Many people spend hours on end each week trying to build muscle for optimal physical health. Some even go to lengths like taking drugs for bulkier biceps, but a new study that was conducted at North Carolina State University reveals that there are effective, non-medicinal ways to encourage muscle growth.

In a trial on rats, a team of scientists showed that a compound found in mustard greens and other related vegetables, known as homobrassinolide, may encourage protein synthesis while preventing muscle loss.

"We hope that one day brassinosteroids may provide an effective, natural and safe alternative for age- and disease-associated muscle loss, or be used to improve endurance and physical performance," said researcher Slavko Komarnytsky, Ph.D.

When creating life dreams, people should think about ways to achieve them that are healthy for the body, mind and spirit. Shortcuts, such as anabolic steroids, are often unhealthy in a number of ways. Moreover, they often do not lead to success.

Say to yourself, "I am worth my goal in life dreams!"

The negative misconception that women and girls who become pregnant before finishing secondary school are not interested in pursuing careers has been a damaging one to young ladies who find themselves in these circumstances.

Researchers recently proved this belief to be false, and stated that pregnant teenagers may just need a little bit of support in order to create life dreams.

"Counseling and support programs focused on pregnant adolescents should incorporate practical information on how to continue their education and their pursuit of a career following their pregnancy," said Maureen Phipps, M.D., M.P.H., of the Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.

Authors of the study interviewed 257 pregnant teenagers and found that these girls were just as likely as their peers to have high career aspirations that would require a college degree. In fact, about 59 percent of expectant teens had set high goals for themselves.

So, many pregnant teens may be wondering to themselves, 'How do I create my goal in life dreams?' The answer is through hard work and dedication, in addition to having a positive network of support.

Everyone needs a helping hand every now and then, so young women in difficult circumstances should know when it's time to ask for help, as well as the people that they can rely on. This may mean turning to a family member, a friend or a school counselor, but in any case, this person should have the girl's best interests in mind.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that anyone can achieve their goals in life if they are willing to put forth the work necessary to fulfill their dreams.

It's well-known that academic success early in life leads to goal achievement in adulthood. As a result, parents have a vested interest in the ways they can help their children do well in school.

Spanish researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Ramon Llull University report that ensuring kids get a full nine hours of sleep each night can help them achieve life dreams and hope.

"Most children sleep less than is recommended for their intellectual development, which is hindered because the lack of sleep cannot be recovered. This is the first Spanish study that proves that losing out on hours of sleep and bad habits affect schoolchildren's academic performance," said researcher Ramon Cladellas.

In a study of 142 students who were 6 or 7 years old, researchers surveyed parents about their kids' sleep habits, then assessed the young participants' academic achievement.

"Taking into account the results obtained, we believe that more than nine hours of sleep and a nightly routine favors academic performance," said Cladellas.

Specifically, the researchers said that lacking hours of sleep can have a negative impact on a child's linguistic skills and knowledge of grammar and spelling, as well as their ability to comprehend or organize written language.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee says that creating life dreams is an important part of growing up. Without goals to strive for, there is little to look forward to in the grand scheme of things.

Results of this study suggest that young people who do not get enough rest may end up with hindered brain function, which could have a significant impact on a child's potential to set goals for themselves.

creating life dreams

Author and trailblazer Ilchi Lee has spent decades examining the link between the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of a person and how they help in creating life dreams. He's come to the conclusion that health or illness in one area may influence sickness or wellness in another.

Researchers at the University of Kentucky and Florida State University recently conducted an investigation which delves further into the connection between brain and body.

In a study, a team of scientists observed that the physiological immune system is linked to the behavioral immune system, which is the mind's ability to control actions that may lead to illness. They discovered that people who had recently been ill were more averse to faces that could be associated with sickness.

"When people have been recently sick, and therefore recently activated their physiological immune systems, they are more likely to pay attention to and display avoidance of disfigured faces," said co-author Saul Miller.

The researchers noted that people tend to avoid injured, ugly or obese faces, much like they would a rash or a sneeze. The same results were observed in two different clinical trials.

