The Western diet, high in fats, is associated with a higher risk of macular degeneration. Researchers have found that a high fat diet gives rise to weak gut microbiota resulting in poor digestion and long-range, low-grade inflammation in the entire body. These factors appear to be the source of high rates of AMD in men who are overweight.

Mitzi Adams was first introduced to Jin Shin Jyutsu in 1986 when she started her graduate studies in dance in Arizona. She has studied for a little over two decades and has taught Self-help Jin Shin Jyutsu at various universities. Her love and devotion to Jin Shin Jyutsu are witnessed through her teachings, inspiring all those drawn to this profound art. In this podcast, Mitzi discusses with Merryn Jose what Jin Shin Jyutsu is, how it is applied, how you can use it everyday, and the various healing benefits it provides.

Natto is a traditional Japanese food. It’s fermented soybeans that are rich in vegetable protein. Typically eaten with rice, natto has a mild cheese-like flavor and can be an acquired taste. It has a sort of sticky paste on its surface and once it is stirred, the paste increases its volume becoming even stickier. You will find that the paste pulls apart in such a way that resembles a web. This is another characteristic that sometimes turns people off. Still, the benefits make it worth exploring, and according to The New York Times, it’s catching on. If you’re the adventurous type or enjoy uncommon textures in your food, definitely try Natto! You can even make it yourself (video) if you want.

Mindfulness meditation has been described in many ways in recent years, but I still find that one of the definitions by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, is very helpful. He says that mindfulness is “paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgmentally. He added in an interview on YouTube…“as if your life depended on it.”

I am many things, but I am not a Buddhist. Still, every so often the secret Buddhist in my soul demands to be fed: lighting a little incense, placing a flower in a bowl like an offering, sweeping a spider out the door (instead of squishing it), or taking a day trip to the Chuang Yen Monastery in Carmel, NY.

A few years ago I had the great privilege to interview Kathleen Marden for a Merlian News Podcast. Kathleen, the niece of the famous UFO abductee Betty Hill, is a leading UFO researcher, author, and lecturer. She was a wonderful guest, very passionate and informed about her topic, and I came away believing that there was great validity in her research and experience. After that interview I became increasingly interested in her work, and began following her career and her website www.kathleen-marden.com

We spend a lot of time on our devices these days: reaching for the cell phone, the laptop, the tablet, or turning on the tv are a constant for most people, and we keep these devices within easy reach most of the time. So what happens when you spend your whole day surrounded by the electrical impulses they create?  There’s been a growing concern about the effects on the human body of being constantly bombarded by these waves of energy, including from the 5G towers that communicate with all these machines.

You wake up to an alarm that feels more like a demand than a reminder. The to-do list starts running before your feet even hit the ground, and the day often ends in exhaustion, not satisfaction. For many women, the daily grind isn’t just about work or family—it’s the constant mental checklist of everything they’re expected to manage, fix, or finesse. But what if you could start rewriting that rhythm? Wellness doesn’t have to be grand or expensive. Sometimes, it’s about choosing small shifts that ripple into major changes.

Qigong Meets Quantum Physics – Experiencing Cosmic Oneness by Imke Bock-Mobius Review by Cheryl Shainmark Qigong meets Quantum Physics is a wonderful integration of the various principles of qigong, mysticism, and the natural sciences. In the best Daoist tradition, Bock-Mobius has surmounted the duality of any discussion of religion (or philosophy) and science, and outlined her compelling vision of how it all comes together.