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tgr489 · 4 years ago

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A dancer, a developer, a socialist and a claustrophobe

How do you prepare for a lockdown? How long was it gonna it be? The government were saying 3 weeks, developments in other countries were telling a different story. How bad could it get? I’ve seen that movie Contagion, an eerily prophetic flick when viewed again post curfew one night.

As February ticked along we scrutinised our work plans, built our team and laid the foundations for a 3-month run. We had a couple of weeks downtime while we waited for details of our test group and preferred creative direction(s) we would be pursuing. Those weeks at the beginning of March were spent sliding forwards and back along the anxiety scale. The lockdown posed the possibility of being locked up in my apartment for an extended period and was troubling, actually deeply concerning. Squirrel and Lexi had been coming and going to mine as they pleased, sometimes together, often separately. We have a strange functional/recreational arrangement going on. It works for all of us, no one is under any pressure and we have fun. My fear was when told to isolate would they fuck off back to their respective nests, leaving me to fly solo in my own personal hells. The other area of consideration was that of work; it would likely be frozen for the duration! No work, no friends and nothing to do was/is one of my nightmares. I talked this out one night with Nic on FaceTime, who advised me to just pack up come home to New York, or leave for somewhere remote. We discussed possible remote locations over virtual whisky and bangers, planed our vast island retreats and who would be there rah-rah. Was fun talking bullshit with her, I miss her. I thought on it after the call, staring out of the window to Old Street and witching hour traffic, watching the last few stragglers stumbling their way home. I gazed around my place; it’s pretty big, so feeling confined isn’t much of an issue, no outside space to speak of, just a small balcony overlooking the courtyard, but there are a few small parks close by for any extended alfresco demands. It wouldn’t be so bad to stay here. If work got canned and the girls weren’t here what would I do? I can occupy my time well, but if I have months of it I’m really not sure how bad I would get. With hardly any of my effects here, I would be limited. Maybe Nic was right. After a restless night, I’d formulated the scenarios I was dealing with and went to my favourite local greasy spoon, the Shepherdess, for some artery-clogging sustenance. I sent out messages and put my fate in the hands of my friends. With a full builders breakfast in my belly, I went and lazed in the park with a cloud of smoke and waited for replies. it was a happy way to kill the time.

My invitation for the girls and Zac to move into mine were accepted, with thanks, and a caveat from Zac, his girlfriend had to come too. There were numerous reasons why, which I won’t bore you with, but fear and jealousy played the leads. We planned for the impending lockdown which was, by that time, inevitable. The mood was positive as we talked food, navigating each others’ preferences, likes, dislikes and allergies. The drink was a huge consideration point. How much do you drink? Be honest. Do you drink every day? Will circumstances in your life make you drink every day? Our drinks bill outdid food by 50%. Everyone thought I’d over-ordered, I wasn’t so sure. What remains now is like the back row of my parent's liquor cabinet and the random shit they bought for one person at a party which no-one else drinks. It won’t last long. I can’t see it go to waste and even though it may taste like shit, it’ll do the required job.

It was all smiles and laughter at the beginning. We cooked, ate meals together, played cards, danced, cried, talked and talked about anything and everything. An initial abundance of work saw us through the first week or so, which was nicely topped off by one of my neighbours getting carted off by paramedics because of Covid. That was a wakeup call to the seriousness of the circumstances. I was suddenly a leper among friends. I’d been close and spoken to the guy quite a bit the weekend everyone moved in, so my flatmates were understandably nervous. Fearing the worst we waited to see if any of us would develop symptoms. The claustrophobia of the situation started to gnaw away at each of us, culminating in Mel losing the plot one night over dinner, screaming in a panic her worst fears which we all resonated with, but hadn’t voiced. She fled to her bedroom with Zac in pursuit, leaving the three of us to eat in deathly silence. We cuddled up on the couch and watched the fading light through the windows, trying to keep the conversation light-hearted as we aired those fears. With some wine and bangers to relax us, we got to that happy place, and when our couple returned sheepishly to the proceedings we were all cool, glad that worries had been aired and shared.

None of us got the bug so we relaxed, resuming our daily hour of outdoor activity. TBH I didn’t really care at that time whether I got it or not. My reasoning was if I did get it I would develop antibodies so I’d be OK going forward. I was also busy enough the time passed quickly. We’d agreed we would front-load the work and capitalise on our forced enclosure. I think in the first week I’d worked 80 hours, the second even more. With nothing else to do (as in go nowhere), it seemed like the best thing. Zac took the same approach, although Mel was in two minds… while she didn’t want him working so much, she was enjoying the praise she was receiving for her project running ahead of schedule. At the end of our self-imposed isolation, and as a celebration of not being infected, we hit the town for a night out. With everything closed no decisions had to be made for a venue, so we stuffed our backpacks with goodies and walked into Soho. The streets were void of everything, save a few people enticed by the emptiness, even those sad bikes left behind because of lost keys or stolen wheels appeared to have been removed. We dropped Fairy’s and/or Special K, smoked up and drank leisurely as we roamed the streets reminiscing over the venues we passed. Retelling past escapades at certain locations as we slowly ascended the summit of alternative reality. As the evening progressed I felt more like we were in some lab experiment and were mice trying to find the piece of cheese. I had a moment of terror when I started imagining too much, about a huge hand coming across the sky to pick us up. It was short-lived and the only truly wobbly moment of the night. Soho became China Town, then Mayfair, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Mayfair, Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill, Hampstead, Finsbury Park, Highbury and home. We were separated for a while, I have no idea how long, or if that actually happened but I remember it being just me and Lexi. Could’ve been 10 mins or an hour, I was oblivious, I just remember the others not being around and trying to locate them. I don’t even remember finding them, but realised they were back with us as we were climbing the fence to the Heath. We took the last of our gear on top of Parliament Hill (apparent highest point in London) admiring our contagion town as the sun came up. The last bottle of red was cracked and we swigged and toasted the morning. Once the sun cleared the horizon we were off again, this time with the purpose for home and recharged with the last of the goodies. It was by far the longest leg of the journey, on weary legs, our reserves depleting rapidly. By the time we hit Finsbury Park the drugs had worn. Conversation was reduced to simple questions, nods and grunts. There were people around, mainly runners and dog walkers, but a dedicated bunch was loitering around the Lidl (supermarket) as we exited the park. From there to home there was no talk whatsoever, it was just survival mode and everyone dealt with it solitarily. At home I made the best cup of tea I think I’ve ever had, strong and loaded with sugar, not something I usually take, but it helped. I showered for an age, cleansing the grime off my body, the sins of the night draining down the plug. No one was around so I took myself off to the park in the baking heat, passed out, the sun’s rays purging the remaining toxins from my body. I slept nearly the whole day. A night like that, wandering the empty streets of London may never happen again and I’m so happy we did it.

Weeks turned into a month. The project came to a natural break. market research, evaluation and QA blah-di-blah blah. The monotony still hadn’t set in, yet, and with the new freedom of no work we set about having some fun and enjoying the time on our hands.

Eating and drinking can take up a substantial part of the day, especially when you’re making elaborate feasts for every sitting. No sooner is breakfast finished and it’s time to start making lunch, always a 2-course affair of either entree-main, main-dessert, entree-dessert or if you were feeling really piggy, go fo all three. We all took turns to make our favourite meals, our signature dishes and ingenious ways to not waste any food. A month of this and I started seeing the signs of the reduced activity (when you can see it in the mirror, it’s already gone too far), so engaged myself in some cardio fitness routines and yoga with squirrel to keep the extra weight in check, I also began a running regime on the empty city streets. My neighbour recovered and returned, his gaunt grey face told a story of horror and had me reconsider my previous hope of contracting the virus. We sent them up a care package of some squash risotto and chablis. They were thankful, we made friends, they allowed us access to their roof terrace. Nice! This provided valuable additional space to hang out in because despite it’s cavernous open plan lounge/diner/kitchen/study, the walls in my place appeared just a tad closer each day. Our neighbours above, Shirley and Raymond, were/are a lovely couple, who fawned over us a little whenever we were on the terrace together. Inquisitive of our lives they asked lots of questions, posed some interesting ones for us and generally provided a good sounding board on the navigation of life. I would say they’re 50/60-ish, he’s in ‘finance’, she’s in the charitable sector (i.e. works for free to offset her fella’s evil deeds). Regardless of their ethical/non-ethical careers they are great neighbours and we are forever thankful for the use of their roof for the fresh air and sunbaking, the latter in full swing as the heat dialled up.

When the first wave of food ran out we ran sortie’s to the local Waitrose and Tesco for a re-stock, no alcohol at this pit-stop. Queuing for shop entry was a novel thing at first, it then became a ball-ache, now it’s non-existent, but I prefer this over the crowded aisles and stress-fueled shoppers. With the paranoid in society stockpiling essentials, we had to think on our feet a little more and buy basically anything which may constitute collaborative ingredients for a meal. The killer missing item for me was bread. I need a loaf in my kitchen at all times, it's my go-to snack with PB, and I generally try to keep a freezer-loaf as a back-up. But all that was left on the shelves of my local supermarkets were nasty paste-y white bread. Don’t get me wrong I will eat white bread, usually wrapped around a fried egg, some sausages and dripping with ketchup and Tabasco, but I can’t eat it every day, and we shouldn’t either. I found a local baker in Hoxton and bought a 20kg bag of flour and a tub of yeast with a plan to bake bread every day. This was a therapeutic, enjoyable start to the day, I felt so fucking righteous and wholesome. A week later I bought a bread maker off eBay, it made way more sense. I woke up to the smell of freshly baked bread every morning! The drawback here, it was small, so we had to make 2, sometimes 3 loaves, but one was generally enough to see out breakfast.

Work came back for a week-long sprint, I thrashed my side of this out in three 15 hour stints. Zac paced it out for the week, keeping in sync with his missus. We were all starting to disappear into ourselves a little each day. FaceTime, Zoom and Hang-outs became my good friends, bringing mates to me through the ether. I spent hours buried in my laptop, with a compulsion to connect with those in my life from afar. Nic and Luce were not doing so well, from an emotional perspective, and Kashie had fucked off back to Slavwegia as events were unfolding, and left them to it. Neither could get home or out of town and things were getting scary in New York. The landlord has frozen the rent ‘until a time which is convenient for regular payments to resume’, which was a very nice gesture indeed. That has taken the sting out of the situation for them. Harv had gone upstate, as had Jase and co. and remained living in a sense of normality. Friends in Asia were seeing a clearing through the trees, coming out the other side, there was hope. I even messaged my ex, just to make sure she was OK, which she's not, and she started to blame me for it. I took a few of her cutting remarks without reply because there's a bit of guilt with me so I felt I deserved it, but her continued little digs at me through our chat just pissed me off so I ended the call politely abrupt, wishing I'd never bothered. I spent the rest of the night stewing about her in moody silence, pretending to read while my flatmates played Monotony. My thoughts took me to the mystery girl of my past. Where was she, who was she, was she OK? why do I think and dream about her so much? it's doing my fucking head in. I find myself scanning for her whenever I'm out, which is harder now that face masks are in use, and plausibly a good thing to dissuade me from the madness of it.

Katje busied herself by running dance/yoga/cardio classes from our dining room via zoom, which seemed to take up a large chunk of her day. Sometimes Lexi would join in but mostly she was reading or binge-watching something. The fitness instalments provided a pleasant distraction from work, watching the girls in their ever-smaller clothing getting sweaty and flushed. I upped my running game as the effort reduced, pushing myself to pace a little more each day, capitalising on the time and solitude it afforded me. I also used the runs to meet up somewhere central with friends across town, have a distanced chat before continuing home. It was on one of these runs, as I finished at the river and stretched out in front of that Tate, I had a spark of an idea for a great campaign. I ran home through the deserted city streets, thinking, and the further I got the more I knew my idea was a winner, runners runners everywhere. I pitched it to a friend who‘s in marketing at Adidas and he liked the idea but needed something more visual to float it around their team. There would be legwork to do, excuse the pun, but with a fresh idea, I was game for it. I tapped up some of my new links on Strava then looked at the flybys on my longer runs into town to see who I’d been passing, looking for people who liked to run long and came from outta town into the contagion zone. Once I’d identified an array of potentials I roughed out a storyboard, sent it off and sat back to wait. The reply wasn’t long in coming, it was a yes!! At least it was something to take my mind off the real work.

