consciouslifenews--2020-05-12--What Sets Google Calendar Apart from Other Electronic Calendars?

Paper calendars and event planners are now passé as electronic calendars are the ubiquitous choice for everyone keen to make the best use of their time to lead a stress-free life .
Using Google Calendar puts you in the driver 's seat as you are in control of your tasks , appointments , and meetings as well as aware of all other engagements in family and personal life .
You can create separate calendars for different spheres of your life encompassing everything from your professional life to personal life , and the best thing is that you can view all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Master Calendar .
The best part is that the calendar can sync with various devices , including smartphones , so that it is always accessible to you for creating , viewing , and editing appointments .
Although there are several calendars , Google 's calendar remains the most popular because of its high user-friendliness and comprehensive features that sets it in a class of its own .
What sets it apart from the rest will become clear from this article .
Whether you want to take your family for dinner or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your kids or book movie tickets during the weekend , you can enter it in the calendar and leave it up to Google to see that you do not miss the event or task .
For Gmail account holders , the calendar automatically posts the appointment and ensures that you receive a reminder on time before the schedule so that you have time to get ready and leave .
If you are using multiple calendars for different areas of your life , you can select which calendar you want to see by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Settings menu .
If you wish to view all the calendars in one place , then check all the boxes .
The sharing aspect of the calendar encourages more inclusiveness and transparency , which is necessary for smooth and effective teamwork .
Just as others should have access to your calendar so also you must have access to the calendars of co-workers and team members to have information about their available time and movements .
Go to the menu of the calendar you want to share , and from the list options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can add the names of people you want and even set the level of accessibility by specifying whether they could only view the calendar or also edit it .
Google believes in providing the best user experience , which is demonstrated through the Google Calendar app that enables installing it on smartphones , both iOS and Android .
It gives immense flexibility as the calendar is accessible from anywhere and anytime .
Moreover , having your calendar on one device gives you the chance to sync it across all other devices you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are always viewing the most updated information .
The calendar serves as your personal assistant , and the more information you load on it easier will be your life as you need not worry about tracking events and tasks for which you receive automatic reminders .

Paper calendars and event planners are now passé as electronic calendars are the ubiquitous choice for everyone keen to make the best use of their time to lead a stress-free life. Using Google Calendar puts you in the driver's seat as you are in control of your tasks, appointments, and meetings as well as aware of all other engagements in family and personal life. You can create separate calendars for different spheres of your life encompassing everything from your professional life to personal life, and the best thing is that you can view all your schedules from one place, which is the Master Calendar. The best part is that the calendar can sync with various devices, including smartphones, so that it is always accessible to you for creating, viewing, and editing appointments.
Although there are several calendars, Google's calendar remains the most popular because of its high user-friendliness and comprehensive features that sets it in a class of its own. What sets it apart from the rest will become clear from this article.
Email populated events
Whether you want to take your family for dinner or plan a trip to an amusement park for your kids or book movie tickets during the weekend, you can enter it in the calendar and leave it up to Google to see that you do not miss the event or task. For Gmail account holders, the calendar automatically posts the appointment and ensures that you receive a reminder on time before the schedule so that you have time to get ready and leave. If you are using multiple calendars for different areas of your life, you can select which calendar you want to see by checking the boxes under My Calendars in the Settings menu. If you wish to view all the calendars in one place, then check all the boxes.
Share events or calendars
The sharing aspect of the calendar encourages more inclusiveness and transparency, which is necessary for smooth and effective teamwork. Just as others should have access to your calendar so also you must have access to the calendars of co-workers and team members to have information about their available time and movements. Go to the menu of the calendar you want to share, and from the list options, choose Settings and Sharing. Here you can add the names of people you want and even set the level of accessibility by specifying whether they could only view the calendar or also edit it.
Mobile access gives more flexibility
Google believes in providing the best user experience, which is demonstrated through the Google Calendar app that enables installing it on smartphones, both iOS and Android. It gives immense flexibility as the calendar is accessible from anywhere and anytime. Moreover, having your calendar on one device gives you the chance to sync it across all other devices you are using. It ensures that you are always viewing the most updated information.
The calendar serves as your personal assistant, and the more information you load on it easier will be your life as you need not worry about tracking events and tasks for which you receive automatic reminders.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--Gratitude Can Calm Our Urge to Compete with Others

In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak , we are seeing many acts of kindness and even heroism .
Neighbors look out for one another by buying groceries or sing songs together .
When doctors , nurses , and paramedics ran out of masks , people donated or sewed new ones .
But not all people act kindly when feeling threatened .
There are those who hoard medical supplies or refuse to stay physically distant from others .
Sadly , some become more selfish when they think we ’ re competing against each other for survival .
How can we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic ?
A new study suggests that practicing a little gratitude may be useful .
In this study , participants from the National University of Singapore played the “ Trucking Game ” —a research tool that measures how people bargain or cooperate in conflict situations .
In the game , players try to get from point A to B as quickly as possible , while opponents can assist or block players at will .
The game is over when both players reach their endpoint .
Before playing the game , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation that made them feel grateful , while others recalled events that brought them joy or were emotionally neutral ( like their daily routine ) .
When it came time for participants to play the game , they didn ’ t know the other player wasn ’ t a real person but a set of preprogrammed , highly competitive moves .
Participants had opportunities in the game to thwart the other player by blocking routes along the way or not stepping aside to let them pass , and many of the participants did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , those induced to feel gratitude were much less likely to block their opponent ’ s progress than those who ’ d been primed to feel joy or no particular emotion .
While not entirely surprised by these findings , study coauthor Lile Jia was impressed by them—especially given how competition usually brings out our worst instincts .
“ Showing that gratitude can ameliorate competitive impulses in this setting speaks to the potency of this emotion in reducing undesired competition , ” says Jia .
To further test these results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiment , this time using a random group of Americans of various ages ( instead of the original group of Singaporeans , to see how culture might affect results ) .
Participants were told they would be paired with another player ( though , actually , there was no other player ) to compete in a moderately difficult and timed word game .
Before playing the game , they were induced to feel either gratitude or a neutral emotion .
After playing the game—in which participants were always told they lost—the researchers showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either competitive or not very competitive .
The idea was that losing to a very competitive person might make participants feel more upset about losing and make them want to punish their opponent .
After “ losing , ” participants were told that their opponents would be entering another competition that involved solving anagrams for a chance to win a cash prize .
The participants could choose one of three clues to help their opponent solve the anagrams more quickly , with clues ranging from least helpful ( “ it starts with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( “ it starts with the letter P and it ’ s an organ in your body ” ) .
Choosing less helpful clues was considered a form of vindictiveness .
Results showed that participants induced to feel gratitude were much more likely to give the most helpful clues than participants in a neutral mood .
Even under circumstances where they might want revenge , people who felt grateful were less likely to be vindictive .
“ Sabotaging their partner ’ s chance of winning a lottery did not directly benefit the participants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the competition—yet this harmful impulse existed , ” says Jia .
“ Fortunately , the impulse got weakened among those induced to feel grateful.
” Why would gratitude reduce feelings of vindictiveness ?
Jia says it might be because grateful people are less selfish and show greater empathy toward others , in general .
Given that people often respond to competition by becoming more competitive themselves—at the expense of others—it ’ s little wonder that gratitude might reduce this tendency .
Jia ’ s study adds to our understanding of the power of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be kinder to others in unfavorable as well as favorable circumstances .
This could have huge consequences when we are in situations where we may be tempted not to cooperate or to lash out at others—like during the current pandemic .
“ In such threatening interactions , destructive behavioral cycles are easily established , ” says Jia .
“ The present research underscores the potential of gratitude in stopping such destructive spirals.
” Jia points to other ways gratitude can help during the pandemic , too—by strengthening relationships and building a sense of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps people “ gel , ” he says , encouraging them to coordinate their actions toward a particular goal—something relevant to our current need to shelter in place .
So long as cooperation is the norm in this situation , and grateful people don ’ t feel that they are being taken advantage of , encouraging more gratitude is all to the ( greater ) good .
Jia ’ s research reinforces the importance of practicing gratitude as we go through this pandemic .
Not only will it help us be more cooperative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal well-being , too—protecting our mental health and making us feel more positive and optimistic about the future .
“ If we take a broader look at the benefits of gratitude , then the argument for encouraging feeling more gratitude becomes all the stronger , ” says Jia .
Tags : `` featured , acts of kindness , benefits of gratitude , Coronavirus outbreak , cultivating gratitude , featured , gratitude is a must

