Thursday, May 31, 2012

Pineapple - Health Benefits





Health Benefits of Pineapple

1 ) Anti Cancer : The enzyme Bromelain in pineapple has Anti - Cancer properties. By building the İmmune System , bromelain increases the body's ability to naturally kill tumours.  Bromelain has Anti- Metastatic properties which  prevents or slows down tumours growth.  Especially Colon Cancer because pineapple contains so much fiber.

2 ) Anti - Oxidants : Pineapple is a very good source of Vitamin C.  Pineapple offers your body an excellent protection against free-radicals, substances that attack healthy cells.  İt is  a Cold & Flu fighter.  Pineapple prevents , Catarrh, Gout, Arthritis and İnfections of throat and other parts of the body.  Helps reduce Cough and Mucus . The enzyme bromelain, extracted from the juice and stem of the pineapple plant appears to reduce inflammation associated with Asthma.

 3 ) Digestive : Pineapple helps Healthy Digestion.  Pineapple is used for heartburn , treats nausea , bloating and constipation

4 ) Goiter : İt is helpful in cases of goiter.

 5 ) Energy & Bone Health : Pineapple is an excellent source of  Manganese and Vitamin A , They help Bone and Skin Health . Thiamine and Vitamin B1 is also found in pineapple and also important for Energy Production

In Summary:

The pineapple got its name in English because of its resemblance to a pinecone, but in many European countries, it’s called some derivative of annas which comes from the Paraguayan word nana, meaning "exquisite fruit." (And we agree!) Pineapple is native to South and Central America and is known there for its anti-inflammatory benefits.  

Bromelain, an enzyme found in the juice and stem of pineapples, has been used medicinally since ancient times to help reduce inflammation, lessen hay fever symptoms, slow blood clotting, and even enhance the absorption of antibiotics.  More than just anti-inflammation, researchers suggest bromelain can be used to control the growth of tumors and malignant cells.

If that’s not awesome enough, pineapple is packed with good fiber to help digestion, vitamin C to boost that immune system, and one cup of diced pineapple is only 77 calories. Pineapples are a composite of many flowers whose individual fruitlets fuse together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an "eye," the rough spiny marking on the pineapple's surface. Pineapples have a wide cylindrical shape, a scaly green, brown or yellow skin and a regal crown of spiny, blue-green leaves and fibrous yellow flesh. The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture.

The pineapple is the leading edible member of the family Bromeliaceae which embraces about 2,000 species, mostly epiphytic and many strikingly ornamental. Now known botanically as Ananas comosus Merr. (syns. A. sativus Schult. f., Ananassa sativa Lindl., Bromelia ananas L., B. comosa L.), the fruit has acquired few vernacular names. It is widely called pina by Spanish-speaking people, abacaxi in the Portuguese tongue, ananas by the Dutch and French and the people of former French and Dutch colonies; nanas in southern Asia and the East Indies. In China, it is po-lo-mah; sometimes in Jamaica, sweet pine; in Guatemala often merely "pine".

http://greatist.com/health/superfood-pineapple
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/pineapple.html
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=34


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS CYCLE




Sacred Knowledge of Vibration and the Power of Human Emotions

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Naturally Flavored Water

An easy formula for making your own quick, healthy fruit and herb infused waters in endless varieties.


By Monica Matheny
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Say goodbye to soda, juice, and bottled water with these refreshing, healthy flavors! I'm keeping 2-3 flavors of this "spa water" in my fridge now, so I have a variety to motivate me to drink more water.

I was a hardcore Dr. Pepper girl for years. Then I gave up regular soda because of the high sugar content and switched to diet soda. Next we were warned to avoid the chemicals in diet soda; and more recently studies have indicated that diet soda actually causes rather than prevents weight gain (source). Geez. Lots of us moved on to bottled water, but that has landfill and environmental consequences and can be less healthy than regular tap water (source). Juice has more nutrition than soda, but is comparable in sugar, carb, and calories content (source). Dang. It's hard to keep up.

Simply water 

At the end of the day, regular old tap water--or at least a filtered version of it--seems to be the way to go.  I'm fortunate that St. Louis is considered to have some of the best tasting tap water in the U.S. I still prefer the taste of it filtered through a Brita Water Filter Pitcher--we've been using one for years. But, I still don't drink enough water.

Aside from my morning coffee, I honestly forget to drink fluids throughout the day. I know that it's important for my health. I don't dislike water, but I do get kind of bored with it. That was the motivation for starting to make flavored waters.

Subtle flavor without sweetness

These aren't sweet waters, so they'll be disappointing if that's what you're expecting. This is water with subtle flavors infused into it. Water with a little something extra. A touch of flavor--not an explosion of flavor--with little or no sweetness. You've probably had pitchers of ice water with lemon served at restaurants. This is the same idea, but with more variety. Many spas serve fancy waters like these, and it turns out that they couldn't be simpler to make. And, they are oh-so-refreshing.

The KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) approach to Flavored Waters

My natural tendency is to go overboard and overcomplicate things, so I really have to fight that when I'm developing recipes. I read about and was tempted to try all kinds of methods for flavoring water that involve blenders, boiling, specialty infuser pitchers, and lots of different ingredients. But, I know myself. If I truly want to transition completely away from soda & juice and drink more water throughout the day, I have to make this simple so it can be an easy routine for me to maintain. When I read celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's quick and uncomplicated approach to making flavored waters, I was inspired to follow his lead and keep it simple. My easy formula for making KISS flavored waters is to use only fruit and herbs, water, ice, and a jar or pitcher. This is something I can make in a minute or two so I can always have flavored waters on hand in my fridge.

How to make
Naturally Flavored Water

Supplies Needed:
  • fruit -- whatever kind you like (except no bananas); make sure it's good and ripe for maximum sweetness and flavor.  I like to use all kinds of citrus and berries. I also found pineapple and watermelon to work well for flavoring water. If you don't want to buy whole ones, many grocery stores sell small containers of pre-cut fruit.
  • herbs -- these are optional, but many herbs are a surprising complement to fruit flavors; almost any herb will work depending on your personal preference
  • jars or pitchers -- I use 2 quart mason jars primarily, but any 2 quart pitcher will do.
        (click here to view 2 quart mason jars on Amazon)
  • muddler or wooden spoon for mashing fruit and herbs
        (click here to view muddler on Amazon)
  • ice
  • water -- I use filtered water, but regular tap water is fine if yours tastes good to you   
        (click here to view Brita Water Filter Pitcher on Amazon)
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Fresh vs. frozen fruit.

When in season, I prefer to use fresh fruit. However, when fruit is out of season, the fresh version can be tart or flavorless. Because fruit that is to be frozen is picked at the peak of ripeness, it is often the better option for the best flavor, sweetness, and nutrients. I find this to especially to be the case with berries and peaches.

A variety of fresh herbs.

Use whatever herbs you like or happen to have on hand. I picked all of these from my herb garden and have tried them in flavored waters. It's surprising how well they blend with most fruit flavors, and they amp up the refreshing factor of the water. Mint is the most obvious herb choice. I also have tried basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, lavender, and tarragon. All good.

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I'll share some of the fruit and herb combos that I've recently tried for flavoring water. But, honestly, you can combine most fruits and herbs according to your favorite flavors and what you have on hand in your fridge. I'll show you how to make 5 flavor combos. You can take it from there, creating endless flavor combos of your own.

