Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
Your Life-Your Choice Issue 25
Your Life-Your Choice February, 1999
==================== issue 25
Letter from the Editor
Thanks for joining us for another issue of Your
Life-Your Choice. I apologize for this issue going out
a couple days late. Our Newsletter host had server problems
over the weekend. Fortunately, Phil from Oaknet Publishing
(our Host) took care of the situation as soon as it was
identified. Thanks Phil!
I just have one small announcement to
make and then we'll get on with the news!
I want to thank all of those who have and will
participate in our "Find A Practitioner" program. You
have made it an unbelievable success! In fact, we are
having difficulty keeping up with the demand. You remain
completely annonymous until YOU contact the practitioners
from the list we send you. There is a process that we go
through in generating that list. Practitioners listed in
our own Wellness Locator receive TOP PRIORITY, and are
always listed first. The enormous demand for this program
is a definite indication that people look to Your Life-Your
Choice to fill their alternative medicine needs in ALL
modalities, and in every part of the world.
There has never been a better time to be listed in the
Wellness Locator. Not only will your listing be working
for you for a full year, but Your Life-Your Choice will
forward YOUR contact information to all requests for your
expertise in your local area. I have not seen any other
directory on the web offering this service.
So do your professional friends a favour! Tell them
to go to http://www.Life-Choices.com/promote.html and find
out how to get listed. And to the practitioners who subscribe
to Your Life-Your Choice, what are you waiting for? Help us
help you, to help others who need your services.
Until next time Your Life-Your Choice wishes you
health and prosperity.
Brigitte Synesael
Editor of Your Life-Your Choice
Traditional Medicine Isn't Enough Any More!
Your life is your choice-don't make it the doctor's choice!
http://www.Life-Choices.com/yourlife
**********************************************
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
@
@ IN THIS ISSUE:
@
@ 1. PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS
@ Our sponsors make this newsletter
@ FREE to subscribers. Please take a
@ moment to visit them.
@
@ 2. CALENDAR of WORLD CELEBRATIONS
@ See what special events are
@ being celebrated around the
@ world.
@
@ 3. "Complementing Magnetic Therapy With
@ The 4-Day Diversified Rotation Diet."
@ (part three)
@ Food and other addictions play a major
@ role in the development of degenerative
@ diseases. Find out how to manage them.
@
@
@ 4. PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS
@ Our sponsors make this newsletter
@ FREE to subscribers. Please take a
@ moment to visit them.
@
@ 5. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!
@ We all have a list of foods that give our
@ digestive system fits for several hours
@ after we eat them. Find out what we can do
@ to combate this problem.
@
@ 6. RECIPE CORNER
@ Hot and Spicy Noodles with Vegetables
@ Garden Harvest Salad
@
@
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Subscribe:
You can subscribe by using the form at the
Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com.
Unsubscribe:
You can unsubscribe by using the form at the
Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com.
Copyright 1997-1998 by Brigitte Synesael All rights reserved
********************************************
Section 1 PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS
This issue of Your Life-Your Choice is sponsored in part by:
The "Pain Relief Center."
For just a small cost for shipping and handling, get a full
size tube of PainBreak®, absolutely FREE!
PainBreak® is a new topical analgesic that's effective in
relieving the pain of
ARTHRITIS
POST HERPETIC NEURALGIA (pain after shingles)
DIABETIC NEUROPATHY, as well as other
CHRONIC PAIN.
E-mail your request to me at mailto:Painrlfctr@aol.com. Put
"Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading, and indicate
if your problem is arthritis, post herpetic neuralgia, diabetic
neuropathy, or other chronic pain. PainBreak® is pleasant
to use, can be worn in public, and does not burn, as it has no
pepper extracts. Be sure to visit the "Pain Relief Center" at
http://www.uniquenterprises.com to find out more about PainBreak®.
Also find out how to get my new booklet on
"Pain Management," FREE!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Increase traffic to your site by THOUSANDS
every day WITHOUT Spamming! It's Fast, it's
Easy, and best of all it's FREE!
