Probiotics are living microorganisms known to be good for digestive health. Common sources of them are in foods like yogurt or dietary supplements. Some people ingest probiotics daily, and others take them prior to international trips (many believe probiotics assist in the body acclimating to foreign food and drink).

The study's researchers used a probiotic that was a specially formulated form of Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242. This particular type has proven to have positive effects on cholesterol in previous research.

There were 127 adult participants, all of whom had high cholesterol. Approximately half of them were given L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 doses two times a day, and the other half took placebo capsules. After nine weeks, those in the probiotic group had LDL (bad cholesterol) levels at 11.6 percent lower than those in the placebo group. Additionally, cholesterol esters – molecules of cholesterol attached to fatty acids – were reduced by 6.3 percent and cholesterol ester saturated fatty acids by 8.8 percent in the probiotic group.

On an overall basis, those in the first group had a total cholesterol reduction of 9.1 percent. Levels of HDL (good cholesterol) and blood triglycerides (a dangerous form of fat in the blood) remained unchanged.

The dosage amount of probiotics given to the first group was just 200 milligrams per day, which is a far lower amount than those for soluble fiber and various other products used to reduce cholesterol. Scientists have also proposed that Lactobacillus bacteria could impact cholesterol in a number of ways, one of which is breaking apart molecules called bile salts. The L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 given to the participants was formulated to maximize its effect on cholesterol and bile salts. The study results suggest that the probiotic broke apart bile salts, which led to reduced cholesterol absorption in the gut.

Dr. Jones, the co-founder and chief science officer of Micropharma – the company that formulated the probiotic – noted that the patients appeared to tolerate the L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 well. He also said that the strain has a long history of safe use.

The researchers have said that, due to the small amount of participants in the study, they don't know if the impact of the probiotic is different between men and women or among various ethnic groups.

(NaturalNews) Even though some food is labeled organic, the seeds may still have come from a GMO source; like if a small to mid-size farmer buys seeds or plants, such as tomatoes, from a Home Depot or Lowe's, and then plants them in organic soil and does not use pesticide, they are still GMO, but they don't get labeled as such. Who knows this? How do you avoid it? Did you know bees will fly 50 miles, cross-pollinating from one farm to another by carrying mutated genes from corporate GMO farms to organic farms. There are lawsuits coming from both sides, and the war that is being waged by the people who don't want to eat pesticide-laden, GENETICALLY MUTATED CROP has just begun. (http://holisticprimarycare.net)

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037992_organic_food_GMO.html#ixzz2CgOEcitX

(NaturalNews) Even though some food is labeled organic, the seeds may still have come from a GMO source; like if a small to mid-size farmer buys seeds or plants, such as tomatoes, from a Home Depot or Lowe's, and then plants them in organic soil and does not use pesticide, they are still GMO, but they don't get labeled as such. Who knows this? How do you avoid it? Did you know bees will fly 50 miles, cross-pollinating from one farm to another by carrying mutated genes from corporate GMO farms to organic farms. There are lawsuits coming from both sides, and the war that is being waged by the people who don't want to eat pesticide-laden, GENETICALLY MUTATED CROP has just begun. (http://holisticprimarycare.net)

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037992_organic_food_GMO.html#ixzz2CgOEcitX

What does "organic" really mean?

Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation. Also, very important is that the animals that are consumed or produce eggs and milk do not take antibiotics or growth hormones.

Going to a local farmer's market is one wise path, but they still may have bought GM seeds or used pesticides, or both. Most likely, your friendly local farmers have respect and maintain the integrity of their crop, for the sake of their families, their neighbors, and their community.(http://www.organic.org/home/faq)

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) defines organic as follows:

"Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too."

The USDA has three "categories of organic:"

1. 100 percent Organic: Made with 100 percent organic ingredients

2. Organic: Made with at least 95 percent organic ingredients

3. "Made With Organic Ingredients:" Made with a minimum of 70 percent organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30 percent including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms)

Products with fewer than 70 percent organic ingredients may list organically produced ingredients on the side panel, but may not make any organic claims on the front of the package.

