dailyhealthpost--2020-11-02--CBD Oil – What is it, What it’s for, and How to Make it

Since cannabis has been increasingly legalized throughout the world , the scientific community ( and the public ! )
just can ’ t seem to get enough .
For many , it isn ’ t the high they ’ re after , but the life-saving medicine the plant has to offer .
One of the most potent ways to get all the good–without the bad–is by taking CBD hemp oil or CBD cannabis oil .
Cannabidiol ( CBD ) oil is made from strains of cannabis that contain low levels of THC ( tetrahydrocannabinol ) , which is what makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cannabinoids , a group of phytochemicals found in cannabis plants .
Cannabis has been used all over the world for millennia to treat various illness and disease .
The Western scientific significance of cannabinoids for human health has become more well-known in recent years , however , now that the stigma surrounding marijuana and its family is lifting .
Other plants commonly used to promote human health contain these substances .
Plus , the human body creates its own cannabinoids and contains millions of cannabinoid receptors , mostly in the brain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( 1 ) Cannabinoids play a fundamental role in the body since the endocannabinoid system regulates homeostasis , or general state of balance .
Thus , it impacts and regulates mood , sleep , appetite , hormone regulation , and pain and immune response .
( 2 ) With current research into CBD and its effects on the body , science has begun to discover all the ways in which these phytochemicals interact to fix our many ills .
Here 13 reasons to give CBD oil a try !
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on cancer is growing .
Thus far , studies have been limited because cannabis is still illegal in many countries .
Nevertheless , people who have taken their health into their own hands to use cannabis in treating their cancers have , in many cases , been completely cured of it .
In every one of the clinical studies now published , cannabis has been found to kill cancer cells .
( 3 ) Even the National Cancer Institute in the United States now admits that cannabis is powerfully effective in the treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly effective in treating neurological disorders .
With the incidence of autism spectrum disorders increasing at a frightening rate , the medical community is scrambling for treatments .
As mentioned , cannabinoid receptors in the body mainly exist in the central nervous system .
Endocannabinosignalinging in the brain does not occur normally in people with autism .
( 4 ) The use of CBD oil restores cannabinoid balance and enables appropriate neurological communication , removing the cause and symptoms of autism .
( 5 ) Similar to autism , Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neurotransmitters .
Cannabis raises the level of dopamine in the brain .
( 6 ) This is one of the pleasure hormones that promotes positive emotion .
The same effect is the aim of ADHD drugs like Adderall and Ritalin .
The difference is that the pharmaceuticals stimulate dopamine production and then bind to it , affecting how it behaves and is metabolized .
Because cannabinoids work in the brain and regulate hormones , they release dopamine and the stimulating effect follows its natural course .
Used in children with epilepsy , cannabis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing them to live a normal life .
Furthermore , 30 % of people with epilepsy do not respond to conventional treatment , resulting in high mortality rates .
A 2015 study found that cannabidiol was extremely effective in reducing seizures in those for whom conventional treatment was ineffective .
( 7 ) According to a more recent study : “ Most of the children ( 66/74 , 89 % ) reported reduction in seizure frequency : 13 ( 18 % ) reported 75-100 % reduction , 25 ( 34 % ) reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % ) reported 25-50 % reduction , and 19 ( 26 % ) reported < 25 % reduction .
Five ( 7 % ) patients reported aggravation of seizures which led to CBD withdrawal .
In addition , we observed improvement in behavior and alertness , language , communication , motor skills and sleep.
” ( 8 ) This is partly because CBD inhibits glutamate release ; this amino acid plays an active role in the genesis of epileptic seizures .
( 9 ) A unique study at Vanderbilt University in 2014 discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exist in the amygdala sections of the brain .
The amygdala is responsible for experiencing emotion .
( 10 ) This explains why cannabinoids affect emotion .
The experience of an individual varies and is dependent on several factors , including environment and unique personal chemistry .
Cannabinoids affect certain emotions more than others , specifically fear , stress , and anxiety .
In many people , emotional regulation by the brain ’ s receptors induced by cannabis results in a calming effect with the consequential reduction in anxiety .
( 11 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune system , it is very effective in treating Crohn ’ s and other immunoinflammatory diseases .
Cannabis reduces pain , relieves diarrhea , relaxes gastrointestinal spasms , and decreases inflammation .
One study published in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal in 2013 found that in half of the subjects of the study , marijuana put their Crohn ’ s disease into complete remission , improved appetite and sleep , and showed no adverse side effects .
( 12 ) Again due to the endocannibinoid receptors in the brain , CBD oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , it removes the protein in the brain that plaque and reduces neuron inflammation—precursors to Alzheimer ’ s disease and other brain disorders .
( 13 ) Fatty liver and cirrhosis are degenerative diseases of the liver .
Cannabinoid receptors exist in liver tissue .
Cannabis oil prevents liver cell oxidation , a key factor in the deterioration of the liver .
Secondly , after liver surgery ( including transplantation ) , a common complication is not attaining a steady oxygen supply to the organ for healing , causing tissue damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy storage and reducing energy demand , thereby reducing the risk of damage .
Lastly , CBD reduces insulin resistance , with implications for the management of diabetes .
( 14 ) Similar to Crohn ’ s disease , colitis is a chronic immunoinflammatory condition of the colon .
The lining of colon deteriorates and its contents leak , presenting a septic condition .
Thankfully , cannabinoids affect the cells of the lining , making them bond tighter together to restore integrity and healing the lesions .
( 15 ) Moreover , CBD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other inflammatory bowel disease .
( 16 ) While everyone is different and response to any particular solution depends on the individual , CBD oil can help induce sleep for people with insomnia .
“ …studies in 2000 subjects with 1000 patient years of exposure demonstrate marked improvement in subjective sleep parameters in patients with a wide variety of pain conditions including multiple sclerosis , peripheral neuropathic pain , intractable cancer pain , and rheumatoid arthritis , with an acceptable adverse event profile…40-50 % of subjects attained good or very good sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in chronic pain syndromes that may contribute to patients ’ quality of life , ” wrote a study published in Chemistry & Biodiversity .
( 17 ) Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating disease of the brain and how it communicates with the rest of the body .
Symptoms include pain , spasticity , muscle stiffness , and decreased mobility .
CBD can reduce pain and improve spasticity and stiffness .
( 18 ) As we ’ ve seen in the context of Alzheimer ’ s , epilepsy , and other neurological disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , reducing inflammation and allowing neurotransmitters to communicate normally .
Previous trials found mixed results and research is on-going in this area .
( 19 , 20 ) There are many causes of nausea and it is usually a passing situation .
The nausea that accompanies other illnesses , however , is often chronic .
Chemotherapy in particular often causes patient nausea and vomiting .
CBD eases nausea and suppresses vomiting .
( 21 ) “ Chronic pain represents an emerging public health issue of massive proportions , ” wrote 2008 article published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rightly so .
( 22 ) Pharmaceutical remedies for pain pose inherent risks of addiction , overdose , and adverse side effects .
A by-product of many physical maladies is chronic pain : fibromyalgia , cancer , multiple sclerosis , diabetic neuropathy , arthritis , gastrointestinal disorders , and more .
The quest for natural remedies for pain has shifted into top gear for alternatives to synthetic drugs .
Cannabidiol is an anti-inflammatory , non-euphoric , non-addictive , non-toxic analgesic from which use no one has ever died .
In fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal , painkiller overdoses have dropped twenty-five percent .
( 23 ) CBD safety has been established by thousands of clinical trials and by the use of ordinary people in the treatment of pain .
There is evidence that the root cause of some conditions of chronic pain is endocannabinoid deficiency .
This explains why CBD is so effective in treating pain—it gives the body what it ’ s lacking .
Does CBD oil get you high ?
No .
Cannabidiol comes from hemp and other low-THC strains of cannabis .
No matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internally—you will not get stoned .
Will I flunk a drug test if I medicate with CBD-rich cannabis ?
“ The urine drug screen for THC-COOH is known to have very little cross-reactivity to other cannabinoids that are not psychoactive , such as CBD…individuals using unusually large doses of a cannabinoid-rich hemp oil product ( above 1000-2000 mg of hemp oil daily ) could theoretically test positive during the initial urinary screen .
Although very rare , the urine screen in these cases would likely represent a “ false positive ” due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may cross-react with the immunoassay…a confirmatory GC/MS ( Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry ) test is performed to verify the positive urine screen .
When this is the case , the confirmatory GC/MS test would be negative , since CBD and other cannabinoids will not be detected by the more accurate ( and specific ) GC/MS screen , ” write cannabis authority Leafly .
( 24 ) Keep in mind that hemp and other low-THC strains contains anywhere from 1/10th to 1/300th of the THC concentration found in marijuana .
Can I make my own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not difficult to make your own CBD oil , nor does it require a lot of ingredients .
Click here for a simple recipe .
How do I know what dose of CBD I should take ?
Every person is unique and your sensitivity to CBD will be different from someone else ’ s .
Project CBD is a California non-profit organization “ dedicated to promoting and publicizing research into the medical uses of cannabidiol ( CBD ) and other components of the cannabis plant .
We provide educational services for physicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the general public.
” Project CBD has published an explanatory outline on its website : Cannabis Dosing .
In the United States , all cannabinoids are lumped together under Schedule 1 of the Drug Enforcement Agency ’ s list of controlled and hazardous drugs ( along with heroin and LSD , among others ) .
CBD oil is only legal in a few states .
Fortunately , that number is growing .
( 25 ) CBD oil is also legal in Canada and other countries .
A quick internet search will confirm whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or produce where you live .
It ’ s about time that the world ’ s medical communities recognize the remarkable and amazing medicinal value of cannabinoids and CBD oil benefits .
The authors of one study were bold enough to state : “ In view of the very low toxicity and the generally benign side effects of this group of compounds [ cannabinoids ] , neglecting or denying their clinical potential is unacceptable.
” ( 26 ) Above is only a selection of all the many CBD oil uses to treat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With very little risk and potentially huge gain , the possibilities for CBD seem almost limitless .

