View allAll Photos Tagged constipation.
20T takes to the passing siding to run around a dead 120 train parked on the mainline at Dawson, IL.
All day long 120's carcass served to impede traffic flow as trains sat for an hour and half at either Iles and Harristown waiting for opposing traffic to pass. Then, once they were let loose, they had to negotiate the 25 mph gauntlet at Dawson as they ran into and back out of the passing siding. Movement Planner my butt. More like Constipation Planner.
24 hours later, as I posted this photo, 120 is still sitting dead at Dawson blocking the main road crossing. And the Class I's wonder why people are getting angry.
NS 8011 - ES44AC
NS 4426 - AC44C6M
Old Route 36 - Dawson, Illinois
February 5, 2022
114 in 2014 #4 Obsolete
And for Macro Monday's theme "good health". Circa 1890's Smith's Chamomile Pills - for headaches, dizziness, biliousness, a torpid liver, and of course, constipation! Sounds like they will cure pretty much all that ails you!
New West Scotland's somewhat haphazard approach to recruiting means that infantry squads tend to be an eclectic bunch. The Wootton Bassett Irregulars are a typical example.
Clockwise from top left:
Lieutenant Smiley gives the orders from his half-track command sled - he needs the megaphone to be heard over the sound of his engine...
Ralph T. Overkill never takes 1 rocket launcher on a sortie when 2 will do.
Squad medic Philbert Potts is a re-educated gardener; who needs modern medicine when you've got nature's bounty and knowledge of herbal remedies for everything from contusions to constipation?
Ralph's twin brother Vincent Overkill is the squad's scout and demolitions expert.
'Radio' Jack Jackson found a simple solution to his myopia - make the equipment bigger. Now he can see the buttons to call back to base for a hot bath.
Last but not least, Colin Smith is a devotee of all things big and shooty. He is rather easily distracted though.
This morning in Colonia Güell, near Barcelona.
1 texture by Kim Klasse
www.flickr.com/photos/kimklassen/
Cichorium intybus L. (Asteráceas) CHICORY
PROPERTIES
Diuretic, depurative, stomachic, tonic, bacteriostatic. The toasted root can be used as a coffee substitute.
INDICATIONS
Anorexia, dyspepsia, biliary dyskinesia, constipation, hypertension, oliguria.
Bach flowers: www.bachflower.org/chicory.htm
It was a tough week for my old lady: Two visits to the vet for acute constipation. Then finally all was well again but she was very exhausted. So in the evening she fell asleep sitting up before she could lie down.
Repainted ghost sign for Carter's Little Liver Pills, seen in Brattleboro, Vermont. Carter's Little Liver Pills (Carter's Little Pills after 1959) were formulated as a patent medicine by Samuel J. Carter of Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1868. The active ingredient is bisacodyl. The pills were touted to cure headache, constipation, dyspepsia, and biliousness.
Another long day, waiting outside a Chinese medicine store...
Rollei 35 S, Kodak T-Max 400
單眼佬涼茶 (one eyed man herbal tea), Saigon Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Doka Estate Coffee has a small section growing other food bearing plants like these banana.
BANANAS IN COSTA RICA:
20 Mar 2014
Fresh Plaza - Global Fresh Produce and Banana News:
Jorge Arturo Sauma Aguilar, manager of CORBANA
Costa Rican bananas competing in a saturated world market:
Although more famous for its pineapples, Costa Rica devotes around 44,000 hectares to the cultivation of bananas; less than 1% of the country's territory. 48% of the business is in the hands of small producers and the rest in those of companies such as Chiquita, Dole and Del Monte.
Costa Rica's most common bananas are the Gran Enano Valery and the famous Cavendish, "which is considered the world's best banana," says Jorge Arturo Sauma Aguilar, manager of CORBANA.
The banana market is becoming increasingly saturated:
"Banana production has expanded without control in recent years and this is leading to an increasingly more saturated market. Considering the market's global status, all producing countries should hold off a little if they wish to continue making a profit. First it was Ecuador, now also the Philippines, Guatemala or Cameroon, whose produce stands at considerably lower prices," he explains.
"The wages of a Costa Rican labourer are not the same as those of an African or Filipino and we cannot compete with that. That is why we need to do as much as possible to let consumers know about the value added by ethical social and environmental policies. We are currently working with the EU for the designation of a Protected Geographical Indication to Costa Rica's bananas."
The European Union and the United States are the two largest markets for Costa Rica's bananas, and Sauma Aguilar believes that, despite the oversupply, there is still room for growth.
"I think we can still grow in the North American market, and our supply volumes to some EU countries could also increase. We are also really interested in entering markets in the Middle East, like Dubai or Saudi Arabia, where healthy eating habits are being strongly promoted by their governments."
Race 4 Fusarium: the greatest threat to Costa Rican bananas
Competition with other countries is not the only obstacle for Costa Rica's banana sector. "The greatest threat to our produce is the Race 4 Fusarium virus, which has yet to affect us, but if it did, it would cause incalculable losses.
At the latest congress organised by Corbana we recognised it as a real threat, and we determined that a joint effort from all Latin American nations, as well as the exporting countries, is required to prevent such threats."
Fairtrade and organic in Costa Rica:
Even though not many Costa Rican companies are Fairtrade certified, Sauma Aguilar believes that Corbana is fundamentally a Fairtrade producer, as "great efforts are carried out for the protection of the environment, with assistance from the Environmental Banana Commission (CAB), and for improvements to be made to the labourers' social structure. There is still a lot of work to do, but most of our producers are certified by Global Gap, ISO 14001 or Rainforest Alliance."
Regarding the organic market, "it is harder to grow organic bananas in Costa Rica than in other places like Piura, in Peru. Temperatures are very high here and we need some phytosanitary control mechanisms."
All three forms of trade likely to prevail:
In what concerns banana trade, Sauma Aguilar believes that, despite the latest trend among large supermarket chains, like Walmart and Tesco, of working directly with producers, the other two forms of trade are also likely to prevail.
"I think that there will still be producers working through large distributors, as well as others exporting the fruit themselves. All trading forms are acceptable as long as growers are able to make a profit."
About CORBANA:
The National Banana Corporation (CORBANA) is a non-state, public entity, founded with the goal of promoting research in Costa Rica's banana industry and improving the situation for producers. "The Costa Rican government hands over all research and technological transfer issues to CORBANA. We also offer assessment to the government in matters of trade and treaty development, such as the latest one signed with the European Union," concludes Sauma Aguilar.
BANANAS - GOOD or BAD??
by Amy Margulies, lead registered dietitian for Retrofit
"why-is-everyone-so-terrified-to-eat-bananas-a-dietitian-peels-back-the-truth":
You’ve probably heard people talking, or read articles online, about why eating bananas is bad for you nutritionally and can impede weight loss. While some people insist that bananas are just fine, others are convinced this is a fruit you should stay away from if you’re trying to lose weight – and many do, just in case the rumors are true. But what’s the real deal with bananas? It’s time to peel open this myth.
What the critics are saying
The controversy started with Dr. Susanna Holt, an Australian researcher who developed the Satiety Index, a way to evaluate how full different foods make you feel. “We found that bananas are much less satisfying than oranges or apples,” Holt stated at the conclusion of the satiety study.
Bananas are generally higher in calories from carbs than most fruits. So for those who are counting calories, this may seem like a poor choice for a snack. People have also observed that bananas cause a “binding” effect, or put more simply, they cause constipation. That’s something you don’t want when you look to the scale for signs of progress.
Another side to the story
While the above claims may be true, there are more positive attributes to eating bananas. It turns out that they also contain resistant starch, a dietary fiber that the body can’t actually absorb. As a result, you feel full without absorbing additional weight in the long term. What’s more, according to Dr. Janine Higgins at the Colorado Clinical and Transitional Sciences Institute, research indicates that resistant starch can increase the rate of fat burning your body does after a meal.
Combined with potassium and other vitamins and minerals that occur naturally in bananas, there are some serious benefits that the banana-mashers tend to ignore. It’s no surprise we see stories from people like Loni Jane, who lost weight and improved her health significantly when she made bananas a major part of her diet.
What’s your take?
Some people will always believe the hype, despite the facts. But the truth is that the science is in favor of bananas being part of a healthy, weight-loss friendly diet. To get the most benefit, eat bananas that are still a little bit green – that’s when there’s more resistant starch. As a banana ripens, the starch breaks down and becomes less resistant to absorption.
We’re not recommending that you eat 10 bananas a day like Loni Jane, but eating them in moderation as part of a weight loss diet and active lifestyle will bring you nothing but positive benefits – so peel away!
