Media: Don’t be fooled by that sexy commercial – making food choices based on television advertising results in a very imbalanced diet according to a new study comparing the nutritional content of food choices influenced by television to nutritional guidelines published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Investigators found that a 2,000-calorie diet consisting entirely of advertised foods would contain 25 times the recommended servings of sugars and 20 times the recommended servings of fat, but less than half of the recommended servings of vegetables and fruits. In fact, the excess of servings in sugars and fat is so large that, on average, eating just one of the observed food items would provide more than three times the recommended daily servings for sugars and two and a half times for fat – for the entire day. “The foods advertised on television tend to oversupply nutrients associated with chronic illness, (for example, saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium) and undersupply nutrients that help protect against illness (fiber, vitamins A, E and D, and calcium and potassium),” said Michael Mink, PhD, lead investigator in the study. Luckily, we know that’s not how YOU make your food choices.

Behavior: Reality TV is much higher in aggression than regular television, says a new study. Researchers looked at five reality shows and five non-reality shows and found 52 acts of aggression – gossip, insults, dirty looks, etc… – per hour on reality TV compared to 33 per hour for the non-reality programs. Which show topped the list? Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice”, with 85 acts of verbal or relational aggression per hour. Second best was Simon Cowell and “American Idol” with 57 aggressive acts per hour, but the scientists did comment that this may be because it is harder to backbite while you’re singing. One interesting point the researchers made was that the actual aggression was not so much of a reality, but seemed more induced by the producers via the common tactic of putting participants in a booth and baiting them to say something nasty about their competitors. No big deal, you say? Think again. Plenty of other studies have confirmed that meanness rubs off on viewers (monkey see, monkey do). The study was published in the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media.

Parenting: Want “smarter” kids? Scheduled sleep time can help. According to a study published in the journal Sleep, consistent bedtimes are linked to better language, reading and math skills in preschool children. Results of the research indicate that among sleep habits, having a regular bedtime was the most consistent predictor of positive development outcomes at 4 years of age. Scores for receptive and expressive language, phonological awareness, literacy and early math abilities were higher in children whose parents reported having rules about what time their child goes to bed. Having an earlier bedtime was also found to be predictive of higher scores for most developmental measures. Another tip: According to the research on optimal sleep patterns, preschool children should get a minimum of 11 hours of sleep each night.

Sleep: Nighttime noise from nearby road traffic, passing trains and overhead planes disturbs sleep and impairs morning performance, according to research presented at the annual conference Sleep 2010. Results of the study show that exposure to traffic noise during sleep contributed to slower reaction times the following day, among other markers of neurobehavioral performance. Special care should be taken with risk groups, people who are more susceptible to sleep disturbances, such as children, shift workers, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions.

Skin: New research published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention definitively links indoor tanning to increased risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. The study, the largest of its kind, found that people who use any type of tanning bed for any amount of time are 74% more likely to develop melanoma, while frequent users of indoor tanning beds are 2.5 to 3 times more likely to develop melanoma than people who never use tanning devices. The increased risk applies to all ages and genders. “We found that it didn’t matter the type of tanning device used; there was no safe tanning device,” said DeAnn Lazovich, Ph.D., lead author of the study. Before this study, indoor tanning had been only weakly associated with melanoma risk, she added. Risk also increased with increased use.

Gender: Macho men are not the safest behind the wheel, a study says. “Catch that car!” was the instruction given to 22 men sitting in a driving simulator during the research; the results indicated that the more “macho” the man, the more risks he took on the road. “Some men develop a passion for driving that can verge on the obsessive,” said Julie Langlois, author of the study. “They consider the cars to be an extension of themselves and they become extremely aggressive if they are honked at or cut off.” Speed was directly related to the stereotype – during testing, some participants caught the car within five minutes, while others caught the car in 12 minutes and were much less dangerous on the road. Langlois’ says that cars are often a vehicle by which character traits are expressed and this overly risky behavior for this particular male stereotype is an issue of public safety.