Quantities: The quantities in my flavored water recipes are all for 2 quart jars or pitchers. However, I ran out of the 2 quart jars and used a few 1 quart jars, halving the recipe ingredients. So, don't be confused by the different jar sizes. It's easy to make a full or half batch depending on your jar or pitcher size.

The first 2 waters are
flavored with fruit only (no herbs)


WASH FRUIT THOROUGHLY! The citrus and berries need to be really, really clean to keep contaminants and bacteria out of your flavored water. I recommend organic fruit, if it isn't going to be peeled. 

1. All Citrus Flavored Water (adds refreshing tartness to water) -- slice 1 orange, 1 lime, 1 lemon into rounds, then cut the rounds in half. Add to jar, press and twist with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon. Press enough to release some of the juices, but don't pulverize the fruit into pieces. Fill the jar with ice. Pour in water to the top. Stir it with the handle of a wooden spoon or a chopstick. Put a lid on it, put it in the fridge, and chill.
  • click here to view plastic lids for mason jars on Amazon -- these are long-lasting and easier to screw on and off than the metal rings and lids that come with the jars; they fit all wide-mouth mason jars
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You can drink it right away, but the flavor intensifies if it's made an hour or two ahead. It's even better the next day. 24 hours later straight from the fridge, the ice still hasn't melted completely in mine. The ice at the top serves as a sieve so that you can pour the flavored water without getting fruit bits in your glass.

2. Raspberry Lime Flavored Water (beautiful color and mildly tart) -- Quarter 2 limes; with your hands, squeeze the juice into the jar, then throw in the squeezed lime quarters. Add raspberries. Press and twist with a muddler to release some of the juices (don't pulverize the fruit). Fill the jar with ice, then add water to the top. Stir, cover, and refrigerate.
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The next 3 waters are
flavored with fruit and herb combos


3. Pineapple Mint Flavored Water (a hint of minty sweetness). Add a sprig of mint to the jar--you can throw in the whole sprig; or, remove the leaves from the sprig, if you prefer to have the mint swimming around and distributing in the jar. Muddle the mint--the goal is to bruise the leaves and release their flavor--don't pulverize them into bits. Add pineapple pieces, press and twist with the muddler to release juices. Add ice to the top and then water. Stir, cover, and refrigerate.
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4. Blackberry Sage Flavored Water (subtle, refreshing flavor). Add sage leaves to jar and bruise with a muddler. Add blackberries; press and twist with muddler to release their juices. Fill jar with ice cubes, add water to the top, stir, cover and refrigerate.
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5. Watermelon Rosemary Flavored Water (lovely flavor combo). Add a sprig of rosemary to jar and muddle gently (rosemary releases a strong flavor without much muddling). Add watermelon cubes; twist and press gently to release juices. Fill jar with ice cubes, add water to the top, stir, cover and refrigerate.
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Here's the whole gang. It's hard to pick a favorite, because they all have a different, distinctive flavor. The all citrus and raspberry lime are both quite tart (and refreshing!), the watermelon rosemary and pineapple mint are the sweetest, and the blackberry sage has the mildest flavor (that may be because my out-of-season blackberries weren't very flavorful). I enjoyed all of these and love having a variety in my fridge. You can get creative and use this same simple method for combining all kinds of fruits and herbs. Flavored_Water7_Copy.jpg
How long will they keep? Put a lid on them, put them in fridge, and they will keep for up to 3 days. It only takes a few minutes to make several varieties to keep on hand. No more boring water for me!
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Pour a glass. When there's still ice left in the jar (my ice lasts up to 24 hours in the fridge), it will filter out the fruit/herb bits as you pour the water into a glass. After the ice melts, if you don't want to drink fruit bits along with the water, use a small wire strainer to remove them as you pour the water into your drinking glass.
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Sweeten it up, if you must. If you have a sweet tooth and find these flavored waters undrinkable without some sweetener, go ahead and stir in some simple sugar syrup, honey, agave syrup, or whatever sweetener you prefer. 1 teaspoon of sugar only has 15 calories, so go ahead and add one to your glass. Given that a single can of soda or juice has the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar, you are still way better off drinking slightly sweetened water. If you are hooked on sweet tasting drinks and want to reduce or eliminate sugar or artificial sweeteners, you may need to wean yourself gradually. Unsweetened beverages are an acquired taste. I prefer them now, but it took me awhile to get there.

Great for entertaining! Flavored waters are very popular now, as more people are avoiding soda and juice. Make a variety of flavored waters to offer at your next party. Look how gorgeous they are! Refreshing, healthy, inexpensive, and beautiful. Plus you can make and refrigerate them well in advance of the party.

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KISS Flavored Waters. My new beverage of choice. How about you?
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Let me know if you have other flavored water combos to recommend.
Make it Yummy day!

(keep scrolling to get to the printable recipe for Flavored Water)

You might also enjoy my easy refrigerator iced teas:
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If printing recipe, choose FULL PAGE option; recipe is too long to fit on a card.

Link directly to this recipe Print this recipe
Easy Fruit & Herb Flavored Water
By Monica              Servings: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
  • fruit -- 2 cups berries, citrus, melons, pineapple...most fruits will work (see recommended amounts in directions)
  • herbs -- a sprig of mint, basil, sage, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, or lavender
  • water (tap or filtered)
  • ice
Directions
Supplies needed: 2 quart pitcher or jar with lid; muddler or wooden spoon

General formula for whatever fruit/herb combo you desire.
1. If using herbs, add a sprig of fresh herbs to jar/pitcher; press and twist with muddler or handle of wooden spoon to bruise leaves and release flavor; don't pulverize the herbs into bits.
2. Add approx. 2 cups of fruit to jar/pitcher; press and twist with muddler or handle of wooden spoon, just enough to release some of the juices
3. Fill jar/pitcher with ice cubes.
4. Add water to top of jar/pitcher.
5. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Suggested flavor combinations:
ALL CITRUS (no herbs) --  Slice 1 orange, 1 lime, 1 lemon into rounds, then cut the rounds in half. Add to jar and proceed with muddling, add ice & water.
RASPBERRY LIME (no herbs)  -- Quarter 2 limes; with your hands, squeeze the juice into the jar, then throw in the squeezed lime quarters. Add 2 cups raspberries. Muddle, add ice & water.
PINEAPPLE MINT -- Add a sprig of mint to the jar (you can throw in the whole sprig; or, remove the leaves from the sprig, if you prefer to have the mint swimming around and distributing in the jar). Muddle the mint. Add 2 cups pineapple pieces, muddle, add ice & water.
BLACKBERRY SAGE -- Add sage sprig to jar and muddle. Add 2 cups blackberries; muddle, add ice & water.
WATERMELON ROSEMARY --  Add rosemary sprig to jar & muddle. Add 2 cups watermelon cubes; muddle, add ice and water.


Source: The Yummy Life

Saturday, May 26, 2012

5 Ways to Farm

5 Ways to Farm Even If You're Not a Farmer

You can experience the farm life without actually living on a farm.