Also Read:
Read more at www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/07/why-is-everyone-so-t...
With its fragrant, bright yellow blossoms, the jonquil flower (Narcissus jonquilla) has long been a favorite mid-spring
bloomer. A native of Spain and Portugal, jonquils — sometimes called narcissus or rush daffodils — are associated with the Greek myth of Narcissus. Here we’ll take you through everything you need to know about Jonquil flower meaning and symbolism, their history and origins, uses and benefits, plus learn about their cultural significance around the world today.
Jonquils are tied to the Greek myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. In the Victorian language of flowers, a gift of jonquils symbolizes forgiveness or a desire that affection is returned. The lovely blossoms have other meanings across cultures, such as creativity, inspiration, vitality, forgiveness, success, rebirth, and renewal.
N. jonquilla belong to the Narcissus, or daffodil, genus. A member of the Amaryllidaceae, or amaryllis, family, there are about 50 species in the Narcissus genus. Many are spring-blooming perennials.
Jonquil plants can grow to be about 1.5 feet tall, with narrow, linear leaves that clump around upright stems. Each stem may have one to three yellow flowers.
Blooms are fragrant, with a scent that’s been described as heady, sweet, and even musky. Each flower has a cup-shaped corona in the center, surrounded by a ray of five, flat petals.
History & Origins of Jonquil Flowers
In 1753, botanist Carl Linnaeus identified several species of Narcissus, the jonquil among them. Their history stretches back much farther, though.
It’s been found in graves from ancient Egypt and painted on the walls at Pompeii. The flowers feature prominently in Greek myth, as well as many poems and works from ancient Greece. Some historians think that Roman soldiers may have introduced the plants to England during the Crusades, where it’s been cultivated for centuries.
N. jonquilla is prized in European and North American gardens for its spring blooms and heady scent. There are more than 25,000 registered Narcissus cultivars. Some popular varieties include:
‘Baby Boomer’: A miniature variety that blooms with an abundance of small, yellow blossoms with an orange corona
‘Baby Moon’ produces small, golden flowers in late spring and thrives in warm climates
‘Bell Song’ has white petals with a pink-orange cup and a strong fragrance
‘Pipt’ is a long-blooming cultivar with lemony blooms that fade to white
‘Pueblo’ has showy white petals surrounding a soft, yellow corona
‘Quail’ blooms with a profusion of highly scented yellow blossoms
‘Sailboat’ boasts swept-back ivory petals around a pale lemon corona
‘Trevithian’ grows up to 2 feet tall and has large yellow blooms
Etymological Meaning
Narcissus comes from the Greek word for “numbness” or narke (also the root of the word “narcotic.”) It’s thought that the flower’s intoxicating scent or the toxic nature of their bulbs and blossoms may be the connection.
“Jonquil” comes from the Spanish junquillo, which comes from the Latin for “rush,” or juncus. This refers to the jonquil’s rush-like foliage.
Jonquil flowers are native to Spain and Portugal. Over the years, this perennial has naturalized across many regions of Europe, Canada, and the U.S.
When is Jonquil Flowers in Season?
Jonquil flowers bloom in late April through May.
What is the Difference Between Daffodils and Jonquils?
The Narcissus genus has the common name of “Daffodil.” Essentially, this means that all species within the genus are casually referred to as “daffodils”, the March birth flower.
Jonquils are often called “daffodils,” but they’re really just one of many species with very similar characteristics that most associate with daffodils. Both bloom with six flat petals, surrounding a central, cup-shaped corona.
But jonquils differ from N. pseudonarcissus, also known as the trumpet or wild daffodil. The trumpet daffodil blooms earlier in spring than the jonquil and only has one flower per stem, while the jonquil may have up to three.
Jonquil foliage also differs from trumpet daffodils. Jonquil leaves are narrow, long, and reed-like, with rounded tips. Daffodil foliage is pointed and tends to be a lighter green than jonquil foliage.
Jonquils contain alkaloids that are toxic for humans, dogs, cats, and livestock. While this makes them deer- and gopher-resistant, ingestion may cause gastrointestinal upset, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmia, and tremors. The bulbs contain the most toxins, but flowers are also poisonous.
Though jonquil’s toxins rule out culinary uses, they’ve long been used in some folk medicine traditions. the legendary Greek physician Hippocrates recommended the oil as a treatment for tumors, while Pliny the Elder applied the flowers topically.
Several cultures, from China to North Africa and the Arabian peninsula, also used the flowers as anti-cancer treatments. Modern scientific research lends some support, finding that an alkaloid extracted from the plants may have promise in slowing the growth of cancer cells.
Other traditional uses include as an emetic agent, an anti-spasmodic, to treat constipation, a decongestant, and to treat dysentery. It’s even been used to treat baldness and as an aphrodisiac.
Jonquils are generally grown for ornamental uses. As one of the most aromatic members of the Narcissus genus, they are cultivated by the perfume industry for their fragrant oils. They’re also grown for floriculture.
These lovely blooms appear in shades of yellow or white, with a few cultivars boasting orange or apricot-hued coronas. Jonquils hold many different meanings across cultures.
Jonquil Flowers in Chinese Folklore
In Chinese folklore, the flowers represent the new year. They may signify rebirth, renewal, and vitality. To the Welch, the flowers are a sign of good fortune, as anyone who spots the first flower in spring will experience success.
Of course, the flowers have long been associated with the story of Narcissus. In this Greek myth, young Narcissus was handsome… and he knew it. The young man spurned the advances of the nymph Echo, who pined for him in the forests and valleys until only her voice was left.
As punishment, the Goddess Nemesis led Narcissus to a pool of water, where he encountered his own reflection. He was so enamored with his own beauty that he stared at his reflection for days. Eventually, he tired, fell in, and drowned, leaving only flowers growing where he once sat. From this myth comes jonquil’s connection to ego and self-absorption. Some say that the way jonquil stems droop toward the ground represents Narcissus looking into the pool.
Jonquils make an appearance in art and advertising, such as in paintings by Georgia O’Keefe.
With the heady fragrance and cheerful blossoms, jonquil flowers are an ideal gift to celebrate accomplishments, cheer someone up, or in a get-well bouquet. Associations of vitality and renewal make them a good choice for new baby gifts, as well.
Jonquils add a happy touch to birthday bouquets, too. They’re a great choice for any occasion when you want to wish someone success and good fortune or celebrate an accomplishment.
Jonquil flowers are prized for their fragrance and striking blossoms. Long associated with the Greek myth of Narcissus, these lovely flowers don’t just stand for self-absorption, but also signify creativity, inspiration, forgiveness, success, renewal, and rebirth. Easy to grow from bulbs, jonquils add fragrance and color to the mid-spring garden.
This photo is copyrighted and may not be used for publication without permission.
Broadway/Oceana show at the Ramada Celebration Resort.
Florida Gaming Convention.
for more pics from the show:
Here is one of our adorably cute kittens from a litter where all the females was orange-black-white and the only boy grey and white...
Look at those huge ears to that sweet little face :)
--------------------------------------------
Café Frequenters episode 176
--------------------------------------------
Hey and Hello! Guess where we are, yeah well I know that you know already, we are at Bornholm...
Still I wanted to tell you, we are four lads in one room at the hostel, Heartlieb, White, Gallix and me, Heartlieb is farting all the time and Galluix has got constipation since he refuses to do the crappy thing on any WC other than his own, so he is mostly reading comics and laying about in the bed...
White and Heartlieb hasn´t showered since we arived, but the do brush their teeth because our teacher controls it every morning...
Imagine this tiny island has even got Garbage pail kids (those stickers I collect)!
I bought 1 kilo of Bassets sweet on the ferry here, but half a kilo got lost on the boat already, since Maria wanted a free sweet and when I didn´t give it to her she pulled the bag and rip, half of the packs content ended up on the floor on the boat and people were treading all over them and got them stuck under their feet...
Me and While have found a place among the rocks where some fishermen must have had a smelter in the past, since we find a lot of lead , White found one huge one that looked like a zombie brain... tomorrow we are gonna go by but and first see the famous gravity anomaly then we are gonna go to their oldest church but no more time for writing since I gotta go to our free evening meal, that is me and White the other two will stay here and fart in the room, so if this letter stinks they are to blame...
Bye Bye!
/ Johnny the grandchild
P.S; say hi to Granny too!
Gameboard containing a circle comprised of 30 spaces surrounding advertising text and an image of the devil. Spaces marked with baseball rulings and plays, including Strike, Ball, Out, Foul, and Single Hit 1 Base. Circle surrounded by a "baseball diamond."