I connected with all of my candidates then sent them each a message asking if they were interested in my proposal and if they were could we speak. I had 19 candidates, including me, and after my calls, it went down to 16. It was simple, run into central London and plan to run every street from the middle out, over however many runs we did through lockdown, tag the runs and post them on social. The first weeks running would give me the basics for a teaser video that would attract more runners and build a following, then a challenge posted on Strava for anyone to partake in. Each km run would attract a donation from Adidas to a charity. Running gear would be fronted to the challenge team so the brand would be visible in all shots, and their generosity extended to 2 pairs of runners, 3 pairs each of leggings, shorts, long and short-sleeve tops, masks and a phone pouch arm-band thingy. The first run was planned so we all met in Golden Square late morning, not too early to start and close enough to lunch so we could give everyone a drink and snack. It was without a doubt one of the weirdest lunches I’ve had when straight, all strangers, apart from me and the 2 girls, swapping our stories over energy drinks and bars for about an hour or so. We bid farewell and made our journey’s back to our respective pods. The girls provided some assistance throughout the project duration, which was about 5 weeks; choosing photos, involving themselves in some of the video editing and compiling all the routes from the trackers so we knew what roads had and hadn’t been covered.

The girls also got a crash course in digital marketing and how some of it works, which they were astounded by. Lexi understood but Katje was in disbelief, even with Zac and Mel chipping in, so I made her watch the Unexplained Truth on Netflix, that Cambridge Analytica doco thing. Explained what I know of facebook and how I’ve used it, Adwords, insta, blah blah blah, pointed her to a myriad of resources and explained how everything you see is targeted. Everything. She’s now a little paranoid, maybe too much, but it’ll subside. She’s all over facebook and insta for work reasons so kinda knows what goes on, but not to the depths the 3 of us were telling her. She said we were evil. On that note, I will pull on my cloak of darkness and bid you farewell.

Later Gators

#lockdown #lockdownlife #lockdown london #project #fitness #running #baking bread #bang to rights #strava #marketing #evil marketing #propaganda #Summer #my london life #self isolation #isolated #life of riley

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archerbvth879-blog · 5 years ago

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How To Reduce The Impact Of Plastic Waste And Plastic Pollution, 51 Ways

What you've been awaiting, a long long list of methods you can reduce your plastic usage. You probably understand some already, however I hope that much of these concepts are new and do-able. Simply think of the pacific trash patch whenever you feel tempted to buy water, get a to-go cup or buy liquid laundry cleaning agent.

Keep in mind: A lot of these recommendations are to lower your waste, which will in turn lower your use of plastic garbage bags.

Here we go:

1. Bring your own fabric bags to the supermarket (or any shop!).

2. Do not purchase drinks bottles in plastic. Glass is great.

3. Bring your own reusable steel or ceramic drink container. If they're too expensive, use a glass mason jar! Heavy, but cheap.

4. Don't get to-go coffee or hot drinks. Your drink cover and cup will reside on for over 100 years! The covers and lining are plastic. Bring your own or ask for a ceramic, multiple-use cup.

5. Go to the farmer's market and purchase freshfruits and veggies (not packaged in plastic).

6. Don't purchase benefit foods bundles in plastic.

7. Make your own bread.

8. Buy bread from bakeries that bundle in paper.

9. Tidy with baking soda and vinegar instead of cleaners packaged in plastic.

10. Buy laundry cleaning agent in boxes, not liquid in plastic containers.

11. Buy farm fresh eggs in recyclable paper containers.

12. Get your cheese from the deli and position it in your own container (glass or a plastic one that you currently have, don't waste what you already have!) or get it wrapped in paper.

13. Purchase your plastic pollution meat from the deli and have it covered in paper.

14. Bundle your leftovers in corningware.

15. Bring your own containers to dining establishments to package leftovers.

16. Use bar soap to clean your meals. Dr. Bronner's is best.

17. Stop using antiperspirant or antiperspirant. It's not natural to avoid yourself from sweating. Usage fragrance in a glass bottle if you want a great smell.

18. Do not use air fresheners. Light a candle light or incense rather.

19. Store all your food in glass containers. If you buy something bottled in glass, tidy it and reuse it!

20. Buy bulk cereal, bring your own paper bags.

21. Buy tortilla chips packaged in paper bags.

22. Buy bulk coffee packaged in paper or in cans, or bring your own bags.

23. Buy milk in paper cartons.

24. Buy peanut butter that is packaged in glass containers.

25. Buy bar soap, not liquid body wash.

26. Garden compost your garbage, reduce your usage of plastic garbage bags.

27. Line small trash bins in your home with paper bags.

28. When purchasing beverages, say "no straw please!"

29. Buy real maple syrup (is available in glass bottles) we get ours at Trader Joes.

30. Buy toilet paper that is wrapped in paper, not plastic.

31. Don't use ziploc. If you require to keep things like half an onion (takes place to us all the time!) usage aluminum or waxy paper.

32. Usage fabric rags for tidy up around your home, no paper towels-- minimizes your trash and require for garbage bags.

33. Usage matches rather of plastic encased lighters. They normally provide to you totally free at the liquor store.

34. Use fabric napkins. They feel nice and decrease your waste and usage of plastic garbage bags.

35. If you want a fun drink, purchase chocolate milk in a carton or apple juice in glass bottle. You can likewise ferment your own drinks in glass mason jars.

36. Bring your own bag to all shops you shop in and say "no bag needed, thanks!"

37. Put empty cardboard boxes in your vehicle to carry heavy products to and from your vehicle without a bag.

38. Say "paper not plastic" at the grocery store.

39. Don't use plastic cutting boards. Usage wood or glass.

40. Usage infant bottlesmade of glass.

41. Use stainless steel sippy cups for kids.

42. Usage cloth based toys for your family pets, like catnip mice and soft squishy balls.

43. Buy cloth diapers. Numerous fantastic varieties readily available and better for your infant. We fill an incredibly bowl size hole every day with disposal diapers that will seep toxic substances into the environment for centuries to come.

44. Buy CDs packaged in cardboard sleeves or buy your music online.

45. Usage junk mail and other paper to pack into big packages to deliver instead of bubble wrap or air filled plastic.

46. Use genuine flatware for parties rather of plastic.

47. Use rechargeable batteries to decrease purchasing batteries packaged in plastic.

48. Make a compost pile to lower your food waste and put it back into the earth.

49. Utilize a reusable cloth bag or old made steel lunch box to bring your lunch to work or school.

50. Make your own yogurt in glass mason jars. It's easy!

youtube

#plastic waste #plastic pollution #plastic #waste #pollution #environment #act now #act #now #actnoweco #eco

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academic-witch · 8 years ago

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Is vegan healthy?

Recently, I’ve received a few emails from readers who’ve asked me, “I’m so confused about a healthy diet! Is vegan healthy? I’ve read/seen [enter vegan book or documentary here] promoting a vegan lifestyle, but I know that you eat many animal products.”

Food is complicated, but let’s start with the many aspects of a balanced diet on which everyone agrees – even the vegans and paleos! This includes:

Enjoy an abundance of freshly prepared vegetables

Minimized processed foods and instead cook meals from scratch

Eat mindfully and slowly

Source local, organic foods and support small farms

But what about the question of eating animals products? I firmly believe that properly-sourced animal products are essential to both the health of the human race and the health of the planet. Here are 10 reasons why I will never be a vegan.

1. A vegan diet never sustained any traditional culture

Dr. Weston Price, a dentist with a passion for nutrition, traveled the globe to discover the secrets of healthy, happy people. He recorded his findings in the 30’s in the landmark book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration. From the Inuit in Alaska to the Maori in New Zealand, Dr. Price revealed that the diets traditional to each culture, although dependent on geography, followed a strict set of dietary laws.

Perhaps the most striking commonality is an unerring reverence for animal foods. No traditional culture subsisted on a vegan diet, a fact that Dr. Price found particularly interesting.

Some cultures, such as the Masai tribe in Africa, consumed almost exclusively animal products. The Masai ate meat, milk and blood from their cattle, experiencing profound health and incredible bone structure (which is an indicator of generational health). Cultures – such as the Inuit – that didn’t practice animal husbandry caught wild meat or fish. Groups who had the least access to animal products would forage for grubs and bugs.

The China Study (which is a book title, not a study) has been used to promote the idea that primarily vegan cultures experience better health than omnivorous cultures. T. Campbell, the author, notoriously cherry-picked data to arrive at a specific conclusion. Denise Minger, author of Death by Food Pyramid, published a scathing critique of Cambell’s work in her article, The China Study: Fact or Fiction.

2. Vegan diets do not provide fat-soluble vitamins A and D

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t get vitamin A from carrots. Vegetables provide carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, while animal sources such as liver and pastured egg yolks provide true vitamin A. Many people believe that carotene can be converted into vitamin A, but this conversion is usually insignificant. First, it takes a huge amount of carotene to convert to a moderate amount of vitamin A. Second, when there is poor thyroid function, impaired digestion or a a lack of healthy fats in the diet, this conversion won’t happen.

In the same way, useable vitamin D (natural vitamin D3) is only found in animal products such as pastured egg yolks, cod liver oil and dairy products from grass-grazing animals. Traditionally, ancient cultures that lived in darker environments relied heavily on these vitamin-D rich foods (for example, Scandinavians ate copious amounts of salmon and grassfed butter). The myth that we can obtain vitamin D from mushrooms is false… mushrooms contain vitamin D2, which is extremely poorly absorbed.

Vitamin A and Vitamin D are particularly essential for immune regulation, digestion, fertility and hormone balance.

3. Vegan diets often rely heavily on soy

Soy, soy, the magical fruit. The more you eat, the more… your hormones go berserk!

10 years ago, a vegan diet equated to vegetables interspersed with soy milk, soy cheese, soy bacon, soy protein, soy cereal, tofu, and tempeh. Now, the health problems with chronic soy consumption are becoming more mainstream and many vegans have reduced their soy consumption. Even so, a vegan diet often relies on a moderate amount of soy products – especially soy protein powders and soy protein bars.

The primary concern with consuming soy in any form is the phytoestrogen content. Phytoestrogens can mimic estrogen in the body, causing a chain reaction of hormone imbalances. Although studies showing the hormonal effects of consuming soy are controversial, I believe the research indicates that we should play it safe rather than sorry. For example, one study showed that infants consuming soy formula had concentrations of blood estrogen levels 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than normal estrogen levels!

4. Vegan diets do not provide vitamin K2

Vitamin K2 is the shuttle that transports calcium into your bones. You can eat as much calcium as you want but it won’t strengthen your bones unless it is accompanied by vitamin K2. This is one reason why calcium supplementation has been shown to increase the risk of plaque formation – the body can’t use the calcium for building bones so it stores it in the arteries.

Unlike vitamin K1, plants do not provide vitamin K2. (The one and only exception to this rule is natto, a fermented soybean product. One problem, however, is that natto is, for the majority of humans and animals, repulsive to eat). Like other fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin K2 is found fatty sources – Mother Nature packages the vitamin with the cofactors required to absorb it. You’ll get vitamin K2 in pastured egg yolks, milk and cheese from grassfed animals, liver, beef, and chicken.

5. Ethical omnivorism supports a healthy planet

What is ethical omnivorism? I define it as choosing sustainably-raised animal products from small, local producers. With a little planning and careful selection, can be relatively budget-friendly. I think people should eat less meat, but a much higher quality to support the demand for pasture-raised meats. $1 hamburgers have no place in an ethical omnivore world.

Our ecosystem relies on a self-regulating balance of predators and prey. This system worked well with humans and their prey until we began inhumane farming practices that compromise the wellbeing of animals, the health of humans, and the health of the planet.

