New York, U.S.A – A balanced and healthy diet is crucial to good health and overcoming stress. In his forthcoming book called entitled Stress Pandemic, lifestyle and stress expert Paul Huljich shares a simple and holistic approach to nutrition, paying added attention to the effects of what we eat on our neurochemistry.

“Ensuring that we are supporting a healthy neurochemical balance is a vital and proactive step toward managing our stress,” Hulijch asserts. “When you feel tense, stress eating or emotional-eating is triggered like an automatic response. That’s especially so if your body reacts strongly to stress-released hormones.”

A 2010 study from the University of Michigan showed that when levels of the stress hormone cortisol were boosted in healthy, non-stressed adults, they ate more junk food. When people feel stressed out, most either stop eating altogether or binge on high-fat, high-sodium products such as chocolate, doughnuts, potato chips and other snack foods. And when combined with America’s growing portion sizes, people grow sicker, gain weight and develop bad habits that can endure a lifetime unless they say “NO” and take charge of what and how they eat.

Bad eating habits start young so where else to begin teaching kids about good nutrition outside of home but in this nation’s schools?  Thankfully, people like Michelle Obama are championing this crusade. Hoping to combat the growing problem of childhood obesity, the Obama administration recently announced its long-awaited changes to government-subsidized school meals, a final round of rules that adds more fruits and green vegetables to breakfasts and lunches and reduces the amount of salt and fat.

“As parents, we try to prepare decent meals, limit how much junk food our kids eat and ensure that they have a reasonable balanced diet,” Mrs. Obama said in a statement. “And when we are putting in all that effort the last thing we want is for our hard work to be undone each day in the school cafeteria.”

About 32 million children participate in school meal programs each day. The new rules are a major component of Mrs. Obama’s campaign to reduce the number of overweight children through exercise and better nutrition. The announcement came months after the food industry won a vote in Congress to block the administration from carrying out an earlier proposal.

“Children born in the year 2000 or later are not expected to outlive their parents,” stated Dr. David Katzof the Yale Preventive Medicine Research Center at a nutrition conference in April. Why are our kids so sick? One reason is that they eat too much bad food.  In March of last year, Dr. Katz quoted in a Wall Street Journal article that a “poor diet in kids is more dangerous than alcohol, drugs, and tobacco combined!”

If you can believe it, the top 3 foods consumed in America are hot dogs, white bread and coffee. And the marketing industry is capitalizing on our society’s obsession with eating junk food, evidenced by an announcement made last week by 7-Eleven, the nation’s largest convenience chain, of a low-cal line of Slurpees! The move comes at a time when companies have been marketing everything from “Spam Lite” to “skinny cocktails” aimed at calorie-conscious consumers.

Huljich believes that as a society we must revolutionize the ways in which we eat beginning with cutting out all the C-R-A-P (an acronym for coffee, refined food, alcohol and processed food). He also does not endorse the use of fad diets, counting calories or choosing to eat certain food groups over others.

His approach to a healthy diet, which is outlined in detail in his forthcoming book Stress Pandemic, is a balanced and practical one, which first identifies and bases his diet on the good foods and eating patterns in your life while eliminating the bad ones. “The human body is designed to thrive on a variety of foods therefore I feel a more holistic approach to diet is far more effective and supportive to overall health and well-being than any of those revolving popular diet fads can ever be,”  Huljich states.

“When you go on a fad diet and exclude any of the necessary nutrients, you’re putting yourself at risk for illness.” It is precisely as Gary Taubes warned in Newsweek’s recent cover story “The government has spent hundreds of millions telling Americans to exercise more and eat less. But the country is getting heavier every year. It’s time to change the way we think about fat.”

A balanced eating plan supports all of the body’s functions so that it can absorb and use nutrients efficiently and effectively. Health maintenance promotes physical fitness and disease prevention such as the risk for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer.

America is a nation trying to find a cure yet not looking closely enough at the symptoms. By finding the courage to and wisdom to look at the root cause and going back to basics, individuals can learn how to master stress and live longer and healthier lives.

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A little over a week ago, Greg Smith, an executive director at Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest investment banking and securities firm, resigned from his position after publishing a letter in the New York Times Opinions section.

The letter, entitled “Why I am Leaving Goldman Sachs,” details Smith’s observations of the current state of the company.

Smith, who joined Goldman fresh out of college and has worked at the firm for twelve years since, describes the main problem as the culture of the company, that is, “the interests of the client continue to be sidelined in the way the firm operates and thinks about making money.”

He outlines three quick ways to rise to the top in the company, two of which involve tricking the client into making moves that will benefit Goldman the most, with no concern for how they will—if at all—profit the client.  Using Goldman jargon, these are executing on the firm’s “axes,” which consists of having someone invest in stocks that Goldman is trying to get rid of. “Hunt Elephants” is another code, for getting clients to make a trade that will bring in the biggest profit for Goldman.

