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ill-skillsgard · 6 years ago

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Bred For Blood - Part 4 - The Chrysalis

Title: Bred For Blood

Warning: 18+ for mature themes, eventual smut, swearing, gore/violence, mentions of rape, slow burn, ridiculous AU character crossovers

Characters: AU Zeitgeist, AU Ivar Lothbrok and more AU Skarsgårds

Description: If they thought surviving Year Zero was bad enough, the rise of the Scavengers, Poachers, Bounty Hunters and the self-proclaimed Kings of Kinderfeld were sure to put their survival instincts to the ultimate test. A young Survivor meets an acid-gun slinging headhunter with a knack for melting faces and connections to the prodigal Utopia embedded in the heart of a deadly yet plenteous forest. But what happens when she has to swear fealty between a hunter who means to protect her, a king whose promises are boundless or a brilliant scientist with a mind capable of preserving the human race?

A/N: I’m super happy that people have been liking this story. Thanks to everyone that takes time out of their days or nights to cast thine eyes upon my brain spit. You guys are fun and I like you. Reblogs/comments always treasured! Kisses!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

When all the ammunition was exhausted, the grenades unpinned and the more helpless Zeronauts retreated into their squalid shacks, the dust hardly had time to settle before Zed turned her pistol on Axel. The hunter looked over his shoulder to see if he had maybe missed one of the animals but saw nothing but dead bodies laying lifeless and bloodied in the dirt. It was then he realized that she was aiming the barrel of the gun right between his eyes. Axel lifted his hands, scoffing in disbelief as warm blood trailed down his temples to drip off his jaw. They were both panting, filthy and worn out from the carnage that they had unleashed on Zeronaut Village after they had emerged from the storehouse carrying all the weapons that the animals stowed away for safe keeping. The women and young ones that begged for mercy watched as the two strangers that had come into the village the night before laid waste to the monkeys, rabbits and plague doctors from bullet holes and cracks in their dented homes. "Zed... It's done. Put the gun down." "No! It's not fucking done! Shut your mouth!" Her voice shook but its volume did not recede. Axel turned toward her with his hands still up, a gesture of his surrender. He knew what this was about but he hadn't expected her to turn on him so quickly. He thought they would have at least driven away from the violated commune so they didn't draw more audience. Her anger was just reaching its peak and he suddenly became uncertain that she wouldn't blow him away. Not after seeing the level of savagery she had demonstrated when she had gunned down a dozen men in cartoon masks. "Zed, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm so beyond sorry! You don't even know—" "Shut up!" She yelled. "Can't you stop running your fucking mouth for one goddamn second? Why do you always have to fucking talk!?" Axel shrugged. "You going to kill me too, Zed? Is that what's going to happen?" She took another step closer to him and attempted to steady the gun in her trembling hand. "I have never wanted to slaughter somebody so badly in my entire life! All of this is your fault! I wish that you would have never saved me from those fucking Scavs! I would be dead right now and never had the misfortune of meeting somebody as vile and disgusting as you!" Axel's face adopted the same look of viciousness that hers did. "Hey! I saved your fucking ungrateful ass! Twice now! And this is how you wanna thank me!?" "Thank you? What the fuck do I have to thank you for? For leading me right into a trap? For letting these assholes look at my body?" "I did what I had to do to protect you! I had a fucking gun to my head! What was I supposed to do in that situation, Zed? You know I wouldn't have allowed anything to happen to you!" "There you go with the 'you know me' bullshit! No! I don't know you! All I know is that you're a vulgar piece of shit and I hate you!" "Good! Hate me all you want! You can despise me and curse me and call me any fucking name you want but the fact is, I fucking saved you and I didn't have to! I could have let those Scavs fuck you bloody! I could have left you stranded in the desert. I could have let those Looney Toon psychopaths eat you up! If I didn't have you with me, I'd be fucking home by now living like a goddamn king! But I'm putting my ass on the line to take you to a place where nobody will fuck with you again." Zed's arm began to shake more and she struggled to hold the gun still. The weight of it strained her sore muscles and the emotions that surged had finally drained her of her last dredges of energy. The adrenaline that had pumped through her veins made it difficult to breathe without wavering. After all was said and done, Axel was right, and she knew that, but her humiliation was so fresh that it felt like she was still without her clothes. Zed knew it wasn't what Axel intended to happen but his eyes had been on her as well and she could tell by the way he avoided looking at her that guilt was fizzing inside of him. "Why?" She whispered, lowering the gun before her arm gave out. "Why what?" "Why go through all of this? If you could have been living like a king right now, why did you bother with me?" Axel took a step toward her but she retreated immediately and he froze for a moment, lowered his hands and sighed. "I know it's probably hard for you to believe but when I see people like you being taken advantage of... It... It makes me crazy. I'm not a bad guy, Zed. I don't want to kill anyone and I especially don't want to see others being tortured and killed if I can do anything about it. I know you're tough and you can hold your own but you're not as ruthless as most of the fucks left on this dead, shit, dirt planet. Well..." Axel paused to look around at the destruction that they had equal parts in creating, the bodies already attracting flies. "Maybe you are now but... Goddamn it, Zed. I wasn't just going to leave you." "You're stupid," Zed mumbled. "Yeah, I am. So deal with it or don't. You can take the rover and leave if you want to. I won't stop you. Or, we can both get in and I'll take you to a place where you will always be safe and you never have to worry about anyone defiling you ever again." Zed tossed the gun down in the dirt and let out a long shaky breath. "Okay. Let's just go." "Yes, good! Let's get the fuck out of here already." She wiped her gritty forehead of the sweat that beaded on her skin. All she wanted was to lay down for a while and not worry about who was lurking around the corner waiting for her to shut her eyes. She had had enough of the villains she met at every stop of the unpredictable journey she had embarked on with Axel. As much as she hated him, there was no way she could murder him now. She owed Axel a debt and she would never say it out loud but it was there, hanging over her head like a thick rain cloud. They left the village with a significantly lower population and many more weapons and supplies than what they had arrived with. Axel was still bleeding from a deep cut in his head and Zed's muscles screamed in agony. She leaned back in her seat as they picked up speed and breathed in the hot noon air. Her pulse that had been pumping harshly in her ringing ears began to level out, the sun baking the sweat on their skin. Smeared with dirt, blood and tears, Axel began to laugh when he remembered that earlier that day he had taken a bath. Zed mustered a glance in his direction and chuckled to herself before closing her eyes, tipping her face to the sky like a battered sunflower trying to follow the light. The bloodbath that they had left behind played in Axel's head; a broken reel from another waking nightmare. Not a man to typically regret anything, he knew that the memory of today would live forever inside of him. Zed fell asleep almost as soon as they rode off and for that, he was grateful. She didn't deserve this. He shouldn't have stayed any longer in the supplanted commune surrounded by lunatics in masks. It was foolish of him to think he could trust anybody out in the desert. Zed had been right; it was all his fault. He strolled right into a giant rat trap and they were lucky to not have succumbed to the poison laid out for them. Flashes of Zed's shaking body choked him up while he drove. The grievous sight of her taking off of her clothes in the middle of that dingy warehouse with all of those venomous bloodshot eyes shooting holes into her made him grip the steering wheel harder. He was still sweating even though the wind had picked up and blew through his blood-crusted hair. If he hadn't concerned himself with hygiene they could have left unscathed. Or perhaps, he thought, the Zeronauts hadn't had any intentions on letting them leave at all. That was the very last time Axel would ever invest an iota of good faith in anybody. Glancing quickly at Zed, he wondered if he should be wary of her too. She had turned a gun on him, threatened to shoot right between his eyes and if he was having a moment of inner honesty, he feared that if he hadn't been so good at talking himself out of sticky situations, she may have left him dead in the dirt as well. Zed was just as capable of brutality as anyone and he had now witnessed it on more than one occasion. He hadn't met a woman in all of the miles he travelled through the desert that wouldn't hesitate to stab a man in his ear canal or reduce someone's head to a bowl of brain soup, and that scared him. Was this a trait she had picked up as a Survivor or was she merely adopting the behaviours she had been subjected to, he wondered. He was going to take a long break from headhunting once they arrived at Kinderfeld. Even if Ivar had contracts for him, Axel needed a vacation from all the violence and carnage. He wasn't lying when he told Zed that he didn't enjoy killing people, he had only realized early on that it was the easiest way to get what he needed in the godforsaken world that they had been left with. The bloodthirst of other men was the only surefire way for him to provide and protect himself and his brother. Never had Axel missed his brother as much as he did at that moment and the closer they got to the gates of Kinderfeld, the more excited he became to see the face of somebody that didn't completely resent him. Axel hoped that, with time, Zed might learn to forgive him and understand that what he did back in the warehouse was only meant to help them in their dire predicament. The betrayal that had flashed across her frightened face when he screamed at her to undress made his stomach twist so hard that he had to look over at her limp body in the passenger seat just to remember that it was all behind them now. Yes, he would be having nightmares for many weeks to come. The air started to smell sweeter and puffs of fluffy white clouds appeared in the bright sky. More patches of grass cropped up and that's when he knew that just over the ridge of the next hill, they would be able to look across and see the green border that separated Kinderfeld from the rest of the world. Axel poked Zed's arm but she did not stir. "Zed, wake up!" He called to her. Her eyelids peeled apart as she drew in a waking breath. He had eased up on the gas and coasted to a stop at the top of the grassy ridge so they could look out at the seemingly neverending sprawl of trees. From the flattened platform of the hill, the forest looked like a thick blanket of green mushrooms. A touch of mist veiled the furthest reaches of the land and Zed couldn't believe her eyes. She straightened in her seat, a grating mix of emotions turning her words to vapor on her tongue. "This is it?" She asked. Axel pointed ahead, "Can you see that dome over there? It's nestled right at the bottom of that elevation. See it?" Zed stood up so she could find what Axel was pointing out. Then she saw it glinting like a single nebulous opal in a sea of emeralds. It was just one of many structures, Axel explained to her but the biggest and most noticeable one. The dome that arced out from the viridian waves was the central power house of the entire city. Plated with solar-panels, it drank rays from the sun and converted it to pure energy to power the lights and luxuries that Zed hadn't experienced since the dawning of Year Zero. "I can't believe this," she whispered in awe. "I told you. