How does cognitive dissonance work? Does it help us, or lead us into a life of hypocrisy? Can understanding the theory help us understand the bizarre behavior we see in others, as well as ourselves? Cognitive dissonance has affected humans throughout history, but today's political, social, and medical pressures surround us in contradictory ideas, beliefs, and ideologies begging us to act on their behalf. To satisfy the expectations of others, bolster our egos, or even do the "more right thing," we make choices that amplify stressful feelings brought on by our cognitive dissonance. We’ve all been guilty of believing one thing, but speaking or acting in a way that completely contradicts our supposed beliefs. In most cases, the consequences are insignificant. In some, they can be catastrophic. In this blog post, I hope to just open your mind to what cognitive dissonance is, and how it affects each of us. With that awareness, I believe you’ll better understand others’ irrational behavior, and it’ll be easier for you to pause and think before acting irrationally yourself. Note: I quote the book Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson multiple times in this blog post. I recommend reading the book itself for a deeper exploration of cognitive dissonance. Keep in mind that the authors seem to be more left than right politically, so reading might make you stretch your thinking a little if you're more "right-minded" like me. What is cognitive dissonance? Cognitive dissonance is the stressful mental state of holding two opposing attitudes, beliefs, ideas, or opinions. Often, it causes us to act in a way inconsistent with how we see ourselves or want others to see us. For example, I've seen people share stories about how they lost a loved one due to the COVID vaccine, but then go on to say that they're pro-vaccine. Their belief about the vaccines being good butts up against their knowledge that a family member died because of them. Politics is an easy place to spot cognitive dissonance. Were I writing this during the Trump presidency, I'd no doubt have examples from him. But examples of cognitive dissonance have exploded under Biden, along with inflation. President Biden has repeatedly warned Americans of the threat of mis-, dis-, and malformation, while lying to Americans 120 times as of January 20, 2022, just short of his first year as the President. That’s once every three days. Assuming he really believes in the importance of telling the truth, his head must be about ready to burst from the cognitive dissonance. The  International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences adds how you feel to the definition of cognitive dissonance: inconsistency between two cognitions creates an aversive state akin to hunger or thirst that gives rise to a motivation to reduce the inconsistency. Acting in a way inconsistent with what you believe increases stress. The higher your level of stress, or the greater the gap between how you see yourself and how you act, the more you'll be tempted to justify your actions instead of admitting your mistakes. Examples of Cognitive Dissonance in Action It's easy to think of examples of cognitive dissonance leading to social, political, relational, or financial problems. But, sometimes we feel its sting when we do the right thing as well. The following are five examples of how cognitive dissonance can affect us. Two are my own. I hope they help you see it in your life as well. You can't navigate its effects if you don't know it's there. Smoking on the Golf Course I was a fat kid for much of my childhood. At least, I was chubby by the standards of the 1980's. My nickname was CP, short for Chubby & Porky. That led me to an early interest in health and fitness. By the time I was 17, I'd shed the extra weight. Being that I was already becoming a fitness fanatic, if you would have asked me about smoking,

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Cognitive Dissonance: The Good, Bad, and Ugly

Does your blood level of vitamin D affect your risk of a severe case of COVID-19? If so, what should you do? And if raising vitamin D levels reduces the risk of COVID-19, why haven't public health policymakers talked more about it? I can answer the first two questions, but to answer the third question, you'll need to understand that those policymakers are motivated by something other than public health. The Public Library of Science (PLoS) just published another study, reinforcing the importance of vitamin D in relation to COVID-19. The authors concluded, “Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, pre-infection deficiency of vitamin D was associated with increased disease severity and mortality.” Does this mean that low vitamin D levels cause severe COVID-19 infections? No. Does the study show that raising vitamin D levels protects you from COVID-19? Not necessarily, but based on other research, such an assumption would be a pretty safe bet. The majority of people on the planet have vitamin D levels well-below optimal, but those with deficient levels of vitamin D are at a much greater risk of numerous health problems. The table blow shows some of them. Health Problems Associated with Low Vitamin D LevelsFlu and respiratory infectionsInsulin resistance and diabetesHeart diseaseOsteoporosis and bone fracturesLower IQs of babiesAtopic dermatitisCancerDecreased adrenal hormonesDecreased strengthIncreased body fatLow birth weight of newbornsMultiple sclerosisPsoriasisRheumatoid arthritisSchizophreniaType I diabetes As it relates to infections, low vitamin D levels have been consistently associated with higher risks of flu and respiratory infections. Again, we’re talking about association, not causation. However, raising vitamin D levels through supplementation reduces the risk of the flu and respiratory infections, as well. Clinical research shows that vitamin D supplementation supports immune function. I wrote the following in a previous blog post: In one study, supplementing with 2000 IU of cholecalciferol has been shown to lessen the occurrence of cold and flu symptoms.In another study published in 2010, children in Japan took 1200 IU of cholecalciferol or a placebo from December 2008 through March 2009. At the end of the study, 18.6% of the placebo group and 10.8% of the vitamin D group got the flu.That’s a 42% reduction, using an amount that still isn’t enough to reach optimal levels in most people.Interestingly, the CDC found that flu shot was only effective in 23% of people who got it based on 2014 data.Vitamin D: Deficiency Symptoms And Benefits Of Supplementation Vitamin D and COVID-19 Multiple studies now show that low vitamin D levels are associated with more severe COVID-19 infections. To remain objective, though, you have to keep in mind that low-vitamin D levels are associated with other factors that are associated with a greater risk of COVID-19 infections. Aging, obesity, poor nutrition, and a lack of outdoor activity raise the risk of COVID-19 infection by themselves, while also increasing the likelihood that an individual is deficient in vitamin D. A study published in JAMA in September of 2020 (yes, a year and a half ago) showed that low vitamin D levels were associated with a 77% increased risk of a COVID-19 infection. Prior to that, a July 2020 study of 14,000 people showed “low plasma 25(OH)D levels appear to be an independent risk factor for COVID-19 infection and hospitalization.” A November 2020 study determined the following: Vitamin D level is markedly low in severe COVID-19 patients. Inflammatory response is high in vitamin D deficient COVID-19 patients. This all translates into increased mortality in vitamin D deficient COVID-19 patients. As per the flexible approach in the current COVID-19 pandemic authors recommend mass administration of vitamin D supplements to population at risk for COVID-19.Jain A, et al.