The third secret is to get lucky and find yourself dealing with and trading gas. Keeping in line with this blatant disregard for clients, many employees refer to their own clients as “muppets.”  Although Smith said he did not know of any illegal activities happening at the company, he lamented the eroding moral fiber of the company, stating, “I knew it was time to leave when I realized I could no longer look students in the eye and tell them what a great place this was to work.”

Although Smith is not the only Wall Street banker to recently resign, he is the most high profile one, and the only one to leave in such a spectacular and outspoken manner.  Goldman’s stock has not gone up or down much since his resignation, making many believe the situation would blow over and be forgotten.

Others, however, believe that these insiders fail to think about the long term effects.  Matt Taibbi, the journalist who christened Goldman a “Vampire Squid,” thinks this marks the beginning of something bigger than any of the movements currently in the United States—and that includes Occupy Wall Street.  Taibbi optimistically writes, “this incident may turn Goldman into such a pariah that the best young bankers won’t want to work there anymore.”

At this point Goldman’s future is unclear, but there is no denying need for reform within Wall Street.  And with Smith’s explosive words, it may well start there.

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More than three years after the financial crisis, Wall Street watchdogs are still uncovering questionable actions rooted in that time. The latest revelation involves one of the more creative packagers of securities who contributed to a trail of billions in soured deals, as well as a much-maligned rating agency.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority — an independent, non-governmental regulatory body — has recommended disciplinary action against two men for “alleged misrepresentations in connection with the sale” of a complex security.

The recommendation is preliminary. No civil or criminal charges have been filed. The men, Alexander Rekeda and Timothy Day, are both affiliated with Guggenheim Capital, a privately held, financial services company that does everything from trading securities to providing investment advice. According to its web site, the firm, headquartered in New York, has 1,700 employees in 25 offices located in 10 countries, and it manages about $125 billion.

A lawyer for Rekeda could not be reached for comment. ProPublica has learned that he is no longer with Guggenheim. Day, who is still at Guggenheim, did not respond to a request for comment. We will update this post when they are reached.

FINRA has been investigating the men over the sale of a type of security known as a collateralized loan obligation, or CLO. The investigation touches on a CLO called Nine Grade Funding II, although it remains unclear if this CLO is the main focus of the probe. FINRA’s filing did not elaborate on the type or character of the “alleged misrepresentations” it said were involved in the sale of the CLO it is investigating.

In a story published Monday evening, the Wall Street Journal reported that Rekeda was under investigation by FINRA for an unnamed CLO. The Journal also reported that Rekeda is being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for a collateralized debt obligation, or CDO, he helped construct while employed by the Japanese bank Mizuho.

As Propublica detailed in the series the Wall Street Money Machine, Rekeda was involved in the creation of several CDOs with Magnetar, a hedge fund that helped put together more than $40 billion of the securities. Magnetar often lobbied for riskier assets to be put into the CDOs and then placed bets against many of the investments, reaping tremendous profits when the deals soured. (Magnetar has never been charged with any wrongdoing, and has always maintained that it did not have a strategy to bet against the housing market.)

The investigation into Rekeda is one of the few public signs that regulators are considering charges against a top banking executive involved in a Magnetar deal. Nine Grade Funding was a CLO comprised of other CLOs backed by corporate loans. It was issued at a time when few such securities were being sold.

The CLO was featured prominently in allegations by a whistleblower, Eric Kolchinsky, against the rating agency Moody’s. Kolchinsky alleged that Moody’s allowed bonds to be added to the CLO in January 2009 and that it allowed the CLO to keep its previous rating.

Moody’s took these actions, according to Kolchinsky, despite plans already in the works by the rating agency to downgrade all such securities. Moody’s denied the allegations. After Kolchinsky was forced out of the firm, he testified about the deal before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

by Jake Bernstein, ProPublica, Feb. 21, 2012, 6:59 p.m.

Image Courtesy of  Songquan Deng / Shutterstock.com

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Since its release in November 2010, “Heaven Is for Real” by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent has become a publishing phenomenon. For the week of January 29, 2012, “Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back” will be listed as the #1 “nonfiction paperback” on the New York Times Best Seller List – its 52nd week (non-consecutive) in the top spot and a record for Thomas Nelson.

“Heaven Is for Real” also reached No. 1 on the following lists since its release: USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, National Public Radio, Christian Booksellers Association and Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. In addition to being ranked near the top on numerous best seller lists, Thomas Nelson has printed the six millionth copy of the acclaimed title. “Heaven Is for Real for Kids” also has hit the top spot on the New York Times Best Seller List as “print children’s picture books.”

“We are so thankful for the way the Thomas Nelson team got behind ‘Heaven is for Real,’” says Joel Kneedler of Alive Communications, agent for the Burpo family. “Every division has played a part in sharing the contagious, life-changing message of this simple story.”

“This is an astounding achievement for a remarkable book that has defied all odds and predictions since the day it was published,” says Matt Baugher, senior vice president and publisher at Thomas Nelson. “Even in a changing publishing industry, great books will always find their way. We’ve heard from people around the world that their lives have been changed by Colton Burpo’s story. And it continues to this day.”

