dailyhealthpost--2020-08-11--21 Causes for Rapid Weight Gain Most People Ignore

When most people experience rapid weight gain , they tend to look at external factors .
Maybe someone is injured and unable to exercise as much as they used to , resulting in sudden weight gain .
Perhaps they ’ re going through a rough time and turn to food for comfort , gaining weight fast .
Sometimes the causes of weight gain are outside of your control .
In fact , certain medical issues and prescription medications can cause rapid weight gain .
Regardless of the cause , the most important thing is to recognize what is happening , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the situation .
Even if the excess weight gained is the result of a medical condition , it needs to be addressed before the weight causes more health problems ( known as comorbidities ) .
Approximately one-third of the entire US population is overweight ( with the numbers increasing every year ) ( 1 ) .
Without considering pre-existing health problems , excess weight and obesity put you at risk – or at an increased risk – for all of the following ( 2 ) : If you ’ re unsure what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the list below should help you narrow it down .
Please remember that you should consult your primary care physician with any weight gain ( or sudden weight loss ) concerns .
Known as hypothyroidism , an underactive thyroid is one of the most common causes of unexpected and rapid weight gain ( 3 ) .
The hormones excreted by the thyroid gland play a huge role in your metabolism .
Without sufficient levels of thyroid hormone in the blood , the metabolism slows down and can lead to weight gain .
Talk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to boost your thyroid function ; yoga might even help .
Even among all of the inconsistencies in the science of nutrition , there is one rule that is indisputable : if you eat more calories than you burn , you will gain weight .
This means that even if you are eating a completely clean diet , you can still gain weight if you don ’ t watch your portions .
Never assume that a food is low-calorie just because it ’ s healthy – always double check the nutritional values .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mistake thirst for hunger .
In fact , a recent study found that drinking two cups of water prior to meals resulted in a whopping 30 percent more weight loss than the control group ( 4 ) .
Additionally , when the body is dehydrated it will conserve water – resulting in water retention and bloating .
If you have trouble staying hydrated , try these fruit infusions .
4 .
Being Too Stressed Out You eat right .
You get plenty of exercise and try to get enough sleep .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight fast .
Too much stress over a long period of time causes the body to release cortisol , a hormone that causes your body to release insulin and lowers blood sugar ( 5 ) .
Low blood sugar then triggers hunger .
Now , because you are stressed and hungry , you ’ re more likely to reach for cookies or ice cream as a form of comfort .
This unneeded food is high in unhealthy calories , leading to weight gain .
Before reaching for a snack , do some breathing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tea to help you relax .
The correlation between salt and weight gain is simple : salt causes water retention , which reflects as weight gain .
The good news is that by increasing water intake while decreasing sodium intake , your body will let go of the excess water .
Don ’ t go crazy and completely avoid salt – just avoid high sodium foods or anything with added salt .
Birth control is perhaps one of the most well-known medications associated with weight gain ( 6 ) .
Most forms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trigger an increase in appetite and water retention .
Luckily , there are several forms of low-dose hormonal birth control and non-hormonal birth control that have no effect on weight .
Talk to your doctor to find out which kind of birth control is best for you .
While experts are still at odds with the optimal amount of dietary protein , there is one thing that they will agree on : most adults do not eat enough protein ( 7 ) .
Protein serves a number of purposes in the human body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muscle mass .
When the body is lacking in nutrients , it will break down muscles for necessary amino acids .
Lean muscle mass is also incredibly important to the metabolism : the more muscle a body has , the higher that person ’ s metabolism will be .
Depression can manifest in a number of ways , commonly through inactivity and excess food consumption ( 8 ) .
This leads to an unfortunate cycle of more weight gain , which then worsens depression , which then leads to the activities ( or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weight gain .
Depression can also trigger cortisol release into the bloodstream .
“ I just had a tough workout , so I ’ ve earned this ( insert high-calorie food here ) ” , said many a failed dieter .
Exercise is a wonderful way to lose weight and maintain a healthy body composition , but it is an extremely ineffective failsafe for a poor diet .
Try thinking of food as a way to fuel your body for your workouts instead of treating your workouts as a way to make up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of food as a way to fuel your body for your workouts instead of treating your workouts as a way to make up for bad dietary decisions .
A post-workout smoothie or protein shake can be a great way to re-energize without compromising your weight loss efforts .
Because healthy foods are associated with being lower in calories , people tend to consume too much of them .
So , when you eat out – a situation where people are more likely to over-indulge to begin with – someone trying to eat healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , salad dressing is an unexpected source of calories , fat , and sugar .
Also , restaurant food is often full of unexpected calories that make otherwise healthy food quite unhealthy .
Be sure to read the fine print on restaurant menus so you know how many calories are in your dish , and be aware of how much food you consume .
At home , portion control is a must .
Birth control isn ’ t the only kind of medication that causes weight gain .
Everything from blood pressure medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those used for bad infections or hormone disorders ) and fertility medications can cause sudden weight gain ( 9 ) .
Now , it is important to remember that everyone reacts to medication differently .
If you suspect your medication may be causing you to put on extra pounds , do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor .
There may be another kind of medication they can put you on that won ’ t cause rapid weight gain .
It is possible to be overweight and malnourished : the term malnourished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not calories .
The standard American diet is shockingly nutrient deficient , which directly affects the body ’ s metabolic processes – including those needed to burn fat .
What ’ s more , some medications also deplete nutrient .
To avoid this , incorporate as many whole foods into your diet as possible and avoid nutrient deficient , processed , high-calorie foods .
13 .
Working Out Too Much Believe it or not , exercising too much can lead to fat gain and muscle loss .
Overtraining causes your body to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The body may even start to break down muscle fibers to keep up with metabolic processes , leading to loss of strength and injury .
Keep workouts short and intense for muscle growth , and keep longer workouts at a lower intensity to avoid injury .
Give yourself time to rest in between workouts too .
14 .
Not Getting Enough Quality Sleep Lack of sleep is one of the fastest ways to increase cortisol in your body , which can result in rapid weight gain ( 11 ) .
Your body uses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of toxins , and maintain a healthy metabolism .
People tend to eat more , exercise less , and be more stressed out when they don ’ t get enough sleep .
Stick to a bedtime routine and wake schedule as much as possible , and avoid using electronics before bed .
Most of today ’ s jobs are computer-based , resulting in a very sedentary population .
According to recent studies and polls , only 20 percent of jobs in the US require even moderate amounts physical activity ( 12 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s no surprise that the average person weighs 30 pounds more than they did 50 years ago .
Set alarms for yourself to get up and walk around , drink lots of water , and make sure to exercise moderately throughout the week .
There are even some exercises you can do at your desk .
While it ’ s true that weight alone is not the best measure of physical fitness , it is still the easiest way to track changes in health ( 13 ) .
You may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t step on the scale , then I won ’ t know how bad things actually are ” .
However , what you don ’ t know can absolutely hurt you .
Weigh yourself a few times a week , and keep track of your weekly average ( since weight can fluctuate from day to day ) .
Don ’ t become obsessed with the number on the scale , but don ’ t ignore it either .
Speak to your doctor if you notice any drastic changes in weight .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study found that impulse purchases ( referring to the candy and soda stocked near checkout lines at grocery stores ) decrease significantly when using self-checkout ( 14 ) .
Self-checkout lines tend to move faster and aren ’ t usually as well-stocked with sugary items as regular lines .
You ’ ll save time , money , and avoid more excess calories when scanning each item for yourself .
Oh , and don ’ t go food shopping while you ’ re hungry ( 15 ) .
You may stock up on your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll only eat them sparingly , but food cravings are real .
Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy options .
When you get a craving that won ’ t pass , you ’ ll have to put in the effort to order in or leave the house to get it .
If you have to keep cookies or chips in your kitchen , then try portioning them out into little bags so you won ’ t have the whole container to eat from .
Better yet , make them yourself to avoid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Realize that there is a difference between not allowing bad foods into your house and never indulging at all .
Completely restricting yourself is much more likely to result in binge eating and depression .
Practice moderation : allowing yourself a small treat every day or a larger one every so often is proven to result in more weight loss and healthy body composition ( 16 ) .
Weight gain is one of the first signs of pregnancy .
While many women experience plenty of other pregnancy symptoms before weight gain , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign that it may be time to take a pregnancy test .
Normally , you should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during the first three months you ’ re pregnant , although pregnancy cravings may cause you to gain more weight , more quickly ( 17 ) .
As you get older , your metabolism changes .
Even if you follow the same diet and lifestyle as you transition from your 20s into your 30s or your 40s into your 50s , your basal metabolic rate ( BMR ) will be lower @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basal metabolic rate is “ …the minimum amount of energy you need to keep the basic functions going ( such as liver and brain function and breathing ) ” ( 18 ) .
Your age , gender , height , and weight influence your BMR .
After the age of 25 , your BMR slows 2 percent or more per decade ( 19 ) .
That means that you either have to eat fewer calories ( at the risk of not getting all the nutrients your body needs ) or increase your activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have , the higher your metabolism , so it really is worth living an active lifestyle .
Should you find yourself experiencing rapid weight gain , go through this list and try to identify what the cause may be .
If the issue is related to a health problem or medication , discuss options with your doctor to address it .
If your weight gain is due to environmental or personal factors , use some of the tips provided here to make a change .
You shouldn ’ t require a lifestyle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then larger ones as you become more successful .
You can do this !