By Jill Suttie | Greater Good Magazine
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, we are seeing many acts of kindness and even heroism. Neighbors look out for one another by buying groceries or sing songs together. When doctors, nurses, and paramedics ran out of masks, people donated or sewed new ones.
But not all people act kindly when feeling threatened. There are those who hoard medical supplies or refuse to stay physically distant from others. Sadly, some become more selfish when they think we’re competing against each other for survival.
How can we avoid reacting in self-serving or vindictive ways during the pandemic? A new study suggests that practicing a little gratitude may be useful.
In this study, participants from the National University of Singapore played the “Trucking Game”—a research tool that measures how people bargain or cooperate in conflict situations. In the game, players try to get from point A to B as quickly as possible, while opponents can assist or block players at will. The game is over when both players reach their endpoint.
Before playing the game, some participants were asked to write about a situation that made them feel grateful, while others recalled events that brought them joy or were emotionally neutral (like their daily routine). When it came time for participants to play the game, they didn’t know the other player wasn’t a real person but a set of preprogrammed, highly competitive moves.
Participants had opportunities in the game to thwart the other player by blocking routes along the way or not stepping aside to let them pass, and many of the participants did so when faced with a competitive opponent. However, those induced to feel gratitude were much less likely to block their opponent’s progress than those who’d been primed to feel joy or no particular emotion.
While not entirely surprised by these findings, study coauthor Lile Jia was impressed by them—especially given how competition usually brings out our worst instincts.
“Showing that gratitude can ameliorate competitive impulses in this setting speaks to the potency of this emotion in reducing undesired competition,” says Jia.
To further test these results, he and his colleagues set up another experiment, this time using a random group of Americans of various ages (instead of the original group of Singaporeans, to see how culture might affect results). Participants were told they would be paired with another player (though, actually, there was no other player) to compete in a moderately difficult and timed word game. Before playing the game, they were induced to feel either gratitude or a neutral emotion.
After playing the game—in which participants were always told they lost—the researchers showed them a narrative describing their opponent as either competitive or not very competitive. The idea was that losing to a very competitive person might make participants feel more upset about losing and make them want to punish their opponent.
After “losing,” participants were told that their opponents would be entering another competition that involved solving anagrams for a chance to win a cash prize. The participants could choose one of three clues to help their opponent solve the anagrams more quickly, with clues ranging from least helpful (“it starts with the letter P”) to most helpful (“it starts with the letter P and it’s an organ in your body”). Choosing less helpful clues was considered a form of vindictiveness.
Results showed that participants induced to feel gratitude were much more likely to give the most helpful clues than participants in a neutral mood. Even under circumstances where they might want revenge, people who felt grateful were less likely to be vindictive.
“Sabotaging their partner’s chance of winning a lottery did not directly benefit the participants, who had already been eliminated from the competition—yet this harmful impulse existed,” says Jia. “Fortunately, the impulse got weakened among those induced to feel grateful.”
Why would gratitude reduce feelings of vindictiveness? Jia says it might be because grateful people are less selfish and show greater empathy toward others, in general. Given that people often respond to competition by becoming more competitive themselves—at the expense of others—it’s little wonder that gratitude might reduce this tendency.
Jia’s study adds to our understanding of the power of gratitude by showing how it helps people be kinder to others in unfavorable as well as favorable circumstances. This could have huge consequences when we are in situations where we may be tempted not to cooperate or to lash out at others—like during the current pandemic.
“In such threatening interactions, destructive behavioral cycles are easily established,” says Jia. “The present research underscores the potential of gratitude in stopping such destructive spirals.”
Jia points to other ways gratitude can help during the pandemic, too—by strengthening relationships and building a sense of community.
Research suggests that practicing gratitude helps people “gel,” he says, encouraging them to coordinate their actions toward a particular goal—something relevant to our current need to shelter in place. So long as cooperation is the norm in this situation, and grateful people don’t feel that they are being taken advantage of, encouraging more gratitude is all to the (greater) good.
Jia’s research reinforces the importance of practicing gratitude as we go through this pandemic. Not only will it help us be more cooperative, it’s good for our personal well-being, too—protecting our mental health and making us feel more positive and optimistic about the future.
“If we take a broader look at the benefits of gratitude, then the argument for encouraging feeling more gratitude becomes all the stronger,” says Jia.
About the Author


consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--Junk Food Companies Responsible for COVID-19 Susceptibility

Eating nutritious foods could help you lose weight , but Type 2 diabetes into remission and improve your health considerably , so you ’ ll have a much better chance of survival should you contract COVID-19 Junk food giants are thoroughly intertwined with public health recommendations pertaining to food and nutrition — to the detriment of public health More than half of those appointed to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee ( DGAC ) has ties to the International Life Sciences Institute ( ILSI ) , a junk food industry front group Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfering with public policy and influencing the development of dietary guidelines Processed foods , junk foods , and soft drinks are key culprits in the rise of obesity and chronic diseases that have a key role to play in COVID-19 deaths Underlying health conditions like obesity , heart disease , and diabetes have emerged as key factors in fatalities due to novel coronavirus , COVID-19 .
In one study , more than 99 % of COVID-19 fatalities occurred among people who had underlying medical conditions.1,2 Among the fatalities , 76.1 % had high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 33 % had heart disease.3 What 's more , another study revealed that among 18- to 49-year-olds hospitalized due to COVID-19 , obesity was the most prevalent underlying condition , just ahead of hypertension.4 Chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes , heart disease and obesity have a lot in common , including the fact that they 're often fueled by poor diet .
Processed foods , junk foods , and soft drinks are key culprits in the rise of such chronic diseases , and therefore have a key role to play in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic , multinational food , and beverage corporations are interfering with public policy and influencing the development of dietary guidelines .
In order to protect public health , this conflicted influence must be curbed , according to a report published by the campaign group Corporate Accountability.5 Meanwhile , health experts are calling out ultra-processed foods as key players in COVID-19 deaths and calling on public health guidelines to warn the public of their risks.6 According to Corporate Accountability 's report , more than half of those appointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DGAC ) has ties to the International Life Sciences Institute ( ILSI ) , a not-for-profit organization established by a Coca-Cola executive 40 years ago.7 DGAC is supposed to be an independent committee , which reviews scientific evidence and provides a report to help develop the next set of dietary guidelines for Americans ( 2020 to 2025 ) .
However , its extensive ties to ILSI all but ensures the committee is anything but independent .
ILSI has been exposed as a shill for the junk food industry , and internal documents have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panels across Europe and the United Nations in an effort to promote its own industry-focused agenda to raise profits at the expense of public health worldwide.8 The Corporate Accountability report further examined ILSI 's “ revolving doors and conflicts of interest ” with critical government policy processes , including not only formulating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans ( DGA ) but also updating national food composition databases .
It explains:9 DGA is essentially the go-to source for nutrition advice in the U.S. , directing what more than 30 million U.S. schoolchildren eat at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to new mothers , seniors , veterans , and other beneficiaries of nutritional education and meals offered by the federal government .
“ But the DGA 's mandate is even broader , ” Corporate Accountability noted in their report .
“ It aims to promote health , prevent chronic disease , and help all U.S. residents reach and maintain a healthy weight.
” 10 Yet , by partnering with junk food corporations , it ends up doing the opposite:11 The Corporate Accountability report presents several key findings that highlight ILSI 's concerning ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , government interference , and other activities are negatively affecting public health policy .
Among them:12 One example given of lack of disclosures in Nutrition Reviews was a 2017 review titled “ What is the Appropriate Upper Limit for Added Sugars Consumption ?
” 13 The researchers looked into the “ significant restrictions on upper limits of sugars consumption ” put forth by scientific organizations like the World Health Organization and American Heart Association , concluding that their findings “ should inject a note of caution into restrictive guidelines ” and noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is far from settled.
” 14 One of the review 's co-authors , however , failed to disclose an important conflict of interest .
James Rippe was affiliated with ILSI Mexico , leading a forum titled “ Current Evidence on Sweeteners and Health , ” which received $ 10 million in funding from the U.S. Corn Refiners Association to establish that sugar consumption had no impact on heart health.15 Another glaring example was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine .
The study , “ The Scientific Basis of Guideline Recommendations on Sugar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and concluded , “ Guidelines on dietary sugar do not meet criteria for trustworthy recommendations and are based on low-quality evidence .
Public health officials ( when promulgating these recommendations ) and their public audience ( when considering dietary behavior ) should be aware of these limitations.
” 16 Although the journal did reveal that ILSI was the primary funding source for the study , according to Corporate Accountability:17 ILSI has been a key piece in how the junk food industry has grown and expanded globally , giving the junk food industry an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guise of scientific advancement .
While funding scientific research designed to support its own agenda , ILSI regularly fails to disclose conflicts of interest .
“ This lack of transparency has allowed industry 's ILSI a social license to produce and promote junk science the world over , ” the report notes.18 Meanwhile , while claiming to be a non-lobbying organization , they play a role in policymaking processes regarding nutrition in the U.S. , India , Argentina , Mexico , and Taiwan .
Now that ILSI is being exposed , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Nestlé , have cut ties with the organization .
Corporate Accountability is calling on other corporations to do the same and demands academic institutions to sever all ties with ILSI , including ILSI Research Foundation and ILSI 's Nutrition Reviews .
For governments , the report recommends prohibiting those with ties to ILSI from participating on the DGAC and publically disclosing direct interactions with ILSI with agencies such as the USDA , U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , US .
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however , junk food giants are thoroughly intertwined with public health recommendations pertaining to food and nutrition — to the detriment of public health .
“ Even in times of crisis , such as today 's COVID-19 pandemic , ILSI 's backers feel no scruples lobbying for the bottom line , ” Corporate Accountability stated , adding:20 How Americans Got Hooked on Processed Foods According to investigative reporter Michael Moss , much of the responsibility for Americans ' increased consumption of junk food lies with the processed food industry .
In addition to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for sweet taste , ” sugar , salt , and unhealthy fats are the top three substances making processed foods so addictive .
Moss ' four-year investigation culminated in the book “ Salt Sugar Fat , ” which details how food scientists formulate products with just the right combination of sugar , fat , and salt to pique your taste buds just enough , without overwhelming them , thereby overriding your brain 's inclination to say “ enough.
” He uses the example of potato chips , which combine salt and fat for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the starch of the potato itself , as the perfect addictive food .
Beyond the addictive potential of the foods is marketing , which further entices Americans to buy and consume more processed foods .
This includes things like positioning junk foods at eye level on grocery store displays .
In an interview with U.S. News & World Report , Moss revealed the food industry secrets that are most surprising , including that food execs may avoid junk food for the sake of their own health:21 London-based cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase your risk of dying from COVID-19 .
He tweeted , “ The government and public health England are ignorant and grossly negligent for not telling the public they need to change their diet now.
” 22 He told BBC that ultra-processed foods make up more than half the calories consumed by the British , and if you suffer from obesity , Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure — all of which are linked to poor diet — your risk of mortality from COVID-19 increases tenfold .
On the brighter side , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for even one month could help you lose weight , but Type 2 diabetes into remission and improve your health considerably , so you 'll have a much better chance of survival should you contract COVID-19.23 Malhotra also told the food industry to “ stop mass-marketing and selling ultra-processed food.
” Dr. Robert Lustig , Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the division of endocrinology at the University of California , San Francisco , further stated : If you 're interested in eating better , I recommend adopting a cyclical ketogenic diet , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with healthy fats and moderate amounts of protein ) until you 're close to or at your ideal weight , ultimately allowing your body to burn fat — not carbohydrates — as its primary fuel .
This includes avoiding all ultra-processed foods and also limiting added sugars to a maximum of 25 grams per day ( 15 grams a day if you 're insulin resistant or diabetic ) .
This will improve your health in multiple ways and in so doing you may significantly reduce your risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 @