(If the following url does NOT appear on one line,
you will have to copy each part and paste into the
location bar of your web browser.)
http://www.special-report-network.net/specialreports.cgi/BS9662
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
**********************************************
Section 2 CALENDAR of WORLD CELEBRATIONS
Feb 8 Virgen de la Candelaria Peru
Feb 8 Youth Day Congo
Feb 9 Feast of Saint Maron Lebanon
Feb 11 Makha Bucha Day Thailand
Feb 11 National Foundation day Japan
Feb 12 Lincoln's Birthday United States
Feb 14 St. Valentine's Day Canada/United States
Feb 15 Folklore Day South Korea
Feb 15 National Flag of Canada Day Canada
Feb 15 Revolution Day Iran
Feb 15 Spring Festival China
Feb 16 Presidents' Day United States
Feb 19 National Day Nepal
Feb 22 Union Day Egypt
Feb 22 Washington's Birthday United States
Feb 25 Ash Wednesday Canada/United States/Jamica
Feb 25 National Day Kuwait
Feb 25 People Power Day Philippines
Feb 27 Independence Day Dominican Republic
Feb 27 Adar First Jewish
Thank you to those who have submitted your Holiday to us.
If you have a Holiday you'd like to share, please send
mailto:yourlife@life-choices.com. Include the name of the
Holiday, the country that celebrates it, the date it is
celebrated (details like the first Sunday in May), tell us a
little about the Holiday; why it's important and how it is
celebrated.
**********************************************
Section 3 "Complementing Magnetic Therapy With
The 4-Day Diversified Rotation Diet."
(part three)
By Dr. Boyce N. Berkel
http://www.uniquenterprises.com/html/mt.htm
Read about Dr. Boyce Berkel on our Meet the Team
page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html
----------
The 4-Day Diversified Rotation Diet is presented in a 3-part
series. In part one you found out the physiologic basis for
the diet. Last month in part two you found out specifically
what the diet consists of, and how you can use it. Today in
part three you will find out how to manage food and other
addictions that play such a major role in the development of
degenerative diseases.
This completes the series on the 4-Day Diversified Rotation Diet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Magnetic Management Of Addictions
What Is An Addiction?
Addiction occurs when there is a production of symptoms
occurring on the withdrawal of a narcotic. The classic example
is the chronic frequent use of cocaine. When the narcotic is
high in the body, there is a mental high with euphoria and
disordered judgement. Three to four hours later, when the
narcotic is low, there is a mental low, depression, and again
disordered judgement. Note that the ingested narcotic suppresses
the body's own production of narcotics. Thus, in addiction,
there is a roller coaster type of mental high without pain,
followed by a mental low with pain.
Human metabolism has an acute stress response reflex. When an
injury or other acute stress is present, there is a rise in
serotonin in preparation for action. At the same time, this
acute stress raises self-made opiate polypeptides (endorphins)
to reduce the physical or mental pain of the stress. When the
acute stress state keeps being frequently evoked so as to be
chronic or near chronic, this counter-stress response fatigues
and no longer evokes the production of endorphins and serotonin.
This sets the stage for food addiction.
Foods are eaten, which trigger the production of Serotonin
and self-made narcotics. There develops a roller coaster
type of too little, below normal amount of serotonin-opiate
response to the fatigue response. This is relieved by eating
a food which evokes the serotonin-opiate anti-stress reflex,
producing more than a normal amount of serotonin and opiates.
Thus, the addiction roller coaster state of food addiction is
perpetuated.
All addiction, whether to exogenous narcotics or
endogenous self-made opiates due to a food stress
reaction, have biological deteriorating consequences.
The symptom producing the withdrawal phase
characteristically starts at 3-4 hours post-meal and
if a food is not eaten to raise the serotonin-opiate
complex, the symptoms will worsen through the next
three days. By the fourth day, the withdrawal symptoms
are diminishing and by the fifth day, they are
characteristically gone.