Do higher vitamin D levels prevent severe COVID-19 infections?

Over the past two decades, we’ve seen a consistent effort to vilify red meat consumption while extolling the benefits of a plant-based diet. I believe that once we are through the COVID Circus, we’ll find the consumption of red meat in the crosshairs of nutrition, climate, and social justice conversations. And just like with COVID, ideologies and agendas will create "the truth," rather than relying on facts and scientific evidence. With enough propaganda, the public will get wooed into a plant-based diet in the midst of a war on meat. Rather than tackling this meaty topic all at once, I’ll separate fact from fiction through multiple, bite-sized posts. That way, the facts will be more digestible, like a perfectly cooked porterhouse steak. And in case you were wondering about how much red meat I personally eat, I eat a lot of bison, but no beef. I'm allergic to it. I believe I have Alpha-Gal Syndrome, which causes a beef allergy. It occurs after you get bit by a Lone Star tic. If I eat beef, I feel like I had food poisoning for the following 36 hours, or so. I do miss it. I point that out to say that I'm not on the payroll of the Beef Council, and don't even eat it myself. In this post, I’ll address the claim that eating red meat causes heart disease or diabetes. Let’s dig in. What “Red Meat “ Is and Isn’t According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Meat, also known as red meat, includes all forms of beef, pork, lamb, veal, goat, and nonbird game (e.g., venison, bison, and elk). Poultry includes all forms of chicken, turkey, duck, geese, guineas, and game birds (e.g., quail and pheasant). Meats and poultry vary in fat content and include both fresh and processed forms. Lean meats and poultry contain less than 10 g of fat, 4.5 g or less of saturated fats, and less than 95 mg of cholesterol per 100 g and per labeled serving size (e.g., 95% lean ground beef, pork tenderloin, and skinless chicken or turkey breast). Processed meats and processed poultry (e.g., sausages, luncheon meats, bacon, and beef jerky) are products preserved by smoking, curing, salting, and/or the addition of chemical preservatives. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020 To reiterate: “Red meat” is an umbrella term that includes “all forms of beef, pork, lamb, veal, goat, and nonbird game (e.g., venison, bison, and elk.)”The phrase processed meat includes “processed meats and processed poultry (e.g., sausages, luncheon meats, bacon, and beef jerky) are products preserved by smoking, curing, salting, and/or the addition of chemical preservatives.” These statements don't just apply to the Dietary Guidelines. They also apply to the way researchers assess "red and processed meat" consumption. Why is this important to understand? Because unprocessed and processed meats are very different. On top of that, many processed meats, such as sausage or bacon are often found on top of pizza, in frozen meals, and as ingredients in fast foods. When researchers ask study participants about the processed meats they eat, they use examples like pizza to help them count their processed meat servings. There’s an enormous difference between freshly-made pork sausage, and preserved pork sausage included as part of a frozen pizza. The Dietary Guidelines document goes on to say: For those who eat animal products, the recommendation for the protein foods subgroup of meats, poultry, and eggs can be met by consuming a variety of lean meats, lean poultry, and eggs. Choices within these eating patterns may include processed meats and processed poultry as long as the resulting eating pattern is within limits for sodium, calories from saturated fats and added sugars, and total calories.Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020 In essence, their perspective is that fat and sodium are the problem, so you can eat as much fat-free, highly-processed meat as you want, provided it’s low in fat.

Does red meat cause cardiovascular disease or type II diabetes?

The day after my 40th birthday, Vanessa and I found out we were the grandparents of an adorable 2 1/2 year old boy named Asher. On my 41st birthday, I wrote a blog post looking back at the year that followed, titled (Grand)Fathers, (Grand)Sons, and Reflections on Turning 41. Much in the world has changed since then.  As a husband to Vanessa and a grandfather to Asher, I constantly remind myself of my responsibility to protect them, not just from the threat of a carjacking criminal like those around the Minneapolis / St. Paul area, but from less obvious but equally evil threats brought on by our current culture.  I know of many men who deny what's going on, believing the lies are the conspiracy theories and the truth is the CNN talking points. Others ignore their responsibility, hoping someone else will do or say something instead of them needing to get involved. Still others put so much importance on their title at work that they remain silent, even though they know that their show of strength could move mountains in this culture war. As the saying goes, "if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." Unfortunately, if men don't stand for something, it isn't just themselves that fall for anything. They take those they love with them. That's not to say that women don't also have power to protect their families. In some cases, they do more than their husbands. And in almost a quarter of families, children are being raised by single parents, 80% of which are the mothers. As a man, I'm writing more for men than I am for women, though. That's why I'll consistently refer to men in this blog post. As a collective group, I hope we can reroute the destructive course our country is headed down.  What Are You Protecting Your Family From? Much of the propaganda we're faced with today is intended to confuse us. If the media causes us to question our beliefs about what's good and evil, what's true and false, and right and wrong, we'll avoid getting involved in anything. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.Sun Tzu, The Art of War As men, we need to be firm in our beliefs, but we also need to know what the "other side" is trying to say and do. If we don't take the time to find that out, we won't understand the significance of what we're fighting against. Read also: When will common-sense Americans get in the game? Uncover the truth and call out the lies Thomas Sowell said: If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.Thomas Sowell I don't think I've ever come across another person with less credibility than CNN or MSNBC. Were it not for a few of the people on FOX, they'd be in the same category of discredited media organizations. It isn't that those companies should be infallible, it's that they have no issues with lying to viewers, creating exaggerated stories, or suppressing important issues in the interest of their advertisers and politicians. Even when their lies are exposed, they rarely, if ever, admit that they disseminated disinformation. Make no mistake. The media isn’t a source of information. It’s a system of propaganda. It’s a marketing platform for anti-Biblical, insane, evil ideologies. When I say media, I include social media, Google, and YouTube as well. If you believe setting up a "parental control" system will keep your kids from seeing things they shouldn't, or being influenced by content you don't want them to be influenced by, you're naive. Joe Rogan's recent podcast with Dr. Robert Epstein will rock you out of your naivety.