But just like Confined Feeding Animal Operations aren’t the answer to a healthy planet, neither is veganism. Vegan diets ten to demand a higher quantity of cereal grains and soy, crops which wreak havoc on our ecosystem due to mass farming techniques. On the other hand, grass-grazing animals can nourish stripped soil and even reverse desertification!

6. Real Food > Fake Food

How do you create cheese, milk and meat without cheese, milk and meat? With a slew of non-foods including stabilizers, gums, thickeners and highly processed protein extracts. Yummy.

Let’s consider the example of Earth Balance, a non-dairy butter often used in vegan diets.

Ingredients in a Earth Balance: Palm fruit oil, canola oil, safflower oil, flax oil, olive oil, salt, natural flavor, pea protein, sunflower lecithin, lactic acid, annatto color.

Ingredients in butter: butter.

Humans have been eating butter for thousands of years. We only started producing canola oil in the last century. Butter is real food, but canola oil is a freak of nature. Similarly, pea protein and natural flavors are highly processed non-foods.

Fortunately, more and more people are becoming aware that processed vegan products are just that – highly processed. Still, many vegans reach for these options on a regular basis.

7. Vegan isn’t the answer to autoimmune disease

Autoimmunity is a 21st century epidemic, with 50 million people suffering with an autoimmune disease in America (according to AARDA) But did you know that you can address autoimmunity with diet? I’m living proof that it works! Three years ago, my ulcerative colitis was so advanced that my doctors wanted to remove my colon. Instead, I decided to do whatever it took to heal myself naturally. Now, I’m completely symptom free (and colon intact!) thanks to my dietary changes.

All disease begins in the gut, and all disease must be addressed by improving gut health. In the case of autoimmunity, the intestines are permeable to bacterial toxins and undigested proteins (leaky gut), which cause an problematic immune response.

To heal leaky gut, specific foods must be removed from the diet and nutrient-dense foods should be emphasized. The two leaders in leaky gut dietary treatment – Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride and Sarah Ballantyne – both agree that animal products are a nonnegotiable, essential part of healing leaky gut to address autoimmunity.

8. You must take life to have life

Many people choose veganism because they think it cruel to take a life, but something dies no matter what you eat. For example, field mice were demolished in order to grow the corn for a box of vegan cereal.

Further, plants are living beings, capable of communicating with each other and the world around them. Controversial but intriguing research, discussed in this documentary, indicates that plants can even sense and respond to human emotions!

Nutritional Therapist Liz Wolf sums it up perfectly in her book Eat the Yolks:

If we truly believe that no living thing should have to die for our dinner, we shouldn’t eat at all. If we truly believe that all life deserves equal respect, why not equalize ourselves by embracing the elegant fact that we are all, as Nelson writes, “driven by the same hungers that motivate any other creature— the squirrel in the forest, the vole in the meadow, the bear on the mountainside, the deer in the valley”?

9. Vegan diets are deficient in vitamin B12 and iron

Like vitamin A, D and K2, the readily-absorbed form of vitamin B12 and iron is found only in animal sources (are you seeing a pattern here?). Testing with the most up-to-date methods show that 83% of vegans are B12 deficient, compared to 5% of omnivores.

What about spirulina and brewer’s yeast as a source of B12? Chris Kresser has an excellent post on vegan diets and vitamin deficiencies in which he addresses this question:

A common myth amongst vegetarians and vegans is that it’s possible to get B12 from plant sources like seaweed, fermented soy, spirulina and brewers yeast. But plant foods said to contain B12 actually contain B12 analogs called cobamides that block the intake of, and increase the need for, true B12. (4)

Chris also discusses iron in his post. While plants such as lentils and leafy greens do provide some iron, it is not as well-absorbed as animal-based iron. He explains,

Vegetarians and vegans have lower iron stores than omnivores, and […] vegetarian diets have been shown to reduce non-heme iron absorption by 70% and total iron absorption by 85%. (6, 7)

10. Animal fats offer unique nutrients

Have you heard that flax seeds, walnuts, hemp seeds and chia seeds are all excellent sources of omega-3? That may be true, but these plant sources provide a form of omega-3 that is not well absorbed by the body.

The omega-3 in plant sources, such as flaxseed and walnuts, is ALA. ALA must be converted to EPA or DHA in the body to be useable. Unfortunately, the conversion between ALA and EPA/ DHA is extremely low. One study showed that women convert about 21% of ALA to EPA and 9% to DHA. The conversion rates for men are even lower.

Further, as Chris Kresser points out in his article on vegan nutrient deficiencies, “the conversion of ALA to DHA depends on zinc, iron and pyridoxine—nutrients which vegetarians and vegans are less likely than omnivores to get enough of.”

Fats from sustainably-raised animals provide unique health benefits not found in plant sources:

EPA and DHA, the active forms of omega-3 vital for cognitive function, are found only in animal sources such as fatty fish.

Fat soluble vitamins A, D and K2 are found in fatty animal products (discussed above).

Cholesterol, a vital ingredient for healthy hormones, can be dietarily obtained only through animal sources. Yes, the body can produce cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol is a key part of wellness including memory, liver health, and digestion.

But don’t cholesterol-rich saturated fats cause heart disease? Nope! Saturated fats were wrongly blamed for heart disease with the help of poor research and sleazy food politics. Now, even mainstream sources are acknowledging the science. For example, the 2014 June cover of Time Magazine announced, “Eat butter. Scientists labeled fat the enemy. Why they were wrong.”

#organic #veganism #anti vegan

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florahecate · 6 years ago

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Read More 50 Foods To Lose Your Gut

The following post 50 Foods To Lose Your Gut is republished from Eat This Not That by April Benshosan

Want to lose your gut? Don’t we all. Whether that unflattering flab around your midsection discourages you from flaunting your bod at the beach or just wearing that expensive pair of designer jeans on casual Fridays, we’ve all been there. Flaunting a muffin top—even if you’re not eating one for breakfast—is something that’s not easy to come to terms with, but can easily be banished with the help of these specific fat-incinerating foods.

To aid in your quest of achieving a toned tummy, we’ve put together a list of the 50 most potent foods that’ll help you get rid of the gut—and keep it off! Snoop through our list (heck, even print it out and use it as a grocery list!) and get to burning some extra fat fast with our best weight loss tips.

Black Beans

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The good gut bugs that thrive in your stomach require food to live, and one of their go-to picks are black beans! Gut bacteria munch on these beans’ soluble fiber and then transform it into butyrate, a chemical that’s been shown to increase calorie burning in mice. Every half a cup of black beans has over eight grams of satiating fiber, which is nearly twice as much as an apple boasts!

Salmon

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Wild-caught salmon is brimming with omega-3 fatty acids, which are notorious for squashing inflammation and helping you zap unwanted belly flab. In fact, these healthy fats fight inflammation by increasing adiponectin levels, a hormone that boosts metabolism and burns fat. Stock up on this pink fish, as it’s rich in both EPA and DHA, the two active forms of omega-3s.

Avocados

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Stop fearing the fat! Creamy avocados are full of monounsaturated fats that dim your appetite and prevent the accumulation of belly fat. In fact, a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology tracked 90,257 people for several years and discovered that participants who tried to eat a low-fat diet had the same risk of being overweight as those who ate whatever they wished! Consider this fast fact another reason to bite into avo toast.

Miso Paste

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Looking to blast belly fat? Well first, you must make sure you’re eating foods that support a balanced gut microbiome—like miso paste (yup, the stuff miso soup is made with). Made by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji, miso paste teeming with gut-healthy bacteria that can help stimulate the digestive system, strengthen your immune system, and torch belly fat. Here’s proof: in a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers compared overweight women who followed a low-calorie diet and were given either a placebo or a probiotic supplement for twelve weeks. At the end of the study, women who supplemented their calorie-restrictive meal plan with a probiotic lost more weight than those who took the placebo.

Sweet Potatoes

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Carotenoids, plant-derived antioxidants that stabilize blood sugar levels and lower insulin resistance (therefore preventing calories from converting into belly fat) are generously present in sweet potatoes. For a quick and easy side or snack, pop a whole tater into the oven, bake on high until soft, and enjoy alongside your dinner or on its own.

Eggs

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Forget counting calories on your quest to fight fat, and shift your focus onto protein instead. Since muscle steals the fat cells around your abdominals to burn for energy, maintaining those gains is a great way to score washboard abs. Just one large egg contains about 78 calories and a solid six grams of protein. If you’ve exhausted all your favorite scramble combos, whip up some of these Egg Recipes to Stay Skinny for a change.

Oatmeal

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Oats contain a type of hard-to-find soluble fiber called beta-glucans, which forms a gel in your small intestine, lowering blood cholesterol levels, boosting the immune system, increasing satiety, and regulating blood glucose levels. When you feel fuller for longer, there’s less of an opportunity to gorge on unhealthy snacks or extra calories that could make you put on belly fat. Wake up to a belly-flattening meal by whipping up one of these Overnight Oats Recipes for Weight Loss the evening before.

Plums

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These reddish fruits can give your fat genes the red light. How so? Plums contain phenolic compounds called flavonoids, which lend the fruit its deep color as well as its ability to fight fat. Plums also are a great source of pectin, a gelatin-like type of fiber which animal studies have found to reduce liver fat (belly fat) and block the amount of fat cells can absorb.

Spinach

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There’s a reason why Popeye always chose spinach. The dark green leaves contain a long-chain sugar molecule called sulfoquinovose (SQ), which can help your midsection stay trim. According to a study in the journal Nature Chemical Biology, SQ promotes the growth your good gut bacteria, which prevent bad bacteria from colonizing your gut and causing inflammation and belly fat. Toss the leafy greens with a handful of walnuts, sliced strawberries, and goat cheese for a satisfying lunch.

Beets

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This succulent root veggie is a unique source of betaine, an amino acid that increases metabolism, positively influences the mechanism for insulin resistance, boosts your mood, switches fat genes off, and attacks inflammatory markers that are released by belly fat, according to a review in the journal Nutrients. Not sure how to incorporate these bad boys into your meal plan? Try these Healthy Beet Recipes.

Coconut Oil

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Take a moment to ignore the recent buzz claiming coconut oil is a health food foe, and consider this: according to a study published in the journal Lipids, participants who supplemented their diet with this tropical oil reduced abdominal obesity significantly more than participants who consumed inflammatory soybean oil. To what can we chalk up the flatter belly? Experts believe it’s the coconut oil’s medium-chain triglycerides (which are burned as energy instead of being stored as fat) and lauric acid (which has been shown to pinpoint belly fat and torch it).

Nut & Seed Trail Mix

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According to a 2016 Danish study, people who ate a meal rich in plant protein rather than animal protein reported feeling significantly more satiated. Pack a baggie full of flab-frying peanuts, walnuts, and sunflower seeds to munch on if the hunger pangs begin to distract you in between meals. Just make sure to portion your trail mix, as the fix-ins are some of the Healthy Foods To Eat in Moderation.

Greek Yogurt

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Besides for being one of our favorite portable proteins for on-the-go satiety, Greek yogurt is also a great belly fat fighter. According to a recent study presented at the annual Society for Endocrinology conference, researchers found that when protein is digested and broken down, one of the resulting amino acids, phenylalanine, triggers hormones that help reduce appetite, which can lead to weight loss. If you find yourself stumped at the dairy aisle, don’t forget that we tested 12 yogurts and found the best one. Our top pick is the creamiest of them all—and packs in an impressive 15 grams of the muscle-building stuff!

Turmeric

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According to a study in the journal Oncogene, curcumin (turmeric’s main antioxidant) is one of the most effective anti-inflammatory foods in existence. Since belly fat encourages inflammation as well as makes it more difficult to lose the bulge, sprinkling anti-inflammatory turmeric onto your eggs or stirring up a golden milk latte will help you tighten that tummy.

Tuna

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Light tuna is a dietary triple threat in a can: it’s affordable, packed with protein, and blasts belly fat. In fact, a study in the Journal of Lipid Research found that adding omega-3 fatty acids to your diet could help turn off fat genes. While fish contain two types of omega-3s—DHA and EPA—the researchers discovered that DHA can be 40 to 70 percent more effective than EPA at suppressing fat genes and preventing fat cells from enlarging. Crack open a can of tuna because it’s the fish with the highest DHA content.

