Monday, December 01, 2014
DIY Swirly Tie-Dye T-Shirts | How To | Tutorial
Take those old t-shirts and make them look new again. You can make a wardrobe out of tie-dying or do it for fun. Tie-dying doesn't seem to get old. Lol...
50 Different Ways To Save Money on Your Utility Bills (Gas, Electricity & Water)
Great tips on how to save on your bills every month. The little things count and will save you money. Frugal doesn't have to be extreme "Penny Pinching" but smart saving.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
How To Remove Stains From White Clothing
Removing tough stains from white clothing can be a challenge. Sometimes store bought stain remover doesn't help and can be quite expensive if you use it often. There is a much less expensive and easier way to get those stubborn stains from white clothing. Watch the video below to learn how.
Becky's Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe
"Becky's Homestead" is awesome! I enjoy learning her organic recipe's for making natural products and it's also a great way to save tons of money. Watch how she makes homemade laundry soap, simple.
Becky's Homemade Bar Soap Recipe: How to Make Soap with Lye
Going natural is the best way. There are chemicals in many products that irritate the skin. If you want to make your own natural soap then "Becky's Homemade Bar Soap Recipe" is the best organic way to go.
How to make Essential Oils
If you love essential oils then you'll love this video. Oils last longer than perfume sprays and it's organic. The best smell to have is a natural body fragrance. It's also good for persons who are allergic to perfume. It's simple, take a look.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Postal Service Letters FROM Santa Program
November 21, 2014
NORTH POLE — Yes, there is a Santa Claus. And the Postal Service can help you prove it when Santa replies to your child’s letter to Santa — complete with a North Pole postmark!
Here are the steps for your child to get a letter back from Santa:
POSTMASTER
4141 POSTMARK DR
ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer © & ® or ™ The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.
If you would like for your child to receive a letter from "Santa" this year, the Postal Service can help. It's simple, read about how you can make it a special "Christmas" for your child to remember.
"Merry Christmas".......
Here are the steps for your child to get a letter back from Santa:
- Have your child write a letter to Santa and seal it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
- Tell your child that you’ll place a stamp on the envelope and mail it to St. Nick for him or her.
- Later, when alone, open the envelope, read the letter and write Santa’s response on the back of the child’s letter. Have Santa write: “It’s important to be green and save paper. That’s why I’m writing on the back.”
- When responding as Santa, reference your child’s accomplishments not included in his or her letter, i.e., Santa is so proud that you volunteered to help ____, or Santa is really impressed with the great job you’re doing in school — especially with math, etc. Sign it Santa Claus with a P.S. to get to bed early Christmas Eve.
- Place the letter into a new envelope addressed to the child at his or her home. Be sure to include: Santa Claus, North Pole, as the return address on the envelope. Don’t forget to apply a First-Class stamp — such as a recently issued Santa or Rudolph Forever stamp.
- Place the stamped envelope in a larger envelope (or Priority Mail envelope) with adequate postage addressed to:
POSTMASTER
4141 POSTMARK DR
ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998
- Letters from Santa must be received by the Anchorage, AK, Postmaster no later than Dec. 15, 2014.
- The Anchorage Postmaster will open the envelope, remove Santa’s letter addressed to your child, apply the North Pole postmark and mail it back home.
- When Santa’s letter arrives, have your camera ready when you ask your child to open the letter and read it to you.
- Share the photos on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #SantaLetters. Keep the letters and the photos in a scrapbook as a great family keepsake.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer © & ® or ™ The Rudolph Co., L.P. All elements under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved.
Brazilian Buttock Lift
The Brazilian Butt Lift Exercise
The New Year's near and everyone is trying to figure out how to lose those holiday pounds and get a toned body before this summer. This is good way to start. If you want faster results Click Here!
The New Year's near and everyone is trying to figure out how to lose those holiday pounds and get a toned body before this summer. This is good way to start. If you want faster results Click Here!
4 Moves To Get Toned—Fast
4 Moves To Get Toned—Fast
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
Usually we’re all about core strength and performance training. But consider this our nod to vanity: four moves to supercharge your workout and get ripped fast.
The secret for three of them is drop sets — working to failure in repeating sets of lighter and lighter weight, which forces your muscles to work harder in less time.