Since cannabis has been increasingly legalized throughout the world, the scientific community (and the public!) just can’t seem to get enough. For many, it isn’t the high they’re after, but the life-saving medicine the plant has to offer. One of the most potent ways to get all the good–without the bad–is by taking CBD hemp oil or CBD cannabis oil.
Advertisement
What is CBD Oil?
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil is made from strains of cannabis that contain low levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is what makes marijuana psychoactive. CBD oil is high in cannabinoids, a group of phytochemicals found in cannabis plants.
Cannabis has been used all over the world for millennia to treat various illness and disease. The Western scientific significance of cannabinoids for human health has become more well-known in recent years, however, now that the stigma surrounding marijuana and its family is lifting.
Advertisement
Other plants commonly used to promote human health contain these substances. Plus, the human body creates its own cannabinoids and contains millions of cannabinoid receptors, mostly in the brain, central nervous system, and immune system. (1)
Cannabinoids play a fundamental role in the body since the endocannabinoid system regulates homeostasis, or general state of balance. Thus, it impacts and regulates mood, sleep, appetite, hormone regulation, and pain and immune response. (2)
With current research into CBD and its effects on the body, science has begun to discover all the ways in which these phytochemicals interact to fix our many ills.
Advertisement
CBD Oil Uses
Here 13 reasons to give CBD oil a try!
1. CBD Oil for Cancer
The number of scientific studies on the effects of cannabinoids on cancer is growing. Thus far, studies have been limited because cannabis is still illegal in many countries.
Nevertheless, people who have taken their health into their own hands to use cannabis in treating their cancers have, in many cases, been completely cured of it.
Advertisement
In every one of the clinical studies now published, cannabis has been found to kill cancer cells. (3) Even the National Cancer Institute in the United States now admits that cannabis is powerfully effective in the treatment of cancer.
2. CBD Oil for Autism
CBD hemp oil is particularly effective in treating neurological disorders. With the incidence of autism spectrum disorders increasing at a frightening rate, the medical community is scrambling for treatments.
As mentioned, cannabinoid receptors in the body mainly exist in the central nervous system. Endocannabinosignalinging in the brain does not occur normally in people with autism. (4)
Advertisement
The use of CBD oil restores cannabinoid balance and enables appropriate neurological communication, removing the cause and symptoms of autism. (5)
3. Cannabis Oil for ADHD
Similar to autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) results from impairment of neurotransmitters.
Cannabis raises the level of dopamine in the brain. (6) This is one of the pleasure hormones that promotes positive emotion. The same effect is the aim of ADHD drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.
Advertisement
The difference is that the pharmaceuticals stimulate dopamine production and then bind to it, affecting how it behaves and is metabolized.
Because cannabinoids work in the brain and regulate hormones, they release dopamine and the stimulating effect follows its natural course.
4. CBD Oil for Seizures
Used in children with epilepsy, cannabis stops seizures, preventing permanent damage and allowing them to live a normal life. Furthermore, 30% of people with epilepsy do not respond to conventional treatment, resulting in high mortality rates.
Advertisement
A 2015 study found that cannabidiol was extremely effective in reducing seizures in those for whom conventional treatment was ineffective. (7)
According to a more recent study: “Most of the children (66/74, 89%) reported reduction in seizure frequency: 13 (18%) reported 75-100% reduction, 25 (34%) reported 50-75% reduction, 9 (12%) reported 25-50% reduction, and 19 (26%) reported <25% reduction.
Five (7%) patients reported aggravation of seizures which led to CBD withdrawal. In addition, we observed improvement in behavior and alertness, language, communication, motor skills and sleep.” (8)
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This is partly because CBD inhibits glutamate release; this amino acid plays an active role in the genesis of epileptic seizures. (9)
5. Cannabis and Anxiety
A unique study at Vanderbilt University in 2014 discovered for the first time that endocannabinoid receptors exist in the amygdala sections of the brain. The amygdala is responsible for experiencing emotion. (10) This explains why cannabinoids affect emotion.
The experience of an individual varies and is dependent on several factors, including environment and unique personal chemistry.
Advertisement
Cannabinoids affect certain emotions more than others, specifically fear, stress, and anxiety.
In many people, emotional regulation by the brain’s receptors induced by cannabis results in a calming effect with the consequential reduction in anxiety. (11)
6. Marijuana Oil for Crohn’s Disease
Because CBD interacts with endocannabinoids in the immune system, it is very effective in treating Crohn’s and other immunoinflammatory diseases. Cannabis reduces pain, relieves diarrhea, relaxes gastrointestinal spasms, and decreases inflammation.
Advertisement
One study published in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology journal in 2013 found that in half of the subjects of the study, marijuana put their Crohn’s disease into complete remission, improved appetite and sleep, and showed no adverse side effects. (12)
7. CBD Oil For Alzheimer’s
Again due to the endocannibinoid receptors in the brain, CBD oil provides protective effects on neurological function. In addition, it removes the protein in the brain that plaque and reduces neuron inflammation—precursors to Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders. (13)
8. Cannabis Oil for Liver Health
Fatty liver and cirrhosis are degenerative diseases of the liver. Cannabinoid receptors exist in liver tissue. Cannabis oil prevents liver cell oxidation, a key factor in the deterioration of the liver.
Advertisement
Secondly, after liver surgery (including transplantation), a common complication is not attaining a steady oxygen supply to the organ for healing, causing tissue damage.
Cannabinoids moderate oxygen transfer, promoting energy storage and reducing energy demand, thereby reducing the risk of damage. Lastly, CBD reduces insulin resistance, with implications for the management of diabetes. (14)
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-05--This Skin-Protective Vitamin Can Shield Cells from UV Exposure and Lower Cancer Risk

Do you love spending time outdoors ?
If you like going to the beach or simply love being under the sun , then you probably already know how damaging too much can be for the skin .
Besides sunscreen and wearing long sleeves , researchers in Italy say what you eat can actually help protect your skin against the sun ’ s rays .
Their study found niacin ( vitamin B3 ) to help shield the skin from ultraviolet ( UV ) exposure and in the process lower the risk of developing skin cancer .
Niacin is an important nutrient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s in many vegetables , fruits , whole grains , animal protein and dairy products .
The two main forms of this vitamin are nicotinic acid and nicotinamide ( NAM ) .
Each have different roles in the body .
Previous research has shown that nicotinic acid helps lower cholesterol levels , while NAM interacts with the skin cells .
The Italian team studied cells from the skin of patients diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers .
Researchers treated these cancers with three different doses of NAM for 18 , 24 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then exposed to UV light .
The results showed that pre-treating cells with NAM a day before exposure to UV radiation protects them from oxidative stress .
This includes DNA damage caused by ultraviolet rays .
NAM also improved DNA repair in these cells by decreasing the expression of the enzyme OGG1 .
“ Our study indicates that increasing the consumption of vitamin B3 , which is readily available in the daily diet , will protect the skin from some of the effects of UV exposure , potentially reducing the incidence of non-melanoma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect of vitamin B3 is short-acting , so it should be consumed no later than 24 to 48 hours before sun exposure , ” says Lara Camillo , a research student from University Hospital Maggiore della Carita in a media release .
Researchers say non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common tumors among caucasian patients .
The main risk factor for these growths is overexposure to the Sun ’ s radiation .
Too little exposure isn ’ t good for you , but too much isn ’ t ideal .
Prolonged exposure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can DNA , cause inflammation , deplete cellular energy , and kill cells .
As you can see , the richest sources of niacin are animal-based foods but if you ’ re vegetarian or vegan , you still can find all the vitamin B3 you need in a wide variety of plant foods .