Bananas

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When you skimp out on sleep, your body produces more ghrelin, the hunger hormone, encouraging you to eat more the next day. Stay on track with your weight loss goals by noshing on nanners. Not only do their muscle-relaxing minerals, like potassium and magnesium, lullaby your body into a sleep mode, these fruits can also help you look and feel thinner. One Anaerobe study found that women who ate a banana twice daily before meals for two months reduced their bloat by 50 percent, thanks to the fruit’s debloating potassium.

Cinnamon

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Who knew that zapping fat is as easy as shaking some cinnamon onto your oats? A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that this blood sugar-regulating spice helps reduce insulin secretion, preventing sugar from being stored as fat. Not into oatmeal? Try sprinkling the stuff into your latte or smoothies.

Whole Grain Bread

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Forget the flour tortillas and Frosted Flakes, and don’t even think about grabbing that loaf of ciabatta! “Whole grains provide a good source of fiber, B vitamins, and may even help regulate blood-sugar levels and promote a loss of belly fat,” explains Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, LDN. “For every grain you choose, make it 100 percent whole grain.” Our exclusive report best & worst store-bought breads can help you sift through the most popular pieces of toast so you can choose the right one.

Grass-Fed Meats

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Leucine can help you build the lean muscle mass that’s needed to trim excess fat from your frame, according to Jennifer McDaniel, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD. Red meats just happen to be some of the best sources of this potent amino acid. Always pick grass-fed meats to get the added benefits of omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), as these two fats can decrease inflammation and fat storage.

Cayenne Pepper

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At the same time cayenne pepper torches your tongue, it also incinerates the fat cells in your tummy. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating capsaicin, the main compound in the fiery pepper that lends it its heat, speeds up abdominal fat loss by boosting the body’s ability to convert food into energy. Add some heat and color to your cooking with these 20 Spicy Recipes That Fire Up Your Metabolism.

Raspberries

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Consider these bumpy red berries your new natural weight loss pill. Raspberries are jam-packed with fiber and water, which help you feel full. And just like other berries, raspberries are brimming with polyphenols, powerful plant chemicals that have been shown to whittle your middle. Throw them onto your morning oatmeal or pop them as a snack to reap their benefits.

Apples

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One of the juiciest joys of fall is the plethora of apple species we can find at the local grocery store. Whether you go for the Granny Smith or always pick the Pink Lady apples, this crunchy fruit has been proven to trim excess fat. Just don’t forget to bite into one with the skin on! Apple peels contain a compound called ursolic acid, which can increase muscle mass and brown fat, the good kind of fat that helps melt your midsection.

Grapes

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While grapes contain more sugar than most of our favorite low-carb fruits, they also pack in some unexpected flab-fighting benefits. A Washington State University study discovered that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in grapes, converted the excess white fat into calorie-burning beige fat, decreasing obesity by 40 percent! And all you need is just three servings of resveratrol a day. Luckily, grapes aren’t the only source: apples and berries contain the fat-fighter too!

Wine

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Go ahead and pour yourself another glass of red. Just make sure you’re sipping on Malbec, Petite Sirah, St. Laurent or Pinot Noir, as these vinos have the highest content of waist-whittling resveratrol. Although a five-ounce glass of merlot packs in just 122 calories, imbibing too much can rack up the calories and leave you hungover and craving a greasy egg sandwich (which we all know wouldn’t work wonders on your weight loss goals).

Dinosaur Kale

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Let’s face it, kale is completely overrated. But dinosaur kale, a.k.a. black or lacinato kale, on the other hand, is its lesser-known cousin that’s equally as deserving of acclamation. Dinosaur kale’s blue-green leaves are less bitter and more tender than the regular kind, but boast the same flat belly properties, like filling fiber, protein, and B vitamins that can help you get rid of the gut.

White Tea

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It seems like green tea has a bit of competition when it comes to shedding the beer belly. According to a study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism, white tea both blocks the formation of new fat cells and boosts lipolysis, the breakdown of fat. What’s more, white tea contains catechins, natural antioxidants that protect your body from harming free radicals and confidence-dampening belly fat.

Pumpkin Seeds

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Sneaking pepitas into some of your favorite foods is one of the best ways to increase protein intake. Not only do roasted pumpkin seeds contain eight grams of protein per ounce, they’re also packed with fiber, zinc, and potassium—key nutrients needed for muscle building and recovery. Remember, the more muscle you have, the less fat your body will hold on to.

Pu-erh Tea

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If you’ve never heard of this fermented Chinese tea, it’s time to add it to your a.m. routine. A study in the journal Phytotherapy Research found that feeding obese mice a high-fat diet coupled with pu-erh tea extract decreased their total body weight and cholesterol levels.

Blueberries

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These bite-sized berries are as mighty as they are tiny. In a study in the Journal of Medicinal Food, blueberries were shown to reduce abdominal fat, triglycerides, and total body weight. A review in the journal Nutrients also noted blueberry consumption is inversely related to obesity. Next time you’re making a yogurt parfait, don’t forget to toss in some blueberries!

Oat Bran

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If you like to start your day with oatmeal, we’re definitely commending you. But you’re better off getting introduced to oat bran, oatmeal’s overachieving cousin. Oat bran boasts even more protein and fiber—6 grams of protein and fiber each per 120 calories—which means you’ll feel fuller for longer, and avoid the soft, tempting whispers of office donuts lurking around.

Pickles

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Pickles are filled with water, vinegar, and fiber, and barely any calories! In fact, just one cup of the pickled cucumbers pack in two grams of fiber for only 16 calories. Not to mention, studies show that acidic foods like vinegar help increase the body’s carb-burning rate by up to 40 percent. Once your body burns off carbs, it moves onto torching fat, which can help you finally rock your skinny jeans muffin top-free.

Flaxseeds

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To get the most nutritional bang for your buck, freshly grind your flaxseeds right before using them. Just one tablespoon has about 2.3 grams of fat-blasting ALA, making it a wholesome oatmeal topper. Better yet, invest in a bottle of flaxseed oil to drizzle your salads with.

Sunflower Seeds

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Whether you’re adding them to your breakfast bowl or noshing on them to beat the 2 p.m. slump, sunflower seeds are a great way to get in your daily dose of magnesium—a nutrient that helps the body release fat from its stores. “Sunflower seeds and sunbutter are two great belly-busters,” says registered dietitian Lauren Slayton, MS, RD of Foodtrainers. “The type of fat in the seeds have been shown to reduce abdominal fat in women with no other change in diet.”

Black Pepper

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Piperine, a fat-frying compound found in black pepper, has been shown to trigger adipogenesis in human cells and increase fat metabolism in mice, resulting in a decrease in waist size, body fat, and cholesterol levels. Fortunately for those who’ve set a goal to ditch the gut, you can sprinkle black pepper on practically anything! Start with these 35 Slow Cooker Recipes for Weight Loss.

Dark Chocolate

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Good news chocoholics: you can now bite into another square sans guilt. Research shows that eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate can reduce overall body fat and shrink your waistline, thanks to the dessert’s heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory flavonoids. Before you go on a cocoa spree, make sure you buy a bar with at least 70 percent cacao and avoid bars that list “alkalized” chocolate in their ingredients (those have a significantly reduced flavonoid content).

Quinoa

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Just half a cup of quinoa has 12 grams of hunger-quelling protein and fiber, as well as all nine amino acids—making it a complete protein. It’s also a potent source of flat belly nutrients like zinc and magnesium.

Green Tea

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Just like white tea, green tea contains powerful catechins that can rev your metabolism significantly. In fact, a study by Japanese researchers found that participants who consumed 690 milligrams (about one bottle) of catechins via green tea daily had significantly lower BMIs and smaller waist measurements than those who didn’t sip. An Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention report found that the average daily intake of catechins in Japanese men and women were 110 and 157 milligrams, respectively, so you’ll have to up your tea game if you’re interested in reaping the benefits.

Asparagus

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Asparagus can help you score the body you’ve been dreaming of thanks to its plethora of benefits like vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6, as well as folate, iron, copper, calcium, protein, and fiber. The best part? Just a cup of these skinny spears have nearly three grams of hunger-quelling protein and fiber each for just 27 calories!

Eggplant

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Eating an entire eggplant may seem intimidating at first (have you noticed how huge they are?), but it’s totally doable—and recommended! Just one unpeeled eggplant contains 5.3 grams of muscle-maintaining protein and a walloping 16 grams of fiber for just 137 calories! Not sure how to give this nutritional superstar a go? Grill an eggplant with a drizzle of olive oil and munch on it as a snack or toss it atop your favorite healthy pizza.

Kefir

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We love Greek yogurt because of its ultra-rich creaminess and protein punch, but kefir just takes the tang to the next level. Beyond the satiety-inducing protein, the probiotics in kefir can help rev your weight loss efforts. A Food & Nutrition Research study found that these good bacteria species (like L. casei) boosted the breakdown of fat molecules in mice and prevented them from packing on the pounds. Although the study was conducted on rats, there’s no reason for us not to add some creamy kefir to our diets.

Grapefruit

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A grapefruit a day can keep the pounds away. Yes, it’s true, but how so? The fruit’s acidity slows digestion, helping you feel fuller for longer. Try noshing on a half grapefruit before digging into your breakfast.

Kamut

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Kamut, a lesser known grain native to the Middle East, is bursting with slimming omega-3 fatty acids while boasting a high protein count and remaining low in calories. Not only can kamut help you say good riddance to the gut, it also reduces cholesterol, blood sugar, and cytokines, which cause inflammation throughout the body, a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found. Psst! Don’t tell quinoa, but kamut makes a delicious addition to any salad bowl!

Olive Oil

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Extra virgin olive oil is packed with polyphenols, antioxidants that help battle many diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis, as well as can help keep your brain young. EVOO also may increase blood levels of serotonin, a hormone associated with satiety. But, save the expensive EVOO for dressing your salads and drizzling over bread. When you’re grilling some veggies and lean meat, opt for the regular and less expensive variety.

Russet Potatoes

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Unless you’re going low carb for a few days (we don’t recommend it for longer periods of time), there’s no reason not to pop a potato into the oven. In an Australian study that measured the satiating index of 38 popular foods, researchers discovered that potatoes were not only more filling and satisfying than diet no-nos like doughnuts and cake, they also ranked higher than healthy picks like brown rice and oatmeal. In fact, participants reported eating less food throughout the day when they consumed these potassium and fiber-rich spuds.

Lentils

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Lentils are one of the most affordable plant protein sources out there that also work to reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol, promote fat metabolism and quell that ravenous appetite. Since lentils are a resistant starch, their slow-digesting fiber triggers the release of acetate, a molecule in the gut that signals the brain to put the fork down. Don’t believe us? A systematic review of clinical trials on dietary pulses found that people who ate a daily serving of lentils, just about 3/4 cup, felt an average 31 percent fuller compared to those who didn’t munch on them. And a second study found that a diet rich in blood-sugar stabilizing foods (hello, lentils!) could slash inflammation by 22 percent.

Kimchi

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If kimchi’s only on your menu at your favorite Korean BBQ spot, consider adding this fermented food to your diet ASAP. Why’s that? Researchers at Kyung Hee University in Seoul, Korea found that the probiotics found in kimchi can suppress weight gain significantly. To come to this finding, researchers fed rats a high-fat diet, then fed one group probiotics found in kimchi (Lactobacillus brevis) and reported that the organism suppressed the diet-induced weight gain by 28 percent! Reap these waist-whittling benefits by shopping for sauerkraut, pickles, brined olives, too.

Sardines

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If you thought salmon was king of the sea when it comes to omega-3s, you haven’t met sardines. Studies show that these heart-healthy fatty acids can improve everything from your cholesterol profile to your mood to your ability to ward off Alzheimer’s and even weight gain. Not to mention, you can likely find a can of this skinny fish for under $2 at your local grocery store!