When most people experience rapid weight gain, they tend to look at external factors. Maybe someone is injured and unable to exercise as much as they used to, resulting in sudden weight gain. Perhaps they’re going through a rough time and turn to food for comfort, gaining weight fast. Sometimes the causes of weight gain are outside of your control.
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In fact, certain medical issues and prescription medications can cause rapid weight gain. Regardless of the cause, the most important thing is to recognize what is happening, identify the cause, and take control of the situation.
Even if the excess weight gained is the result of a medical condition, it needs to be addressed before the weight causes more health problems (known as comorbidities). Approximately one-third of the entire US population is overweight (with the numbers increasing every year) (1). Without considering pre-existing health problems, excess weight and obesity put you at risk – or at an increased risk – for all of the following (2):
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Heart disease
Bone and joint problems
Osteoarthritis
Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Sleep Apnea
Cancer (certain types)
Metabolic Syndrome
Depression
Kidney Disease
Fatty Liver Disease
Stroke
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypertriglyceridemia
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-11--Mother Cat Brings Her Sick Kitten To The Hospital, Medics Rush To Help Them

Who says that cats aren ’ t as smart as dogs ?
This momma cat from Istanbul , Turkey was seen carrying her own kitten in her mouth inside a hospital .
The cat was definitely a stray and wasn ’ t known to any of the staff in the hospital which meant that it probably didn ’ t even live nearby .
Yet , for some reason , the animal just knew that this was the place for her to bring her sick kitten .
Not only did the momma cat show up at the front door , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking around until it found the emergency room .
Granted , the cat certainly didn ’ t know the difference between the hospital wards but nevertheless , she got to the ER .
Once there , the emergency paramedics from the hospital gathered around the animal , took the sickly kitten from her , and “ admitted ” it for an examination – no insurance needed and no “ out of pocket ” expenses either .
The story was shared on Twitter by Merve Özcan and quickly gained a lot of attention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turkish , however , the pictures themselves are more than heartwarming – from the mother cat sitting her kitten , guarding her until the paramedics got ready to help them to the nurses redirecting her to where she needed to go , it was all done as if she was a human patient .
Turns out that this is basically the norm in Turkey While countries in Eastern Europe are often criticized for their lack of control of cat and dog strays ( i.e .
for not spraying and castrating stray animals ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention .
Because while the huge metropolis also has an abundance of stray animals , they seem to have a special attitude toward them – street cats and dogs all across the city are always well taken care of , there are feeding bowls and stations for such animals on every other corner , and they are almost always given places to sleep in people ’ s basements and backyards .
This tradition is so well established that there are even movies about it such as the film Kedi by Oscilloscope Laboratories .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ question of why aren ’ t people spraying the strays ?
Surely , that ’ s an easier way to fix the problem ?
Well , for the people of Istanbul that ’ s not as clear .
For them , several other factors seem much more compelling : • Stray animals help keep the city clear of any rats and other pests which is quite an essential service considering that the city lies on the Bosphorus strait and is literally located on two continents and two seas at the same time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the rest of Eastern Europe , feel that spraying and castrating animals is a violation of their rights and isn ’ t really humane .
• Tradition – whatever we say about it , most aspects of life in Istanbul are governed by tradition .
What happened to the mother cat and her kitten ?
Unfortunately , the heartwarming story ’ s ending isn ’ t really clear .
From Merve Özcan ’ s photos , we know that the kitten was admitted into the hospital and given a checkup .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patiently waiting outside of the ER , while receiving ample pets and water .
Merve Özcan also said that the paramedics eventually got the kitten to a nearby veterinary clinic for an expert ’ s opinion and took the mother cat with them .
This is where we lose the thread , however , as it ’ s unclear what exactly was wrong with the kitten and whether the vets and paramedics managed to help the little fellow .
Another unclear and possibly heartbreaking question is – what about the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have just a single kitten .
Strays , in particular , typically have 4-7 kittens per litter , twice a year .
This can mean a couple of different things – either 1 ) the entire rest of the litter was already dead from something and this was the mother ’ s last kitten or 2 ) she had to leave the rest of her litter alone for hours while waiting for the one sickly kitten to be “ released ” from the hospital .
Both options aren ’ t very comforting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that everything was all right with the momma cat and her little kitten .
Moreover , it ’ s still fascinating that the loving mother had the ingenuity to not only seek help but go to a hospital ’ s ER .
Leave it to animals to always find a way to astonish us .

Who says that cats aren’t as smart as dogs? This momma cat from Istanbul, Turkey was seen carrying her own kitten in her mouth inside a hospital. The cat was definitely a stray and wasn’t known to any of the staff in the hospital which meant that it probably didn’t even live nearby.
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Yet, for some reason, the animal just knew that this was the place for her to bring her sick kitten. Not only did the momma cat show up at the front door, she boldly went inside the hospital and started looking around until it found the emergency room.
Granted, the cat certainly didn’t know the difference between the hospital wards but nevertheless, she got to the ER. Once there, the emergency paramedics from the hospital gathered around the animal, took the sickly kitten from her, and “admitted” it for an examination – no insurance needed and no “out of pocket” expenses either.
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The story was shared on Twitter by Merve Özcan and quickly gained a lot of attention. Even if we don’t know Turkish, however, the pictures themselves are more than heartwarming – from the mother cat sitting her kitten, guarding her until the paramedics got ready to help them to the nurses redirecting her to where she needed to go, it was all done as if she was a human patient.
Turns out that this is basically the norm in Turkey
While countries in Eastern Europe are often criticized for their lack of control of cat and dog strays (i.e. for not spraying and castrating stray animals), Istanbul may be worth a special mention. Because while the huge metropolis also has an abundance of stray animals, they seem to have a special attitude toward them – street cats and dogs all across the city are always well taken care of, there are feeding bowls and stations for such animals on every other corner, and they are almost always given places to sleep in people’s basements and backyards.
This tradition is so well established that there are even movies about it such as the film Kedi by Oscilloscope Laboratories. Of course, this does bring the question of why aren’t people spraying the strays? Surely, that’s an easier way to fix the problem?
Advertisement
Well, for the people of Istanbul that’s not as clear. For them, several other factors seem much more compelling:
Stray animals help keep the city clear of any rats and other pests which is quite an essential service considering that the city lies on the Bosphorus strait and is literally located on two continents and two seas at the same time.
Many people in Turkey, as in the rest of Eastern Europe, feel that spraying and castrating animals is a violation of their rights and isn’t really humane.
Tradition – whatever we say about it, most aspects of life in Istanbul are governed by tradition.
What happened to the mother cat and her kitten?
Unfortunately, the heartwarming story’s ending isn’t really clear. From Merve Özcan’s photos, we know that the kitten was admitted into the hospital and given a checkup. We also know that the mother cat was patiently waiting outside of the ER, while receiving ample pets and water. Merve Özcan also said that the paramedics eventually got the kitten to a nearby veterinary clinic for an expert’s opinion and took the mother cat with them.
This is where we lose the thread, however, as it’s unclear what exactly was wrong with the kitten and whether the vets and paramedics managed to help the little fellow.
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Another unclear and possibly heartbreaking question is – what about the rest of the cat’s litter? Cats rarely have just a single kitten. Strays, in particular, typically have 4-7 kittens per litter, twice a year. This can mean a couple of different things – either 1) the entire rest of the litter was already dead from something and this was the mother’s last kitten or 2) she had to leave the rest of her litter alone for hours while waiting for the one sickly kitten to be “released” from the hospital. Both options aren’t very comforting.
Whatever the case, we can hope that everything was all right with the momma cat and her little kitten. Moreover, it’s still fascinating that the loving mother had the ingenuity to not only seek help but go to a hospital’s ER. Leave it to animals to always find a way to astonish us.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-12--Stray Dog Keeps Visiting a Hyundai Dealership, They Give Him A Job And His Own Badge

Finding a job is never easy but a dog in Brazil just showed us how sometimes the key is to just be persistent .
Instead of settling for the back of a restaurant or a small alley with some trash cans , this cute pooch chose a Hyundai dealership as his dream home .
And the way he ensured he ’ d get his new home was by going to the dealership every day and be as adorable as possible until they eventually adopt him .
The folks at the dealership didn ’ t just adopt him , however – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hired him to work with them as a sales consultant .
Even though Tucson can ’ t really “ consult ” the dealership ’ s customers , the management there still recognized his talents of predisposing the clients and increasing the likelihood of a successful sale .
So , in addition to giving him a home , a job , and even an ID badge , they even made the lucky doggo his own Instagram account .
The ‘ pawfessional consultant ’ photos that Hyundai Brazil has been posting of Tucson recently quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a publicity stunt ?
It always could be , you never really know .
However , by the looks of it , the dealership just wanted to give the dog refuge at first .
In their own words , it was Tucson ’ s ability to greet the customers , interact with them , and raise their mood , which made the dealership “ offer ” him a promotion .
The showroom ’ s manager Emerson Mariano told Top Motors Brazil that the dog has had a tremendous impact on the whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that to Tucson being more than an ordinary dog and impressing everyone with his “ very caring and docile nature ” .
Tucson Prime ’ s effect on the store and its customers is so significant that Mariano even said many customers were returning to the dealership just to pet and play with Tucson from time to time .
Why did the dog keep going to them ?
It ’ s unclear why Tucson chose that exact building to hide from the rain and seek attention .
Car dealerships tend to be rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attract attention .
Plus , there are always people there and that ’ s likely all the pooch cared about .
The night Mariano decided to take in the dog was particularly rainy , and he felt sorry for the stray .
So he offered him temporary shelter , water , and food .
Later on , Mariano would reach out to the dealership ’ s board and arranged for Tucson to be officially adopted and appointed the duties of the store ’ s mascot and ‘ pawfessional consultant ’ .
“ After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pet friendly , so now , we decided to embrace this idea in practice too , having our own pet precisely at a more complicated time like this with so many abandoned animals , ” the manager said .
Of course , they also took the dog to the vet and made sure that he ’ s as healthy as possible before “ employing ” him into their service .
As for Tucson ’ s professional future – the sky is the limit !
It ’ s expected that he ’ ll also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign too , however , so there might be even more promotions in his near future .