Do you love spending time outdoors? If you like going to the beach or simply love being under the sun, then you probably already know how damaging too much can be for the skin. Besides sunscreen and wearing long sleeves, researchers in Italy say what you eat can actually help protect your skin against the sun’s rays. Their study found niacin (vitamin B3) to help shield the skin from ultraviolet (UV) exposure and in the process lower the risk of developing skin cancer.
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Niacin is an important nutrient that’s abundant almost everywhere. It’s in many vegetables, fruits, whole grains, animal protein and dairy products. The two main forms of this vitamin are nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (NAM). Each have different roles in the body. Previous research has shown that nicotinic acid helps lower cholesterol levels, while NAM interacts with the skin cells.
The Italian team studied cells from the skin of patients diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers. Researchers treated these cancers with three different doses of NAM for 18, 24, and 48 hours. The samples were then exposed to UV light.
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Niacin helps repair potentially cancerous skin damage
The results showed that pre-treating cells with NAM a day before exposure to UV radiation protects them from oxidative stress. This includes DNA damage caused by ultraviolet rays. NAM also improved DNA repair in these cells by decreasing the expression of the enzyme OGG1.
“Our study indicates that increasing the consumption of vitamin B3, which is readily available in the daily diet, will protect the skin from some of the effects of UV exposure, potentially reducing the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers. However, the protective effect of vitamin B3 is short-acting, so it should be consumed no later than 24 to 48 hours before sun exposure,” says Lara Camillo, a research student from University Hospital Maggiore della Carita in a media release.
Researchers say non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common tumors among caucasian patients. The main risk factor for these growths is overexposure to the Sun’s radiation. Too little exposure isn’t good for you, but too much isn’t ideal. Prolonged exposure to UV rays for long periods of time can DNA, cause inflammation, deplete cellular energy, and kill cells.
Advertisement
Top 10 Foods rich in Vitamin B3
Tuna (Yellowfin)
Lean Chicken Breast
Lean Pork Chops
Beef (Skirt Steak)
Portabella Mushrooms
Brown Rice
Peanuts (Dry Roasted)
Avocados
Green Peas
Sweet Potatoes
As you can see, the richest sources of niacin are animal-based foods but if you’re vegetarian or vegan, you still can find all the vitamin B3 you need in a wide variety of plant foods.


dailyhealthpost--2020-11-04--New Way of Cooking Rice Removes Arsenic Without Losing Magnesium, Zinc and Other Minerals

Rice is a staple food in many cultures and comes in various types .
But no matter if your rice is purple , wild , black , white or brown , they all share one common thing , and that ’ s arsenic .
Compared to other foods , rice absorbs about 10 times as much toxic inorganic arsenic as other cereal crops .
This is mostly due to the way rice is grown in flooded rice fields , which makes it easier for the crop to absorb the carcinogenic compounds naturally present in the soil .
And while we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of years ago , there ’ s not much we know about the dangers of arsenic via rice consumption as it is a more recent development .
Some countries have set limits on exposure to inorganic arsenic through rice consumption , but many Asian countries ( where rice consumption is high ) have no such rules .
Fortunately , for several years it ’ s been understood that the levels of inorganic arsenic in rice can be reduced in various ways , via washing or rinsing , or using different cooking methods .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower the levels of nutrients in rice , which also isn ’ t desirable .
Now , researchers from the University of Sheffield say a new and simple way of cooking can make rice safer for consumption .
To do this , a team from the school ’ s Institute for Sustainable Food investigated different rice-cooking methods to see which offered the best way of reducing arsenic while preserving nutrients .
They examined four processes , all of which involved cooking rice via the absorption method , using either unwashed rice , washed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rice .
Best Way to Cook Rice When they analyzed the results , they found that the “ parboiling with absorption method ” ( PBA ) can remove over 50 percent of the naturally occurring arsenic in brown rice and 74 percent in white rice .
More importantly , this simple cooking technique helped preserve the most amount of the micronutrients in rice such as phosphorous , potassium , magnesium , zinc and manganese .
To do this at home , the researchers say to bring water to a boil ( four cups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raw rice ) .
Then , add rice and boil for another 5 minutes .
Next , discard the water ( which has now removed much of the arsenic that was in the rice ) , and add more fresh water ( two cups for each cup of rice ) .
Finally , cover the rice with a lid , and cook on a low to medium heat until the water has been absorbed .
“ With our new method we are able to significantly reduce the arsenic exposure while reducing the loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientist Dr. Manoj Menon .
“ We highly recommend this method while preparing rice for infants and children as they are highly vulnerable to arsenic exposure risks.
” The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified arsenic as a Group 1 carcinogen .
Arsenic exposure affects almost every organ in the body and can cause skin lesions , cancer , diabetes and lung diseases .
In rice , arsenic is usually found in the outer layer of bran , which makes it more of a problem in brown rice .
White rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains less arsenic but also has fewer nutrients due to the milling process .
“ For rice consumers , this is excellent news .
There are genuine concerns amongst the population about eating rice due to arsenic .
Previous studies have shown that cooking rice in excess water could remove arsenic but the problem is it also removes nutrients , ” says Menon .
“ Our aim was to optimize the method to remove arsenic while keeping maximum nutrients in the cooked rice .
Our newly developed method , PBA , is easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
We don ’ t know the amount of arsenic in each packet rice we buy ; even though brown rice is nutritionally superior to white rice as our data shows , it contains more arsenic than white rice .
With our new method we are able to significantly reduce the arsenic exposure while reducing the loss of key nutrients.
” The study was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment .

Rice is a staple food in many cultures and comes in various types. But no matter if your rice is purple, wild, black, white or brown, they all share one common thing, and that’s arsenic. Compared to other foods, rice absorbs about 10 times as much toxic inorganic arsenic as other cereal crops.
Advertisement
This is mostly due to the way rice is grown in flooded rice fields, which makes it easier for the crop to absorb the carcinogenic compounds naturally present in the soil. And while we’ve known about arsenic toxicity thousands of years ago, there’s not much we know about the dangers of arsenic via rice consumption as it is a more recent development.
Some countries have set limits on exposure to inorganic arsenic through rice consumption, but many Asian countries (where rice consumption is high) have no such rules. Fortunately, for several years it’s been understood that the levels of inorganic arsenic in rice can be reduced in various ways, via washing or rinsing, or using different cooking methods. However, some of these can also lower the levels of nutrients in rice, which also isn’t desirable.
Advertisement
Now, researchers from the University of Sheffield say a new and simple way of cooking can make rice safer for consumption. To do this, a team from the school’s Institute for Sustainable Food investigated different rice-cooking methods to see which offered the best way of reducing arsenic while preserving nutrients.
They examined four processes, all of which involved cooking rice via the absorption method, using either unwashed rice, washed rice, pre-soaked rice, or parboiled rice.
Best Way to Cook Rice
When they analyzed the results, they found that the “parboiling with absorption method” (PBA) can remove over 50 percent of the naturally occurring arsenic in brown rice and 74 percent in white rice. More importantly, this simple cooking technique helped preserve the most amount of the micronutrients in rice such as phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, zinc and manganese.
Advertisement
To do this at home, the researchers say to bring water to a boil (four cups of fresh water for every cup of raw rice). Then, add rice and boil for another 5 minutes. Next, discard the water (which has now removed much of the arsenic that was in the rice), and add more fresh water (two cups for each cup of rice). Finally, cover the rice with a lid, and cook on a low to medium heat until the water has been absorbed.
“With our new method we are able to significantly reduce the arsenic exposure while reducing the loss of key nutrients,” says soil scientist Dr. Manoj Menon.
“We highly recommend this method while preparing rice for infants and children as they are highly vulnerable to arsenic exposure risks.”
Advertisement
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified arsenic as a Group 1 carcinogen. Arsenic exposure affects almost every organ in the body and can cause skin lesions, cancer, diabetes and lung diseases.
In rice, arsenic is usually found in the outer layer of bran, which makes it more of a problem in brown rice. White rice, which is milled and polished, contains less arsenic but also has fewer nutrients due to the milling process.
“For rice consumers, this is excellent news. There are genuine concerns amongst the population about eating rice due to arsenic. Previous studies have shown that cooking rice in excess water could remove arsenic but the problem is it also removes nutrients,” says Menon.
Advertisement
“Our aim was to optimize the method to remove arsenic while keeping maximum nutrients in the cooked rice. Our newly developed method, PBA, is easy and home-friendly so that everyone can use it. We don’t know the amount of arsenic in each packet rice we buy; even though brown rice is nutritionally superior to white rice as our data shows, it contains more arsenic than white rice. With our new method we are able to significantly reduce the arsenic exposure while reducing the loss of key nutrients.”
The study was published in the journal Science of the Total Environment.


dailyhealthpost--2020-11-03--One of Nature’s Sweetest Fruit May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

If one of your parents had Alzheimer ’ s disease , you ’ ll want to shop mostly in the produce section of your local grocery store .
A study published in the journal Experimental Gerontology found that eating grapes regularly may help ward off this neurodegenerative disease .
Researchers at UCLA discovered that two cups of grapes a day may protect “ against significant metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain ” .
The report continues : “ Low metabolic activity in these areas of the brain is a hallmark of early stage Alzheimer ’ s disease.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering from “ mild ” decline in cognition .
They were split into two groups .
One group received a daily dose of grape powder equal to about 2.25 cups of grapes a day .
The control group were served a placebo powder that looked and tasted similar to the grape powder .
After six months , scans of the participants ’ brains were taken and cognitive performance was tested .
Those who consumed the grape powder showed healthy levels of metabolic activity in the most vulnerable parts of the brain where Alzheimer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The control group that consumed the placebo showed a metabolic decline in the same brain areas .
The study also showed that those who consumed the grape powder experienced improved cognitive functions in areas of the brain where thinking and working memory are seen .
“ The study examines the impact of grapes as a whole fruit versus isolated compounds and the results suggest that regular intake of grapes may provide a protective effect against early decline associated with Alzheimer ’ s disease , ” said Dr. Daniel H. Silverman , lead investigator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study contributes to the growing evidence that supports a beneficial role for grapes in neurologic and cardiovascular health , however more clinical studies with larger groups of subjects are needed to confirm the effects observed here.
” Researchers speculate that grapes aid the brain in various ways .
They were found to improve blood flow , maintain healthy levels of a critical chemical that helps support memory , and show beneficial anti-inflammatory effects as well .
According to the Centers for Disease Control , as many as 5 million Americans may suffer from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that number is expected to rise to 14 million .
Symptoms typically first appear in an individual after age 60 , and memory struggles are typically the first symptoms .
There is no known cure for the disease .