Next time you have a sore throat, reach for a lemon! Add the juice of one lemon to an equal amount of hot water for an anti-bacterial gargle.
The health benefits of lime include weight loss, skin care, good digestion, relief from constipation, eye care, and treatment of scurvy, piles, peptic ulcer, respiratory disorders, gout, gums, urinary disorders, etc.
I edit my photo after a long absence..
I'm Constipation.....-_-
I was in the restroom for one hour...orz
Noooooo!!!!!! Somebody Help me!!!l ><
Anyway thanks so much for your comment!!!XD
BG: DEVIANT ART
Guitar IMG: DEVIANT ART
Sim : By me
AYMO, CPF477, QS Cabin, Crescent, Waite Road. October 24, 1998
The lead unit was recently scrapped by CSX in Waterville which caused widespread consternation (and likely constipation) amongst the Facebook mavens.
Another long day, waiting outside a Chinese medicine store...
Fujifilm Cardia mini Tiara, Fujicolor Industrial 400
單眼佬涼茶 (one eyed man herbal tea), Saigon Street, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
Click to view in Lightbox.
.
The city of Damghan [...] trades in pistachios and paper almonds (kaghazi = paper in Persian), with very thin shells [easily removable by hand], which are famous throughout the country.
Almonds are rich in almost all the elements needed by the body. The thin-skinned known as the ‘kagzi badam’ is the best for use. Almond is an excellent source of Vitamin E, which is a potent antioxidant. Almond is rich in copper, iron and calcium and therefore proves nutritious for both children and older women. It is a laxative and can help relieve constipation.
See series below re. local buyers and sellers of almonds and other nuts in and around the Damghan bazaar and on the outskirts of the city.
.
The almond is surrounded by a shell and, until the nut matures, this is surrounded in turn by a hull. The hull splits at maturity to reveal the nut. There are three sorts of almonds according to the shell type:
Paper shell: easily rubbed off by hand
Soft shell: firm, but easily removed by hand
Hard shell: similar to other nuts
www.sturmsoft.com/Writing/guide_to-gardening/almonds.htm
.
The name of this nut is supposed to be derived from the word amysso, meaning to lacerate, on account of the prominent, sharp, knife-like margin of one edge of the nut. The English name is from the Latin amandola and from the Greek amaygdale. [...] Theo-phrastus, who wrote the history of plants three centuries before the Christian era, mentions the almond as the only tree in Greece that produces blossoms before the leaves."
chestofbooks.com/food/ingredients/Guide-For-Nut-Cookery/A...
Have a nice day and thanks for stopping by.
Four major parts of the agave are edible: the flowers, the leaves, the stalks or basal rosettes, and the sap (called aguamiel—honey water).
Each agave plant will produce several pounds of edible flowers during its final season. The stalks, which are ready during the summer, before the blossom, weigh several pounds each. Roasted, they are sweet and can be chewed to extract the aguamiel, like sugarcane. When dried out, the stalks can be used to make didgeridoos. The leaves may be collected in winter and spring, when the plants are rich in sap, for eating. The leaves of several species also yield fiber: for instance, Agave rigida var. sisalana, sisal hemp, Agave decipiens, false sisal hemp. Agave americana is the source of pita fiber, and is used as a fiber plant in Mexico, the West Indies and southern Europe.
During the development of the inflorescence, there is a rush of sap to the base of the young flower stalk. Agave syrup (also called agave nectar) is used as an alternative to sugar in cooking. In the case of A. americana and other species, this is used in Mexico and Mesoamerica in the production of the beverage pulque. The flower shoot is cut out and the sap collected and subsequently fermented. By distillation, a spirit called mezcal is prepared; one of the best-known forms of mezcal is tequila. In 2001, the Mexican Government and European Union agreed upon the classification of tequila and its categories. All 100% blue agave tequila must be made from the Weber blue agave plant, to rigorous specifications and only in certain Mexican states.
People have found a few other uses of the plant aside from its several uses as food. When dried and cut in slices, the flowering stem forms natural razor strops, and the expressed juice of the leaves will lather in water like soap. The natives of Mexico used the agave to make pens, nails and needles, as well as string to sew and make weavings. Leaf tea or tincture taken orally is used to treat constipation and excess gas. It is also used as a diuretic. Root tea or tincture is taken orally to treat arthritic joints.
- From Wikipedia
There is a superhighway between the brain and GI system that holds great sway over humans
"There is a muscle that encircles the gut like a lasso when we are sitting… creating a kink in the tube," Giulia Enders explains in Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ. She calls the mechanism "an extra insurance policy, in addition to our old friends, the sphincters" (you have two sphincters – keep reading) and cites studies showing that squatters, with their unkinked guts, are less susceptible to haemorrhoids and constipation.Enders, a 25-year-old student at the Institute for Microbiology in Frankfurt, inside an underground public lavatory in central London. "Is there a toilet in this toilet?" she asks when she arrives. There is not, a barista tells her. The Victorian urinals, abandoned in the 1960s, have been converted into cafe with booths and stools, and no room for anything else.After a dash to a pub loo above ground, Enders talks with infectious energy about the wonder of the gut. She has been delighted to discover how many people share her fascination with a subject that can suffer for being taboo. "Even today in the taxi, I told the driver what I was doing and within about two minutes he was telling me about his constipation," she says in perfect English, which she owes to a year of study in the US. "And it's not just him. It's ladies with chic hair at big gala dinners, too. Everyone wants to talk about it."Enders first got noticed after a self-assured turn at a science slam in Berlin three years ago. Her 10-minute lecture went viral on YouTube, and now, weeks after completing her final exams as a doctoral student, she is a publishing sensation. Her book, called Darm Mit Charme ("Charming Bowels") in Germany, has sold more than 1.3 million copies since it came out last year. Rights have been sold to dozens of countries.
Her way into the gut is a lightness that some reviewers have found too childish or lacking in scientific rigour to be taken seriously. But there is something compelling and refreshing about her curiosity and popular approach. "When I read the research, I think, why don't people know about this – why am I reading about it in some paper or specialist magazine? It's ridiculous because everyone has to deal with it on a daily basis." After she explains the inspiration for her fixation (the suicide of an acquaintance who had had severe halitosis, and her own teenage skin condition, which turned out to have been caused by a wheat intolerance) Enders starts at the end of the digestive tract with what she calls the "masterly performance" that is defecation. "There is so much about the anus that we don't know," she says, reaching for a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie. "The first surprise is the sophistication of our sphincters… you know about the outer one because you can control it, but the inner one nobody knows about."
This inner opening is beyond our conscious control, releasing waste material into a sort of anal vestibule where, in Enders words, "a small taster" hits sensor cells that tell the body what it's dealing with and how to respond using the outer sphincter. This opening, and our mouths, are the recognisable and controllable ends of a system that, stretched out, would be almost as long as a bus. But it's the bits in between, and their link with the rest of our bodies, including our brains and emotions, that really interest Enders.
"Medical diagrams show the small intestine as a sausage thing chaotically going through our belly," she says. "But it is an extraordinary work of architecture that moves so harmonically when you see it during surgery. It's clean and smooth, like soft fabric, and moves like this." She performs a wavy, pulsating motion with her hands. Enders believes that if we could think differently about the gut, we might more readily understand its role beyond basic digestion – and be kinder to it. The great extent to which the gut can influence health and mood is a growing field in medicine. We speak of it all the time, whether we describe "gut feelings", "butterflies in our stomachs", or "pooing our pants" in fear, but popular understanding of this gut-brain axis remains low.
A primal connection exists between our brain and our gut. We often talk about a “gut feeling” when we meet someone for the first time. We’re told to “trust our gut instinct” when making a difficult decision or that it’s “gut check time” when faced with a situation that tests our nerve and determination. This mind-gut connection is not just metaphorical. Our brain and gut are connected by an extensive network of neurons and a highway of chemicals and hormones that constantly provide feedback about how hungry we are, whether or not we’re experiencing stress, or if we’ve ingested a disease-causing microbe. This information superhighway is called the brain-gut axis and it provides constant updates on the state of affairs at your two ends. That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach after looking at your postholiday credit card bill is a vivid example of the brain-gut connection at work. You’re stressed and your gut knows it—immediately.