 

Few people live on farms anymore, but many people daydream about it. There's just something very gratifying about that type of hard work—and working with nature to create healthy, nourishing food. But the fact is, farm life isn't always how you may envision it, and chemical-based farming is robbing farmers of a decent living and making our country sick (especially the farmers). In her book Organic Manifesto, Rodale Inc. CEO Maria Rodale describes the trap many modern-day chemical farmers fall into, relying on expensive, genetically engineered seeds, chemical pesticides and fertilizers, financing expensive, gigantic farm equipment, and leasing more land than they can afford. "Being a farmer is hard these days. Commodity prices soar and fall along with the prices of gas and fertilizer and consumer confidence, and the ever-increasing amount of land needed to earn a living makes it hard to enjoy the job," she writes, adding, "It's always been hard to be a farmer. But a generation or two back, at least it was a family affair that brought with it a set of values and joys that made up for the long hours and backbreaking work."

The good news is, that sense of community and the importance of producing nourishing food seems to be returning, with the public's interest in sustainable organic farms back on the radar screen. There's been an explosion of interest in sustainable agriculture, and that's good news for families seeking healthy food, and for the farmers, too. A recent report from the United States Department of Agriculture found that organic farmers earn a better living than their chemical-oriented counterparts. Most likely because they don't buy into the chemical system that may seem to work at first, but winds up putting farmers in debt and puts them on a treadmill of needing more and more chemicals as their soil becomes less and less healthy.

If you want to experience the benefits of chemical-free farming yourself—besides buying and enjoying the food—there are several ways you can get a farm experience without quitting your day job or selling your house and heading to the countryside.

Don't own a farm? No problem. Here's how to farm without being a farmer:

# 1. Start or join a crop mob.In the last few years, the phenomenon of "crop mobs" has become more popular. During a crop mob, volunteers gather on a farm for a day to perform tasks that could take an individual farmer days or weeks to complete, such as erecting a hoophouse, mulching field beds, or painting a barn. Participants include other farmers as well as people who want to help out, meet local farmers, and get some exercise. To set up such a group in your area, query local, sustainable farmers in your county about projects they need help with (and when), ask how you can help, and then find like-minded helpers and schedule your own crop mob event. If you belong to a CSA (see below) or shop at a farmer's market, start the conversation with the farmers there.

# 2. Become a WWOOFer.The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms program lists organic-farm host families from all over the world who allow people of all different backgrounds the opportunity to spend a week or even months on sustainable farms. Each host family lists the length of stay and expertise level required for volunteers, but many require a visit of just a week or two (perfect for a volunteer-vacation experience) and no immediate farming skills. The volunteers get room and board, and take home invaluable advice they can apply to their own garden—or who knows, maybe one day to a farm of their own. Experiences range from vegetable farms to organic dairy or shiitake-mushroom-growing operations.

# 3. Join a CSA. Community-supported agriculture involves buying a share of the season's harvest, and it's a great way to ensure a variety of healthy food during the growing season. Some CSA programs even offer meat, cheese, and eggs. But if you want a more hands-on experience, ask your CSA farmers if you can lend a hand. Some programs even let you pay a lower fee if you provide a weekend of volunteer time during the growing season, and some farmers may welcome your help on packing and distribution days. It's a great way to get your hands dirty and become friends with your local farmer. Find hundreds of CSA programs at LocalHarvest.org.

# 4. Grow a farm crop. Even if you only have a small patch of land, you can still grow a farm crop, and what could taste better than sweet corn grown in your own backyard? Contrary to what you're used to seeing on farms, you don't need to plant rows of the starchy vegetable. For growing sweet corn at home, opt for a square plot in lieu of rows, to maximize use of space. According to Organic Gardening magazine, you can use a Zuni Native American trick and plant the corn in hills in the square patch. For details on growing sweet corn, visit OrganicGardening.com. For other ideas, check out our story, Grow Your Own Farm on Less Than an Acre.

# 5. Invite chickens into your home. Chickens are easier to raise than you think. In fact, you can even make them part of the family and allow them to live indoors. (There are such things as chicken diapers.) For people with little yard space, Eglu chicken coops are popular choices, or, usually, you can hire a local sustainable farmer to build a coop that fits your needs. Once mature, chickens lay about an egg a day, so three chicks is usually a good number to provide a small family with fresh eggs (share extras with the neighbors). Just don't get a single hen—they get lonely! Read Raising Chickens: Do You Have What it Takes? for more info on raising chickens.

Source: Organic Farming

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

STOP ASPARTAME CONSUMPTION NOW

Aspartame (E951) is an artificial sweetener, used in over 6000 products. The food industry claims that aspartame helps in losing weight, but why is obesity then becoming such an ever increasing problem?



Aspartame is a very sweet chemical, responsible for a host of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, MS, epilepsy, cancer, brain disorders, migraines, ADHD, etc.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/06/aspartame-most-...
http://naturalnews.com/011804.html
http://wnho.net/new_aspartame_studies.htm

Shocking aspartame documentary 'Sweet Misery':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0UDeydlEDM

The US Department of Health has recorded 92 (!) symptoms related to aspartame use. In fact, over 80% of all complaints filed with the FDA are aspartame related!
http://321recipes.com/symptoms.html

Aspartame breaks down into three toxic components:

1. Methanol.
This is poisonous alcohol. In the body, methanol breaks down into formaldehyde, which is a poison.

2. Phenylalanine.
This decreases the amount serotonin in your brain, which leads to mood swings (depressions) and an increased appetite! That is why aspartame is one of the main causes for the current obesity epidemic.
http://naturalnews.com/001253.html

3. Aspartic acid.
This is a neurological toxin comparable to MSG.

Do no longer believe the lies of the food industry and the 'main stream' media. Contrary to what so-called 'health experts' claim, aspartame is NOT safe!

In fact, aspartame is a sweet poison developed to make people sick so the pharmaceutical industry can sell expensive medication to 'treat' the chronic diseases that are caused by it's use.

Avoid this toxic chemical for 60 days and discover how your health will improve dramatically!

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Hosea 4:6 (KJV)

Brand names for aspartame:
AminoSweet, NutraSweet, Equal, NatraTaste, Canderel, Spoonful, Equal-Measure, etc.

Caution! Aspartame is now being replaced in many products by sucralose (Splenda, E955) and/or Neotame (E961), but these sweeteners are also highly toxic!
http://products.mercola.com/sweet-deception
http://splendaexposed.com
http://naturalnews.com/035016_aspartame_neotame_NutraSweet.html

Aspartame (or other harmful sweeteners) are used in:
Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta Zero, Sprite Zero, Coke Light, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Next, Pepsi Max, Crystal Clear, Lipton Ice Tea Zero (Light), Crystal Light, Monster Energy Lo-Carb, Robinson No Sugar Added Fruit Squash, Aquarius Zero, Smint, Stimorol Ice Stimorol Fusion, Freedent, Mentos, Sportlife, Sugarfree, etc.

The other harmful artificial sweeteners that you should avoid:
Acesulfame K (E950), Cyclamate (E952), Isomalt (E953), Saccharin (E954), Sucralose or Splenda (E955), Alitame (E956), Neohesperidine (E959), Neotame (E961), Salt of Aspartame-Acesulfame (E962), Maltitol (E965), Lactitol (E966), Xylitol (E967), Sorbitol (E420), Mannitol (E421), Glycerol (E422).