Do not trust the USDA!
The USDA is not to be trusted, though. Although their stamp of organic goes a long way, there's no guarantee, and since we've seen the FDA endorse horrific disease-causing foods, additives, chemicals, GMO, and more, you have to be your own investigator.

This is right from the USDA site; they support GMO! "Welcome to the USDA's Agricultural Biotechnology Website: The USDA supports the safe and appropriate use of science and technology, including biotechnology, to help meet agricultural challenges and consumer needs of the 21st century. USDA plays a key role in assuring that products produced using biotechnology are safe to be grown and used in the United States. Once these products enter commerce, USDA supports bringing these and other products to the worldwide marketplace." (In other words, feed the whole world cancer). (http://www.usda.gov)

Have you seen the French scientists' long-term study of GMO effects on rats? The rats get tumors the size of baseballs and die an early death. (http://www.naturalnews.com)

One Nebraska organic farmer, David Vetter, has been testing his corn for GMO contamination. Situated right in the middle of corn country, all around him are farmers growing genetically modified corn and that poses a major problem. Corn is an open-pollinating crop. Wind and insects can carry pollen from a few yards to several miles. Last year, Vetter's organic corn tested positive for genetic contamination. "We've been letting customers who buy in bulk know the situation," says Vetter.
(http://www.progressive.org/0901/lil0901.html)

Since one of the heads of the FDA, Michael Taylor, used to be a lobbyist and vice president of Monsanto, don't look for regulations any time soon, especially since Obama appointed him and the re-election is set in stone. Also, watch for articles, lawsuits, and companies that sell out from organic to corporate run pseudo-organic. They are caving by the numbers. It's all about the money, until people get cancer and can't buy their way out of it. (http://www.naturalnews.com)

According to Mitchell L. Jones, M.D., Ph.D., lead author of the study and a research assistant in the faculty of medicine at McGill University in Montreal, taking twice daily doses of a probiotic lowered key cholesterol-bearing molecules in the blood, caused "bad" cholesterol level (the kind that clogs arteries) to plunge and made the total cholesterol count healthier.

This is a particularly important study for mainstream medicine to be aware of because of two reasons. First, it involved a double blind study in humans. And second, it shows that a natural substance can do something Big Pharma's side effect-ridden statins can't do — lower "bad" cholesterol without potential harm.

In earlier studies, a strain of live probiotic microorganisms (Lactobacillus reuteri) had shown promise in lowering blood levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. For the new study, the investigators looked to see if the same probiotic could lower LDL and reduce molecules of cholesterol attached to fatty acids known as cholesterol esters. A combination of elevated cholesterol esters plus high LDL has been tied to dangerous plaque buildup in the arteries, resulting in a heightened risk of heart disease.

The study involved 127 adult research subjects who all had high cholesterol. About half the patients took the probiotic two times a day, while the rest were given placebo capsules. After just nine weeks, those taking the probiotic had LDL levels 11.6 percent lower than those on placebos. In addition, cholesterol esters were reduced by 6.3 percent and cholesterol ester saturated fatty acids fell by almost nine percent, compared with the placebo group.

The people taking the probiotic had no side effects and, as the researchers noted, the probiotic strain L. reuteri has a long history of safe use.

As Natural News previously reported, other breakthrough research published in the journal Nature strongly indicates an imbalance of "good" versus "bad" bacteria in the intestinal tract appears to trigger Type II diabetes –and probiotics may help prevent or treat that condition, too. In addition, scientists have also discovered that probiotics can increase the body's immune response to the flu virus and may be an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's and ulcerative colitis.

The brain on chocolate
A study at the University of L'Aquila in Italy established a connection between heightened cognitive ability and the consumption of chocolate. According to research team head Dr. Giovambattista Desideri, "This study provides encouraging evidence that consuming cocoa flavonols, as a part of a calorie-controlled and nutritionally-balanced diet, could improve cognitive function." Participants were instructed to consume a high, intermediate or low dose cocoa flavonol beverage for eight weeks. Those who drank the high and intermediate versions had improved working and verbal memory, task-switching and hand-eye coordination. Researchers suspect that the brain boosting qualities of cocoa flavonols are due to an improvement of insulin sensitivity. A comparable study in the United Kingdom demonstrated the ability of flavonol cocoa to strengthen brain function by increasing cerebral blood flow.

