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It’s The Pause Between The Music That Refreshes
In a study published in Neuron, researchers discovered that when listening to music the brain is most active during the periods of silence. The researchers took brain scans of 18 volunteers listening to a series of movements within a symphony by William Broyce. This symphony had a number of one- to two-second breaks between movements. The researchers discovered that during a pause in the music there was a flurry of mental activity in a specific segment of the right hemisphere. When the music began again, a different area of the right hemisphere was activated. It seems that skillful composers use this period of silence to build suspense.
In Eastern chanting, one is taught that the benefit of chanting comes in the silence between the chants. This study would appear to validate this reasoning. It also might explain why pausing during a speech is important as it gives the brain the time to process information in a different way.
So…the song Sounds of Silence may have a more powerful meaning than just the lyrics.
(Reported in The Virginian Pilot, August 5, 2007)
Black Currants May Help Reduce The Risk Of Alzheimer’s
Black currants are having a resurgence in popularity. A study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture reported that the berries may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s by protecting neurons against damage from peptides associated with the disease. Black currants are almost as powerful as blueberries in the antioxidant levels they contain. Several studies have also shown that they may enhance mood.
Look for black currants in jellies and jams. Old Orchard Brands sells a black currant juice.
(Reported in Alternative Health)
Questions About Merck’s Gardasil Vaccine Arise
The New England Journal of Medicine has raised some serious questions about the effectiveness and safety of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil. While Gardasil did block almost 100% of infections by two strains of HPV, it actually only reduced the incidence of cervical cancer precursors by 17%. Since there are other strains of HPV, Gardasil may be giving a false sense of security by allowing these other strains to flourish.
Another issue is the length of the Merck study, which sought to demonstrate the vaccine’s effectiveness. The study only lasted three years, yet HPV is a disease that can take decades to develop.
A safer alternative to the vaccine for young women is to use condoms when having sexual relations. The Journal reported that condoms alone reduced the incidence of HPV by 70%.
Take Pistachio Nuts To Reduce Stress
Here’s a great tasty way to reduce stress – eat a handful of pistachio nuts every day. This may sound nutty, but it’s true. Nutritionists at Penn State University had students eat pistachio nuts daily for a month. They found this kept the students’ blood pressure down in stressful situations. When they upped the amount to two handfuls every day, the students’ arteries relaxed, which may lighten how hard the heart has to work. So…start shelling those pistachios!
DNA Testing May Help Save The African Elephant
Twenty years ago, the sale of ivory was banned around the world. Because the price of ivory has now escalated to $385 per pound in China and Japan, 23,000 African elephants were killed by poachers last year. Enter University of Washington conservation biologist Samuel Wasser. He and his colleagues have created a DNA-based map of the distribution of African elephants. This allows them to test the DNA of seized ivory to determine where it came from and to track exactly where the elephants are being killed.
Since most countries have been unwilling to address poaching problems, this DNA testing makes it harder for them to deny what is happening to the elephants in their country. For example, with this information the Zambian government fired its director of wildlife and imposed harsher sentences for ivory traffickers. Hopefully actions like this will help save the African elephant from extinction.
Drug Side-Effects Are Robbing The Body of Nutrients
You may not be aware that many prescription drugs affect the way our bodies absorb and use essential nutrients. Analyzing four categories of common drugs for correlations to the loss of nutrients reveals the following potential deficiencies and what supplement to take to avoid the deficiency:
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Statins, which lower cholesterol, deplete Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – Take 30 to 60 mg daily
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Vasodilators for high blood pressure deplete Vitamin B6 – Take 2 mg daily
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Beta-blockers for high blood pressure deplete CoQ10 – Take 30 to 60 mg daily
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Diuretics for hypertension or congestive heart failure deplete magnesium, potassium and zinc – Take up to 400 mg of magnesium, 8 mg of zinc and 3,500 mg of potassium
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Hormone therapies such as birth control pills deplete Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, folic acid, magnesium, zinc – Take 2 mg B6, 75 mg of Vitamin C, 400 mcg of folic acid, 400 mg of magnesium and 8 mg of zinc.
If your doctor prescribes any of these drugs be sure to ask about the wisdom of taking these recommended supplements to offset the potential nutrient depletion from the drugs.
Coming In 2008: Genetically Engineered Sugar
American Crystal, a Wyoming-based sugar company, has announced, with several other leading US sugar providers, that they will be releasing sugar from genetically engineered (GE) sugar beets to stores in 2008. Like other GE products, the GE sugar will not be labeled at all. Since half of the granulated sugar in the US comes from sugar beets, this means another source of GE ingredients is being unknowingly inserted into our food products.
By the way, the European Union has not approved GE beets for human consumption. Isn’t it better for us to play it safe than to allow our food supply potentially to be contaminated by GE beets?
Another Chance To Stop Lower Back Pain In Minutes
In the last issue I shared with you that I’d just finished creating a video of a Shiatsu Treatment that you can use to stop your lower back pain. Shiatsu is a 2,000 year old Japanese pressure point technique developed as the lay person’s form of acupuncture. The response was so positive that I’ve decided to extend this special offer another month. This treatment that I teach is one you can do on yourself or on someone else.
There was a study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing validating the impact of Shiatsu on lower back pain. In the study, 66 people, who complained of lower back pain, received four Shiatsu treatments. After each treatment, the subjects were called and asked to quantify the level of pain. The researchers found that both pain and anxiety decreased significantly over time. So…now you can take advantage of Shiatsu to treat your lower back pain.
As I said in the last Teplitz Email Report, I’ve created the program as an online downloadable video. The regular download price will be $19.97. Since this is a brand new product, I’d like to offer you a Special Introductory Rate of only $9.97 because you are a Teplitz Email Report Subscriber. I'm also including FREE my special 24-page Report on Eliminating Lower Back Pain & Suffering (valued at $24.97). This offer is good until cancelled. You can go here to find out more about Shiatsu, but be sure to click here to get the special price!!
That's it for this month.
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