By Dr. Joseph Mercola | mercola.com
Eating nutritious foods could help you lose weight, but Type 2 diabetes into remission and improve your health considerably, so you’ll have a much better chance of survival should you contract COVID-19
Junk food giants are thoroughly intertwined with public health recommendations pertaining to food and nutrition — to the detriment of public health
More than half of those appointed to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) has ties to the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), a junk food industry front group
Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, multinational food and beverage corporations are interfering with public policy and influencing the development of dietary guidelines
Processed foods, junk foods, and soft drinks are key culprits in the rise of obesity and chronic diseases that have a key role to play in COVID-19 deaths
Underlying health conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes have emerged as key factors in fatalities due to novel coronavirus, COVID-19. In one study, more than 99% of COVID-19 fatalities occurred among people who had underlying medical conditions.1,2
Among the fatalities, 76.1% had high blood pressure, 35.5% had diabetes and 33% had heart disease.3 What's more, another study revealed that among 18- to 49-year-olds hospitalized due to COVID-19, obesity was the most prevalent underlying condition, just ahead of hypertension.4 Chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity have a lot in common, including the fact that they're often fueled by poor diet. Hence we need to improve our relationship with food.
Processed foods, junk foods, and soft drinks are key culprits in the rise of such chronic diseases, and therefore have a key role to play in COVID-19 deaths. Yet, even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, multinational food, and beverage corporations are interfering with public policy and influencing the development of dietary guidelines.
In order to protect public health, this conflicted influence must be curbed, according to a report published by the campaign group Corporate Accountability.5 Meanwhile, health experts are calling out ultra-processed foods as key players in COVID-19 deaths and calling on public health guidelines to warn the public of their risks.6
Junk Food Giants Stymying Public Nutrition Policies
According to Corporate Accountability's report, more than half of those appointed to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) has ties to the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), a not-for-profit organization established by a Coca-Cola executive 40 years ago.7
DGAC is supposed to be an independent committee, which reviews scientific evidence and provides a report to help develop the next set of dietary guidelines for Americans (2020 to 2025). However, its extensive ties to ILSI all but ensures the committee is anything but independent.
ILSI has been exposed as a shill for the junk food industry, and internal documents have revealed ILSI embedded itself in public health panels across Europe and the United Nations in an effort to promote its own industry-focused agenda to raise profits at the expense of public health worldwide.8
The Corporate Accountability report further examined ILSI's “revolving doors and conflicts of interest” with critical government policy processes, including not only formulating the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) but also updating national food composition databases. It explains:9
“The report also chronicles the front group's deep connections with industry, its ties to research it has helped produce, and to individuals it has relationships with. The picture it paints makes a compelling case for Big Food to abandon ILSI and similar front groups in the interest not only of public health, but also a less deceitful relationship with its investors.”
DGA is essentially the go-to source for nutrition advice in the U.S., directing what more than 30 million U.S. schoolchildren eat at school and driving the nutritional advice given to new mothers, seniors, veterans, and other beneficiaries of nutritional education and meals offered by the federal government.
“But the DGA's mandate is even broader,” Corporate Accountability noted in their report. “It aims to promote health, prevent chronic disease, and help all U.S. residents reach and maintain a healthy weight.”10 Yet, by partnering with junk food corporations, it ends up doing the opposite:11
“Seventy-five percent of the individuals involved in formulating the U.S. government's official dietary guidance have food industry ties. Fifty-five percent have ties to ILSI, which was founded by a former Coca-Cola executive and is funded by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, McDonald's, General Mills, Cargill, Monsanto, the National Dairy Council, the International Tree Nut Council and a host of other global purveyors of junk food and drink.”
Junk Food Corporations Control Academia, Nutrition Guidelines
The Corporate Accountability report presents several key findings that highlight ILSI's concerning ties with industry, and how its research, government interference, and other activities are negatively affecting public health policy. Among them:12
ILSI's journal, Nutrition Reviews, does not always disclose ILSI affiliations and conflicts of interest. Further, nearly 40% of ILSI North America's publications from 2013 to 2017 received support or funding from ILSI but did not disclose it. Of the approximately 60% of publications that did contain a disclosure statement, “no conflict of interest” was still sometimes declared The DGAC chairs and vice-chairs of the Pregnancy and Lactation Subcommittee are affiliated with ILSI ILSI claims that it doesn't lobby, but it gave direct guidance to the Argentine government regarding updates to its National Food Composition Database ILSI India produced a study in partnership with government research institutions that disparaged and misrepresented health effects of traditional foods instead of focusing on the adverse health effects of soda and processed foods ILSI North America's board of trustees violates Principle 1 of its conflict of interest policy, as more than 50% of its board holds an affiliation with the private sector Rather than dismantling ILSI Mexico after it violated the group's code of ethics under a Coca-Cola executive's leadership, it was absorbed by ILSI Mesoamerica in 2019, which is also under the leadership of a Coca-Cola executive
One example given of lack of disclosures in Nutrition Reviews was a 2017 review titled “What is the Appropriate Upper Limit for Added Sugars Consumption?”13
The researchers looked into the “significant restrictions on upper limits of sugars consumption” put forth by scientific organizations like the World Health Organization and American Heart Association, concluding that their findings “should inject a note of caution into restrictive guidelines” and noting that “the scientific basis for restrictive guidelines is far from settled.”14
One of the review's co-authors, however, failed to disclose an important conflict of interest. James Rippe was affiliated with ILSI Mexico, leading a forum titled “Current Evidence on Sweeteners and Health,” which received $10 million in funding from the U.S. Corn Refiners Association to establish that sugar consumption had no impact on heart health.15
Another glaring example was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study, “The Scientific Basis of Guideline Recommendations on Sugar Intake,” was funded by ILSI and concluded, “Guidelines on dietary sugar do not meet criteria for trustworthy recommendations and are based on low-quality evidence. Public health officials (when promulgating these recommendations) and their public audience (when considering dietary behavior) should be aware of these limitations.”16
Although the journal did reveal that ILSI was the primary funding source for the study, according to Corporate Accountability:17
“Its findings were so self-serving, it prompted criticism from candy-maker Mars (then an ILSI member). Co-author, and 2010 DGAC member, Joanne Slavin did not disclose her financial ties with Big Food and Beverage, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé.”
Report: Governments, Academics Should Part Ways With ILSI
ILSI has been a key piece in how the junk food industry has grown and expanded globally, giving the junk food industry an in with policymakers and prestigious universities under the guise of scientific advancement.
While funding scientific research designed to support its own agenda, ILSI regularly fails to disclose conflicts of interest. “This lack of transparency has allowed industry's ILSI a social license to produce and promote junk science the world over,” the report notes.18 Meanwhile, while claiming to be a non-lobbying organization, they play a role in policymaking processes regarding nutrition in the U.S., India, Argentina, Mexico, and Taiwan.
Now that ILSI is being exposed, even junk food giants themselves, namely Mars and Nestlé, have cut ties with the organization. Corporate Accountability is calling on other corporations to do the same and demands academic institutions to sever all ties with ILSI, including ILSI Research Foundation and ILSI's Nutrition Reviews.
For governments, the report recommends prohibiting those with ties to ILSI from participating on the DGAC and publically disclosing direct interactions with ILSI with agencies such as the USDA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.19
As it stands, however, junk food giants are thoroughly intertwined with public health recommendations pertaining to food and nutrition — to the detriment of public health. “Even in times of crisis, such as today's COVID-19 pandemic, ILSI's backers feel no scruples lobbying for the bottom line,” Corporate Accountability stated, adding:20
“In India, despite potential consequences to the health and well-being of workers and the community, corporations including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestlé, have submitted letters to the government requesting food and beverage manufacturing be exempt from the lockdown, and be considered an ‘essential service.'
Not providing immune-suppressing sugar-sweetened beverages during this time may also prove the more essential service these corporations can provide in this time and beyond.”
How Americans Got Hooked on Processed Foods
According to investigative reporter Michael Moss, much of the responsibility for Americans' increased consumption of junk food lies with the processed food industry. In addition to targeting kids who are “especially hardwired for sweet taste,” sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats are the top three substances making processed foods so addictive.
Moss' four-year investigation culminated in the book “Salt Sugar Fat,” which details how food scientists formulate products with just the right combination of sugar, fat, and salt to pique your taste buds just enough, without overwhelming them, thereby overriding your brain's inclination to say “enough.” He uses the example of potato chips, which combine salt and fat for instantaneous pleasure, along with the sugar in the starch of the potato itself, as the perfect addictive food.
Beyond the addictive potential of the foods is marketing, which further entices Americans to buy and consume more processed foods. This includes things like positioning junk foods at eye level on grocery store displays. In an interview with U.S. News & World Report, Moss revealed the food industry secrets that are most surprising, including that food execs may avoid junk food for the sake of their own health:21
“One, on a personal level, many food company executives don't eat their own products for health reasons. And two, the companies themselves are more hooked on salt, sugar and fat than we are because they're miracle ingredients that enable them to preserve and keep the products low cost along with being utterly tasty. The depth of the industry's own dependence was really surprising to me.”
Junk Food Causing Increased COVID-19 Deaths
London-based cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra is among those warning that poor diet can increase your risk of dying from COVID-19. He tweeted, “The government and public health England are ignorant and grossly negligent for not telling the public they need to change their diet now.”22
He told BBC that ultra-processed foods make up more than half the calories consumed by the British, and if you suffer from obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure — all of which are linked to poor diet — your risk of mortality from COVID-19 increases tenfold.
On the brighter side, he also states that eating nutritious foods for even one month could help you lose weight, but Type 2 diabetes into remission and improve your health considerably, so you'll have a much better chance of survival should you contract COVID-19.23 Malhotra also told the food industry to “stop mass-marketing and selling ultra-processed food.”
Dr. Robert Lustig, Emeritus Professor of Pediatrics in the division of endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, further stated:
“I've heard COVID-19 referred to a beast, because it doesn't distinguish. In point of fact, it doesn't distinguish who it infects. But it does distinguish who it kills. Other than the elderly, it's those who are Black, obese, and/or have pre-existing conditions. What distinguished these three demographics?
Ultra-processed food. Because ultra-processed food sets you up for inflammation, which COVID-19 is happy to exploit. Just another way processed food kills. Time to rethink your menu.”
If you're interested in eating better, I recommend adopting a cyclical ketogenic diet, which involves radically limiting carbs (replacing them with healthy fats and moderate amounts of protein) until you're close to or at your ideal weight, ultimately allowing your body to burn fat — not carbohydrates — as its primary fuel.
This includes avoiding all ultra-processed foods and also limiting added sugars to a maximum of 25 grams per day (15 grams a day if you're insulin resistant or diabetic). This will improve your health in multiple ways and in so doing you may significantly reduce your risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--Grandmothers in Their 90s and 100s Are Beating Back the Virus – and Sharing Important Advice