A deluxe edition of “Heaven Is for Real” is one of a trio of new products by the Burpo family released by Thomas Nelson in November 2011. A “Heaven is for Real” DVD-based Conversation Kit features footage of the Burpo family talking about their experiences while “Heaven is for Real for Kids” offers Colton’s incredible story for children ages 4-8 with breathtaking images and heartfelt content that helps parents talk to their children about heaven.

“Heaven Is for Real” is the true story of the Burpo family and Colton, who during his life-threatening illness and sudden surgery, slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He narrowly survives. Several months later while passing by the same hospital that saved him, Colton begins talking about his experiences during surgery and making a trip to heaven.

Written in the first-person narrative of Colton’s father, Todd, with New York Times best-selling author Lynn Vincent, “Heaven Is for Real” walks readers through the revelation of Colton’s trip, his parent’s initial uncertainties and the lessons learned by such a small child.

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On Friday, British authorities revoked the license of Press TV, Iran’s English language news channel, for violating the Communications Act. The Wall Street Journal reported that the British communications regulator, Ofcom, made the decision. It was triggered by Maziar Bahari, a Newsweek journalist, who filed a complaint against Press TV after it aired a false confession of him in 2009.

“Press TV will cease to broadcast today; we have given them a number of opportunities to bring them into compliance. For whatever reason, they have not done so,” Rhys Hurd of Ofcom said.

Even though Ofcom did not revoke the channel’s broadcasting license in 2009, it declared the release of Mr. Bahari’s footage, while he was under duress during his imprisonment in an Iranian prison as “serious breach in broadcasting code.” Ofcom imposed a fine of 100,000 British pounds for invading his privacy.

According to the Guardian, Press TV has been offered two options by Ofcom in November. The first was to turn over editorial control to the UK for Press TV’s programming, and the second was to shift the broadcasting license to Iran.

“Broadcasting rules require that a license is held by the person who is in general control of the TV service: that is, the person that chooses the programmes to be shown in the service and organizes the programme schedule,” Ofcom said.

Despite Ofcom’s open-minded offer, Press TV has failed to meet both of the conditions and pay the fine which was due early this month. The regulator said, “Press TV has failed to make the necessary application, and Ofcom has therefore revoked Press TV’s license to broadcast in the UK.”

In a statement made late Friday, Press TV retaliated against Ofcom’s decision by calling it “the British government’s tool to control the media” and indicted the regulator for waging a campaign against the Iranian channel for being an “alternative news channel.”

Hamid Emadi, the Press TV newsroom director, said, “The British government and Ofcom will not be able to silence Press TV’s voice in the UK. We will exhaust all possibilities and will try to stay in the UK as an active media player and an alternative voice.” Currently, UK viewers can still continue to watch Press TV online through its website.

Lastly, the Wall Street Journal also reported that Press TV has yet to pay the fine and, until now, has refused to do so. “Ofcom is pursuing this as a separate matter,” the regulator said.

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Hong Kong has been ranked the world’s freest economy for the 18th consecutive year in the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, released on January 12 by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal.

The Financial Secretary, John C. Tsang, welcomed the Heritage Foundation’s high regard of Hong Kongas the world’s freest economy.  He stated that the government was determined to uphold economic freedom in Hong Kong, which was the cornerstone of sustained economic stability, growth and prosperity.

“We see the role of the government as that of an active facilitator.  We provide a business-friendly environment where all firms can compete on a level-playing field,” Mr. Tsang said.

“We have sound regulatory regimes in place to ensure the integrity and smooth functioning of a free market.  We also strive to remove impediments and provide support in an open and equitable manner to facilitate industries tapping into new markets or new growth industries.”

On a scale from zero to 100, Hong Kong scores 89.9, well above the world average of 59.5.

The index, which ranks the degree of economic freedom of 179 economies, evaluates economies in the following 10 categories: labor freedom, business freedom, trade freedom, fiscal freedom, government spending, monetary freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom, property rights, and freedom from corruption.

Among the 10 categories assessed, Hong Kong ranks first in financial and trade freedom, second in investment freedom and property rights, and third in business freedom.

Hong Kong is ranked first out of 41 economies in the Asia–Pacific region.

Hong Kong Commissioner to the United States, Donald Tong, welcomed the index’s findings, saying: “I am happy to learn that Hong Kong’s adherence to a free-market philosophy, together with its business-friendly environment and sound regulatory regimes, has once again garnered such accolades for the 18th consecutive year.  Economic freedom underpinned by a commitment to the rule of law is the bedrock of our success.

“We do not take such recognition for granted and are always working to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness and maintain its standing as a global business, financial, and logistics center.”

The index commended Hong Kong’s tax system as simple and efficient, and considered the city’s monetary stability well maintained.

It further complimented Hong Kong’s high-quality legal framework, which “provides effective protection of property rights and strong support for the rule of law.”  In addition, the index found that the city’s regulatory efficiency and openness to global commerce strongly support entrepreneurial dynamism.  Moreover, there is little tolerance of corruption.

2012 Index of Economic Freedom
www.heritage.org/Index/ranking

Ho Philip / Shutterstock.com

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