Scientists at the University of Oxford, UK came to a similar conclusion. Participants were asked to complete a detailed account of their standard diet. They were then given a series of cognitive tests. Those who consistently ate foods rich in flavonols like chocolate, wine or tea scored significantly higher on the tests than those who had scant flavonol consumption. When the diet is teeming with these compounds, the risk of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and stroke is reduced as well.

Choose wisely
The typical chocolate bar will do little except swell the waistline and increase the prospect of developing Type II diabetes. To maximize the health benefits of chocolate, only exceptional quality will do — organic, extra dark (at least 70 percent cocoa) and preferably raw. Remember, the higher the cocoa content, the lower the sugar. Unsweetened powdered cocoa is acceptable as long as it isn't processed with alkali. Eating large quantities is unnecessary — a small square of dark chocolate or cup of low-sugar cocoa beverage per day is adequate.

With intelligent use, chocolate is an excellent food for protecting and improving the brain. As a delicious daily habit, a spot of chocolate will help to keep the mind sharp and cognitive disease at bay.

Sources for this article include:

"Flavonols from chocolate may help patients with mild cognitive impairment" Michelle Castillo, CBS News, August 14, 2012. Retrieved on October 29, 2012 from: http://www.cbsnews.com

"Chocolate on the Brain" Berkely Wellness Letter. Retrieved on October 29, 2012 from: http://www.wellnessletter.com

"Chocolate may protect the brain from stroke" BBC News Health. Retrieved on October 29, 2012 from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19402143

"Chocolate, Wine and Tea Improve Brain Performance" Science Daily, December 24, 2008. Retrieved on October 29, 2012 from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081223123530.htm

"Could Chocolate's Antioxidants Boost Brain Function?" Steven Reinberg, US News Health Day, August 13, 2012. Retrieved on October 29, 2012 from: http://health.usnews.com

"The effect of flavanol-rich cocoa on the fMRI response to a cognitive task in healthy young people" Francis ST, Head K, Morris PG, Macdonald IA, University of Nottingham, UK. Retrieved on October 29, 2012 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16794461

That secret is simply this: We all survive the physical death of our bodies. Our consciousness lives on, and upon our death in this Earthly dream, our consciousness transcends this physical reality and experiences an existence so amazing and powerful that the human language cannot even begin to describe it.

This is the message from Dr. Eben Alexander, author of the newly-published book, "Proof of Heaven." I recently read the book and found it both fascinating and also confirming of several important theories I've been developing about the nature of life and the Creator. (See below.)

A lifelong science skeptic who never believed in God, Heaven or consciousness
Long before this book was ever written, Dr. Alexander was a practicing neurosurgeon and a lifelong "science skeptic." He did not believe in consciousness, free will or the existence of a non-physical spirit. Trained in western medical school and surrounded by medical colleagues who are deeply invested in the materialism view of the universe, Dr. Alexander believed that so-called "consciousness" was only an illusion created by the biochemical functioning of the brain.

This is a view held by virtually all of today's mainstream scientists, including physicists like Stephen Hawking who say that human beings are nothing more than "biological robots" with no consciousness and no free will.

Dr. Alexander would have held this view to his own death bed had it not been for his experiencing an event so bizarre and miraculous that it defies all conventional scientific explanation: Dr. Alexander "died" for seven days and experienced a vivid journey into the afterlife. He then returned to his physical body, experienced a miraculous healing, and went on to write the book "Proof of Heaven."

E.coli infection eats his brain
It all started when e.coli bacteria infected Dr. Alexander's spinal fluid and outer cerebrum. The e.coli began to literally eat his brain away, and he went into an extremely violent fit of seizures, verbal outbursts and muscular spasms before lapsing into a brain-dead coma.