A global pandemic is often compared to a war , both in terms of the efforts required of millions of people to overcome a deadly threat , as well as the suffering it can inflict on society .
For the elderly , the comparison is quite appropriate : after all , while many of us are feeling the intense pressures of two months of sheltering at home , those belonging to the “ Greatest Generation ” faced major disruptions in their lives , ranging from spending time in the military to facing rations , displacement , and other challenges such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weddings placed on hold , and long-term plans being suddenly upended .
And guess what ?
Those who faced the tragedies and hardships of the past are still with us today , and they may have some lessons to teach us .
Lucille Ellson of Orlando , Florida , was born on Dec. 30 , 1917 , just as the Spanish Flu began emerging from the barracks and camps of the U.S. and European military camps of the First World War .
At the ripe age of 102 , she heard tales of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly flu pandemic only to survive , just in time to face the Great Depression .
And that , too , she survived .
And when she was finally supposed to get married in 1942 , the attack on Pearl Harbor happened .
Her fiancé Floyd enlisted in the Navy to join the fight , putting her marriage on hold .
But a few years later , Floyd returned home after being honorably discharged – and the two finally got married and started a family .
Ellson isn ’ t the only living @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can strengthen the spirit .
While a disproportionate amount of those lives lost to the pandemic have been elderly , many octogenarians , nonagenarians , and centennials have also survived the disease .
In March , 95-year-old Italian grandmother Alma Clara Corsini became a symbol of hope after recovering from the virus , becoming one of the oldest people in the country at the time to survive COVID-19 .
Her good fortune was celebrated and shared with the world by no less a figure than Pope Francis himself .
Since then , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old , has also beaten back coronavirus .
Ada Zanusso , who was living in a nursing home in Northern Italy , had developed a high fever and shortness of breath before she tested positive for the virus .
But the centenarian was able to recover with no loss of her intelligence or lucidity , according to medical staff .
Another recent example comes from the U.K. , where 99-year-old Carrie Pollock recovered after a long stay in the hospital following a coronavirus infection .
Pollock , who once worked in the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth after experiencing hallucinations and suspected pneumonia .
However , she has since recovered and returned back to her home , but not before inspiring the hospital staff who rescued her .
“ These are worrying times for many and to see her leaving the hospital after recovering from COVID-19 gave the staff a real boost.
” “ She is an absolute fighter and we are so proud that she has done so well .
She is already back at home and walking to strengthen her legs again .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a natter .
She is an inspiration to our whole family .
The hospital staff did an amazing job to care for her and nothing was too much trouble .
We were able to call her when she was in isolation which was lovely.
” Rita Reynolds , a grandmother from Liverpool , also survived at 99 , coming in for a tie with Pollock for the honor of being one of the oldest British survivors of the virus .
And then there ’ s Cornelia Ras , a 107-year-old Dutch woman whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed the next by the symptoms of COVID-19 .
Against all expectations , Ras was able to beat back the illness and is currently We ’ re not medical experts , but we ’ re hopeful that something about these strong women , mothers , and grandmothers enabled them to bounce back from this frightful pandemic .
And we have no doubt that their past experiences in worrying times helped them through this ordeal .
For Ellson , the math is easy : You see a lot when you get to 102.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are anxious about the current pandemic .
She told : “ I ’ ve been through so many things… To cope with this virus , and all that ’ s going on , I would tell people to not get stressed about planning far ahead .
“ You can ’ t do it .
A long time ago , I started making a list every morning of what I had to do .
It was the only thing I could control , and I stuck to it , you hear me @ @