Cottage Cheese

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Tired of plain old chicken breast? Low-cal cottage cheese is a dietary superstar when it comes to adding a hefty dose of protein to your diet. It’s also considered a complete protein, since it contains all nine essential amino acids your body needs to function properly—so you can totally spoon the cheesy goodness on its own.

Bell Pepper

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Forget losing weight if your stress hormones are out of whack. When we’re stuck in a hair-pulling situation, the body starts producing the hormone cortisol, which encourages the belly to store fat. Good thing vitamin C-rich foods like bell peppers can help combat that by lowering cortisol levels and subsequently increasing your chances of showing off those abs.

Peanut Butter

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Here’s another reason to stack a hearty PB&J sandwich: a study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found a link between the consumption of peanuts and a decreased risk for heart disease, thanks to the nuts’ healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats—which also means you should only go for the full-fat versions (we like MaraNatha and Smucker’s Natural). Just remember, stick to the two-tablespoon serving size (yup, that means refraining from gobbling down the entire jar in one sitting!) to reap its belly-shrinking benefits. For a quick and delicious snack that’ll keep you full for hours, dip apples into peanut butter and munch the hunger away.

The post 50 Foods To Lose Your Gut appeared first on Eat This Not That.

#Eat This Not That

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bestleakygutcure-blog · 7 years ago

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10 Worst Foods For Your Gut Health

Think about your gut for a control centre. To make it even more interesting, imagine the gut as the heart of your very own space ship. You are able to control everything out of there, but you understand it takes a necessary amount of training, practice, and otherwise clear conditions to blast off safely to your destination.

Now, imagine that you had to feed each control actual food for it to function. If you feed it a nutritious diet during an extended time period, your hovercraft breaks down less, functions normally, experiences less turbulence, and continues for years and years -- possibly, even decades. This is kind of how the microbiome works.

Considering intestine health can be connected to a couple significant factors -- genetics, environment, diet, chronic stress, and toxic load -- we all know how we can work to cure it. Luckily, cleaning up the diet is one of the simplest ways to address symptoms of leaky gut and sustain a healthy gut within the long-term. In addition to appropriate stress management and a good probiotic nutritional supplement, eliminating foods that elicit a pro-inflammatory reply and lead to gut harm can restore good bacteria and fix the intestinal lining which causes leaky gut.

You might like this: If you'd like to learn more about everything you can do in order to care for your own microbiome and digestive system, be certain to take a look at the Gut Health Super Bundle using 25 eCourse and ebooks, which is only readily available for a limited time.

1. Gluten containing foods We're not here to demonise gluten free today. In recent decades, it has gotten a fairly poor reputation all-around, and while part of this was likely inspired by a valid rise in Coeliac disease, the press is quick to label foods either 'good' or 'poor,' and everybody catches up. In cases like this, however, feeling sensitive to gluten despite not having an allergy for this could actually be a problem from the gut.

You do not even have to be gluten-sensitive to suffer unwanted side effects from ingestion. A research sample exhibited groups ingesting gluten for a single week experiencing improved belly pains and bloating, though there wasn't any substantial impact on the intestinal permeability (otherwise, the integrity of the intestine). Additionally, it is important to check at the way in which gluten may be interacting with people who have autoimmune disease.

We know an immune response and intolerances can be brought on by the foreign toxins or antigens trafficking throughout the body through the zonulin-dependent pathway, plus through activation through the intestine bacteria and gluten free interactions. This leads us to believe that those acts are likely involved in the development of inflammation and autoimmune processes, which gives us a clear way to take care of it: by down-regulating the zonulin pathway (which contains removing gluten), we can potentially start to re-establish the intestinal obstruction.

2. Other grains With the rise of gluten-free products, we see an increasing number of grains being utilized as a healthy alternative to the whole wheat trend and white bread.

Excessive consumption can also affect the gut by reducing the activity of a variety of digestive enzymes, which we need to function efficiently for good gut health.

With this, we are aware that people who suffer with leaky gut should be avoiding all grains -- especially in the beginning stages. After the gut is on its way to healing correctly, it's fine to reintroduce fermented grains following soaking and sprouting them, which reduces phytic acid material and also breaks down some of the other chemicals, making them easier to digest.

3. Processed sugar & artificial sweeteners In this era, we know something for certain about nutrition: sugar is not doing us any favours. It's especially not helping the intestine. Sugar provides gas to yeast in the gut which helps it to nourish, overpopulate, and crowd out the good germs a healthy intestine thrives on. As a result, we view things like SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth), Candida, and bacterial dysbiosis pop up because they are related to glucose consumption and prone to increasing intestinal permeability.

Artificial sweeteners are equally as poor, despite not feeding yeast or directly affecting blood sugar levels. A study performed on mice demonstrates that artificial sweetener consumption could exacerbate sugar intolerance -- that the body's inability to utilise sugar -- and this seems to be microbiome-related (4). Further research done on people analysed artificial sweetener consumption's interaction involving microbiome composition and metabolic results that are connected with BMI, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels.

Now for the double-edged sword; the outcomes conclude that the composition of the intestine might be indicative of an individual's reaction to those synthetic sweeteners. From that, we could infer that someone who has leaky gut already must cut these out entirely, as permeability affects our ability to take care of particular food substances. Additionally, this affirms the notion that leaky gut therapy ought to be highly concentrated on someone's needs -- maybe not a one-size-fits-all approach.

4. Processed oils Ah. Still another food which isn't doing our wellbeing any favours, particularly with all the alternative options we have rather! Refined, high oleic oils derived from vegetable sources such as sunflower, safflower, canola, corn, and soybean oil are a tragedy for the gut. They're a source of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids, also if we are taking in a lot of these, we drive up the ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s a whole lot. The normal person following the typical American Diet already has a ratio of 1:10 and even 1:15, when we're aiming for more of a 1:1 to 1:2 balance. Yikes!

Swapping refined oils for olive oil or avocado oil can reduce systemic inflammation and damage to the intestinal lining. Avoid foods that are fried, and if you are still cooking with canola oil, look at making the swap. When you have loads of refined oils along with a diet high in carbohydrates (markers of SAD), you reduce gut biodiversity. The key to a healthy intestine is using a wide array of germs present, so using healthy oils will promote diversity. Your gut will thank you!

5. Dairy We hate to knock on dairy because, y’know... cheese is great. And no -- it is not always bad for us. We do know it's one of the most addictive foods, though, which causes us to over-consume it. In addition, we know that not all dairy is made equal; lots of dairy products are highly processed and pasteurised, and do not even get us to the low-fat dairy fad. Among the worst sections of traditional dairy products is that the potential existence of antibiotics. This also goes for traditional meat, but we'll get to this later.

Well, antibiotics do exactly the opposite and deplete those good bacteria shops while they clear from the bad things. They just don't discriminate, and taking small doses of these in each day is your gut's worst nightmare.

Moreover, dairy can elicit an immune reaction in certain. You may detect congestion, digestive problems, or breakouts after ingestion poor quality milk, dairy in excess, or ingestion of milk while lactose-intolerant. These responses are extremely clearly traced into the gut including most immune responses by inducing inflammation.

A good alternative that can do your gut some great is raw, unpasteurised, fermented dairy. A good quality, full-fat, organic yoghurt is chock full of good-for-the-gut bacteria. Culturing your own cheeses in your home will give you significant benefits. Kefir is also a nice choice, and simple to make at home. You may earn all of those cultured foods with no dairy, also, in case you're on an elimination protocol specifically for gut recovery, in which case, you need to avoid milk products. With dairy, it's all about quality of this merchandise and determining whether or not your gut is prepared for dairy.

6. Soy products If you're after a paleo/real food diet, you likely already understand why soy is an inferior source or protein. It is frequently a GMO product and presents a few different issues, but now, we are focusing on why it may be bad for your gut. For many years now, it has been touted as a health food -- particularly as a dairy solution -- but we want to break this down a little. Turns out, it could be impacting the gut bacteria quite a bit.

1 study done on fish revealed that soy considerably decreased the presence of Soy won't actually reduce the amount of bacteria in the gut; it simply changes the composition of the germs in negative ways.

Like with milk, soy is best absorbed with the quality and quantity in your mind. Fermented soy products like miso, natto, and tempeh have valuable germs and they taste great! Additionally, it is important not to rely on soy as your principal source of protein for optimum gut health and total wellbeing.

7. Traditional red meat Red meat boasts some of the very same issues with our additional foods on the record. Like with oils that are refined, traditional meat comprises an unbalanced ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3s, and like with cheese, a lot of animals are injected with antibiotics which make their way into our food. How do they affect the microbiome?

Well, it is all linked to the heart. When Hippocrates stated, "All disease begins in the gut," that he was not exaggerating.

So as to avoid this, limit red meat intake to a couple times per week, instead relying upon wild-caught fish and pastured poultry for most protein. Whenever you do indulge in red meat, select unprocessed meats sourced from grass-fed cows which enhances the nutritional value of the meals immensely. We can not say whether or not you bypass its influence on the gut definitively, but it's a much safer bet in terms of fatty acid balance and preventing added hormones/antibiotics.

8. Farmed fish To continue on this issue of quality, fish actually matters. First, we need to fret about antibiotics and growth hormone which could pass on over to us through our food. Next, we must worry about mercury. While there's tons of fish you can eat twice a week to keep your fatty acid balance healthy without worrying about nourishment, farmed fish is much more likely to include higher amounts.

Eating seafood regularly can help keep us in excellent health, providing us with hard-to-get vitamins such as vitamin D and healthful fats.

9. Factory farm eggs Now, we're simply getting into the nitty gritty of items. In fact, they provide tons of advantages we need... if they are from a fantastic source. Eggs are another contentious food, since it's only recently been revealed that they are not driving up cholesterol levels. The dilemma is the source, and in addition, ambiguous and confusing labelling.

Bu durumda, yumurta yaratan tavukların antibiyotik kullanımı ile birlikte bir kez daha omega-6 yağ asitleri tarafından iltihaplanmaya karşı bir meseledir. Süper pazarda yumurta arıyorsanız, otlatılmış ya da otlatılmış yumurtaları arayın - özgür çeşitliliği değil. "Serbest Serisi" bir yumurta, etiketinizde atmaya yönelik kriterlerin oldukça alt parası olduğu göz önüne alındığında çok fazla bir şey ifade etmez ve aslında tavukların rampada kalması için birkaç adım kalabilir. Mera ile yetiştirilen ineklerden elde edilen yumurtalar, gezegeninizdeki en besleyici gıdalardan biridir; bağırsaklarınız ve vücudunuz için birçok sağlık faydası vardır.

10. Tap water Okay, last but not least, we're indicating you filter your own water for the good of your own gut. Hydration is vital to being in the best health you can be in, so get it done the right way! Many areas do not have good water quality at the first place, and you can not always trust the tap. The stuff that's coming from it could be treated with chemicals, maintain traces of antibiotics, and contain chlorine which has shown negative effects for the gut.

#leakygut #leakygutcure #leakygutdiet #leakygutremedies #leakygutsyndrome #leakyguttreatment #healingleakygut #howtohealleakygut #leakyguttreatmentplan #herbsforleakygut #vitaminsforleakygut #healleakygutfast #leakygutdisease #leakygutdetox

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campchamps · 7 years ago

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Old Loggers Path - Loyalsock State Forest, PA

Tom and I have a tradition (2 years in a row now) of backpacking for our wedding anniversary. If we’re going to die young, might as well do it together and in the woods. We had really aggressive plans starting out to tackle the Black Forest Trail, but (thankfully) we reconsidered and decided on the shorter Old Loggers Path instead. Our final trip clocked in at 28 miles over 3 days (Sunday through Tuesday).

Pictured: One of the amazing views. Seriously I dream about these mountains at night.

