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Friday 22 September 2017

Diabetes Reversal: Is It the Calories or the Food?

Diabetes reversal, not just treatment, should be a goal in the management of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be reversed not only with an extremely low calorie diet, but it can  also be reversed with an extremely healthy diet. Could it be because an extremely healthy diet is also low in calories?
Study subjects lost as much weight on a green, leafy vegetable-packed plant-based diet as those who were on a semi-starvation diet based on liquid meal replacements. So, does it matter what we’re eating as long as we’re eating few enough calories to lose 15 pounds a month?
Even if diabetes reversal is just about calorie restriction, instead of subsisting off largely sugar, powdered milk, corn syrup, and oil, common ingredients in some liquid diet drinks, on the plant-based diet at least one can eat real food—infact, as many low-cal veggies as desired. So, even if it only works because it’s just another type of calorie-restricted diet, it’s certainly a healthier version. But, even participants in the study who did not lose weight—or even gained weight eating enormous quantities of whole healthy plant foods—appeared to improve their diabetes. Thus, the beneficial effects of this kind of diet appear to extend beyond weight loss.
The successful treatment of type 2 diabetes with a plant-based diet goes back to the 1930s, providing “incontestable evidence” that a diet centered around vegetables, fruits, grains, and beans was more effective in controlling diabetes than any other dietary treatment. In a randomized controlled trial, insulin needs were cut in half and a quarter of the subjects ended up off insulin altogether. But, again, this was a low-calorie diet.
Walter Kempner at Duke University School of Medicine reported similar results 20 years later with his rice and fruit diet studies, showing for the first time documented reversal of diabetic retinopathy in a quarter of his patients, something never even thought possible. One patient, for example, was a 60-year-old diabetic woman already blind in one eye and who could only see contours of large objects with the other. Five years later, while on the diet, instead of her vision getting worse, it got better. She “could make out faces and read signs and large newspaper print,” and got off insulin, had normal blood sugars, and had a 100-point drop in her cholesterol. Another patient went from only being able to read big headlines to being able to read newsprint four months later. 
What was behind these remarkable reversals? Was it because the diet was extremely low-fat or because there was no animal protein or animal fat? Or, was it because the diet was so restrictive and monotonous that the patients lost weight and improved their diabetes that way?
To tease this out, we needed a study where researchers switched people to a healthy diet, but forced them to eat so much they didn’t lose any weight. Then, we could see if a plant-based diet has unique benefits independent of all the weight loss. For that, we had to wait another 20 years until the study was done in the 1970s. In it, diets were designed to be weight-maintaining. Participants were weighed every day, and, if they started losing weight, the researchers made them eat more food—in fact, so much food that some of the participants had trouble eating it all, but they eventually adapted. Thus, there were no significant alterations in body weight despite restrictions of meat, dairy, eggs and processed junk, and there were enough whole plant foods—whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruit—to provide 65 grams of fiber a day, four times what the Standard American Diet provides.
The control diet they used was the conventional diabetic diet, which actually had nearly twice the fiber content of the Standard American Diet, so it was probably healthier than what they had been used to eating. So, how did they do? With zero weight loss, did the dietary intervention still help? The study compared the number of units of insulin with which subjects had to inject themselves daily before and after going on the plant-based diet. Overall, despite no change in weight, insulin requirements were cut about 60 percent, and half were able to get off insulin altogether. Was this after five years or after seven months as had been the case in the other studies discussed above? No.
It was after 16 days.
To be clear, we’re talking about diabetics who had had diabetes as long as 20 years, injecting 20 units of insulin a day, getting off insulin altogether in as few as 13 days, thanks to less than two weeks on a plant-based diet. Patient 15, for example, had injected 32 units of insulin while on the control diet, and then, 18 days later, none. Lower blood sugars on 32 units less insulin.
That’s the power of plants.
As a bonus, their cholesterol dropped like a rock to under 150 on average in 16 days, making them nearly heart attack proof as well. Just as “moderate changes in diet usually result in only modest reductions” in cholesterol, asking people with diabetes to make moderate changes often achieves equally moderate results, which is one possible reason why most end up on drugs, injections, or both. Everything in moderation may be a truer statement than people realize. Moderate changes in diet can leave one with moderate blindness, moderate kidney failure, moderate amputations. Moderation in all things is not necessarily a good thing.
The more we, as physicians, ask from our patients, the more we—and they—get. The old adage, “shoot for the moon,” seems to apply. It “may be more effective than limiting patients to small steps that may sound more manageable but are not sufficient to actually prevent disease progression.”