By Elias Marat | Creative Commons | TheMindUnleashed.com
A global pandemic is often compared to a war, both in terms of the efforts required of millions of people to overcome a deadly threat, as well as the suffering it can inflict on society.
For the elderly, the comparison is quite appropriate: after all, while many of us are feeling the intense pressures of two months of sheltering at home, those belonging to the “Greatest Generation” faced major disruptions in their lives, ranging from spending time in the military to facing rations, displacement, and other challenges such as loved ones lost in war, weddings placed on hold, and long-term plans being suddenly upended.
And guess what? Those who faced the tragedies and hardships of the past are still with us today, and they may have some lessons to teach us.
Lucille Ellson of Orlando, Florida, was born on Dec. 30, 1917, just as the Spanish Flu began emerging from the barracks and camps of the U.S. and European military camps of the First World War. At the ripe age of 102, she heard tales of how her uncle and father contracted the deadly flu pandemic only to survive, just in time to face the Great Depression. And that, too, she survived.
And when she was finally supposed to get married in 1942, the attack on Pearl Harbor happened. Her fiancé Floyd enlisted in the Navy to join the fight, putting her marriage on hold. But a few years later, Floyd returned home after being honorably discharged – and the two finally got married and started a family.
Ellson isn’t the only living proof that living through war and depression can strengthen the spirit. While a disproportionate amount of those lives lost to the pandemic have been elderly, many octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centennials have also survived the disease.
In March, 95-year-old Italian grandmother Alma Clara Corsini became a symbol of hope after recovering from the virus, becoming one of the oldest people in the country at the time to survive COVID-19. Her good fortune was celebrated and shared with the world by no less a figure than Pope Francis himself.
Since then, another Italian grandmother, this time 104 years old, has also beaten back coronavirus. Ada Zanusso, who was living in a nursing home in Northern Italy, had developed a high fever and shortness of breath before she tested positive for the virus. But the centenarian was able to recover with no loss of her intelligence or lucidity, according to medical staff.
Another recent example comes from the U.K., where 99-year-old Carrie Pollock recovered after a long stay in the hospital following a coronavirus infection. Pollock, who once worked in the British Special Branch, was admitted to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth after experiencing hallucinations and suspected pneumonia. However, she has since recovered and returned back to her home, but not before inspiring the hospital staff who rescued her.
Karen Clark, a senior sister at Queen Alexandra Hospital, said:
“These are worrying times for many and to see her leaving the hospital after recovering from COVID-19 gave the staff a real boost.”
Peggy’s granddaughter Jess Keeley told Portsmouth News:
“She is an absolute fighter and we are so proud that she has done so well. She is already back at home and walking to strengthen her legs again.
“She loves her talking books and loves a natter. She is an inspiration to our whole family. The hospital staff did an amazing job to care for her and nothing was too much trouble. We were able to call her when she was in isolation which was lovely.”
Rita Reynolds, a grandmother from Liverpool, also survived at 99, coming in for a tie with Pollock for the honor of being one of the oldest British survivors of the virus.
And then there’s Cornelia Ras, a 107-year-old Dutch woman whose recent birthday celebration on March 17 was followed the next by the symptoms of COVID-19. Against all expectations, Ras was able to beat back the illness and is currently “perfectly healthy.”
A day after her 107th birthday, Cornelia Ras fell ill with #covid19. We are happy to announce that she has fully recovered! pic.twitter.com/V9Yy3MKhYi — Sharecare (@SharecareInc) April 10, 2020
We’re not medical experts, but we’re hopeful that something about these strong women, mothers, and grandmothers enabled them to bounce back from this frightful pandemic. And we have no doubt that their past experiences in worrying times helped them through this ordeal.
For Ellson, the math is easy:
“I learned … from living, I guess. You see a lot when you get to 102.”
Ellson also has a simple lesson for those who are anxious about the current pandemic. She told Washington Post:
“I’ve been through so many things… To cope with this virus, and all that’s going on, I would tell people to not get stressed about planning far ahead.
“You can’t do it. A long time ago, I started making a list every morning of what I had to do. It was the only thing I could control, and I stuck to it, you hear me?”


consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--Confront Fear-Based Thinking by Asking a Transformative Question: “Says Who?”

Too often , people let their fear-based thoughts go unchallenged , and subsequently dictate their lives .
Thoughts driven by underlying fears tend to box people into groundless perceptions .
As a former Life Coach , who changed my coaching practice to that of a Thought Coach based on my Says Who ?
The method , I found that I could be more effective in not just motivating people to root out fear-based thinking associated with any personal and professional obstacles but to literally teach them how to overcome fears by changing the very thoughts that are creating them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ ve found that the central issue clients need to address is managing their thought process .
To explain this , let me highlight one client in particular who subsequently became the inspiration for me creating my Says Who ?
Method .
This client came to see me for a life coaching session ( when that was my practice ) , and this was when I would employ my coaching expertise to motivate and encourage her to apply her own capabilities .
These sessions were like a tune-up for a car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But , I soon realized that no matter how much motivation , encouragement , or “ tuning up ” I could offer , she was caught in a mindset that caused her problems to reappear over and over again .
What wasn ’ t being addressed deeply and thoroughly were the thoughts getting in the way of any motivation and encouragement offered .
This client had become stuck in a thought process that was sabotaging the goals she was working to achieve .
She ’ d come to me for advice on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early in our session that she couldn ’ t shake a “ disturbing and scary ” recurring thought .
To my complete surprise , she told me , “ I ’ m afraid I ’ m going to be homeless and penniless.
” Her fear seemed completely incongruent with her professional trajectory and her current crossroads of deciding whether to start a new business .
She appeared to be someone with two minds — one that was creative and productive , and the other that was paralyzed by fear .
As she admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was voicing that thought in her head .
Where did it come from ?
I sensed it had likely come from someone else .
So I asked , “ Says who ?
” She looked completely taken aback .
Clearly , she hadn ’ t ever asked herself that question .
I went another step further and asked , “ Have you ever heard someone say that before — that you were going to be homeless and penniless ?
” And that was it !
That was the question that reached into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her fear .
This confident woman suddenly looked like a vulnerable and frightened child .
Her eyes widened as she realized something .
“ Oh my God !
” she cried .
“ My father always used to say that when I was little .
He was in and out of work a lot , and when money was scarce he ’ d say adamantly , ‘ We ’ re going to be homeless and penniless .
We ’ re going to be out on the streets !
’ It really frightened me.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to myself .
I strongly suspected that this fear didn ’ t originate with her , and had come from someone else .
I asked , “ Can you see that this was your father ’ s fear , not yours ?
” She pondered my question , and then answered , “ I never connected that before .
I ’ ve never asked myself that question.
” I explained how we don ’ t usually question our fear-based thoughts , but instead accept them readily .
Those types of thoughts can have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we don ’ t look closely at them and determine whether they ’ re real or not — or even if they belong to us .
Her fear-based thought would have continued to surface and she ’ d have had no power over it .
Had it been left unattended , she would have been at its mercy and could have prevented her from achieving her goals .
My client went on to ask herself the “ Says who ?
” question whenever she felt she needed to challenge one of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she claims that the negative and fear-based thoughts that used to hold her hostage no longer had the same upsetting influence .
She ’ d come to realize that the thought wasn ’ t real or valid and was ultimately useless to her in pursuing her goals and dreams .
I use my “ Says who ?
” method to discern whether clients ’ thoughts support their well being , and if they decide that they don ’ t , I teach them how to dismiss them as meaningless and useless in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In my Thought Coach Certification Training Program , we provide instruction on how to facilitate the “ Says who ?
” inquiry that leads people to challenge their thoughts and hold them up to scrutiny .
We use the power of this technique to transform negative , fear-based thoughts into positive , constructive , productive , and , ultimately , life-affirming ones .
Like a Life Coach , a Thought Coach can encourage and motivate clients , and offer “ tune-ups ” when needed .
But a Thought Coach is able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — negative and fear-based thoughts — and help a client transform them with very positive results .
The program certifies Thought Coaches to effectively teach methods that help people deepen their understanding of how their thought process works .
To learn more , visit ifft.podia.com .
Ora Nadrich is the founder and president of the Institute for Transformational Thinking .
She is the author of Live True : A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity , named in the 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time by BookAuthority , and Says Who ?
How One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Think Forever .
She is a certified life coach and mindfulness teacher , specializing in transformational thinking , self-discovery , and mentoring new coaches as they develop their careers .
Contact her at theiftt.org .