We did the trail counter-clockwise, starting (and ending) from the parking lot at the Cherry Ridge Trail head. As you’ll see below, as of spring 2017 the road at Masten is still out and doesn’t look like there are plans to replace it. A state forest office employee told Tom “oh, we lost those roads a few years ago”. She also informed us that some of the sections of the trail were rough, and boy was she right. We made a donation to the Keystone Trails Association to thank them in advance for the hard work they are going to have to put in there later this year! Even though there were lots of big downed trees to climb around/over, and we think part of the trail that continues along Pleasant Run Stream may have been completely eroded, it still was a very enjoyable hike.

There are really nice established campsites, mostly near water sources (but not all). Since we were there mid-May, there was plenty of water and the weather was perfect. We saw 2 other hikers the entire time, and they were off trail heading downhill towards a stream while we were going up. We did find plenty of trash, which was frustrating but I guess not entirely unexpected.

We really got our gear paired down this trip, and wound up carrying about 25 lbs each. That’s not really an ultralight trip but we’re moving closer, getting better about figuring out what we need. That weight doesn’t include water, which we are also fine tuning. We started out with 3 liters just because we didn’t want to risk the streams not being as expected, and were pleasantly surprised. Stopping to filter and refill out water a few times during the day meant less weight to carry and a needed excuse to take a break.

Pictured: One of the more interesting river campsites, you can see the angled ring/chimney and some stone seats set up. Water was clearly no concern. We didn’t actually camp here, just passing through!

Speaking of gear, Tom got trekking poles to help with his recent knee/foot issues. He said they really helped. I was poo pooing them at first and didn’t get a pair for myself, but now I kind of want them too. I tested his and it was much easier than I thought to swing the poles forward, they almost effortlessly swing forward on their own. It was comforting to each take one when we went out to hang the bear bag, and really useful for balance when we had to cross Pleasant Stream! Tom also made sit pads for us out of an old camp pad, and it was sooo nice. Those stone seats are not that comfortable! I also made pot cozy’s from reflectix and foil tape we picked up, which we didn’t have before.

Other trip reports sited bear, snakes and other wildlife but we saw almost nothing. A few birds and some bold mice that tried to snatch our crumbs under our feet one night, that was it.

Pictured: A beautiful photo collage consisting of (left) Tom & his trekking poles crossing a large part of the road that had been washed out, (top right) the beginning of the stretch of road that had been washed out and (bottom right) the whole side of this cabin must have blown right off during the storm that washed out the roads, there were still many large downed trees and debris from the cabin everywhere.

Nature. It’s powerful stuff man. The photos don’t do the damage justice. This was a great hike that I would recommend checking out in person if you have the chance.

So on to the important stuff... what we ate.

Camp Champs Chomps:

Sunday breakfast: at home, bacon and eggs

Sunday lunch: sandwiches we packed in the car and ate right before hitting the trail

Sunday dinner: red beans and rice with chopped dehydrated pork roll, snacks

Monday breakfast: We packed oatmeal in case we wanted a hot meal, but ate granola bars, snacks and these amazing pour over coffee pouches from trader joes

Monday lunch: tuna salad in wraps, snacks. We packed pouch tuna, relish and mayo packets and mixed in pouch before spreading into wraps.

Monday dinner: stuffing with TVP, dried minced onions and extra herbed seasoning. I didn’t make it right (added everything at once instead of letting the water come to a boil first), and the bottom cooked but the top was very dry. Guess which portion I got! Tom surprised me with tiny bottles of prosecco for our anniversary so it was OK. Plus we had delicious snacks.

Tuesday breakfast: Still didn’t eat the oatmeal. We discovered we’re more snacks and coffee people while we slowly repack.

Tuesday lunch: peanut butter wraps and snacks

Tuesday dinner: post-trail burgers at this random side of the road biker bar in the middle of nowhere PA

Trail snacks: homemade beef jerky, dehydrated pork roll, homemade fruit roll ups, homemade granola bars, pepperoni, babybel cheese, wheat thin crackers, dried pineapple, chocolate covered pomegranate bites

We originally thought we were going to do a 4 day trip, take it reaaaaaallly slow and be out earlier on Tuesday but there was a “nor’easter” forecast for Saturday so we consolidated into 3 days at the last minute. I also overestimated the amount of food we would want to eat.... So I also was carrying some couscous with dehydrated peas, sun-dried tomatoes, homemade herbed seasoning and olive oil as an extra hot lunch option and mushroom risotto with chopped beef jerky + instant mashed potatoes with nutritional yeast and bacon bits for dinner side dishes. When we were backpacking last year it was colder and we had less snacks, so that might be why we ate so much for dinner. I had also packed up gourmet ramen with tons of vegetables we dehydrated and a homemade seasoning pack but had the presence of mind to leave that in the car before we left. I didn’t make nearly enough beef jerky, I bought a chuck roast which was all I could find but it was freaking delicious! We really had to stop ourselves from eating it all the first day and ration. I’ll post the recipe I use soon.

If you need to stay connected: Sorry, we were both in airplane mode the entire time to save battery/for emergencies/photos also to enjoy each other’s company without the outside world for a few days.

Useful maps and guides: The most useful map we found was a 17 x 22 printout of the Loyalsock State Forest linked here that we happened to come across at the trail head. It was the last one and I kept it in nice condition intending to return to the bulletin board for the next hiker when we got back, but failed to do. We had printed it on regular 8.5 x 11 in advance, but as you can imagine it didn’t have the level of detail. I’d recommend you get it printed on the larger size if you can.

I also printed a copy of the map and trail notes from MidAtlantic Hikes. I liked features of both maps and wanted to have them both with us so we could make decisions about where to camp at night on the trail. We also downloaded the MidAtlantic Hikes gps files and loaded them onto my trusty Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS. There was no way in hell we were getting lost this trip!

#old loggers path #loyalsock state forest #pennsylvania #backpacking #Pennsylvania State Forest #camp #camping #olp

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blondeswithbackpacks · 7 years ago

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Berlin

After travelling to Cologne airport, we hopped on our coach at 10:30pm at what appeared to be the coachstation-cum-runway as there was a plane parked at the opposite end. I managed to scrape 3 hours sleep before we arrived in Berlin 10 hours later. I was even moodier and more indecisive than usual. Thankfully Hattie had had plenty of sleep and therefore had the energy and patience to deal with my nonsense. We walked around in circles going under and around the same junction a few times before finally finding the U-bahn (underground train) station right by where we had got off the coach. We sat on our first underground train since London, with much fewer people on it, before getting off a few stops later. Again we took a rather convoluted route to our hostel which was in fact right by one of the exits from the U-bahn station. By the time we had sorted our bags and left them at the hostel, Hattie's brain had fully woken up so she was able to steer me in the direction of some coffee. After drinking my rather strong black iced coffee and wandering around in the fresh air for a while, I felt much better. We kept walking around in the quieter streets of Berlin passing Checkpoint Charlie and the Jewish museum before circling back around to the mall where we picked up a very early lunch from the food court. We then continued walking in the opposite direction, just exploring the city and enjoying the lovely weather. When we got tired and our feet started to ache, we found a shady spot in the garden outside the front of the library, looking out at the Berliner Philharmonie (both of which are very large, yellow buildings). As we were chatting, we saw what appeared to be a table go past with about 10 people sat around it, drinking beer as they pedalled along. Definitely the strangest mode of transport we have seen yet. Once our feet had recovered somewhat, it was about time to go back to the hostel to check in. Whilst I caught up on some sleep from the night before, Hattie went for a spot of retail therapy. For dinner, we went to a traditional Bavarian restaurant round the corner from the hostel. We enjoyed some very homely food served by waiters in lederhosen and waitresses in dirndl (the female equivalent of lederhosen according to google). I forgot all about the summery weather as I ate my Berlin meatballs and mashed potato. Despite being slightly unseasonal in the type of food, it was probably the best meal we've had so far. The next day was not the best. It started with Hattie not being able to find her keys to her padlock. After a while of ransacking all the bags and digging through bed linen, we came to the conclusion that they were probably locked inside the locker. We tried googling how to pick a lock but were let down by the lack of results and our attempts using a hairpin failed. We decided to go downstairs for breakfast and to ask at reception about getting the lock off. Our first hurdle was a large grumpy man behind the desk. We explained that we'd asked about the gluten free breakfast the night before and they'd told us just to the let them know in the morning. He clearly had no clue what we were going on about and said that the only bread was what was there and that they had no other gluten free stuff. Whilst we quickly checked whether the food was gluten free (it was not) he starting serving someone else. We patiently waited to speak to his colleague who had been helpful the night before. He stopped his conversation with the other guests to say 'why are girls still here?'. By this time, his colleague was free so we just stepped over to talk to her. She sorted the issue in no time and the kitchen staff had some Hattie-friendly food ready for when we went in to breakfast. Next we asked about the lock. With a slight smirk, she gave us a pair of bolt cutters. We thought we'd give the lock cutter a go before breakfast so headed back to the room to break the lock. Unfortunately, it would appear that the padlocks we bought in Amsterdam were too secure for our own good. Neither of us had the strength to cut through the thick lock. Whilst we ate our breakfast back downstairs, we tried to scout out all the men looking for someone of considerable strength. We came to the conclusion that our best bet was the man at reception so Hattie went back to try and charm Mr Grumps into coming up to the room and breaking into the locker. Her efforts were in vain as he wasn't able to make even as much as an indentation on the lock as we were (cue bicep flex). We then had to wait a while for the maintenance man to start work. We went back to reception to meet him and when he stepped out the lift, he reminded us both of Lennie from 'Of Mice and Men'. We followed the gentle giant back to our room and pointed at the keyless padlock in question. After only a bit of a struggle, he snapped it in a way that reminded us far too much of that woman's neck in the book. We were very grateful for his help and Hattie thanked him profusely in German, he seemed pleased to have helped and left us to it. Now that we had access to all our stuff, we gathered everything we needed for the day and set off, determined to make up for a tricky start. The sun was shining so we were hopeful for a good day. We set off exploring the area near the hostel and found the 'Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe'. It was an interactive-type memorial with lots of grey blocks arranged like a maze on a ground that dips up and down. We then wanted to walk through the Tiergarten but it was all fenced off as a result of some sort of event going on there. We tried to negotiate another route around the barriers and came across the Brandenburg Tor - another important sight in Berlin that we discovered by accident. We then realised that we were going to have to take a long route to where we were heading so we scratched our plan of walking and hopped on the U-bahn. We got off at the Zoologischer Garten where we quickly found somewhere to have lunch because we were hungry again by that time. After sharing a stir fry, we headed out towards the church with a broken spire that we could see from the restaurant. At this point, it started raining. Expecting summery weather, we had headed out that morning in shorts and Hattie in flip flops - not ideal wet weather attire. We continued on bravely, we are British after all and no strangers to a bit of rain. We popped into the church and learnt that it was the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial church which was badly damaged in World War Two but left unrestored as a memorial. From there we continued on in the rain (with Hattie clinging on to me for support as her footwear evidently was not suited to the slippery wet pavement) until we got to our intended destination - The Story of Berlin museum. We went in with high expectations after seeing their great Tripadvisor ratings but we were soon disappointed. It was very hard to follow without the app that we weren't able to download so we wondered around for a couple of hours not learning an awful lot about random points in the history of Berlin. Eager for it not to be a waste of a visit, we hung around for the next tour of the nuclear bunker. We followed our very unhumorous guide out the back entrance of the museum and down into the 3600 bed bunker from the Cold War. He explained lots of the details of the bunker and the plan for its use which seemed to have some gaping flaws - for example, it was only radiation proof, not bomb proof and they needed a two week preparation period before it could even be used. He also helpfully pointed out that it would get "hella warm" with all those people down there. This tour again turned out to be a bit of a flop. When we were finished at the museum, it was still raining so we went back to the hostel to change into some more appropriate clothes. Back in our dorm we had some new room mates who introduced themselves and shook our hands - a very formal meeting for a hostel. They were a young German couple who climbed into the top bunk above Hattie together whilst she sat beneath listening to music. We exchanged a worried look as the bed creaked and bent slightly under their combined weight. Thankfully, Hattie made it out alive and un-sandwiched. After a short rest we popped out for a quick bite to eat before having a quiet evening in the room watching Netflix. When our room mates returned later on, we were relieved that they chose to use separate beds this time. We awoke the next morning slightly groggily but we were determined to have a better day than the day before so we got out of the hostel around mid morning. It was again raining but we were prepared with pac-a-macs and suitable footwear so no issues there. Our first stop was Checkpoint Charlie, the famous border crossing from the time of the Berlin Wall. All around the city, they have billboards telling you about different parts of the history. The ones here told the story of the wall and some of the attempted escapes from East to West Berlin. It was far more informative than the museum the day before so a good start. We then stopped for coffee and cake and to plan the rest of the day. Next on our list was the Eastside Gallery where they have re-erected part of the wall, decorated with artwork, as a sort of memorial. It was a shame to see that it had been fenced off as lots of sections had been vandalised with graffiti but it was nonetheless good to see some of the thought-provoking works. We decided it was perfect comfort food weather so headed back to the Bavarian restaurant from before. As we dried off, I tucked into my very healthy pile of mushrooms, cheese and dumplings. We then went off in search of some more famous Berlin sights and the Menschen Museum (or Memu). Inside the museum were lots of exhibits showing the human body in many different ways. I was horrified to learn that all the exhibits were from human donors that were preserved through the process of plastination. Well it was good prep for med school at least and I managed to make it through the whole museum with only the mildest of queasiness! After that experience, we popped into a nearby church that was rather underwhelming after the Köln Dom earlier that week. In search of more of a sight, we aimed for the Berliner Dom which was a beautiful domed cathedral on the edge of the river. After picking up some chips for Hattie, we continued our sight-seeing going past the Rathaus (German Parliamentary buildings) and some other fancy 'houses' until the rain got too heavy and we took the U-bahn back to the hostel. We had another relaxed evening in and a great night's sleep in our dorm which was now empty apart from us. After a nice, slow morning, we headed out for one of the Berlin Wall memorials. On the way, we stopped off in a Vietnamese restaurant where we tucked into sushi and an amazing curry and I discovered my new favourite drink: Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk (thanks for the tip mum). At the Gedenkenstrater Berlin Wall memorial they had sculptures dedicated to those who lost their lives trying to cross the wall and for the people whose graves were destroyed in the building of it. After some reflective time in this peaceful garden, we followed the wall walk to a watchtower by the river before continuing on to the Reichstag. Again the park that we wanted to walk through was closed off so we took another route around. On this walk, we stumbled into a carillon concert. The carillon is an instrument that we had only come across in Westerkerk in Amsterdam. Our understanding is that it's a complex set of bells that can be played like a piano but instead of using your fingers you have to whack the 'keys' with your fist. This brought some pretty comical images to mind especially when we heard how quickly it was being played there in Berlin. We finished off our day walking past the World Cultures centre and on to Victory Tower before going back to the hostel for an early night. Our weather-luck seemed to have run out before Berlin but we still had a good time seeing many of the major sights and some slightly more bizarre things. Next stop Dresden!