Finding a job is never easy but a dog in Brazil just showed us how sometimes the key is to just be persistent. Instead of settling for the back of a restaurant or a small alley with some trash cans, this cute pooch chose a Hyundai dealership as his dream home. And the way he ensured he’d get his new home was by going to the dealership every day and be as adorable as possible until they eventually adopt him.
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The folks at the dealership didn’t just adopt him, however – they named him Tucson Prime, and hired him to work with them as a sales consultant. Even though Tucson can’t really “consult” the dealership’s customers, the management there still recognized his talents of predisposing the clients and increasing the likelihood of a successful sale.
So, in addition to giving him a home, a job, and even an ID badge, they even made the lucky doggo his own Instagram account. The ‘pawfessional consultant’ photos that Hyundai Brazil has been posting of Tucson recently quickly took over the internet.
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Is it just a publicity stunt?
It always could be, you never really know. However, by the looks of it, the dealership just wanted to give the dog refuge at first. In their own words, it was Tucson’s ability to greet the customers, interact with them, and raise their mood, which made the dealership “offer” him a promotion.
The showroom’s manager Emerson Mariano told Top Motors Brazil that the dog has had a tremendous impact on the whole environment in the dealership. He credits that to Tucson being more than an ordinary dog and impressing everyone with his “very caring and docile nature”. Tucson Prime’s effect on the store and its customers is so significant that Mariano even said many customers were returning to the dealership just to pet and play with Tucson from time to time.
Why did the dog keep going to them?
It’s unclear why Tucson chose that exact building to hide from the rain and seek attention. Car dealerships tend to be rather big and flashy buildings so they do attract attention. Plus, there are always people there and that’s likely all the pooch cared about.
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The night Mariano decided to take in the dog was particularly rainy, and he felt sorry for the stray. So he offered him temporary shelter, water, and food. Later on, Mariano would reach out to the dealership’s board and arranged for Tucson to be officially adopted and appointed the duties of the store’s mascot and ‘pawfessional consultant’.
“After all, the company has always been pet friendly, so now, we decided to embrace this idea in practice too, having our own pet precisely at a more complicated time like this with so many abandoned animals,” the manager said.
Of course, they also took the dog to the vet and made sure that he’s as healthy as possible before “employing” him into their service.
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As for Tucson’s professional future – the sky is the limit! It’s expected that he’ll also star in Hyundai’s national advertisement campaign too, however, so there might be even more promotions in his near future.


dailyhealthpost--2020-08-13--Feed Ducks Frozen Peas, Not Bread, Wildlife Organization Urges

Ducks are something that wildlife organizations around the world have been warning us for years and not decades .
Organizations like the British Canal and River Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB ) have been doing everything they can to educate the public that bread is very harmful to ducks and other wildlife birds found in cities .
Their efforts haven ’ t been in vain , of course , as more and more people are becoming aware of the damage they are doing to bird populations by feeding them bread .
Yet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2015 , in the UK , it was estimated that ~6 million loaves of bread were getting fed to ducks in arks every year .
Similar figures are estimated elsewhere around Europe and one can only imagine what these numbers look like in the U.S .
So , why is bread so harmful to birds like ducks ?
The short answer is that bread is bad for birds for the same reason it ’ s bad for many of us – it ’ s not nutritious enough .
However , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is even worse for birds than it is for us for the following reasons : • It ’ s not their natural food .
Bread can be ok for most humans in small doses but is much worse for ducks and other birds – they just haven ’ t evolved to sustain themselves on a diet of bread .
• It pushes all other foods out of their diets .
While even the biggest junk-food-addicts among us know that we should eat at least something nutritious with our bread , birds don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , it ’ s common for ducks and other birds in parks to switch on a 100 % bread diet and not eat anything else .
Needless to say , this is devastating for their health , longevity , and the long-term future of their species .
• The bread we give birds prevents them from learning how to forage for themselves .
This means that when they don ’ t have access to bread for one reason or another ( say , just for example , a prolonged social isolation among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the birds don ’ t know how to find their own food and often starve to death .
This is why not feeding ducklings with anything is better than giving them bread as they can then learn to forage for themselves while they ’ re still young .
• Bread also attracts pests and predators such as rats , and it leads to the growth of mold and harmful algae that often makes the ducks sick .
• A high-carb bread diet has even been found to cause a wing deformity in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ airplane wing ” .
The deformity is characterized by the end feathers on their wings sticking sideways instead of staying flat against the body .
This condition doesn ’ t just make flying difficult for ducks but makes it outright impossible .
In other words – bread can cripple ducks by denying them the ability to fly .
What are the alternatives ?
So , we shouldn ’ t give bread to ducks , ok – but what are the alternatives ?
Surely it ’ s not ok to just let them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d be better to let ducks re-learn to fend for themselves rather than feed them bread , there are indeed other options .
After all , the ducks appreciate being fed and it ’ s fun for our kids too .
So , organizations like the RSPB and the Canal and River Trust recommend the following foods : • Frozen but raw peas and pea shoots – just let them thaw after you ’ ve got them from the store and give them to the ducks .
You can either throw it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crumbs or put them in a bowl and feed the ducks that way .
• Sweet corn – this great option is perfectly natural for ducks and just as fun to feed them with .
You can use canned , frozen , or fresh corn , whichever you prefer .
• Oats are something that should be given in moderation as they ’ re not highly nutritious for ducks but they ’ re still better than bread .
You can give ducks rolled , steel-cut , or instant oats , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , either cooked or uncooked , should also be given in moderation like the oats , but it ’ s still a substantially better option than bread .
• Bird seeds or seeds of most other kinds from the health food market .
This is a budget-friendly and a perfectly healthy alternative to bread .
• Lettuce or cabbage are other great natural options with kale being a particular favorite to most ducks .
All of these foods are significantly better than bread but , at the end of the day , neither @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – it ’ s important for ducks to also eat according to their natural diets which consist of algae , worms , aquatic plants , small fish and fish eggs , snails , berries , insects , and other foods naturally found in the wilderness .
Or , as a spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust puts it : “ The charity is asking the public to make a few simple changes .
Bread isn ’ t great for a duck ’ s health as it ’ s nothing like their natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feed them with large quantities of it .
“ Try to vary what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like oats , corn , or defrosted frozen peas .
And exercise portion control .
”

Ducks are something that wildlife organizations around the world have been warning us for years and not decades. Organizations like the British Canal and River Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have been doing everything they can to educate the public that bread is very harmful to ducks and other wildlife birds found in cities.
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Their efforts haven’t been in vain, of course, as more and more people are becoming aware of the damage they are doing to bird populations by feeding them bread. Yet, most still remain unaware of the issue. In 2015, in the UK, it was estimated that ~6 million loaves of bread were getting fed to ducks in arks every year. Similar figures are estimated elsewhere around Europe and one can only imagine what these numbers look like in the U.S.
So, why is bread so harmful to birds like ducks?
The short answer is that bread is bad for birds for the same reason it’s bad for many of us – it’s not nutritious enough. However, a more complete answer would be that bread is even worse for birds than it is for us for the following reasons:
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It’s not their natural food. Bread can be ok for most humans in small doses but is much worse for ducks and other birds – they just haven’t evolved to sustain themselves on a diet of bread.
It pushes all other foods out of their diets. While even the biggest junk-food-addicts among us know that we should eat at least something nutritious with our bread, birds don’t have that knowledge and self-awareness. So, it’s common for ducks and other birds in parks to switch on a 100% bread diet and not eat anything else. Needless to say, this is devastating for their health, longevity, and the long-term future of their species.
Needless to say, this is devastating for their health, longevity, and the long-term future of their species. The bread we give birds prevents them from learning how to forage for themselves. This means that when they don’t have access to bread for one reason or another (say, just for example, a prolonged social isolation among people due to a global pandemic), the birds don’t know how to find their own food and often starve to death. This is why not feeding ducklings with anything is better than giving them bread as they can then learn to forage for themselves while they’re still young.
Bread also attracts pests and predators such as rats, and it leads to the growth of mold and harmful algae that often makes the ducks sick.
A high-carb bread diet has even been found to cause a wing deformity in ducks called “angel wing” or “airplane wing”. The deformity is characterized by the end feathers on their wings sticking sideways instead of staying flat against the body. This condition doesn’t just make flying difficult for ducks but makes it outright impossible. In other words – bread can cripple ducks by denying them the ability to fly.
What are the alternatives?
So, we shouldn’t give bread to ducks, ok – but what are the alternatives? Surely it’s not ok to just let them starve either, right? While it’d be better to let ducks re-learn to fend for themselves rather than feed them bread, there are indeed other options. After all, the ducks appreciate being fed and it’s fun for our kids too. So, organizations like the RSPB and the Canal and River Trust recommend the following foods:
Frozen but raw peas and pea shoots – just let them thaw after you’ve got them from the store and give them to the ducks. You can either throw it to them as you would with bread crumbs or put them in a bowl and feed the ducks that way. Sweet corn – this great option is perfectly natural for ducks and just as fun to feed them with. You can use canned, frozen, or fresh corn, whichever you prefer. Oats are something that should be given in moderation as they’re not highly nutritious for ducks but they’re still better than bread. You can give ducks rolled, steel-cut, or instant oats, they’ll love them either way. Rice, either cooked or uncooked, should also be given in moderation like the oats, but it’s still a substantially better option than bread. Bird seeds or seeds of most other kinds from the health food market. This is a budget-friendly and a perfectly healthy alternative to bread. Lettuce or cabbage are other great natural options with kale being a particular favorite to most ducks.
All of these foods are significantly better than bread but, at the end of the day, neither of them should be given in excess – it’s important for ducks to also eat according to their natural diets which consist of algae, worms, aquatic plants, small fish and fish eggs, snails, berries, insects, and other foods naturally found in the wilderness.
Or, as a spokesperson for the Canal and River Trust puts it: “The charity is asking the public to make a few simple changes. Bread isn’t great for a duck’s health as it’s nothing like their natural diet, so don’t over feed them with large quantities of it.
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“Try to vary what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like oats, corn, or defrosted frozen peas. And exercise portion control.”


