchers examined structures inside cells called telomeres. Telomeres are the caps at the ends of chromosomes that carry genes. Every time a cell divides, telomeres get shorter. In the natural aging process, the telomeres eventually get so short that the cell can no longer divide and dies.

As more and more cells die, the effects of aging can be noticed. These include skin wrinkles, weakened muscles, fading eyesight and hearing, organ failure, and diminished thinking abilities.

The researchers also measured levels of an enzyme called telomerase, which helps rebuild telomeres to stave off this process. Telomerase levels naturally decline with age.

The scientists discovered that chronic stress appears to accelerate this process. The longer a woman had been caring for a sick child and perceived her situation as stressful, the shorter her telomeres and the lower her levels of telomerase.

There are many studies that reveal that younger telomeres are linked with exercise. This makes sense since exercise is one of the best ways to relax and de-stress.

This study shows how interlinked our minds and bodies really are, and offers scientific proof that emotional stress is highly aging. It further reveals how important stress relievers such as meditation and practicing yoga are for staying young.

Source: Natural News

Yogi Diet

weekly recipe
yoga diet


Food for the Body That's Good for the Soul
A real yogi eats to live, rather than living to eat. This doesn't mean your food has to be tasteless, though. In fact, cooking has always been one of my favorite hobbies. Over the years, my family and friends have patiently tested my kitchen creations (which, I must admit, sometimes flopped). But after trying out hundreds of dishes, I now have quite a few tried and true recipes to share with you that are healthful, tasty, and easy to prepare. I'll post a new favorite here each week, so check back often for delicious new additions to your diet.

So what do yogis eat? A vegetarian yoga diet, of course, consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and grains, nuts and seeds, and a moderate amount of dairy products. You can prepare countless dishes using various combinations of these nutritious foods. Fry up some spices and turn a plain vegetable dish into a savory Indian curry. Add herbs for a Mediterranean flavor or ginger and coconut milk for a delightful Thai entree. With scrumptious and satisfying dishes, even the die-hard meat-eaters in your family won't miss the meat. And if they think "vegetarian" means bland and boring, they're in for a pleasant surprise.

A Spiritual Diet
You don't have to be a vegetarian to do yoga, but as you become more aware of your body, you'll find that eating meat makes you feel heavy. A vegetarian diet, on the other hand, helps you maintain the light and energized feeling you get from practicing yoga. Just go easy on the fried spring rolls and cheese dishes—they can put on the pounds.

The yoga diet is especially important if we want to elevate our consciousness to the stage where we're feeling love and compassion for all living beings—including animals. Eating them, rather than respecting and caring about them, simply hardens our hearts, moving this goal beyond our reach.


Making the Switch
Switching to a vegetarian diet isn't hard as long as you have tasty alternatives. And you don't have to do it overnight. First cut down on red meat, then gradually eliminate it from your diet. As you find other vegetarian foods you enjoy, you can gradually give up poultry, fish, and eggs. You'll join the ranks of thousands of new vegetarians, many of whom have changed their diets for health reasons now that flesh foods have been linked to cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, and so on. Even cutting back on meat a little will benefit you—and I'm hoping my recipes make this transition easy and enjoyable.

Don't worry about getting enough protein. Vegetarians get lots of protein in legumes, grains, and the like. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture places meat second to last in importance, behind grains, fruits, and vegetables. There's now a vegetarian food pyramid and a wealth of scientific evidence proving the health benefits of the yoga diet. I have my own living proof: My three healthy and athletic kids—vegetarians since conception!

So try out this week's recipe or browse the site for something that catches your fancy. And be sure to visit us again for more tasty and healthful "eat to live" recipes. Bon appetit!

From Wailana Yoga