To perform drop sets, start with a weight you can rep six times with perfect form. When your form fails, lighten by 5 or 10 pounds. Repeat, stopping when you reach a weight you can rep 20 times.
Abs & Obliques
Twisting V’s
3 sets of 50 alternating reps
3 sets of 50 alternating reps
Start by lying on your back. Raise your legs and upper body roughly 30 degrees off the floor. You should be sitting on your butt, not resting on your lower back. Keeping your arms as straight as possible, twist and touch both hands to the floor on your right, then twist the other way and touch the floor on your left.
Pectorals
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
Chest Presses
Drop Set
Drop Set
Adjust yourself so your hands are even with your chest. Press the weight slowly, making sure to keep your lower back in contact with the support pad or bench. Lower the weight to complete the rep. Proper breathing is important: Exhale while you press the weight. Inhale while lowering it.
Calves
Calf Raises
Drop Set
Drop Set
At a seated calf station, place only your toes and the balls of your feet on the foot bar. Raise the weight by pushing off the bar and going up on tiptoe. Slowly lower it to complete the rep. Try to max out your range of motion: Get as high up on your toes as you can in the raised half of the motion, and drop your heels as far as possible in the lowered half.
Biceps
Hammer Curls
Drop Set
Drop Set
Unlike a traditional curl, hold the weights with palms facing in. Stand with weights at your sides, and slowly raise them by bending at the elbow. Try to touch the end of each dumbbell to the front of each shoulder. Return to the starting position to complete the rep. Avoid rocking at the waist, and make sure you’re moving only from the elbows down.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Michael Brown's parents react to Darren Wilson interview: 'It sounds crazy'
Michael Brown's parents react to Darren Wilson interview: 'It sounds crazy'
'I don't think he wanted to kill my son, but he wanted to kill someone,' Lesley McSpadden says
CBSTV Videos
Michael Brown's parents on grand jury decision, violence in Ferguson
Sunday, November 16, 2014
5 Food Medicines That Could Quite Possibly Save Your Life
5 Food Medicines That Could Quite Possibly Save Your Life
Some of the most powerful medicines on the planet are masquerading around as foods and spices. While they do not lend themselves to being patented, nor will multi-billion dollar human clinical trials ever be funded to prove them efficacious, they have been used since time immemorial to both nourish our bodies, and to prevent and treat disease. So valued were these in ancient times that they were worth their weight in gold, and entire civilizations either rose to great power or collapsed as a result of their relationship to them.
What is even more amazing is that many of these “plant allies” are found growing in our backyards, and often sitting there in our refrigerators and spice racks, neglected and under appreciated. In fact, many of us use these daily unaware that this is why we don’t get sick as often as those who do not incorporate them into their diet. Let’s look at a few examples….
1) Garlic
With the increasing prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the failure of the conventional, drug-based model to develop effective solutions against them (nor accepting responsibility for creating them), spices have regained their once universal reign as broad spectrum infection-fighters with sometimes life-saving power.
Garlic, in fact, has several hundred therapeutic properties, confirmed by a growing body of scientific research, which you can view directly on GreenMedInfo.com.[i] One quick example of garlic’s power, is in killing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which the mainstream media has termed the “white plague,” roiling the masses with a fear of drug-resistant (but not plant-extract resistant) they are made to believe they are defenseless against.
Last year an article was published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal showing that garlic was capable of inhibiting a wide range of multiple drug resistant tuberculosis strains.[ii] The authors concluded “The use of garlic against MDR-TB may be of great importance regarding public health.” Garlic’s anti-infective properties do not end with MDR-TB, as it has been demonstrated to inhibit the following pathogens as well:
- Amoeba Entamoeba histolytica (parasite)
- Cholera
- Clostridium
- Cytomegalovirus
- Dermatophytoses (a type of topical fungal infection)
- Haemophilus Influenzae
- Helicobacter Pylori
- Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1
- Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2
- Klebsiella
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus A. (MRSA)
- Parainfluenza Virus
- Peridontal Infection
- Pneumococcal Infections
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Streptococcus Mutans
- Streptococcus Infections: Group A
- Streptococcus Infections: Group B
- Streptococcus pyrogenes
- Thrush (oral fungal infection)
2) Honey
Bees produce a wide range of therapeutic substances beyond honey, e.g. propolis, bee venom, royal jelly, beeswax, bee pollen, etc., but this sweet, sticky stuff that we all love to dip our paw into occasionally, is the most well-known and most copiously consumed of them all – and for good reason, it tastes great!