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Wait until we get closer. You can't see even an eighth of the city from here." "And there are no spores?" Zed asked. Axel drew in a breath that trembled in his lungs. "There are in certain areas. Remember Betsy?" "How could I forget?" "They have farms for those bastards. I guess they want to study them... Gather information about them so they can work on developing a serum that will help people." "A new vaccination?" "Yeah. So that us Uns can survive in places where there are plants for more than a couple weeks." Zed lowered herself back into her seat and grimaced. She thought of her father then and wished that she hadn't abandoned her home as quickly as she had when the fleets flew in. For her entire life leading up to that point she had always had access to materials on Palynology. She could have been of some help if she had only chosen to follow in her father's footsteps or at least thought to rescue some of his research. "And that's what your brother does?" "Yes. Among many other things." "I can't wait to meet him." Axel sighed with a touch of a smile on his lips. "I can't wait to see him. It's been so long. I don't think I'll be leaving again for a while." "That's good," Zed nodded. "You should take a break from all this." "I want to. Now, hang tight. We're going in," Axel said as he lifted his mask up. "You're going to be okay to go in?" "Should be fine. Unless that shot we found wasn't bright blood. I guess we'll see." Zed swallowed hard. She wasn't sure if she could prepare herself for what she was about to see. Even with the teardrop scar on her arm, she had been conditioned for so long to think that green meant bad, and there they were, practically nose-diving into a limitless world of it. As they edged up to a clearing packed down with tire tracks, she held her breath. The shade of the forest canopy was cool and made her shiver. Axel slowed the rover to a crawl as the suspension wobbled and pitched over rocks, humps and broken tree branches. She could not believe her eyes when she looked up and saw the legions of mossy trunks towering up to the sky. All around the forest was matted with vegetation and she could not see anything besides what was directly in front of them. The path was wide and had been carved with two parallel indentations from the vehicles coming and going but they still couldn't see around a turn until they turned onto it. Zed shied from the waxy palms that reached out from the edges of the path to brush over her bare arm and shoulders as though greeting her with outstretched hands. The air tasted fresh and moist, much more soothing than the dry heat she was used to. She could feel her skin getting dewy from something other than sweat. From the ridge where they had parked for a moment to gaze over the land, the forest looked like a slice of paradise but once they were weaving through the felled logs and boulders bristling with tawny fungus, Zed thought it more treacherous than the desolated sands of the dry desert. She was still shaken from their fight and worried they would happen upon some new terrible inconvenience, another savage with a weapon poised to wound. "You have nothing to worry about, Zed. That teardrop on your arm is your all-access pass to the world," Axel remarked. "I know, it's just... You never stop fearing." "Don't I fucking know it," he replied before launching a string of white spit over his shoulder to catch on the spaded leaves of a rubber tree. "They obviously wanted you alive." Zed didn't care what anyone said about the vaccinations. Her father had told her to remain skeptical about everything she heard unless she could prove for herself without a fragment of a doubt that it was true and without a proper lab, she still had her doubts about the scar on her arm; the mark of the bright-blooded, the planet's mercy. The path straightened out and far ahead she saw the first glimpse of the Kinderfeld gates; two massive metal sliding barricades heavily guarded by uniformed men carrying guns vaguely resembling the acid-spitting rifle that Axel had. She tossed a worried glance at Axel and he nodded, acknowledging her nervousness so as to make her feel like her fears were warranted but unnecessary. "Don't worry. I have clearance," he claimed. They were halted ten yards from the gates and approached by two armed men wearing face masks similar to Axel's but theirs were dark red and fasted by two adjustable straps around the crown and base of the skull. They had on army-issued helmets and bulletproof vests. One of them hung back with his right index finger gracing a well-oiled trigger while the other one approached Axel's side of the rover with his gun pointed non-threateningly at the ground. "Well, well, well. Look at what the shitstorm blew in! The mighty Zee has returned home and with lots and lots of goodies for King Ivar." Axel shook his head in good humour. "It's mostly stuff for the labs. You really think me so indebted to Ivar?" "King Ivar," the other man corrected. The headhunter scoffed and jabbed his thumb in the direction of the soldier that had taken offence to the informal address. The guard next to Axel gestured for his partner to stand down. He backed off by one step but did not let his finger off the trigger. "This guy new?" Axel asked as he stuffed his hand into his pocket to pull out his pack of cigarettes. "Second week on the job," the guard chuckled. "Ah," Axel nodded. "I'm Zeitgeist... One of King Ivar's liaisons. You'll get to know me, officer, if you haven't already heard of me." The guard that had corrected Axel's address grimaced even more and still showed no intention of yielding his glare. "I've heard of you." "And who might this be?" The friendlier guard looked Zed over. "This is a scientist I met on my travels. Her name is Zed. She's come with me to help Vee in the lab. No better Brightling brainiac for miles. Ivar will be happy to have her, I'm sure." "Sorry, Zee. You know the protocol. Can't let anybody in without clearance from the King." "Come on, man. I'm tired, concussed and I haven't been home in over a month. She's with me." "Don't worry, Zee, we have walky-talkies now. Shouldn't take too long to get you in." Axel sighed dramatically and leaned back in his seat as he searched himself for his lighter. The guard that had been fingering the trigger of his gun watched Axel and though his eyes were visored and his face mask was up, Zed could see that his mouth was set in a thin frown. "Bold-N-Bright, I got Zee at the gates and he has a woman with him. Says she's a scientist. Requesting clearance." Axel lit his cigarette and took two exaggerated puffs before blowing the smoke at the guard who had been showing them silent contempt. They waited to hear back from whoever was on the other end of the radio in strained silence. The guard looked disappointed after the radio call came back in to let them through, unhappy that he didn't get to point his gun at anyone's face, namely, Axel's. Zed looked at the bounty hunter smirking around the filter of his cigarette and thought that he had the kind of face that could piss off a lot of people with minimal effort. He was flippant, over-confident and the perfect target for trigger-happy gunmen itching to fire off some rounds after weeks of no action. It didn't help that Axel was still covered with dried flaky blood and blowing white smoke rings from his satisfied lips as though he were the most relaxed he had ever been in his life. She still hadn't forgiven him, not totally and her trust was non-existent but if what he said about Kinderfeld being a safe place turned out to be true, she would consider thanking him. Until she was certain that her life was not in danger, everything seemed a threat. But they opened the gates for them and stepped aside, clicking the safety hammers back on, a relieving sound to Zed. Axel took off the brake and gave a royal wave as they took slow passage after a button was pressed to open the metal gates. Zed looked to the left and right and saw nothing but shiny reflective walls mirroring the wild foliage of the forest. She peered into the entrance; a glass tunnel wrapped with vine clusters and leaves grown in the shape of the tall archway. Blades of sunlight shot through and the decadent fuchsia of wild orchids cast a warm glow on them as they crawled through the curving entrance. The light looked pink on Axel's pale skin but Zed's seemed to absorb the orange from the creamy plumerias overhead. They eased through a kaleidoscope of plush colours that she didn't know she had missed until they were twinkling in her eyes. Zed had grown so accustomed to monochromia and the glare of the desert that lush green and royal purple blooms were a treat for her eyes. She marvelled at the curved structure exploding with blooms and buds until they reached another set of metal doors that opened into a large cubic warehouse. It was home to all manner of vehicles; dirt bikes, dune buggies, four-wheeled rovers and one rusty battle tank that looked like it had been out of commission for years. The ceiling had wide open sky windows and the strip lights were wired into what Zed assumed was the same kind of solar panelling she had seen on the outside of the dome when they had stopped on the mountainside. "This is what I like to call the Valet. You have to leave your vehicles here. Even dirt bikes. Can't really bring these things into the place," Axel explained. They pulled into a spot to park that was sanctioned off by yellow paint on a smooth gray stone floor. The warehouse could have housed a few dozen full-sized vehicles but there wasn't much more than what she saw which made the vast space seem empty. But they weren't the only ones in the warehouse. There was a man strapping himself into a zippy little one -person dune buggy and gave Axel a nod as he tore out of the warehouse and exited through the way they had just come through. "Certain people can come and go but most choose to stay here. Ivar has the place at capacity and they stopped building structures eight months ago. The flow of people has been restricted." "So it's not a city?" "It's more like a village, really. A nice one. There are the housing blocks and then there are more common areas like the library and the courtyard. Don't get me wrong though, the courtyard is huge and that's where a lot of inner commerce happens. People with two-way clearance can come and go as they please, taking things out to trade or bringing in things that we need. It isn't overly difficult to get two-way but, as I said, most people choose to just stay when they get here." "And where does the King live?" "King Ivar spends most of his time in the Chrysalis." "The Chrysalis? Sounds... Ominous." "It's kind of beautiful. Weird... But beautiful," Axel chuckled with a hint of unease. "You might like it though. Ivar chooses to live how he wants. That's the beauty of it all, I guess. He's created this zen little commune but with power and a lot less sand than what you're used to. Fans and water distribution. It's pretty fucking ritzy by today's standards." "What about food?" "There's a couple of big greenhouses and a farm. Nothing excessive though. There's not a lot of animals being bred. It's not really as big of a priority as growing cruciferous vegetables and harvesting fruit and water." Zed gave Axel a brief smile and he smiled back. "See? I'm a forward-thinking guy too. I understand the importance of conservation. I'm not a total idiot." "I never said you were." "Oh, I'm pretty sure you have on multiple occasions now. But that's fine. We'll introduce you to Vee and hopefully... I mean... If you want, you can check out the lab or whatever. I saw you poking around at Glott's place. Might be something you'd be interested in pursuing. Then you won't have to see my nasty mug every damn day." Zed looked at the cement floor as they walked and thought hard about what Axel said. She had so many questions and she was anxious about meeting other people. Everyone that Axel had ever introduced her to had been a mad man and she didn't want to be in the presence of violent tendencies any longer. The closer they got to the exit the more she heard from beyond the warehouse walls; voices and many of them. She shied away from the guards with polished wooden bats and everyone else she saw as they made their way to the overhead door that had already been drawn up at the beginning of the day to allow entrance to the courtyard. The courtyard was a vast sphere made of checkerboard panel. One square of the board was clear and let in the light of midday and the next was metal. On the outside of the dome, the solar panels glinted. It was an elaborate, large-scale version of what she had been trying to accomplish with her plane. The glass panels let in the light throughout the day and at night the lights came on so people could freely wander in a labyrinth constructed of half spheres, safe from the brutal elements of what now grew in the forests. If the structures didn't exist, they would be embroiled in the thickest parts of treacherous land. That's what made it so amazing to Zed; it was in the middle of the place they were supposed to be avoided at all costs. Yet she walked across level ground made of poured cement and insulated walls that must have taken teams of trained workers to construct. "I don't understand. How is this place possible?" "It was built by Brightlings. Don't you ever wonder why certain people were immunized and most were not?" "That's just a conspiracy theory." "One that has been proven right to me time and time again. Every Brightling I've ever met has made me realize that they selected certain people to stay alive on this planet. Capable people... Smart people. Members of the population with gifts. Call it the honour roll." Zed remembered Axel's fake scar and said nothing. It couldn't have been true. If only