The enteric nervous system is often referred to as our body’s second brain. There are hundreds of million of neurons connecting the brain to the enteric nervous system, the part of the nervous system that is tasked with controlling the gastrointestinal system. This vast web of connections monitors the entire digestive tract from the esophagus to the anus. The enteric nervous system is so extensive that it can operate as an independent entity without input from our central nervous system, although they are in regular communication. While our “second” brain cannot compose a symphony or paint a masterpiece the way the brain in our skull can, it does perform an important role in managing the workings of our inner tube. The network of neurons in the gut is as plentiful and complex as the network of neurons in our spinal cord, which may seem overly complex just to keep track of digestion. Why is our gut the only organ in our body that needs its own “brain”? Is it just to manage the process of digestion? Or could it be that one job of our second brain is to listen in on the trillions of microbes residing in the gut?
Operations of the enteric nervous system are overseen by the brain and central nervous system. The central nervous system is in communication with the gut via the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system, the involuntary arm of the nervous system that controls heart rate, breathing, and digestion. The autonomic nervous system is tasked with the job of regulating the speed at which food transits through the gut, the secretion of acid in our stomach, and the production of mucus on the intestinal lining. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis, is another mechanism by which the brain can communicate with the gut to help control digestion through the action of hormones.
This circuitry of neurons, hormones, and chemical neurotransmitters not only sends messages to the brain about the status of our gut, it allows for the brain to directly impact the gut environment. The rate at which food is being moved and how much mucus is lining the gut—both of which can be controlled by the central nervous system—have a direct impact on the environmental conditions the microbiota experiences.
Like any ecosystem inhabited by competing species, the environment within the gut dictates which inhabitants thrive. Just as creatures adapted to a moist rain forest would struggle in the desert, microbes relying on the mucus layer will struggle in a gut where mucus is exceedingly sparse and thin. Bulk up the mucus, and the mucus-adapted microbes can stage a comeback. The nervous system, through its ability to affect gut transit time and mucus secretion, can help dictate which microbes inhabit the gut. In this case, even if the decisions are not conscious, it’s mind over microbes.
What about the microbial side? When the microbiota adjusts to a change in diet or to a stress-induced decrease in gut transit time, is the brain made aware of this modification? Does the brain-gut axis run in one direction only, with all signals going from brain to gut, or are some signals going the other way? Is that voice in your head that is asking for a snack coming from your mind or is it emanating from the insatiable masses in your bowels? Recent evidence indicates that not only is our brain “aware” of our gut microbes, but these bacteria can influence our perception of the world and alter our behavior. It is becoming clear that the influence of our microbiota reaches far beyond the gut to affect an aspect of our biology few would have predicted—our mind.
For example, the gut microbiota influences the body’s level of the potent neurotransmitter serotonin, which regulates feelings of happiness. Some of the most prescribed drugs in the U.S. for treating anxiety and depression, like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil, work by modulating levels of serotonin. And serotonin is likely just one of a numerous biochemical messengers dictating our mood and behavior that the microbiota impacts.
Most of us can relate to the experience of having butterflies in our stomach, or to a visceral gut-wrenching feeling, and how often are we told not to ignore our “gut-instinct” or “gut-feeling” when making a decision.
Even from our simple slang, it’s clear just how symbolically connected the gut is to our emotions. Now, there’s tangible proof to support these popular metaphors.
We all have a microbiome, and they are as unique as our neural pathways
Research has shown that the body is actually composed of more bacteria than cells. We are more bug than human! Collectively, these trillions of bacteria are called the microbiome. Most of those bacteria reside in our gut, sometimes referred to as the gut microbiota, and they play multiple roles in our overall health.
The gut is no longer seen as an entity with the sole purpose of helping with all aspects of digestion. It’s also being considered as a key player in regulating inflammation and immunity.
A healthy gut consists of different iterations of bacteria for different people, and this diversity maintains wellness. A shift away from “normal” gut microbiota diversity is called dysbiosis, and dysbiosis may contribute to disease. In light of this, the microbiome has become the focus of much research attention as a new way of understanding autoimmune, gastrointestinal, and even brain disorders.
The benefit of a healthy gut is illustrated most effectively during early development. Research has indicated just how sensitive a fetus is to any changes in a mother’s microbiotic makeup, so much so that it can alter the way a baby’s brain develops. If a baby is born via cesarean section, it misses an opportunity to ingest the mother’s bacteria as it travels down the vaginal canal. Studies show that those born via c-section have to work to regain the same diversity in their microbiome as those born vaginally. Throughout our lives, our microbiome continues to be a vulnerable entity, and as we are exposed to stress, toxins, chemicals, certain diets, and even exercise, our microbiome fluctuates for better or worse.
The gut as second brain
Our gut microbiota play a vital role in our physical and psychological health via its own neural network: the enteric nervous system (ENS), a complex system of about 100 million nerves found in the lining of the gut.
The ENS is sometimes called the “second brain,” and it actually arises from the same tissues as our central nervous system (CNS) during fetal development. Therefore, it has many structural and chemical parallels to the brain.
Our ENS doesn’t wax philosophical or make executive decisions like the gray shiny mound in our skulls. Yet, in a miraculously orchestrated symphony of hormones, neurotransmitters, and electrical impulses through a pathway of nerves, both “brains” communicate back and forth. These pathways include and involve endocrine, immune, and neural pathways.
At this point in time, even though the research is inchoate and complex, it is clear that the brain and gut are so intimately connected that it sometimes seems like one system, not two.
Our emotions play a big role in functional gastrointestinal disorders
Given how closely the gut and brain interact, it has become clear that emotional and psychosocial factors can trigger symptoms in the gut. This is especially true in cases when the gut is acting up and there’s no obvious physical cause.
The functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are a group of more than 20 chronic and hard to treat medical conditions of the gastrointestinal tract that constitute a large proportion of the presenting problems seen in clinical gastroenterology.
While FGID’s were once thought to be partly “in one’s head,” a more precise conceptualization of these difficulties posits that psychosocial factors influence the actual physiology of the gut, as well as the modulation of symptoms. In other words, psychological factors can literally impact upon physical factors, like the movement and contractions of the GI tract, causing, inflammation, pain, and other bowel symptoms.
Mental health impacts gut wellness
In light of this new understanding, it might be impossible to heal FGID’s without considering the impact of stress and emotion. Studies have shown that patients who tried psychologically based approaches had greater improvement in their symptoms compared with patients who received conventional medical treatment.
Along those lines, a new pilot study from Harvard University affiliates Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that meditation could have a significant impact for those with irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Forty-eight patients with either IBS or IBD took a 9-week session that included meditation training, and the results showed reduced pain, improved symptoms, stress reduction, and the change in expression of genes that contribute to inflammation.
Poor gut health can lead to neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders
Vice-versa, poor gut health has been implicated in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Disturbances in gut health have been linked to multiple sclerosis, autistic spectrum disorders, and Parkinson’s disease. This is potentially related to pro-inflammatory states elicited by gut dysbiosis-microbial imbalance on or inside the body. Additional connections between age-related gut changes and Alzheimer’s disease have also been made.
Further, there is now research that is dubbing depression as an inflammatory disorder mediated by poor gut health. In fact, multiple animal studies have shown that manipulating the gut microbiota in some way can produce behaviors related to anxiety and depression. (Maes, Kubera, Leunis, Berk, J. Affective Disorders, 2012 and Berk, Williams, Jacka, BMC Med, 2013).
Our brain’s health, which will be discussed in more depth in a later blog post, is dependent on many lifestyle choices that mediate gut health; including most notably diet (i.e., reduction of excess sugar and refined carbohydrates) and pre and probiotic intake.
The brain-gut connection has treatment implications
We are now faced with the possibility of both prevention and treatment of neurological/neuropsychiatric difficulties via proper gut health. On the flip side, stress-reduction and other psychological treatments can help prevent and treat gastrointestinal disorders. This discovery can potentially lead to reduced morbidity, impairment, and chronic dependency on health care resources.
The most empowering aspect to the gut-brain connection is the understanding that many of our daily lifestyle choices play a role in mediating our overall wellness. This whole-body approach to healthcare and wellness continues to show its value in our longevity, well-being, and quality of life: that both physical and mental health go hand-in-hand.
ANNONA MURICATA
A natural remedy for cancer treatment with out any common side effects caused by chemotherapeutic drugs. It is ten thousand times more potent than normal chemotherapeutic drug. It have its effect on dividing cells that have cancer property but no effect on normal dividing cell.
It is commonly seen in areas of North America, South America and Caribbean and known to as by graviola, paw-paw, guanabana. Which is commonly known as soursop.