In this coma, he showed zero higher brain activity and was only kept alive via a respirator and IV fluids. The attending physicians soon concluded that Dr. Alexander would die within a matter of days, and that even if he lived, he would be a non-functioning "vegetable" with limited brain function. Statistically, the death rate for patients with e.coli infections of the brain is 97%.

But here's the real shocker in all this: Rather than experiencing nothingness during these seven earth-days of unconsciousness, Dr. Alexander found himself "awakening" from the dream of his earthly life, suddenly experiencing an incomprehensibly vast expansion of his consciousness in the afterlife.

This experience is described in more detail in his book "Proof of Heaven," but here are the highlights:

• The experience of the afterlife was so "real" and expansive that the experience of living as a human on Earth seemed like an artificial dream by comparison.

• There was no time dimension in the afterlife. Time did not "flow" as it does in our universe. An instant could seem like eternity, and consciousness could move through what we perceive to be time without effort. (This idea that all time exists simultaneously has enormous implications in understanding the nature of free will and the multiverse, along with the apparent flow of time experienced by our consciousness in this realm.)

• The fabric of the afterlife was pure LOVE. Love dominated the afterlife to such a huge degree that the overall presence of evil was infinitesimally small.

• In the afterlife, all communication was telepathic. There was no need for spoken words, nor even any separation between the self and everything else happening around you.

• The moment you asked a question in your mind, the answers were immediately apparent in breathtaking depth and detail. There was no "unknown" and the mere asking of a question was instantly accompanied by the appearance of its answers.

• There also exists a literal Hell, which was described by Dr. Alexander as a place buried underground, with gnarled tree roots and demonic faces and never-ending torment. Dr. Alexander was rescued from this place by angelic beings and transported to Heaven.

God acknowledges the existence of the multiverse
The passage of "Proof of Heaven" I found most interesting is found on page 48, where Dr. Alexander says:

Through the Orb, [God] told me that there is not one universe but many — in fact, more than I could conceive — but that love lay at the center of them all. Evil was present in all the other universes as well, but only in the tiniest trace amounts. Evil was necessary because without it free will was impossible, and without free will there could be no growth — no forward movement, no chance for us to become what God longed for us to be. Horrible and all-powerful as evil sometimes seemed to be in a world like ours, in the larger picture love was overwhelmingly dominant, and it would ultimately be triumphant.

This passage struck an important cord with me, as I have long believed our universe was created by the Creator as just one of an infinite number of other universes, each with variations on life and the laws of physics. (Click here to read my writings on the Higgs Boson particle, consciousness and the multiverse.) What Dr. Alexander's quote confirms is that our life on planet Earth is a "test" of personal growth, and that the way to make progress in this test is to overcome evil while spreading love and compassion.

Even more, this passage also confirms the existence of free will and even helps answer the question I'm often asking myself: "Why are we placed here in a world of such evil and surrounded by ignorance, darkness and deception?" The answer appears to be that Earth is a testing ground for souls that have been selected by the Creator for the ultimate test of good versus evil.

Earth as a testing ground
Although "Proof of Heaven" doesn't go as far as I'm explaining here, my working theory is that our planet Earth is among the highest evil-infested realms in the grand multiverse. Only the most courageous souls agree to come to Earth by being born into human bodies and stripped of their memories.

From there, the challenge of life is multi-faceted:

1) Figure out WHO you are and WHY you are here.
2) Learn to recognize and overcome EVIL (tyranny, slavery, oppression, Big Government, etc.).
3) Learn to spread love, compassion, healing and knowledge.

Upon our death, we are judged by a higher power, and that judgment takes into account our performance in these areas. Did we achieve a measure of self-awareness? Did we work to overcome evil? Did we express love and compassion and help uplift others with knowledge and awareness?

As you've probably already figured out, the vast majority of humans fail these tests. They die as bitter, selfish, substance-addicted, greed-driven minions of evil who mistakenly thought they were winning the game of life while, in reality, they were losing the far more important test of the Creator.