There is a percipient rise in body acids during this
withdrawal phase which normalizes back to a biologically
normal alkaline state by the fifth day. Dr. Philpott's
knowledge of this comes from thousands of patients that
he has tested for a five day period. Blood and saliva
was tested for the pH. The addiction phenomena is
reversed by the fifth day following a fast after which
food maladaptive reactions evoke acute symptoms within
the first hour of eating a meal of the single food being
tested.
THE SEQUENCE OF FOOD ADDICTION IS AS FOLLOWS:
Addictive Withdrawal Phases
Blood sugar is frequently low, when physiologically normal
serotonin-opiate complex is low. This occurs characteristically,
3-4 hours after the meal. During this withdrawal phase, there
develops anxiety, tension, depression, physical and mental symptoms.
Pain often develops.
Addictive Relief Phase
Food relieves the symptoms and the pH normalizes to a normal
alkaline pH. Serotonin-opiate complex rises beyond normal.
Anxiety, tension, depression, physical and mental symptoms
and pain disappear. Euphoria and impaired judgement develop.
Blood sugar normalizes and or sometimes, is higher than normal
at 1-2 hours after the meal.
Addiction is deteriorating with the end stage being
maturity onset type diabetes mellitus and it's
numerous physical and mental complications.
Characteristically, before the development of diabetes
mellitus Type II, there are several years of food
withdrawal symptoms that occur at 3-4 hours, post-meal,
associated with hypoglycemia. At 24 hours post-meal,
there often is a hyperinsulinism which precedes the
hypoglycemia occurring at the 3-4 hour level. This is
the compensated stage of maturity-onset type diabetes
mellitus. After several years, the hyperinsulinism
fatigues and stops at which time the blood sugar stays
up overnight. At this stage, when the blood sugar stays
up overnight, the diagnosis of clinically significant
diabetes mellitus Type II is made. Finally, in the late,
late stage, the insulin production drops so low for a
few people, that insulin is given as a practical
management of the diabetic state. This is the sequential
story of how maturity onset type diabetes mellitus develops.
THE DIMENSIONS OF ADDICTION
THE ROLE OF NARCOTICS
There are exogenous narcotics serving a useful purpose
in medicine to relieve pain. These are such as morphine,
Demerol and others used in medicine. By law these are
used under the judgement of a physician. There are a
number of exogenous narcotics used illegally to produce
pleasurable euphoria and altered mental states. Cocaine
is an example. The human body makes endogenous narcotics.
These are termed endogenous polypeptide opiates, and are
given the name endorphins.
THE ROLE OF SYMPTOM RELIEF
There is a physiological level of endorphins that
is not addicting. In case of a stress-injury emergency
there is a pain protection of an acute rise in endorphins
along with a rise in synaptic junction transmitters
(norephrinephrine, ephrinephrine, serotonin) ready for
fright, flight or fight. If and when these stress type
injury responses occur frequently, there then develops a
state of endorphin addiction with a typical physical and
mental symptom relief and euphoria phase when endorphins
are higher than normal and a symptom (pain, anxiety,
depression, weakness) phase when the endorphins are
lower than normal.
The endogenous opiates producing a self-made state
of addiction can be evoked by numerous non-narcotic
physical and chemical stressors. Tobacco, caffeine,
alcohol when frequently used can be stressors evoking
endorphins producing addiction. Frequently eaten foods
can become stressors evoking the production of endorphins.
Alcoholism is addiction to the foods from which the
alcohol is made. Alcohol interferes with the selective
absorption of foods and thus there is a four times
increase in the development of addiction to foods from
which the alcohol is made and also the same problem
exists when using alcohol with the foods that are eaten.
Gambling with its euphoric expectation of winning can
become an addiction due to the physiological response of
increased endorphins.
Addiction with its disordered metabolism leads to
degenerative diseases especially, Type II diabetes
mellitus.