Natural based sweetener and thus relatively safe:
Thaumatin (E957).

Healthier sugar alternatives:
Organic raw cane sugar, organic maple syrup, honey and Stevia, the low calorie, all natural sweetener, used in Paraguay for centuries:
http://steviainfo.com

Aspartame Detoxification Program:
http://sweetpoison.com/aspartame-detox.html

Playlist 'The Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners':
http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AEC72EC3C95A7B40

More aspartame videos:
http://thetruthaboutstuff.com/videos.html

Aspartame-free chewing gum:
http://xlear.com/spry.aspx
http://xyligum.com
http://zappgum.com

More information about aspartame:
http://aspartame.mercola.com
http://aspartamesafety.com
http://sweetpoison.com
http://321recipes.com/aspartame.html
http://holisticmed.com/aspartame
http://naturalnews.com/aspartame.html
http://familymatters.tv/level_4/health/aspartame.htm
http://drbenkim.com/articles-artificialsweeteners.html

How we are being manipulated:
http://healingdaily.com/beliefs.htm

Do you find it difficult to lose weight and live healthy?

The solution is actually quite simple.

Avoid all artificial sweeteners, flavor enhancers and (partially) hydrogenated oils/fats (trans fats) as they are the main causes of obesity and disease.

Stop using fluoridated water and fluoridated toothpaste.

Have your dental amalgam silver fillings removed safely(!) as they cause mercury poisoning.

Do no longer use microwaves as they destroy up to 97% of the nutrients and vitamins in your food!

Read the book 'Fit for Life' by Harvey Diamond. This book will transform your life, you'll never have to get on a diet again for the rest of your life!

Dangerous food additives (E-numbers):
http://foodreactions.org/allergy/additives/index.html

Make a difference!
http://fonteine2.com/make_difference.html

For all my health videos click below or search for: health4me
http://youtube.com/view_play_list?p=2F856F03238D7810

HealthRanger7
http://www.youtube.com/HealthRanger7

Aspartame:  http://www.advancedhealthplan.com/bhaspartame.html


Water and Alkanizing the Body

Every cell in your body contains water. Even the cells that make up the acid you need to digest food, to the ones that make up your hormones, to your immune cells that attack infections.
And all that water must be maintained at the right pH balance in order for your body to function the way it’s meant to.

"pH" simply means "potential of Hydrogen." And it’s measured on a scale of 0 (100% acidic) to 14 (100% alkaline). Your body prefers a slightly alkaline pH level between 7.365 and 7.390.
Here’s the tricky part. The distance from the neutral value of 7 is not just numeric. It’s logarithmic. That means each number is exponentially more acidic or alkaline the farther you get from 7.

For example, a pH reading of 6 is ten times more acidic than 7, but a pH of 4 is a thousand times more acidic than 7. So a small change in pH is really a big deal to your body. And the modern world is just making it worse.

Every day the modern world pours acid into you from pollutants in your drinking water, the air you breathe… even most modern medicines and prescriptions drugs are notorious for producing acid. And the more acidic your cells, the more stress your body goes through.  

The good news is, there are ways you can naturally keep your body’s pH in check. But first let me show you why it’s so important. 

Let’s take soda as an example. Almost all commercial drinks, from colas to energy and sports drinks (including sugar-free ones) have acids added to them – such as phosphoric acid, citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid.

To give you an idea of how acidic these drinks are, pure, distilled water has a pH of 7. Battery acid is a 1.  The average can of cola has a pH of 2.5. That means it’s tens of thousands of times more acidic than water.  

But it’s not just soft drinks. There are quite a few foods that form acid, like:
Mustard Asparagus Noodles Olives Ketchup
Pasta Shellfish Flour Based Products Legumes Tea
Beans Oatmeal Brussels Sprouts Cocoa Coffee
Plums Cornstarch Sugars Lentils Vinegar

When you consume these highly acidic food and drinks, it has a huge impact on your system. Your body will use its alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium to neutralize the acid and return your pH to normal.

And this can cause problems like kidney stones, cramping, premature aging skin, abnormal blood sugar levels, fatigue, joint discomfort and more.

To help keep your pH in the slightly alkaline zone, here are two things you can do:
  1. Drink lots of water. Forget the “few glasses of water a day” rule. You need to drink water in excess of thirst. And that means something like 3 quarts of water a day. More if it’s very hot or if you’re working outside.
  2. Eat alkalizing foods. Brazil nuts, almonds, coconuts, fresh vegetables, avocados, raisins, molasses and honey are all alkalizing foods. Fresh fruit works, too, even citrus fruit. Even though they have citric acid, they have an alkalizing effect in your body.


Source:  Al Sears, M.D.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Rhubarb



Rhubarb looks like red celery, but it is actually part of the fruit family.

Did you know that one cup of rhubarb contains 105 mg of calcium and 35.7 mcg of vitamin K?

Also, rhubarb contains 270 mcg of lutein, which helps neutralize free radicals. It also has lycopene and anthocyanins, both powerful antioxidants that can help your heart, eyes, and immune system.
 
Make time to do more research on this plant.  In an old drug store (preserved now as a museum in Elk River, Idaho) there are multitudes of old remedies that doctors used for many illnesses.  These were based on the extract of , you guessed it, Rhubarb. 

Too bad the oil companies, (Standard Oil as the first) decided that medications made from oil sludge would fill their bank accounts, little was done to help those suffering with disease.  In fact, as history is now showing us, medications are the #3 leading cause of death.  

Look up "Iatrogenics".

Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)

HEALTH TIP: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)

HEALTH TIP: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) ranks up there as one of the best household remedies. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the few “miracle substances” still available to the general public; it is safe, readily available, and dirt cheap. And best of all, it works!

Did you know that you probably had your first sip of hydrogen peroxide shortly after you took your first breath? That’s right… mother’s milk (especially colostrum) contains extremely high concentrations of H2O2. In light of the fact that we know that one of the main functions of mother’s milk is to activate and stimulate the immune system in the infant, the fact that it contains abnormally large amounts of H2O2 makes sense.

As far back as the early nineteenth century, hydrogen peroxide was widely used in medicine. Many bacterial diseases (including syphilis) responded to H2O2 when no other treatment was effective. In the early twentieth century, H2O2 was used to treat several common diseases, such as whooping cough, cholera, typhoid fever, ulcers, tuberculosis, and asthma. However, as the pharmaceutical industry began to develop expensive, new drugs, hydrogen peroxide was increasingly ignored and finally discarded as a treatment.

H2O2 stimulates natural killer (NK) cells, which attack cancer cells as they attempt to spread throughout the body. In the body’s immune response, hydrogen peroxide is released by T-cells to destroy invading bacteria, viruses and fungi. Blood platelets release hydrogen peroxide on encountering particulates in blood. In the large intestine, acidophilus lactobacillus produces H2O2 which keeps the ubiquitous candida yeast from multiplying out of control. When candida spreads out of the intestine, it escapes the natural control system and can gain a foothold in the organs of the body, causing what is called chronic fatigue syndrome.

During flu season, if the kiddos feel like they’re getting sick, we lay them down on their side and put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into their ear. After a few seconds, the liquid will bubble, indicating that it is killing the infection. After 5 or 10 minutes, we turn them over and repeat on the other ear. No one yet fully understands the complete workings of hydrogen peroxide, but we do know that it is loaded with oxygen.

