Laughter Still The Best Medicine: Watching a Funny Movie 'Good For Your Heart'

Watching a film that makes you laugh is good for your heart, according to a study. Researchers found watching a movie or programme that produces laughter has a positive effect on vascular function and is opposite to that observed after watching a war or horror film that causes mental stress. In the study volunteers watched segments of a funny film - such as There's Something About Mary starring Cameron Diaz - on one day and on another day watched the opening segment of the stressful war film Saving Private Ryan. Lead investigator Dr Michael Miller from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the U.S. said that when the volunteers watched the stressful film, their blood vessel lining developed a potentially unhealthy response called vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow. "We don't recommend that you laugh and not exercise, but we do recommend that you try to laugh on a regular basis. Thirty minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15 minutes of laughter on a daily basis is probably good for the vascular system," said Dr. Michael Miller. He said this finding confirms previous studies, which suggested there was a link between mental stress and the narrowing of blood vessels. However, after watching the funny movie, the blood vessel lining expanded. Overall, more than 300 measurements were made with a 30 to 50 per cent difference in blood vessel diameter between the laughter and mental stress phases. Dr Miller said: 'The take-home message here is that laughter is great for your heart. 'The magnitude of change we saw in the endothelium after laughing was consistent and similar to the benefit we might see with aerobic exercise of statin use.' In another study, Dr Wei Jiang and colleagues at Duke University in North Carolina followed 1,005 heart failure patients and also tested them for depression. Those with mild depression had a 44 percent greater risk of dying, Jiang told the meeting. "This adverse association of depression and increased long-term mortality was independent of other factors, including age, marriage, cardiac function and the root cause of the heart failure," Jiang said in a statement. "Approximately half of all patients with heart failure will die within five years of diagnosis, and we believe that our study appears to identify a group of these patients who are at a higher risk for dying." Jiang said it is not clear why, but he said patients with depression tend not to exercise or take medications properly. "Also, depressed patients tend to make unhealthy lifestyle choices in such areas as diet and smoking," she said. Laughter's Link to Health May Be in the Blood Reference Sources 202, 231 August 29, 2011

Top 7 Vegan Sources of Protein

Can the a plant based diet provide enough protein for sound human health? The medical community agrees that a plant based diet has many health advantages. But the protein question stays with us..."Are you getting enough protein?" Learn your protein needs by the numbers, and how to get enough. Read More

Which Veggies Fight the Root Cause of Belly Fat?

Hey Abdullah, excess fat is commonly blamed on over-eating. But is that really the cause? New research shows that environmental chemicals trigger a hormone imbalance called The Estrogen Effect. This causes premature aging and fat gain. Fortunately there's a simple answer. Our newest blog post gives you five tips to melt away fat and slow the aging process with special vegetables that neutralizes The Estrogen Effect. Read More

Fruit Bowl.....Chili?

Man oh man! Yes I keep the fruit bowl full. I use to keep the fruit in the fridge. Not So much now that I eat them on a daily bases. Oh the Chili! That was some of the best chili I have had in a long time. As you can see I started and almost forgot about you. Then I thought, take a pause for the cause and share with others....thus the pic. Enjoy your plant based meals and share as well.....peace R.A.V.E. Journey

Sunrise Coffee House, Las Vegas, NV

Guess who I saw at the Sunrise Coffee House? Well not really. There was a picture of the 1st Lady. She stopped in during a trip to Vegas this year. On your next visit or if you live in Vegas and haven't been yet make it a point to stop in. Friendly staff, good food and great atmosphere. I stopped in a couple of times while on a stop in Vegas. I'm not a coffee drinker but I enjoyed the coffee. On both occasions my sandwich and burrito where worth the time. Ingredients were fresh and when I say fresh I mean you can taste every item. Did I forget to mention the muffins.....need I say more? Not! The place will have you and your friends going back for more and making it a regular stop for you whether you're a traveler passing through or a native looking for a Cool Coffee House. Visit the site Click Here Map: 3130 E. Sunset Las Vegas, Nevada 89120 (between Eastern and Pecos | across from the park) EnJoY!

Not just another workout.....