How to Stay Hydrated When You Don’t Like Water

If a tall, cold glass of water is not really your thing, hitting your daily water needs can seem out of reach. Here are some healthy ways to stay hydrated, even if you don’t like plain old water.
Whenever I write about staying hydrated, I hear from folks who just don’t like water. And honestly, plain water is not my favorite thing either. If I’m very thirsty, I crave a glass of water, but it’s hard to get jazzed about water on a regular day.
The trick with drinking more fluids is that you don’t want to add a bunch of sugary drinks, like soda and juice, to your daily routine. Drinking your calories is bad news for maintaining a healthy body weight, and excess sugar is linked to chronic disease and even depression.
The good news is that there are ways to stay hydrated without drinking glass after glass of plain water or resorting to sugary drinks. These are some of my favorite healthy, hydrating tricks. 

1. Eat your water

At a recent nutrition conference I attended, one of the doctors said that if you eat a lot of fruit and veggies, you don’t end up needing to drink as much, because you’re actually eating your water. A 2013 study found that eating more fruits and vegetables can make you significantly more hydrated without upping the water you’re drinking at all.
Choose fruits and veggies with high water content, like melons, strawberries, lettuce, celery and cabbage. Check out this chart, which breaks out food and drink by their percentage of water content.

2. Pass the bubbles

No, a mimosa is not a healthy, hydrating drink, but sparkling water can help you hit your water mark. Soda water or seltzer sometimes get a bad rep, but most experts agree that they’re just as hydrating as water.
The biggest myth about carbonated water is that it leaches calcium from your bones. This is not true. Drinking lots of soda is linked to lower bone density, but the bubbles are not to blame. Excessive sugar consumption (like from drinking lots of sweet sodas), on the other hand, does have links to osteoporosis. Maybe this is where that myth got started.

3. Flavored water

Skip the artificially sweetened, colored and flavored drink packets, and flavor your own water at home. To make your own flavored water, just squeeze in some fresh lemon or lime juice or float cut fruit or herbs in your glass. It’s visually appealing and a lot healthier than a super sweet soda or artificially flavored drink. Plus, you end up with a little snack at the bottom of your glass!
I like to use this trick with flat or sparkling water, so try each and see which one you like best! Try some of my Fruity Fizz combos to get you startedPro tip: frozen fruit pieces actually work best here, because they release more flavor as they thaw.

4. Tea up

Whether you drink it hot or iced, unsweet tea gives you a nice flavor boost with no added sugars. Different teas each come with their own health benefits, so you get a healthy double whammy when you choose unsweetened teas.
If you’re a sweet tea or soda drinker now, going straight to unsweet tea is not going to be pleasant. I’d recommend making a gradual switch so your palate has time to adapt. Start with 3/4 the amount of sugar for a week, then go to 1/2 the amount, then 1/4. From there, you should be able to cut out the sugar without missing it too much. It will be an adjustment, but it’s so worth it for your health!

5. Ditch the juice (mostly)

The tips above are for drinks to add to your daily routine, but I think that juice deserves its own mention, because it gets a lot more healthy cred than I feel it deserves. Drinking more sweet juices is not doing your body any favors. Sweet juices like apple, orange and grapefruit are basically uncarbonated soda. Even juices without added sugars contain high levels of fructose without any of the fiber that makes fruit healthy.
There are some exceptions when it comes to juices. Not all juice is high in sugar. Lemon, lime, unsweetened cranberry and most vegetable juices are not going to add a lot of sugar to your diet. A splash of unsweetened cranberry in water or seltzer is one of my favorite everyday drinks, and it’s very low in sugar. If you’re not sure whether the juice you’re drinking is high in sugar, look at the nutrition label. Many popular juices contain as much sugar as soda. Apple juice, for example, has 24 grams of sugar per eight ounce serving. Eight ounces of Coca Cola contains 26 grams.

Do You Know What’s Lurking in Your Food?

Imagine enjoying a nice meal at your local Italian food joint – warm bread dipped in olive oil, rich and creamy pasta sauce, and hearty meatballs to top it off. The next day you feel crampy and begin vomiting. Food poisoning.
Although that savory meal showed no signs of contamination, what we don’t see behind the kitchen doors are that the surfaces may be contaminated by fecal matter. What many people don’t know is that there are symptoms of food poisoning that are able to linger for weeks to months after the initial episode.