Men: Stand and protect. Don’t kneel and surrender.

This will be my last COVID-related blog post for a while. I’m sick of writing about it. As I looked back at my blog posts from these past couple of years, I think I've said all that needs saying about why the term scamdemic is more appropriate than pandemic. I'm more than ready to get back to writing about health and fitness. I'm certainly not alone in my desire to move on, nor in my awareness that we're being played by puppets more than being cared for by civil servants. Most people now wonder, “When will this be over?” It can be over quickly, in one of two ways. One requires men and women to act like critically-thinking, unwavering, nonnegotiable adults. The other could come through more lies and deception in an attempt to salvage the reputation of the worst President in American history. First, I’ll address what won’t work to end the charade, and then what will.  What Won't Work It's easy to see what won't work to end this nonsense. Just replay the recommendations touted by Mainstream Media from the past two years, and you'll be well-versed in the anti-solution to the global pandemic. Or, watch some of the 2020 Presidential addresses or Jen Psaki press conferences. Those who knew how to end the threat of COVID-19 quickly were censored or silenced. Those who knew how to prolong it to generate maximum profits for big companies and decimate small ones were given the mic to keep things going. Getting everyone vaccinated Remember when a single shot was going to solve the “global pandemic?” While I doubted that would be the case, many believed it.  Once people got the first jab, it wasn’t that hard to convince them of another. We're now onto shot number four, even though the data shows that the vaccines don’t work against Omicron at all, and don’t do much for the other variants. And yet, people excitedly get in line for the next round of booster shots. Too bad they won't line up for gym memberships with the same enthusiasm. Getting fit and healthy would do a lot more to protect them from COVID-19 than a jab in the arm will. Vaccine-derived immunity doesn’t last like natural immunity does. The vaccines don’t keep people from getting COVID, nor passing it along to others, even though our Liar in Chief said that they do. Many probably don’t remember when Biden stated that “you can’t get COVID” if you’ve been vaccinated, and then just a couple of days later, beloved and double-vaccinated Colin Powell died of COVID complications. Numerous others have as well. Even if there were no side effects, and everyone got the vaccines, they don’t work well enough to stop the spread or prevent infection. If your hope for the end is in vaccination, you’ll never be done with it. Read more: mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines: Advantages, risks, and unanswered questionsHow the Unvaccinated Will Help Uncover the TruthCOVID Psychosis, Suicides, and Fallen Athletes Sharing facts, data, and real science Since the middle of 2020, we’ve had access to data that showed that COVID wasn’t the threat that we were told it would be. We had access to the findings from frontline doctors who treated infected patients early with generic and low-cost drugs, rarely, if ever, losing one of them.  Meanwhile, doctors who followed the advice of Dr Fauci, BigPharma, and their hospital sent people home without treatment. They had them return when they’d developed severe symptoms where many later died while receiving treatments that often made things worse. The science of the successful doctors was often ridiculed or silenced so doctors used more of the ineffective and expensive treatments instead, and so the public would remain in the dark about what’s going on. Once the vaccines became available, they were hailed as miracles by both Trump and Biden, but the doctors who understood what they were raised concerns about their safety. Again, they were criticized and canceled. If the vaccines were harmless,

The Two Ways We Will End the COVID Charade

The truth only matters if you can prove it. And even then, we’ve seen it doesn’t matter if the right people are in power.  But, regardless of what the President or mainstream media say, the truth about the vaccines gets revealed when someone we know gets harmed by them. For many, vaccine injury seems like a conspiracy theory until it hits home. And with the COVID vaccines, they’re hitting home unlike any other vaccine in history. To avoid admitting this reality, our politicians (both Trump and Biden alike) and the media gaslight the public, acting as though there’s no public health threat from the vaccines, and continuing to vilify the unvaccinated. Many say we’re just beginning to see what the vaccines could do to us. Something like myocarditis, one of the most common severe adverse events, takes time to kill people. At 3-5 years, it has a 56-83% survival rate. That means, at best, 17% of people who develop it will be dead five years later. Instead of facing this head on, we’re told that the condition is extremely rare and people recover quickly. Yet, that contradicts the scientific evidence. The point is, many are hellbent on hiding the truth and canceling the truth-tellers. Given enough time, the truth will be hard to find unless the unvaccinated remain committed to their choice, even in the face of social and political pressure. The unvaccinated may eventually become the only source of truth when it comes to the health effects of the vaccines. The Control Group's Role in Scientific Evidence Random, controlled trials form the basis of “scientific evidence” that supports or denies the health benefits of a given treatment.  Researchers use RCTs to study drug treatments, diets, supplements, exercise protocols, psychological counseling methodologies, and numerous other methods to improve human health, fitness, or performance.  RCTs require a minimum of two groups: The treatment group: The study participants who get the treatment.The control group: The study participants who either get a placebo when it’s appropriate (such as with a drug or supplement) or who carry on their life like normal without the treatment.  In the COVID vaccines clinical trials, the treatment group got injected with the vaccines, and the control group (a.k.a. placebo group) got injected with saline. Being that mRNA vaccine technology has never been used in humans before, it's crucial to be able to identify long-term safety issues. Logically, you'd do so by keeping the control group "the control group" for years, if not decades, to come. That would be the only way to use clinical trial data to identify the long-term safety of the vaccines. On the other hand, if you wanted to avoid the responsibility of long-term safety issues, you'd eliminate the control group early on in your research. That's just what Pfizer and Moderna did. After six months, which was around the time the companies received Emergency Use Authorization approval, they notified the control group participants that they'd received the placebo and offered them the real vaccines. The majority happily accepted the offer. This choice by the vaccine makers eliminated their ability to measure long-term safety data. The decision by the vaccine companies was almost unheard of in scientific research. Of course, they spun their decision as ethically justified, suggesting that the vaccine was so effective that it would be ethically wrong to not offer it to the placebo group. In reality, the vaccines are nowhere near as effective at controlling COVID as we were told. And they do pose a serious risk for both healthy and unhealthy people, even in the short-term. We've yet to find out what they'll do in the long-term. Stephanie Seneff, co-author of the peer-reviewed paper, Worse than the Disease? Reviewing Some Possible Unintended Consequences of the mRNA Vaccines Against COVID-19, recently wrote:

How the Unvaccinated Will Help Uncover the Truth

Fat loss for those over 40 years of age requires a different approach than it does for young adults. Your body won’t respond the same as it did back then. Nor will you get by with inadequate sleep, drinking too much, or doing so much cardio that you could watch a Netflix series each week while workout out on your bike, treadmill, or Nordic Track. That said, just because you need to approach fat loss differently, it doesn’t mean it’ll be difficult. In fact, you’ve probably learned by now that most things are pretty simple, and we have an uncanny ability to make them complicated. In this post, I’ve outlined a simple fat loss plan for men and women over 40. If you embrace these five factors, you'll see most of your excess body fat melt away in the months to come. However, if you need something more aggressive, check out my four-week fat loss plan: 28 Days: 4 Weeks Of Fat Loss. This is Not a Fat Loss Meal Plan Unless someone is prepping for a bodybuilding or physique contest, I refuse to make a strict meal plan. Based on how often people ask for them, I know I'd make some great extra money, but I won't sell what I don't believe in. I supposed that means I'd never get a job representing a COVID vaccine company either. Anyway, I'm opposed to strict meal plans for a few reasons: Scripting out what to eat doesn't teach you how to eat.A meal plan is only effective if you have access to the foods on the plan. When people go on vacation or get out of a routine they often go off the rails.Eating according to a meal plan often leads to obsession about upcoming meals and disordered eating patterns. I want no part of that. The good news is, when you eat and live within a few guidelines, your body almost always sheds fat and builds muscle, making you leaner and healthier. And when you eat based on guidelines, you can eat almost anywhere and avoid gaining weight. In the rare circumstances that people don’t see a significant change within their first three to four months, I strongly encourage them to get a full blood panel through their integrative doctor. I’ll cover in a different post. Fat Loss Factor 1: Protein Eat more protein, and eat it first at each meal. Most diets recommend reducing carbs or fat. In other words, your diet immediately starts with restriction.  Restriction doesn’t work, whether you’re referring to the restriction on freedom to choose an experimental drug or the freedom to eat from your junk food drawer.  Does fat restriction work? Maybe, at least maybe in the short-term. Does carb restriction work? Yes, for a while. Does eating an excess of protein work? Absolutely. In fact, research shows that higher-protein diets deliver better results than fat or carb restricted diets. Higher-protein diets: Keep you full longer and cut cravingsHelp you maintain more steady blood sugar levelsStimulate muscle protein synthesis and decrease breakdownAre far more thermogenic, calorie-for-calorie, compared to fat or carbohydrateSupport a strong immune system, helping you avoid getting sidelined by sickness Unless someone has pre-existing kidney disease, I recommend men eat 1 gram per pound ideal bodyweight, and women eat 0.8 grams per pound ideal bodyweight. If you choose to eat more, that's no problem. Eating even more protein will not lead to body fat gains. Research has proven that over and over. Just don't eat less. Read more: Why is a high-protein diet best for health and fitness? Fat Loss Factor 2: Breakfast Skipping Skip breakfast and make lunch your first meal of the day. If possible, avoid eating right away in the morning. If that is IMPOSSIBLE, at least stop eating cereal, toast, pancakes, or waffles and drinking fruit juice. That sort of a breakfast leaves you fatigued and braindead a couple of hours later. Nobody should start their day with that (including kids). If you can wait until lunchtime, do so.