dailyhealthpost--2020-08-14--Man Sets World Record with 3-Story Tomato Plant that Yields 400 Pounds of Tomatoes

More and more people are looking into switching to a rural lifestyle .
Being more self-sufficient has its benefits .
But even those sticking to the suburbs , can still get a taste of a more self-sufficient lifestyle with a nice veggie garden in their backyard .
And if you ’ ve never tried gardening before , don ’ t worry – below we ’ ve compiled a list of tips from a former gardening world record holder that will help you grow tomatoes as tall as a 3-story building !
Charles Wilbur from Alabama is a certified tomato expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the Guinness Book of World Records with his 28-foot-tall giant tomato plants carrying ~400 pounds of tomatoes each .
He achieved that with no GMOs and no chemical use – just smart gardening .
His record stood until 1999 with the current world record being an amazing 65 feet but Wilbur ’ s dethroning doesn ’ t make him any less of an expert .
In fact , he ’ s the author of the book How to Grow World Record Tomatoes which has a lot of useful insight into his process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely recommending giving the whole book a try but in the meantime , if you ’ re looking for some starter tips , here are the 5 main things Wilbur recommends : A plant ’ s suckers are the little outgrowths that split off of the plant ’ s stem .
They usually start growing between the stem and the leaf .
While they are a natural part of the plant that helps it expand , they ’ re not helpful if you ’ re growing tomatoes under controlled conditions and want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suckers themselves require energy .
“ Suckers , if allowed to grow , become full-fledged stems , which in turn will send off more suckers , forking again and again , ” Wilber says in his book .
“ If these suckers are pinched off , the stem can be trained to grow straight up the cage.
” Wilber recommends pinching the suckers before they ’ ve managed to grow to more than 1.5 inches , preferably even sooner than that .
This does mean that you ’ ll need to inspect your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of gardening .
As for the pinching itself , Wilber says that using your fingers or tweezers is better for the plant than cutting the suckers off with scissors as cuts are harder to heal .
He also mentions that gardeners should be careful not to pinch off the fruit clusters while removing the suckers .
As a crawling plant , tomatoes grow as much as they can for as long as they can .
If you keep good care of them and supply them with adequate water and nutrients ( more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as much as the space around them allows for .
So , prepping some tall cages for your tomatoes to grow onto is a smart idea .
“ The plant can climb to the top of the cage and then spill over and come back down , or a second cage can be set atop the first , ” Wilber says .
As for the cage itself , that part is up to you – it should be as tall as you want your tomatoes to get , and as practical for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does recommend using a soft , 3-ply string to tie the tomatoes to the cage , however , as that makes it easier to pick up the fruits later .
Any gardener knows how harmful weeds can be but they also know that herbicides ain ’ t fun either .
The best alternative to herbicide is ground cover and Wilber recommends using that to protect your tomatoes .
From his experience , using tightly packed bales of hay work very well .
They ’ re not too appealing to the eyes , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perennial plants around the tomatoes to protect them .
Clovers are a good example , Wilber says .
This sounds like a no brainer but it ’ s something a lot of people get wrong .
Wilber recommends using pond water over the treated and chlorinated tap water most people use .
He remarks that just like our health depends on the quality of the water we drink , the same goes for tomatoes and other plants .
If pond water is not an option , installing a nice water filtration system is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watering process itself , Wilber points out that you ’ d want to cover a wide circumference around your plants and not just water directly on them .
That ’ s because tomatoes ’ roots expand horizontally for many feet so you want to water their entire root network evenly .
5 .
Use the right compost Of course , the “ food ” of your plants is just as important as their water .
Wilber uses what he calls a “ super compost ” – a mixture of weeds , grass , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scraps .
He packs the mixture in an air-tight container to preserve its nitrogen – a process called “ anaerobic composting ” which preserves ~90 % of the nitrogen in the compost .
He then keeps the sealed compost in a sunny spot , preferably somewhere it can reach 160 Fo so that any weed seed and diseases in the compost can be killed off .
As for applying the compost , the general principle is “ little but often ” .
Ideally , the compost should make up ~30 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should add new compost and soil to your tomatoes at least once every two weeks or even once every week if possible .

More and more people are looking into switching to a rural lifestyle. Being more self-sufficient has its benefits. But even those sticking to the suburbs, can still get a taste of a more self-sufficient lifestyle with a nice veggie garden in their backyard. And if you’ve never tried gardening before, don’t worry – below we’ve compiled a list of tips from a former gardening world record holder that will help you grow tomatoes as tall as a 3-story building!
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Charles Wilbur from Alabama is a certified tomato expert. Back in 1985, he got into the Guinness Book of World Records with his 28-foot-tall giant tomato plants carrying ~400 pounds of tomatoes each. He achieved that with no GMOs and no chemical use – just smart gardening. His record stood until 1999 with the current world record being an amazing 65 feet but Wilbur’s dethroning doesn’t make him any less of an expert. In fact, he’s the author of the book How to Grow World Record Tomatoes which has a lot of useful insight into his process and gardening techniques.
We’re definitely recommending giving the whole book a try but in the meantime, if you’re looking for some starter tips, here are the 5 main things Wilbur recommends:
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1. Pinch the plant’s suckers off
A plant’s suckers are the little outgrowths that split off of the plant’s stem. They usually start growing between the stem and the leaf. While they are a natural part of the plant that helps it expand, they’re not helpful if you’re growing tomatoes under controlled conditions and want to maximize their height and productiveness because the suckers themselves require energy.
“Suckers, if allowed to grow, become full-fledged stems, which in turn will send off more suckers, forking again and again,” Wilber says in his book. “If these suckers are pinched off, the stem can be trained to grow straight up the cage.”
Wilber recommends pinching the suckers before they’ve managed to grow to more than 1.5 inches, preferably even sooner than that. This does mean that you’ll need to inspect your plants regularly but that’s a part of gardening. As for the pinching itself, Wilber says that using your fingers or tweezers is better for the plant than cutting the suckers off with scissors as cuts are harder to heal. He also mentions that gardeners should be careful not to pinch off the fruit clusters while removing the suckers.
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2. Get some tall cages
As a crawling plant, tomatoes grow as much as they can for as long as they can. If you keep good care of them and supply them with adequate water and nutrients (more on that below) they will grow as much as the space around them allows for. So, prepping some tall cages for your tomatoes to grow onto is a smart idea.
“The plant can climb to the top of the cage and then spill over and come back down, or a second cage can be set atop the first,” Wilber says.
As for the cage itself, that part is up to you – it should be as tall as you want your tomatoes to get, and as practical for your garden and for your preferences. Wilber does recommend using a soft, 3-ply string to tie the tomatoes to the cage, however, as that makes it easier to pick up the fruits later.
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3. Herbicide-free weed protection
Any gardener knows how harmful weeds can be but they also know that herbicides ain’t fun either. The best alternative to herbicide is ground cover and Wilber recommends using that to protect your tomatoes.
From his experience, using tightly packed bales of hay work very well. They’re not too appealing to the eyes, however, so another option is planting non-invasive perennial plants around the tomatoes to protect them. Clovers are a good example, Wilber says.
4. Water is crucial
This sounds like a no brainer but it’s something a lot of people get wrong. Wilber recommends using pond water over the treated and chlorinated tap water most people use. He remarks that just like our health depends on the quality of the water we drink, the same goes for tomatoes and other plants. If pond water is not an option, installing a nice water filtration system is a good idea.
Advertisement
As for the watering process itself, Wilber points out that you’d want to cover a wide circumference around your plants and not just water directly on them. That’s because tomatoes’ roots expand horizontally for many feet so you want to water their entire root network evenly.
5. Use the right compost
Of course, the “food” of your plants is just as important as their water. Wilber uses what he calls a “super compost” – a mixture of weeds, grass, hay, fresh manure, and kitchen scraps. He packs the mixture in an air-tight container to preserve its nitrogen – a process called “anaerobic composting” which preserves ~90% of the nitrogen in the compost. He then keeps the sealed compost in a sunny spot, preferably somewhere it can reach 160 Fo so that any weed seed and diseases in the compost can be killed off.
As for applying the compost, the general principle is “little but often”. Ideally, the compost should make up ~30% of the tomato soil at any given time. You should add new compost and soil to your tomatoes at least once every two weeks or even once every week if possible.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-14--4 Bedtime Drinks That Burn Fat And Help You Sleep Better at Night