people of a certain intelligence had received immunization that must have meant her parents had received the vaccine as well. She couldn't picture them alive though, as much as she wanted to. And if they were still alive, she had no idea where to begin looking for them. The lands subjected to the downpour had been taken back by the Earth, devastated by the outbreak of spores. Most places had become unrecognizable beneath the clutches of nature. Where once great cities stood now laid crushed husks of architectural memories crawling with vegetation and fungus. Her hometown would have been indistinguishable from the next. "Even though this place was built by your kind, I would say there's an equal amount of Brightlings to the Uns. Ivar doesn't believe in segregation of any race, gender or immunization record. As long as you can prove yourself to be a useful member of society, you're welcome here. Well... Not so much anymore. The only new people being brought in here unannounced are babies and I suppose guests of honour, like yourself." "So there is a hierarchy. You get special privileges that others don't?" "I'm trusted around here. Ivar knows my worth and we see eye-to-eye most of the time. I can do what I want just like he can do what he wants and she can do what she wants," Axel pointed at people occupying benches, laying on circles of blue, yellow and green crocheted blankets with fat pillows in heaps on the floor. There were some areas strewn with salvaged carpeting where small booths were set up for hair-braiding and grooming. Zed thought it odd to see a line of women sitting one in front of the other putting intricate braids into the hair of the woman that sat before the next. People seemed to wear what they wanted rather it be flowing silk sarongs, robes, dyed tunics, tank tops, pants, skirts, no shirts, tangerine and magenta sarees and many average article of clothing that may have been looted from somewhere far or near. They had what they had and that seemed like enough to them. There were wooden tables set up where Citizens served ruby liquid from jugs and ceramic pitchers. Axel pointed at a man and a woman doling out these cups of sloshing liquid to grateful patrons. "Those two grow strawberries and weed. They make juice out of both. They're always at celebrations." "What is celebrated here? I thought displays of religion were taboo." Axel sighed as they strolled through the center of the courtyard and around a white medical tent that had been erected for blood donation. "Everything and nothing at all gets celebrated here. I don't know... It's hard to explain. Sometimes one person could just be in a good mood and it's a call to arms. People play music and dance. Ivar has his own parties in his palace and sometimes he invites anyone that wants to come. Sometimes, he throws more private affairs." "Sounds suggestive." "It is," Axel pointed out. "Oh," said Zed. "Ivar is King of the hedonists. You'll understand soon. The Chrysalis is right through there," Axel pointed across the courtyard at an archway that was guarded by three men dressed in matching uniforms. They all carried the same kind of black clubs she had noticed the warehouse guards carried. The guards nodded their heads at Axel as they walked on by into another bending entrance. The hall was festooned with passion flowers that gazed down at them with exploding eyes of purple, vines draped over the clear tunnel in tangles and Blue Morpho butterflies flitting from blossom to blossom, kissing the petals as they passed their tiger-striped cousins. Running along the top of the tunnel were thin strings of twinkling lights that caught the verdigris and violets, refracting the rich colours of the forest onto the polished floor of the tunnel. "Wow. This is beautiful," Zed whispered. Her voice echoed down the hall as their footsteps proceeded them. Soon the shining lacquer of the floor was covered by intricately patterned oriental rugs and the temperature of the air grew balmy. A sweet, malty smell of vanilla and resinous wood filled their nostrils and Axel smiled as the memories of many nights spent on the cushioned floors of the Chrysalis resurfaced. Visions of toasted almond tarts, honeyed berries, fragrant herbal teas and so many topless women made him feel giddy to return to the epicurean comforts that cupped the hive of chambers in warm, temperate hands. Hands that stroked, nurtured and embellished with finery. There were no guards in Ivar's palace, only people that wished to get drunk off the vaporous pheromones that wafted through the swaying silk and satin drapes. A bone-white stone statue of an African woman stood in permanent melancholic tableau at the center of the chamber, her wrists bound in maroon silk that hung from gold hooks in the ceiling. Zed scoffed at the statue and clenched her fists against her hips. "What is that supposed to symbolize?" Axel rose his hands to her. "I didn't put her there!" Bowls of dried flowers had been set out and dozens of squat white candles burned around them. The floral perfume was hazy and stung Zed's nostrils. Couples and triples lounged together on feather-stuffed beds draped in velour and cashmere blankets. Her eyes and cheeks burned pink when she saw two women licking each other between the legs as a few watched in varying states of their own arousal. "Really?" She asked Axel shrugged his shoulders and moved Zed along passed tall silver candelabras coated with layers of black wax. Some of the pitting inside the curved walls were caverns of fat pillows and overstuffed slabs, hidden behind layers of sheer lace. Teardrop shaped skylights were carved into the plafond, illuminating the painted ceiling and showing off the masterful brush strokes that meticulously mapped out a scene of historical overindulgence. There was a horned man with hooves like a goat and a forked beard playing a tune on a wooden flute for three dancing girls; one draped in pink, one in blue and the other wrapped in golden yellow. Their breasts spilled out of their garments, leaking milk as they frolicked together in a dusky garden, drunk enchanted expressions of euphoria on chubby rose faces. Before the downpour, Zed had only seen auditoriums like the Chrysalis when she went to the opera with her mother and father. She remembered looking up and seeing the intricate spring of filigree and gilded cherubs dancing among mint flowers and soft blonde roses. Instead of an orchestra plucking and gliding their bows in a cacophony of melody there were guitar players gently strumming away with a woman's voice singing a hypnotic siren call. She caught the same dreamy feeling that she had felt in her chest on those nights she would dress in her best clothes to partake in an evening of musical lamentations. The heavy scents piqued her nose and she felt her temples begin to pound. Beyond the statue of the woman, there was a platform swathed in samite and mulberry taffeta. An incredible throne was staged on top of it and there lounged a powerfully built man with a frosty pair of half-lidded blue eyes, long russet braided hair and a quixotic smile on proportionate lips. When he smiled, a symmetrical shelf of white teeth flashed behind his lips and Zed could understand quickly the two women clinging to him were enamoured with his looks and by his presence. One of them gasped when she saw Axel and blushed, waving to him with a lazy flourish of her dainty fingers. "Zee! You've come home!" The man sang, happiness propelling his words through the air. "And you've brought a guest!" Axel curtsied to the amusement of the three bodies inhabiting the sprawling throne. The women were bandaged with thin, flowing material that clung to every last detail of their bodies and Ivar's hands ran up their thighs, ruching the fabric over oiled skin. "I didn't think I was going to come home this time, Ivar. It's good to see you." Ivar laced his fingers together in his lap and kicked his legs with excitement. "Your brother will surely be happy to hear that you've returned home. Hopefully, you choose to stay for longer? You look a little over-worked, my friend." "I plan on it," Axel languished. "I missed you guys." "We missed you, Zee," the girl on King Ivar's left said. Zed then felt the heaviness of Ivar's stare fall to her. The smile that seemed permanently affixed to his face tainted and he suddenly forgot about the two women at his sides. "And who is this mysterious desert flower?" "This is Zed—" "Ah, ah. Zee... Let the flower introduce herself," Ivar wagged his finger. "My name's Zed." "Zed? You too, with the abbreviations? What is your true name, darling?" "Azalea," Ivar gasped softly and swept his fingers along his own collarbone. "I knew you were a flower." Zed looked down at her mired clothes. "A dirty one." The King's eyes sparkled and he let out a laugh that aroused attention from across the chamber. "A dirty one! Oh... Zee... I like her. Where exactly did you come from, little flower?" "I lived in the desert." "And you're of bright blood?" Zed looked at Axel and he gave her a nod. "Yes. I am." "Well, you're late for the party. I'm honoured to have you in my kingdom. And what is this about your background in science?" "I'm really just a student of science. Biology and botany, mostly." "Just a student? Are you being modest?" Axel turned to face Zed as well. For the days that they had travelled together, she hadn't spoken much of her past. Granted, Axel never felt it right to ask but he had been curious. Now that she was volunteering the information he didn't feel guilty for listening. "I was on the road to becoming more than that but I didn't quite make it there. My father though... I learned a lot from him." "I'm sure a bright young thing such as yourself will fit in perfectly in the labs." "I'm taking her to meet Vee. I'm sure we can find her some accommodation?" Ivar grinned at her. "Of course. We'll find her a chamber of her own. Something with all of the amendments. I'm sure you two would like to wash up." Axel sniffed his armpits and the women on Ivar's throne giggled. "I could probably stand a shower or two." "You will have to tell me more of your journey, Zee. We'll have a proper celebration! And Azalea, you will be the guest of honour! Unless you're too weary? We could always celebrate tomorrow." Zed looked to Axel for something to say. The Chrysalis had robbed her of her attentiveness and all she wanted to do was lay down on one of the puffy mountains of embroidered pillows for a long nap. The hunter shrugged his shoulders. "What do you wanna do, Zed?" The choice was left to her and she felt the pressure of several gazes. "I'd... Love to celebrate. I'd also love a nap though." "Of course! The flower must close her petals for a spell so that she can emerge again more beautiful than ever," Ivar spoke with his hands and his eyes just as much as he did with his tongue. "All right, Romeo," Axel chuckled. "We'll be back tonight." "Come hungry and thirsty," Ivar said with a wink. Zed turned away only after Axel did and followed the hunter out of the mists of the Chrysalis, around the marble giant and through the rich mounds of fabrics and limbs. "Well... Ivar is quite the flirt." "Oh, he's like that with everybody. I swear if I had a pussy he would have already tried to fuck it." "He's pretty good-looking, Axel. I think you two would make a nice couple," Zed teased, feeling emboldened by the intoxication of Ivar's ambrosial hiding spot. "Enough with that Axel shit," the hunter snapped his fingers. "Oh, I'm going to call you whatever the fuck I want. After all we've been through together. You're going to be my bitch for a while." Axel tossed his head back in a hearty laugh. "Oh yeah? You think that's how this is going to work? No. Soon as I can, I'm dumping your ass on Vee. You can be his pain in the ass now." "I'm not going to be passed around like one of those... Those—" "You can say it." "Those hoes," Zed tittered. "You don't have to be. Vee is very professional and Ivar... Well, I can't really protect you from him. Only you can do that. Luckily he's all about consent." "Are you sure? Those girls looked drugged out of their minds." "Willingly out of their minds. Ivar won't pursue you unless you give him the green light. Word of advice... If you don't want to become one of his sex slaves, don't take drugs with him." Zed scoffed as they made their way through the courtyard toward another more plain entrance than the flowery tunnels they had been weaving through. "What do you mean?" "If you decide to do MDMA with the King... Well... You know what happens in those situations." "I don't. Not really." "Have you never done drugs before?" "I smoked pot in university," Zed shrugged. "Never been to the club on some Molly?" "No. When you grow up with scientists for parents you get the idea of taking unknown chemical compounds beaten out of you." "I guess so," Axel said. "Don't worry, Lea. You don't have to do anything that you don't want to do anymore. Kinderfeld is all about respect. We might do things a little differently here but you're free to make your own decisions. Ivar won't enslave you or anything. I trust him. He's a decent leader. A good man." "I think you do have a little crush on him, Axe!" "And you don't?"

