25% of people in developed countries die of cancer. One in 200 people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Almost everyone knows someone who has been afflicted with this horrible disease.

Cancer is terrifying because it seems to erupt like a bombshell without symptoms. Many of us know people who appear otherwise completely healthy (and often young) who suddenly develop melanoma, breast, or testicular cancer.

Cancer is also interesting because “the cure for cancer” stands out as a major scientific challenge for our species. The phrase regularly makes it into our common dialog.

“Nice solution. It’s no ‘cure for cancer’, but it sure is cool!”

“What do you want to do when you grow up, Billy?”, asks the teacher? “Why I’m going to find the cure for cancer!”, Billy proudly responds.

Can you think of a human achievement that would have a greater, instant, more positive impact on our species than curing cancer and alleviating the human suffering and lost productivity it produces every year? Imagine further if the cure was cheaply and widely available at almost no cost? Surely a potential solution like this would be front-page news in every major media outlet. What could possibly be more important to the American public?

Last week I stumbled upon this story in NewScientist.com. Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a drug called dichloroacetate (DCA) which has the potential to kill most cancers without harming healthy cells. They have demonstrated this solution outside the body and are now quickly moving to clinical trials. Because DCA has already been through Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, they anticipate that the process will move forward much faster.

There are a lot of interesting aspects to this story. For instance, DCA is available in the public domain (no patent protection), so the funding from clinical trials won’t come from the pharmaceutical companies.

What I find most shocking is that nobody seems to care. On the day I discovered the story I couldn’t find one major news media outlet covering it. On the same day I was unable to find any outlet that wasn’t blasting me with information on the death of Anna Nicole Smith.

I had never heard of Anna Nicole Smith, but it sounds like the poor woman lead a tragic life that was on constant public display. I suppose the death of someone so young and who seemingly has everything you could want in the world is news. But is the story so critical to our lives and so interesting that we need constant, 24/7 updates for days on the situation? Does anyone really think that this story is more important than the prospect of a “cure for cancer”? What does this tell us about our human values?

Perhaps we should recognize that the public has grown cynical of “the war on cancer” after 40 years of little progress and billions of dollars spent on the fight. After all, DCA might very well turn out to be another “miracle” cure which works in the lab but is ineffective or harmful in the human body.

Nonetheless, this episode strikes me as another bizarre example of how the mainstream media doesn’t report news or put it into a meaningful context for the world. Fortunately, the old models are crumbling and we are entering a new age media where the public has the opportunity to drive the dissemination of news.

Consider this story my small contribution.

Wait, There's More!

Thanks for stopping by to see what all the fuss is about. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, and you'd like to be updated whenever I publish a new post (totally randomly, but never more than once or twice a week) you can subscribe - for free - and receive regular updates. To receive updates by email, simply complete the Subscription Form in the top right hand corner of every page or, if you're so inclined, click here for the main RSS feed.

And if you want to leave a comment at any time - even if it's just to say hi - you're more than welcome - just leave your thoughts in the block at the end of every post. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again!

Oh, and before I forget, you really should read my Why I Blog post. It might numb the shock of some of the heretical things I say!

One of the earliest references to breathing as a form of medical therapy appears in an inscription found on 12 jade tablets dating from the mid-sixth century BC:

In breathing, one should proceed as follows: hold the breath down and let it collect together. When it collects, it will expand. When it expands, it sinks down. When it sinks down, it grows quiet. When it grows quiet, it will solidify. When it solidifies, it begins to grow. As it grows, it is drawn inward and upward and will reach the crown of the head. Above, it presses against the top of the head. Below it presses downward. Whoever follows this method will live a long life. Whoever goes against it, will die prematurely.

I found this useful in combatting the shallow breaths most people (myself included) take as a matter of course.

Here are a few ideas for delicious, nutritious smoothies.

A few spoons of quality plain yogurt is optional in all smoothies.
The portions are quite large, so the smoothie can be consumed over two sittings if covered (stored in refrigerator).