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theguardian911 · 8 years ago

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More Pet Owners Are Seeking Natural, Non-GMO Pet Foods By Dr. Becker In the U.S., almost all pet owners (95 percent) consider their pets to be part of the family, and rightly so! This is up 7 percent from 2007, according to the Harris Poll,1 and trends indicate that Americans are increasingly looking for ways to give their pets the longest, happiest lives possible. Pet food is the area of biggest spending for most parents, taking up 76 percent of the pet care category. The Humanization of Pet Food report released by Nielsen has also revealed some promising trends in this area, as Americans increasingly look for healthier treats, specialty pet foods and other premium options. Further, people are moving beyond expectations of "high-quality" food towards "humanized" food. The Nielsen report explained:2 " … [T]hey desire pet food options that address the same health concerns currently influencing human food production, such as unnatural preservatives and genetically modified ingredients — and they're serious about these preferences." I'm annoyed our demands for better-quality commercially available pet food have been deemed the "humanization" of a dirty industry that should have been called to higher standards years ago. It's frustrating that last July at The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) meeting, an industry representative stood up and said it was absurd to hold pet food to human food standards, that the "humanization of pets" has not been good for the pet food industry, as if all of life, aside from humans, aren't worthy of clean, whole, and free-of-chemical food. Wake up, AAFCO! This isn't the "humanization of pet food," this is an entire generation of pet owners demanding transparency from the industry. Let's be clear here: we aren't anthropomorphizing. We want edible, untainted, healthful, and free-of-chemical food that's clearly labeled as such so we know exactly what we're buying. For us. For our pets. Pet Owners Are Seeking Natural, Non-GMO Pet Foods Pet owners are increasingly demanding better-quality food for their pets, and if history is any indication, these positive trends may force some pet food makers to clean up their acts. Among health claims on pet foods, those boasting no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were most sought after. About 43 percent of pet owners indicated they'd pay more for non-GMO pet products. Further, while consumers once flocked to pet foods that were supposedly backed by "science" (many products of which are disasters for your pet's health), they're now looking for natural products. According to Petfood Industry:3 "While consumers once trusted science to deliver the magic mix of vital nutrients for their pets, they're putting more faith in nature these days. Just as with their own food choices, consumers increasingly prefer pet foods made in a kitchen over those made in a lab." Also of note, the Nielsen report revealed that 85 percent of pet owners believe — correctly — that their pets can live longer if they feed them the right foods. In response, many are seeking healthier pet treats in lieu of what are perceived to be more "indulgent" options. Many pet owners are also interested in fruit and vegetable chews and foods that come in soup and stew form (as opposed to the factory-made "mush" or kibble that's long been the norm). While I have concerns many well-intentioned pet parents still end up being duped by advertising claims of what "natural," "all-natural" and "made with natural ingredients" really means, I still feel it's a step in the right direction. People in general are trying to make better health and diet choices for the animals they care for. The industry is starting to feel some long-overdue pressure. Pets Need to Eat Real Food Too You're probably aware of the importance of eating real foods — grass-fed meats, vegetables, fruits and the like. The same holds true for your pets, and by this definition, we should all be thankful for this trend for more "humanized" pet foods. Your pet doesn't need to eat a mash-up of meat byproducts, moldy grains, synthetics vitamins, fillers and chemical additives pressed into bite-size pieces (via toxic processing techniques) or dumped into a can. Your pet needs real, fresh, and unadulterated food, just like you do. The first can of "pet food" entered the marketplace roughly 100 years ago. Prior to that dogs and cats hunted themselves, scavenged, or relied on kind humans who shared their scraps. A farm dog's diet would be supplemented with what she could find, including litters of baby bunnies, berries, grass, seeds, nuts, poop, carrion (dead things) and a variety of other plants, along with whatever she hunted or was lucky enough to scavenge (including things like placenta from a recent birth, hooves from a recently trimmed horse, etc). Barn cats also controlled vermin populations on the farm well before "cat food" entered the market about 100 years ago. These cats took their jobs very seriously and led active lives, patrolling barns and ridding store houses of mice, moles, voles and other small prey. They fed themselves fresh food daily, but were also thankful for a saucer of fresh cow's milk the farmer regularly offered them, as well as food scraps put out for them on occasion. As our lives became busier and busier, we sought more convenient options for nourishing ourselves, and this "food on the go" concept was extended to pets, in the form of pre-packaged, "scoop and dump" pellets. After all, it was annoying the farm dog hunted his own food now and then; having a ready-to-feed pelleted food to offer dogs and cats would be so easy. Making healthful meals took time, money and energy. How nice would it be to not have our pets hunt, but also not be responsible for making food for them. And the pet food industry was born. Although "pet food" was introduced as an added convenience for the busy adult (and a great place to recycle human food waste into pet feed), it came with a hefty price tag in terms of animal health. Animals were meant to eat fresh food. But fresh food was, and is, not convenient. When we transitioned companion animals onto a ration of 100 percent processed canned and dried food, some interesting things started to happen. In the last 100 years, we've seen the dog and cat cancer rate soar; 1 in 3 cats will die of cancer, 1 in 2 dogs. We've seen the incidence of obesity and diabetes skyrocket. As a practicing vet, I see dogs with such horrific allergies they pull skin of their bodies; it's enough to stop and say to yourself, "I understand how we got here, but how do we undo what we've done?" The best way to heal your pet's body is with food. Whole, fresh, organic, and unadulterated food (like what they were eating prior to being duped into thinking we had to buy "pet food"). To mimic an ancestral diet, the absolute healthiest food for your pet is a nutritionally balanced, raw, or gently cooked diet that you make at home. Please understand that you can't simply "wing it" when it comes to making homemade pet food (an unbalanced homemade diet can be deadly to your pet, or at best make chronic health issues worse). That being said, if you're willing to learn how to do it right, making homemade pet food is something most pet owners can accomplish — and many come to enjoy. For more details, check out my interview with Pol Sandro-Yepes, a passionate pet lover who enjoys making his own homemade dog food (below). You can find recipes for an ancestrally balanced, homemade raw diet in the cookbook I co-authored, "Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats." What Are the Best Store-Bought Pet Foods? If you don't want to deal with balancing diets at home, choosing to feed pre-balanced, commercially available raw food, is a great choice. There are many small, amazing pet food companies now offering human-grade, organic, and free-range frozen foods that can be fed raw or gently cooked. A freeze-dried/dehydrated diet is also good (although less so than fresh). Human-grade canned food is a mid-range choice, but hard to find, followed by premium canned food. Dry foods, even higher-quality human-grade varieties, are less recommended because they are not biologically appropriate for dogs or cats. In the video below you can see my updated list of the best and worst foods to feed your pet. If you're at all unclear about what's healthy and what's not for your pet, this is the video to watch. The basic goal is to choose foods that will most closely mimic your dog or cat's carnivorous ancestral diet. Start by making even slight changes to your pet's diet, for instance feeding him whole foods for treats. Berries and fresh cubed meats are an excellent choice. You can also offer small amounts — no more than one-eighth-inch square for a cat or small dog and a one-quarter-inch square for bigger dogs — of other fruits (melons and apples, for example), as well as raw cheese. Many cats enjoy bits of zucchini or cantaloupe. You can also try offering some sardines packed in water, free-range quail or rabbit meat to your cat. Other treat options for dogs include cubed liver or heart, fresh or frozen peas and raw almonds, cashews, and Brazil nuts (but NEVER macadamia nuts). By feeding your pet healthier treats and moving your way up to a healthier overall diet as well, you can significantly improve his health and, likely, his lifespan. The good news is that many pet owners are moving this way already, and hopefully more pet-food manufacturers will follow suit by offering more high-quality, human-grade, and non-GMO real-food options for pets.

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archerbvth879-blog · 5 years ago

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How To Reduce The Impact Of Plastic Waste And Plastic Pollution, 51 Ways

What you have actually been waiting on, a long long list of methods you can decrease your plastic usage. You probably understand some already, but I hope that a number of these ideas are new and do-able. Simply think about the pacific garbage patch whenever you feel tempted to purchase water, get a to-go cup or buy liquid laundry detergent.

Keep in mind: Many of these tips are to reduce your waste, which will in turn minimize your usage of plastic trash bags.

Here we go:

1. Bring your own cloth bags to the supermarket (or any shop!).

2. Don't purchase beverages bottles in plastic. Glass is fantastic.

3. Bring your own reusable steel or ceramic drink container. If they're too expensive, use a glass mason container! Heavy, however cheap.

4. Don't get to-go coffee or hot beverages. Your beverage cover and cup will live on for over 100 years! The lids and lining are plastic. Bring your own or request for a ceramic, multiple-use cup.

5. Go to the farmer's market and purchase freshfruits and veggies (not packaged in plastic).

6. Don't purchase convenience foods bundles in plastic.

7. Make your own bread.

8. Purchase bread from bakeshops that plan in paper.

9. Clean with baking soda and vinegar rather of cleaners packaged in plastic.

10. Buy laundry cleaning agent in boxes, not liquid in plastic containers.

11. Purchase farm fresh eggs in reusable paper containers.

12. Get your cheese from the deli and put it in your own container (glass or a plastic one plastic pollution that you already have, do not waste what you already have!) or get it covered in paper.