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vsplusonline · 5 years ago

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What is wrong with the Indian diet? Apparently a lot, claims UK-based cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra - Times of India

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/what-is-wrong-with-the-indian-diet-apparently-a-lot-claims-uk-based-cardiologist-dr-aseem-malhotra-times-of-india/

What is wrong with the Indian diet? Apparently a lot, claims UK-based cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra - Times of India

With delectable flavours and fragrant spices, Indian cuisine is certainly popular around the world. In addition to its wide variety of rich flavours, a traditional Indian diet also boasts of a wide variety of nutrients in a balanced quantity. However, on the flip side, obesity and diabetes still continue to be a significant public health concern for India.

According to the medical journal Lancet, the burden of diabetes is rapidly increasing in India and there is an estimated 72.96 million cases of diabetes in the adult population of the country as of now. Infact, India has been deemed as the world’s capital of diabetes. So, for a nation that boasts of lentils, fresh and fruits and vegetables as an integral part of its diet, where exactly did we go wrong?

Is our growing inclination towards western food (pizza, burger, fries etc.) to be blamed or is there more to the Indian diet? We connected with a renowned cardiologist and famous author Dr Aseem Malhotra and asked him to shed light on the same. In this riveting conversation, Dr Aseem touched upon several eye-opening facts and misconceptions about the Indian diet that continue to plague our minds even today. Here is an excerpt from the conversation:

The role of comorbidity and death from COVID-19 Dr Aseem emphasized on the fact that even as the novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the globe, it is the people with underlying chronic metabolic diseases including high blood pressure, obesity and type 2 diabetes which are affected the most. India has the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the world, which on an average reduced the life expectancy by up to 10 years.