HOW DOES FOOD BECOME CONTAMINATED?

Food poisoning can occur if eggs, poultry, red meat or seafood are served raw or undercooked. For example, if you consume raw meat or uncooked eggs, you are at risk for ingesting Salmonella – which is an unpleasant experience. 
Additionally, unclean surfaces that have been touched with fecal matter can spread contamination into food and water.
The last and more uncommon case, is when a food source raw or cooked has been infected by an external bacterium and makes the food unsafe to consume.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF FOOD POISONING?

Salmonella which is are dangerous bacteria that lives in the gut once infected. Salmonella can cause uncomfortable side effects like diarrhea, cramps, and vomiting and can last usually 4 to 7 days.
Each year there are around 7,800 cases of Salmonella poisoning and in 2013, there were 33 deaths caused by this foodborne illness. Salmonella is most commonly found in eggs, meat, and poultry but can also be found on fruits and vegetables.

HOW DOES FOOD POISONING AFFECT THE BODY?

Food poisoning can come in a variety of different ways – contaminated water or food, undercooked meat or seafood, and unrefrigerated meats. These different types of contaminations call for different symptoms and levels of severity of each case. Many signs of food poisoning are diarrhea, cramps, vomiting, nausea and fever.
According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, there are 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year; this number equates to rough 1 in 6 American experiencing food poisoning a year. Out of these illnesses, the result is a staggering 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

COMMON FOODS THAT CAN CAUSE FOOD POISONING

These foods listed below are where food poisoning has been more prevalent, but with proper caution and care, these foods can be enjoyed and not avoided.
  1.     Leafy greens
  2.     Eggs (Salmonella)
  3.     Meat (E. coli)
  4.     Tuna
  5.     Oysters (Vibrio vulnificus)
  6.     Potatoes (Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella)
  7.     Cheese (Salmonella or Listeria)
  8.     Ice Cream (Salmonella and Staphylococcus)
  9.     Tomatoes
  10.  Sprouts
  11.  Berries (Hepatitis A)
  12.  Peanut Butter (Salmonella)
  13.  Melons (Salmonella)
  14.  Raw Milk (Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli)

HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF BACTERIA

Those with lower immune systems like children and the elderly are more prone to foodborne illnesses and can have more serious symptoms that linger for longer. A few ways to prevent the spread of this harmful bacteria is:
- Food-handlers thoroughly washing their hands before preparing foods
- Ensuring meat and seafood is cooked all the way through
- Using different cutting boards for raw meat and veggies
- Avoiding perishable foods that have been sitting out (ex. potluck)

Beware: This Vaccine Is Destroying Women’s Ovaries and Reproductive System

According to the CDC, HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is not only the most commonly transmitted sexual infection in the world, but nearly all men and women will have at least 1 of the more than 150 types of HPV that are known to exist at some point.  9 out of 10 of these forms of HPV are cured naturally by the body within two years (with most people not even knowing they have it).  Unfortunately, the 1 out of 10 have been associated with devastating cancers (there are over 37,000 reported HPV related cancers in the US alone per year) and morbidity’s (like warts).  The most common way to spread or contract HPV is through sexual contact (penetration is not necessary as it often lives on pubic hair.  For this reason, it can also be contracted from toilet seats and by wearing clothes from someone infected (even trying on clothes at a store).  The FDA has approved 2 vaccines to protect against HPV contraction (Cervarix and Gardasil).  Unfortunately, these vaccines have caused more problems then they may be worth.  Let me explain.  

Gardasil Health Dangers

Gardasil is a vaccination that has been linked to multiple deaths and over 8,000 adverse reactions.
  
According to one of the doctors who actually worked to get Gardasil approved (Dr. Diane Harper), “Parents and women must know that deaths occurred,” Harper told CBS News. “Gardasil has been associated with at least as many serious adverse events as there are deaths from cervical cancer developing each year.”  Harper  also told the Huffington Post that Gardasil was proven to have caused at least one verified case of auto-immune initiated motor neuron disease.   Neurologists presented the finding at the 2009 American Neurological Association meeting in Baltimore, Maryland.
According to Dr. Peter Lind, who works in metabolic and neurological chiropractic, highlighted a VAERS report between the dates of September 1, 2010 and September 15, 2011 that details 26 deaths of young girls. “That’s 26 reported deaths of young, previously healthy, girls after Gardasil vaccination in just one year,” he said.  A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found Gardasil has a higher incidence of blood clots reported. The HPV vaccine has also been linked to other serious adverse events, including incidents of seizures, paralysis, blindness, pancreatitis, speech problems and short term memory loss, Lind also said.
Further, A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found Gardasil has a higher incidence of blood clots reported. The HPV vaccine has also been linked to other serious adverse events, including incidents of seizures, paralysis, blindness, pancreatitis, speech problems and short term memory loss.
  