If one of your parents had Alzheimer’s disease, you’ll want to shop mostly in the produce section of your local grocery store. A study published in the journal Experimental Gerontology found that eating grapes regularly may help ward off this neurodegenerative disease.
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Researchers at UCLA discovered that two cups of grapes a day may protect “against significant metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain”. The report continues: “Low metabolic activity in these areas of the brain is a hallmark of early stage Alzheimer’s disease.”
The study’s participants were all suffering from “mild” decline in cognition. They were split into two groups. One group received a daily dose of grape powder equal to about 2.25 cups of grapes a day. The control group were served a placebo powder that looked and tasted similar to the grape powder.
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After six months, scans of the participants’ brains were taken and cognitive performance was tested. Those who consumed the grape powder showed healthy levels of metabolic activity in the most vulnerable parts of the brain where Alzheimer’s tends to first appear. The control group that consumed the placebo showed a metabolic decline in the same brain areas.
Beneficial role of grapes for brain health
The study also showed that those who consumed the grape powder experienced improved cognitive functions in areas of the brain where thinking and working memory are seen.
“The study examines the impact of grapes as a whole fruit versus isolated compounds and the results suggest that regular intake of grapes may provide a protective effect against early decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Daniel H. Silverman, lead investigator of the study.
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“This pilot study contributes to the growing evidence that supports a beneficial role for grapes in neurologic and cardiovascular health, however more clinical studies with larger groups of subjects are needed to confirm the effects observed here.”
Researchers speculate that grapes aid the brain in various ways. They were found to improve blood flow, maintain healthy levels of a critical chemical that helps support memory, and show beneficial anti-inflammatory effects as well.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, as many as 5 million Americans may suffer from Alzheimer’s. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 14 million. Symptoms typically first appear in an individual after age 60, and memory struggles are typically the first symptoms. There is no known cure for the disease.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-06--Eating This Type of Diet Could Prevent, Reverse Heart Failure, Shows Study

It might be hard to believe but eating healthy fats is actually good for you .
By removing carbs from their diets , researchers from Saint Louis University found that entering a keto state could completely prevent , or even reverse heart failure caused by a metabolic process .
The findings were published in the journal Nature Metabolism .
The research team , led by Kyle S. McCommis , Ph.D. , assistant professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at SLU , looked at a metabolic process that seems to be turned down in failing human hearts .
In an animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be avoided by switching to high fat or “ ketogenic ” diets , which could completely prevent , or even reverse the heart failure .
“ Thus , these studies suggest that consumption of higher fat and lower carbohydrate diets may be a nutritional therapeutic intervention to treat heart failure , ” McCommis said .
Ketosis is a metabolic state in the body where fat is used for energy instead of carbohydrates .
It takes the average person approximately two days to a week , while eating less than 50 net carbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protect The Heart ?
Your heart muscles require large amounts of chemical energy stored in nutrients to fuel cardiac contraction .
To maintain this highly energy demanding process , the heart is flexible and can adapt to altered fuel supplies when required .
The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier ( MPC ) complex , composed of MPC1 and MPC2 , is required for pyruvate import into the mitochondria .
This study demonstrates that MPC expression is decreased in failing human and mouse hearts , and that genetic deletion of the MPC in mice leads to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heart failure can be prevented or even reversed by providing a high-fat , low carbohydrate “ ketogenic ” diet , ” McCommis said .
“ A 24-hour fast in mice , which is also “ ketogenic ” also provided significant improvement in heart remodeling.
” Diets with higher fat content , but enough carbohydrates to limit ketosis also significantly improved heart failure in mice lacking cardiac MPC expression .
“ Our study reveals a critical role for mitochondrial pyruvate utilization in cardiac function , and highlights the potential of dietary interventions to enhance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in the setting of MPC-deficiency , ” McCommis said .
• Diets enriched with higher levels of fat but enough carbohydrate and protein to limit ketosis were also able to significantly improve or even prevent cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in a mouse model .
• These studies suggest that consumption of higher fat and lower carbohydrate diets may be a nutritional therapeutic intervention to treat heart failure .
• Like ketogenic diet , prolonged fasting increases the cardiac reliance on fatty acid oxidation and reduces ketolytic flux despite increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fast reduced blood glucose levels , and strongly enhanced plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and ketone bodies .
• Ketogenic diet consumption for only three weeks and the concordant increase in fat metabolism was associated with reverse remodeling of the failing hearts to essentially normal size .
• These results suggest that ketogenic diets do not enhance cardiac ketone body metabolism , but rather stimulates fatty acid oxidation , which may be responsible for the improved cardiac remodeling and performance .

It might be hard to believe but eating healthy fats is actually good for you. By removing carbs from their diets, researchers from Saint Louis University found that entering a keto state could completely prevent, or even reverse heart failure caused by a metabolic process.
Advertisement
The findings were published in the journal Nature Metabolism. The research team, led by Kyle S. McCommis, Ph.D., assistant professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at SLU, looked at a metabolic process that seems to be turned down in failing human hearts.
In an animal model, drastic heart failure in mice could be avoided by switching to high fat or “ketogenic” diets, which could completely prevent, or even reverse the heart failure.
Advertisement
“Thus, these studies suggest that consumption of higher fat and lower carbohydrate diets may be a nutritional therapeutic intervention to treat heart failure,” McCommis said.
Ketosis is a metabolic state in the body where fat is used for energy instead of carbohydrates. It takes the average person approximately two days to a week, while eating less than 50 net carbs to enter ketosis.
How Does Ketosis Protect The Heart?
Your heart muscles require large amounts of chemical energy stored in nutrients to fuel cardiac contraction. To maintain this highly energy demanding process, the heart is flexible and can adapt to altered fuel supplies when required.
Advertisement
The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) complex, composed of MPC1 and MPC2, is required for pyruvate import into the mitochondria. This study demonstrates that MPC expression is decreased in failing human and mouse hearts, and that genetic deletion of the MPC in mice leads to cardiac dysfunction.
“Interestingly, this heart failure can be prevented or even reversed by providing a high-fat, low carbohydrate “ketogenic” diet,” McCommis said. “A 24-hour fast in mice, which is also “ketogenic” also provided significant improvement in heart remodeling.”
Diets with higher fat content, but enough carbohydrates to limit ketosis also significantly improved heart failure in mice lacking cardiac MPC expression.
Advertisement
“Our study reveals a critical role for mitochondrial pyruvate utilization in cardiac function, and highlights the potential of dietary interventions to enhance cardiac fat metabolism to prevent or reverse cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in the setting of MPC-deficiency,” McCommis said.
Take-aways
Diets enriched with higher levels of fat but enough carbohydrate and protein to limit ketosis were also able to significantly improve or even prevent cardiac remodeling and dysfunction in a mouse model.
These studies suggest that consumption of higher fat and lower carbohydrate diets may be a nutritional therapeutic intervention to treat heart failure.
Like ketogenic diet, prolonged fasting increases the cardiac reliance on fatty acid oxidation and reduces ketolytic flux despite increased cardiac ketone body delivery. The 24-hour fast reduced blood glucose levels, and strongly enhanced plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and ketone bodies.
Ketogenic diet consumption for only three weeks and the concordant increase in fat metabolism was associated with reverse remodeling of the failing hearts to essentially normal size.
These results suggest that ketogenic diets do not enhance cardiac ketone body metabolism, but rather stimulates fatty acid oxidation, which may be responsible for the improved cardiac remodeling and performance.