Yesterday, Oprah Winfrey had author Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Food Rules), actress and author Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, The Kind Diet) and Chipotle restaurant founder Steve Ells as guests on her show for “Food 101″, an episode dedicated to food. The show focused on the truth about the food we eat – where it comes from, what is added to (or removed from) it, and different diets.  A big shout-out to all the guests and to Oprah, for having the courage to shed a little light on a crucial topic. We watched the show and here is what we each had to say about the subject.

Silvie’s Thoughts

I was a bit surprised that none of the guests, including the radiant Alicia Silverstone, who is a conscious animal lover and a vegan, touched on two important points:

1)  Animal protein is not healthy. Studies have shown that it causes cancer/osteoporosis, is extremely acidic, and too much of our energy is used to break down (digest) such dense carcass.

2)  The Global Warming situation. Even if we have health, that doesn’t really matter if there is no planet to live our healthy lives in. Methane gas emitted by cows is one of the main causes of Global Warming, and since we vote with our wallets, our consumption of meat is destroying the planet!

Also, in the food segment of a show, it would have probably been a good idea for Oprah to have an expert on the science of nutrition, someone like T. Colin Campbell, PhD, author of The China Study, to explain what happens when you take in certain foods and that our current way of seeing health is bonkers. Maybe a neuropsychologist could have told Oprah that her love for the “taste” of fried chicken, a very toxic food because of antibiotics plus deep-fried super-saturated oils, is probably a chemical and psychological addiction like the kind that prevails all over our obese country. Well, I am gonna say it: The human body is not made to eat animals because our intestines are way too long to have  quality, healthy digestion. Sorry, but being a carnivore is a thing of the past. We are evolving beings, no one lives in a cave and hunts for food anymore. Everything else has evolved but our style of eating.  We need to catch up to the rest of our evolution.

OK, so you don’t want to give up eating animal carcass. Well, then, at least cut down to meat just twice a month. But you need to know the TRUTH about what comes with making that choice – on a mind, body, and spirit level – and then, if you still want to consciously go forward, then, you will live your own cause and effect. Your body will tell you if you made the right decision.

The thing is, dairy makes you sick. Milk is for calves, and, many people are either allergic to it (lactose intolerant) or overweight from it. This is also a matter of perception. Humans are not supposed to look like people from a Botero painting (it’s not healthy) – but we do, and we have an obesity epidemic in this country. A nutritionist could have made the point that humans actually do not need that much protein, and that in this country, we are, in fact, mostly over-proteinized. The average woman body only needs like 50 grams a day, not much. A lentils and rice combo contains an average 23 grams of protein. Just in ONE serving, you get have your daily dose. All vegetables have protein, and chlorella (green algae) has 58% protein, (among other amazing nutrients)which is twice as much then a piece of cooked beef. Add nuts and seeds, which are very high in protein, and you easily, as a vegan, (without mucous-making, cancer-causing milk/cheese) can get your daily dose by eating three small meals a day with two snacks. What we need more of is: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds. Everything the body really needs is available in a plant-based diet.

You care about yourself, your family and our planet. Show it by voting with your dollars, educating yourself by knowing how your body works, what it really needs on a molecular level, and nourish it property with conscious whole food choices.  Actions speak louder then words.

On another note, there is the energy aspect. Spirituality. Living a spiritual life doesn’t mean praying and chanting. Spirituality is not a ritual, it’s a way of being, thinking, living positively and taking responsibility. A part of this is respecting our bodies, loving our cells, and providing the best nutrients they need in order to thrive in your body. It’s being conscious of the reality that our planet is suffering because of our food choices. It’s accepting that everything is ENERGY that we emanate and take in – synergy. It’s understanding that the animals being killed are filled with death energy, the energy of FEAR, and that what you are feeding on when you eat meat is…FEAR and DEATH. It’s thinking: “Wow, am I really eating another sentient being that also has bowel movements?”