As you can see there are serious reasons to be concerned about HPV vaccinations.  I would like to add that these findings and law suits stemming from them are not limited to the US.  There are dozens of current law suites against these drug’s manufacturers in countries like Japan, Australia and in Europe.  So what about the side affects of HPV?  When you break the numbers down, 95% of the HPV infections do anything.  It seems odd to mandate a vaccine for something that doesn’t happen 95% of the time?  As always, the choice should be left to individual’s and parents.  However, it is important to know all the facts before making these important decisions.

14+ Ways to Use Tea to Ease What Ails You

Black tea 

• Full of tannic acids with strong anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, black tea can calm diarrhea or bloating by helping the body absorb fluids better.
• Wet tea bags will also reduce swelling on cuts, bee stings, bug bites, toothaches, or eyes suffering from conjunctivitis.
• Poison ivy rash? Soak the area with three to five black tea bags for itch relief.
• The alkalines in black tea also neutralize acids and can relieve pain in canker and cold sores; apply a damp, cooled tea bag to the area, repeating three to four times a day.
• A black-tea foot soak will also kill bacteria and close pores, helping you sweat less and reduce odor. 

Green tea 

• Researchers suspect that polyphenols in green tea may play an important role in cancer prevention, believing they help kill or slow cancer cells' growth. In a study of 472 women with breast cancer, those who drank the most green tea experienced the least spread of the disease.
• In skin-cancer studies, lab animals given green tea developed one tenth as many tumors as animals who drank water.
• Green tea also has been shown to lower your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke, reduce rates of tooth decay, and stop a decline in mental ability.
• When it comes to memory, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition discovered that drinking just one cup of green tea a day made folks 55 and older 38 percent less likely to experience a decline in their mental abilities; drinking a second cup daily made them 54 percent less likely to show declines.
• Studies have also shown that using green tea as a face wash or compress helps reduce acne blemishes. 

Mint tea 

• Mint tea is excellent at stimulating digestion and dispelling gas to ease constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Here are some more surprising home remedies for constipation.
• A study in the Journal of Gastroenterology found that IBS patients taking peppermint-oil capsules for symptom relief experienced an approximately 40 percent greater reduction in abdominal pain and a 50 percent greater reduction in bloating and flatulence than those patients receiving a placebo. Researchers believe it may reduce the gag reflex by anesthetizing the stomach lining.
• Drink a cup before each meal to calm your stomach muscles and help food move a little faster, especially if you’re indulging in fatty foods.
• Mint tea can also be used to relieve throat pain, refresh achy feet (soak in cooled tea), and clear sinus pain. 

Chamomile tea: for stress 

• Sipping chamomile tea or taking a chamomile bath are proven methods to reduce stress and anxiety.
• The soothing tea is also a known remedy for sleep disorders and insomnia thanks to its sedative properties.
• Chamomile also has antispasmodic properties that help with digestive issues. A cup of tea will reduce menstrual cramps, diarrhea, morning sickness, and general nausea and vomiting.
• Researchers believe chamomile contains plant compounds that may lessen the gag reflex.
• Chamomile inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause stomach ulcers. Honey also helps fight ulcers, so add a little to your tea to help ulcers heal.

Chamomile tea: for inflammation 

• Strong chamomile tea can be applied to achy, arthritic joints for soothing relief, and to acne, blisters, or boils to reduce pain and redness.
• A chamomile compress can also ease the swelling and itch of hives.
• Used as a mouthwash, chamomile reduces gum pain and helps heal gingivitis.
• Sipping or gargling with chamomile will reduce inflammation if you have a sore throat.

Lemon tea 

• If you suffer from allergies, a cup of hot lemon tea will wake up the hairs in your nose that keep pollen and dust out of your nasal passages, helping to reduce sneezing and coughing throughout the day. Add a little sage, fennel, or anise from your spice rack to boost the effect.  
• Lemon tea is also very effective as a cold remedy, where the astringent lemon shrinks swollen throat tissue. Add a little honey (a powerful natural antioxidant and antibiotic) to soothe and coat your throat. 