But did you know that this sweet treat is one of nature’s most powerful healing agents, as well? Here is just a smattering of some of honey’s more scientifically researched health benefits and/or applications:
- Bacterial Infections
- Burns
- Candida infection (despite the fact that honey contains sugar, it demonstrates anti-fungal properties)
- Conjunctivitis
- Dental plaque (a recent study showed that Manuka honey was a viable alternative to chemical mouthwash in dissolving dental plaque)[iii]
- Dermatitis
- Diabetic Ulcer
- Herpes-related ulcers
- MRSA (especially for Manuka honey)
3) Apples
An apple a day does in fact keep the doctor away, especially cancer specialists it would seem.
For instance, one of the most well-established health benefits of consuming apples is to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The more apples you consume, the less likely you are to develop this potentially fatal disease.
To view the 5 studies that reference this relationship, go to the GreenmedInfo.com apple research page where you will also find 50 other health benefits of apple or apple byproducts (e.g. apple vinegar) consumption which include:
- Aging, Reduce Rate
- Allergies
- Allopecia (Hair Loss)
- Diarrhea
- Insulin Resistance
- Liver Cancer
- Radiation Induced Illness
- Staphylococcol Infection
4) Sunlight
This one may throw some of you off, but sunlight possesses both energy and information with real, metabolic value and is therefore a source of usable energy for the body – and so, in a very real sense it can be considered a form of food that we consume through our skin by way of its built in, melanin-based “solar panels.”
Not only does adequate sunlight exposure result in the production of vitamin D, a hormone-like substance that regulates over 2,000 genes in the human body – and as a result prevents or ameliorates hundreds of vitamin D deficiency associated health conditions – but sunlight exposure itself has a unique set of health benefits not reducible to simply vitamin D production alone.
One of the more interesting studies performed on sunlight exposure, based on data gathered from over 100 countries and published earlier this year in the journal Anticancer Research, showed that there was “a strong inverse correlations with solar UVB for 15 types of cancer,” with weaker, though still significant evidence for the protective role of sunlight in 9 other cancers. Here are some additional benefits of sunlight exposure:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Depression
- Dopamine Deficiency
- Dermatitis
- Influenza
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Psoriasis
5) Turmeric
Quite possibly the world’s most important herb. Named “Kanchani,” or literally “Golden Goddess,” in the ancient Indian healing tradition, its healing properties have been deeply appreciated, if not revered for countless centuries.
Turmeric has been scientifically documented to have over 500 applications in disease prevention and treatment. It also has been shown to modulate over 150 distinct biological and genetic/epigenetic pathways of value in health, demonstrating a complexity as well as gentleness that no drug on the planet has ever been shown to possess.
As there are too many health conditions that turmeric may benefit to list, we are listing the top 10 as determined by the GreenMedInfo algorithm which calculates both the evidence quantity (number of articles) and evidence quality (human study valued higher than animal, and so on). Also, the number in parentheses denotes the number of studies on the database demonstrating the beneficial relationship.
- Oxidative Stress (160)
- Inflammation (51)
- DNA Damage (48)
- Lipid Peroxidation (34)
- Colorectal Cancer (24)
- Breast Cancer (60)
- Colon Cancer (52)
- Chemically-Induced Liver Damage (34)
- Alzheimer’s Disease (34)
- Tumors (23)
The Natural Life!
Original Post Found @: http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/5-food-medicines.html?t=mam
Saturday, November 15, 2014
The Root Cause Of Cancer and Why Has it Been Kept a Secret!
The Root Cause Of Cancer and Why Has it Been Kept a Secret!
Dr. Warburg was one of the 20th centuries leading biologists, and he discovered that the root cause of cancer is too much acidity in the body, meaning that the pH in the body is below the normal level of 7.365, which constitutes an “acidic” state. Warburg investigated the metabolism of tumours and the respiration of cells and discovered that cancer cells maintain and thrive in a lower pH, as low as 6.0, due to lactic acid production and elevated CO2. He firmly believed that there was a direct relationship between pH and oxygen. Higher pH, which is Alkaline, means higher concentration of oxygen molecules, while lower pH, which is acidic, means lower concentrations of oxygen…the same oxygen that is needed to maintain healthy cells.