THE ROLE OF ALTERED JUDGEMENT AND DISORDERED AFFECT
Addiction with its pleasurable excitement phase followed by
its painful withdrawal phase trains in an addict an obsessive-
compulsive neurosis. There develops a compulsion to seek a
pleasure phase and avoid the painful phase. Thus, there
develops a learned compulsion to seek the narcotic, tobacco,
alcohol, caffeine, amphetamine, symptom relieving food,
pleasurable anticipation of winning while gambling and so
forth. Judgement becomes distorted, affect disordered and
hostile aggression expressed when the goal of pleasure
seeking is interfered with. The addicted person becomes
self-centered and incapable of reasonable interpersonal
relationships.
THE ROLE OF DISORDERED METABOLISM
The withdrawal phase of addiction to narcotics or the
self-made endorphins due to non- narcotic stressors is
a state of acid-hypoxia. This is painful and leads to
symptoms. Brain function is interfered with by this
acid-hypoxic state leading especially to depression and
weakness. Target tissues that have either been injured
infected or have otherwise compromised metabolic function
are the first to develop symptoms. Most characteristically,
pain and soreness. Infections flourish in this state of
acid-hypoxia. Carbohydrate metabolism is disordered
resulting in hypoglycemia with further symptom production.
When the narcotic substance or non-narcotic stressors
evoking endorphins produce the euphoric state and symptom
relief state, there is a state of alkaline-hyperoxia.
Exogenous narcotics and self-made narcotics (endorphins)
are alkaloids which produce an alkaline state in which
there can be a normal amount of oxygen for biological
functions and normal oxidoreductase enzyme function
processing the free radicals, peroxides, acids, alcohols
and the aldehydes. Thus, there is a see-saw metabolic
function including the relief phase followed by a
disordered metabolic function during the withdrawal
symptom phase of addiction. The higher than normal
exogenous narcotics and endorphins creates its own
problem in disordered judgement and an unnatural euphoria.
A person who misses a meal and has symptoms emerge is in
trouble with food addiction. A person who eats food to
relieve physical or mental symptoms is in trouble and is
either already or will soon become a food addict. The simple
fact is that a person eating foods to remove mental stress
symptoms, no matter whether this is protein, carbohydrate or
a mixture of these is in trouble. Eating to relieve symptoms
is simply an incorrect method of managing symptoms or for
that matter, weight reduction or optimum weight maintenance.
The result of eating to relieve symptoms is mentally and
physically deteriorating.
~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's Note:
Watch for the conclusion of this article in next month's
issue 27.
********************************************
Section 4 PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS
Icemall is giving away $199.00 worth of FREE
e-books and reports! Check it out today!
http://www.icemall.com/free_gift.html
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4 FREE Reports on Marketing for Quicker
and Larger profits! Get your FREE Reports
and FREE Newsletter ($149.00 value) packed with
Traffic Tricks, Technical Tips, and Internet
Trends! mailto:webmaster@cashramp.com with
Subscribe TTips in subject NOW!
********************************************
Section 5 You Are What You Eat!
By Joe Carr, Ph.D., C.N.C.
Read about Dr. Joe Carr on our Meet the Team
page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html
----------
Trite, overused expression? Not hardly! One of the most
common health problems in America today is poor digestion.
It seems that we all have a list of foods that give our
digestive system fits for several hours after we eat them.
So, what can we do to combate this problem? In a word:
ENZYMES.
Digestive enzymes can be an important supplement to aid our
digestion. They are a catalyst that will speed up the
chemical reactions of digestion, which saves the body a lot
of energy. Digestion uses a good deal of energy, which
explains why our bodies are sluggish after a large meal.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of enzymes active
in every organ, tissue and fluid of your body, and each has
its own specific function. Enzymes digest our food and
convert it so that our muscles, nerves and glands are
fortified. Enzymes assist kidneys, lungs, liver, skin and
colon in their important eliminative tasks. Actually it
would be easier to list what they do not do, for they are
involved in every aspect of our lives. In other words,
enzymes move our muscles, stimulate our nerves, make our
heart beat, keep us breathing and even enable us to think.
We get enzymes from two sources, those made by our body and
those we ingest. Only raw or uncooked food contains enzymes.