The relationship between Indians and chronic metabolic syndrome In India, 43 per cent of people with normal BMI (Body Mass Index) are metabolically unhealthy. This means that a huge proportion of people are living in this illusion of protection thinking that they are not overweight or unhealthy.

Dr Aseem spoke at length about metabolic syndrome and how 1 in 3 adults in India are suffering from this syndrome. He defined metabolic health using these 5 parameters:

Your blood pressure should be ideally less than 120 over 80 mm Hg

You should not have pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes

Your triglyceride levels should be less than 1.7 millimoles per litre

Your good cholesterol (HDL) should be greater than 1 millimoles per litre.

If you are a man your waist circumference should be less than 90 cms and for a woman, it should be less than 85 cms.

This essentially means that even if your BMI is ideal, if you have excess fat around your body or any of the above-mentioned parameters, you are probably not as healthy as you may think.

Extra sugar, fried snacks and refined carbohydrates: Everything wrong with the Indian diet Quite appropriately, when talking about the word ”diet”, Dr Aseem linked it to its greek origin ‘diaita’, which essentially means ‘lifestyle’. Surprisingly, 70 per cent of Indian diet calories come from consuming carbohydrates and most of them are not necessarily from the best quality of carbohydrates. These poor quality carbohydrates include a lot of sugar, flour-based products, snacks loaded with starch, loaves of bread, and white rice. Another shocking finding shared by Dr Aseem is that an average Indian consumes at least 15 teaspoons sugar in the form fruit juices, sweets, sugar-laden drinks and snacks. He underlined the fact that while one does not need any amount of sugar to stay healthy, the World Health Organization has drawn the upper limit on five teaspoons of sugar per day. This essentially means, Indians are probably consuming 3-4 times of sugar then they should.

Your diet can reverse type-2 diabetes Contrary to popular beliefs, Dr Aseem explained that it is never too late to change your dietary habits as it can help you reverse type 2 habits within weeks. This can be done by carefully monitoring your diet and changing the needful. For the uninitiated, Dr Aseem has been working with type 2 diabetes patients and empowering them to reverse the same with the help of lifestyle and dietary changes.

While he did not advise the patients to instantly stop taking the medications, he did recommend dietary changes for type-2 diabetes patients. He stated that medications and insulin for type-2 diabetes do not work on increasing the lifespan or reducing the chances of a heart attack and they also come with their side-effects.

When you work on reversing type-2 diabetes, you not only take away the immeasurable suffering of the patients and the impact this disease has on their nerves, eyes, kidneys etc but it also adds years to their lives, he added. Since the patients of type 2 diabetes tend to have a particular sensitivity to the sugars and refined carbohydrates, when they begin to cut down the sugar, rice, bread, potatoes etc, their blood glucose level may start to go down in a span of few weeks.

As a result, they may end up reducing the medication dosage when advised by their doctor. He pointed out that type 2 diabetes is a condition of carbohydrates intolerance, so shunning the glucose and carbohydrate-laden products like rice, breads, pasta, sugar etc can do wonders for the patient. Additionally, junk and processed food items should be replaced with whole foods including fresh fruits and vegetables. He also said that fruit juices should be avoided as they are full of sugar and whole fruits should be added to the diet instead.

The relationship between the Keto diet and managing type-2 diabetes The cardiologist underlined that whole food-based Keto diet can be very beneficial for those battling type-2 diabetes. On the other hand low-sugar, low refined carbohydrate, a Mediterranean inspired diet with lots of vegetables or unprocessed meat like lamb, chicken and fish can also be a part of a healthy diet.

He also busted the prevalent myth of eating as frequently as every two hours and said that there is no legitimate need for the majority of the people to eat every two hours, no matter what is being propagated on the internet.

The goodness of Intermittent diet When you cut down the sugar and starch in the form of junk food, snacks and packaged food items, you actually eat to fullness and don’t feel as hungry as before. Speaking about Intermittent diet, Dr Aseem agreed that there are emerging pieces of evidence which back the claim that it can be good for your metabolic health. He also underlined different methods of doing the intermittent diet and explained that for two or three times a week, he fasts for 16 hours a day and eats in a window between 12 to 8 pm.

The lack of protein in the average Indian diet As per a statement by the Indian Dietetic Association, a whopping 84 per cent of Indians are protein deficient! This is not surprising considering the fact that meat inadvertently remains one of the best sources of protein, which doesn’t find its place in an average Indian thali. He pointed out that protein deficiency poses a big threat to the elderlies as they lose muscle mass and strength with age.

He listed down some of the best sources of protein which included eggs, paneer (cottage cheese), lentils etc and pointed out that Indians need to consume more of these protein-rich products in their diet instead of flour-based products and rice. Eggs remain one of the best sources of protein, including the yolk. The cardiologist reiterated the fact that the cholesterol present in egg yolks does not raise our cholesterol and will not give you a heart attack.

Move over vegetable oils, it is time to bring back desi ghee The vegetable seed oils used for cooking in the Indian households including the sunflower oil, canola and soybean oil are not exactly healthy. Dr Aseem suggests swapping them with desi ghee, coconut oil and extra virgin oil. Since these oils remain quite stable even after they are heated up, they make for a healthier alternative to the vegetable oils that become toxic after heating.

He also reiterated that the adoption of the modern western diet through these fast food joints is actually increasing the consumption of toxic food items and should be avoided as much as possible.

Why you need to quit smoking and start walking It is important to note that the reduction in smoking remains one of the biggest reasons for lowering the death rate from heart disease in the UK and US. Infact, he points out that quitting smoking can be more powerful than all the medications given for reducing the risk of a future heart attack combined together.

Dr Aseem also simplified the whole formula of physical activities and nudged the people to take out 30 minutes every day from their daily routine and go for a brisk walk, at least five times a week. The need to get up and get moving for at least 30 minutes is all the more important in this work from home era where we stay glued to our laptop screens for an immeasurable about of time.

If you have trouble getting sound sleep at night, Dr Aseem advises cutting down on tea and coffee (due to their caffeine content) after midday as they act as stimulants. Incorporating yoga and meditation in the daily routine is another important part of calming down your mind and sleeping well at night. It also helps to dial down the stress levels.

The truth of Vegan and Vegetarian diet When it comes to the diet you are following, it is never a good idea to go to any extremes. So, if you have switched to a Vegan or Vegetarian diet, it is important that you include more vegetables in your daily meals when compared to white rice, bread or other flour-based products. Since protein deficiency seems to be more common in vegetarians, closely monitor your protein intake for the day and include pulses, lentils, chickpeas, paneer (cottage cheese) and spinach. As a rule of thumb, you should consume 1 gram of protein per kilogram of your weight.

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paullassiterca · 6 years ago

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How Can Melatonin Supplements Benefit You?

Table of Contents

What Is Melatonin?

Uses of Melatonin in Your Body

6 Ways to Optimize Your Melatonin Levels Naturally

Studies Regarding the Use of Melatonin Supplements

Benefits of Melatonin Supplement

Do Not Take Melatonin if You Have These Conditions

Side Effects of Melatonin

Consider Optimizing Your Melatonin Levels Naturally Before Taking a Supplement

Frequently Asked Questions

Sleeping is an essential human function, and at the heart of it is your circadian rhythm, also known as your body clock. It’s a natural, biological timer that helps your body recognize sleepiness and wakefulness over a period of 24 hours.

By sticking to a regular bedtime schedule, such as sleeping and waking up at the same time each day, you can maintain a steady circadian rhythm that will allow you to maximize your productivity while you’re awake, and get the right amount of sleep when nighttime arrives.1

Your circadian rhythm is largely dictated by your pineal gland. This gland is located near the center of your brain, with a shape that looks similar to a pine cone, hence the name. It’s estimated to be one-third of an inch long, and is made up of unique pineal cells and neuroglial cells that help support the gland.

Despite its small size, it plays a crucial role in your health because it produces a single hormone called melatonin, which is vital for controlling your body clock and, ultimately, your sleeping patterns.2

What Is Melatonin?

Melatonin, or N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a hormone produced by the pineal gland.3 Your brain usually starts secreting melatonin around 9 p.m., which is the time most people go to bed. By increasing the amount, your body begins to recognize that bedtime is fast approaching, allowing you to sleep at an ideal time.4

To do this properly, you need to be aware of your exposure to light throughout the day and especially at night, because melatonin production depends on how much light your body absorbs.