There ’ s no arguing that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the US .
A simple walk down any American street reveals that as many as 75 percent of the people are overweight .
That ’ s 2 out of every 3 people !
And what ’ s worse , according to the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) , 33 percent of these people are obese ( 1 ) .
What is not as apparent , however , is that insomnia and other sleep disturbances have also reached epidemic levels .
According to the Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an estimated 50-70 million US adults have sleep or wakefulness disorders ( 2 ) .
That ’ s about 1 in 3 American adults that are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis ( 3 ) .
This , coincidently , is about the same percentage of people who suffer from obesity .
Is this just a coincidence ?
Researchers say no .
According to the CDC , there has been a significant increase in hospital discharges for a number of obesity-related medical conditions .
Discharges for sleep apnea alone have increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just in children .
An estimated 18 million American adults have sleep apnea , a condition often associated with excess weight .
And the reason is simple according to researchers .
As you gain weight , especially in your trunk and neck area , the risk of sleep-disordered breathing increases because of compromised respiratory function , which makes it harder to breathe .
The problem is that obesity not only contributes to sleep problems like sleep apnea , but sleep problems can also contribute to obesity .
It ’ s is vicious cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago have further shown that when you build up a “ sleep debt ” over a matter of days , it can actually impair your metabolism and disrupt your hormone levels ( 4 ) .
This , in turn , affects your ability to process glucose ( sugar ) in your blood , which can eventually lead to diabetes among other serious health issues ( 5 ) .
Another study shows that short sleepers ( people who get less than 6 hours a night ) experience hormonal changes such increased cortisol levels that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impair long-term health .
In fact , these people need to make 30 percent more insulin than normal sleepers according to the study .
Elevated blood sugar levels ultimately lead to insulin overproduction and eventually insulin resistance , which is the starting point of obesity in most cases .
We also know that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol increases visceral fat .
Researchers call this whole phenomenon “ the royal route to obesity.
” ( 6 ) What if there was a simple way to fight both your insomnia and help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleep ?
Well , there is .
These 4 nighttime fat-burning drinks contain a number of natural ingredients that target your metabolism , help you relax and even keep you feeling full so you stop snacking before bed—the number one behavior guaranteed to pack on the pounds .

There’s no arguing that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the US. A simple walk down any American street reveals that as many as 75 percent of the people are overweight. That’s 2 out of every 3 people! And what’s worse, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), 33 percent of these people are obese (1).
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What is not as apparent, however, is that insomnia and other sleep disturbances have also reached epidemic levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 50-70 million US adults have sleep or wakefulness disorders (2). That’s about 1 in 3 American adults that are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis (3). This, coincidently, is about the same percentage of people who suffer from obesity. Is this just a coincidence? Researchers say no.
The Sleep/Weight Connection
According to the CDC, there has been a significant increase in hospital discharges for a number of obesity-related medical conditions. Discharges for sleep apnea alone have increased 436 percent! And that’s just in children.
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An estimated 18 million American adults have sleep apnea, a condition often associated with excess weight. And the reason is simple according to researchers. As you gain weight, especially in your trunk and neck area, the risk of sleep-disordered breathing increases because of compromised respiratory function, which makes it harder to breathe.
It’s A Two-Way-Street
The problem is that obesity not only contributes to sleep problems like sleep apnea, but sleep problems can also contribute to obesity. It’s is vicious cycle. And scientists at the University of Chicago have further shown that when you build up a “sleep debt” over a matter of days, it can actually impair your metabolism and disrupt your hormone levels (4). This, in turn, affects your ability to process glucose (sugar) in your blood, which can eventually lead to diabetes among other serious health issues (5).
Another study shows that short sleepers (people who get less than 6 hours a night) experience hormonal changes such increased cortisol levels that can affect their future body weight and impair long-term health. In fact, these people need to make 30 percent more insulin than normal sleepers according to the study.
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Elevated blood sugar levels ultimately lead to insulin overproduction and eventually insulin resistance, which is the starting point of obesity in most cases. We also know that high levels of the stress hormone cortisol increases visceral fat. Researchers call this whole phenomenon “the royal route to obesity.” (6)
What if there was a simple way to fight both your insomnia and help you lose weight, all while you sleep? Well, there is. These 4 nighttime fat-burning drinks contain a number of natural ingredients that target your metabolism, help you relax and even keep you feeling full so you stop snacking before bed—the number one behavior guaranteed to pack on the pounds.
1. Apple Psyllium Drink
Ingredients:
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1 apple
1 cup cold water
2 tsp pure, 100 percent psyllium husk/powder
¼ tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
Cut up the apple with the skin on and blend it with water until smooth. Pour the mixture into a large cup and stir in the psyllium husk and cinnamon powder. Drink immediately because the psyllium will thicken. Drink another glass of plain water as soon as you finish the apple drink.
How it helps:
Apple—Apple pectin limits the absorption of fat from your guts and makes it easier for your body to break down fats into fatty acids (7). Antioxidants like quercetin in apples can help reduce oxidative damage and associated inflammation (8). A 2003 study also shows that eating three apples daily contributes to weight loss (9).
Psyllium—Psyllium husk is an edible soluble fiber and prebiotic. Once ingested, psyllium expands to form a gel-like mass by drawing water in from your colon. It helps to move waste out of your colon more quickly and efficiently. Apart from the known positive effects on your heart and cholesterol levels, studies also show psyllium improves glucose levels in diabetics (10).
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Cinnamon—this popular spice helps regulate blood sugar levels (11). It also boosts your metabolism and even helps to burn belly fat while reducing your appetite (12)!
NOTE: Psyllium husk can reduce the absorption of some medications and nutrients in foods, so only drink this within 2 hours of taking any medications or meals.
2. Cherry Aloe Vera Drink
Ingredients:
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2-4 oz. tart cherry juice
1 oz. aloe vera juice
cold water
Instructions:
Mix the cherry juice and aloe vera together in an 8 oz. glass Add the cold water Mix well and drink
How it helps:
Tart cherry juice—Studies show that tart cherry juice produces significant reductions in insomnia severity (13). Another study even shows that it can increase melatonin levels, which improves your sleep duration and quality (14).
Aloe vera gel—Aloe leaves secrete a powerful clear gel filled with 75 potentially active constituents, including vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, and amino acids (15). This ancient plant also contains a variety of antioxidants as well as 6 antiseptic agents that inhibit bacteria growth that can cause infections and inflammation (16).
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Aloe vera is a widely used traditional remedy for diabetes. More recent studies confirm it can help regulate blood glucose levels (17). It is also shown to help with weight loss (18).
NOTE: Aloe is a known laxative so be careful how much you drink.
3. Cucumber Lemon Ginger Drink
Ingredients:
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5-10 slices of cucumber with skin (or a full cucumber if you like a thick drink)
1 Tbsp. freshly grated ginger
6 oz. water
1 lemon freshly squeezed
A pinch ofHimalayan pink salt (optional)
Instructions:
Blend cucumber and grated ginger with water until smooth. Stir in the lemon juice and the salt Mix well and drink
How it helps:
Cucumber—this low-calorie vegetable is amazingly high in soluble fiber, which binds with the fatty acids that result when you eat fats. It then helps to remove them, which reduces the total fat intake from your digestive tract. Cucumbers are also a powerful detoxifier for your liver and a natural diuretic, which means they can help your body produce more urine to carry out toxins and wastes.
Like lemons, cucumbers are one of the top alkaline foods and can help balance your body’s pH level and counteract the effects of an acidic diet (19).
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Ginger—while ginger is most widely known for its powerful digestive properties, numerous studies show it is effective for diabetes and glucose regulation (20). It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory and can even help suppress cortisol levels and burn fat according to studies (21, 22).
Lemon juice—Lemons are amazing detoxifiers. They help alkalinize your body, which also helps kill bacteria and viruses, as well as benefit your bone health and reduce muscle wasting, decrease your chances of hypertension and strokes, improve your cardiovascular health, and even improve your memory (23).
Although there are not many studies on lemon’s ability to help weight loss, one animal study does show it can significantly reduce weight gain from a high-fat diet (24).
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4. Warm Milk And Nutmeg Drink
Ingredients:
1 cup full-fat organic cow’s milk or non-dairy milk
1-2 tsp honey
A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (not more than 1/8 of a teaspoon)
Directions:
Heat the milk and then cool until tepid. Mix in the honey and grated nutmeg Drink immediately.
How it helps:
Milk— despite common conventional views that whole milk is fattening, a 2013 review published in the European Journal of Nutrition reports that 11 out of 16 studies prove it is not. In fact, regular consumption of milk may actually help prevent weight gain (25). Milk also contains tryptophan, an amino acid that promotes sleep (26).
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Honey— Honey can promote relaxation and help ease you into a restful sleep. The natural sugar in honey raises your insulin slightly and allows tryptophan to enter your brain more easily, which is why taking a spoonful of honey before bed can help you get a restful sleep (27).
Nutmeg—nutmeg is a popular home remedy for insomnia, especially in warm milk. Nutmeg is rich in magnesium, an essential mineral your body needs to reduce nerve tension. It also stimulates the release of serotonin, which changes to melatonin in your brain to induce sleep.
Studies also show nutmeg actually contains trace elements of narcotics that can help release various neurotransmitters that induce relaxation and sleep. Nutmeg also has a known thermogenic effect that essentially fires up your metabolism to burn extra fat while you sleep (28).
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-15--Black Bear Approaches Hikers, Sniffs Their Hair and Poses for Selfies, Before Calmly Walking Away