WE NEED TO CHANGE.  People talk about change coming – WE ARE THE CHANGE. External change will happen when WE change. Change our habits, starting with the foods we eat, which will eventually change our body chemistry, our minds, our energy and, in that moment, we will have changed the world without even leaving our city.  But it starts with YOU. Every bite, every single person counts.

Oprah is right: We need a food revolution. And that revolution consists of eating mostly plants for our health and for the future existence of our planet. Are we being selfish with future generations? Do we not care of the children of our children and what they will have to face in the direction we are going? BE STRONG. Don’t let your palate, your senses, (which are just programmed electrical impulses) dictate YOUR LIFE and the possible destruction of this beautiful planet. This planet gives us so much, and it’s nice to receive what it offers, but what have we given back to it?

Reminder of some of the benefits of eating a plant-based diet:

• 1) The only source of antioxidants on the planet. Antioxidants keep us young, regenerating and protecting our cells from free radicals that want to damage our cells. Recent studies say that phytonutrients in fruits and vegetables are anti-cancer agents and general preventative aids.

• 2) What is cheaper then rice, beans and a salad? Help your wallet!!!

• 3) Helping the planet stay alive by consuming and putting your dollars in organic produce that doesn’t burp or fart methane gas all day long, on the contrary, plants capture sunlight and photon energy to feed it straight to us! They also purify the air through photosynthesis.

• 4) You skin glowing, and you looking radiant, healthy, and young, because you are being nourished by the quality nutrients inside the plant: minerals, vitamins, proteins, complex carbohydrates, and good fats!

• 5) You eat more quality protein minus the fat, cholesterol, putrefaction, acid-production, and disease-causing bacteria.

• 6) Your cells are receiving photon energy straight from the sun and the plants are your middle man that capture it. Way too amazing. These are not only great for your body – they are high frequency vibrations that will elevate your mind to higher thoughts of creation and raise the vibrational frequency of the planet.

• 7) You become more clean, pure of thought and behavior, and more aware of your internal universe to the point of seeing the amazing divine being that you and we all are, and understand how we create realities…create our lives.

Food 101, an introduction to the reality of our food system and its consequences on our health, was a great start. Let’s act on this information and take charge of our lives.

Maryl’s Thoughts

First of all, I applaud Oprah’s efforts at educating the public about food. But this very sentence brings up a very serious point:  Why weren’t we already educated about food in the first place? In school, in college, by our parents? We have to study and pass tests to get a license to be able to drive. But the most crucial things in life – how to feed ourselves, how to raise our children, how to communicate with our partners, how to find our true calling – none of those things, things that either make or break our health and life in general, are taught to us.  Our parents didn’t require a license or any studying to be our parents – most parenting “just happens”. I was fortunate to be raised by a mother who dedicated her time to raising me and my sisters, and this meant plenty of studying and reading up on psychology, nutrition, spirituality and more, plus plenty of observation and experimentation. But most parents don’t think they need to do that, and many don’t have that kind of time because they are exhausted from working to survive or to keep up with the Joneses.

Well, the truth is, the Joneses didn’t have parents/teachers/organizations who taught them how to eat either. And if you’re spending your time keeping up with society instead of focusing on learning about what you really should be putting in your mind and body to stay healthy, you are headed for where many Americans are already: Obesityville. Diabetes Drive. Cancer City. The corner of Unhappiness St and Depression Ave.  Welcome to reality.

The fact that we have to leave it up to Oprah to tell us a little bit about what many books and other have been saying about food for years is kind of sad, because it goes to show us just how ill-informed we are as a society, in this country and the planet as a whole.