Enzymes are heat sensitive, so when our food is cooked, most
of the enzymes are destroyed. The body itself is called upon
during digestion to take enzymes from the body to digest the
enzyme depleted food. This puts stress on our organs and
tissues which in turn can have serious consequences.
Enzymes are one of the key substances in the body -- without
them we could not exist. Since our bodies are live enzyme
organisms, we need live enzyme foods that are properly
digested and properly assimilated. Enzymes are also
necessary for proper elimination.
What creates enzyme deficiency? Digestion of food takes a
high priority and acts as a powerful stimulus in the demand
for enzymes. We add to that stress, pollution, strenuous
exercise, colds, fever, pregnancy, caffeine, and alcohol
which all contribute to enzyme depletion. The body may not
have its storehouse of enzymes replenished at the necessary
rate. When you eat food continually deficient in enzymes,
your digestive organs become exhausted. The body puts a
higher priority on digestion than on maintaining health, and
it will call on enzymes from other parts of the body to
finish the job, thereby depleting the immune system. Our
body can be weakened to such an extent that it can no longer
defend itself against disease.
Dr. Edward Howell likened the enzymes in our body to a bank
account. Each of us is born with a limited number of enzymes
our body can produce in a lifetime, we can call this our
enzyme bank account. The enzyme bank account can get out of
balance - heavy withdrawals and skimpy deposits. Deposits
are made by eating enzyme rich raw foods and by
supplementing the diet with plant enzymes. Withdrawals are
made by eating cooked or processed foods, and by the number
of enzyme robbers we mentioned earlier. As our enzyme bank
account is depleted over the years, we begin to recognize
illness, ulcers, constipation, bloating, arthritis,
headaches, PMS, chronic fatigue, etc, etc.
Enzymes are present in raw food, which specifically aid in
their digestion. Bananas, avocados, papayas, mangos, and
pineapples are examples of fruits that are high in enzymes.
One of the best sources of enzymes is sprouts. Most enzymes
in food are destroyed by heat. Cooking food by steaming,
microwaving, and baking destroys most of the enzymes. Our
bodies also make some enzymes, but this process decreases as
we age. Steaks and pizzas require enzymes to digest but
contain no enzymes. When we eat these processed foods our
bodies start the process of making enzymes for digestion. If
we can't make enzymes fast enough or in sufficient
quantities, indigestion may result and stress is put on the
body. Sufficient vitamins and minerals in the diet are also
important in the production of enzymes.
There are over 1000 types of enzymes. The enzymes most often
found in supplements are: 1) lipase - to digest fats, 2)
protease - to digest proteins, 3) amylase - to digest
carbohydrates, and 4) lactase - to digest milk sugar or
lactose.
Enzyme supplements can help solve digestive problems. They
are readily available in health food stores but are even
showing up in more "mainline" retail stores like Walmart and
Walgreens. They can be taken approximately 30 minutes before
or 30 minutes after eating. The absolute best source for
qualtiy enzymes is in, as noted above, sprouted foods and
raw, organic fruits and vegetables.
We are indeed what we eat. Begin the healthy habit of
supplementing your diet with nature's catalyst and enjoy the
healthy benefits.
*************************************************************
Section 6 Hot and Spicy Noodles with Vegetables
This is a contribution of Susan Wylder.
Reprint permission given by Renee from
Veggies Unite! - http://www.vegweb.com/
----------
1/4 c Rice wine
2 tb Ginger root, grated fresh
2 Garlic cloves, minced
1 c Carrots, thinly sliced
1 c Broccoli stems, sliced thin
1 c Cabbage, sliced thin
2 Green onions
1/4 c Water
1/2 ts Sesame oil, dark
1/2 ts Cayenne pepper
1 ts Hoisin sauce (optional)
4 c Rice noodles, cooked
Soy sauce to taste
In a wok over medium-high heat, heat rice wine or mirin until bubbling.
Add ginger, garlic, carrots and broccoli. Stir-fry until carrots soften
slightly, about five minutes. Add cabbage and green onions; cover and
cook three minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove vegetables to a platter
and set aside.