The most important part about living a human life is not acquiring money, or fame, or power over others but rather achieving a high "score" in this simulation known as "life" by resisting evil, spreading love and expanding awareness of that which is true.

For those who respect life, who practice humility and self awareness, who seek to spread knowledge and wisdom while resisting tyranny, oppression, ignorance and evil, their souls will, I believe, be selected for special tasks in the greater multiverse. That's the "real" existence. This Earthly life is only a dream-like simulation where your soul interfaces with the crude biology of our planet for a very short time span that's actually the blink of an eye in the larger picture.

In reality, you are much more than your body. In fact, your soul is infinitely more aware, intelligent and creative than what can be experienced or expressed through the brain of a human. Trying to experience the full reality of what you are through the limited physical brain matter of a human being is a lot like trying to teach an insect to compose music like Mozart.

The multiverse is teeming with intelligent life, including multidimensional beings
Dr. Alexander's journey also confirms the existence of intelligent life far beyond Earth. As he explains in Proof of Heaven:

I saw the abundance of life throughout the countless universes, including some whose intelligence was advanced far beyond that of humanity. I saw that there are countless higher dimensions, but that the only way to know these dimensions is to enter and experience them directly. They cannot be known, or understood, from lower dimensional space. From those higher worlds one could access any time or place in our world.

This not only confirms the existence of other intelligent civilizations throughout our known universe, but more importantly the existence of multidimensional beings who can come and go from our realm as they please.

Throughout the cultures of the world, there are countless accounts of advanced beings visiting Earth, transferring technology to ancient Earth civilizations, and possibly even interbreeding with early humans. Even the very basis of Christianity begins with the idea that an omnipresent multidimensional being (God) can intervene at will, and can therefore transcend time and space.

Alternative researchers like David Icke also talk about multidimensional beings visiting Earth and infecting the planet with great evil. According to Icke, the globalist controllers of our planet are literally reptilian shape-shifters who have invaded our world for the purpose of controlling and enslaving humanity. Although nothing like this is covered in Dr. Alexander's book, it is not inconsistent with what Dr. Alexander was told by God during his coma… Namely, that there are multidimensional realities, that certain high-vibration beings can traverse those realities at will, and that Earth is infested with a great evil with the specific purpose of testing our character.

If all this sounds a little too spooky for you, consider the words of the Bible itself: An upright talking reptilian snake spoke in audible words to Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden, did it not?

The science skeptics are wrong (again)
Regardless of what you might think about multidimensional beings, intelligent life beyond Earth, and the existence of great evil on our planet, there's one aspect of all this that's crystal clear: The science skeptics are dead wrong.

Science "skeptics" are actually misnamed. They aren't skeptical at all. They simply follow their own religion with its own sacred beliefs that cannot be questioned… ever! Those beliefs include the utter worship of the materialistic view of the universe. Simultaneously, so-called "skeptics" do not believe they are conscious beings themselves because they believe consciousness is merely an "artifact" of biochemical brain function.

There is no afterlife, they insist. There is no mind-body medicine, the placebo effect is useless, and there's no such thing as premonition, remote viewing or psychic phenomena. Oh yes, and they also insist that injecting yourself with mercury, MSG and formaldehyde via vaccines is actually good for you, that fluoride chemicals are good for the public health and that we should all eat more GMOs, pesticides and synthetic chemicals.

It's no surprise these religious cult members of the "scientism" cult don't believe in an afterlife. That's what allows them to commit genocidal crimes against the human race today via GMOs, experimental medicine, toxic vaccines and other deadly pursuits. In their view, humans have no souls so killing them is of no consequence.

As Dr. Alexander says,

Certain members of the scientific community, who are pledged to the materialistic worldview, have insisted again and again that science and spirituality cannot coexist. They are mistaken.

