The global "March Against Monsanto" took place on 25 March 2013 with organisers confirming that protests were held in 52 countries and 436 cities around the globe. 
Monsanto is an american multinational agricultural biotech corporation which is a leading producer of genetically engineered seed and of the herbicide glyphosate. Monsanto was among the first to genetically modify a plant cell in 1983, and was among the first to conduct field trials of genetically modified crops in 1987. 
Genetically modified seeds contain poisonous pesticides and herbicides so the plants are inherently protected from the insects and worms that might damage them. In other words, as the plants grow from the ground, they already contain genes from toxic concoctions, therefore helping corporations and their farmers maximize profits. Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the US today have been genetically modified, and all foods containing derivatives of these foods therfore contain GMO's (think high fructose corn syrup which is in everything you eat today!). 
Monsanto have a track record with deception. For example, they covered up environmental devastation as a result of their PCB production in Alabama. 
Here are some of the reasons why the march against Monsanto is taking place:
- While long-term studies are limited as genetically modified foods are still so new, solid research is showing that GMOs cause cancer, infertility, and birth defects.
-Monsanto has planted their own ”experts” inside the FDA and USDA. This helps keep them safe and ensures that long-term, government-led studies are not conducted on the safety of GMO foods.
- GMO crops contaminate traditional crops. The fear is that in time there will be no more “clean” seeds.
-Monsanto puts small farms out of business for violations of food patents which can occur as a result of contamination from Monsanto-adjacent farms.
- Monsanto’s GMO seeds may be partly responsible for the collapse of the world’s bee populations.
- Monsanto is working to patent seeds of all crops, including vegetables. Once they’ve done this, they will control the food supply!
- Protestors are asking that laws be put into place to force food producers to label all GMO foods as consumers have the right to know.
The organisers of the event said "We will continue until Monsanto complies with consumer demands. They are poisoning our children, poisoning our planet, if we don't act, who's going to?" American culture and products are exported to the rest of the world so we are all affected and must all take a stance against their dangerous practices.
Source: Natural News

B vitamin supplements stop Alzheimer's brain shrinkage.
Ground-breaking research from Oxford University was published on 21st May 2013, showing that inexpensive B vitamins stopped shrinkage in the area of the brain that defines Alzheimer's disease, called the medial temporal lobe. While most people diagnosed with dementia have Alzheimer's, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's requires confirmation with a brain scan that shows degeneration of this specific area of the brain. The discovery that this area virtually stops shrinking in some people with high dose B vitamins is a highly important and convincing breakthrough in understanding what causes, and can prevent Alzheimer's.
The study, led by Professor David Smith from the University of Oxford, gave a combination of high dose vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid or placebo pills to people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the stage before a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's.
"The specific areas of the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease shrank 8 times more slowly in those taking B vitamins than in those on the placebo. This is strongly indicative that the B vitamins may be substantially slowing down, or even potentially arresting, the disease process in those with early stage cognitive decline. This is the first treatment that has been shown to do this” said Professor David Smith.
In a previous study the Oxford research group had shown that the higher a person's homocysteine level, which is a reliable marker for Alzheimer's risk, the greater was the rate of shrinkage of the whole brain, and that lowering homocysteine with B vitamins markedly slowed any further memory decline in those with raised homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a common amino acid found in the blood and is acquired mostly from eating meat. High levels of homocysteine are related to the development of heart disease and are associated with low levels of vitamin B6, B12, and folate aswell.
According to Professor Smith "This makes the need for early screening for the first signs of cognitive decline from the age of 50, for example with the Cognitive Function Test at foodforthebrain.org vitally important, backed up by homocysteine testing and potential B vitamin treatment. Half of all people over age 65, potentially may benefit with reduced brain shrinkage by taking high dose B6, B12 and folic acid, but this should be done under medical supervision."
The Cognitive Function test is a FREE on-line 15 minute screening test anyone can do to check their memory, offered by the charity foodforthebrain.org.
According to nutritionist Patrick Holford from the Food for the Brain Foundation "These doses, which have now been shown to stop memory loss and brain shrinkage, are much higher than you can get from a good diet alone…This dose is considered to be safe, but means taking specific homocysteine lowering supplements and not just any multivitamin or B complex.”
Meanwhile take the first step by doing this Free online test:

Dr Andrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing oriented approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit. Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil remains a best-selling author with approximately 10 million copies of his books have been sold worldwide.
Dr Weill hayles he traditional Mediterranean and Japanese diets are most strongly correlated with low disease risk, longevity and good health. 
Here's a short audio recording with more information:

Angelina Jolie has revealed she has had a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of developing breast cancer.
Health campaigners praised her decision to go public with the news, which she said was prompted by a desire to encourage other women to get gene-tested and to raise awareness of the options available to those at risk.
The actress has a defective gene, BRCA1, which doctors told her had increased her risk of developing breast cancer to 87%, and her risk of ovarian cancer, the disease that killed her mother at the age of 56, to 50%.
The surgery, which began in February, has reduced Jolie's risk of breast cancer to under 5%, she said:
 "I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer," she wrote. "It is reassuring that they see nothing that makes them uncomfortable. They can see my small scars and that's it. Everything else is just Mommy, the same as she always was. And they know that I love them and will do anything to be with them as long as I can. On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity."
What a brave woman, the decision couldn't have been an easy one! Once you've done the test and know your risk factor, I suppose it's like living with a gun to your head, so I completely understand the choice she's made and respect her strength and courage.
Dr Richard Francis, head of research at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said that faults in the BRCA1 gene, which on average put women at a 65% risk of developing breast cancer, were rare and in most cases were linked to family history. He cautioned that a preventative mastectomy would not necessarily be the appropriate treatment for everyone with the gene. "For women like Angelina it's important that they are made fully aware of all the options that are available, including risk-reducing surgery and extra breast screening. Though Angelina decided that a preventative mastectomy was the right choice for her, this may not be the case for another woman in a similar situation."
I would just like to add that only 10-15% of Cancers are genetic, the rest are diet and lifestyle related - and even then, you can change the expression of your genes by the way you choose to eat and live...our health is not pre-determined by our genes 100%. I've seen individuals with no genetic pre-disposition to cancer and they smoke, eat junk food often, are overweight and generally stressed out and they develop it. And on the flipside, I see individuals with cancer in the family, but they eat well, exercise regularly and generaly take care of themselves and the cancer gene is never turned on. 
No one should feel powerless in the face of cancer as the absolute best prevention is diet and lifestyle. As the wonderful Kris Carr puts it "Your future is being written with every meal".  For me it really sums up that how we choose to eat determines how we choose to live and age - and be sure to have your annual screening too, I still get shocked by how many women don't actually do this evey year. 
Angelina you are one brave woman, we are Team Jolie all the way!
Read Angelina's letter in the New York Times.

Researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) have discovered a hormone that holds promise for a dramatically more effective treatment of type 2 diabetes, a metabolic illness afflicting a staggering number of people worldwide, with the numbers going up year on year. The researchers believe that the hormone might also have a role in treating type 1, or juvenile, diabetes.
The hormone, called betatrophin, causes mice to produce insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells at up to 30 times the normal rate. The new beta cells only produce insulin when called for by the body, offering the potential for the natural regulation of insulin and a great reduction in the complications associated with diabetes, the leading medical cause of amputations and non-genetic loss of vision.
The researchers who discovered betatrophin, HSCI co-director Doug Melton and postdoctoral fellow Peng Yi, caution that much work remains to be done before it could be used as a treatment in humans. But the results of their work, which was supported in large part by a federal research grant, already have attracted the attention of drug manufacturers.
“If this could be used in people,” said Melton, Harvard’s Xander University Professor and co-chair of the University’s Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, “it could eventually mean that instead of taking insulin injections three times a day, you might take an injection of this hormone once a week or once a month, or in the best case maybe even once a year.”

A study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research showed that red grapes can block the formation of tumors that lead to breast cancer. That’s not to say that grapes are like a cancer vaccine, but this study offered some proof that consuming the reservatrol found in grapes can be good for your health. So why not eat a handful every day. And in case you're thinking that red wine might be just as effective, the study indicated that red wine did not offer the same benefit.

Lao Tzu was born around the year 604 BC in Louyang China to the name Li Erh, and it is said that he had a head of completely white hair! The name Lao Tzu (often also called Laozi) was given to him later on in life when he worked for the King as the keeper of the imperial archives. The name translates to mean "The Old Master." 
Lao Tsu was a philosopher /sage of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching. This writing has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of philosophical Taoism. Taoism is a philosophical and religious tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao which means the  "way", "path" or "principle", the "driving force" behind everything that exists. The Tao Te Ching offers you Divine guidance on virtually every area of human existence. 
Dr Wayne Dyer, through his book "Living the Wisdom of the Tao", has managed to capture the scared teachings of the Tao in an easy to understand book.  Although just 81 short verses, the Tao encourages you to change your life by literally changing the way you think. By reading through the verses presented in Dr Dyer's book (which he's pieced together after reviewing hundreds of translations), along with the corresponding affirmation he's created for each verse, you'll be embarking on a path that encompasses the profound ideas that Lao-tzu intended to convey. 

A new study released by the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) School of Public Health raises fresh concerns about the safety of using conventional lipstick products, as many of them were found to contain dangerously high levels of aluminum, cadmium, lead and other toxins. 
Testing of 32 commonly sold lipsticks and lip glosses found they contain lead, cadmium, chromium, aluminum and five other metals — some at potentially toxic levels, according to researchers at the University.
"Just finding these metals isn't the issue.It's the levels that matter," says co-author S. Katharine Hammond, professor of environmental health. She says some of the toxic metals are occurring at levels that could pose health problems in the long run.
"This study is saying, 'FDA, wake up and pay attention,' " she says.
Lipstick and lip gloss are ingested or absorbed by the user. The health effect depends partly on how often and how heavily the product is applied. 
For even the average user, the study found that some of the lipsticks could result in excessive exposure to chromium, a carcinogen linked to stomach tumors. High use could potentially cause overexposure to aluminum, cadmium and manganese.
Hammond says the results are preliminary and more research needs to be done, because there's no U.S. standards for metal content in cosmetics. The European Union views cadmium, chromium and lead as unacceptable ingredients, at any level, in cosmetic products.
Although the study is small, Hammond says, the 32 tested products are common brands sold in stores nationwide. The studies findings appear in the the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.