Less than 100 years ago, women’s rights were still largely unheard of in Western nations, and there are still fights worldwide for the equal rights of women.

While feminism still has a long way to go in this battle for equality, we thought we would take some time to celebrate a select handful of historical figures who refused to be downtrodden in their quests for a life worth living.

Hildegard of Bingen

Saint Hildegard was a German Benedictine abbess, composer, philosopher, writer and mystic. She is widely considered to be the founder of scientific natural history in Germany.

Born around the year 1098, Hildegard was a sickly child who was cursed with strange visions. It was for these reasons, perhaps, that she was offered as an oblate (or person dedicated to God’s service) to the Benedictine monastery at Disibodenberg at the age of 14. She was able to attract many followers due to these visions, ironically, as they were a source of struggle in her life. Continue reading →

The science studying the moments before death has long thought that the heart stops beating, ceasing blood flow, and causing the rest of the body to shut down. But new research has shown that the prevailing wisdom regarding this could be wrong.

In a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers studied the heart and brain activity in rats that were dying from lack of oxygen.

They found that the rats’ brains sent a series of rapid instructions to their hearts just before dying, causing fatal damage to the organ. However, when researchers blocked this signal from the brain, the rats’ hearts survived longer.

The methodology included subjecting rats to carbon dioxide or lethal injection, inducing cardiac arrest. Brain activity was scanned by EEG and hearts were monitored via EKG. Also, signaling chemicals were measured throughout the experiments. Continue reading →

The hormone oxytocin is commonly known as a substance that deepens our connections with one another, particularly in loving relationships. It is released through human touch (hugging or even hand shaking), by gazing at someone (or even thinking about them) as well as during labor and orgasm.

New research, however, suggests that the hormone plays much more of a role in our lives than previously thought. Here are some of the most fascinating ways that oxytocin assists us in life.

Pain Relief And Healing.

Studies show that oxytocin has pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties. The trick is getting some when you need it, which can be tricky.

The hormone can be produced synthetically and administered as a drug, but it may be easier to ask your partner for a hug, massage, or simply some good lovin’.

It Aids Social Anxiety.

Oxytocin can increase self-esteem, induce feelings of optimism, and help to build trust between people, and is therefore regarded as an aid to overcoming inhibitions and fears in social engagements. Studies also show that the hormone can ease the suffering caused by PTSD, and even help people on the autism spectrum with their communication skills. Continue reading →

Research on meditation has shown that an immediate reduction in stress and anxiety can be had, in addition to lower blood pressure and increased overall happiness. These are great reasons to start meditating now, but continued exploration of the practice has revealed that it could also add years to our lives, and improve our lives as we age.

Scientists have known for awhile that shorter telomeres are an indication of aging. These are protective protein caps at the end of DNA strands. It has been found that each time a cell replicates, the telomeres become shorter.

Telomerase is a natural enzyme that prevents this shortening. This enzyme can even add length back onto a shortened telomere, allowing that particular cell to love longer.

This shortening happens as a natural process of aging, but it can be accelerated by stress, which in turn speeds up the aging process. Shorter telomere length is therefore linked with cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, poor immune system functioning, and Alzheimer’s disease, according to Elissa Epel, PhD, professor of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Continue reading →

Organic sulfur is an abundant mineral in the body, and is crucial to good health. It also occurs naturally in water and in raw organic foods from fruit and vegetables to meat and dairy. Not only is this substance an essential element in life, it can have a profound healing effect on our bodies when added as a supplement, as most of us are not getting enough to replace what we use up naturally every day.

Health expert Hesh Goldstein is a major advocate for organic sulfur (OS) supplementation. Here are some reasons why:

OS Increases Production Of Enzymes.

This helps to increase our overall resistance to illnesses.

It Reduces Inflammation.

Organic sulfur promotes the healing of muscles and aids soreness by quickening recovery from trauma. This is why athletes in particular can benefit from adding sulfur to the diet.

OS Eliminates Free Radicals.

If you have allergies, sulfur can help to reduce your sensitivity to them.

It Promotes Growth Of Hair And Fingernails.

Organic sulfur increases tissue and blood vessel flexibility. Also, it is a main component of moisturizing creams due to its promotion of healthy skin. Continue reading →

Mindfulness practice has been gaining steam as a popular school routine, as many studies show that it can not only improve concentration, but also attendance, behavior, memory and overall well-being in our children. It seems that being presently aware comes more easily to children than adults, as well.

The easiest technique often first introduced to children has a basis in physiology. They are taught about the amygdala, a small area of our mid brain responsible for sensing when we experience stress.

It responds appropriately with the all-important ‘fight or flight’ response to stressful situations.

This evolutionary adaptation was probably originally utilized mainly in life or death situations, however the amygdala does not differentiate between an argument, a stressful test, or being chased by a predator. What it knows is a feeling of danger, and reacts by blocking the prefrontal cortex, responsible for thinking logically. Continue reading →