If you stay awake past dark, light emitted by electrical devices hampers your body’s ability to produce melatonin. Ideally, you want to stop using gadgets an hour before sleeping to help increase melatonin production and maintain a steady circadian rhythm. Nightshift workers usually have it worse and constantly suffer from disrupted body clocks, because of their poor melatonin production.

3 Main Uses of Melatonin in Your Body

What is the role of melatonin anyway? Based on published research, it has been discovered to perform three main functions:

• Controls your circadian rhythm — Melatonin works as a sleeping aid by normalizing your circadian rhythm by convincing your body to prepare itself for bedtime.5 It’s a hormone that only “signals” your body to prepare for sleep, not one that actually makes you fall asleep.

• Functions as an antioxidant — Recent studies have found that melatonin not only affects your body clock, but also functions as an antioxidant that can help support your health. Specifically, it may help different aspects of your brain, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.6 It may even lower your risk of cancer, in some cases.7

• Boosts your immune system — Melatonin may benefit your immune system in various ways. In one study, researchers suggest that melatonin may help improve the treatment of bacterial diseases such as tuberculosis.8 In another study, melatonin has been suggested as a potential tool against inflammation, autoimmune diseases and Type 1 diabetes.9

6 Ways to Optimize Your Melatonin Levels Naturally to Improve Sleep Quality

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans are suffering from a sleeping or wakefulness disorder.10 As a result, many of them turn to various remedies, such as behavioral and environmental changes, to get a good night’s rest.11

One of the first things you can do is to make sure that your body is producing enough melatonin. Optimizing your melatonin levels naturally is important because it helps keep your body functioning normally without relying on outside factors. So, instead of immediately relying on melatonin supplementation, here are a few lifestyle changes I suggest you try first to boost your melatonin production:

• Avoid using electronic devices an hour before sleeping — Gadgets such as cellphones, TVs and computers emit blue light, and exposure to it tricks your body into thinking it’s still daytime. By avoiding gadgets an hour before bed, your body can produce the melatonin needed to help you sleep at your intended time.

• Make sure to get regular sunlight exposure — Getting regular sun exposure in the morning or at noontime helps your body reduce its melatonin production, so that when nighttime arrives, your pineal gland produces the correct amount to induce sleepiness.

• Try to sleep in complete darkness — If possible, try to remove immediate light sources from your room to help improve your sleep quality. The slightest exposure to light can interfere with your body’s melatonin production and keep you up later than you need. Keep gadgets 3 feet away from your bed or use blackout window shades.

• Remove sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in your bedroom — EMFs emitted by certain devices such as Internet routers can disrupt your pineal gland’s melatonin production. Ideally, you should turn off your wireless router, as well as other wireless devices connected to the Internet before sleeping.

• If you need a nightlight, use a low-wattage yellow, orange or red bulb — Low-wattage bulbs with a yellow, orange or red color do not interfere with melatonin production the same way that white and blue bulbs do.

• Wear blue light-blocking glasses — This special device can help keep your eyes from absorbing blue light that can affect your melatonin levels. It can be a useful tool to have around the house, especially if you’re constantly surrounded by gadgets and artificial light sources.

In addition, the following foods are known to contain small amounts of melatonin. Making them a part of your regular diet while practicing the aforementioned sleeping tips may help improve sleep quality:12

Grass fed meat (lamb, beef and pork)

Wild-caught salmon

Pasture-raised chicken and eggs

Raw, grass fed milk

Pineapple

Banana

Apple

Pomegranate

Mulberry

Tart cherries

Grapes

Onion

Garlic

Cauliflower

Turnip

Cucumber

Carrot

Radish

Beetroot

Tomatoes

Seeds (Flax, sunflower, fennel, mustard, alfalfa, celery and fenugreek)

Nuts (pistachio, almonds and walnuts)

If you’ve already tried everything, including incorporating melatonin foods in your diet, and you’re still having difficulty getting quality sleep, you may consider taking a melatonin supplement. In 2016 alone, 3.1 million adults in the United States turned to melatonin supplementation to help them sleep peacefully.13

Studies Regarding the Use of Melatonin Supplements

Since the discovery of melatonin, various studies have been conducted to discover how using it as a supplement can benefit your health. According to the Journal of Pineal Research, the melatonin secreted by your pineal gland enters every cell in your body and can even cross morphophysiologic barriers.

As a result, not only may it help you improve sleep quality,14 it also has certain anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.15

In addition, a study published in Endocrine Journal reports that increasing melatonin intake may help improve your overall health, as this hormone can be an effective antioxidant that can help fight free radicals in your body.16

Another study suggests that melatonin may help obese people manage their weight. The researchers indicate that certain lifestyle factors suppress melatonin production, which results in sleep disruption that can lead to weight gain. By increasing melatonin production, adequate sleep can be reintroduced as part of a healthy lifestyle, along with other positive lifestyle changes, to help curb obesity.17

8 Potential Benefits of Melatonin Supplement

Melatonin may help boost your health in various situations, as shown in the table below. While each benefit is backed up with scientific research, always consult with a doctor before giving melatonin supplements a try:

• Insomnia — Melatonin is primarily used to help treat people who have sleeping disorders by inducing sleepiness quicker.18

• Jet lag — Melatonin may be used to help treat jet lag by adjusting your body to a new time zone. However, it’s generally recommended only for travelers who cross four to five time zones.19

• Heart disease — People who are struggling with heart disease may benefit from melatonin. A study has found that it may help lower your bad cholesterol levels by as much as 38 percent.20

• Menopause — Increasing melatonin consumption in menopausal women 42 to 62 years old may help improve mood and stave off depression.21

• Autism — Children diagnosed with autism who are also plagued with sleeping problems may benefit from melatonin supplementation. Research indicates that taking the hormone can lead to deeper sleep and better daytime behavior.22 However, I advise consulting your health care provider before giving any melatonin supplement to children.

• Fibromyalgia — People affected with fibromyalgia are believed to have lower levels of melatonin. A group of researchers found that increasing the melatonin levels of fibromyalgia sufferers through supplementation helped alleviate their symptoms and improved sleep quality.23

• Gallstones — Melatonin can help lower your risk of gallstones by inhibiting cholesterol absorption across the intestinal epithelium, as well as increasing the conversion of cholesterol into bile.24

• Tinnitus — If you have tinnitus, slightly increasing your melatonin may help improve your symptoms. In one study, participants who took 3 milligrams of melatonin supplements every night experienced a decrease in tinnitus intensity after the testing duration.25

Do Not Take Melatonin if You Have These Conditions

Here’s a crucial question you should ask yourself: Are you fit to take melatonin? While there are valid reasons for taking this supplement, remember that it can exacerbate certain health conditions as well. If you’re taking any of the following medications, you should not take melatonin as the mixture can have adverse effects to your health:26

• Anticoagulants and anti-platelet drugs

• Anticonvulsants

• Contraceptive drugs

• Diabetes medications

• Immunosuppressants

Taking melatonin while pregnant should be avoided as well, since there’s little knowledge in this field.27 If you’ve recently developed pregnancy-related sleeping problems, I advise you to consider behavioral and dietary changes before considering melatonin or other similar types of supplement.

Refrain from giving melatonin to children, including babies and toddlers, unless approved by your physician. While a 2016 study found that children with sleep difficulties who took melatonin did not develop any concerns or adverse side effects,28 it’s better to be safe.

10 Side Effects of Melatonin You Should Know About

Some of melatonin’s potential side effects include:29,30

Daytime sleepiness

Short-term depression

Irritability

Vivid dreams, or possibly nightmares

Mild anxiety

Headaches

Abdominal discomfort

Confusion

Body clock disruption

Dizziness

If you are already taking a melatonin supplement and begin to experience any of the mentioned side effects, stop taking it immediately and consult with a doctor for safer alternatives. In addition, melatonin and alcohol should not be taken together, as it can increase your chances of accidents because the sedative effects are amplified.31

Remember: Consider Optimizing Your Melatonin Levels Naturally Before Taking a Supplement

Melatonin is a crucial hormone that performs few but important functions. Low levels of it can lead to sleep disruption, increase your risk of certain diseases and lower your antioxidant capabilities. However, remember to always try and improve your sleeping habits and environment before attempting melatonin supplementation.