We know that when H2O2 is taken into the body (orally or intravenously) the oxygen content of the blood and body tissues increases dramatically. Please remember that the hydrogen peroxide that is available at your local pharmacy (3% hydrogen peroxide) should NEVER be ingested orally, since it contains many stabilizers. The only grade recommended for internal use is 35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide, which must be properly diluted down to 3% with water. I use hydrogen peroxide each night before bed as a rinse and also a natural teeth whitener.
 

Health Benefits of Bell Peppers




Bell Pepper Nutrition Facts:


Regardless of how you feel about peppers in general and bell peppers specifically, there are plenty of reasons to introduce them to your weight loss regimen.

These peppers are more than colorful, colorful and tasty; they are also packed with nutrients that provide you with many health benefits. Keep reading to find out what it is about bell pepper nutrition facts that has the whole world falling in love.

About Bell Peppers
 
Bell peppers are vegetables with a shiny, waxy outer skin that come in a wide variety of colors. Although the most common bell pepper is the green bell pepper, bell peppers can be found in orange, red, yellow, purple, brown and even black.

These bright colors are part of why bell pepper nutrition facts are so compelling for dieters.

When looking at bell pepper nutrition facts one thing stands out clearly—they are packed with vitamins A and C, with significant amounts of folate and vitamin B6. These vitamins provide tremendous health benefits for both fat burning and overall good health.

Bell peppers are quite low in calories, with as few as 24 calories per medium green bell pepper and as many as 50 in a large yellow bell pepper. Unless you plan to eat bell peppers like candy, calorie count should not be an issue. What is also good about bell pepper nutrition facts is that there’s virtually no fat, no sodium or cholesterol.

Bell peppers are considered a fat burning food because with 10% fiber, your body will have to work harder to digest it. Although bell peppers do not contain a significant quantity of protein, that shouldn’t persuade you against taking advantage of the health benefits of bell peppers.

Health Benefits of Bell Peppers
 
The health benefits of bell peppers start with vitamins A & C, which are responsible for the antioxidant fighting beta-carotene that gives peppers their awesome hues. By fighting these antioxidants, bell peppers can reduce swelling in the arteries that lead to heart disease, diabetes and cholesterol build up.

The folate and vitamin B6 contained in bell peppers also help fight against heart disease, while the fiber in bell peppers help reduce high cholesterol and stave off strokes and heart attacks. This is important especially for those of us looking for fat burning foods, as excess fat contributes to these diseases.

Get the most of bell pepper health benefits by purchasing organic peppers and eating them as fresh as possible. Pesticides can mask the flavor in bell peppers, which may affect how you view the taste.

Bell peppers also contain 110 grams of water, another essential for fat burning success!

Now, let’s explore some nutritious ways to add bell peppers to your diet to improve fat burning.




Friday, May 18, 2012

WATERMELON BENEFITS



    WATERMELON BENEFITS

The more we study watermelon, the more we realize just how... incredible this fruit really is. 


Watermelons are full of antioxidants shown to reduce the inflammation that contributes to diabetes, asthma, atherosclerosis, colon cancer, and arthritis. Other beneficial ingredients in watermelon are known as Phytonutrients - which are naturally occurring compounds that are bioactive and able to trigger healthy reactions within our body. 

1 Asthma – The antioxidants, such as Citrulline in watermelon can reduce toxins in the body. Some of these toxins are believed to trigger asthma attacks. 

2 Arthritis – Watermelon is rich in Vitamin C and Beta-Carotenes. Both have anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve the symptoms of arthritis. 

3 Bladder Problems – Containing 92% water, this melon acts as a natural diuretic that cleanses your kidney and bladder. 

4 High Cholesterol – The cleansing properties of watermelon may also reduce the risk of clogged arteries. The fruit is also believed to increase HDL (good cholesterol levels). 

5 Constipation – A glass of watermelon juice can naturally eliminate waste and promote proper digestion. 

6 Bloating – Again, the diuretic effect of watermelon can eliminate water retention. It is especially recommended for women who retain fluids during menstruation or pregnancy. 

7 Heart Disease – Watermelon contains Folic acid and Citrulline that works in tandem with other essential vitamins. Some research indicates that these vitamins may reduce the risk of a heart attack, stroke and colon cancer. 

8 Itchy Skin – As the water from the melon cleanses your system, it can flush out the toxic waste that cause some forms of itchiness. 

9 Prostate Cancer – The Lycopene in watermelon has been extensively reported to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. 

10 Blemishes – Watermelon can also be used as a beauty aid to reduce skin blemishes. Simply rub your skin with a small piece of watermelon. Leave the juice on for 10 minutes before rinsing. 

Source: Lumhs Online Clinical Discussion Forum —



The Lemon Detox


diet    The lemon detox diet

a recipe that really works   


Reviewing the Master Cleanse

The Lemonade Detox diet first became effective, strangely, when its creator, Stanley Burroughs, recommended it for the healing of stomach ulcers. In his book "The Master Cleanser", he goes on to share how he first came to test the Master Cleanse diet on a patient who was suffering from ulcer for three years. Left with no other recourse, the patient approached Stanley who recommended that he undertake the cleanse. After eleven days, the patient was totally healed to the amazement of the doctors. Many other cases followed with same consistent and astounding results corrected within ten days. Of particular note also was that those undergoing the Master Cleanse also experienced a reduction in weight.

If there have been doubts as to the veracity of Stanley Burrough's claim of the Lemon Detox diet's effectivity, there have been testimonies over the years of its efficacy. Of recent vintage is Tom Woloshyn's work, "The Master Cleanse Experience", published by Ulysses Press in 2009. This book briefly mentions Woloshyn's experience in advising clients who has undergone the Master Cleanse program and provides among other insights health benefits which include better sleep, positive outlook, clarity of mind and freedom from addictions. He, thus, advocates keeping a journal to monitor developments as well as a reference for future use when undergoing the program for the second or many more times over.

The Master Cleanse operates on the principle that, for disease to be addressed, cleansing must be undertaken. Simplifying and correcting disorders through this process is actually a way of correcting every disease. Developments in nutrition and science have clearly identified improper diet, negative mental attitudes and inadequate exercise as the factors that create the conditions to produce toxin build up over time. That is why the Master Cleanse is not an end to itself. It is actually just the tip of a long chain of healthy decisions of those who wish to undertake it. Observing a healthy diet, regular exercise as well as stress reduction is essential in maintaining the gains that the Master Cleanse Detox diet can offer.

Surrendering to the process

Undergoing a detox diet is just like preparing for a marathon. It is necessary to keep sight of your goals or you stand to be cast in the wayside, a victim of your doubts. Tom Woloshyn offers this delightful insight when encouraging first timers who wish to undertake the Master Cleanse, fully knowing its side effects firsthand. Defining the outcome after having identified where you are, and what you want to achieve is the next step to achieving the goal you have set for yourself.

According to Woloshyn, some people prepare themselves before undergoing the detox by going on a vegetarian diet. It's less stressful on the body and makes the transition to the Master Cleanse easier. For those who regularly take coffee or soda drinks, a gradual reduction in intake are recommended as well as taking pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5) to help prevent the onset of headaches brought about by caffeine withdrawal.