Well of course they are. The "science skeptics" are dead wrong about almost everything they claim to advocate. But their biggest mistake of all is in denying the existence of their own souls. Needless to say, they are all going to fail the human experience simulation once they pass on and face judgment. My, what a surprise that will be for those sad souls when they day arrives…

I would hate to face God one day after having lived a life of a science skeptic, and then have God ask the question: "You doubted ME?" How could anyone take a look at the world around them and not see the signs of an intelligent Creator? Even the very laws of physics have been tweaked and fine-tuned in precisely the right balance so that our universe itself can support the formation of stars, and planets, and carbon-based life forms. This is called the "Goldilocks Enigma," and there's a wonderful book by that same name written by Paul Davies.

No biochemical explanation for Dr. Alexander's experience
For those skeptics who may be reading this, Dr. Alexander goes through nine possible biochemical hypotheses for his experiences and then meticulously and scientifically dismisses them all one by one. The result? His experience was REAL. In fact, it was "more real" than life as a human being.

Remember, Dr. Alexander is a neurosurgeon. This guy knows the physical brain like no one else. The nine medical explanations he considers and dismisses as possible causes for his experience are:

1) Primitive brainstem program.
2) Distorted recall of memories from the limbic system.
3) Endogenous glutamate blockade with excitotoxicity.
4) DMT dump.
5) Isolated preservation of cortical regions of the brain.
6) Loss of inhibitory neurons leading to highly levels of activity among excitatory neuronal networks to generate an apparent "ultra-reality."
7) Activation of thalamus, basal ganglia and brainstorm to create a hyper-reality experience.
8) Reboot phenomenon.
9) Unusual memory generation through archaic visual pathways.

Dr. Alexander may be the most credible afterlife witness in the history of humanity
Dr. Alexander's experience (and subsequent book) is arguably the best-documented case of the afterlife that exists in western science today. The fact that a vivid, hyper-real afterlife was experienced by a science skeptic materialistic brain surgeon who didn't believe in the afterlife — and who subsequently found the courage to document his experiences and publish them in a book — adds irrefutable credibility to the experience.

This was not some kook seeking fame on a TV show. In fact, his writing this book earned him endless ridicule from his former "scientific" colleagues. There was every reason to NOT write this book. Only by the grace of God was Dr. Alexander healed of his e.coli infection, restored to normal brain function, and granted the VISION of the afterlife so that he could return to this realm and attempt to put it into words.

Personally, I believe Dr. Alexander, and his experience mirrors that of countless others, across every culture, who have reported similar NDEs (Near Death Experiences). There is life after life, and the shift in consciousness of Earthlings that is required to take our species to a higher level of understanding begins, I believe, with embracing the truth of the immortality of our own souls (and the existence of a grand Creator).

What does it all mean?
Dr. Alexander's spiritual journey gives us a wealth of information that can help provide meaning and purpose in our daily lives.

For starters, it means that all our actions are recorded in the cosmos and that there are no secrets in the larger scope of things. You cannot secretly screw somebody over here on Earth and think it won't be recorded on your soul forever. It also means that all our actions will be accounted for in the afterlife. If this message sounds familiar, that's because an identical idea is the pillar of every major world religion, including Christianity.

It also means there are people living today on this planet whose souls will literally burn in eternal Hell. There are others whose souls, like Dr. Alexander, will be lifted into Heaven and shown a greater reality. What we choose to do with our lives each and every day determines which path our souls will take after the passing of our physical bodies.

What matters, then, is not whether you actually succeed in defeating evil here on Earth, but rather the nature of your character that emerges from all the challenges and tribulations you face. This is all a test, get it? That's why life seems to suck sometimes. It's not a panacea; it's a testing ground for the most courageous souls of all — those who wish to enter the realm of great evil and hope they can rise above it before the end of their human lifespan.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037917_Proof_of_Heaven_afterlife_Creator.html#ixzz2C1b2JeZa

For me, the game also conjures up thoughts about our country's founding document, the U.S. Constitution and especially the Bill of Rights, which are so badly under assault some 230 years after our founding fathers fought – and died – to enact them.

That is especially true of the Fourth Amendment's right to privacy, and how, little by little, that right to be secure in our "persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures," is simply vanishing.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the growing surveillance society in which we live, where police are now using tens of thousands of surveillance cameras to monitor Americans everywhere they go, especially when they drive.