By Ora Nadrich
Too often, people let their fear-based thoughts go unchallenged, and subsequently dictate their lives. Thoughts driven by underlying fears tend to box people into groundless perceptions. As a former Life Coach, who changed my coaching practice to that of a Thought Coach based on my Says Who? The method, I found that I could be more effective in not just motivating people to root out fear-based thinking associated with any personal and professional obstacles but to literally teach them how to overcome fears by changing the very thoughts that are creating them.
In my experience as a Thought Coach, I’ve found that the central issue clients need to address is managing their thought process. To explain this, let me highlight one client in particular who subsequently became the inspiration for me creating my Says Who? Method.
This client came to see me for a life coaching session (when that was my practice), and this was when I would employ my coaching expertise to motivate and encourage her to apply her own capabilities. These sessions were like a tune-up for a car — making adjustments to ensure top performance. But, I soon realized that no matter how much motivation, encouragement, or “tuning up” I could offer, she was caught in a mindset that caused her problems to reappear over and over again. What wasn’t being addressed deeply and thoroughly were the thoughts getting in the way of any motivation and encouragement offered.
This client had become stuck in a thought process that was sabotaging the goals she was working to achieve. She’d come to me for advice on a business decision, but she shared early in our session that she couldn’t shake a “disturbing and scary” recurring thought. To my complete surprise, she told me, “I’m afraid I’m going to be homeless and penniless.”
Her fear seemed completely incongruent with her professional trajectory and her current crossroads of deciding whether to start a new business. She appeared to be someone with two minds — one that was creative and productive, and the other that was paralyzed by fear.
As she admitted this fear, I wanted to know who was voicing that thought in her head. Where did it come from? I sensed it had likely come from someone else. So I asked, “Says who?”
She looked completely taken aback. Clearly, she hadn’t ever asked herself that question. I went another step further and asked, “Have you ever heard someone say that before — that you were going to be homeless and penniless?”
And that was it! That was the question that reached into her gut and pinpointed the source of her fear.
This confident woman suddenly looked like a vulnerable and frightened child. Her eyes widened as she realized something. “Oh my God!” she cried. “My father always used to say that when I was little. He was in and out of work a lot, and when money was scarce he’d say adamantly, ‘We’re going to be homeless and penniless. We’re going to be out on the streets!’ It really frightened me.”
“Bingo!” I thought to myself. I strongly suspected that this fear didn’t originate with her, and had come from someone else.
I asked, “Can you see that this was your father’s fear, not yours?” She pondered my question, and then answered, “I never connected that before. I’ve never asked myself that question.”
I explained how we don’t usually question our fear-based thoughts, but instead accept them readily. Those types of thoughts can have a very negative effect on our lives if we don’t look closely at them and determine whether they’re real or not — or even if they belong to us.
Her fear-based thought would have continued to surface and she’d have had no power over it. Had it been left unattended, she would have been at its mercy and could have prevented her from achieving her goals.
My client went on to ask herself the “Says who?” question whenever she felt she needed to challenge one of her thoughts, and, like many others, she claims that the negative and fear-based thoughts that used to hold her hostage no longer had the same upsetting influence. She’d come to realize that the thought wasn’t real or valid and was ultimately useless to her in pursuing her goals and dreams.
I use my “Says who?” method to discern whether clients’ thoughts support their well being, and if they decide that they don’t, I teach them how to dismiss them as meaningless and useless in maintaining a mindset of health and happiness.
In my Thought Coach Certification Training Program, we provide instruction on how to facilitate the “Says who?” inquiry that leads people to challenge their thoughts and hold them up to scrutiny. We use the power of this technique to transform negative, fear-based thoughts into positive, constructive, productive, and, ultimately, life-affirming ones.
Like a Life Coach, a Thought Coach can encourage and motivate clients, and offer “tune-ups” when needed. But a Thought Coach is able to go to the root of the problem — negative and fear-based thoughts — and help a client transform them with very positive results. The program certifies Thought Coaches to effectively teach methods that help people deepen their understanding of how their thought process works. To learn more, visit ifft.podia.com.
* * *
Ora Nadrich is the founder and president of the Institute for Transformational Thinking. She is the author of Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity, named in the 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time by BookAuthority, and Says Who? How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever. She is a certified life coach and mindfulness teacher, specializing in transformational thinking, self-discovery, and mentoring new coaches as they develop their careers. Contact her at theiftt.org.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--Morning Inspiration: Be True To Your Calling (Motivational Video with Morgan Freeman)

The path to doing well in your endeavors starts with you knowing what your true calling is and utilizing your @ @ @ @ @ .
You are the captain of your ship .
You can direct the course of @ @ @ @ @ night , you 're a writer , you 're a writer .
And it 's @ @ @ @ @ discipline .
Painters paint .
I do n't care what else they have to do @ @ @ @ @ table , to pay their rent , they paint .
And I think that 's @ @ @ @ @ round .
Writers write .
Painters paint .
Actors act.
” Morgan Freeman Tags : @ @ @ @ @ to your calling , doing your best , featured , how to be successful , @ @ @ @ @ , the use of your abilities

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consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--The Best Time Management Systems for College Students

Never miss a deadline , exam , game or social event again with these amazing time management systems that you 'll wish you would have known about years ago .
College is a stressful time for every student .
It can seem almost impossible to meet all your deadlines , keep up your social life , and get in all the study time you need .
Thankfully , there are tools and systems out there to help you manage it all .
Here are some of the best time management systems you can use to stay on top of everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out your schedule .
There are plenty of applications that will help you do this .
You could use Adobe Spark 's college schedule maker templates , for example .
Here , you 'll find tons of clear and concise templates that will help you layout your schedule in a fun and simple way .
If you want something you can keep on your phone , try and app like Remember The Milk .
With this app , you can lay everything out in an efficient to-do-list style .
It 'll remind you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you store relevant notes , and give you a satisfying box to tick once you complete a task .
There are plenty of scheduling apps out there , so have a search through the app store to find what works best for you .
It lets you layout a project and add as many notes to it as you want .
Like Google Docs , you can invite other Trello users to your board .
That way , you can work on each project together , sharing notes , and fine-tuning the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trello for expansive work , or just to remind you about upcoming projects .
However you use it , it 'll make time management much easier for any college student .
If you tend to get carried away working on one project over another , use an app like Toggl .
Toggl helps you keep track of exactly how much time you 're spending on a task .
It has a built-in timer that you can start when you get going on a project , and stop when you 're done .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working on something , and get it to warn you when your time is up .
Toggl will then graph out how much time you spent on a project .
It 'll give you a deep analysis of how you spent your time .
This will help you move on when you need to , and show you how you can improve your time spent on a task .
If there 's one thing every student does , it 's taking notes .
Using an app like Evernote or Google Keep will keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means you can access them from any device without hassle .
No need to search through tons of documents , physical or digital .
With an app like this , everything you need is right where you left it .
If you lose something , just search for it .
You 'll save tons of time .
Use the Best Time Management Systems Try the time management systems above to make the best of your college experience .
You 'll swear you can feel the stress lifting right off your shoulders when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for college students , check out the rest of our blog .