Ginger: for digestion 

• When it comes to digestive issues, ginger has been used for thousands of years to treat indigestion and diarrhea. Researchers believe it reduces intestinal contractions, neutralizes digestive acids, and curbs the brain’s “vomit center.” Two compounds in ginger also work on the inner ear and central nervous system, reducing dizziness and associated nausea.
• Ginger also specifically targets the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, H. pylori. Many swear by ginger tea for morning sickness, menstrual cramps, motion sickness, and as a hangover cure.

Ginger: for inflammation 

• Ginger's anti-inflammatory properties make it a great remedy for a cold, the flu, or congestion. Herbalists refer to ginger as a diaphoretic; as it helps you sweat it can help break a fever.
• Ginger can also provide pain relief if you suffer from arthritis or tendonitis, and it has also been shown to soothe even the most painful migraine. Drink ginger tea with honey for added antioxidant benefits. 

Black pepper tea 

• This unusual remedy, rooted in New England folk medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, works great for wet coughs. Black pepper stimulates circulation and mucus flow, while honey is a natural cough reliever and antibiotic. Place 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper and 2 tablespoons of honey in a cup. Fill with boiling water and let steep, covered, for 15 minutes. Strain and sip as needed. 

Thyme tea 

• Thyme is a strong antiseptic, and has been shown to lower the inflammation and pain of arthritis and gout patients.
• A thyme-mint tea blend is a great solution to nasal or sinusitis pain, where the thyme calms inflamed sinuses and the mint acts as a natural decongestant. Inhale the steam from the hot thyme-mint tea for maximum effectiveness.
• Achy feet? Simmer two tablespoons of dried thyme in a quart of boiling water for 20 minutes, then cool slightly and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.  

Sage tea 

• Sage is known for its ability to soothe a sore throat and restore one's voice, but this herb also has elements that combat bacteria, viruses, and fungi. For a sore throat or laryngitis, gargle with sage tea or sip a cup that's been heavily sweetened with honey, which has mild antiseptic properties and will also help soothe inflamed, irritated throats.
• Sage is also known to help ease night sweats that are associated with menopause.

Orange peel tea 

• To help relieve diarrhea, make orange peel tea. Peel organic oranges (non-organic might have pesticides or dyes that can make your condition worse) and finely chop the peel, then toss in a pot of boiling water. Cover the pot tightly and steep until cool. Strain, sweeten with honey, and drink. 

Lemon balm tea 

• Herbalists call lemon balm “gladdening herb,” and for centuries this member of the mint family has been used to treat depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders naturally.
• Lemon balm also contains two substances that fight herpes. Feel an outbreak coming on? Sip a cup of tea; you can also soak a cotton ball in lemon balm tea and apply it directly to cold sores and blisters in order to speed up healing.

Dandelion tea 

• Dandelion is a strong diuretic and stimulates blood circulation through the kidneys, helping to detox your kidneys and liver naturally. It's a good way to stimulate digestion before or after a big meal. When it comes to kidney health, this weed has been shown to reduce fluid retention resulting from kidney disorders, and also may help speed up the passing of a small kidney stone. 

Thursday 21 September 2017

This Comic Perfectly Explains Why Anxiety & Depression Are So Difficult To Fight (16 Pics)


Anxiety and depression are two mental health disorders that many of us simply don’t get. Nick Seluk, the artist behind the popular Awkward Yeti webcomic, partnered with Sarah Flanigan, a reader who submitted her story to him, to explain how dealing with these disorders is a daily struggle.
We all experience anxiety and depression at one point or another, but some of us experience these feelings chronically. It can be difficult for those who don’t suffer from these chronic disorders to understand those who do, so they can sometimes say some fairly insensitive things; “Why don’t you just get over it?” or “What happened? You were so energetic yesterday.”
We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, especially if you suffer from these disorders – do you think they’ve accurately described what it’s like?
Seluk’s comic is part of a fascinating series of his called ‘Medical Stories Retold,’ which illustrates medical stories submitted to him by his readers.















School forced child in detention to write she was "one step closer to DEATH" as punishment (5 Pics)

Woodcote High School in Surrey has apologised to the student after her family slammed the exercise

 A school has apologised after a pupil who was late to class was punished by being forced to write she was "one step closer to DEATH" - from a passage suggesting she may be "insane or mad".