dailyhealthpost--2020-11-07--Empathy Is Taught in Danish Schools

Empathy Is Taught in Danish Schools

There are a lot of values and skills that most schools fail to cover , some more important than even a lot of the subjects already covered in the program .
One thing that ’ s consistently missing from most programs , however , even though it ’ s a value that ’ s crucial for a social species such as ours , is empathy .
As with many other things such as health care , the Happiness Index , education , and more , Denmark leads the rest of the world in this aspect as well .
( 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s core values of peace , compassion , and empathy , the Danish are the first to introduce “ Empathy ” as a school subject .
The reason why the Danish have incorporated empathy into their standard national curriculum is that they ’ ve realized the importance of teaching children what it means to understand and share feelings .
Unlike children in the U.S. and in the rest of the world , Danish children are also taught how to come to terms with the many different emotional states they ’ ll encounter later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ develop the ability to recognize and identify feelings people usually misinterpret .
( 2 ) Developed by psychologists in Denmark , the Cognitive Affective Training Kit ( CAT-Kit ) program consists of various visual , interactive , and other customizable tools that teach kids how to communicate effectively with their peers , with adults , and with other authority figures .
For example , one of the many tools in the CAT-Kit program is called “ Measure ” – it ’ s based on the thermometer and it displays levels from 0 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tool to display the intensity of their feelings without verbalizing them .
This helps children to better understand the depth and the concept of their own feelings and from there – to more easily notice and identify them in other people .
Another good tool in the program is the “ Feelings ” tool which consists of 100 different faces that express different moods and emotions .
These moods are divided into 10 different categories – anger , love , sorrow , joy , fear , surprise , shame , pride , disgust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different moods divided between these ten categories allow the kids to easily express and communicate their feelings non-verbally and without exaggerating or downplaying them .
This has proven to be very effective as it helps both the child displaying the emotion to better understand it , and to those around him/her to more easily recognize it .
The “ Circles ” tool is another good example of an effective educational method .
It helps kids describe their relationships with family and friends .
They can also use it to relay their attachment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Simple but effective tools like these ones and others such as “ The Wheel , The Week , The Draw and the Behavior Palette , The Body , ” and others , have made the CAT-Kit program a very effective and popular instrument that ’ s making its way to other countries as well .
Another crucial program in the Danish educational system is the Step by Step program .
It ’ s a mandatory program that asks the children to articulate their feelings with the facial expression of pictured children .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other kids that show various emotions such as fear , frustration , shame , sadness , etc .
After that , the children discuss these emotions together with their tutors .
They are taught to not be judgmental and why it ’ s important to listen to others when they share their emotions and how to react to them .
Jessica Alexander of the CPH shares in a review of the Danish happiness programs that cooperative learning is one of the most potent programs in their system .
( 3 ) A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the teachers who have to organize the children in specific groups depending on the task at hand – for each task children with exemplary skills should be grouped together with those that are lagging behind so that they can better learn off of each other .
This program means that extroverts and introverts are mixed in debate classes , more physically active kids are grouped with less physically active ones in gym classes , children that are strong in math class are asked to work with slower learners , and so on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other educational programs where children are divided from each other based on their skill level so that the “ better ” ones are not “ slowed down ” by the ones who aren ’ t doing as good .
Instead , the cooperative learning program encourages kids to learn from each other so that everyone ’ s level increases simultaneously .
And the added benefit of that is that not only are there fewer “ weak links ” in Danish society , but the children that were doing better anyway also benefit from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with others , how to help lift others up , how to teach , how to empathize , and more .
Named after the Princess Mary of Denmark , the Mary Foundation runs an educational anti-bullying program for all children between the ages of 3 and 8 years .
( 4 ) In the program , kids are encouraged to discuss the harm and damage of bullying , as well as the ethics behind it , thus learning from a younger age how to behave with their peers .
The program acknowledges the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evil , ” they are simply kids with problems of their own .
In this way , the program solves the problem from its root – by helping children understand and communicate with each other in a healthy manner .
The program is credited with the massive reduction of bullying all throughout the country ’ s schools .
Denmark , as well as only a few other countries around the world , have realized a simple truth .
The best , quickest , and most effective way to build a society with little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other social problems is to raise a generation of kids that understands empathy better than their parents .
Such a generation of mentally-stable , social-minded , and empathetic children is all that ’ s needed to not only solve most social problems but to eliminate them from the get-go .

There are a lot of values and skills that most schools fail to cover, some more important than even a lot of the subjects already covered in the program. One thing that’s consistently missing from most programs, however, even though it’s a value that’s crucial for a social species such as ours, is empathy.
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As with many other things such as health care, the Happiness Index, education, and more, Denmark leads the rest of the world in this aspect as well. (1) In accordance with the country’s core values of peace, compassion, and empathy, the Danish are the first to introduce “Empathy” as a school subject. The reason why the Danish have incorporated empathy into their standard national curriculum is that they’ve realized the importance of teaching children what it means to understand and share feelings.
Unlike children in the U.S. and in the rest of the world, Danish children are also taught how to come to terms with the many different emotional states they’ll encounter later in life, as well as to develop the ability to recognize and identify feelings people usually misinterpret. (2)
Advertisement
The CAT-Kit program
Developed by psychologists in Denmark, the Cognitive Affective Training Kit (CAT-Kit) program consists of various visual, interactive, and other customizable tools that teach kids how to communicate effectively with their peers, with adults, and with other authority figures.
For example, one of the many tools in the CAT-Kit program is called “Measure” – it’s based on the thermometer and it displays levels from 0 to 10. Kids can use the Measure tool to display the intensity of their feelings without verbalizing them. This helps children to better understand the depth and the concept of their own feelings and from there – to more easily notice and identify them in other people.
Another good tool in the program is the “Feelings” tool which consists of 100 different faces that express different moods and emotions. These moods are divided into 10 different categories – anger, love, sorrow, joy, fear, surprise, shame, pride, disgust, and safety. The one hundred different moods divided between these ten categories allow the kids to easily express and communicate their feelings non-verbally and without exaggerating or downplaying them. This has proven to be very effective as it helps both the child displaying the emotion to better understand it, and to those around him/her to more easily recognize it.
Advertisement
The “Circles” tool is another good example of an effective educational method. It helps kids describe their relationships with family and friends. They can also use it to relay their attachment and preferences to different hobbies and interests.
Simple but effective tools like these ones and others such as “The Wheel, The Week, The Draw and the Behavior Palette, The Body,” and others, have made the CAT-Kit program a very effective and popular instrument that’s making its way to other countries as well.
Denmark's Education System: Where Teaching Empathy is part of the School Curriculum. Mariana Rudan
Watch this video on YouTube
The Step by Step Program
Another crucial program in the Danish educational system is the Step by Step program. It’s a mandatory program that asks the children to articulate their feelings with the facial expression of pictured children. The kids have to do this using cards of other kids that show various emotions such as fear, frustration, shame, sadness, etc. After that, the children discuss these emotions together with their tutors. They are taught to not be judgmental and why it’s important to listen to others when they share their emotions and how to react to them.
Advertisement
Cooperative learning
Jessica Alexander of the CPH shares in a review of the Danish happiness programs that cooperative learning is one of the most potent programs in their system. (3) A big part of this program falls on the teachers who have to organize the children in specific groups depending on the task at hand – for each task children with exemplary skills should be grouped together with those that are lagging behind so that they can better learn off of each other.
This program means that extroverts and introverts are mixed in debate classes, more physically active kids are grouped with less physically active ones in gym classes, children that are strong in math class are asked to work with slower learners, and so on.
This is in stark contrast with most other educational programs where children are divided from each other based on their skill level so that the “better” ones are not “slowed down” by the ones who aren’t doing as good. Instead, the cooperative learning program encourages kids to learn from each other so that everyone’s level increases simultaneously. And the added benefit of that is that not only are there fewer “weak links” in Danish society, but the children that were doing better anyway also benefit from this program by learning how to cooperate with others, how to help lift others up, how to teach, how to empathize, and more.
Advertisement
The anti-bullying Mary Foundation
Named after the Princess Mary of Denmark, the Mary Foundation runs an educational anti-bullying program for all children between the ages of 3 and 8 years. (4) In the program, kids are encouraged to discuss the harm and damage of bullying, as well as the ethics behind it, thus learning from a younger age how to behave with their peers.
The program acknowledges the fact that most bullies are not “evil,” they are simply kids with problems of their own. In this way, the program solves the problem from its root – by helping children understand and communicate with each other in a healthy manner. The program is credited with the massive reduction of bullying all throughout the country’s schools.
The end results
Denmark, as well as only a few other countries around the world, have realized a simple truth. The best, quickest, and most effective way to build a society with little to no crime, corruption, and other social problems is to raise a generation of kids that understands empathy better than their parents. Such a generation of mentally-stable, social-minded, and empathetic children is all that’s needed to not only solve most social problems but to eliminate them from the get-go.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-08--Organic Burial Pods – A New Alternative to the Traditional Graveyards

Burials may not be a fun subject to talk about but with nearly 8 billion people on the planet right now , it ’ s definitely important .
And given how many different types of burials ( 1 ) people have come up with so far , it ’ s actually quite a “ lively ” conversation to have .
Some burials are traditional and based on religious practices , others strive for more economical resource-management or land-management , and a lot are just modern marketing gimmicks that only sound nice but aren ’ t practical on a mass scale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially viable burial method is the organic burial pod created by Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel from Italy .
Their project is called Capsula Mundi ( 3 ) and it uses biodegradable and efficiently-produced starch plastic pods to bury the deceased ’ s body and grow a tree out of it .
The body is laid in the fetal position inside the capsule and a tree ’ s seed is placed with it .
People can choose what seed they ’ re going to plant as Capsula Mundi offers quite a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using natural decomposition – essentially , as the person ’ s body decomposes , it becomes nutritional soil for the tree that ’ s going to grow out of the pod .
The starch plastic itself also turns into biodegradable minerals .
Starch plastic is also much more efficient to mass-produce than something like wood which would ’ ve partly defeated the purpose of helping fight deforestation .
“ Rigor mortis arises at different times for each individual and has a duration of a few hours .
After rigor mortis passes , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once the body is laid within the Capsula , it will be planted in the earth like a seed , ” the founders of Capsula Mundi say .
Capsula Mundi also offers the option of cremated ashes to be turned into a biodegradable urn if you want to plant a tree in your backyard .
There ’ s something to be said about the negative environmental impact of cremation ( 4 ) but if you ’ re going to cremate a relative anyway , what better thing to do with their ashes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Ultimately , the most inspiring aspect of this idea is that cemeteries containing the burial pods would eventually become beautiful forests .
Instead of being filled with tombstones , loved ones visiting a cemetery would get to view lovely green parks with trees that help the environment while also helping them keep a deep connection to those they have lost .
These “ memory forests ” are quickly gaining traction in England and the U.S .