Never miss a deadline, exam, game or social event again with these amazing time management systems that you'll wish you would have known about years ago.
College is a stressful time for every student. It can seem almost impossible to meet all your deadlines, keep up your social life, and get in all the study time you need. Thankfully, there are tools and systems out there to help you manage it all.
Here are some of the best time management systems you can use to stay on top of everything.
Get a Scheduling App
The first step is to lay out your schedule.
There are plenty of applications that will help you do this. You could use Adobe Spark's college schedule maker templates, for example. Here, you'll find tons of clear and concise templates that will help you layout your schedule in a fun and simple way.
If you want something you can keep on your phone, try and app like Remember The Milk and Track Time 24. With these apps, you can lay everything out in an efficient to-do-list style. It'll remind you when deadlines are coming up, let you store relevant notes, and give you a satisfying box to tick once you complete a task.
There are plenty of scheduling apps out there, so have a search through the app store to find what works best for you.
Use Trello
Trello is like a virtual corkboard.
It lets you layout a project and add as many notes to it as you want. Like Google Docs, you can invite other Trello users to your board. That way, you can work on each project together, sharing notes, and fine-tuning the project before the deadline.
You can use Trello for expansive work, or just to remind you about upcoming projects. However you use it, it'll make time management much easier for any college student.
Try Toggl
If you tend to get carried away working on one project over another, use an app like Toggl.
Toggl helps you keep track of exactly how much time you're spending on a task. It has a built-in timer that you can start when you get going on a project, and stop when you're done. You can set how long you plan on working on something, and get it to warn you when your time is up.
Toggl will then graph out how much time you spent on a project. It'll give you a deep analysis of how you spent your time. This will help you move on when you need to, and show you how you can improve your time spent on a task.
Get Evernote
If there's one thing every student does, it's taking notes.
Using an app like Evernote or Google Keep will keep your notes in the cloud. That means you can access them from any device without hassle. No need to search through tons of documents, physical or digital.
With an app like this, everything you need is right where you left it. If you lose something, just search for it. You'll save tons of time.
Use the Best Time Management Systems
Try the time management systems above to make the best of your college experience. You'll swear you can feel the stress lifting right off your shoulders when you do!
For more tips and tricks for college students, check out the rest of our blog.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-13--How Hot and Cold Therapy Products Are Effective For Pain Relief!!!

Injuries are never easy to deal with and many of you must not be aware of how to treat them which leads to delay in treatment and recovery .
Different injuries require altogether different therapies , in the combination of repetition and rest periods .
Hot and cold therapy is one of most effective and common treatment that has been around since ages .
Some of you must be resistant to this therapy but it truly holds the healing powers .
Numerous variety of hot and cold therapy products are now available in the market that helps in strengthening the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affected area .
This article will guide you through the benefits of highly effective hot and cold therapy products which are used everywhere from school playground bruises to World Cup injuries .
Above this you will get a synopsis of different products used in hot and cold therapy in the below section .
The products under hot and cold therapy are so easy to use and easily accessible that you can soon start the therapy after the injury in order to work on stiffness , aches pain and knocks .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in advance and store them accordingly for unforeseen happening .
This therapy is very convenient and easy to follow , as it requires only two things , either something cold or something hot and sometimes both for alternate treatment .
This can be anything from ice packs , ice wraps , ice sprays for cold therapy or heating pads , heat wraps and heating gels for heat therapy .
The process is quite simple and easy to understand and implement when you have everything with you .
One can even use these products @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand .
The process of healing is fast and steady as compared to other treatment , which requires long sessions with the doctors .
The variety of therapy products helps in soothing and relieving pain due to injuries with immediate effect .
You need to use the products on the affected area repeatedly but gives instant relief .
Some injuries need hot therapy while some need cold and some of the injuries need both together .
This technique is known as contrast therapy .
You can buy these products from health stores or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy .
In some kind of injuries hot and cold compression is required to reduce inflammation , swelling and treating pain .
The products under this treatment do not need much of the investment and are lighter on pockets .
Most of the products are either reusable like heating pads and cool pads or of multiple time use like sprays and gels .
It ’ s a risk-free and low-investment treatment can be performed at home that provides natural and instant relief from all sorts of pains and aches .
Providing artificial heat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tendons reduce muscle spams and ease pain .
Whereas Cold therapy is not only helpful for reducing pains but the therapy is also useful in reducing swelling .
With the rise in sports injuries and neurological injuries hot and cold therapy products are like hot selling cakes one must have in store .
It is the safest pain management treatment .
In this uncertain world you don ’ t know what is going to happen next its better to stay front foot to do self-preparation for emergencies , big or small .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy products soon to get instant relief form all kind of pains .

Injuries are never easy to deal with and many of you must not be aware of how to treat them which leads to delay in treatment and recovery. Different injuries require altogether different therapies, in the combination of repetition and rest periods. Hot and cold therapy is one of most effective and common treatment that has been around since ages.
Some of you must be resistant to this therapy but it truly holds the healing powers. Numerous variety of hot and cold therapy products are now available in the market that helps in strengthening the area by improving the blood circulation of the affected area.
This article will guide you through the benefits of highly effective hot and cold therapy products which are used everywhere from school playground bruises to World Cup injuries. Above this you will get a synopsis of different products used in hot and cold therapy in the below section.
Starts earlier
The products under hot and cold therapy are so easy to use and easily accessible that you can soon start the therapy after the injury in order to work on stiffness, aches pain and knocks. You can buy the ice and hot heat pads in advance and store them accordingly for unforeseen happening.
Least complicated
This therapy is very convenient and easy to follow, as it requires only two things, either something cold or something hot and sometimes both for alternate treatment. This can be anything from ice packs, ice wraps, ice sprays for cold therapy or heating pads, heat wraps and heating gels for heat therapy. The process is quite simple and easy to understand and implement when you have everything with you. One can even use these products on their own without any other helping hand.
Speedy healing process
The process of healing is fast and steady as compared to other treatment, which requires long sessions with the doctors. The variety of therapy products helps in soothing and relieving pain due to injuries with immediate effect. You need to use the products on the affected area repeatedly but gives instant relief.
Aids in Contrast therapy
Some injuries need hot therapy while some need cold and some of the injuries need both together. This technique is known as contrast therapy. You can buy these products from health stores or online store for alternating hot and cold therapy. In some kind of injuries hot and cold compression is required to reduce inflammation, swelling and treating pain.
Affordable and reusable
The products under this treatment do not need much of the investment and are lighter on pockets. Most of the products are either reusable like heating pads and cool pads or of multiple time use like sprays and gels. It’s a risk-free and low-investment treatment can be performed at home that provides natural and instant relief from all sorts of pains and aches.
Takeaway notes
Providing artificial heat to the body enhances flexibility of ligaments and tendons reduce muscle spams and ease pain. Whereas Cold therapy is not only helpful for reducing pains but the therapy is also useful in reducing swelling. With the rise in sports injuries and neurological injuries hot and cold therapy products are like hot selling cakes one must have in store. It is the safest pain management treatment. In this uncertain world you don’t know what is going to happen next its better to stay front foot to do self-preparation for emergencies, big or small. Buy and store your hot and cold therapy products soon to get instant relief form all kind of pains.


consciouslifenews--2020-05-14--Sheltering in Place: How to Handle Relationship Friction