While there’s an abundance of scientific evidence that suggest melatonin supplementation can be beneficial to your health, too much of it can actually make you more wakeful. By primarily focusing on natural strategies, you forego this risk, as well as the chances of developing unpleasant side effects that can further disrupt your quality of sleep. If you do decide to take a melatonin supplement, seek guidance from a doctor first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Melatonin

Q: Is melatonin addictive?

A: Currently, there’s very little information regarding melatonin supplement addiction. However, beware that it can still be abused, although the chances of becoming dependent are lower compared to other types of medications or supplements.32

Q: How long does it take for melatonin to work?

A: The average time for melatonin supplements to work is generally 20 minutes. If you’re about to take melatonin for the first time, it’s recommended that you take it one to two hours before your bedtime.33

Q: Can you take melatonin supplements while pregnant?

A: As of the moment, there is a lack of scientific evidence regarding the use of melatonin supplements on pregnant women, but it’s theorized that it may hamper sex drive, reduce ovarian function and increase the risk of developmental disorders. If you’re pregnant, it is best that you avoid using this supplement and resort to natural remedies to correct sleeping problems.34

Q: Is melatonin safe to use for kids?

A: Melatonin supplements are generally safe for children. According to a study published in Canadian Family Physician, children with sleep difficulties who took melatonin had no concerns or adverse side effects, according to their parents.35 However, consult with your child’s pediatrician before giving them any type of melatonin supplement.

Q: When is the ideal time to take melatonin?

A: Taking a melatonin supplement two hours before bedtime can help you maximize its effectiveness.36

Q: How long does the effects of melatonin last?

A: The half-life of melatonin is very short, around 59 to 65 minutes only.37

Q: Can you overdose on melatonin?

A: Yes. While there are no reported deaths related to overdosing from melatonin, consuming more than the recommended amount can cause side effects, such as autoimmune hepatitis, a psychotic episode, seizures, headaches or skin eruption.38

from Articles http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/12/30/xdjm18-vitamins-supplements-18mcsa-melatonin.aspx source https://niapurenaturecom.tumblr.com/post/181541596631

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contconcord · 6 years ago

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Five Facts about the Art of Vincent Van Gogh

Born in 1853 in The Netherlands, Vincent van Gogh lead a life plagued with mental illness and alcoholism. His paintings are among the most revered in history, yet he lived in poverty and only became famous after his death. Here are some interesting facts about his work.

1. Van Gogh sold only one painting.

During ten years of intense creativity (1880–1890) Van Gogh produced nearly 900 oil paintings. Only "The Red Vineyard" was sold during his lifetime. In 1888, the year before Van Gogh’s death, the impressionist Anna Boch paid 400 francs (about $1000 today) for the painting.

2. Van Gogh painted the famous Sunflowers series in honor of the artist Paul Gaugin.

In 1888 he moved to the town of Arles in the south of France with the intention of setting up an artist’s colony. He persuaded Gaugin to join him. Van Gogh wrote in a letter, “Now that I hope to live with Gaugin in a studio of our own, I want to make decorations for the studio. Nothing but big flowers.”

It was in Arles that a disagreement led to Van Gogh’s infamous ear-cutting incident. In a fit of rage, he threatened Gaugin with an open razor. Van Gogh’s anguish caused him to cut off his own ear-lobe, which he then offered to a prostitute as a keepsake.

3. Van Gogh’s most famous work of art was created in a psychiatric hospital.

His masterpiece "Starry Night" (1889) was painted at the Saint-Rémy asylum where he was confined for a year. From his cell window, Van Gogh looked out at the eastern night sky which features in the painting. It seems the landscape parts of the picture were painted from memory as they do not coincide with the exact view from Van Gogh’s window.

David Peinsipp, an accomplished law firm partner, expresses, "I happen to like his paintings, especially 'Starry Night'. I like how painters can portray a three-dimensional vision, in two dimensions."

4. "Wheatfield with Crows" was painted the same month Van Gogh committed suicide.

During the last summer of his life, Van Gogh painted a series of wheat fields. On July 27, 1890, he went out into a field and shot himself in the chest. He then proceeded to walk back to the inn where he was staying and did not die until two days later. Although it is not certain exactly which painting was his last, many like to believe "Wheatfield with Crows" represents Van Gogh’s final state of mind. The painting is certainly full of portent with its darkened skies and circling crows.

5. In 1990 the "Portrait of Doctor Gachet" sold for a record $82.5 million.

Dr. Paul Gachet was the physician attending Van Gogh for the last few months of his life. The painting was bought by Japanese businessman Ryoei Saito, who then locked the canvas in a vault where it lay unseen for seven years. Before his death in 1996, Saito joked that he would have the masterpiece cremated with him. After his death, the most expensive portrait in the world disappeared and has still never been found.

#Art

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mukyoucom · 7 years ago

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The Drop: New PlayStation Games for 6/6/2017

From Playstation Blog USA

Prepare for the blistering speed and iconic style of a long-running PlayStation racer. Wipeout Omega Collection is here.

The Omega Collection features content from Wipeout HD, Wipeout HD Fury, and Wipeout 2048 — all fused into one staggering blend of speed and sound. Featuring 26 circuits, 46 unique ships, and an upgraded soundtrack, Wipeout Omega Collection is required racing for adrenaline junkies. Plus, the collection is enhanced for PS4 Pro.

For a full list of games coming to PlayStation next week, read on. And enjoy The Drop!

New Releases: Week of June 6, 2017

Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku!

PS4, PS Vita — Digital, PS4 Version at Retail

Saddle up for some retro-styled dungeon-crawling goodness with Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! Meet classic heroes from Japan’s Sengoku Era as you help the souls of the dead settle their unfinished business.

Dark Rose Valkyrie

PS4 — Digital, Retail

A virus threatens humanity. Valkyrie Force, move out! In this RPG, fight using customized weapons, team attacks, Overdrive mode, and more! But beyond battle, you’ll have to interrogate teammates to find who’s been turned in order to save the world.

Dirt 4

PS4 — Digital, Retail

The world’s leading off-road racing series is back! Dirt 4 puts you at the wheel of the most powerful machines ever made as you face the toughest roads and circuits on the planet in rally, rallycross, and landrush.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind

PS4 — Digital, Retail

Return to Morrowind in this new chapter of the award-winning online role-playing series, The Elder Scrolls Online. Embark on a dangerous journey through legendary locales, and save Morrowind from a deadly Daedric threat. Includes the first game of the series.

Farming Simulator 18

PS Vita — Digital

Become a modern farmer in Farming Simulator 18! Plant, harvest, and trade in crops, including for the first time sunflowers. Diversify your activity with animal husbandry and forestry. Develop and expand your very own farm… wherever you go!

Jump Stars

PS4 — Digital

Introducing Jump Stars, the bonkers new local multiplayer party game which pits player against player in a bizarre, violent game show as they collectively compete to save their skins.

Neighborhorde

PS4 — Digital

Neighborhorde is a couch co-op shoot-em-up where you and your team of friends use toys as weapons and game-changing superpowers to survive evil robots and zombie Abe Lincolns.

Perception

PS4 — Digital (Out 6/7)

Perception is a first-person narrative horror adventure that tells the story of Cassie, a blind heroine who uses her extraordinary hearing and razor-sharp wits to unravel the mysteries of an abandoned estate that haunts her dreams.

Plague Road

PS Vita — Digital

Set around a city being consumed from within by disease, Plague Road tells a story of a lone doctor who abandoned his home and now returns to learn the fate of those he left behind.

Randall

PS4 — Digital

Randall wakes up in a distopyan world in which people are content living under constant surveillance and absolute control. Players take on the part of Randall, a powerful telepath with a touch of schizophrenia. His abilities allow him to control and play as every single character on screen, seamlessly swapping between them, exploiting the power that they have.

Special Delivery

PS VR — Digital

Dodge cars, dogs, and tornadoes as you grow your subscriber base and expand your paper route in this arcade inspired newspaper delivery game.

Superbeat: Xonic

PS4 — Digital, Retail

Experience Superbeat: Xonic, the new music game sensation that’s bound to have you on the edge of your seat! Enjoy the stunning visuals and effects as you play your way through 68 unique songs and unlock tons of hidden rewards and items. Perform and perfect awesome combos and show the world you’re the best by climbing the Ranking system!

The Town of Light

PS4 — Digital, Retail

Play through the eyes of Renée, a 16-year-old girl who suffers from the symptoms of mental illness. She is searching for answers to the many questions from her past, while exploring the place where she spent most of her youth. Guide Renée through a dark and emotional journey where the lines between entertainment, storytelling, and reality blur.