In 1931 Dr. Warburg was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this important discovery. He stated, “Cancerous tissues are acidic, whereas healthy tissues are alkaline. Water splits into H+ and OH- ions, if there is and excess of H+, it is acidic; if there is an excess of OH- ions, then it is alkaline”.
In his work The Metabolism of Tumours Warburg demonstrated that “all forms of cancer are characterized by two basic conditions: acidosis and hypoxia (lack of oxygen). Lack of oxygen and acidosis are two sides of the same coin: where you have one, you have the other.” “All normal cells have an absolute requirement for oxygen, but cancer cells can live without oxygen – a rule without exception. Deprive a cell 35% of its oxygen for 48 hours and it may become cancerous.”
Dr. Warburg has made it clear that the root cause of cancer is oxygen deficiency, which creates an acidic state in the human body. Dr. Warburg also discovered that cancer cells are anaerobic (do not breathe oxygen) and cannot survive in the presence of high levels of oxygen, as found in an alkaline state.
You have our permission to reprint this article via creative commons license if you attribute us with a live backlink to this article. – Organic Health
Original Post Found @: http://complete-health-and-happiness.com/root-cause-cancer-kept-secret/?t=mam
Young, Fit...and Diabetic - You Can Reverse It With "Diabetes Miracle"
Young, Fit...and Diabetic
Want To Learn How You Can Reverse Diabetes? Click Here! For The "Diabetes Miracle".
Thirty-seven percent of Americans have prediabetes, fasting blood sugar levels considered higher than desirable. (Photo by Getty Images)
Natalie Bernstein, a svelte nursery school teacher, had taken a routine blood test when her doctor called her during the school day with bad news: She had diabetes.
It wasn’t a complete surprise, because her mother and younger sister both suffered from the condition. Her sister, Sonia, had juvenile diabetes, or Type 1, which is linked to an unfortunate gene. But Natalie’s diagnosis was Type 2 — and she was only 35.
Many people think of Type 2s as overweight folks who messed themselves up after decades on the couch guzzling chips and soda. At 5 feet, 7 inches, Natalie weighed 122 pounds, ate the occasional cookie and spent her days with small children. Keeping her weight up was her challenge: She tended to drop pounds fast when she worked out at gyms, so instead she walked several miles daily. “I felt fine,” she says.
“Diabetics are really a heterogeneous group,” says endocrinologist Ping Wang, who runs a fast-growing Diabetes Center at the University of California, in Irvine. The old division — Type 1 shows up young, Type 2 in middle-aged people with bad habits — is giving way to a much more complex picture, embracing more people.
More than 12 percent of Americans ages 20 and older have some form of diabetes, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although a third of that group has not been diagnosed. Another 37 percent, including me — an experienced journalist who regularly covers health — have prediabetes, fasting blood-sugar levels considered higher than desirable.
Diabetes is not a single biological process; rather, its a name for symptoms related to high blood-sugar levels. When we eat a meal, the starches convert to glucose, aka sugar, and the bloodstream can only handle a small amount of glucose at a time, less than we ordinarily eat in a modern diet. So the pancreas releases insulin, which lowers the blood-glucose level. In Type 1 diabetics, the immune system is attacking the pancreas, and it doesn’t make insulin. Type 2 diabetics do make insulin and the vast majority doesn’t have an autoimmune problem.
In the classic explanation of Type 2, age and a fatty body make us insulin-resistant, and the pancreas has to release more insulin to do the job. Over time, it can’t keep up. About 85 percent of people with a diagnosis of Type 2 are overweight, one among many reasons to keep off those extra fat layers. Many heavy people, however, don’t develop diabetes and some Type 2 diabetics don’t fit the insulin-resistance model.
In short, people can end up with high blood sugar for a variety of reasons. A small number have a known genetic defect and so are called monogenetic diabetics. Researchers think that other genetic abnormalities will emerge. A sugar-heavy diet or yo-yo-dieting may work against you, too, but the research is still evolving. As science progresses, the basic advice to stay fit and reasonably slim remains the same.