Smoothie 1:

• 1 x banana
• 1 x apple
• 1 x other fruit of your choice

Smoothie 2:

• 1 x banana
• 1 x handful of fresh blueberries
• 1 x handful of fresh raspberries
• 3 – 4 fresh strawberries
• 1 x papaya

Smoothie 3:

• 1 x handful of fresh blueberries
• 1 x handful of fresh raspberries
• 3 – 4 fresh strawberries
• 1 x freshly squeezed orange
• ½ - 1 x papaya

Smoothie 4:

• 1 x handful of fresh blueberries
• 1 x handful of fresh raspberries
• 3 – 4 fresh strawberries
• 1 – 2 kiwi fruits

Smoothie 5:

• any tasty combination of fruits you desire!

Here are a number of delicious combinations of fruits and vegetables. Remember to wash thoroughly before juicing to remove all traces of insecticide and other chemicals. And drink immediately after juicing - don’t refrigerate overnight.

• Plain carrot and apple: 3 carrots to 1 apple
• Carrot, apple, celery and beetroot
• Carrot and beetroot
• Carrot, beetroot and apple/cucumber
• Carrot, pineapple, ginger (and lemon optional)
• Carrot, pineapple, cucumber and ginger (and lemon optional)
• Carrot, apple and ginger
• Carrot, pineapple and orange
• Carrot, sweet yellow or red pepper, pineapple, ginger and lemon (chilli optional)
• Carrot, celery, sweet pepper (red, yellow or green), beetroot, apple and lemon
• Celery, green pepper, cucumber and apple
• Carrot, apple and cucumber
• Carrot, broccoli and cucumber/apple
• Carrot and broccoli
• Carrot, cabbage, broccoli (apple optional)
• Tomato, celery and carrot (cucumber/apple optional)
• And so on and so on and so on……

Enjoy!

Daniel Reid is a bestselling author and a leading expert on eastern philosophy and medicine. He has written numerous books and magazine articles on various aspects of Asian self-health and self-healing practices, and has established an international reputation for the practical efficacy of his traditional approach to modern health problems.

The following are highly recommended books by Daniel Reid.
Continue reading

A few tips, advice and guidelines on what to look for when buying a juicer.

What are the advantages of a juicer over bought juice?

Making fresh juices from your own juicer provides you with the same live enzymes that are available in raw fresh fruit and vegetables. These fresh raw foods give us more energy and sparkle than cooked, ‘dead’ foods, and ‘dead’ juices that have been sitting in a container on the supermarket shelf for days, weeks or even months. This energy (from the freshly made juice) is concentrated, and you feel it as soon as you drink it. It can clear your head and make you feel light and energetic. Continue reading

The following article explaining the benefits of juicing fruits and vegetables has been provided by my good friend Jan at Healthguy.org

Why Juice?

The debacle continues. Western dieticians and nutritionalists argue that by juicing fruit and vegetables one loses the bulk and fibre, which is so beneficial to our digestive system. This is of course true. The consumption of fresh juices should therefore not be used as a replacement for fresh produce, but more as a supplement. Continue reading

The following Eating Principles have been provided by my good friend Jan at Healthguy.org.

The Theory

This eating plan is an idealistic guideline and is subject to your own interpretation, adjustments and adaptations. It does not consider the 80/20 rule, which states that an ideal diet is where 80% of your intake follows strict guidelines, and the remaining 20% can be relaxed. It is more important to understand the concept behind it. That basic concept comprised of the following principles. Continue reading

The following Eating Plan has been provided by my good friend Jan at Healthguy.org.

To obtain the most benefit from the Eating Plan, please read Good Eating Principles.

As you can see, this method of eating allows you to eat as much as you want - no portion weighing and measuring!  Simply eat until you’re satisfied, because you know you’ll be having another snack in a few hours.

Where juice is recommended, this should not be store purchased, and should be squeezed/juiced just prior to drinking, to avoid oxidisation. Continue reading

In everything I’ve written and collected on this site, I am seeking a universal approach to Fulfilled Living, specifically health and wellness.

Despite vast differences and conflicting opinions when it comes to health and wellness, all cultures share universal truths. Behind the facade of cultural differences and egotistical squabbling, all of humankind shares one undeniable common factor: Genetic design.

To be bound to one particular way of thinking with regards to such a fundamental fact of Nature is to limit one’s personal growth and compromise one’s health. All schools of thought should therefore be considered. The positive and the constructive aspects should be extracted from each of these schools and merged to form a more holistic and universal paradigm. Continue reading