Now a days most of the people In Kerala planting mullatha at their home (because of awareness programmes held by doctors and several organizations) and it also is available in Lulu hypermarket, Kochi as soursop. Commonly it is known as mullatha.
Each part of the plant like leaves, stem, bark, seeds and fruits are used as anti cancer agent or as a cytotoxic agent. Leaves extract of annona muricata has proved to be used in breast cancer.
Now a days doctors prescribe annona muricata fruit for various cancer especially prostrate cancer. Seeds have insecticidal action as well as cytotoxic action. It is not only know for its cytotoxic activity but also for anti malarial, anti spasmodic, anti bacterial, anti amoebic, anti fungal, anti hypertensive, anti hyperglycemic and insecticidal action. It is also effective in Adriamycin resistant tumour.
For cancer patients adjuvant therapy with soursop fruit juice is most effective.
it also highly effective for several other health issues:
Benefits of Soursop for Skin:
Heals eczema and leprosy:
People suffering from eczema and other such skin problems benefit a lot by using sousop leaves. Mash these leaves and use it as a poultice to treat such problems. Taking the juice of soursop while fasting is said to cure leprosy.
Treatment of skin irritations:
If you suffer from skin eruptions, apply fresh leaves of this fruit on the skin. This helps in healing them quickly. Boils can appear on any part of your body and can be painful also. You can place soursop leaves on the affected areas and soon these boils will be healed.
Young Glowing skin:
Vitamin C and ascorbic acid are found in high amounts in this fruit. These increase the amount of antioxidants in the body, which fight against the free radicals that are responsible for the ageing of the skin, like the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. As a result, you will get young looking and glowing skin without any blemishes.
Benefits of Soursop for Hair:
Natural Treatment of hair lice:
Soursop leaves are very useful for getting rid of parasites. So, it is great for getting rid of head lice, which can multiply fast and affect your health. Make a decoction with soursop leaves and apply this on your scalp. Wait for a few minutes and then wash off with water. This way you can get rid of hair lice.
Health and Medicinal Benefits of Soursop:
Acts as Natural diuretic:
About 84% of this fleshy fruit consists of water. This helps in hydrating your body. Hence it is a natural diuretic and helps in the treatment of edema or retention of water.
Beneficial for the heart and nerves:
Soursop is a rich source of Vitamin B1, which is very effective for improving your metabolism and to prevent nervous disorders. It is also good for increasing the circulation of blood. Vitamin B2 in it is essential for the production of energy in the body and for the storage of fat in the body. It is also needed for the proper functioning of the nervous system and to maintain the heart muscles.
Fights free radicals:
Soursop contains ascorbic acid, which increases the amount of antioxidants in your body. Antioxidants are vital for fighting against the free radicals and thus keeping your body safe from various infections and disorders.
Fever Treatment:
Make tea with the leaves of this fruit and have it. This can lower the body temperature and cure fever.
Increases energy and endurance:
Fructose is found in high amounts in soursop. This is a simple sugar and a good source of natural carbohydrates. This can helps in keeping you fresh and regain the lost energy within minutes. It also increases your endurance power as it is rich in Vitamin C.
Kills parasites inside the body:
Presence of various nutrients in soursop like amino acids, calcium, ascorbic acid, iron, phosphorous, carbohydrates, thiamine, riboflavin and fiber make it very effective for killing the parasites inside the body and for the overall development of the body.
Kills cancer causing cells:
Soursop leaves are very effective for preventing breast, colon, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer as it has the ability to kill 12 types of cancer cells. They attack the cancer cells without causing any side effects like nausea, hair loss, weight loss and so on, as you find in the case of chemotherapy. It is also said to be 10000 times more effective than chemotherapy and adriamycin for slowing down the cancer cell growth.
Boil 10 old soursop leaves in 3 cup of water till only 1 cup remains. Let the patients have it twice a day for two weeks to get any visible results. These leaves help in killing the abnormal cancer cells and also allow the cells to grow normally.
Osteoporosis Prevention:
Calcium and phosphorous are found in high amounts in soursop and these are essential for keeping your bones healthy and strong, thus preventing osteoporosis.
Promotes restful sleep:
Soursop can help in inducing sleepiness and relaxation. This is because of the presence of a chemical called tryptophan in it. This fruit is also good for maintaining proper levels of blood pressure and to control hypertension.
Relieves constipation fast:
You can get relief from constipation by having soursop fruit regularly because it is rich in soluble as well as insoluble fiber.
Rich Vitamin C Benefits:
Soursop is loaded with Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant. It can improve your endurance and slow down the signs of aging.
Relieves from pain:
The leaves of soursop have the ability to get you relief from pain because they have analgesic properties. You can chew these leaves or apply them on wounds to reduce pain and heal the wound. If there is excessive pain, then you can boil 20 leaves of this plant with 5 cups of water till it is reduced to 3 cups. Drink ¾ cup of this concoction once a day and you will get relief.
Treatment of mouth ulcers:
Mash soursop leaves with water and apply this paste on the boils inside your mouth. This helps in reducing the irritation and curing the mouth ulcer.
Treatment of urinary tract infections:
Soursop is high in water contents. So it is very effective for treating Urinary tract infections, hematuria and urethritis. Having the juice of this fruit regularly can treat urethritis, hematuria and liver issues.
Treats hypertension:
The high ratio of potassium (278 mg/100 mg) to sodium (14 mg/100 mg) in soursop makes it very effective for people who suffer from hypertension.
Brugmansia
Angel Trumpets --- Engelstrompeten
Toxicity ----/---- Giftigkeit
All parts of Brugmansia are potentially poisonous, with the seeds and leaves being especially dangerous. Effects of ingestion can include: paralysis of smooth muscles, confusion, tachycardia, dry mouth, constipation, tremors, migraine headaches, poor coordination, delusions, visual and auditory hallucinations, dilation of the pupil, eye muscle paralysis, and death. ------/------ Alle Teile der Brugmansia stellen eine Vergiftungsgefahr dar, wobei die Samen und Blätter besonders gefährlich sind. Folgen bei Verschlucken: Lähmung der glatten Muskulatur, geistige Verwirrung, Herzrasen, trockener Mund, Verstopfung, Zittern, Migräne-Kopfschmerzen, Koordinationsstörungen, Wahnvorstellungen, Seh- und Hörhalluzinationen, Weitstellung der Pupille, Augenmuskellähmung und Tod.
Medicinal Uses ----/---- Medizinische Verwendung
External Applications: against aches and pains, dermatitis/eczema, arthritis, rheumatism, headaches, infections, and as an anti-inflammatory. ------/------ Äußere Anwendungen: gegen Schmerzen, Dermatitis/Ekzem, Arthritis, Rheumatismus, Kopfweh, Entzündungen und als Entzündungshemmer.
[Source / Quelle]: Wikipedia
When you travel to east of Indonesia, you'll likely see them. Great natural born diver. They're able to dive for hours with bare lung. The goggles are handmade of wooden frame and clear glass.
Bailey has been having "litter box issues" AGAIN! ( both ways, with spraying, and pooping as well)
He has been investigated for this issue and it was deemed psychological. I have had to stop his CLOMICALM med. as the person who will be living here with them when I am on vacation, can't tell jake apart from Bailey. They both hide from her as well. I will restart it in 3 weeks upon my return from vacation. We had "poop and spraying" issues last night and again today.
He does have separation anxiety and got a glimpse of the suitcase. That may have set him off. For the poop issues outside the box, he has occasional constipation and the Vet thinks he associates pain with the box at times. He also has what humans may deem OCD qualities. He obsessively opens all the cupboards, as he goes by them with his paw. He is also on Biocalm a liquid Pheromone treatment that is mixed in his food.
I have even put SCAT spray cans around his "favorite" places but then he just changes them. His place of choice lately has been my bedroom, hanging or standing items, such as my laundry hamper. He even sprayed on my camera battery charger container and cord. I think it is now ruined.
Well thanks for letting me vent. I feel badly and helpless for Bailey as he must be feeling terrible anxiety.
Jake does NONE of this. So hard to believe they are brothers. Such completely different personalities. Like people I guess.
Please------>View On Black
Detoxing is much more than a fad word or a trend, it is a time honored tradition that has benefitted countless generations. With modern medicine and food advances, we have discovered even more ways to detox the body, including using certain roots like ginger or fruits like lemon. Add the two together and you have a potent combination of amazing proportions. www.amazon.fr/Lose-Weight-Fast-Dan-Hild/dp/B0BQHT8R7J
The Lemon Ginger detox is a good starting point for anyone seeking to cleanse the body before undergoing more powerful detoxes. Natural, healthy, easy to do and quick to produce results, the lemon ginger detox should be the first stop on any weight loss journey.