Results of this study underscore the importance of spiritual fitness, an important component of the life-dreams hope, according to Lee. There are many exercises and practices that people can engage in to strengthen this connection. For instance, yoga and mediation are specifically designed to align the mental, physical and spiritual, since they encourage practitioners to match their movements with their breathing, all while focusing on positive thoughts and energy.

The findings also suggest that the human body has a built-in system to protect it from disease. However, it does need some help along the way.

Life Dreams Hope

Individuals who place much importance on the spiritual aspect of their being know that fulfillment in this area can lead to feelings of inner peace and joy. Now, research that was led by scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reveals that spirituality can also promote feelings of well-being for citizens of certain countries.

The team of researchers examined the spirituality and self-reported wellness of individuals around the globe to reach their conclusions.

They found that in regions where resources are scarce, people who believe in a higher being tend to be more well-off mentally than those who do not.

"Difficult circumstances lead more strongly to people being religious. And in religious societies and in difficult circumstances, religious people are happier than nonreligious people," said lead researcher Ed Diener.

However, the study found that in countries where people generally have everything they need, religion has little bearing on happiness.

"In nonreligious societies or more benign societies where many people's needs are met, religious people aren't happier – everyone's happier," said Diener.

Results of this study suggest that life dreams and hope may be dependent on spiritual fulfillment for some people. Additionally, the research demonstrates the differences that exist between nations.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in global unity and erasing the boundaries that divide countries. We are all citizens of the planet Earth, and when everyone comes to realize this, they may begin to treat their fellow man with respect and love. Lee's world peace blogs contain information that underscores the importance of togetherness and the harm that is often done in the name of patriotism.

World Peace Organizations

The power of positive thoughts and actions should never be underestimated. Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes that this kind of energy is contagious, and that acts of love and kindness can spread and help individuals realize their life dreams and hope.

Now, researchers at the Department of Criminal Justice at Indiana University, Bloomington are saying that peace-promoting organizations may help curb violence in poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

The scientists' study revealed that the presence of liquor stores in poor areas was associated with a higher prevalence of crime. However, they noted that this link was not observed in wealthier neighborhoods, which tend to have residents with higher levels of education.

"Common values and stronger social cohesion found in more organized communities usually results in a greater ability to regulate the behavior of local retailers and those who patronize the local alcohol outlets," said researcher William Alex Pridemore.

As a result, the study authors said that in addition to restricting the number of stores that sell alcohol in low-income neighborhoods, these areas may be in need of world peace organizations, such as neighborhood watches, to help spread messages of peace throughout the area.

While it seems as though this solution may only benefit a few city blocks at a time, these kinds of peace efforts actually make huge differences toward a more peaceful society.

If the children living in these neighborhoods are positively influenced by the groups that help halt violence, theft and drug use, their children will have much better opportunities in life. This is how positive actions spread, slowly but surely, and may eventually influence peace on Earth.

It's often been said that they key to happy and healthy living is finding a life partner and sticking with them. However, researchers at the University of Cincinnati recently found that spouses or live-in partners can influence each other's bad habits.

In a study of more than 60 hetero- and homosexual couples, the scientists found that long-term couples have a tendency to either engage in unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or drinking, together or simply become compliant with the other's negative actions.

"The finding that one partner is a 'direct bad influence' suggests that individuals converge in health habits across the course of their relationship, because one individual's unhealthy habits directly promotes the other's unhealthy habits," said researcher Corinne Reczek.

The researchers found that heterosexual couples were less likely than their homosexual counterparts to try to change negative behaviors in a partner.

"These findings extend this research to argue that intimate partners are cognizant of the ways in which they promote the unhealthy habits of one another," said Reczek.

If you've been finding that your life dreams and hope are being hindered by an unsupportive partner, it may be a good idea to seek counseling or have a talk with your significant other. A spouse is meant to support creating life dreams, not hinder it.