What we can do differently is drop the blame game.
When my doctor told me I was prediabetic and diagnosed Metformin, a common medication, I felt a surge of shame. “Am I really that fat?” I asked piteously.
He looked at me kindly. “It’s genetic,” he said, and added, “It would still be a good idea to lose some weight — aim for 10 pounds.”
My case helps dispel the myth that all pre-diabetics or Type 2s are gorging on sugar and starch and are inactive. Gluten makes me ill, fast, so for a decade I had no desire for bread or cake. I also drank no soda and had only the occasional fruit smoothie. Yet in that same decade, I developed high blood sugar. I was also moderately fit, walking home from work two miles every day and biking on most weekends.
Related: Is Gluten Sensitivity for Real?
After my doctor’s edict, I upped my muscle building and adopted Pilates and dance. Although I now have visible ab indentations, my blood-sugar level is still high, despite the Metformin. (I’ll admit I haven’t lost the 10 pounds.)
I plan to work harder to avoid diabetes. Still, we can’t be angry at our genes. My grandmother developed diabetes when she was in her 60s. Just like me, she lived alone in an apartment, wrote daily, and could be pushy at times. I remember watching her eat a dinner of one slice of boiled brisket and a can of “dietetic” peas followed by a single square of sugar-free chocolate, as we talked happily for hours.
If diabetes happens to me, I’ll thank her for the blessing of her genes, the good and the bad.
Your Next Read: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways to Eat Healthier
Original Post Found @: https://www.yahoo.com/health/young-fit-and-diabetic-102565662282.html
Original Post Found @: https://www.yahoo.com/health/young-fit-and-diabetic-102565662282.html
8 Foods That Boost Your Mood
8 Foods That Boost Your Mood
Photo: iStock
It’s getting darker outside. For a lot of us, it seems like it’s getting darker inside, as well.
Since the clocks fell back, and the sun started going down right after lunch, a lot of people have been complaining about SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s one of those conditions that comes with an acronym so perfect, you wonder if it’s even real. But doctors insist it is—and that it can even run in families.
SAD is a type of depression that sets in from fall to winter, and can make you feel like you’re trapped in the beginning of a Nicholas Sparks novel. The reduced level of sunlight we get after Daylight Savings Time creates a drop in the mood-boosting brain chemical serotonin and an imbalance in melatonin, another brain chemical regulating sleep and mood.
Fortunately, Eat This, Not That! has uncovered a handful of food swaps that hack your brain’s chemicals and reset your mood from foul to fair. In fact, just making a handful of tweaks to your diet as the days grow shorter can put a spring in your step long before spring is in the air. (And keep the good mood going by signing up for our newsletter and avoiding the winter weight with 5 Daily Habits That Blast Belly Fat.)
1. Best Get-Happy Vegetable Swap
EAT THIS
Red Bell Peppers
3 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0.1 g protein, 0.5 g sugar
1 tbsp
NOT THAT!
Green Bell Pepper
3 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0.1 g protein, 0.4 g sugar
1 tbsp
Why red? Aren’t all peppers the same? In fact, red bell peppers—which have been allowed to ripen on the vine and not picked when still green—have considerably higher nutrient scores than their underdeveloped brethren—more than double the vitamin C and up to 8 times as much vitamin A. In a recent survey of nutrient density, researchers at William Patterson University ranked red peppers as second only to leafy greens as the most potent of vegetables. The higher concentration of vitamins helps to not only improve your mood directly, but to also boost your immune system and lessen cold syptoms. Stir-fry or roast them if you’re not down with nibbling them raw to get the most of their vitamins and nutrients. (And find out why color also matters when choosing the Best Fruits for Fat Loss.)
2. Best Get-Happy Condiment Swap
EAT THIS
French’s mustard
0 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 0 g sugar
1 tbsp
NOT THAT!
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise
90 calories, 10 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 0 g sugar
1 tbsp
Swap omega-6-heavy mayo for omega-3-loaded mustard and get an instant mental health boost. While essential, omega-6s are also inflammatory, and are linked to obesity, diabetes and depression. Mayonnaise, made from grain and seed oils, provides a whopping 11,359 mg of omega-6 per ounce. The humble yellow mustard, on the other hand, is among the top dozen or so sources of omega-3 acids, with nearly half as much, ounce per ounce, as canned tuna. A 2013 study in the Journal of Nutrition found that higher levels of omega-3s relative to omega-6s were linked to lower risks of depression.