This easy to understand and detailed guide explains every aspect of the lemon ginger water detox, from preparation to implementation. If you are looking for a way to get healthy and to lose weight, then this is the guide for you. Drinking lemon-ginger tea before bed may help improve mindfulness and hydration. It may also reduce indigestion, nasal congestion, and more.
If you have difficulty falling or staying asleep, you may be looking for ways to get more rest.
Drinking an herbal tonic, like lemon-ginger tea, could be a soothing bedtime ritual to help put the day behind you.
Lemon-ginger tea is exactly what it sounds like: a gentle herbal infusion of fresh lemon and ginger — with a bit of sweetener like honey or agave nectar, if you choose.
You might be wondering if lemon-ginger tea has any unique health benefits. While it may not make you sleepy, it might help you wind down and relax and provide other benefits.
This article examines six benefits of bedtime lemon-ginger tea and explains how to make it. 1. Soothes indigestion
If chronic indigestion or a heavy dinner keeps you up later than you would like, a cup of lemon-ginger tea may be a great tonicTrusted Source before you head for bed.
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a root long used in alternative and folk medicine for its ability to alleviate the delayed emptying of your stomach.
What’s more, lemon (Citrus limon) contains a plant compound called limonene that aids digestion by helping move food along your digestive tract — potentially easing the uncomfortable feeling of fullness.
While the amount of limonene in a given cup of lemon-ginger tea will vary, you might find that the combination of lemon, ginger, and water in lemon-ginger tea calms indigestion. 3. May reduce nasal congestion
The steam generated from your hot lemon-ginger infusion may help open up your nasal cavities — helping clear a stuffy noseTrusted Source. Drinking something warm also soothes a sore throat from mucus buildup.
Although these effects are mostly anecdotal and supported by folk medicine, they may be useful to keep in mind during cold and flu season or if you experience seasonal allergies.
Lemon-ginger tea won’t cure you of any of these, but it may help loosen up congestion, allowing air to flow through your nose a little easier. 4. May relieve constipation
Constipation can result from several factors, including dehydration and a diet that’s low in fiber.
When constipation stems from dehydration, relaxing in the evening with a warm cup of lemon-ginger tea may help since water helps stool pass through your digestive tract more easily.
If you feel chronically constipated, be sure you’re drinking enough fluids throughout the day, too.
Speak with a healthcare professional if you have:
trouble having a bowel movement
less than three times a week
blood in stool
5. May help fight inflammation
Gingerol, one of the plant compounds found in ginger, boasts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Chronic inflammation is linked to conditions like metabolic syndrome, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease.
However, studies show mixed results on whether ginger has anti-inflammatory effects in people.
Plus, it’s worth keeping in mind that there isn’t enough research currently to know just how much gingerol is needed to achieve these effects — and how much of it you would actually get from drinking a typical cup of lemon-ginger tea. 6. Keeps you hydrated
When you drink lemon-ginger tea, you are, of course, drinking water — which means you’re hydrating your body.
This is important, because staying hydrated keeps vital organs, like your kidneys, gut, and heart, functioning properly.
How much water you need per day is affected by many factors, such as your medications, activities, and any health issues.
How to prepare lemon-ginger tea at home
Making lemon-ginger tea at home is easy. After all, you’re simply infusing water with fresh ginger and lemon.
Lemon-ginger tea
Makes one serving
Ingredients
1-inch (2.5-cm) piece of fresh ginger root, peeled
1/2 lemon, quartered and 1 fresh wedge for garnish
1 cup (237 mL) of water
honey or agave nectar, to taste
Directions
Combine the ginger and lemon with water in a small saucepan and allow to simmer on your stovetop. Let this steep for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
If you find the tonic too weak, consider grating in your ginger instead, or cutting the piece down into smaller chunks. You can also zest in some lemon peel if you want more lemony notes.
Stir in honey or agave nectar to taste, if you wish. Garnish with a fresh wedge of lemon.
You could also make a larger batch and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to warm it up again. To do so, multiply this recipe for a few days’ worth. www.healthline.com/nutrition/lemon-ginger-tea-before-bed
Dagga is the South African terminology for cannabis. This however is not cannabis but a beautiful wild flower (Leonotis leonorus) which flowers at this time of year and is native to Southern Africa. It is known for its medicinal and mild psychoactive properties. It attracts birds, mainly sunbirds, as well as various insects such as butterflies - and as you can see many little flying insects. Its medicinal uses include fevers, headaches, dysentery, flu, chest infections, epilepsy, constipation, delayed menstruation, intestinal worms, spider bites, scorpion stings, hypertension and snakebites. One experimental animal study suggests that "the aqueous leaf extract of Leonotis leonurus possesses antinociceptive, antiinflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties; thus lending pharmacological credence to folk usage of the herb in the management and/or control of painful, arthritic, and other inflammatory conditions, as well as for adult-onset, type-2 diabetes mellitus in some communities of South Africa."
Information taken from Wikipedia.
I do thank all of you for your kind wishes yesterday, I had a wonderful day. At present I am loaded with work which is lovely but time-consuming so I may not be around as much as I like. On the other hand I will try to sneak a peak whenever I can.
Are you a weak woman whose blood could be redder? Talk to your doctor about Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery. Side effects include nausea, indigestion, hysteria, social banishment, witchcraft accusations, being burned at the stake, death,....
In all seriousness, you can google this archaic medicine and find links to bottles with the following info:
Bottle embossed on sides ("R.V. Pierce, M.D." and "Buffalo, N.Y.") and back ("Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery"). Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery (or GMD) was one of Pierce's earliest products. This product was called a "vegetable alternative" tonic and was also one of the longest-lasting lines of Pierce's Proprietaries (the company that was formed sometime after the death of the senior Dr. Pierce and continued selling these items well into the 1970s). This product was to be used to help cleanse the body and blood and to "tone the system." A later booklet about the product stated the ingredients of GMD were bloodroot (sanguinaria canadensis), Oregon grape root (berberis aquifolium), stone root (collinsonia canadensis), Queen's root (stillingia sylvatica), sacred bark (rhamnus purshiana), and cherrybark (prunus virginiana).
OR...
For the cure of all severe, chronic or lingering coughs, bronchitis, laryngitis, weak lungs, bleeding from lungs, public speaker's sore throat, hoarseness and suppression or loss of voice. A remedy for torpor of liver (generally termed "liver complaint" or "biliousness") and for habitual constipation of the bowels. For loss of appetite, indigestion and dyspepsia, and for general nervous disability or prostration, in either sex. An alterative, or blood purifier; valuable in all forms of scrofulous and other blood diseases. For skin diseases, eruptions, pimples, rashes and blotches, boils, ulcers, sores, and swellings, arising from impure blood.
This barn advertisement can be seen from the Jackson Highway (formerly U.S. Route 99) a bit south of the town of Toledo, Washington.
Durian Fruit Of Southeast Asia Durian Fruit is known through-out all of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other Southeast Asian Countries, as the “King of Fruits!” It is one of the most beneficial fruits there is in all of Asia. The Durian Fruit is believed to help relieve constipation, bloating, […]
Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Blog
I just couldn't stop! If I wasn't using tonights shot for the project I could have gone for days adding the smallest of details. Details that 99% of you wouldn't even catch. I swear, I spent 50% of the time at 500% zoom. I've got to say… I'm pretty damn happy with the end result of this one.
Back a couple of months I had done the 80's prom for Lifetime Fitness Center in Boca Raton, FL. Karen and her husband were among the fashionably un fashionable . They "fell in love with my work" and from that night on "had to have me take their christmas photos" I was honored to travel south to their south western inspired and decorated delray beach home. The general concept they had was funny, dogs and christmas. The rest was up to me. I had the idea of the dogs wreaking havoc on the tree but the National Lampoons Christmas style shot didn't come up until I was racking my brain, standing in there living room. No doubt, having that stupid look of intense concentration or perhaps constipation (its hard to tell sometimes). Out of nowhere, the lightbulb hit and my mouth just started rambling. "ok, what if you all were posing for a standard family portrait and all the sudden the dog runs, the tree tips over and starts on fire" They loved the idea and we all had an intense sense of motivation. What followed was 2.5 hours of posing and reposing, adjusting and re adjusting. I had set out to shoot this in as many separate elements as possible. This would make getting the cooperation of the dogs much easier since we could work with one at a time. Lazy as I called her was up first. From the moment I walked into the house all this dog wanted to do was flop down and get her stomach rubbed. The other one was like a rodeo bull. "play with me, play with me, play with me" "ahhh, duh, what if I rub my drooling face on your lap… will you play with me then?" he really was a bull dozer of a dog. He would also prove to be the biggest challenge of the shoot. A challenge I opted to leave for last.