Trailblazer, philosopher and flutist Ilchi Lee recommends cutting ties with bad influences. While it can be very difficult to detach yourself from a long-time loved one, it is often worth it in the end if that person has been causing you to compromise your health or goals of becoming a better person.

The country of Japan has experienced many hardships over the past year, enduring the pain caused by a devastating earthquake and tsunami. But through it all, the residents of the island nation are keeping their eye on creating life dreams and world peace.

On Aug. 14, Emperor Akihito led a prayer to help citizens heal the pain of recent tragedies and give world peace quotes to inspire a widespread love and kindness among the crowd in Tokyo, the Associated Press reported.

Additionally, the ceremony was meant to recognize those who died in World War II. The date of Akihito's speech was of relevance because it was the same day his father gave a radio address announcing Japan's defeat in the war.

With the Prime Minister Naoto Kan also in attendance, Akihito spoke words of comfort to his audience.

"Since the war, our nation has overcome many difficult times," said Akhito, quoted by the news source. "Using this experience, the devastated areas, and our nation itself, will recover strongly from the disaster."

The World Peace Prayer Society also hopes to spread love and respect through healing prayer. Part of the organization's core beliefs are that positive thoughts can be a force strong enough to inspire feelings of positivity to each citizen of the planet Earth.

These types of World Peace organizations are part of what Ilchi Lee believes will one day lead to a better planet for all inhabitants. The author and philosopher supports these efforts as well as those like Akihito's, since love is at their core.

Lee also says that inspiring a more peaceful world may be a matter of eliminating negative thought from the mind.

One of the biggest obstacles getting in the way of peace on Earth is youth violence. This kind of hate gets young people on the wrong track in life, leading them down a path of harmful and negative behavior that can affect everyone, not just those living in dangerous neighborhoods.

As a result, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy conducted research to determine effective ways to curb youth violence.

They found that outreach workers – individuals from the neighborhood who try to educate kids on avoiding violence and reaching resolutions – often met their goals at halting negative behavior among young residents.

Authors of the study reported that outreach workers, who may also be thought of as world peace groups, should be trained properly to be able to handle the challenges of their job. Additionally, involving local kids in the hiring of these individuals may help make them more effective.

"These features should be considered both by communities with existing street outreach worker programs and by communities in the process of establishing one, as they have demonstrated importance for both program success and sustainability," said lead author Shannon Frattaroli.

World peace organizations can hardly be successful if they don't have needed resources and education. The task ahead of them is too great for them to tend to it unprepared.

Author and philosopher Ilchi Lee believes in the power of love and positivity to lead to a more peaceful planet. He says that if each individual fills their hearts and minds with kindness, this can spill over and touch all members of society.

These findings point to one more way that people can work toward the betterment of society.

World Peace

Ilchi Lee says that creating life dreams involving world peace requires nations of the world to work together toward harmonious ends. Currently, competition among various states leads to dissent and conflict. This is very counter-productive when it comes to world peace.

However, some countries are beginning to work together toward peaceful ends. For example, representatives from the governments of Germany and Taiwan are coordinating an international event that will symbolize both regions' moves toward peace, Focus Taiwan News Channel reports.

In Germany, officials from the Taiwan Representative Office will ring a bell on August 23 in an event associated with peace and prosperity. Meanwhile, in Kinmen County, Taiwan, representatives will unveil a newly constructed peace bell that was formed out of discarded artillery shells.

The news source reports that officials believe the events will symbolize the movement from conflict and war to peace and harmony for everyone. The coordination of the bell ceremonies will underscore the lengths to which the world has come in eliminating conflict from many parts of the planet.

Events such as these also go to show what can happen when the nations of the world follow Lee's roadmap for ending conflict. He says that world peace day will only come when states across the Earth work together to resolve their conflicts.

Lee refers to this concept as the Earth Citizen movement. Before identifying with any national, religious or ethnic group, individuals will first say that they are citizens of the world. Their first goal will be to spread peace among their compatriots, regardless of their skin color or nationality. When more people begin accepting this approach, the world may have peace.