Burials may not be a fun subject to talk about but with nearly 8 billion people on the planet right now, it’s definitely important. And given how many different types of burials (1) people have come up with so far, it’s actually quite a “lively” conversation to have.
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Some burials are traditional and based on religious practices, others strive for more economical resource-management or land-management, and a lot are just modern marketing gimmicks that only sound nice but aren’t practical on a mass scale (2).
Organic Burial Pods
One newer and potentially viable burial method is the organic burial pod created by Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel from Italy. Their project is called Capsula Mundi (3) and it uses biodegradable and efficiently-produced starch plastic pods to bury the deceased’s body and grow a tree out of it. The body is laid in the fetal position inside the capsule and a tree’s seed is placed with it. People can choose what seed they’re going to plant as Capsula Mundi offers quite a lot of choices.
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Why Starch Plastic?
The burial pods work by using natural decomposition – essentially, as the person’s body decomposes, it becomes nutritional soil for the tree that’s going to grow out of the pod. The starch plastic itself also turns into biodegradable minerals.
Starch plastic is also much more efficient to mass-produce than something like wood which would’ve partly defeated the purpose of helping fight deforestation.
“Rigor mortis arises at different times for each individual and has a duration of a few hours. After rigor mortis passes, the body will again become soft and malleable. Once the body is laid within the Capsula, it will be planted in the earth like a seed,” the founders of Capsula Mundi say.
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Organic Burial Urns
Capsula Mundi also offers the option of cremated ashes to be turned into a biodegradable urn if you want to plant a tree in your backyard. There’s something to be said about the negative environmental impact of cremation (4) but if you’re going to cremate a relative anyway, what better thing to do with their ashes than grow a tree out of them?
Capsula Mundi - Burial Pods
Watch this video on YouTube
Ultimately, the most inspiring aspect of this idea is that cemeteries containing the burial pods would eventually become beautiful forests. Instead of being filled with tombstones, loved ones visiting a cemetery would get to view lovely green parks with trees that help the environment while also helping them keep a deep connection to those they have lost. These “memory forests” are quickly gaining traction in England and the U.S.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-09--Wine Kills Germs That Cause Sore Throats and Dental Plaque Says Study

We ’ ve all heard that drinking alcohol is not good for our health or waistline , but you don ’ t have to give up all of it .
In fact , according to scientists , having a glass of your favorite wine every now and then can help you prevent infections .
While it may seem surprising , this discovery is not new .
In 1988 , some researchers carried out a study ( 1 ) that tested how germs survive in beverages .
They used seven types of drinks including wine , beer , sour mix , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and water as samples .
They then added various types of pathogens such as Salmonella , Shigella , and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to all the drinks and left them for 48 hours .
Their findings showed that of all the beverages , the wine had the least amount of live bacteria .
They also discovered that the pathogens thrived in milk and water and a small number died off in the beer and soda drinks .
This paper concluded that the survival rate of bacteria in beverages is determined by the level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason , the researchers advise people who visit places with high cases of traveler ’ s diarrhea to consider the acidity of their drinks to avoid infections .
What is the Link Between Wine and Sore Throat ?
Another group of researchers did a follow-up study that analyzed the antibacterial properties of wine in the mouth .
This 2007 study ( 2 ) was published by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry .
The researchers specifically tested for the effect of wine on the growth of Streptococci which causes dental plaque and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throats .
The result of this study showed that while both types of wine have disinfectant properties , red wine killed more germs than white wine .
However , this study disagrees with the conclusion of the 1988 paper .
The researchers point out that neither the alcohol nor acidity of the wine had any effect on the pathogens .
But instead , the antibacterial property of wine is due to the presence of some organic compounds found in the drink .
The researchers made this conclusion after they separated the organic compounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These chemicals include lactic , malic , succinic , and tartaric acids .
Each compound was isolated , diluted , and then retested for its effect on bacteria survival rate .
The study reported that the less acidic the wine , the more it killed oral Streptococci and Streptococcus with effectiveness of up to 99.9 % .
While drinking or gargling wine can help treat your dental plaque and sore throat , you should be careful when using it because strong evidence ( 3 , 4 ) says it can also damage your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academy of General Dentistry advises that you should wait at least 20 minutes before you brush your teeth after sipping wine .
By doing this , you ’ ll avoid getting the acidic liquid onto your tooth enamel ( 5 ) .
So , the next time someone invites you for a drink , don ’ t hold back .
Enjoy your glass of red wine but remember to drink in moderation .
If you ’ re using wine for sore throat , make sure you ’ re also getting enough rest and @ @ @ @ @ @

We’ve all heard that drinking alcohol is not good for our health or waistline, but you don’t have to give up all of it. In fact, according to scientists, having a glass of your favorite wine every now and then can help you prevent infections.
Advertisement
While it may seem surprising, this discovery is not new. In 1988, some researchers carried out a study (1) that tested how germs survive in beverages. They used seven types of drinks including wine, beer, sour mix, soda, diet soda, milk, and water as samples. They then added various types of pathogens such as Salmonella, Shigella, and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to all the drinks and left them for 48 hours.
Their findings showed that of all the beverages, the wine had the least amount of live bacteria. They also discovered that the pathogens thrived in milk and water and a small number died off in the beer and soda drinks.
Advertisement
This paper concluded that the survival rate of bacteria in beverages is determined by the level of acidity of the drink. For this reason, the researchers advise people who visit places with high cases of traveler’s diarrhea to consider the acidity of their drinks to avoid infections.
What is the Link Between Wine and Sore Throat?
Another group of researchers did a follow-up study that analyzed the antibacterial properties of wine in the mouth. This 2007 study (2) was published by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The researchers specifically tested for the effect of wine on the growth of Streptococci which causes dental plaque and Streptococcus, the pathogen responsible for sore throats. The result of this study showed that while both types of wine have disinfectant properties, red wine killed more germs than white wine.
However, this study disagrees with the conclusion of the 1988 paper. The researchers point out that neither the alcohol nor acidity of the wine had any effect on the pathogens. But instead, the antibacterial property of wine is due to the presence of some organic compounds found in the drink.
Advertisement
The researchers made this conclusion after they separated the organic compounds from the other components of wine. These chemicals include lactic, malic, succinic, and tartaric acids. Each compound was isolated, diluted, and then retested for its effect on bacteria survival rate. The study reported that the less acidic the wine, the more it killed oral Streptococci and Streptococcus with effectiveness of up to 99.9%.
Be Cautious
While drinking or gargling wine can help treat your dental plaque and sore throat, you should be careful when using it because strong evidence (3, 4) says it can also damage your dental enamel. Dr. Bartlett from the Academy of General Dentistry advises that you should wait at least 20 minutes before you brush your teeth after sipping wine. By doing this, you’ll avoid getting the acidic liquid onto your tooth enamel (5).
Cheers to Wine
So, the next time someone invites you for a drink, don’t hold back. Enjoy your glass of red wine but remember to drink in moderation. If you’re using wine for sore throat, make sure you’re also getting enough rest and drinking a lot of water.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-10--Should Children be Taught How to Grow Food as Part of Their Schooling?

There ’ s a well-known adage that says you learn everything you really need to know about life in elementary school .
In many respects that ’ s true—we learn basic language and arithmetic , to be respectful of others , self-control , organization , team work , social skills , and other fundamental lessons that we carry throughout life .
Researchers are now suggesting that schools should add another area of study to their core curricula : gardening .
The Benefits of Teaching Children to Garden Any activity in which we engage involves learning .
For children , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills and values : ( 1 ) • Responsibility – caring for another living thing requires thought and attention with consequences and results you can see • Understanding – all living things share some basic requirements , such as water , food , rest , and interacting with other living things • Self-confidence – the satisfaction of being able to reap the benefits of their efforts and achieving set goals • Love of nature – opportunities to learn about and appreciate the larger outdoor environment from a safe place • Reasoning , exploration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plants , animals , and weather along with the arts of planning and simple construction • Physical activity – spending time outdoors or in a greenhouse digging , watering , weeding , pruning , staking , harvesting , etc .
can be lots of fun and is associated with being productive and achieving something tangible—and it ’ s okay to get dirty !
• Creativity – exploring new and exciting ways to grow food • Nutrition – learning about how fresh food is grown , the nutrients in different plants , and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to these , students actively engaged in maintaining a school garden have been found to attain better grades in school , especially in math and science .
( 2 ) Teachers at schools with student gardens have observed : • improved reading skills – gardening has its own jargon , including plants ’ Latin names • new perspectives on Nature that take shape in various art forms If you ’ ve ever planted anything , you know how satisfying it can feel to nurture a plant ’ s growth to maturity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it brings .
Maintaining an outdoor home garden and/or housing indoor plants is for some people an essential part of living .
Why wouldn ’ t we want to share that joy with our children ?
Growing plants for food has been found to affect children ’ s “ food empathy ” , fostering a deeper and long-lasting relationship with the food they eat .
This has an impact on their food choices and the understanding of how nutrition affects health : “ …the role of empathy in food literacy…is part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educate people about healthy eating , but providing both critical and functional knowledge regarding food-related decisions.
” ( 6 ) In fact , this empathy influences children to make healthier and broader food choices that include more vegetables and fruits .
( 7 ) With the incidence of worldwide childhood obesity at an all-time high and increasing , this is very good news for children and the adults into which they ’ ll develop .
Everything tastes better if you grow it yourself !
Our children ’ s lack of a relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world have been migrating toward large metropolitan areas , moving away from more rural and historically agricultural lifestyles ; urban gardens are gaining popularity to fill the need of would-be gardeners whose access to a patch of land is limited .
Moreover , societies in the developed world have become increasingly separated from Nature overall and the distance grows with each generation .
Consider this : average North American kids spend minutes per day outdoors but hours per day indoors in front of luminous screens—to their detriment .
( 8 ) If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things into a frightening perspective , let ’ s look at some basic pragmatism .
Children who spend regular time outdoors : • learn to take risks , meet challenges , and accept responsibility • are less anxious and fatigued ( 9 ) • socialize face-to-face in the real—not virtual—world , building “ soft skills ” and meaningful relationships ( 10 ) • learn to appreciate their surroundings • are less likely to experience the effects of a sedentary lifestyle ( 11 ) Additionally and critically , in many parts of the world—including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to feed themselves and their families .
Studies of school and community gardens in different parts of the world have all been shown to improve food security for families and communities .
( 13 , 14 , 15 ) “ Food deserts are an increasingly recognized problem in the United States , but a new study…indicates urban and home gardens—combined with nutrition education—could be a path toward correcting that disadvantage.
” ( 16 ) We want our children to be knowledgeable and prepared to provide themselves with the basic necessities of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their communities .
Take it from a food expert Raymond Blanc is a French chef who learned at a young age how to tend a family garden , leading to a love of food and a career in its thoughtful and careful preparation .
From an interview with the Independent , Chef Blanc summarizes the importance of teaching children to cultivate a garden : “ We have a wonderful opportunity to truly reconnect with food .
We need to engage with the outside world , with our gardens and the life within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple magic of taking food from the seed , from the earth or from the rivers and then to transform it into something simple and delicious…We have a multi-billion dollar problem with heart disease , diabetes , and obesity because of intensive farming and heavily processed food…We are the generation who truly messed it up by creating so many problems for our kids by reducing food to a mere commodity.
” ( 17 ) Chef Blanc has produced an animated cooking software application for children called “ Henri Le Worm ” to encourage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and reconnect with Nature .