Scan an entire mall in a matter of minutes

"License plate scanners are nothing new for law enforcement, but more and more agencies across the U.S. are relying on the technology as equipment becomes more affordable. As the cost of being able to catch a glimpse at every automobile in town drops day by day, though, the odds of being surveilled for simply riding around town is doing just the opposite," RT.com reported.

A recent blog post at PrivacySOS.org lays bare the issue: It directs web surfers to a YouTube video produced by PIPS Technology, a firm that describes itself as a world leader in automated license plate recognition, which is otherwise known as "ALPR" technology.

The technology is installed in police cars around the country. In Little Rock, Ark., for instance, officers say the equipment is well worth the $18,000-per-unit cost.

But while cops are touting its effectiveness, the company itself is silent when it comes to discussing the blatant violations of privacy that occur with each use.

"[It] can scan the mall parking lot in a matter of minutes," Sgt. Brian Dedrick, of the North Little Rock Police Department, tells Arkansas Matters of his ALPR scanner. "We couldn't even do that three years go."

Lt. Christopher Morgon of the Long Beach Police Dept. in southern California agrees that the ALPR technology installed in his agency's cruisers allow officers to do something they could not just a few years ago.

Before adding the technology, he says, officers could only manually dial in about 150 license plates during a shift. But after equipping patrol cars with the ALPR software and adding scores of surveillance cameras, Morgon says that now, the department does much more than just that.

Time to reign in technology

"If you dedicated your day to driving around and putting your vehicle in a place where there's lots of cars, you could read anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 plates in that same shift," he said, adding that a single patrol car can collect data from upwards of three surveillance cameras simultaneously.

Think about it – 10,000 license plates a day can add megabytes of data to a department's database in a very short period of time. But it is all only used to track down suspects?

In the advertisement, Morgon explains that his department's police cruisers pick up intelligence on every car within sight and logs their location information without ever having to obtain probable cause, which is supposed to be a constitutional requirement – and that's only if someone has been suspected of actually committing a crime.

"Its catching cars that are parked on the side of the road three lanes over. The old technology never would have done that," he says in the advertisement.

Clearly, technology is being used to render our constitutional protections moot. It's way past time for those protections to be reaffirmed by those we elect to serve us.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037914_surveillance_license_plate_scanners_police.html#ixzz2C1ZxyRzJ

What happens when we sit?
Sitting requires little to no energy expenditure, "calorie burning drops to one per minute," greatly reduces activation of low back muscles, "electrical activity in the legs shut off, enzymes that help break down fat drop by 90 percent." After two hours, good cholesterol levels drop by 20 percent and after 24, insulin effectiveness drops by 24 percent; your risk of developing diabetes rises. "People with sitting jobs have twice the rate of cardiovascular disease as people with standing jobs. Sitting six-plus hours per day makes you up to 40 percent likelier to die within 15 years than someone who sits fewer than three, even if you exercise" (MedicalCoding&Billing.org). Some of us even spend more time sitting than sleeping.

Sitting affects our internal body systems negatively and our spinal musculature and strength. Remaining seated for prolonged periods of time causes our low back muscles to "take a back seat." If the muscles aren't working properly, other structures, ligaments and intervertebral discs must work overtime (Morl, 2012). Our trunk muscles become deconditioned and lazy. The increase in our sitting times and low back pain are related. The hip flexor muscle (iliopsoas) becomes short and tight with sitting and plays a major role in lower back pain. Lower back pain patients have "atrophy of lumbar muscles," especially the longissimus and multifidi; inactivity and inactivation of such muscles is to blame, sitting being the main culprit (Morl, 2012). The study also found that "lumbar muscle activation does not differ when seated on an exercise ball, different dynamic office chairs or on a reference chair." (McGill et al., 2006; Ellegast et al., 2012)

The journal, Diebetologia, performed a meta-analysis to see the correlation between sitting and disease. They concluded that "sedentary time is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality; the strength of the association is most consistent for diabetes." (Wilmot, et al., 2012)

With obesity at an all-time high, is it because we are eating more and moving less? Obese people sit on average for 2.5 more hours a day than "thin" people. Exercise rates have stayed the same from 1980-2000, but sitting time has doubled to eight percent and consequently so have our waistlines.