Victor Vran

PS4 — Digital

Become Victor, hunter of demons. Forge your own hero on a quest to liberate the cursed city of Zagoravia. Decide how you play at any moment, even in the heat of battle. Modify your demon slaying loadout as you dodge deadly attacks, leap from towering locations, and take on hordes of hideous beasts and cunning boss monsters.

Wipeout Omega Collection

PS4 — Digital, Retail

Wipeout Omega Collection brings together all the content from Wipeout HD, Wipeout HD Fury, and Wipeout 2048, enhanced for PS4 and PS4 Pro.

All Time Low – Last Young Renegade

Halsey – hopeless fountain kingdom

alt-J – RELAXER

Power Rangers (2017)

If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast- June 5 at 8/7c (HBO)

Good Bones- June 6 at 10/9c (HGTV)

American Grit- June 11 at 9/8c (Fox)

The information above is subject to change without notice.

PlayStation 4playstation gamesplaystation storethe dropwipeout

The post The Drop: New PlayStation Games for 6/6/2017 appeared first on Ship 2 Block 20.

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sherristockman · 8 years ago

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Here’s Why You Can Count on Calendula Oil Dr. Mercola Marigold has much value today and in traditional cultures as a homeopathic remedy, but the oil extracted from the flowers, called calendula oil, is not far behind in providing benefits. Learn more about this oil distilled from the petals of the pot marigold or Calendula officinalis, and how you can harness its health and practical everyday uses. What Is Calendula Oil? Marigold is a genus of about 15 to 20 species of plants in the Asteraceae family.1 This flower is native to Southwestern Asia, as well as Western Europe and the Mediterranean. The common name "marigold" refers to the Virgin Mary, with whom it has been associated since the 14th century, when it was included as an ingredient in an English recipe for fighting plague.2 Apart from also being used to honor Mary during Catholic events, marigold was also considered by ancient Egyptians to have rejuvenating properties.3 Hindus used the flowers to adorn statues of gods in their temples, as well as to color their food, fabrics and cosmetics. Pot marigold or C. officinalis is the most commonly cultivated and used species, and is the source of the herbal oil. "Calendula" comes from the Latin word "calendae," meaning "little calendar," because the flower blooms on the calends or the first of most months.4 It should not be confused with ornamental marigolds of the Tagets genus, commonly grown in vegetable gardens.5 Calendula, with fiery red and yellow petals, is full of flavonoids, which are found naturally in vegetables and fruits and are substances that give plants their lovely bright colors.6 Calendula oil is distilled from the flower tops and is quite sticky and viscous. It has a very strange smell described as musky, woody and even rotten — like the marigold flowers themselves. This smell does not readily appeal to many individuals, even when used in a remedy. Uses of Calendula Oil Here are three classifications of calendula plant and oil uses: 1. Health and wellness — It has tonic, sudorific, emmenagogic and antispasmodic properties, but it is mainly used for skin care and treatment.7 It has great anti-inflammatory and vulnerary action, making it helpful with stubborn wounds, acne, ulcers, bed sores, varicose veins, rashes, eczema and related conditions.8 It helps soothe sore, inflamed and itchy skin conditions. Calendula massage oil also assists in soothing, and softening skin, making it a good addition to massage oils or when preparing a carrier oil blend. 2. Cooking — Since the Middle Ages, the petals of marigold have been used as "the poor man's saffron" for coloring cheeses, butters and side dishes. During the Elizabethan era, both petals and leaves were used in salads, although the latter showed to be very strong. The petals flavored soups and stews. 3. Practical uses — Marigold has been used as a dye. Dried petals can also be added in potpourris. Composition of Calendula Oil In a study,9 calendula oil was obtained in low yield (0.3 percent) by steam distillation with cohobation from flowers and whole plants. Identified by the researchers were 66 components, mainly sesquiterpene alcohols with α-cadinol as the main constituent, at about 25 percent. The essential oil from the whole plant was differentiated from that of the flowers through the presence of monoterpenes hydrocarbons, aside from the alcohols. The principal constitutes of calendula essential oil10 are flavonoids, saponosene, triterpenic alcohol and a bitter principle. The useful components of calendula itself include a volatile oil, carotenoids, flavonoids, mucilage, resin, polysaccharides, aromatic plant acids, saponins, glycosides and sterols.11 Benefits of Calendula Oil Calendula oil is traditionally used for abdominal cramps and constipation.12 It's your skin that will receive a good bulk of the benefits, though, thanks to the oil's anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and related properties. Here are some of the promoted benefits of this oil:13 1. Skin dryness or chapping — Calendula oil is a great moisturizer for dry skin and for severely chapped or split skin. It helps soothe the area and reduce the pain. 2. Inflammation — It works well on sprained muscles or bruises; its anti-inflammatory action helps lessen swelling from injury. Calendula oil also helps treat spider veins, varicose veins, leg ulcers and chilblains. 3. Baby care — The oil helps relieve diaper rashes, which can extremely irritate an infant. 4. Minor cuts and wounds — The antiseptic and antimicrobial action of the oil help speed up healing of wounds and minor cuts, and also help relieve insect bites, acne and bed sores. 5. Skin issues — Eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and other skin problems can be soothed using calendula oil, applied topically. Calendula oil's antifungal action is also great for helping treat athlete's foot, ringworm and jock itch. How to Make Calendula Oil Calendula oil is extracted by steam distillation.14 There is almost no way to obtain 100 percent pure calendula essential oil, so this makes calendula essential oil an infusion and not a pure extract.15 In order to get the oil from the flower, the petals are steeped in oil, preferably olive oil. The oil left over when distillation is done is calendula oil, which should be a golden orange color. You can create homemade calendula oil using the following instructions from Keeper of the Home.16 What you will need: • Dried calendula petals • Carrier oil (olive oil, almond oil or sunflower oil are some great options) • A clean glass jar with a lid • Cold infusion method — This is the usually preferred technique because it protects the delicate calendula from heat damage. 1. Put your desired amount of dried calendula petals in a clean, dry glass jar. 2. Fill the jar with your carrier oil of choice to cover the petals by an inch. 3. Put in a sunny place to infuse for four weeks. 4. Drain the petals from the oil and store the oil in a container with a lid for up to one year. • Hot infusion method — This method is much quicker than the cold infusion method but won't have the same strength because of the presence of heat. 1. Put your desired amount of dried calendula petals in a clean, dry glass jar. 2. Fill the jar with your carrier oil of choice to cover the petals by an inch. 3. Dump the entire contents of the jar (the petals and the oil) in a small saucepan or slow cookers. Heat on low for four hours, stirring occasionally. 4. Let cool. Drain the petals from the oil and store the oil in a container with a lid for up to one year. You can use the homemade calendula oil as an after-bath body oil, salve,17 baby oil, lotion18 or home remedy for dry skin, inflamed areas, or rashes. How Does Calendula Oil Work? Calendula oil is used in various products, oftentimes as a great base for lotions, salves, creams, several natural cosmetics and personal care products and herbal ointments. It also very commonly works as a base oil in aromatherapy. Furthermore, you can use calendula oil in an all-natural herbal hair color recipe.19 You can create an infused oil by filling a jar with the dried flowers, which you cover with a carrier oil.20 You can get more out of these flowers by macerating the mixture in a blender. Leave it infused for two weeks or more to extract the flowers' beneficial properties. When ready to use, filter the oil through cheesecloth, and use it directly in a balm or as part of a homemade cream or lotion. Is Calendula Oil Safe? Calendula oil is generally safe for use, but I advise you to heed the following safety guidelines and considerations:21 1. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should generally avoid using calendula oil. Do not take calendula by mouth, as there is a concern that it might cause a miscarriage. Avoid topical use as well. 2. An allergic reaction may occur in individuals who have sensitivity to ragweed and related plants, such as marigolds, chrysanthemums and daisies. Before using calendula oil, check with your doctor if you have allergies. 3. Combined with medications used during and after surgery, calendula use might cause too much drowsiness and should be stopped at least two weeks before surgery. Side Effects of Calendula Oil If you are not pregnant, nursing, allergic or about to undergo surgery, you can use calendula oil with likely no side effect. It is best, however, to consult your health care provider before you use it, especially for therapeutic use. Remember, though, that sedative medications or CNS depressants interact with calendula. The plant extract might cause sleepiness and drowsiness, and taking it with sedative drugs might result in excess sleepiness. Some sedative drugs include clonazepam, (Klonopin), phenobarbital (Donnatal) and zolpidem (Ambien). I advise you to also explore safe, natural ways to get a good night's sleep.

#VitalityPath

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