5 Factors for Faster Fat Loss After 40

If your long-term goal was to destroy a nation or civilization, you could work to constantly grow stronger and more powerful yourself, or you could discreetly contribute to the weakening of the nation you wish to destroy. America has its enemies, and you could easily argue that we're more vulnerable today than ever before. The rising power of other nations coupled with the weakening of our own puts the United States in a precarious position. As a nation founded by the people, for the people, it's long past time "the people" take ownership of our country and its culture. It all starts with a concerted effort to build strength, first as an individual, then as a community, and eventually, as a nation. Before America becomes great again, it needs to find strength again. Before the country finds strength, it's people must attain it first. The Soft American President-elect John F. Kennedy saw the threat of our physical softness in the 1960s. Sports Illustrated published his article, The Soft American, on December 26, 1960. As he stated in the article: But the harsh fact of the matter is that there is also an increasingly large number of young Americans who are neglecting their bodies—whose physical fitness is not what it should be—who are getting soft. And such softness on the part of individual citizens can help to strip and destroy the vitality of a nation.For the physical vigor of our citizens is one of America’s most precious resources. If we waste and neglect this resource, if we allow it to dwindle and grow soft then we will destroy much of our ability to meet the great and vital challenges which confront our people. We will be unable to realize our full potential as a nation.President-elect John F. Kennedy, Dec 26. 1960 I'm certain that when he wrote about The Soft American, he couldn't have imagined how soft Americans would become in the decades that followed, and how that softness wouldn't describe us only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. I'm sure he'd be even more alarmed today if he were to see how much the government has contributed to that softness. As Kennedy reached the conclusion of his article, he wrote the following: But no matter how vigorous the leadership of government, we can fully restore the physical soundness of our nation only if every American is willing to assume responsibility for his own fitness and the fitness of his children. We do not live in a regimented society where men are forced to live their lives in the interest of the state. We are, all of us, as free to direct the activities of our bodies as we are to pursue the objects of our thought. But if we are to retain this freedom, for ourselves and for generations to come, then we must also be willing to work for the physical toughness on which the courage and intelligence and skill of man so largely depend. How prophetic! He knew that the government could not and should not control Americans (as they're trying to hard to do today), and that our ability to maintain the freedoms we enjoy was dependent on our willingness to do the work to maintain physical health and fitness. He also knew, as research has continued to show, that your ability to think and reason depends on your physical fitness. Though he didn't explicitly say it in his article, he seemed to know that as America grew progressively physically soft, it would become progressively soft emotionally and mentally as well. Beginning more than 2,500 years ago, from all quarters of the Greek world men thronged every four years to the sacred grove of Olympia, under the shadow of Mount Cronus, to compete in the most famous athletic contests of history—the Olympian games. During the contest a sacred truce was observed among all the states of Greece as the best athletes of the Western world competed in boxing and foot races, wrestling and chariot races for the wreath of wild olive which was the prize of victory.

The Soft(er) American: From JFK’s 1960 Article to Today’s Reality

This past year has shown us how far the left is willing to go to trample on our constitution, and how willing people are to go along with it when they are stuck in the state of fear, even if that fear has no basis in fact. Though some people are still asleep to what’s going on, many have realized that: Vaccine mandates aren’t about stopping COVID since the vaccines don’t stop COVID, but more likely a test of how the left can trample on the constitutionMasking kids is more about controlling people than controlling the spread since the masks don’t stop the virus from spreadingThe doctors in Washington don’t rely on science since science would say that natural immunity acquired through getting COVID is more powerful than immunity from a vaccinePublic health officials don’t really care about the public’s health since they have yet to acknowledge the massive number of vaccine-related adverse events and deathsThe general theme of the left is to divide the people, destroy American culture, and mock traditional and Christian values by giving special treatment to illegal aliens and to anyone who exemplifies lifestyle choices and behavior that go against the Word of God Unfortunately, too many Americans see this happening, act like they’re disgusted, and then carry on with their day, acting in accordance with the expectations of the left. Their compliant behavior enables this insanity to carry on. And if they don’t grow some courage and stand against the assault on America, 2021 will look like a mild preview of what 2022 is to become. So how can you get people to change their behavior and do what’s morally right instead of what feels right or convenient? Asking questions is the best way to change their thoughts and behavior. It puts the ownership of the answers upon themselves, instead of you as a friend or family member giving them advice or instruction. The following are 5 questions to ask yourself, and then ask those you know. They might not be easy to ask, and might make for a less comfortable conversation, but if you’re afraid to ask them, then you’re putting your own sense of comfort ahead of what’s right for America’s (and your kids’ and grandkids’) futures. How are my actions supporting the left-wing’s agendas? Before you answer this question too quickly, allow me to take the question a little deeper than you might have originally taken it. When we think of the groups causing the most destruction to American culture, it’s easy to point out the President and his administration, along with Mainstream Media, which produces far more propaganda than journalism. Based on viewership, it seems that most people have grown tired of their insanity, and don’t tune in unless it’s for a comical relief to their day, or in hopes of creating a new meme for social media. Giving them or not giving them our attention isn’t really the way we contribute to the problems we face. Instead, it’s the subtle ways we change our lives to accommodate their ideological agendas. You might put on a mask to go to a restaurant because the short-term desire to eat out is more important than the long-term effect of normalizing useless mask-wearing.  You might give into a vaccine you don’t believe in so that your family members stop pestering you, or because your boss threatened a mandate which may never come to fruition. Maybe you choose to stay out of what’s being taught in your child’s school so you don’t cause a scene, or make it awkward when you’re around other parents. Better for them to learn a false version of history based on critical race theory (without calling it that), than take a chance of causing a stir in the school. Maybe you listened to Joe Rogan’s interview with Dr. Peter McCulloch and have decided you won’t comply with the insanity anymore, but you’re afraid of sharing the interview with the people who most need to hear it because you don’t want them to think differently about you.