People who have undergone organ transplants as well as those on immune suppressant drugs cannot take the fast. Woloshyn warns that the cleanse stimulates the immune system while effectively inhibiting the results of the drugs, this combination will most likely lead to the organ transplant being rejected by the body.

How to do the Master Cleanse

The Lemon Detox diet is a cleansing program and encourages only the intake of lemonade made from the following ingredients: lemons, pure maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water for a minimum of ten days only.

To create the mixture, mix the ingredients in the amount instructed by Burroughs and drink a minimum of at least six to twelve glasses of the concoction daily through out the day. Drink the lemonade whenever hunger pangs strike.

A laxative must be taken in the morning and then in the evening. Using a salt water flush instead of a morning laxative can also be availed of instead. However, be sure to observe at least three bowel movements in a day. This will ensure that the waste accumulated in the intestinal walls is totally removed.

Always enjoy the Master Cleanse lemonade drink fresh and do not subject it to microwave as doing so will minimize its effectiveness. For each successful day, the psychological need to eat is slowly overcome full, providing confidence and a sense of control that motivates the person undergoing the diet.

Breaking the Master Cleanse is just as critical as starting it. On day one coming off the fast, immediately after the end of the master cleanse, slowly introduce orange juice into the diet. Day two will see the introduction of vegetable soups and broths. Day three observe a diet of fruits and vegetables. Be careful not to overeat or eat too soon and drink plenty of water. Slowly ease your self to a normal diet and avoid meat, fish, milk and eggs.

After undergoing the Master Cleanse, it is advisable to eat wisely. The gains derived from the Master Cleanse diet will surely be a powerful foundation to change old habits and start a life free from disease.

The lemonade recipe

The original recipe by Stanley Burroughs produced fantastic results for almost 50 years. However, some have been promoting alterations of the original recipe. The problem with this arrangement is that they are done without understanding why the original ingredients work. Since the Master Cleanse is essentially a juice fast, adding shakes, cayenne pepper capsules or protein powder in an attempt to improve its efficacy is self defeating because it reduces the efficacy of the diet.

The purpose of the program is to give the digestive tract a ten day vacation, so adding things to be digested does not contribute to the objective of the diet. Stanley Burroughs in fact discourages the intake of supplements and vitamins during the program because it interferes with the body's elimination system. Furthermore, the natural sources of vitamins and minerals already found in lemon and the maple syrup already provide for the body's needs during the detox program.

Other alterations include mistakes in the ratio of water through modification of the original recipe and dilution. This modification defeats the purpose of the minimum 6 drinks a day because it is more than the amount of water required. It is best to remember that variations on the process and especially in the recipe will not produce the results that originally worked for the many that faithfully followed the original Master Cleanse program and lemonade recipe.

This is the classic single serve recipe provided in Stanley Burrough's book:

2 (tbs). of lemon or lime

2 (tbs). of genuine maple syrup

1/10 tsp cayenne pepper

10 oz. water (hot or cold as preferred)

For those who cannot enjoy their lemonade, Tom offers this alternative:

1. Mix equal parts of lemon juice and maple syrup as a concentrate in a dark container. Keep this mixture cool.

2. Make enough concentrate for as long as you are incapable of making the fresh lemonade juice.

3. Every time you want a glass of lemonade, measure 4 tbs. of this mixture in a glass.

4. Add water and cayenne pepper, stir and drink. The maple syrup preserves the lemon juice and prevents oxidation of the vitamin C and enzymes.

Tom Woloshyn fondly recalled Stanley Burrough's remarks. He was said to have repeated many times over a phrase most technical people use when instructing frustrated customers, "When all else fails, follow the instructions." In order to ensure success and experience the benefits of the Master Cleanse Detox diet, it is essential to understand how to do the program properly. Faithfully following what has been prescribed is the first step in this direction.

Sources for this article:
http://www.b-organized.biz/download/master_cleanse.pdf
http://www.google.com.ph
http://themastercleanse.com/master-cleanse/lemonade-diet/
http://themastercleanse.org/the-lemonade-diet/

Thursday, May 17, 2012

STRAW BALE GARDENING

Introduction to Straw Bale Gardening

 

Straw Bale Gardening
is simply a different type of container gardening.  The main difference is that the container is the straw bale itself and is held together with two or three strings.  Once the straw inside the bale begins to decay the straw becomes "conditioned" compost that creates an extraordinary plant rooting environment.  Getting the straw bales conditioned is an essential part of the process, and should be started by the first week in May for most parts of the country.  This gardening technique works anywhere in the country or the world for that matter.  Please consider adding Learn to Grow a Straw Bale Garden to your LIKES on Facebook by clicking on our badge, it would be very much appreciated.



Joel Karsten is a certified Nursery and Landscape Professional through the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association.  He also holds a BS from the University of Minnesota in Horticulture Science; however, his real gardening knowledge has come from 35 years of being in the garden.  He started pulling weeds at four years old in the garden with his Grandma Josephine, who taught him everything a good vegetable gardener needs to know in order to grow an extraordinary garden every year.   Joel's father, Glen Karsten, owner of Karsten Nursery, has been growing and selling trees and shrubs for many years at his tree farm near Worthington MN.  Joel spent many hours working in the nursery fields, planting and harvesting, until he made his escape to the University of Minnesota, for a four year "vacation" from the farm. 

Why Straw Bale Gardening?  Now living in Roseville, Minnesota, Joel spends much of his time tending his half acre residential lot, and growing mostly annuals, perennials, and ornamental grasses.  Growing a vegetable garden at "the farm" (3.5 hours away) seemed an impossibility because of the distance and obvious lack of attention that could be given to a garden with only a weekend now and then to do the work involved.  That impossibility became a reality when Joel discovered Straw Bale Gardening.  Minimal maintenance that results in maximum production was a concept that seemed like a perfect gardening solution.

Can I do this where I live?  The short answer here is absolutely yes.  This method of gardening works very well from the Arctic Circle, to the heat of the Caribbean.  If you can find bales of straw, or similar bales of organic material, you can garden this way.  You are simply replacing your existing soil with a "container" filled with beautiful "conditioned" straw compost as your growing media.  From the desert to the rainiest places, from the hottest to the coldest, if anything grows then this method of growing will work for you.

Who should plant a Straw Bale Garden?
 
  • Can't do heavy lifting?  If you are less capable or less interested in doing the heavy work of traditional gardening, such as tilling the soil, constant weeding, unending insect battles and persistent disease spraying, Straw Bale Gardening virtually eliminates these challenges.
  • Can't bend over?  If you have a physical limitation or handicap that restricts you from getting down on the ground, you will appreciate the easier access to the higher surface of a straw bale, which eliminates the bending to plant and harvest. 
  • Poor soil or limited space?  If your have a low soil quality, or if you have limited space that you can devote to a garden, you will love Straw Bale Gardening with its low cost, flexibility in garden placement, and great performance of the straw once it's properly conditioned.
  • Interested in broadening your gardening horizons?  If you are a seasoned gardener looking for a fun new method, you will be amazed at the results!
Using many of the tips and tricks Joel offers in his classes and the written material he offers as a guide to new straw bale gardeners, you are guaranteed to be successful with your first straw bale garden experience.