There’s a well-known adage that says you learn everything you really need to know about life in elementary school. In many respects that’s true—we learn basic language and arithmetic, to be respectful of others, self-control, organization, team work, social skills, and other fundamental lessons that we carry throughout life. Researchers are now suggesting that schools should add another area of study to their core curricula: gardening.
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The Benefits of Teaching Children to Garden
Any activity in which we engage involves learning. For children, the educational value of gardening fosters positive lifelong skills and values: (1)
Responsibility – caring for another living thing requires thought and attention with consequences and results you can see
Understanding – all living things share some basic requirements, such as water, food, rest, and interacting with other living things
Self-confidence – the satisfaction of being able to reap the benefits of their efforts and achieving set goals
Love of nature – opportunities to learn about and appreciate the larger outdoor environment from a safe place
Reasoning, exploration, and discovery – the science of plants, animals, and weather along with the arts of planning and simple construction
Physical activity – spending time outdoors or in a greenhouse digging, watering, weeding, pruning, staking, harvesting, etc. can be lots of fun and is associated with being productive and achieving something tangible—and it’s okay to get dirty!
Cooperation – sharing activities/responsibilities and teamwork with a common goal
Creativity – exploring new and exciting ways to grow food
Nutrition – learning about how fresh food is grown, the nutrients in different plants, and how eating plants contributes to human health.
In addition to these, students actively engaged in maintaining a school garden have been found to attain better grades in school, especially in math and science. (2) Teachers at schools with student gardens have observed:
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a willingness to embrace different learning styles
improved reading skills – gardening has its own jargon, including plants’ Latin names
new perspectives on Nature that take shape in various art forms
broadening of agricultural and ecological literacy
reduction in student stress, anxiety, and depression
a general increase in curiosity and critical thinking. (3, 4)
Direct, hands-on experience bolsters and expands classroom learning! (5)
If you’ve ever planted anything, you know how satisfying it can feel to nurture a plant’s growth to maturity, enjoying the process and the rewards it brings. Maintaining an outdoor home garden and/or housing indoor plants is for some people an essential part of living. Why wouldn’t we want to share that joy with our children?
Food Empathy
Growing plants for food has been found to affect children’s “food empathy”, fostering a deeper and long-lasting relationship with the food they eat. This has an impact on their food choices and the understanding of how nutrition affects health:
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“…the role of empathy in food literacy…is part of a larger paradigm which intends not only to educate people about healthy eating, but providing both critical and functional knowledge regarding food-related decisions.” (6)
In fact, this empathy influences children to make healthier and broader food choices that include more vegetables and fruits. (7) With the incidence of worldwide childhood obesity at an all-time high and increasing, this is very good news for children and the adults into which they’ll develop. Everything tastes better if you grow it yourself!
Our children’s lack of a relationship with Nature is troublesome.
Populations all over the world have been migrating toward large metropolitan areas, moving away from more rural and historically agricultural lifestyles; urban gardens are gaining popularity to fill the need of would-be gardeners whose access to a patch of land is limited. Moreover, societies in the developed world have become increasingly separated from Nature overall and the distance grows with each generation.
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Consider this: average North American kids spend minutes per day outdoors but hours per day indoors in front of luminous screens—to their detriment. (8) If that’s not enough to put things into a frightening perspective, let’s look at some basic pragmatism. Children who spend regular time outdoors:
get enough vitamin D
learn to take risks, meet challenges, and accept responsibility
are less anxious and fatigued (9)
socialize face-to-face in the real—not virtual—world, building “soft skills” and meaningful relationships (10)
learn to appreciate their surroundings
are less likely to experience the effects of a sedentary lifestyle (11)
develop imagination, creativity, and problem-solving skills (12)
Additionally and critically, in many parts of the world—including North America—people are routinely uncertain of their ability to feed themselves and their families. Studies of school and community gardens in different parts of the world have all been shown to improve food security for families and communities. (13, 14, 15)
“Food deserts are an increasingly recognized problem in the United States, but a new study…indicates urban and home gardens—combined with nutrition education—could be a path toward correcting that disadvantage.” (16)
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We want our children to be knowledgeable and prepared to provide themselves with the basic necessities of life, to become self-sufficient and productive contributors to their communities.
Take it from a food expert
Raymond Blanc is a French chef who learned at a young age how to tend a family garden, leading to a love of food and a career in its thoughtful and careful preparation. From an interview with the Independent, Chef Blanc summarizes the importance of teaching children to cultivate a garden:
“We have a wonderful opportunity to truly reconnect with food. We need to engage with the outside world, with our gardens and the life within them. Children need to learn the simple magic of taking food from the seed, from the earth or from the rivers and then to transform it into something simple and delicious…We have a multi-billion dollar problem with heart disease, diabetes, and obesity because of intensive farming and heavily processed food…We are the generation who truly messed it up by creating so many problems for our kids by reducing food to a mere commodity.” (17)
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Chef Blanc has produced an animated cooking software application for children called “Henri Le Worm” to encourage children to explore the life of plants and reconnect with Nature.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-11--Stress, Depression And Anxiety Are All Alleviated By Probiotics

While depression was long characterized as “ chemical imbalance ” in the brain , scientists have since found out that it ’ s much more complicated than that .
The theory of chemical imbalances helps us understand depression , but it doesn ’ t explain the underlying cause .
Instead , scientists believe that it occurs due to a number of factors , including inflammation and chronic stress .
What ’ s more , a recent study suggests that depression and other mood disorders may originate in the gut .
Gut Bacteria : The Friendly And The Deadly As we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bacteria in your belly right now , not to mention the ones that live on your skin ( 1 ) .
The genes within these bacteria actually outnumber the ones in all the cells in your body : genomes of the bacteria and viruses of the human gut alone are thought to encode 3.3 million genes ( 2 ) .
In fact , your gut acts as a protective layer to fight off harmful pathogens that have made their way into your digestive tract before they are absorbed into your bloodstream .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re even in breast milk , and babies who are bottle-fed are more likely to suffer from allergies and immune problems because they ’ ve missed out on these essential critters .
Bacteria even plays a role in enhancing the effect of enzymes such as lactase , sucrase , maltase , alpha-glucosidase , and alkaline phosphatase , as well as metabolizing cholesterol and triglycerides to keep your blood pressure stable .
Don ’ t believe it , try this : modern medicine has adopted fecal transplants to reverse IBS , inflammatory bowel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ studies are exploring the other applications for this odd but effective intervention ( 3 ) .
It ’ s no wonder that gut bacteria serve as a big part of your immune system and control the delicate balance between illness and health .
What ’ s more , the bacteria in your gut also affect your brain .
Researchers from Griffith University in Queensland , Australia , review the results of seven previous studies on over 300 volunteers to evaluate the positive effects of probiotic use on symptoms of depression , anxiety and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote : “ Interest in the gut-brain axis and emerging evidence that the intestinal microbiota can influence central nervous system function has led to the hypothesis that probiotic supplementation can have a positive effect on mood and psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
” Although there were inconsistent results in some of the studies , the researchers concluded that “ The meta-analysis showed that supplementation with probiotics resulted in a statistically significant improvement in psychological symptoms compared with placebo.
” This review was well warranted and shed light on the potentials of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far from the only scientific voice out there ( 5 ) .
Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science showed that Lactobacillus rhamnosus , a bacterium found in yogurt , improved anxiety and depression in mouse studies .
Researchers believe that this bacterium act on the gamma-aminobutyric acid ( GABA ) system to improve emotional behavior .
Moreover , neurobiologists at Oxford disease found that prebiotics anti-anxiety effect since they alter the way that people process emotional information .
“ Prebiotics are dietary fibers ( short chains of sugar molecules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and use to multiply , ” the study ’ s lead author , Oxford neurobiologist Dr. Philip Burnet , told The Huffington Post .
“ Prebiotics are ‘ food ’ for good bacteria already present in the gut .
Taking prebiotics therefore increases the numbers of all species of good bacteria in the gut , which will theoretically have greater beneficial effects than [ introducing ] a single species.
” ( 6 ) In the study , 45 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 took either a prebiotic or a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental state was then evaluated through computer tests that processed emotional information .
The prebiotic group was much less sensitive to negative information and experienced less anxiety than the placebo group .
Their results echoed those of participants in previous studies who were given antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication .
Plus , participants in the prebiotic group had lower levels of cortisol ( a stress hormone linked to anxiety and depression ) , as measured through saliva testing.The study marked a new milestone , as it confirms the results of previous mice studies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Time and time again , we hear from patients that they never felt depressed or anxious until they started experiencing problems with their gut , ” Dr. Kirsten Tillisch , the study ’ s lead author , said in a statement .
“ Our study shows that the gut–brain connection is a two-way street.
” ( 8 ) According to Psychology Today , Ted Dinan , a professor of psychiatry at University College Cork explains that “ there are three basic mechanisms underlying the astonishing connection between these lowly microorganisms and our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that live in the gut ( or travel through it aboard some yogurt ) are necessary building blocks in the production of neurochemicals there , like serotonin and dopamine .
( 2 ) That impact on neurochemicals in turn has an effect on the secretion of stress hormones like cortisol .
Mental health is complicated and can be influenced by a number of factors , including chronic stress , inflammation , and other underlying diseases .
Since nutrition is the foundation of your health , improving your diet can also benefit all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cut out processed foods , sugar , and alcohol from your diet as much as possible and make sure to eat plenty of dietary fiber from fresh foods , vegetables , grains , nuts , and legumes .
What ’ s more , stay hydrated , eat anti-inflammatory foods and spices , and make sure to eat your probiotics .
It ’ s also important to lower your stress levels , get plenty of sleep , exercise regularly , and replenish your gut bacteria after taking antibiotics .
With a little effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support , anxiety and depression can be successfully controlled .