5 Critical Questions to Ask and Answer for 2022

L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that increases nitric oxide levels. Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in vascular function, which means low arginine levels leads to cardiovascular problems, erectile dysfunction, and reduced physical performance. Not surprisingly, arginine levels also affect how you respond to a COVID-19 infection. While you do consume some arginine through your diet, you'd likely benefit from supplementing with it, or with citrulline. In this blog post, I’ll review arginine’s health benefits and explain why supplementing with it along with citrulline is the best way to improve blood levels and gain the health, fitness, and performance benefits it offers. What are arginine and citrulline? L-arginine is a semi-essential amino acid synthesized from proline, glutamate, and glutamine. It is essential for endothelial cell nitric oxide (NO) production. Endothelial cells line your blood vessels and NO levels determine the tone of and contractility of the vessels.  Low NO levels lead to more rigid vessels. The more rigid the blood vessels, the higher your blood pressure and greater your risk of blood vessel damage and cardiovascular disease. Nitric oxide increases blood flow and enhances muscle contraction, gas exchange, and mitochondrial biogenesis (growth of mitochondria). Arginine also aids in creatine resynthesis and reduces lactate accumulation. The average adult consumes 4-5 grams per day, mainly from meat, dairy, nuts, and seeds. Your kidneys synthesize another 2 grams from citrulline each day. One of the drawbacks of arginine supplementation is that it isn’t completely absorbed into the bloodstream. The enzyme arginase metabolizes arginine. It’s found in the gut lining and liver, so some arginine that reaches either location may be metabolized before it can reach the bloodstream. L-citrulline is an arginine precursor and is not metabolized in the gut or liver. Instead, it can pass into the bloodstream intact, where it contributes to the formation of l-arginine. Research shows you can increase arginine levels in the blood through arginine or citrulline supplementation, but it's probably ideal to take both. One study showed l-citrulline supplementation at a dose of 750 mg, twice daily, significantly increased blood levels of l-arginine, though taking 3 grams of l-citrulline twice daily increased levels much more. Another study showed both arginine and citrulline increased blood levels of arginine, but you'd only need to take half as much citrulline as you’d take arginine to to reach the same blood level. That said, it seems that combining the two is more effective than taking either individually. A 2017 study showed that taking 1 gram of each together increased blood levels of arginine more than taking 2 grams of either one individually. I should also mention that there's more research using arginine than citrulline, which is what you might notice throughout the rest of this article. Health Benefits Increasing blood levels of arginine improves blood flow, prevents damage to blood vessels, stimulates hormone secretion, and enhances creatine synthesis. These effects lead to numerous health benefit, many of which I’ve summarized below. Athletic Performance Arginine increases blood flow throughout the body, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to working muscles and lactate and waste products away from them. It also stimulates release of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Both hormones impact muscle growth and repair and growth hormone enhances fat metabolism. At single doses of 5-9 grams, arginine can double resting growth hormone levels. Exercise is the most effective way to increase growth hormone, and studies show that arginine supplementation prior to strength training may reduce the rise in growth hormone from exercise alone. For supporting growth hormone,

Arginine and Citrulline: Health and Performance Benefits

A Judas Goat associates with sheep or other cattle, and after becoming part of the heard, leads them from the fields or pens to the slaughterhouse, or the trucks that will take them there. Some would say that describes President Biden well. Or, at least it describes the role he's played over the past two years. After the media did its work to make Donald Trump the tyrannical, racist, mentally challenged threat to America that the left-wing Democrats actually are, Biden showed up as a harmless, half-with-it old man who wouldn’t be able to spell tyranny much less become a tyrant. Most Americans, including those who didn't vote for him, probably didn't imagine he'd so quickly tear away at the fabric of American culture or its global leadership. Little did the sheep know that Biden didn’t need mental competence to execute a plan that would turn America upside down. He just needed to mouth the right words, most of the time, while others wrote his scripts, drafted his statements, and told him where to be and which reporters he could call on. Is it extreme to suggest American identity is headed towards the slaughterhouse? Consider the following. Then you can decide for yourself. From G.O.A.T. to Judas Goat Many believe Trump was the presidential G.O.A.T. Greatest Of All Time. At least in modern history.  I don't know that he'd be able to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, but as it relates to the role of a modern-day American President, the title has some merit. Setting the COVID Circus aside, he accomplished a lot in the way of the economy, supporting our military, protecting our borders, and putting American citizens first, as they are ultimately the "owners" of the government that serves them. He also made an effort to remind us that that we're one nation, under God. The facts surrounding his presidency paint an impressive picture, even though Mainstream Media has done its best to paint something else. Lest you believe I’m a die-hard Trump fan, I’m not. I did vote for him in both elections. I still believe he’d have America in a much better place today if he’d made it to a second term. But, Trump was the one who ushered in the fast-tracked vaccines. He continues to pound his chest about that, seemingly ignorant or dismissive about the damage they've caused to millions of Americans at this point. Right now, I hope that DeSantis is the pick for the pick for the 2024 Republican ticket. That said, Biden didn’t display competence or even adequate cognitive function for a presidential candidate. He didn’t even have the respect of his chosen VP until the party nominated him for the Democratic ticket (that lack of respect is starting to show in the tension at the Oval Office today).  More than half of America supposedly supported Biden, not because he was fierce, but because he was more friendly. He led them to believe he was one of them. Like a Judas Goat.  The Judas Goat According to  Wikipedia  (often a voice for the left, but in this case, using it as a source made sense), a Judas Goat "is trained to associate with sheep or cattle, leading them to a specific destination. In stockyards, a Judas goat will lead sheep to slaughter, while its own life is spared. Judas goats are also used to lead other animals to specific pens and onto trucks.” Christians understand where the term came from. Judas Iscariot was one of Jesus’ disciples, the one who eventually betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. At some point, somebody used the reference to Judas Iscariot to dub a specially-trained goat, the Judas Goat. Judas Goats become part of a community of sheep, cattle, or other animals. After becoming "one of them," they lead the animals to the slaughterhouse or a truck that takes them there. The Judas Goat walks away unharmed, ready to make friends with another herd. During his presidential campaign, then VP Biden often told stories of his blue-collar ...

Is President Biden a Judas Goat Leading Us to a Cultural Implosion?