How can I learn more? 
Joel started teaching "Straw Bale Gardening" as a community education class in the spring of 2008, and has become a popular instructor for many School Districts around the country, teaching this new style of gardening in a classroom settings at garden shows and seminars.  If you live somewhere that makes it impossible to get to one of Joel's seminars you might consider purchasing his book "Guide To Growing A Straw Bale Garden", which will guide you through the entire process in a step-by-step format.  See below for the details.

Swapping soil for straw to grow a garden of veggies - KARE 11 TV News

click story title above to watch the TV Segment on KareTV
Source and More Info:  http://www.strawbalegardens.com/


Wednesday, May 16, 2012

SPROUTS - TRUE LIFE FORCE

All green leafy vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts and lugums contain the DNA of that particular type on a cellular level, meaning extremely easy for us to assimilate within our metabolosm.

SPROUTS | WHY THEY ARE THE MOST LIFE-GIVING FOOD ON THE PLANET & WHY YOU SHOULD BE EATING THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS | 
 
When you eat a sprout you are eating a tiny, easy-to-digest plant that is at its peak of nutritional value. The seed releases all of its stored nutrients in a burst of vitality as it attempts to become a full-sized plant. When you eat a sprout, you literally get the best of what a seed, be it radish, alfalfa, or any other edible varieties, has to offer in terms of nutrition.

For example, radish sprouts have four times more vitamin A and 29 times more vitamin C than milk. Can you believe that it has 10 times more calcium than potatoes and more vitamin C than pineapple? Radish sprout is the most popular variety among Japanese families. Broccoli sprouts offer far more nutrition than their full grown form and is one of the leading anti-cancer (preventative & curative) foods on Earth.

Biogenic foods are alive and capable of transferring their life energy to your body. Biogenic foods are foods that when planted will create new life. All raw, unsprouted seeds, beans, grains, and nuts are biogenic. When they are sprouted and eaten, they provide the body with the purest form of living energy.

When the seed germinates (begins to sprout) an incredible flow of energy is released. Natural chemical changes occur. Enzymes are produced to convert the concentrated nutrients into those needed by the growing plant. As the sprouting process continues, carbohydrates are transformed by the action of enzymes into simple sugars. Complex proteins are converted into more simple amino acids and fats are changed into fatty acids, which are easily digested soluble compounds. 
 
The minerals and vital trace elements from the water / soil are chelated; that is, in their natural state, they are chemically bound to amino acids, so they are easily assimilated by the human body. If you want to feel young & alive, eating sprouts regularly will do this for you.
 
You ARE what you EAT certainly rings true with sprouts.
 
 

WATER - Liquid Life




HEALTH TIP: Drinking enough water is probably the easiest way to prevent disease, yet it’s something that most people neglect. 
Water is the basis of all life and that includes your body. 
Your muscles that move your body are 75% water; your blood that transport nutrients is 82% water; your lungs that provide your oxygen are 90% water; your brain that is the control center of your body is 76% water; even your bones are 25% water. Without sufficient water, we slowly die. 
If you are thirsty, it means your cells are already dehydrated. A dry mouth should be regarded as the last outward sign of dehydration. That’s because thirst does not develop until body fluids are depleted well below levels required for optimal functioning. 
Some statistics show that as much as 90% of us are walking around in a chronic state of dehydration. One way to tell if you’re dehydrated is to check the color of the urine. If it’s dark all the time, you’re probably dehydrated. 
Lay off the sodas (they’re full of sugar or toxic sweetener & very acidic) and drink more water. As a guideline, you need 1/2 ounce of water per pound per day. Example: a 200 pound person needs 100 ounces per day.

************************************* 

Water and Alkanizing the Body

Every cell in your body contains water. Even the cells that make up the acid you need to digest food, to the ones that make up your hormones, to your immune cells that attack infections.
And all that water must be maintained at the right pH balance in order for your body to function the way it’s meant to.
"pH" simply means "potential of Hydrogen." And it’s measured on a scale of 0 (100% acidic) to 14 (100% alkaline). Your body prefers a slightly alkaline pH level between 7.365 and 7.390.
Here’s the tricky part. The distance from the neutral value of 7 is not just numeric. It’s logarithmic. That means each number is exponentially more acidic or alkaline the farther you get from 7.
For example, a pH reading of 6 is ten times more acidic than 7, but a pH of 4 is a thousand times more acidic than 7. So a small change in pH is really a big deal to your body. And the modern world is just making it worse.
Every day the modern world pours acid into you from pollutants in your drinking water, the air you breathe… even most modern medicines and prescriptions drugs are notorious for producing acid. And the more acidic your cells, the more stress your body goes through.  
The good news is, there are ways you can naturally keep your body’s pH in check. But first let me show you why it’s so important. 
Let’s take soda as an example. Almost all commercial drinks, from colas to energy and sports drinks (including sugar-free ones) have acids added to them – such as phosphoric acid, citric acid, malic acid and tartaric acid.
To give you an idea of how acidic these drinks are, pure, distilled water has a pH of 7. Battery acid is a 1.  The average can of cola has a pH of 2.5. That means it’s tens of thousands of times more acidic than water.  
But it’s not just soft drinks. There are quite a few foods that form acid, like:
Mustard Asparagus Noodles Olives Ketchup
Pasta Shellfish Flour Based Products Legumes Tea
Beans Oatmeal Brussels Sprouts Cocoa Coffee
Plums Cornstarch Sugars Lentils Vinegar
When you consume these highly acidic food and drinks, it has a huge impact on your system. Your body will use its alkaline minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium to neutralize the acid and return your pH to normal.
And this can cause problems like kidney stones, cramping, premature aging skin, abnormal blood sugar levels, fatigue, joint discomfort and more.
To help keep your pH in the slightly alkaline zone, here are two things you can do:
  1. Drink lots of water. Forget the “few glasses of water a day” rule. You need to drink water in excess of thirst. And that means something like 3 quarts of water a day. More if it’s very hot or if you’re working outside.
  2. Eat alkalizing foods. Brazil nuts, almonds, coconuts, fresh vegetables, avocados, raisins, molasses and honey are all alkalizing foods. Fresh fruit works, too, even citrus fruit. Even though they have citric acid, they have an alkalizing effect in your body.


Source:  Al Sears, M.D.

Gardening CAN Make You Happy



While mental health experts warn about depression as a global epidemic, other researchers are discovering ways we trigger our natural production of happy chemicals that keep depression at bay, with surprising results. All you need to do is get your fingers dirty and harvest your own food.
In recent years I’ve come across two completely independent bits of research that identified key environmental triggers for two important chemicals that boost our immune system and keep us happy - serotonin and dopamine. What fascinated me as a permaculturist and gardener were that the environmental triggers happen in the garden when you handle the soil and harvest your crops.

 Getting down and dirty is the best ‘upper’ – Serotonin

Getting your hands dirty in the garden can increase your serotonin levels – contact with soil and a specific soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin in our brain according to research. Serotonin is a happy chemical, a natural anti-depressant and strengthens the immune system. Lack of serotonin in the brain causes depression.

Ironically, in the face of our hyper-hygienic, germicidal, protective clothing, obsessive health-and-safety society, there's been a lot of interesting research emerging in recent years regarding how good dirt is for us, and dirt-deficiency in childhood is implicated in contributing to quite a spectrum of illnesses including allergies, asthma and mental disorders.