We ’ ve all heard that when you encounter a bear in the wilderness you shouldn ’ t run and should instead try to stand completely still .
And , as with most things involving big wild predators , it ’ s easier said than done .
One group of tourists in the Chipinque Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García , Mexico just gave us the perfect demonstration .
A black bear approached the group while they were hiking on the trail and they followed the guidelines and immediately froze on the side of the trail .
The full-grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of them probably hoped but instead got up close and started sniffing them and even touching them with its paws .
The interaction went on for so long that one of the tourists had time to take out a camera and capture this scary moment .
One of the women , who the bear seemed most interested in , even got the perfect opportunity for a selfie with the wild animal .
The woman did lose her cool at times but that ’ s more than understandable , given that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attention .
During most of the interaction , the bear wasn ’ t just near her and sniffing her , it even got up on its hind legs and started pushing against her while sniffing her hair and neck .
The pushing didn ’ t seem aggressive but one can only imagine how it felt .
Several of the woman ’ s companions tried to distract the bear and get it to leave her alone without agitating the wild animal , but its interest was quite strong .
After capturing the selfie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal which is when the bear even tried pulling her back to itself with its clawed paw .
Eventually , the bear did lose interest , however , as the eco park ’ s guidelines suggest .
After sniffing and “ inspecting ” the tourists for a bit , the bear just wandered away , not paying them any more attention .
Former NBA player Rex Chapman shared the video on his page and wrote : “ Oh .
my .
goodness .
She ’ s a rock .
I want this girl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconded his opinion , saying “ We don ’ t see the lead up , but they handle themselves well .
If a black bear is this close to you , it ’ s too late to scare them off unless they ’ re attacking you , then you should fight back , ” Ali wrote .
“ Otherwise , stay calm..don ’ t run .
Don ’ t do that with a grizzly if they attack you…play dead.
” Journalist Clarence Hill Jr. also added that “ It ’ s one thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be poised under pressure .
My God.
” What should you do if you encounter a bear in a similar way ?
Most experts agree that standing perfectly still is one of the best things to do if you get approached by a wild bear .
But is that all you can do ?
Here ’ s a quick breakdown of the standard guidelines for avoiding and safely surviving encounters with bears : • If you can , don ’ t get close to their habitat .
Many places are known habitats of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in San Pedro Garza García , for example , is well-known for being the home of a large population of wild black bears .
• If you do want to visit the habitat of wild bears , never do so alone .
Strength in numbers is a thing – visiting places like the Chipinque Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García can be awesome but you shouldn ’ t do it alone .
• Make some noise .
Most wild bears will avoid large groups of noisy people .
Sneaking quietly through bear-populated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can accidentally stumble upon the animal and surprise it .
And you don ’ t want to be close to a surprised wild bear .
• Pay attention to your surroundings .
Listening to music while walking through an eco-park seems fun but it ’ s definitely ill-advised .
If a bear decides to approach your group the way this black bear in San Pedro did , it ’ s in your best interest to notice the approach as soon as possible .
It ’ s also important to look for any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will act differently depending on whether they ’ re alone , with their cubs , or with their meal .
• Stand still and don ’ t intimidate the animal .
If a black bear is approaching you non-aggressively the way this bear did , make sure you don ’ t look threatening yourself .
Stand still , don ’ t make any abrupt movements , and just wait for the bear to lose interest .
• If a bear approaches you aggressively , you ’ ll have to evaluate the situation carefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tour guide they should have briefed you on what you should do – different bears will act in different ways and the guide will know best what you ’ re dealing with .
Depending on the situation you might have to slowly move away , run , talk in a firm and loud voice to show dominance , or even try pepper spray to dissuade the animal .
Reading the situation and knowing what you ’ re dealing with is key to making the right choice here .
Fortunately , 99 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals are almost never interested in attacking large groups of tourists .
Trails in eco-parks are designed to not get close to the bears ’ dens and tour guides are ( or at least should be ) always well-trained for reading a bear ’ s behavior and acting in the right way .
So , the main thing to always do is to follow your tour guide ’ s instructions and example .

We’ve all heard that when you encounter a bear in the wilderness you shouldn’t run and should instead try to stand completely still. And, as with most things involving big wild predators, it’s easier said than done. One group of tourists in the Chipinque Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García, Mexico just gave us the perfect demonstration.
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A black bear approached the group while they were hiking on the trail and they followed the guidelines and immediately froze on the side of the trail. The full-grown bear didn’t ignore them as most of them probably hoped but instead got up close and started sniffing them and even touching them with its paws.
The interaction went on for so long that one of the tourists had time to take out a camera and capture this scary moment. One of the women, who the bear seemed most interested in, even got the perfect opportunity for a selfie with the wild animal.
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The woman did lose her cool at times but that’s more than understandable, given that she was receiving most of the bear’s attention. During most of the interaction, the bear wasn’t just near her and sniffing her, it even got up on its hind legs and started pushing against her while sniffing her hair and neck. The pushing didn’t seem aggressive but one can only imagine how it felt.
Several of the woman’s companions tried to distract the bear and get it to leave her alone without agitating the wild animal, but its interest was quite strong. After capturing the selfie, the woman tried stepping away from the animal which is when the bear even tried pulling her back to itself with its clawed paw.
Eventually, the bear did lose interest, however, as the eco park’s guidelines suggest. After sniffing and “inspecting” the tourists for a bit, the bear just wandered away, not paying them any more attention.
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Former NBA player Rex Chapman shared the video on his page and wrote: “Oh. my. goodness. She’s a rock. I want this girl in my foxhole…”
Journalist Yashar Ali seconded his opinion, saying “We don’t see the lead up, but they handle themselves well. If a black bear is this close to you, it’s too late to scare them off unless they’re attacking you, then you should fight back,” Ali wrote. “Otherwise, stay calm..don’t run. Don’t do that with a grizzly if they attack you…play dead.”
Journalist Clarence Hill Jr. also added that “It’s one thing to be brave, its another to be poised under pressure. My God.”
Advertisement
What should you do if you encounter a bear in a similar way?
Most experts agree that standing perfectly still is one of the best things to do if you get approached by a wild bear. But is that all you can do? Here’s a quick breakdown of the standard guidelines for avoiding and safely surviving encounters with bears:
If you can, don’t get close to their habitat. Many places are known habitats of wild bears. The Chipinque Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García, for example, is well-known for being the home of a large population of wild black bears. If you do want to visit the habitat of wild bears, never do so alone. Strength in numbers is a thing – visiting places like the Chipinque Ecological Park in San Pedro Garza García can be awesome but you shouldn’t do it alone. Make some noise. Most wild bears will avoid large groups of noisy people. Sneaking quietly through bear-populated areas is the much riskier approach as you can accidentally stumble upon the animal and surprise it. And you don’t want to be close to a surprised wild bear. Pay attention to your surroundings. Listening to music while walking through an eco-park seems fun but it’s definitely ill-advised. If a bear decides to approach your group the way this black bear in San Pedro did, it’s in your best interest to notice the approach as soon as possible. It’s also important to look for any cubs or animal carcasses nearby – bears will act differently depending on whether they’re alone, with their cubs, or with their meal. Stand still and don’t intimidate the animal. If a black bear is approaching you non-aggressively the way this bear did, make sure you don’t look threatening yourself. Stand still, don’t make any abrupt movements, and just wait for the bear to lose interest. If a bear approaches you aggressively, you’ll have to evaluate the situation carefully. If you’re with a tour guide they should have briefed you on what you should do – different bears will act in different ways and the guide will know best what you’re dealing with. Depending on the situation you might have to slowly move away, run, talk in a firm and loud voice to show dominance, or even try pepper spray to dissuade the animal. Reading the situation and knowing what you’re dealing with is key to making the right choice here.
Fortunately, 99% of bear encounters are perfectly harmless as the animals are almost never interested in attacking large groups of tourists. Trails in eco-parks are designed to not get close to the bears’ dens and tour guides are (or at least should be) always well-trained for reading a bear’s behavior and acting in the right way. So, the main thing to always do is to follow your tour guide’s instructions and example.


dailyhealthpost--2020-08-16--Camera Captures Adorable Moment Toddler Sneaks Out of Bed To Sleep With His Dog