The teenager was given a one-hour after school detention when she was a minute late for class, her family claim.
But the top student was horrified when she was given a passage to copy out from a "Book of Consequences" - a controversial system of punishment.
The book - taken on from a teaching blog - contains worksheets which must be copied out in detention every time a child breaks a certain rule.
But the pupil was horrified when she had to copy out and sign her name declaring a sinister passage.
It said: "By not playing attention in any part of life, I have taken a step closer to death because I might miss something that could help me have a life."
She was made to write that she had "chosen to be distracted" - which could be defined as being "insane or mad".
It continued: "In the future I will choose life rather than death and focus on the joy of curiosity".
 The passage provided to the student to write out

Her mother has hit out at the "wildly inappropriate" punishment by Woodcote High School in Surrey.
The mum, who did not want to be named, said: "She was given this despite never having been in trouble before.
"She was given this bit of paper to copy out and sign and to put the teacher's name at the top, saying she might be insane and was a step closer to death because she was a minute late.
"She came home and said 'mum, am I insane?' It went from there. When I questioned the school, they said they didn't know where it had come from.
"They said it had been taken from something called a 'Book of Consequences'.
 The passage had come from a book titled the "Book of Consequences" - as pictured on a blog by Schools Week editor Laura McInerney

"I brought it to work to show a few people. They were horrified.
"Yes, children should have to face consequences, and, yes, it's good to learn you have got opportunities in life to take, but she's a child that does that.
"She works really hard. It was very over the top. It was over the top to give a child.
"She went over and over and over it. It really affected her. I just don't think it's right.
"I don't think it's appropriate to give a child."
The new discipline regime was introduced at Woodcote High at the start of the new term.
It is claimed the student was one minute late for a form room registration at the end of the school day, and told she would be receiving a ten minute detention.
 The girl's family have slammed the school for issuing the passage

But apparently there was a confusion with the electronic generation of the detention slip - under the new system - and she missed the detention.
Apparently this earned her an hour-long detention after school later that week.
But the girl was left tearful and worried and she was handed a passage from a "Book of Consequences" to copy out and sign.
She took a copy home her parents were furious when they read the "old fashioned" punishment titled "Not Paying Attention".
The mother said the reference to being "insane or mad" left her teenage daughter worried and confused.
The mum added: "When I showed it to a friend they said I should show it to Ofsted. A policeman I showed it to said I should go to the police because it could have been perceived as threatening.
"In this day and age, it is not the kind of message you should give to a hormonal teenage girl."
Woodcote High has more than 1,200 pupils aged between 11 and 19, which was rated "good" by Ofsted during the last inspection.
A spokeswoman for the school said staff were no longer using the "activity" sheet.
She said: "When preparing for the new school academic year, we looked for some samples of materials that students could work through whilst in detention.
"We found a blog by Laura Mcinerney. Laura is an editor of "Schools' Week", educational writer and a Guardian columnist.


The school has said they found the text by reading a blog by Schools Week editor Laura McInerney

"In her blog she talked about the value of focusing students to reflect on their behaviour.
"She provided a link to some examples of activities that students could undertake in detention. We downloaded several of these.
"Two weeks ago, we were made aware that one line in one passage in one activity could possibly have caused upset to certain vulnerable students.
"We apologised, removed the activity immediately and it has not been used since."

THE PASSAGE IN FULL

In full, the punishment sheet said: "First, write:
"1) I disappointed - insert teacher's name - 's rules by - describe your action -.
"2) What caused the problem (why did you do it?)
"3) List 3 ways to avoid this problem in the future. Circle the best one.
"Then, copy the following:
"I am guilty of not paying attention in some part of life.
"By not paying attention in any part of life, I have taken a step closer to death because I might miss something that could help me half a life.
"What separates me from other animals is, in large part, the power of my mind, my ability to think, reason, consider.
"By not paying attention in class, I have turned off part of my mind to information that will help me grow into a well educated, focused person.
"I have chosen instead to be unfocused, preoccupied, sidetracked, diverted, a distracted person, if you will.
"Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines distracted in archaic language as insane or mad.
"Even though I may not completely understand now, as a thinking person I concede that knowledge is power and that I need it in my toolbox to make a better life for myself and family someday.
"I live in the today.
"I am not insane or mad in any terms.
"Therefore in the future I will choose life rather than death, and focus on the joy of curiosity and this wonderful world by paying attention to, and even writing notes on, the details my teacher is so gracious to provide me.
"I remain,
"-your name-
"-date-"