I ’ m here in the worst-hit COVID-19 county in New Jersey , and our governor recently announced a 30-day extension of our quarantine .
For many people , not just in New Jersey , household conflict and friction are beginning to become a real issue .
Husbands and wives squabble over silly issues , teens complain about wanting to see friends , children complain of boredom , elderly parents and grandparents become more demanding .
Yup , the pot of confinement is beginning to boil over .
What to do ?
Here ’ s a simple Self-Coaching practice that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanity .
When you find yourself in a tussle and you feel your blood pressure rising , keep in mind that what you ’ re feeling is what ’ s called a “ bottom-up ” response — an immediate , visceral response to something you perceive to be threatening .
“ Bottom ” refers to the lower , more primitive parts of your brain .
So when you feel attacked by a family member — “ All you do is sit and watch TV .
Why don ’ t you get up and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your bottom-up brain spontaneously begins to dump stress hormones ( adrenaline and cortisol ) into your bloodstream .
You may notice your heart pounding faster , muscles tightening and your breath quickening .
You ’ re now primed and ready to snap back and defend yourself .
It ’ s at this point that you need to initiate a bottom-up intervention .
Now let ’ s look at the “ top-down ” response .
Let ’ s assume you ’ re the TV-watching partner criticized above .
You ’ re feeling threatened and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But understand that whether or not you snap is not a fait accompli ; you do have another option .
You could get a grip on your visceral reaction and reverse engineer the conflict , insisting on a healthier response that leads to relationship resolution .
Simply put , you have a choice !
But wait .
When you ’ re riding that defensive wave of , “ Oh yeah !
Don ’ t tell me what to do !
” it feels like that bottom-up part of your brain has taken over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once you eliminate rational thinking , your more primitive fight-flight instinct is leading the fray and your more rational thinking is forgotten .
The key is to learn to shut down bottom-up reactivity .
Here ’ s how : 1 .
Quiet your fight-flight response .
Bottom-up emotions , like the heart-stopping moment the car in front of you slams on its brakes , occur without any cognition .
If you had to think about hitting the brake pedal , you ’ d probably crash into the car in front of you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that ’ s useful on the road .
But clearly , this reaction is not going to bode well during a relationship conflict where both partners are firing off bottom-up emotions .
So how do we mitigate these emotional time-bombs ?
Answer : Bottom-up interventions .
We must first quiet down the fight-flight mechanism .
In the heat of the moment , perhaps the single best option would be physical : put your hand on your belly , breathe in deeply and slowly from your nose , feeling your belly push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ breath for a second and slowly release the breath , feeling your hand push in on your belly .
Two or three breaths are all that ’ s needed .
This simple intervention is enough to switch your parasympathetic ( flight-fight ) nervous system , to sympathetic ( relax ) nervous system .
Ahh !
Once this happens , you ’ re ready to allow your thinking brain ( top-down brain ) to make a more rational decision on how you want to respond .
2 .
Consider the other person ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picked on ?
Okay , do this : Once your top-down , thinking brain is liberated , you are going to mentally plant yourself in your partner ’ s shoes .
Ask yourself , “ Why is my partner so frustrated with me ?
” You likely know the answer , “ Because I ’ m relaxing watching TV and not helping out.
” Aha !
Now you understand .
Easy peasy right ?
Well , not quite .
Once you have the cognitive solution , you ’ ll next have to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it may be , won ’ t solve most problems .
Responsible actions will .
Actions that may involve becoming more tolerant , less negative and more compassionate .
Now that you have an objective , depersonalized view , which you found by putting yourself in your partner ’ s shoes , you ’ re ready to say , “ Okay , you ’ re right , let me pause this program and help out.
” 3 .
Get everyone on board .
Bottom-up , top-down interventions will solve most relationship conflicts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategy .
So you might discuss this idea with your family members and agree to use this approach .
Whether it ’ s marital conflict , teenage rebelliousness , childish boredom or grandpop ’ s obstinate demand to go to the hardware store , this strategy is perhaps the single best way to minimize , if not eliminate , relationship stress during this confinement period in our nation .
Remember , calm down the raw emotions of defensiveness , then put yourself in the other person ’ s shoes , and then respond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Find ways to de-compress .
Other top-down interventions may include exercise , yoga , meditation , progressive muscle relaxation , and so on .
We can ’ t help our knee-jerk reflexes , but we also don ’ t have to be victims of our non-thinking , primitive brain .
Victims are helpless , but you ’ re not helpless !
These are times when we need to not only be safe , but also not let the stress of COVID-19 contaminate our relationships .
Dr. Joe Luciani has been a practicing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s the internationally bestselling author of the Self-Coaching series of books , now published in 10 languages .
His latest book is , Unlearning Anxiety & Depression : The 4-Step Self-Coaching Program to Reclaim Your Life ( Goodman Beck , April 28 , 2020 ) .
He appears frequently on national TV , radio and online , and has been featured in numerous national media sites .
Learn more at self-coaching.net .

By Dr. Joe Luciani
I’m here in the worst-hit COVID-19 county in New Jersey, and our governor recently announced a 30-day extension of our quarantine. For many people, not just in New Jersey, household conflict and friction are beginning to become a real issue. Husbands and wives squabble over silly issues, teens complain about wanting to see friends, children complain of boredom, elderly parents and grandparents become more demanding. Yup, the pot of confinement is beginning to boil over.
What to do? Here’s a simple Self-Coaching practice that will ensure your family’s ongoing sanity.
When you find yourself in a tussle and you feel your blood pressure rising, keep in mind that what you’re feeling is what’s called a “bottom-up” response — an immediate, visceral response to something you perceive to be threatening. “Bottom” refers to the lower, more primitive parts of your brain. So when you feel attacked by a family member — “All you do is sit and watch TV. Why don’t you get up and help with the dishes?” — your bottom-up brain spontaneously begins to dump stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) into your bloodstream. You may notice your heart pounding faster, muscles tightening and your breath quickening. You’re now primed and ready to snap back and defend yourself. It’s at this point that you need to initiate a bottom-up intervention.
Now let’s look at the “top-down” response. Let’s assume you’re the TV-watching partner criticized above. You’re feeling threatened and you’re about to snap. But understand that whether or not you snap is not a fait accompli; you do have another option. You could get a grip on your visceral reaction and reverse engineer the conflict, insisting on a healthier response that leads to relationship resolution. Simply put, you have a choice!
But wait. When you’re riding that defensive wave of, “Oh yeah! Don’t tell me what to do!” it feels like that bottom-up part of your brain has taken over, which isn’t entirely false. Once you eliminate rational thinking, your more primitive fight-flight instinct is leading the fray and your more rational thinking is forgotten.
The key is to learn to shut down bottom-up reactivity. Here’s how:
1. Quiet your fight-flight response. Bottom-up emotions, like the heart-stopping moment the car in front of you slams on its brakes, occur without any cognition. If you had to think about hitting the brake pedal, you’d probably crash into the car in front of you. Your reaction is non-thinking and immediate. And that’s useful on the road. But clearly, this reaction is not going to bode well during a relationship conflict where both partners are firing off bottom-up emotions. So how do we mitigate these emotional time-bombs? Answer: Bottom-up interventions. We must first quiet down the fight-flight mechanism.
In the heat of the moment, perhaps the single best option would be physical: put your hand on your belly, breathe in deeply and slowly from your nose, feeling your belly push out against your hand. Hold the breath for a second and slowly release the breath, feeling your hand push in on your belly. Two or three breaths are all that’s needed. This simple intervention is enough to switch your parasympathetic (flight-fight) nervous system, to sympathetic (relax) nervous system. Ahh! Once this happens, you’re ready to allow your thinking brain (top-down brain) to make a more rational decision on how you want to respond.
2. Consider the other person’s perspective. Still feeling defensive and unjustly picked on? Okay, do this: Once your top-down, thinking brain is liberated, you are going to mentally plant yourself in your partner’s shoes. Ask yourself, “Why is my partner so frustrated with me?” You likely know the answer, “Because I’m relaxing watching TV and not helping out.” Aha! Now you understand.
Easy peasy right? Well, not quite. Once you have the cognitive solution, you’ll next have to follow through. Understanding, as important as it may be, won’t solve most problems. Responsible actions will. Actions that may involve becoming more tolerant, less negative and more compassionate. Now that you have an objective, depersonalized view, which you found by putting yourself in your partner’s shoes, you’re ready to say, “Okay, you’re right, let me pause this program and help out.”
3. Get everyone on board. Bottom-up, top-down interventions will solve most relationship conflicts, but only if everyone is employing this strategy. So you might discuss this idea with your family members and agree to use this approach.
Whether it’s marital conflict, teenage rebelliousness, childish boredom or grandpop’s obstinate demand to go to the hardware store, this strategy is perhaps the single best way to minimize, if not eliminate, relationship stress during this confinement period in our nation. Remember, calm down the raw emotions of defensiveness, then put yourself in the other person’s shoes, and then respond in a more insightful way.
4. Find ways to de-compress. Other top-down interventions may include exercise, yoga, meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and so on.
We can’t help our knee-jerk reflexes, but we also don’t have to be victims of our non-thinking, primitive brain. Victims are helpless, but you’re not helpless! These are times when we need to not only be safe, but also not let the stress of COVID-19 contaminate our relationships.
* * *
Dr. Joe Luciani has been a practicing clinical psychologist for more than 40 years. He’s the internationally bestselling author of the Self-Coaching series of books, now published in 10 languages. His latest book is, Unlearning Anxiety & Depression: The 4-Step Self-Coaching Program to Reclaim Your Life (Goodman Beck, April 28, 2020). He appears frequently on national TV, radio and online, and has been featured in numerous national media sites. Learn more at self-coaching.net.