We have all heard of a vicious cycle. It is a tailspin into negative input, outcome, and an ever-expanding cycle of chaos, dis-ease, poverty, depression, etc. But did you know there is something called a Virtuous Cycle? This cycle leads to greater and greater levels of freedom and order. Let me use one example: Exercise. The willingness to invest a little of your time, choice, and effort into exercise will yield dividends that will bring good things into your life every day for years to come. Here are just a few benefits of exercise:

Daily physical activity can help prevent heart disease, stroke, and it can reduce blood pressure levels. Physical activity also reduces body fatness, which is associated with high blood pressure. By reducing body fatness, physical activity can help to prevent and control Type II Diabetes.

Physical activity helps to reduce body fat by building or preserving muscle mass and improving the body's ability to use calories. When physical activity is combined with proper nutrition, it can help control weight and prevent obesity, a major risk factor for many diseases. By increasing muscle strength, endurance, and improving flexibility and posture, regular exercise helps to prevent back pain.

Regular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation and may prevent many forms of bone loss associated with aging.

Regular physical activity can improve your mood and the way you feel about yourself. Researchers have also found that exercise is likely to reduce depression and anxiety and help you to better manage stress.

Exercise is obviously a Virtuous Cycle. Why would you not want these benefits? Why would you want to live with any of these conditions?

One simple commitment to a Virtuous Cycle can bless your life daily, even minute by minute. The more Virtuous Cycles you choose to participate in, the better your life will be, guaranteed.

Virtuous Cycles like exercise will:
-Reduce risk of dying prematurely
-Reduce risk of dying prematurely from heart disease
-Reduce risk of developing diabetes
-Reduce risk of developing high blood pressure
-Help reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure
-Reduce risk of developing colon cancer
-Reduce feelings of depression and anxiety
-Help control weight
-Help build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints
-Help older adults become stronger and better able to move without falling
-Promote psychological well-being

How much do you exercise? How often? Daily? Why not?

Most of us are motivated to either move towards pleasure or away from pain. What motivates you? At the gym I work out at, I can see people who come from both camps. Some are obviously motivated by pain, and others are obviously motivated by pleasure. One man I can picture in my mind is definitely motivated by pleasure. You can tell as soon as you look at him. He is chiseled to near perfection, handsome, looks kind of like Dr. Johnson, tall strapping, dapper, and a great sense of humor. He likes to look good. To him it is a pleasure, and it draws him to go to the gym and work out almost everyday. You can tell he likes to be looked at, as well as look at himself. You can also tell that the ladies in the gym like to look at him. He is very popular.

Do you need a pain to motivate you to exercise? Have you been to a rest home lately? How would you like to be one of those people who have lost enough of their functional capacity that they now need someone to take care of them full-time? Or would you rather be out on a golf course, mountain ridge, lake, beach, river, spa resort, or just down at the gym?

Personally, I started exercising because the activity I enjoy most in my life (backpacking to fish) was becoming too challenging. After one particularly hard and painful trip, I decided that I would be in good enough shape so that level of pain would never happen again, so I could enjoy my activity. The pain of that trip motivated me, and still does to a point, but now I have changed and am more motivated to exercise from the pleasure side rather than the pain side.

So what about you? What vicious cycles do you participate in? Smoking, drinking, gambling, lack of integrity, lack of exercise, procrastination, emotional eating, being a stress junky, or any other number of chaotic practices.

What Virtuous Cycles do you engage in? Reading inspiring books, exercise, meditation, prayer, service that stretches another's soul, love, patience, family activities, forgiveness, positive thinking, learning out of passion, teaching, educating, inspiring others, or gaining insight through challenge?

Any vicious cycle can be turned into a Virtuous Cycle, by reversing it. Go the other way. It isn't that hard. What do you need to do to reverse your Vicious Cycles that destroy your health and happiness in life? Decide now, and act urgently. Start NOW! You will never be the same.

Amid controversy over state legislatures in the U.S. requiring young girls to take Gardasil, Merck's new vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), severe side effects are being reported.

1,637 adverse reactions have been reported by Judicial Watch, a public interest watchdog, including three girls who died shortly after receiving the immunization. Judicial Watch obtained the reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration using the Freedom of Information Act.

Source: British Medical Journal, June 9, 2007; 334: 1182-1183

-The U.S. autism rate is 1 in 150 children, which is a 10-fold increase in reported autism cases over the past 20 years.

An independent study shows vaccinated boys, compared with unvaccinated boys, were 155 percent more likely to have a neurological disorder, 224 percent more likely to ADHD, and 61 percent more likely to have autism.

All vaccinated boys and girls, compared with unvaccinated children, were 120 percent more likely to have asthma.

By: Drs. Michael Arnold Glueck & Robert J. Cihak, The Medicine Men

-Evidence shows that sunscreen promotes cancer by blocking the body's absorption of ultraviolet radiation, which produces vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D has shown to prevent up to 77 of ALL cancers in women.

Toxic chemical ingredients used in most sunscreen products are actually carcinogenic and have never been safety tested or safety approved by the FDA.

The real cause of sunburn is not merely UV exposure: It is a lack of antioxidant nutrition. If you boost your nutrition (by eating lots of berries and microalgae) and protect your nervous system with plant-based nutrients, you'll be naturally resistant to sunburn.

By: Mike Adams

-Women who eat as little as one quarter of a grapefruit daily could be raising their risk of breast cancer by 30 percent.

Scientists found higher levels of estrogen in the blood of women who ate grapefruit. They theorize that grapefruit raises the levels of estrogen in the body by reducing the amounts of a chemical in the blood called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) that metabolizes estrogen.

This is the first time a food that is commonly eaten has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in older women.

-A Lubbock two-year-old is dead after the family self- treated their home with commercial-grade insecticides.

Investigators say that Aluminum Phosphide pellets were being used inside the home, commonly used for agriculture use. These pellets react with moisture and release phosphine gas that would be hazardous to the respiratory system.

Chiropractic Assitant Nicole's Comment: Imagine all of the people who live near the farms that use these insecticides. What could it possibly do to their respiratory systems?

Free one-hour seminar on ways to improve and maintain the health of your immune system, presented by Dr. Olson.

When: Either Wednesday, August 15 @ 7PM ~or~ Saturday, August 18 @ 10AM

Where: Olson Chiropractic, 1360 Big Bend Square, Manchester, MO 63021

Seating is limited, so call Diane or Nicole at 636-225 -2121 to reserve your spot ASAP!

Free one-hour seminar on the facts about ADHD, common misconceptions about current treatments, and alternative answers, presented by Dr. Johnson.

When: Wednesday, August 22 @ 7PM

Where: Olson Chiropractic, 1360 Big Bend Square, Manchester, MO 63021

Seating is limited, so call Diane or Nicole at 636-225 -2121 to reserve your spot ASAP!

Brisbane, Australia--Rugby player, Matt Austin lost a tooth in his game against Brisbane team Wynnum. That isn't unusual in Rugby, a traditionally rough and tumble game. But amazingly, Ben Czislowski found the tooth three months later...when he had a tooth pulled...out of his forehead.

Czislowski suffered an eye infection and complained of lethargy and shooting pains in his head after an incident involving Tweed Heads forward Matt Austin. He had a head wound stitched up after the game, but thought nothing of it afterward.

Then, last week, his doctor found a tooth embedded in Czislowski's head.

"I can laugh about it now, but the doctor told me it could have been serious, with teeth carrying germs," Czislowski said.

"I've got the tooth at home, sitting on the bedside table," he said. "If he [Austin] wants it back, he can have it. I'm keeping it at the moment as proof that it actually happened."

-Associated Press