Few things are as adorable as the unquestionable love between a child and a pet .
The recent story of Paige Knudtson , her son Finn and their dog Brutus showcased that beautifully .
When Paige Knudston found out she was pregnant with Finn she decided to adopt a loving and caring dog so that her son could have some company growing up .
Paige was well aware of the many benefits pets like dogs offer to young children and she had grown up with boxers herself .
So , the decision was easy to make and the family adopted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was even born .
“ Brutus is just a big teddy bear , ” Knudtson shared .
“ He loves attention and loves to snuggle with people.
” It wasn ’ t all smooth sailing from there , however , as there were complications with Paige ’ s pregnancy .
When she was 20 weeks in , an anomaly scan showed that baby Finn had a heart defect .
This necessitated multiple procedures after the child ’ s birth as well as an open heart surgery later on .
“ We were extremely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his birth , or he would not be here with us today , ” Knudtson said .
It took seven weeks and several more complications after the boy ’ s birth but the family was finally free to go back home .
That ’ s when baby Finn and his adopted brother Brutus finally met .
The connection was instant .
“ Once we got home , it was as if Brutus just knew Finn needed some extra close monitoring , and he has been by his side ever since , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started doing everything together even before Finn could really walk or crawl .
They ’ d play outside together , eat and sleep together , watch TV or play with toys , and more .
“ Brutus often curls up wherever Finn is sitting and follows him from room to room in our house , ” Knudtson said .
“ If Finn is sick , Brutus knows it and just stays right by Finn ’ s side or lays his head on Finn ’ s chest.
” Most of this was initiated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was too small to do much more than just cry at first .
When the two were separated even for a little bit , however , the boxer would immediately start looking for the child , scratching at the door separating them , and whine .
When Finn was still sleeping in his crib , the dog would often have to settle for sleeping next to the crib but , whenever possible , he ’ d cuddle with Finn instead .
And when Finn got big enough to sleep in his own bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finn just started sleeping in his ‘ big boy bed ’ a little over a month ago and that is when Brutus began crawling up and sleeping in Finn ’ s bed every night , ” Knudtson said .
“ It was as if he laid next to him to prevent him from rolling out of bed.
” It isn ’ t just the dog jumping in the child ’ s bed , however – turns out it ’ s often the other way around .
As the dog was already used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ child ’ s crib he ’ d often still just lay in his own dog bed .
It was Finn who quickly stopped being satisfied with sleeping so “ far ” from the pooch .
“ Finn then began climbing out of his bed and sleeping on his floor , so naturally Brutus began sleeping next to him there as well , ” Knudtson said .
The whole situation is so adorable that Paige Knudtson eventually decided to put a nanny cam in the duo ’ s bedroom and capture their nightly escapades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more adorable than we anticipated .
“ Finn sleeps with Brutus all night , every night , ” Knudtson said .
“ Whether it ’ s in the dog bed , Finn ’ s bed or the floor — the two always sleep together.
” Hopefully , Finn will continue growing as healthy as possible and enjoy Brutus ’ faithful and loving company for as long as possible .

Few things are as adorable as the unquestionable love between a child and a pet. The recent story of Paige Knudtson, her son Finn and their dog Brutus showcased that beautifully.
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When Paige Knudston found out she was pregnant with Finn she decided to adopt a loving and caring dog so that her son could have some company growing up. Paige was well aware of the many benefits pets like dogs offer to young children and she had grown up with boxers herself. So, the decision was easy to make and the family adopted the 2-year-old boxer Brutus before the baby was even born.
“Brutus is just a big teddy bear,” Knudtson shared. “He loves attention and loves to snuggle with people.”
Advertisement
It wasn’t all smooth sailing from there, however, as there were complications with Paige’s pregnancy. When she was 20 weeks in, an anomaly scan showed that baby Finn had a heart defect. This necessitated multiple procedures after the child’s birth as well as an open heart surgery later on.
“We were extremely lucky to have found this out prior to his birth, or he would not be here with us today,” Knudtson said.
It took seven weeks and several more complications after the boy’s birth but the family was finally free to go back home. That’s when baby Finn and his adopted brother Brutus finally met. The connection was instant.
Advertisement
“Once we got home, it was as if Brutus just knew Finn needed some extra close monitoring, and he has been by his side ever since,” Knudtson said.
The two of them started doing everything together even before Finn could really walk or crawl. They’d play outside together, eat and sleep together, watch TV or play with toys, and more.
“Brutus often curls up wherever Finn is sitting and follows him from room to room in our house,” Knudtson said. “If Finn is sick, Brutus knows it and just stays right by Finn’s side or lays his head on Finn’s chest.”
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Most of this was initiated by Brutus, of course, as Finn was too small to do much more than just cry at first. When the two were separated even for a little bit, however, the boxer would immediately start looking for the child, scratching at the door separating them, and whine. When Finn was still sleeping in his crib, the dog would often have to settle for sleeping next to the crib but, whenever possible, he’d cuddle with Finn instead. And when Finn got big enough to sleep in his own bed – things got even funnier.
“Finn just started sleeping in his ‘big boy bed’ a little over a month ago and that is when Brutus began crawling up and sleeping in Finn’s bed every night,” Knudtson said. “It was as if he laid next to him to prevent him from rolling out of bed.”
It isn’t just the dog jumping in the child’s bed, however – turns out it’s often the other way around. As the dog was already used to sleeping on the floor next to the child’s crib he’d often still just lay in his own dog bed. It was Finn who quickly stopped being satisfied with sleeping so “far” from the pooch.
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“Finn then began climbing out of his bed and sleeping on his floor, so naturally Brutus began sleeping next to him there as well,” Knudtson said.
The whole situation is so adorable that Paige Knudtson eventually decided to put a nanny cam in the duo’s bedroom and capture their nightly escapades. The video the cam captured was even more adorable than we anticipated.
“Finn sleeps with Brutus all night, every night,” Knudtson said. “Whether it’s in the dog bed, Finn’s bed or the floor — the two always sleep together.”
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Hopefully, Finn will continue growing as healthy as possible and enjoy Brutus’ faithful and loving company for as long as possible.
Adorable moment toddler sleeps next to 'best friend' boxer dog
Watch this video on YouTube


dailyhealthpost--2020-08-17--How to Build The Perfect Chicken Coop – Guidelines Plus Some Fantastic Examples

Have you ever considered breeding chickens in your backyard ?
It sounds like a weird question at first but with Covid-19 bringing the subject of food self-sufficiency “ to the table ” for many people in the west , it might be a question you want to ask yourself .
We talked about easily growing tomatoes in a garden so why not cover chicken coops as well ?
Of all farming animals , chickens are arguably the easiest to take care of and can bring a lot of benefits to your household .
A basic chicken coop in your backyard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for breakfast , the occasional antibiotic-free large chicken for dinner , and a nice commodity to trade with your neighbors with – what ’ s not to like ?
Plus , it can be a nice hobby to tackle , especially if you have kids and you want to teach them things like helping with chores , taking care of living beings , discipline , and more .
Still , the main thing stopping many people – other than the whole thing sounding “ too rural ” for most suburban Americans – is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too complicated at first .
So , here we ’ ll list the main guidelines for an easy and adequate basic chicken coop , and we ’ ll share also some not-so-basic examples as well .
In essence , a chicken coop can be any structure with chicken beds in it and with an enclosed outdoor yard space connected to it .
In practice , however , a good chicken coop must adhere to at least some basic guidelines for the chickens to be well taken care of .
Even if you don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ royal treatment ” , a healthy and optimized growth for egg-laying will require certain conditions to be met .
So , how to build a chicken coop ?
We won ’ t go through a step-by-step process for two main reasons .
One , the internet is already chock-full of amazing plans for backyard chicken coops and two – there ’ s no one way to go about it .
If you want something easy and basic , you can make an effective chicken coop shed plus an enclosed yard in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can spend several weeks building something extra special .
Instead , here are the main guidelines to keep in mind when you ’ re building your chicken coop – however you choose to go about it , these are the main things that must always be adhered to .
• A chicken coop must always include two things – an enclosed space where the chickens would sleep , rest , and lay eggs , and a fenced yard , also called an “ open air chicken run ” where they can enjoy some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ components must be big enough and secure enough .
• The minimal parameters are 2-3 square feet per chicken for the enclosed space and 4-5 square feet per chicken for the “ chicken run ” .
This is crucial if the chickens are to live a comfortable , healthy , and near-optimal life .
Ideally , you ’ ll err on the upper side of these parameters or even above it .
• Temperature optimization is also important .
If you live in the south you ’ ll want to position the chicken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coop and the chickens in it don ’ t overheat during the day .
If you live in the north , positioning it in a sunnier spot in your home can be a better idea .
You can use shade cloth if there ’ s no natural shade in your yard .
• The enclosed chicken “ house ” must be elevated at least two feet above the ground .
This will allow their droppings to drop through the floor on the ground and be easy to collect .
• Use a natural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chicken coop ’ s frame .
Avoid chemically-treated lumber as the chemicals often include stuff like heavy metals and arsenic which can be harmful to the chickens .
• For the chicken run , you can use a simple wire mesh .
It must be sturdy enough to not only prevent the chickens from escaping but to prevent predators from breaking in either .
Both foxes and cats can be very persistent when they want to get inside a chicken coop so it ’ s also a good idea to dig the wire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground too .
• The interior of the chicken coop shed must have a thick layer of straw over the ground to absorb the chicken droppings and the moisture from the occasional rain .
The interior should also include nesting boxes for the chickens , a roosting bar for them to stand on , a feeder and a watering device , and some incandescent lights .
• The exterior of the shed must be covered with any waterproof material .
You should also put some raccoon-proof latches on the outside that can open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eggs from the outside .
The main door of the coop should also be sturdy and secure and should have a comfortable ramp that connects the chicken coop shed to the chicken run .
And those are the basics .
Of course , professional and expert chicken farmers will likely share even more useful tips but this is a good starting point for any beginner .
And , if you want a bit of inspiration for how extra special a chicken coop can be with enough effort , take a look at this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Poultry ) chicken coops .
As you can see , some of these and are indeed extra elaborate and time-consuming but others are actually fairly simple as they use already-made structures such as vehicles .

