Referred to as the “Grand Prix of epidemiology” by The New York Times, this study examines more than 350 variables of health and nutrition with surveys from 6,500 adults in more than 2,500 counties across China and Taiwan, and conclusively demonstrates the link between nutrition and heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
While revealing that proper nutrition can have a dramatic effect on reducing and reversing these ailments as well as curbing obesity, this text calls into question the practices of many of the current dietary programs, such as the Atkins diet, that are widely popular in the West.
an MRI image of the human brain (photo from Pixabay)
by Dr. Henry Marsh, 2015
A leading neurosurgeon offers a revealing look into his life and work, discussing the triumphs, disasters, and regrets of a medical practice that carries grave risks and often requires agonizing decisions.
A plus-sized blogger shares anecdotes about her life as a weird, overweight girl growing up in rural Ohio, including stories about dating, relationships, dieting, and finally accepting her curves.
Analyzes the current trend against wheat consumption, tracing its role in history and science to share facts about how wheat has been wrongly demonized and holds an important and nutritious role in dietary health
Thanks for joining me to explore the HEART of health.
Carole King’s memoir, “A Natural Woman,” delves into her remarkable life as a Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter. Despite her musical success, she faced profound personal challenges, including turbulent marriages and traumatic experiences. King’s resilience and candid account offer a powerful reminder of the complexities behind public personas and the importance of seeking help in times of struggle.
Although Carole King did not write “A Natural Woman” for herself (she and her first husband were asked to write it for Aretha Franklin), the song aptly fits her life also.
Carole grew up in a close Jewish family, attended school where she excelled in performing arts, and graduated early. She married young and loved her husbands (four of them) passionately. She doted on her four children and did all the typical mom things- driving them to activities, homeschooling, and sewing their clothes. She cooked food that she grew herself and even milked a goat she owned. She welcomed grandchildren and cared for aging parents.
She could almost be any 70-year-old woman- except she is a Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter who has written over 100 songs, including many of the greatest hits from the 1970s. In 2013 she became the first woman to be awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
inserts from our Carole King music CD collection
The music
Ms. King was at the height of her career in 1972 when my husband and I met, and found we had a mutual appreciation for her music, and still do. So, even though I don’t read memoirs of celebrities, I made an exception this time. I wanted to know more about this talented woman, and I was not disappointed.
The pain
As I listened to the book’s audio version, which she recorded, I marveled how she managed to live such a normal and successful life while experiencing a series of traumatic experiences starting in childhood. These included
a sibling with physical and developmental disabilities
the breakdown of her parents’ marriage
financial instability in her early career
the conflict of her four failed marriages
an extended civil lawsuit
accidents resulting in serious physical injury
exposure to mental illness and substance abuse
The last issue is noteworthy in that it led to two of her divorces. It also led to several years in which she suffered verbal and physical abuse from one of her husbands, who was mentally ill and addicted to drugs.
She candidly admits that she submitted to it, thinking she deserved it, he didn’t mean to hurt her, and that he would change. Fortunately, one night she literally woke up with the conviction that she needed help. Counseling helped her develop personal resources to resist and stop the abuse. She urges women in similar circumstances to seek help and recommends
I am sad she experienced such pain in her life, all the while brightening other lives with her music. She said that music helped her cope with the challenges in her life.
Herliferemindsusthat people who appear successful and accomplished in some areas of life may be unhappy and hurting in others. We may never know the pain that some have walked through to get where they are.
Carole King insists that she never wanted to be a star or diva, and she zealously guarded her privacy. According to this book, she values her family, relationships, writing songs, and sharing her music. I am glad she also decided to share this side of her life and the lessons it teaches. Thank you, Carole King.
a selection of Carole King’s music
(these are affiliate links)
Tapestry Carole King’s first and most successful album
In this post I remember a date night at the theater watching “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” highlighting King’s journey as a songwriter with Gerry Goffin. Despite their success in music, their marriage struggled due to infidelity and mental health issues. I have slso reviewed her memoir.
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