Getting Craig to pose was a piece of cake. The face you see is the face he jumped out of the gate wearing. It was perfect and I would of guessed he'd done this before or at least practiced in the mirror over the years! Karen took a little time and that is normally to be expected with women and photography. Funny that when your arguing with them they make Ten thousand amazing expression in a matter of minutes. Yet when you want to cultivate one, you are shit out of luck! They don't want to really open their mouth wide and scream. When I want real emotion I try to get the model to really scream, it makes it look so much more believable. Karen, however, wouldn't scream but did pretty good despite.
Last up was the bull dozer General Lee! He worked for food but was a smart dog. He required a deposit before any work was done. At first, I instructed them to just hold the dog and let him go on my command. Karen had a treat at the other end of the living room. This worked but wasn't giving me the look I was after. Next up was Craig on the ground bench pressing the lug of a dog. You could tell that he wasn't used to lifting the dog like that as he could only do it was a minute at a time. Between the bulk of the dog and the constantly shifting, wiggling and vibrating, I'm not sure many people would be able to lift that monster for too long.
After about 50 shots, we finally got the one we were looking for and not a second too late. Poor Craig looked beat! Next up was random ornament shots and the grand finale… the tree tipping.
Karen and Craig were up till 2am getting the tree up, straight, decorated and ready for me to tip it over! They hadn't had a tree since 2005 since they're rarely home for Christmas. So all you see was for the shot! pretty cool!
To tip the tree was a problem I had to figure out creatively. I didn't want someone holding it as having a body intertwined with the branches would of been a pain in the ass to mask out. The solution was simple. I tied 2 pieces of string to the middle of the tree and had Craig hold one end and Shawn hold the other. they were clearly in frame but I would take a background blank plate for later use to aid in erasing them.
We were finally done and I knew I had some work ahead of me. I got right down to work the second I got home. Masking took no time at all as it seemed like my hand was in the mood to mask. The pen flowed around the edges like a skilled painter creating the perfect sky. 15 min and I was done with all the masking. The compositing is where I spent the next 6 hours. 82 layers later and I had to force myself to say "I'm done" I hope they like it… but I suspect they will, as I love it.
Time to rest up because I have to do the same thing all over again tomorrow morning. This time it will be making kids fly!!! Tough job huh!!
Lighting:
Lighting positions varied greatly but style was the same through out.
AB800 Med Gridded Softbox at around 10:00 and 2:00. 3/4 power
AB800 Beauty Dish Boomed over head. 1/4 to 3/4 power depending on shot.
My weekend won't be complete if I don't go out and shoot something. While my wife was busy preparing breakfast in the kitchen, I sneaked out capturing the morning scene in the nearby area.
Thought of calling a neighbor Apai to join me, but on second thought, I knew he wouldn't wake up that early on weekend. Then Azrul came across my mind but I quickly canceled him off knowing he has to spend time "entertaining" his constipation every morning.
After a couple of minutes drive, I settled at the gateway in the back entrance of our housing estate in Saujana Utama (SU) that leads to Puncak Alam and Shah Alam.
The early morning sun hidden behind the houses on the slope was very kind to light up the sky for me – just nice for my capture.
After a few shots, I then packed up and head home. The whole affair took me about 15 minutes or so, even my wife hardly noticed I went missing in those short minutes. If the trend is such, my wife is not aware of my missing, next time I'll try to have a short date with a girl and come back in flash pretending nothing happened. Wahahaha!!!
_______________________________________________________________________________
I would like to make special mention here on my neighbors from SU with flickr accounts that I know of. They are:-
1. Dr Zul
2. Apai
3. Jemay
4. Dbins
5. Azrul
6. Lan Rambai
7. Lanz
8. Kudin
Spinach 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
Written by Kris Gunnars, BSc — Updated on February 14, 2023
Nutrients
Vitamins & minerals
Plant compounds
Benefits
Downsides
Bottom line
Eating spinach may benefit eye health, reduce oxidative stress, help prevent cancer, and reduce blood pressure levels.
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable that originated in Persia.
It belongs to the amaranth family and is related to beets and quinoa. What’s more, it’s considered very healthy, as it’s loaded with nutrients and antioxidants.
There are many ways to prepare spinach. You can buy it canned or fresh and eat it cooked or raw. It’s delicious either on its own or in other dishes.
This article explains everything you need to know about spinach and its health benefits.
Claudia Lommel/Stocksy United
Nutrition facts
The nutrition facts for 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of raw spinach are (1Trusted Source):
Calories: 23
Water: 91%
Protein: 2.9 grams
Carbs: 3.6 grams
Sugar: 0.4 grams
Fiber: 2.2 grams
Fat: 0.4 grams
Carbs
Most of the carbs in spinach consist of fiber, which is incredibly healthy.
Spinach also contains small amounts of sugar, mostly in the form of glucose and fructose (1Trusted Source).
Fiber
Spinach is high in insoluble fiber, which may boost your health in several ways (2Trusted Source).
It adds bulk to stool as food passes through your digestive system. This may help prevent constipation.
SUMMARY
Spinach is low in carbs but high in insoluble fiber. This type of fiber may benefit your digestion.
Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?
Whether you're looking to lose weight or build healthy habits, Wellos is here to help transform your confidence, boost your energy, and get you to where you want to be. We've got you covered.
Healthy recipes
Tracking tools
Chat with coaches
WELLOS, A HEALTHLINE SISTER BRAND
Vitamins and minerals
Spinach is an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, including (3):
Vitamin A. Spinach is high in carotenoids, which your body can turn into vitamin A.
Vitamin C. This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant that promotes skin health and immune function.
Vitamin K1. This vitamin is essential for blood clotting. Notably, one spinach leaf contains over half of your daily needs.
Folic acid. Also known as folate or vitamin B9, this compound is vital for pregnant women and essential for normal cellular function and tissue growth.
Iron. Spinach is an excellent source of this essential mineral. Iron helps create hemoglobin, which brings oxygen to your body’s tissues.
Calcium. This mineral is essential for bone health and a crucial signaling molecule for your nervous system, heart, and muscles.
Spinach also contains several other vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins B6, B9, and E.
SUMMARY
Spinach is an extremely nutrient-rich vegetable. It packs high amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium.
Plant compounds
Spinach contains several important plant compounds, including (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source):
Lutein. This compound is linked to improved eye health.
Kaempferol. This antioxidant may decrease your risk of cancer and chronic diseases.
Nitrates. Spinach contains high amounts of nitrates, which may promote heart health.
Quercetin. This antioxidant may ward off infection and inflammation. Spinach is one of the richest dietary sources of quercetin.
Zeaxanthin. Like lutein, zeaxanthin can also improve eye health.
SUMMARY
Spinach boasts many plant compounds that can improve health, such as lutein, kaempferol, nitrates, quercetin, and zeaxanthin.
Moa nahele, Flat-stemmed whiskfern
Psilotaceae (Whiskfern family)
Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island)
Photo: Hawaiʻiloa Ridge Trail, Oʻahu
The Hawaiian name Moa nahele literally means "forest chicken." Moa is chicken, referring to a chickens' comb, and reference to the fronds. Nahele is forest.
It is less common than Psilotum nudus in the islands, but still easy to find in the right environment.
Early Hawaiian children would play a simple game of moa nahele (lit., chicken vegetation). Plants in Hawaiian Culture explains how this game was played: “Two children sat or stood facing one another, each holding a branched stem of moa. These they interlocked and then slowly pulled apart until the branches of one broke. The other child, without broken branches, was the winner and announced his victory by crowing like a rooster (moa).” One of the names ʻoʻō moa in fact means "cock's crow."
Moa was also used in lei making by early Hawaiians.
Moa (Psilotum spp.) was used for kūkae paʻa (constipation) in newborn babies and elderly men and women. It was also mixed with other plants to treat akepau (tuberculosis, consumption), and various respiratory conditions. Additionally, extracts from moa were used as laxatives. The yellow spores were used for diarrhea in infants and used like talcum powder to prevent chafing from loincloths.
Etymology
The generic name is from the Greek psilos, naked or smooth, alluding to the smooth aerial stems without leaves.
The specific epithet complanatum is from the Latin complanatus, flattened, in reference to flattened stems of this species.