Have you ever considered breeding chickens in your backyard? It sounds like a weird question at first but with Covid-19 bringing the subject of food self-sufficiency “to the table” for many people in the west, it might be a question you want to ask yourself.
Advertisement
We talked about easily growing tomatoes in a garden so why not cover chicken coops as well? Of all farming animals, chickens are arguably the easiest to take care of and can bring a lot of benefits to your household.
A basic chicken coop in your backyard can guarantee you fresh, healthy eggs for breakfast, the occasional antibiotic-free large chicken for dinner, and a nice commodity to trade with your neighbors with – what’s not to like? Plus, it can be a nice hobby to tackle, especially if you have kids and you want to teach them things like helping with chores, taking care of living beings, discipline, and more.
Advertisement
Still, the main thing stopping many people – other than the whole thing sounding “too rural” for most suburban Americans – is that building a chicken coop can seem too complicated at first. So, here we’ll list the main guidelines for an easy and adequate basic chicken coop, and we’ll share also some not-so-basic examples as well.
Guidelines for building a good chicken coop
In essence, a chicken coop can be any structure with chicken beds in it and with an enclosed outdoor yard space connected to it. In practice, however, a good chicken coop must adhere to at least some basic guidelines for the chickens to be well taken care of.
Even if you don’t care about giving your chickens a “royal treatment”, a healthy and optimized growth for egg-laying will require certain conditions to be met.
Advertisement
So, how to build a chicken coop? We won’t go through a step-by-step process for two main reasons. One, the internet is already chock-full of amazing plans for backyard chicken coops and two – there’s no one way to go about it. If you want something easy and basic, you can make an effective chicken coop shed plus an enclosed yard in just one weekend. Or, you can spend several weeks building something extra special.
Instead, here are the main guidelines to keep in mind when you’re building your chicken coop – however you choose to go about it, these are the main things that must always be adhered to.
A chicken coop must always include two things – an enclosed space where the chickens would sleep, rest, and lay eggs, and a fenced yard, also called an “open air chicken run” where they can enjoy some outdoor time throughout the day. Both components must be big enough and secure enough.
The minimal parameters are 2-3 square feet per chicken for the enclosed space and 4-5 square feet per chicken for the “chicken run”. This is crucial if the chickens are to live a comfortable, healthy, and near-optimal life. Ideally, you’ll err on the upper side of these parameters or even above it.
Temperature optimization is also important. If you live in the south you’ll want to position the chicken coop in the shade so that the coop and the chickens in it don’t overheat during the day. If you live in the north, positioning it in a sunnier spot in your home can be a better idea. You can use shade cloth if there’s no natural shade in your yard.
The enclosed chicken “house” must be elevated at least two feet above the ground. This will allow their droppings to drop through the floor on the ground and be easy to collect.
Use a natural rot-resistant wood like cedar redwood for the chicken coop’s frame. Avoid chemically-treated lumber as the chemicals often include stuff like heavy metals and arsenic which can be harmful to the chickens.
For the chicken run, you can use a simple wire mesh. It must be sturdy enough to not only prevent the chickens from escaping but to prevent predators from breaking in either. Both foxes and cats can be very persistent when they want to get inside a chicken coop so it’s also a good idea to dig the wire mesh at least a foot into the ground too.
The interior of the chicken coop shed must have a thick layer of straw over the ground to absorb the chicken droppings and the moisture from the occasional rain. The interior should also include nesting boxes for the chickens, a roosting bar for them to stand on, a feeder and a watering device, and some incandescent lights.
The exterior of the shed must be covered with any waterproof material. You should also put some raccoon-proof latches on the outside that can open and allow you to easily collect the eggs from the outside. The main door of the coop should also be sturdy and secure and should have a comfortable ramp that connects the chicken coop shed to the chicken run.
And those are the basics. Of course, professional and expert chicken farmers will likely share even more useful tips but this is a good starting point for any beginner.
Advertisement
And, if you want a bit of inspiration for how extra special a chicken coop can be with enough effort, take a look at this nice collection of VIP (Very Important Poultry) chicken coops.
As you can see, some of these and are indeed extra elaborate and time-consuming but others are actually fairly simple as they use already-made structures such as vehicles.
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dailyhealthpost--2020-08-18--Leaf Sheep – The Sea Slugs That Can Photosynthesize

We ’ ve all heard of the “ sun diet ” at one point or another .
Also called “ Breatharian-ism ” or “ Pranic Nourishment , ” the idea behind this ridiculous diet is to survive without food or water by solely relying on “ prana ” or our vital force and sunlight .
Naturally , it goes without saying that this concept is 100 % scientifically incorrect and even dangerous .
While humans can ’ t just live off sunlight , a fascinating and lesser-known species of sea slugs called Costasiella kuroshimae or “ leaf sheep ” can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these sea slugs are capable of not only absorbing sunlight and getting vitamin D from it but can actually sustain themselves with sunlight .
How is that possible ?
If the leaf sheep are really slugs , don ’ t they eat plants ?
Well , they cheat , of course !
If your first instinct was that it ’ s impossible for a slug to photosynthesize and that ’ s something only plants can do , you ’ re correct .
However , the leaf sheep has found a way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” by utilizing a process called “ kleptoplasty ” .
Kleptoplasty is a unique behavior or process which includes taking “ chloroplasts ” from food sources and incorporating them into your own cells and organisms directly rather than digesting them .
And what are chloroplasts ?
Well , that ’ s easy : Chloroplasts are the organelles used by plants and algae to conduct photosynthesis by using chlorophyll .
And , for the final piece of the puzzle – what do the leaf sheep sea slugs eat ?
Algae , of course !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • The leaf sheep sea slugs eat algae every once in a while just like many other sea creatures .
• Instead of digesting all the algae , these sea slugs use kleptoplasty to incorporate the algae chloroplasts into their own leaf-like outer flesh appendages , also known as cerata .
• Using the “ stolen ” algae chloroplasts , the leaf sheep can effectively photosynthesize for a period of several weeks to several months , removing any need for eating anything else during that period .
• Once the algae chloroplasts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after several months seeing how they ’ re not technically “ natural ” to the slugs , the leaf sheep simply eats some more algae and the whole process restarts itself .
If you ’ re wondering whether it ’ s boring to just stand and photosynthesize for most of your day , then yes – that does sound boring .
However , the leaf sheep keeps busy too as they need to eat algae from time to time to keep their supply of chloroplasts up .
If you want to see them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out this YouTube clip .
Looking at the Costasiella kuroshimae their “ leaf sheep ” nickname becomes very understandable – with their “ faces ” comprising of just two black eyes , a flat mouth , and two cute “ horns ” , they do look like a sheep-like caricature .
And literally every other part of them looks like a leaf .
Can we see the leaf sheep in person ?
These tiny sea slugs are hard to spot underwater but what makes them even harder to find for most people is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the waters around Japan .
If you don ’ t have the time or means to make it to the land of the rising sun , another option you can explore is the U.S. east coast where the Eastern Emerald Elysia sea slugs live .
This species of sea slugs aren ’ t nearly as cute as the leaf sheep ( which is why they didn ’ t go viral ) but the Eastern Emerald Elysia utilize the exact same process – they eat algae , they “ kleptoplast ” its chloroplasts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photosynthesize sunlight for a while .

We’ve all heard of the “sun diet” at one point or another. Also called “Breatharian-ism” or “Pranic Nourishment,” the idea behind this ridiculous diet is to survive without food or water by solely relying on “prana” or our vital force and sunlight. Naturally, it goes without saying that this concept is 100% scientifically incorrect and even dangerous. While humans can’t just live off sunlight, a fascinating and lesser-known species of sea slugs called Costasiella kuroshimae or “leaf sheep” can.
Advertisement
Just like most plants and algae, these sea slugs are capable of not only absorbing sunlight and getting vitamin D from it but can actually sustain themselves with sunlight.
How is that possible?
If the leaf sheep are really slugs, don’t they eat plants? Well, they cheat, of course! If your first instinct was that it’s impossible for a slug to photosynthesize and that’s something only plants can do, you’re correct. However, the leaf sheep has found a way to cheat the system we call “life” by utilizing a process called “kleptoplasty”.
Advertisement
Kleptoplasty is a unique behavior or process which includes taking “chloroplasts” from food sources and incorporating them into your own cells and organisms directly rather than digesting them. And what are chloroplasts? Well, that’s easy:
Chloroplasts are the organelles used by plants and algae to conduct photosynthesis by using chlorophyll. And, for the final piece of the puzzle – what do the leaf sheep sea slugs eat? Algae, of course!
So, the whole process becomes clear:
Advertisement
The leaf sheep sea slugs eat algae every once in a while just like many other sea creatures. Instead of digesting all the algae, these sea slugs use kleptoplasty to incorporate the algae chloroplasts into their own leaf-like outer flesh appendages, also known as cerata. Using the “stolen” algae chloroplasts, the leaf sheep can effectively photosynthesize for a period of several weeks to several months, removing any need for eating anything else during that period. Once the algae chloroplasts have become unusable, which they do after several months seeing how they’re not technically “natural” to the slugs, the leaf sheep simply eats some more algae and the whole process restarts itself.
The leaf sheep in action
If you’re wondering whether it’s boring to just stand and photosynthesize for most of your day, then yes – that does sound boring. However, the leaf sheep keeps busy too as they need to eat algae from time to time to keep their supply of chloroplasts up. If you want to see them walking about looking for algae, check out this YouTube clip.
Looking at the Costasiella kuroshimae their “leaf sheep” nickname becomes very understandable – with their “faces” comprising of just two black eyes, a flat mouth, and two cute “horns”, they do look like a sheep-like caricature. And literally every other part of them looks like a leaf.
Can we see the leaf sheep in person?
These tiny sea slugs are hard to spot underwater but what makes them even harder to find for most people is that they’re only found in the waters around Japan. If you don’t have the time or means to make it to the land of the rising sun, another option you can explore is the U.S. east coast where the Eastern Emerald Elysia sea slugs live.
Advertisement
This species of sea slugs aren’t nearly as cute as the leaf sheep (which is why they didn’t go viral) but the Eastern Emerald Elysia utilize the exact same process – they eat algae, they “kleptoplast” its chloroplasts, and they then use those chloroplasts to photosynthesize sunlight for a while.
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