Move! Don't become a statistic
Get up at least every 30 minutes to walk, increase circulation, stretch, hydrate, etc. Set a timer on your phone/computer to remind you to get up… chances are you will forget if you don't. Can't leave your desk? At least stand up and move around.

Minimize sitting at home, in a meeting, at a party, on the train/bus; if you sit all day at work, then sit all night at home to "relax," you're not doing your body any favors. Watching TV for three hours a day increases your chances of dying from heart disease by 64 percent. If you feel it is a "necessity" to watch TV, try doing jumping jacks/squats/weight lifting/yoga moves or just standing during the show; at a minimum during the commercials. Life is too short to spend it sitting in front of the TV, slowly dying.

Take the stairs whenever possible, don't find the closest parking spot, walk/bike instead of driving whenever possible; the hours we spend sitting in the car add up. Many offices are now transitioning to standing work stations to decrease sitting times and inevitably, health problems. Activation of the muscles in the lumbar spine will improve with movement and standing tasks; chair type will not make your back work. No chair will do the job of exercise and moving.

Movement is life.

Joint Care

Researchers said they interviewed 250 patients between 20 and 90 years old, with more than two-thirds, or 67 percent, having developed rheumatoid arthritis. The rest had developed osteoarthritis.

Of them, scientists found that 23 percent used CAT in conjunction with prescribed medications, and that just under two-thirds (64 percent) believed the therapy was beneficial and reported improvements in pain intensity, sleeping patterns and activity levels.

Mind and body medicine

"Our study underlines the importance of healthcare professionals being knowledgeable about the potential use of CAT when providing medical care to patients with arthritis," lead author Prof. Nada Alaaeddine, chief of the Regenerative and Inflammation Lab in the Faculty of Medicine, University of St. Joseph, Beirut, Lebanon, said.

"Although CAT might have beneficial effects in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, patients should be cautious about their use and should tell their healthcare providers that they are using them to make sure they don't conflict with their existing treatment," Alaaeddine added.

According to the National Institutes of Health, many Americans utilize complementary and alternative medicine "in pursuit of health and well-being."

It's like "mind-and-body medicine," NIH says.

"Mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health. Many (CAT) practices embody this concept – in different ways," the health agency says. Some of those techniques include meditation, acupuncture and "various styles of yoga."

CAT use is increasing slowly

Some of the key findings of the Lebanese study include:

— The average age of CAT users was 45, or significantly younger than the average age of the non-CAT user, which was 57.

— Usage of CAT was higher in patients with osteoarthritis at 29 percent than those with rheumatoid arthritis (20 percent).

— The most common CAT technique used was herbal therapy (83 percent), followed by exercise (22 percent), massage (12 percent), acupuncture (three percent), yoga and meditation (three percent), and dietary supplements (three percent).

— Fewer than one-quarter of patients using CAT (24 percent) sought additional medical care due to possible side effects, but those conditions were not serious and were reversible.

— Researchers said the most common side effects of CAT usage included skin problems (16 percent) and gastrointestinal problems (nine percent).

— A majority of patients did not inform their healthcare provider they were using CAT (59 percent).

— CAT users were asked to rate the amount of pain they experienced – the percentage who said they experienced no pain increased from 12 percent to 43 percent following CAT, while the number who were able to sleep all night rose from nine percent to a staggering 66 percent.

— In addition, users reported an improvement in their daily activities. Specifically, the percentage who said their pain did not limit them in any way rose from three percent to 12 percent, and the percentage who said they were able to do everything they wanted – while experiencing no pain – doubled, rising from 26 to 52 percent.

"CAT use is increasing and this study shows that it provided self-reported benefits for patient with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis" Alaaeddine said.

"It is; however, important that patients discuss CAT use with their healthcare practitioner and that they are made aware of possible side effects, in particular the possible interactions between herbal and prescribed drugs."