Nice workout. Lower body, yoga and the treadmill got to know each other today. Feeling good and capping it off with a delicious "Green Smoothie"...uummmm mixed greens, apple, orange and banana. Have a wonderful day and don't forget to share your favorite plant based drink.

Mud Slide

I was about to head to the gym yesterday and thought, how about a "Mud Slide" [kale, collard, turnip greens, banana and blackberries]. I know it looks like mud but trust me it taste good. Do you have a favorite plant based mud slide? R.A.V.E. is going well.

Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet for High Cholesterol

Cutting meat from your diet cold-turkey is one way to lower your high cholesterol levels, since cholesterol and saturated fats, which raise blood cholesterol, come primarily from animal foods. Studies show that a vegetarian diet can also lower your risk for obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. A vegetarian diet can be heart-healthy and nutritious. Learn how easy it can be to change what you eat and help lower your cholesterol levels. I want to LEARN more....CLICK HERE NOW!

'Healthy lifestyles' wane in US - 2009

The picture is of, well it went something like this. I was looking around for something to eat. It started with looking for packages, cans, boxes, etc. You the stuff found in most kitchens. Those items are slowly finding there way out of the kitchen. So I thought how about some bok choy, cabbage, carrots and garlic. Reached for the olive oil and thought, let's go steamed with seasonings. Worked out great. Now what to put it on. Noodles! Well the ones I had are so far from wheat that I went with baked potatoes. I did use a little vegan spread and seasoning on the potatoes and then put that mound of veggies on top. Very good if I must say so myself. I'm taking action in my kitchen and trying to help spread the word that..... ..."If we want all Americans to achieve the health benefits of a healthy lifestyle, then all members of society must take action." Dr Steven Galson Acting US Surgeon General The number of US adults following a healthy lifestyle has fallen in the last two decades despite increasing public health campaigns, a study shows.

This Is Why You're Fat: The 2012 Farm Bill and the Real Obesity Lobby

Nearly half of all Americans will be obese by 2030, researchers reported at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Weight of the Nation conference in Washington earlier this month. 42 percent of us are projected to be obese, placing a huge strain on our already compromised health care system. Brian Fung at The Atlantic points out that the health care costs of obesity -- $550 billion over the next two decades -- is more than the U.S. Department of Defense asked for in its fiscal year 2013 budget. With the new HBO documentary, The Weight of the Nation, out this week, we need to ask one thing: what's making us so fat? Read more...Click Here

How about a Purple Smoothie!

Yes sir! In the evening or late night when looking for something out of a bag (chips/cheetos) or a package (oreos, ice cream) I now understand just how much of that processed, refined "stuff" has made its way into my kitchen. Back to that snack....don't let the purple fool you. I almost always put some spinach, kale, chard or collards in my smoothie whether GREEN, PURPLE, RED, ORANGE or otherwise. Nature offers up some unlimited original combinations that taste great and are good for you. I call it "natures medicine". Give it a shot. Share your favorite plant based smoothie.

Every Single Junk Food Meal Damages Your Arteries, New Study Reveals

ScienceDaily (Oct. 30, 2012) — A single junk food meal -- composed mainly of saturated fat -- is detrimental to the health of the arteries, while no damage occurs after consuming a Mediterranean meal rich in good fats such as mono-and polyunsaturated fatty acids, according to researchers at the University of Montreal-affiliated ÉPIC Center of the Montreal Heart Institute. The Mediterranean meal may even have a positive effect on the arteries. Continued.....

The Cheetos Vs Me.......

This does not happen ofter But I won the battle tonight. I had a banana and spinach (GREEN SMOOTHIE) instead of my soon to be long lost favorite, "CHEETOS". They put something in those Cheetos to make them addictive (2 weeks and counting no Cheetos). * I also made it a RAVE Day. 1-No Refined food,2-no Animal products, 3-no Vegetable oil, 4- no Excuses and managed to get a little Exercise in today as well... What processed foods do you battle?

R.A.V.E. for 21 days and beyond Lifestyle!

For 21 Days... no R efined foods no A nimal foods no V egetable oils no E xceptions & E xercise Who's in.....