The chances are good that when you think about body fat, you don’t think about visceral fat, which accumulates over your organs and under your abdominal muscles. Instead, you probably think about your love handles, saddlebags, or other fat that accumulates under your skin. That’s the fat we can see.  While any excess fat isn’t good for your health, visceral fat is terrible. Fortunately, you’re not stuck with it if you’re willing to make some nutrition and lifestyle changes. Certain foods and supplements also help reduce visceral fat, which I've covered in the second half of this article. Visceral Fat vs. Subcutaneous Fat Stored body fat is classified as white, beige, or brown fat. Brown fat contains mitochondria and can increase metabolic rate. Unfortunately, most stored fat in humans is white fat, which does almost nothing other than store up fatty acids and makes it more difficult to squeeze into our clothes. White fat is then categorized as subcutaneous, visceral, and ectopic fat. Ectopic fat develops within organs, whereas visceral fat develops around organs. Visceral fat accumulates under the abdominal muscles and over your organs, so it isn't fat you can pinch or see. However, as it grows, you'll notice your belly increase in size and your waistline disappear. Subcutaneous fat accumulates all over the body. Women tend to develop larger subcutaneous fat stores over their thighs, butt, breasts, and triceps, creating a pear or gynoid shape. Men tend to accumulate subcutaneous fat on their belly, lower back, and obliques, giving them an apple or android shape. Hormonal differences between men and women cause differences in fat storage. Moobs (man boobs) or fatter thighs are signs of low testosterone or excessive estrogen in men, and a round torso indicates elevated testosterone or low estrogen in women. More and more women today, even those who are pre-menopause, develop an apple shape as an outcome of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Correcting hormone imbalances alone won't always improve total body fat levels. It just shifts fat stores to the areas more common in normal-hormone men and women. Also, peri and post-menopausal women often develop hormonal balances more like males than females, which is why hormonal therapy is so valuable for post-menopausal women. Healthy women carry more body fat than men, though excessive body fat in either sex can lead to long-term health problems. The "healthy at any weight" mantra simply isn't true. If you're overweight, you're at a higher risk of developing disease. That isn't fat-shaming. It's fact-sharing. "Belly fat" is a combination of visceral fat accumulated over your organs and subcutaneous fat over your abdominal muscles. Reducing subcutaneous fat doesn't always lead to lower visceral fat levels. Maybe you've seen a bodybuilder with six-pack abs but a belly that looks like he's pregnant. He has low levels of subcutaneous fat but high levels of visceral fat. He might look healthy, but he's a heart attack waiting to happen. Why is visceral fat so bad? Higher body fat levels are associated with increased risks of numerous diseases. However, elevated visceral fat is an independent predictor of mortality. That means that elevated visceral fat likely causes preventable health problems that lead to one's demise. Most people think of belly fat as the squishy fat that hangs over your belt or that you can pinch with your fingers. The fat you see and feel is subcutaneous fat. While it isn’t healthy, it isn’t as bad as the fat you cannot see and feel. Visceral fat accumulates under your abdominal muscles, and over and around your organs. Because it develops under your abdominal muscles, you cannot pinch it. It’s also difficult to measure unless you use expensive equipment, such as a DEXA machine.  Though you cannot see it directly, you can tell when someone carries excess visceral fat.

Visceral Fat: How to Lower Belly Fat with Diet, Lifestyle, and Supplements

Is lavender essential oil helpful for anxiety or depression? If so, which is the best way to take it? How much should you use? I'll address these questions and others right here. Lavender essential oil has been used for thousands of years, in part, to deal with feelings of anxiety, depression, and other factors affecting mental wellbeing. As we've progressed into modern times, it seems more and more people suffer from anxiety or depression, or both. Research suggests 10% of the population faces an anxiety disorder in a given year. It's the most common mental health-related cause of death in the United States. Heart disease is the most common physical health-related cause. Most people who suffer anxiety also deal with some form of depression, sleep disturbance, or substance abuse. Over the past decade, researchers have completed a significant amount of lavender-related research, which supports the way traditional medicine practitioners have used it for centuries. A new meta-analysis adds additional scientific evidence to the case for lavender as an anti-anxiety natural health solution. What is anxiety? Quoting the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. It can help you to cope. The anxiety may give you a boost of energy or help you focus. But for people with anxiety disorders, the fear is not temporary and can be overwhelming.U.S. National Library of Medicine Genetics, environment, trauma, and stress contribute to anxiety. As I explained in a recent blog post, COVID-19 infections and vaccines cause anxiety and depression in some people, likely as a result of dysfunction in serotonin and dopamine production. Though nobody would want to live with untreated anxiety or depression, many prescription medications cause a variety of side effects. Anti-anxiety medication side effects include: AmnesiaDelayed time to affect symptomsDeliriumDependencyDepressionImpaired concentrationSedationWithdrawal syndrome That's not to say they should be avoided, but it's important to make an informed decision. Because anti-anxiety medications vary in how they affect a patient's physiology, and anxiety has different physiological causes, it may take considerable trial and error to find one that works. So, it’s little surprise that researchers continue to search for natural ways of managing anxiety and depression and improving mental health. One option is the use of essential oils, and lavender has been the poster-child for essential oils that help calm the mind and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, mainstream news and big pharma often try to discredit the use of any natural health products, including essential oils. Lavender Essential Oil Constituents and Usage Lavender essential oil comes from the flowers and stalk, and contains more than 160 compounds. The oil is acquired through steam distillation. Though there's some variability in the constituents, if the lavender is grown in the right environment, and harvested and distilled properly, it will be rich in therapeutic compounds. That said, if you distilled a lavender house plant, you probably wouldn't get much benefit from it. High-quality lavender essential oil is rich in: linloollinalyl acetate1,8-cineole b-ocimeneterpinen-4-olcamphor In Germany, doctors often prescribe a lavender-based drug called Silexan®, which contains standardized concentrations of linalool and linalyl acetate at 36.8% and 34.2% concentrations, but the remaining 29% varies in the concentrations of other compounds. I wanted to call this out as some lavender essential oil research uses Silexan,

