Happy Nirvana

Sedated Shrimp in British Waters

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:30:27 +0000

Photo: IllinoisHorseSoldier

A study done at Portsmouth University shows prawns found in contaminated English waters were under the influence of antidepressants which altered their marine behavior. Scientists are becoming more aware of how an overabundance of pharmaceuticals are seriously polluting our bodies of water. … Read the full story on TreeHugger
Credits to:TreeHugger

Beyond Wheat: Whole Grains That Do a Body Good

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:30:27 +0000

What’s your gluten-free whole grain IQ? As more of us discover we’re sensitive to gluten or wheat, it’s valuable to realize the choices we have to meet recommendations for whole grain intake. So many of the gluten-free choices available today are highly refined. Whole grains, on the other hand, are packed with a wide variety of nutrients and, as a result, play an important role in helping us stay healthy and maintain healthy weights. What’s more, they may also make a big impact on visceral fat stores.

Visceral fat is the fat found deep inside our bodies, packed around our organs. Unlike subcutaneous fat found just below the layers of our skin, visceral fat carries many more health risks, having been linked to problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. A recent study reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that those who ate at least three servings of whole grains a day while eating no more than one serving of refined grains daily had significantly less visceral fat.

So what whole grains besides brown rice can the gluten-free enjoy? Here’s my list of favorites to add interest and great nutrition to meals.

Credits to:Nutrition Data: Dieting & Weight Loss Blog

Small Livers Grown In A Laboratory From Human Liver Cells

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:30:26 +0000

Scientists have managed to successfully engineer small functioning livers from human liver cells in a laboratory setting. They say this is the first step towards creating functioning livers for transplantation. They now plan to determine whether the livers will function properly when transplanted into an animal model. This research was presented by scientists from the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center at the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease meeting in Boston, and will also be published in the medical journal Hepatology…

Credits to:Health News from Medical News Today

Amazon Rainforest Indigenous In Midst of Deadly Epidemic

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 05:18:20 +0000

Native Amazonian children– not from the Yanomami tribe but still critical in protecting our planet’s lungs, the Amazon. Photo: Jess Root

When I traveled to the Amazon Rainforest in 2008, scoping out the work of non-profit Projeto Saude e Alegria, I came home with one of those “Duh!” lightbulb moments. A large part of protecting the Amazon Rainforest and its rich biodiversity lies within protecting its inhabitants–the people who live there. It’s less likel… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Credits to:TreeHugger

$5,000 everyday food sweepstakes

admin — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 04:53:27 +0000

Time is running out: our $5000 giveaway ends 10/31! What will you do with the cash? Chick here to enter today.

Credits to:Everyday Food Blog – MarthaStewart.com

Infographic: Americans Exposed To Thousands of Untested Chemicals

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:30:55 +0000

Image: Scientific American

You probably already know there are many chemicals in the everyday products that we use — but do you know how many of them have actually been tested for consumer safety? As this telling infographic over at Scientific American shows, this number is startlingly miniscule thanks to a old legislative loophole. They explain:

… Read the full story on TreeHugger
Credits to:TreeHugger

Bend, But Don’t Break

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:30:55 +0000

I’m sure you’ve experienced this before. Yesterday I was feeling tired by the day’s end and I still hadn’t gotten my workout in. I’d had a busy day filled with meetings and before I knew it the clock read 7:00pm.

At this point I could have either skipped my workout or tried to muster up enough energy to get through that day’s planned workout. Although I didn’t want to skip my workout I also knew that I may be over doing it if I tried to complete my normal resistance training routine.

What I decided to do was find the middle ground. I knew overdoing it wasn’t going to work and I also realized that skipping my routine wouldn’t make me feel any better either, so I came up with a plan that allowed me to still exercise.

I knew that either taking a yoga class or swimming would be the two best alternatives given my tired body and mind. I chose to stretch out a little and do some lap swimming for about 20 minutes. The total workout was 30 minutes long and I left the gym feeling refreshed and renewed with energy. I was really happy that I had not decided to relinquish my workout for the day and had found a suitable substitute for my typical exercise routine.

Even though I don’t plan on having to break my usual workout program too often in the future it is nice to know that I have a “middle of the road” alternative to fall back on. I hope you too can learn from my experience and choose to go for a longer walk, swim, yoga class, or tai chi session on the days where your energy levels may not be up for a more intense workout.

Stephen Cabral, CSCS, CPT, NS is the owner of Stephen Cabral Studio weight loss & personal training in Boston, MA, and also offers online fitness coaching.

Credits to:Nutrition Data: Dieting & Weight Loss Blog

Public Warned Of Toxins In Seafood From Offshore Channel Islands, California

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:30:55 +0000

Consumers are warned to steer clear of shellfish, some crustacean parts, or small fish that have been sport-harvested offshore of the Channel Islands, Southern California, because they might contain elevated levels of domoic acid – a toxin. The Channel Islands of California consist of eight islands along the Santa Barbara Channel, five of them – San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara – are part of the Channel Islands National Park. The other three are called Santa Catalina, San Nicolas, and San Clemente…

Credits to:Health News from Medical News Today

Industrial Pollution in Macedonia, Now Coming Up Roses

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 05:19:59 +0000

Image: Flickr via Roberto Verzo

Veles, a town in northern Macedonia where industrial pollution has left the soil with heavy metals seven times over the international safety limit, thinks it has found a solution: plants. Specifically, roses.

The problem stems from a lead and zinc smelter that has left a 30-year legacy of contamination but claimed no responsibility for cleanup. Residents aren’t getting much help, from the government, either. … Read the full story on TreeHugger
Credits to:TreeHugger

creepy cocktail o’clock: spooky rum cooler

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 04:50:09 +0000

Spread black sanding sugar on a saucer. Rub a lime wedge around the rim of a glass, then dip in sugar. Add ice. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1 ounce light rum, 3 tablespoons simple syrup and 1/4 cup pomegranate juice. Shake, then strain into glass, leaving a little room at top. Float 1 ounce of dark rum on top. Garnish with a licorice spider (how to pics are below) tied to a stirrer (optional, of course). Boo!

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1 Loop a long string of black licorice lace around three fingers four times.

2 Remove fingers and wrap long end of lace around middle of bundle three times. Tuck loose end under last wrap and pull through to secure.

3 Cut through each end to create dangling spider legs.

Credits to:Everyday Food Blog – MarthaStewart.com