3. Best Get-Happy Snack Swap
EAT THIS
Pumpkin Seeds
142 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 6 g protein, .3 g sugar
1/2 cup
NOT THAT!
Chex Mix Bold Party Blend
120 calories, 3.5 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 2 g protein, 1.8 g sugar
1/2 cup
Pumpkin seeds are like crunchy little nuggets of Prozac Helper. They’re one of the best food sources of an amino acid known as tryptophan, which helps the production of serotonin in your brain. Antidepressants help the brain to circulate serotonin, so if you’re taking them now, these little pumpkin pick-me-ups may make them even more effective. Spice them up and swap them in now for Chex Mix, which is made from wheat, corn, and vegetable oil, all of which are high in omega-6 fatty acids. A study found that those with the highest intake of omega-6 fatty acids have twice the risk of becoming depressed.
4. Best Get-Happy Candy Swap
EAT THIS
Lindt 85% Cocoa Bar
230 calories, 18 g fat, 11 g saturated fat, 5 g protein, 5 g sugar
One serving (4 squares)
NOT THAT!
Hershey’s Special Dark
190 calories, 12 g fat, 8 g saturated fat, 2 g protein, 21 g sugar
One serving (one bar)
Dark chocolate perks up your brain in four different ways; it boosts serotonin and endorphins, the feel-good hormones; it’s rich in B vitamins and magnesium, which are noted cognitive boosters; it contains small amounts of caffeine, which helps with short-term concentration; and it contains theobromine, a stimulant that delivers a different sort of buzz, minus the espresso shakes. As if that’s not enough, it’s also one of our 10 Libido-Lifting Foods (go ahead and click, no one’s watching and it’s SFW).
The catch: most treats labeled “dark chocolate” have had the healthy nutrients processed out of them. A product like Hershey’s Special Dark is made with alkalized, or “Dutch” chocolate, which destroys up to 75% of the healthy ingredients in the chocolate. Look for a bar that’s labeled “72% cacao” or above, even if the calorie count is a bit higher.
5. Best Get-Happy Drink Swap
DRINK THIS
Chamomile Tea
2 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 0 g sugar
1 cup (8 oz)
NOT THAT!
Diet Soda
0 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 0 g sugar
1 cup (8 oz)
1 cup (8 oz)
In summer, your body clock is like Dr. Dre—perfect beats. Once winter hits, the music gets all discombobulated. Your circadian rhythm is thrown off by the decrease of (natural) light, making it harder to sleep at night and to stay on top of your game during the day. Research shows that chamomile tea not only brings on better sleep, but actually improves your cognitive functioning during the day. Meanwhile, a study last year linked soft drinks to depression, particularly the diet variety—those who drank more than four cans a day were 30% more likely to have had depression, due partly to the artificial sweetener aspartame. (For more cola shockers, click on our eye-popping Surprising Reasons to Finally Give Up Soda.)
6. Best Get-Happy Juice Swap
DRINK THIS
R.W. Knudsen Just Blueberry Juice
100 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 18 g sugar
1 cup (8 oz)
NOT THAT!
V8 Splash Berry Blend
70 calories, 0g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g protein, 18g sugar
1 cup (8 oz)
Darkly-colored berries lead to weight loss, decreasing the formation of fat cells by up to 73%—that alone will improve your mood. But berries also carry heavy doses of vitamin C. Too little C—a possibility when you’re hunkering down on comfort foods and no longer enjoying a summer bounty of tomatoes, peppers and fruit salads—can lead to fatigue, depression, low motivation, and the general feeling that you’re sloshing around in wet snowboots 24/7. Avoid the imposter “juices”—V8 Splash is a pathetic 10 percent juice—and power up with R.W. Knudsen Just Blueberry. Add a glass in the AM, along with these 6 Morning Rituals That Guarantee a Great Day.
7. Best Get-Happy Appetizer Swap
EAT THIS
Outback Steakhouse Crab and Avocado Stack
547 calories, 31 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 17 g protein, 6 g sugar
NOT THAT!
Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’ Onion
1,959 calories, 161 g fat, 48 g saturated fat, 18 g protein, 28 g sugar
One platter of the Bloomin’ Onion has 113 grams of downer-inducing omega-6s. You could rename the appetizer the Wiltin’ Onion for its—no kidding—2 ½ shot glasses worth of vegetable oils. The Crab and Avocado Stack, on the other hand, provides mood-boosting omega-3s from the crab and cravings-crushing monounsaturated fats from the avocado. A study in Nutrition Journal found that participants who ate half a fresh avocado with lunch reported a 40 percent decreased desire to eat for hours afterward. (Avocado is also one of our 10 Foods for a Longer Life; click to see the other nine.)
8. Best Get-Happy Salad Swap
EAT THIS
Romaine salad with Vinaigrette
45 calories, 4.1 g fat, .6 g saturated fat, 1 g protein, 1 g sugar
1 cup
1 cup
NOT THAT!
Traditional Romaine Ceasar salad
184 calories, 15.3 g fat, 2.8 g saturated fat, 5g protein, 1.3 g sugar
1 cup
1 cup
Kale gets all the green-market glory, and everyone knows what spinach has done for Popeye, but humble Romaine lettuce tops them both in nutrient density, according to William Patterson University researchers. One of the main nutrients in Romaine and other leafy greens is the B vitamin folate. Recent Finnish research showed that low folate levels were found in depressed members of the population.
Unfortunately, proud Romaine is often downgraded to a veritable junk food when it’s paired up with commercial Caesar salad dressing, an oil-based bastardization of the traditional Italian recipe that’s one of the foods highest in depression-causing omega-6 acids. Lift your spirits by topping your salad with an olive oil vinaigrette, which boasts both heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and mood-boosting mustard seed.
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More From Eat This, Not That!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Public Records - Now Online
Public Records - Now Online 9:06am Wednesday, September 24, 2014 as told to Jessica Ruane Been issued a speeding ticket? Failed to stop at a stop sign? What about your family members? And friends? If you are like most of us, the answer to at least one of those questions is “yes”—the vast majority of us have slipped up at least once or twice. An innovative new website—Instant Checkmate is now revealing the full “scoop” on millions of Americans. Instant Checkmate aggregates hundreds of millions of publicly available criminal, traffic, and arrest records and posts them online so they can easily be searched by anyone. Members of the site can literally begin searching within seconds, and are able to check as many records as they like (think: friends, family, neighbors, etc. etc.). Previously, if you wanted to research someone’s arrest records, you might have had to actually go in to a county court office—in the appropriate county—and formally request information on an individual. This process may have taken days or weeks, or the information might not have been available at all. With websites like Instant Checkmate, however, a background check takes just a few clicks of the mouse, and no more than a minute or two. While preparing this article I decided to run a quick search on myself to give the service a real-world test. To my dismay, the search revealed several items I’d long forgotten—one of them being for the possession of a fake ID I was (embarrassingly) issued back in college when I was just 18 years old. "possession of a fake ID I was (embarrassingly) issued back in college when I was just 18 years old" After searching myself and finding those records, my curiosity was piqued, and I began researching family members—apparently my aunt Susanne isn’t a very good driver, judging by the numerous traffic citations that showed on her record. One of the most interesting aspects of Instant Checkmate is that it shows not only criminal records, but also more general background information like marriage records, divorce records, various types of licenses (medical, firearm, aviation, etc.), previous addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, estimated income levels and even satellite imagery of known addresses—it’s really pretty scary just how much information is in these reports. In addition to giving information on the specific person you search for, the report also includes a scrolling list of “local sex offenders” for whatever region you’ve searched—along with a map plotting out the locations of those offenders. I started perusing the ones that showed up in my report, and I was absolutely blown away when I stumbled upon my junior high school wrestling coach’s mug shot. I was absolutely blown away when I stumbled upon my junior high school wrestling coach’s mug shot. His crime was listed as "Out of state offense,"" so I wasn’t able to get the specifics (you usually can—this was an unusual case), but he was definitely a registered sex offender. Scary stuff. I would definitely recommend this tool to friends and family. Anyone can start running background checks on Instant Checkmate within a few seconds—just click this link to get started. If you would like to search someone you know, click here. - See more at: http://www.instantcheckmate.com
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