Lavender Essential Oil for Anxiety and Depression

Now that we are twenty-two months into the two weeks to slow the spread, the effects of COVID-19 make the idea that the virus is a bioweapon seem more and more plausible. On top of that, the vaccine initiative seems to be part of the same orchestrated plan that unleashed the virus. Of course, that entire paragraph would be labeled by mainstream media as misinformation, but that’s what happens when you see cracks in the storyline laid out by the propaganda machine. While the public's attention is on the idea that COVID-19 is a respiratory infection, millions of people are suffering from effects that have nothing to do with their lungs or heart. And the vaccines that are supposed to save people from those respiratory infections (which they don't really do anyway) may cause the same problems that the virus does. Not to get sidetracked from the content of this article, but keep asking yourself this question: If the vaccine causes problems similar to the actual virus, and we're encouraged to get the vaccine because we're told it'll protect us, doesn't it seem like the agenda is really to make sure more of us get hurt rather than helped? Anyway...back to the blog post. The COVID Complications Nobody Is Talking About This past week, I came across a couple of disturbing videos. One was from Kyle Warner, a professional mountain bike racer in which he shares the aftermath of his vaccination. The other is a montage of news headlines calling attention to the deaths of high-caliber and professional athletes. Here's part of Kyle's video, shared by Frank Grimes, Jr. on Twitter (he also includes a link to the whole video on IG): https://twitter.com/FrankGrimes_Jr/status/1459026916808220677?s=20 Not only does Warner unnecessarily suffer from heart problems that have sidelined him from competition, but he also experienced first-hand the vile cognitive dissonance of fans who refuse to accept that the vaccines carry significant risks. On top of that, he knows multiple people from his vaccine injury group who've committed suicide after getting their vaccines. One person would be a coincidence. Multiple people is a pattern that should cause researchers and concerned adults to pay attention. This is the video montage on YouTube (notice that they discourage you from watching it with posting a warning before you see it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhvjXeYEJnU&t=2s You might have heard that healthy, professional-level athletes were dying, but gave it little additional thought. Seeing their numerous names and faces in the video makes it real. You can't dismiss it after seeing it first hand unless you're so mentally deranged that you won't believe what you see. I also came across this Tweet from Vance Murphy. https://twitter.com/vancemurphy/status/1457044900973670403 Twenty middle-aged doctors dead within a few weeks of one another, and the timing coincides with the booster shot rollout. I'm sure none of this will change the minds of those committed to living in dystopia. I simply share it for those whose minds have been opened and need reassurance that we're not getting the whole truth. In today's blog post, I want to call attention to a few things I've yet to cover in this COVID Circus: COVID-19's and the vaccine's impact on cognitive function, psychosis, and suicide riskHeart problems in healthy peopleThe normalization of COVID-connected health problems COVID-19, the Vaccine, and Mental Dysfunction According to a case study in the British Medical Journal, a 36-year old female nurse tested positive for COVID-19. Four days later, she was noted to have an acute, rapidly progressive change in her behaviour characterised by prominent persecutory delusions and decreased sleep. Her delusions were primarily directed at her partner and focused on the safety of her children and personal finances. She believed her partner was attempting to kidnap her children and steal her COVID-19 s...

COVID Psychosis, Suicides, and Fallen Athletes

According to the President, every American human being must become a guinea pig for one of the Big Pharma vaccine manufacturers, or suffer severe consequences. I'm certain that if he had his way, life would look a lot like it does in Australia. Maybe President Biden believes his title of Commander In Chief means that he can command every citizen to do whatever he feels like, whether it makes sense or not. Sort of like a king, which is what our Founding Fathers fought hard to prevent. At this point, there's only two reasons you could support mandatory vaccination of all Americans: Ignorance: You've chosen to ignore the facts and science surrounding COVID-19 and the vaccinesMoney: You benefit financially from the successful sale of these vaccines I almost added fear as an additional reason, but the reality is, you'd only live in fear because you're ignorant about the facts and science. Charles Spurgeon once said, A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting not its shoes.Charles Spurgeon In today’s digital age, this has never been more true. The majority of today’s left-wing ideological agendas are based up on one lie after another. It's as tough they're following the teachings of Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels. Repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.Joseph Goebbels For example, Joe Biden told Americans that if they got the vaccine, they wouldn't get COVID. His statement starts off the extremely popular track, Let's Go Brandon by Bryson Gray, Tyson James, and Chandler Crump. About a week later, Colin Powell passed away from complications with COVID. He was double-vaccinated. As I was working on the draft of this blog post, the Children's Health Defense broke the news that California Governor Gavin Newsom developed Guillian-Barré Syndrome following his booster shot. This is yet to be confirmed, but the public hadn't seen him in 11 days at that point. If it's true, there's no doubt that numerous doctors attempted to fix and hide his condition before the public could become aware of it. We've repeatedly been told the vaccines are safe. They're not. Adverse events are a significant issue and the public simply isn't informed. Are there scenarios where the vaccine could make sense? Perhaps. But no matter your age, you have to consider what could happen if you succumb to side effects. And adults need to get their heads out of the sand when it comes to vaccinating kids. There's no logical reason to do so, even if Big Bird says otherwise. For those who've been following "the science" throughout the COVID Circus, Newsome's GBS isn't a surprise. But I do hope that more of the ignorant, "pro-vaccine, anti-science" crowd begin asking some questions based on Newsom's condition. Here are some important points to consider as #46, Mainstream Media, and most celebrities pressure Americans to obey the Commander In Chief. Adverse events are much more common than the media or the President admit. The COVID-19 vaccines have caused more recorded adverse events than all other vaccines combined up to this point. At the time of this writing, a total of 856,919 adverse events have been reported. As a general rule of thumb, only about 1-10% people who experience adverse events report them. Do the math on that one! Almost 20,000 people have died. The most recent deaths include a 12-year-old girl from South Carolina (VAERS I.D. 1784945) who hemorrhaged 22 days after receiving Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, a 13-year-old girl from Maryland (VAERS I.D. 1815096) who died 15 days after receiving her first dose of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine from a heart condition and a 17-year-old female from Texas (VAERS I.D. 1815295) who experienced an acute hyperglycemic crisis 33 days after being vaccinated.Another recent death involves a 12-year-old girl (VAERS I.D. 1784945) who died from a respiratory tract hemorrhage 22 days after receiving her first dose of Pfizer’s vacc...

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