Speaking of the planet: Why didn’t either guests or host mention the effects of diet on the grave problems we have in the environment? Why was there no mention of methane gases from cow farms being a huge contributor to Global Warming?  Are we really afraid to make the connection between all of our behaviors – the way we eat having an effect on our planet’s deterioration or survival, the way we think/perspective having an effect on our health and lifespan, our food choices dictating our moods and our relationships – and so we choose to compartmentalize (“I am an environmentalist not a health-nut”, “I’m spiritual but I grew up eating meat”, “I care about the environment so I own a hybrid. Steak anyone?”) our lives and break our whole system and person into one aspect of who we are?  That’s not the way it works, people.  What you do, affects your entire self.  What I do, affects you.  What you eat, affects me.  What you say (or don’t say while you’re on national television, an incredible opportunity to help people understand health or any other life-changing topic) has a direct effect on this planet, MY planet. Your planet, too.

Maybe you have been eating the same thing all your life and maybe you’re, like Alicia said, ‘flirting’ with the idea of eating healthier.  I love that.  Flirt all you want – then make a move.  You wanna be benched all your life or do you wanna be the protagonist, the hero of your own story? That is what we’re talking about when it comes to food.  Nobody taught you (because nobody knew – our parents did their best, so much of what they know is what they themselves learned from their own parents, and those guys didn’t even have Internet or Barnes & Noble for information!) so it is UP TO YOU to learn how to eat for your own and your planet/children/siblings/parent’s survival.

I understand that television is an entertainment medium, not an informative one (it’s a box, a frame that makes the eye focus on a central visual mostly, which is why you don’t see any ugly newscasters.) But what a beauty life is when you can get your entertainment AND your information all at once. This Food 101 show on Oprah was good – but it is only the first step, the tiny tip of a huge iceberg that, if you don’t wanna see, will continue to melt and tsunami its way over to you. This food crisis is happening in this country, in your city, and in your body.

Don’t let it be too late – get informed and take action when it comes to your health, that of your loved ones, and your planet.  It starts with choosing the cashews over the chips, with that one home-cooked meal instead of the drive-thru, with that conversation about that one book you read on the truth about our food system, that one movie you watched that showed you the crude reality about how animals on farms are raised. And with your desire and ability to choose who you want to be every second of the day.

A classic is a classic for a reason – because it contains universal themes that we can all relate to and that transcend the illusory barriers of time and space. And since we are all about transcending time and space here at HLife, we were thrilled when we found out that one of our favorite channels, SyFy, was presenting a classically inspired two-part series called Alice.

Based on two of author/mathematician Lewis Carroll’s best-known books – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass – Alice is a modern-day interpretation of the story of a girl that falls into a land of fantastical characters ruled by a queen, and faces many challenges on her way back to the real world.

Combining elements from both books and others from his own imagination, writer/director Nick Willing creates a world with very grown-up psychological undertones for his martial-arts black belt Alice, a young woman whose father’s disappearance left her with a somewhat troubled relationship to men.

Willing’s Alice, played by the perfectly cast Caterina Scorsone,  is not a child but a woman, who has finally fallen in love and is in search of her boyfriend who is kidnapped after he tries to give Alice a ring she refuses to take (too soon for trust-weary Alice.)  As Alice chases a man related to the incidence, she stumbles through a mirror and onto a world where she meets Hatter, White Knight and the terrible Queen of Hearts, who rules over the land.

With the mirror as a venue to our internal self and the rabbit hole a symbol for access to our subconscious mind, Willing creates a world of significant psychological consequence for Alice, who must face her fears, save both the fantasy world and the real world, heal her wounds with respect to her father, and discover true friendship and love.

We loved Alice’s journey as well as Wonderland’s allusions to modern-day, with The White Rabbit as a corporation composed of men in black suits, human trafficking, and a casino where those captured are drained, not of money, but of a very interesting commodity, the most precious of elixirs to be sold and traded: extreme human emotions.

Willing also directed the wonderful three-part series Tin Man, another great psychological adaptation, this time of The Wizard of Oz, with friendship, courage, sacrifice, and sibling love at the core of the story.

Both will be presented again on the SyFy channel this Sunday – Tin Man from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Alice from  5-9 p.m. – as a marathon of classic adaptations that we think nobody should miss.  Get some organic grub and make a day of it – you won’t regret it.