While depression was long characterized as “chemical imbalance” in the brain, scientists have since found out that it’s much more complicated than that. The theory of chemical imbalances helps us understand depression, but it doesn’t explain the underlying cause. Instead, scientists believe that it occurs due to a number of factors, including inflammation and chronic stress. What’s more, a recent study suggests that depression and other mood disorders may originate in the gut.
Advertisement
Gut Bacteria: The Friendly And The Deadly
As we speak, there are roughly 400 species of bacteria in your belly right now, not to mention the ones that live on your skin (1). The genes within these bacteria actually outnumber the ones in all the cells in your body: genomes of the bacteria and viruses of the human gut alone are thought to encode 3.3 million genes (2).
In fact, your gut acts as a protective layer to fight off harmful pathogens that have made their way into your digestive tract before they are absorbed into your bloodstream.
Advertisement
Gut bacteria are so important that they’re even in breast milk, and babies who are bottle-fed are more likely to suffer from allergies and immune problems because they’ve missed out on these essential critters.
Bacteria even plays a role in enhancing the effect of enzymes such as lactase, sucrase, maltase, alpha-glucosidase, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as metabolizing cholesterol and triglycerides to keep your blood pressure stable.
Don’t believe it, try this: modern medicine has adopted fecal transplants to reverse IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, and chronic infections. Current studies are exploring the other applications for this odd but effective intervention (3).
Advertisement
It’s no wonder that gut bacteria serve as a big part of your immune system and control the delicate balance between illness and health. What’s more, the bacteria in your gut also affect your brain.
Your Mood Explained
Researchers from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, review the results of seven previous studies on over 300 volunteers to evaluate the positive effects of probiotic use on symptoms of depression, anxiety and perceived stress (4).
They wrote: “Interest in the gut-brain axis and emerging evidence that the intestinal microbiota can influence central nervous system function has led to the hypothesis that probiotic supplementation can have a positive effect on mood and psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety.”
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Although there were inconsistent results in some of the studies, the researchers concluded that “The meta-analysis showed that supplementation with probiotics resulted in a statistically significant improvement in psychological symptoms compared with placebo.”
Other Studies
This review was well warranted and shed light on the potentials of probiotic treatment, but it’s far from the only scientific voice out there (5).
Research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science showed that Lactobacillus rhamnosus, a bacterium found in yogurt, improved anxiety and depression in mouse studies. Researchers believe that this bacterium act on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system to improve emotional behavior.
Advertisement
Moreover, neurobiologists at Oxford disease found that prebiotics anti-anxiety effect since they alter the way that people process emotional information.
“Prebiotics are dietary fibers (short chains of sugar molecules) that good bacteria break down, and use to multiply,” the study’s lead author, Oxford neurobiologist Dr. Philip Burnet, told The Huffington Post. “Prebiotics are ‘food’ for good bacteria already present in the gut. Taking prebiotics therefore increases the numbers of all species of good bacteria in the gut, which will theoretically have greater beneficial effects than [introducing] a single species.”(6)
In the study, 45 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 took either a prebiotic or a placebo daily for 3 weeks. Their mental state was then evaluated through computer tests that processed emotional information.
Advertisement
The prebiotic group was much less sensitive to negative information and experienced less anxiety than the placebo group. Their results echoed those of participants in previous studies who were given antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication.
Plus, participants in the prebiotic group had lower levels of cortisol (a stress hormone linked to anxiety and depression), as measured through saliva testing.The study marked a new milestone, as it confirms the results of previous mice studies, but in humans (7).
“Time and time again, we hear from patients that they never felt depressed or anxious until they started experiencing problems with their gut,” Dr. Kirsten Tillisch, the study’s lead author, said in a statement. “Our study shows that the gut–brain connection is a two-way street.” (8)
Advertisement
According to Psychology Today, Ted Dinan, a professor of psychiatry at University College Cork explains that “there are three basic mechanisms underlying the astonishing connection between these lowly microorganisms and our very personalities:
(1) Bacteria that live in the gut (or travel through it aboard some yogurt) are necessary building blocks in the production of neurochemicals there, like serotonin and dopamine.
(2) That impact on neurochemicals in turn has an effect on the secretion of stress hormones like cortisol.
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(3) Gut bugs also play a vital role in regulating the immune system and the inflammatory response it can launch when things go haywire. Inflammation is now widely considered to be one underlying cause of depression.” (9)
Healthy Gut Healthy Mind
Mental health is complicated and can be influenced by a number of factors, including chronic stress, inflammation, and other underlying diseases.
Since nutrition is the foundation of your health, improving your diet can also benefit all the factors above.
Advertisement
To heal your gut, cut out processed foods, sugar, and alcohol from your diet as much as possible and make sure to eat plenty of dietary fiber from fresh foods, vegetables, grains, nuts, and legumes.
What’s more, stay hydrated, eat anti-inflammatory foods and spices, and make sure to eat your probiotics.
Great sources of probiotics and prebiotics include:
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Yogurt
Sour cream
Cottage cheese
Kefir
Kombucha
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Tempeh
Natto
Miso
Lassi
Sourdough bread
It’s also important to lower your stress levels, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, and replenish your gut bacteria after taking antibiotics.
With a little effort, and maybe a bit of emotional support, anxiety and depression can be successfully controlled.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-11-12--The Smell of Rain Reduces Stress And 7 Other Benefits of Walking In The Rain

Walking in the rain is known as a relaxing activity in pop-culture but most people still dislike it for a lot of different reasons .
Of course , it does have its drawbacks – it ’ s wet and cold , yet it can also be soothing and romantic if you ’ re well covered .
The smell of rain has been studied extensively by two Australian scientists in the 1960s .
Petrichor is the unique name given to the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil ( 1 ) .
The smell itself is a mixture of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , plants , and the ozone .
Let ’ s take a look at some of the benefits of walking in the rain .
1 .
The smell of the rain refreshes the mind .
2 .
The air around us gets cleaner when it rains because the raindrops soak up the dust and microbes .
3 .
Physical activities carried out in rain burn more calories because of the extra force required to carry out the specific exercise .
Exercising in the rain also helps prolong the activity because the rain can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
4 .
Rainwater is typically alkaline which is great for our skin and scalp .
5 .
Because fewer people go out when it rains , this makes the streets and parks less populated and gives us a more open space to run , walk , and contemplate what ’ s on our minds .
6 .
Walking in the rain can improve one ’ s mood .
This makes walking in the rain a great thing when you feel at a crossroads and are uncertain as to what you should do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , walking in the rain is also know to make people more introspective as it creates a sort of “ white noise ” around them and gives them more and better time to think about their decisions .

Walking in the rain is known as a relaxing activity in pop-culture but most people still dislike it for a lot of different reasons. Of course, it does have its drawbacks – it’s wet and cold, yet it can also be soothing and romantic if you’re well covered.
Advertisement
The smell of rain has been studied extensively by two Australian scientists in the 1960s. Petrichor is the unique name given to the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil (1). The smell itself is a mixture of chemicals that are released by oil-dwelling bacteria, plants, and the ozone.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of walking in the rain.
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1. The smell of the rain refreshes the mind.
2. The air around us gets cleaner when it rains because the raindrops soak up the dust and microbes.
3. Physical activities carried out in rain burn more calories because of the extra force required to carry out the specific exercise. Exercising in the rain also helps prolong the activity because the rain can prevent us from overheating (2).
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4. Rainwater is typically alkaline which is great for our skin and scalp.
5. Because fewer people go out when it rains, this makes the streets and parks less populated and gives us a more open space to run, walk, and contemplate what’s on our minds.
6. Walking in the rain can improve one’s mood. This makes walking in the rain a great thing when you feel at a crossroads and are uncertain as to what you should do.
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7. To the previous point, walking in the rain is also know to make people more introspective as it creates a sort of “white noise” around them and gives them more and better time to think about their decisions.
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