Our sweet daughter-in-law Lucy recently died of ovarian cancer at only 34 years old. Over 300 people turned up at her funeral to show respect to an ordinary loving, caring girl and over £2000 was donated to the UK charity 'Ovarian Cancer Action' (update - around £7000 has been raised in her memory at this time) Lucy’s illness was consistently mis-diagnosed as constipation, bloating, or latterly as a water infection by her family doctors’ practice. This was despite Lucy pointing out on more than one occasion that her mother had died of ovarian cancer only twelve years previous to this. Lucy’s condition was eventually detected after our son had taken her directly to the hospital accident and emergency department. Here they actually took the time to physically examine a young lady who was in pain and a simple blood test detected her condition. A similar degree of medical ignorance of text-book ovarian cancer symptoms, led to one of our friends being similarly mis-diagnosed too late for treatment, about a year previous to Lucy. I don’t mean to be alarmist, but I urge any of you who may have reason to suspect a genetic disposition to any cancer, not to be fobbed-off by a ‘trust us, we doctors know better than you' attitude. If you have any doubts at all, then please check on ovarian cancer, or other cancer symptoms on the internet and seek further medical advice. www.everywomanshouldremember.co.uk/
Dys
Michael Leans to Rock -
Indisputably, timberland is the greatest place to find magical bits and pieces. Examining in extreme an oddity I found on a leafy platter… hmm, there are three individual desserts at least from the same factory. I twiddle my thumbs idly, trying to look away from the sweet galore staring at me. “Leave us all alone,” the jiggling jellies screamed in unison. “We won’t melt in the hot weather.” What can I say? Temptation can gouge your palms more than sharp nails. Their pleas fueled my weakness until I can no longer stand. Hastily I reached out with left hand... the first spoon of mango pudding glided smooth like tofu into my tummy. Ooohhh, the pleasure they provide send me straight to paradise. The second ladle of banana custard with high-fiber prunes, my constipation in build up is loose. The third mouthful of banana cream with sliced peaches, their flavor so rich my sweet tooth grew into wisdom tooth. In a flash, every single one is gone. As soon as the madness of impulse subsides, self-reproach kicked in. Yes, I‘ve done some stupid act but no, wolfing down little egg cups of insect origin it isn’t an inhuman thing. Twenty five minutes too late, somebody in front took my pie away. That empty capsule I couldn’t get my hands on filled me with immense curiosity. What flavor was it? The remorse of slowness stains like mud on shoes and materialized behind as footprints following wherever I go.
Species information
Scientific name:
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson
Common name:
elephant yam, elephant foot yam, whitespot giant arum, stink lily, telinga potato (English); suram, jimmikand (India); buk (Thailand); suweg, walur, eles (Indonesia)
Conservation status:
Not considered to be threatened.
Habitat:
Secondary forest or highly disturbed areas.
Key Uses:
Food, fodder, medicine.
Known hazards:
Tubers of wild plants are highly acrid and can irritate the mouth and throat on ingestion due to the presence of calcium oxalate crystals.
About this species
Elephant yam is a striking aroid with a flower spike crowned with a bulbous maroon knob and encircled by a fleshy maroon and green-blotched bract. The solitary leaf, which emerges after the flowering parts, resembles a small tree.
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius has been in cultivation throughout tropical Asia for centuries. The tubers are the third most important carbohydrate source after rice and maize in Indonesia. They are also consumed widely in India and Sri Lanka, although elsewhere they are seen as a famine crop, to be used when more popular staples, such as rice, are in short supply.
Elephant yam belongs to the same genus as the crowd-pulling titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum). It should not be confused with Dioscorea species, which are also known by the common name yam, but belong to a different plant family (Dioscoreaceae). In particular it should not be confused with elephant’s foot yam (Dioscorea elephantipes) from South Africa.
Medicinal Uses
Elephant yam has medicinal properties and is used in many Ayurvedic (traditional Hindu) preparations. The tubers are considered to have pain-killing, anti-inflammatory, anti-flatulence, digestive, aphrodisiac, rejuvenating and tonic properties. They are traditionally used in the treatment of a wide range of conditions including parasitic worms, inflammation, coughs, flatulence, constipation, anaemia, haemorrhoids and fatigue.
( www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi/amorphophal... )
Moa or Upright whiskfern
Psilotaceae (Whiskfern family)
Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (All the main islands and Midway Atoll)
Photo: Honolulu, Oʻahu
Medicinally, moa (Psilotum spp.) was used by the early Hawaiians for kūkae paʻa (constipation) in newborn babies and elderly men and women. It was also mixed with other plants to treat akepau (tuberculosis, consumption), and various respiratory conditions. Additionally, extracts from moa were used as laxatives. The spores were used for diarrhea in infants and used like talcum powder to prevent chafing from loincloths called malo.
Moa was also used in lei making by early Hawaiians.
Early Hawaiian children would play a simple game of moa nahele (lit., chicken vegetation). "Plants in Hawaiian Culture" explains how this game was played: “Two children sat or stood facing one another, each holding a branched stem of moa. These they interlocked and then slowly pulled apart until the branches of one broke. The other child, without broken branches, was the winner and announced his victory by crowing like a rooster (moa).” One of the names ʻoʻō moa in fact means "cock's crow."
Etymology
The generic name is from the Greek psilos, naked or smooth, alluding to the smooth aerial stems without leaves.
The specific epithet is from the Latin nudus, bare or naked, in reference to the naked nature of the stems.
Custard apples contain anti-oxidants like Vitamin C, which helps to fight free radicals in our body. It is also high in potassium and magnesium that protects our heart from cardiac disease.
Not only that, it also controls our blood pressure. Custard apples contain Vitamin A, which keeps your skin and hair healthy. This fruit is also known to be great for eyes, and cures indigestion problems. It's important to include this fruit in your diet, as the copper content helps to cure constipation, and helps to treat diarrhoea and dysentery.
As they are high in magnesium, they equalise the water balance in our body, which helps in removing acids from the joints and reduces the symptoms of rheumatism and arthritis. If you feel tired and weak more often than usual, then have this fruit in your daily diet, as the potassium present in it will help to fight muscle weakness.
It is also good for people suffering from anemia, as it this fruit is high in calorie. And if you want to put on some weight, include this in your daily diet chart. Custard apple contains natural sugar, and hence make great nutritious snacks and even desserts.
Source~ The Times of India.
(Explore #374: Oct 08, 2008)
From high up in the Similkameen Mountains, near Tulameen, BC, Canada
The rose hip and rose haw, is the pomaceous fruit of the rose plant, that typically is red-to-orange, but might be dark purple-to-black in some species.
Rose hips of some species, especially Rosa canina (Dog Rose) and R. majalis, have been used as a source of Vitamin C. Rose hips are commonly used as an herbal tea, often blended with hibiscus and as an oil. They can also be used to make jam, jelly, marmalade and wine. Rose hip soup, "nyponsoppa," is especially popular in Sweden. Rhodomel, a type of mead, is made with rose hips.
[edit] Health benefits
Particularly high in Vitamin C, with about 1700–2000 mg per 100 g in the dried product, one of the richest plant sources.[1]
Rose hips contain vitamins A, D and E, essential fatty acids and antioxidant flavonoids.
Rose hip powder is a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis.[2]
Rose hips from the dog rose have antioxidant values that far exceed other berries such as blueberries
As an herbal remedy, rose hips are attributed with the ability to prevent urinary bladder infections, and assist in treating dizziness and headaches[citation needed]. Rose hips are also commonly used externally in oil form to restore firmness to skin by nourishing and astringing tissue.[citation needed]
Brewed into a decoction, can also be used to treat constipation.[citation needed]
Rose hips contain a lot of iron, so some women brew rose hip tea during menstruation to make up for the iron that they lose with menses.[citation needed]
Usage
Rose hips are used for the creation of herbal tea, jam, jelly, syrup, beverages, pies, bread and marmalade, amongst others. [...]
The fine hairs found inside rose hips can be used as itching powder. [...]
[edit] By indigenous people
Rose hips were used in many food preparations by the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
Rose hips are used for colds and influenza. The Latin binomial for this herb is Rosa laevigata.
Dedicated to everyone who has Crohn's
This is my favourite picture of the Year so far. (April 8th, 2018)
Had an idea, went for it.
For my father.
"Suffering in the now for the excesses of the then. A political statement." - Jason Boisvert
"Au bout du rouleau" - Hugo Caron
"Thoughts and Prayers."
"Just make another controversial photo. ... I don't care, the theme doesn't matter, just get people talking about the title or something"