13. Buy your meat from the deli and have it covered in paper.

14. Bundle your leftovers in corningware.

15. Bring your own containers to dining establishments to package leftovers.

16. Usage bar soap to clean your meals. Dr. Bronner's is perfect.

17. Stop using antiperspirant or antiperspirant. It's not natural to avoid yourself from sweating. Usage perfume in a glass bottle if you want a nice odor.

18. Do not utilize air fresheners. Light a candle light or incense rather.

19. Shop all your food in glass containers. If you buy something bottled in glass, clean it and recycle it!

20. Buy bulk cereal, bring your own paper bags.

21. Purchase tortilla chips packaged in paper bags.

22. Buy bulk coffee packaged in paper or in cans, or bring your own bags.

23. Buy milk in paper containers.

24. Buy peanut butter that is packaged in glass containers.

25. Buy bar soap, not liquid body wash.

26. Garden compost your garbage, decrease your use of plastic garbage bags.

27. Line little trash bins in your home with paper bags.

28. When ordering beverages, say "no straw please!"

29. Buy real maple syrup (can be found in glass bottles) we get ours at Trader Joes.

30. Buy toilet paper that is wrapped in paper, not plastic.

31. Do not utilize ziploc. If you require to keep things like half an onion (happens to all of us the time!) use aluminum or waxy paper.

32. Usage fabric rags for tidy up around your home, no paper towels-- decreases your garbage and need for trash bags.

33. Usage matches rather of plastic encased lighters. They normally provide to you for free at the alcohol store.

34. Usage cloth napkins. They feel nice and lower your waste and usage of plastic trash bags.

35. If you want a fun beverage, buy chocolate milk in a container or apple juice in glass bottle. You can likewise ferment your own beverages in glass mason jars.

36. Bring your own bag to all shops you go shopping in and state "no bag required, thanks!"

37. Put empty cardboard boxes in your cars and truck to carry heavy items to and from your vehicle without a bag.

38. Say "paper not plastic" at the grocery store.

39. Don't use plastic cutting boards. Usage wood or glass.

40. Use child bottlesmade of glass.

41. Use stainless-steel sippy cups for kids.

42. Usage cloth based toys for your pets, like catnip mice and soft squishy balls.

43. Purchase cloth diapers. Lots of terrific varieties available and much better for your infant. We fill a very bowl size hole every day with disposal diapers that will leach toxic substances into the environment for centuries to come.

44. Buy CDs packaged in cardboard sleeves or buy your music online.

45. Use spam and other paper to stuff into huge plans to deliver instead of bubble wrap or air filled plastic.

46. Usage real silverware for celebrations rather of plastic.

47. Use rechargeable batteries to decrease purchasing batteries packaged in plastic.

48. Make a compost heap to decrease your food waste and put it back into the earth.

49. Use a multiple-use cloth bag or old fashioned steel lunch box to bring your lunch to work or school.

50. Make your own yogurt in glass mason containers. It's simple!

youtube

#plastic waste #plastic pollution #plastic #waste #pollution #environment #act now #act #now #actnoweco #eco

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archerbvth879-blog · 5 years ago

Text

How To Reduce The Impact Of Plastic Waste And Plastic Pollution, 51 Ways

What you've been awaiting, a long long list of methods you can lower your plastic usage. You probably know some currently, but I hope that many of these concepts are brand-new and do-able. Just think about the pacific trash spot whenever you feel lured to purchase water, get a to-go cup or purchase liquid laundry detergent.

Keep in mind: Much of these tips are to decrease your waste, which will in turn lower your usage of plastic trash bags.

Here we go:

1. Bring your own fabric bags to the supermarket (or any shop!).

2. Don't buy beverages bottles in plastic. Glass is excellent.

3. Carry your own reusable steel or ceramic beverage container. If they're too costly, use a glass mason jar! Heavy, but low-cost.

4. Do not get to-go coffee or hot drinks. Your beverage cover and cup will live on for over 100 years! The lids and lining are plastic. Bring your own or request for a ceramic, multiple-use cup.

5. Go to the farmer's market and purchase freshfruits and veggies (not packaged in plastic).

6. Do not purchase convenience foods plans in plastic.

7. Make your own bread.

8. Purchase bread from bakeries that package in paper.

9. Clean with baking soda and vinegar instead of cleaners packaged in plastic.

10. Purchase laundry detergent in boxes, not liquid in plastic containers.

11. Buy farm fresh eggs in recyclable paper containers.

12. Get your cheese from the deli and put it in your own container (glass or a plastic one that you currently have, do not lose what you already have!) or get it wrapped in paper.

13. Buy your meat from the deli and have it wrapped in paper.

14. Plan your leftovers in corningware.

15. Bring your own containers to restaurants to package leftovers.

16. Use bar soap to clean your meals. Dr. Bronner's is ideal.

17. Stop utilizing antiperspirant or antiperspirant. It's not natural to prevent yourself from sweating. Usage perfume in a glass bottle if you desire a nice odor.

18. Do not utilize air fresheners. Light a candle light or incense instead.

19. Store all your food in glass containers. If you purchase something bottled in glass, clean it and reuse it!

20. Buy bulk cereal, bring your own paper bags.

21. Purchase tortilla chips packaged in paper bags.

22. Buy bulk coffee packaged in paper or in cans, or bring your own bags.

23. Buy milk in paper cartons.

24. Purchase peanut butter that is packaged in glass containers.

25. Buy bar soap, not liquid body wash.

26. Compost your garbage, minimize your usage of plastic garbage bags.

27. Line little trash can in your home with paper bags.

28. When ordering beverages, state "no straw please!"

29. Buy genuine maple syrup (comes in glass bottles) we get ours at Trader Joes.

30. Buy bathroom tissue that is covered in paper, not plastic.

31. Don't utilize ziploc. If you need to keep things like half an onion (happens to all of us the time!) usage aluminum or waxy paper.

32. Use fabric rags for clean up around your house, no paper towels-- minimizes your trash and require for trash bags.

33. Use matches instead of plastic encased lighters. They normally give them to you totally free at the liquor shop.

34. Use fabric napkins. They feel nice and decrease your waste and use of plastic trash bags.

35. If you want a fun beverage, buy chocolate milk in a container or apple juice in glass bottle. You can likewise ferment your own beverages in glass mason containers.

36. Bring your own bag to all stores you go shopping in and say "no bag required, thanks!"

37. Put empty cardboard boxes in plastic pollution your cars and truck to transport heavy items to and from your automobile without a bag.

38. State "paper not plastic" at the grocery store.

39. Don't utilize plastic cutting boards. Use wood or glass.

40. Usage baby bottlesmade of glass.

41. Use stainless-steel sippy cups for kids.

42. Use cloth based toys for your pets, like catnip mice and soft squishy balls.

43. Buy cloth diapers. Many excellent varieties readily available and better for your infant. We fill a very bowl size hole every day with disposal diapers that will seep contaminants into the environment for centuries to come.

44. Buy CDs packaged in cardboard sleeves or buy your music online.

45. Use spam and other paper to pack into huge bundles to ship instead of bubble wrap or air filled plastic.

46. Use real flatware for celebrations rather of plastic.

47. Usage rechargeable batteries to minimize purchasing batteries packaged in plastic.

48. Make a compost heap to reduce your food waste and put it back into the earth.

49. Utilize a multiple-use fabric bag or old fashioned steel lunch box to carry your lunch to work or school.

50. Make your own yogurt in glass mason jars. It's easy!

youtube

#plastic waste #plastic pollution #plastic #waste #pollution #environment #act now #act #now #actnoweco #eco

0 notes

archerbvth879-blog · 5 years ago

Text

How To Reduce The Impact Of Plastic Waste And Plastic Pollution, 51 Ways

What you have actually been waiting on, a long long list of methods you can decrease your plastic use. You probably know some already, however I hope that a number of these concepts are new and do-able. Simply think of the pacific garbage patch whenever you feel tempted to purchase water, get a to-go cup or purchase liquid laundry detergent.

Note: Much of these ideas are to decrease your waste, which will in turn minimize your usage of plastic trash bags.

Here we go:

1. Bring your own cloth bags to the supermarket (or any shop!).

2. Do not purchase beverages bottles in plastic. Glass is great.

3. Bring your own multiple-use steel or ceramic drink container. If they're too pricey, use a glass mason jar! Heavy, but cheap.

4. Don't get to-go coffee or hot beverages. Your beverage cover and cup will survive on for over 100 years! The covers and lining are plastic. Bring your own or request a ceramic, recyclable cup.

5. Go to the farmer's market and purchase freshfruits and veggies (not packaged in plastic).

6. Don't purchase benefit foods bundles in plastic.

7. Make your own bread.

8. Purchase bread from bakeries that plan in paper.

9. Clean with baking soda and vinegar rather of cleaners packaged in plastic.

10. Purchase laundry cleaning agent in boxes, not liquid in plastic containers.

11. Purchase farm fresh eggs in recyclable paper containers.

12. Get your cheese from the deli and place it in your own container (glass or a plastic one that you currently have, do not lose what you currently have!) or get it wrapped in paper.

13. Purchase your meat from the deli and have it covered in paper.

14. Bundle your leftovers in corningware.

15. Bring your own containers to restaurants to package leftovers.

16. Usage bar soap to wash your plastic pollution meals. Dr. Bronner's is ideal.

17. Stop utilizing antiperspirant or antiperspirant. It's not natural to avoid yourself from sweating. Use fragrance in a glass bottle if you desire a great smell.

18. Do not use air fresheners. Light a candle light or incense rather.

19. Store all your food in glass containers. If you buy something bottled in glass, clean it and recycle it!

20. Buy bulk cereal, bring your own paper bags.

21. Buy tortilla chips packaged in paper bags.

22. Buy bulk coffee packaged in paper or in cans, or bring your own bags.

23. Purchase milk in paper cartons.

24. Buy peanut butter that is packaged in glass containers.

25. Buy bar soap, not liquid body wash.

26. Garden compost your trash, lower your usage of plastic trash bags.

27. Line little trash bins in your house with paper bags.

28. When ordering beverages, say "no straw please!"

29. Buy real maple syrup (comes in glass bottles) we get ours at Trader Joes.

30. Buy toilet paper that is covered in paper, not plastic.

31. Do not use ziploc. If you require to keep things like half an onion (occurs to us all the time!) usage aluminum or waxy paper.

32. Usage fabric rags for clean up around your house, no paper towels-- lowers your trash and require for trash bags.

33. Use matches rather of plastic encased lighters. They typically give them to you totally free at the liquor store.

34. Use fabric napkins. They feel great and decrease your waste and use of plastic garbage bags.

35. If you desire a fun beverage, purchase chocolate milk in a container or apple juice in glass bottle. You can also ferment your own drinks in glass mason jars.

36. Bring your own bag to all stores you go shopping in and say "no bag needed, thanks!"

37. Put empty cardboard boxes in your vehicle to carry heavy items to and from your automobile without a bag.

38. Say "paper not plastic" at the grocery store.

39. Don't utilize plastic cutting boards. Usage wood or glass.

40. Use baby bottlesmade of glass.

41. Usage stainless-steel sippy cups for kids.

42. Usage fabric based toys for your pets, like catnip mice and soft squishy balls.

43. Purchase fabric diapers. Many great ranges available and much better for your infant. We fill a very bowl size hole every day with disposal diapers that will leach toxic substances into the environment for centuries to come.

44. Buy CDs packaged in cardboard sleeves or buy your music online.

45. Usage junk mail and other paper to pack into big packages to ship instead of bubble wrap or air filled plastic.

46. Use genuine silverware for celebrations rather of plastic.

47. Usage rechargeable batteries to decrease buying batteries packaged in plastic.

48. Make a compost pile to decrease your food waste and put it back into the earth.

49. Utilize a reusable cloth bag or old fashioned steel lunch box to bring your lunch to work or school.

50. Make your own yogurt in glass mason jars. It's simple!

youtube

#plastic waste #plastic pollution #plastic #waste #pollution #environment #act now #act #now #actnoweco #eco

0 notes