Add water, sesame oil, up to 1 tsp. cayenne and hoisin sauce, if desired,
to wok and heat until bubbling. Add noodles and stir-fry until heated
through. Add vegetables and heat through. Add soy sauce to taste.
Note: The sesame oil gives this dish a great flavor, but leave it out if
you can't afford the few grams of fat it contributes.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
GARDEN HARVEST SALAD
By Howie M. Thomason RNCP
mailto:hmt@ican.net
Read about Joe Carr on our Meet the Team
page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html
----------
There is only one kind of food that contains enzymes, and that is raw
food. We need protein, vitamins, and minerals for the production of
enzymes, be they metabolic or digestive, and by eating foods that contain
enzymes we can lower the demands on the body to produce them.
The human digestive system works best when both meals and combinations of
different foods are simple.
For 6 Salads;
Mix the vinaigrette, and let chill to blend while you make the salad.
1/2 CUP OF LIGHT OIL
1/4 CUP TARRAGON VINEGAR
1/4 teasp. HOT PEPPER SAUCE
2 MINCED SHALLOTS
2 TBS. DIJON MUSTARD
1/2 teasp. SESAME SALT
1/4 teasp. PEPPER
Make the salad.
Choose half of what is available from below.
ROMAINE LETTUCE
BUTTER LETTUCE
ARUGULA OR RADICCHIO
ICEBERG LETTUCE
RED LEAF LETTUCE
GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
Choose half of what is available from below.
AVOCADO SLICES
WATER PACKED SLICED ARTICHOKE HEARTS
SLICED GREEN ONIONS
SLICED ROMA OR CHERRY TOMATOES
SLICED PEELED CUCUMBER
SLICED DAIKON RADISH
SLICED BUTTON MUSHROOMS
For the toppings, choose from the following;
GRATED CHEESE
SOY BACON BITS
SNAPPED FRESH PEA PODS
SUNFLOWER - ALFALFA SPROUTS
TOASTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS
TOASTED PINE NUTS
TOASTED WALNUT PIECES
Pour the dressing over, toss and enjoy.
Nutritional analysis per serving;
269 calories
6gm. protein
13gm. carbohydrate
8gm. fibre
23gm. fats
0gm. cholesterol
63mg. calcium
3mg. iron
83mg. magnesium
610mg. potassium
145mg. sodium
1mg. zinc
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Disclaimer
All material appearing in this newsletter is provided
for educational purposes only. It is provided with the
understanding that authors and contributors are not
offering medical advice or services. We strongly
encourage you to consult with your own physician
regarding any recommendations with respect to your
own medical condition.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
**********************************************
*
*
* I know you have friends who are be interested *
* in this information. Put them in your debt and *
* forward a copy of Your Life-Your Choice to them. *
*
*
**********************************************
Read back issues of Your Life-Your Choice in our
Library of Archives and the Newsletter Headquarters:
http://www.Life-Choices.com/archive.html
While your there vote for your favorite issue and
article!
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Subscribe:
You can subscribe by using the form at the
Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com.
Unsubscribe:
You can unsubscribe by using the form at the
Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com.
******************
Find a practitioner near you. Visit Your Life-Your Choice's
Wellness Locator! http://www.Life-Choices.com/directory.html.
Visit often, there will be new additions regularly. Help us make
this the most comprehensive directory available. Visit:
http://www.Life-Choices.com/promote.html to find out how to
get YOUR practice listed or mailto:promote@life-choices.com.
Your Life-Your Choice subscribers want to know about YOUR
business!
******************
Ask Dr. Abrams your personal health questions. Let him share
his 31 years of wellness expertise with you.
mailto:questions@life-choices.com Type "Questions Your
Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading.
For sponsorship & advertising information,
Visit: http://www.Life-Choices.com/promote.html or
mailto:promote@life-choices.com
SUBJECT: Send Your Choice Advertising Rates
Send in your testimonies, mailto:testimony@life-choices.com
with "Testimonies Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject
heading.
This is YOUR newsletter! Share your thoughts, what you'd like
to see by emailing, mailto:feedback@life-choices.com with
"Feedback Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