At least now I have a new insight into why I compulsively garden without gloves and have always loved the feeling of getting my bare hands into the dirt and compost heap.

Harvest 'High' - Dopamine

Another interesting bit of research relates to the release of dopamine in the brain when we harvest products from the garden. The researchers hypothesise that this response evolved over nearly 200,000 years of hunter gathering, that when food was found (gathered or hunted) a flush of dopamine released in the reward centre of brain triggered a state of bliss or mild euphoria. The dopamine release can be triggered by sight (seeing a fruit or berry) and smell as well as by the action of actually plucking the fruit.

The contemporary transference of this brain function and dopamine high has now been recognised as the biological process at play in consumers addiction or compulsive shopping disorder. Of course the big retail corporations are using the findings to increase sales by provoking dopamine triggers in their environments and advertising.

I have often remarked on the great joy I feel when I forage in the garden, especially when I discover and harvest the ‘first of the season’, the first luscious strawberry to ripen or emergence of the first tender asparagus shoot. (and yes, the photo is my hand plucking a deliciously sweet strawberry in my garden) I have also often wondered why I had a degree of inherent immunity to the retail-therapy urges that afflict some of my friends and acquaintances. Maybe as a long-term gardener I’ve been getting a constant base-load dopamine high which has reduced the need to seek other ways to appease this primal instinct.

Though, I must admit with the benefit of hindsight, I now have another perspective on my occasional ‘shopping sprees’ at local markets buying plants for the garden.

Of course dopamine responses are triggered by many other things and is linked with addictive and impulsive behaviour. I suppose the trick is to rewire our brains to crave the dopamine hit from the garden and other more sustainable pursuits and activities. As a comment on PlanetDrum stated, “all addiction pathways are the same no matter what the chemical. As long as you feel rewarded you reinforce the behavior to get the reward.”

So in other words it all comes down to the fact that we can’t change our craving nature but we CAN change the nature of what we crave.

Strengthening the Case for Organic

Glyphosate residues deplete your Serotonin and Dopamine levels

Of course, for all of the above to work effectively and maintain those happy levels of serotonin and dopamine, there’s another prerequisite according to another interesting bit of research I found.  It appears it will all work much better with organic soil and crops that haven’t been contaminated with Roundup or Glyphosate-based herbicides. This proviso also extends to what you eat, so ideally you’ll avoid consuming non-organic foods that have been grown in farmland using glyphosates.

A recent study in 2008 discovered that glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup, depletes serotonin and dopamine levels in mammals.  Contrary to Monsanto claims, glyphosate and other Roundup ingredients do perpetuate in the environment, in soil, water, plants and in the cells and organs of animals.  One study found glyphosate residues in cotton fabric made from Roundup-ready GM cotton can absorb into the skin and into our nervous and circulatory systems.

No wonder there’s so much depression around, and stress, and all the addictions and compulsive disorders in the pursuit of feeling good. I think back on when I moved to Sydney in 1984 for a few years and was contacting community centres in the inner west to see if there was interest in permaculture or gardening classes. A very terse social worker snapped at me “listen dear, we don’t need gardening classes, we need stress therapy classes”, and promptly hung up on me with a resounding “Huh!” when I replied that gardening was the best stress therapy I knew.

So enjoy the garden, fresh organic food and make sure you have fun playing in the dirt on a regular basis.


Robyn Francis is an international permaculture designer, educator, writer and pioneer based at Djanbung Gardens, Nimbin Northern NSW. She is principal of Permaculture College Australia.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Here’s some interesting sites and extracts for further info and reading

Glyphosate Report PDF
fhrfarms1.com/docs/.../Gly%20monograph%20PANAP%204-10.pdf An in-depth and comprehensive report of independent research on impacts and effects of Glyphosate and Roundup published by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, Nov 2009

Soil Bacteria Work In Similar Way To Antidepressants
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/66840.php
UK scientists suggest that a type of friendly bacteria found in soil may affect the brain in a similar way to antidepressants. Their findings are published in the early online edition of the journal Neuroscience.

Soil bacteria can boost immune system
Harmless bug works as well as antidepressant drugs, study suggests
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18082129/
EXTRACT:  Exposure to friendly soil bacteria could improve mood by boosting the immune system just as effectively as antidepressant drugs, a new study suggests.
The researchers suspect, however, that the microbes are affecting the brain indirectly by causing immune cells to release chemicals called cytokines. “We know that some of these cytokines can activate the nerves that relay signals from the body to the brain,” Lowry said in a telephone interview.
The stimulated nerves cause certain neurons in the brain to release a chemical called serotonin into the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain known to be involved in mood regulation, among other things.
Scientists think the lack of serotonin in the brain is thought to cause depression in people.
Previous studies have linked early childhood exposure to bacteria to protection against allergies and asthma in adulthood. The new finding take this idea, called the “hygiene hypothesis,” a step further, and suggests bacteria-exposure not only boosts our immune systems, but alters our vulnerability to conditions such as depression as well.
“These studies help us understand how the body communicates with the brain and why a healthy immune system is important for maintaining mental health,” Lowry said. “They also leave us wondering if we shouldn’t all be spending more time playing in the dirt.”
 ----------
 “Selfish behaviors are reward driven and innate, wired deeply into the survival mechanisms of the primitive brain, and when consistently reinforced, they will run away to greed, with its associated craving for money, food, or power. On the other hand, the self restraint and the empathy for others that are so important in fostering physical and mental health are learned behaviors – largely functions of the new human cortex and thus culturally dependent. These social behaviors are fragile and learned by imitations much as we learn language". Dr. Peter Whybrow - "American Mania"

Some interesting insights and food for thought…
Status and Curiosity – On the Origins of Oil Addiction by Nate Hagens
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/4240
The various layers and mechanisms of our brain were built on top of each other, via millions and millions of iterations, keeping intact what 'worked' and adding on what changes and mutations helped the pre-human, pre-mammal organism incrementally advance. … We are, all of us, descended from the best of the best at surviving and procreating, which in the environment of privation and danger where we endured the most 'iterations' of our evolution, meant acquiring necessary resources, achieving status, and possessing brains finely tuned to natural dangers and opportunities. In our modern environment, it is the combination of pursuit of social status and the plethora of fun, exciting/novel activities that underlies our large appetite for oil.

Research tells us that drugs of abuse activate the brain’s mesolimbic dopamine reward system, the neural network that regulates our ability to feel pleasure and be motivated for “more”. When we have a great experience… our brain experiences a surge in the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine. We feel positively charged, warm, ‘in the zone’ and happy. After a while, the dopamine gets flushed out of our system and returns to it's baseline level. We go about our lives, looking forward to the next pleasurable experience.

 Hagens also muses that “There is anecdotal evidence that the typical american diet high in processed starches and sugar robs us of our baseline serotonin - the zen master of brain neurotransmitters. Lack of serotonin makes us more susceptible to cravings/behavioural changes and throws the reward machinery out of whack. Food we buy/eat is available at stores and restaurants because a)it is profitable b)it is convenient and c)it tastes good. I suspect that future changes in diet towards more vegetables and less processed food might improve our collective addictions/impulsivity.

Source:  http://permaculture.com.au/online/articles/why-gardening-makes-you-happy-and-cures-depression