Herbal Medicines

Anela here: Well, my Humans took yet another vacation and left me HOME ALONE! Of course, they made sure the cat-sitter came in every day and took care of my needs, but it simply wasn't the same without them to boss around.

They finally came home, and I complained and complained LOUDLY to express my dismay at being left alone without their services. I wouldn't shut up until I gave it to them good---at least three days of continuous yapping at them. That felt really good!

My Number Two Cat Slave told me they had met many nice cats in Ecuador when they visited there, and she even had the nerve to post a photo of one (above) on my cat page. Imagine! She thinks this cat looks like it's smiling, but I know better. I could caption that expression very well!

Next week my Cat Slave promises to post more photos of me, and she apologizes to all of you for her absence and lack of Cat On Tuesday posts.

You know the drill. You slept late, your son misplaced his lunchbox, the cat threw up in the flowers. You’re already 10 minutes late for work and there’s nary a minute to scarf down a breakfast, let alone one that a caveman would approve of!

Enter the protein bar – it’s individually packaged, it’s relatively affordable, and you can easily eat it in the car while you’re doing your hair in the rear view mirror and practicing your presentation for later this afternoon – in essence, it’s the ultimate grab-and-go food.

However, there is a downside. In many cases, these protein bars contain ingredients and chemicals that very few people – bar the odd organic chemist or real nutrition expert – can pronounce and still fewer would actually want to ingest.

The solution? It’s time to put your chef hat on, because the only way you’re going to find an energy bar that is Primal and palatable is if you do a little D.I.Y… (and trust us, it’s really not that hard!).

Ingredients:

1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup pecans
1/4 cup sesame seed meal
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup almond butter
1/4 cup coconut oil (check your local health food store)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp of raw honey
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Method:

1. On a cookie sheet, toast nuts and shredded coconut until golden brown (you may need to shake the tray once or twice to make sure they cook evenly).
2. Once toasted, pour mixture into a food processor and pulse until nuts are chopped and the mixture becomes coarsely ground.
3. In a mixing bowl, melt coconut oil and almond butter (about 20 seconds). Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
4. Add vanilla extract, honey and sea salt. Mix thoroughly.
5. Fold in nut mixture until mixed thoroughly.
6. Fold in blueberries/cranberries (be careful, the blueberries especially are prone to
7. Press mixture into an 8 by 4 loaf pan.
8. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until firm.
9. Cut “loaf” width wise. Should make 6 good-sized bars.
10. Enjoy! (or, if you don’t plan to eat immediately, you can store the bars in the refrigerator, covered loosely with a paper towel and plastic wrap.

manray3 Flickr Photo (CC)

Further Reading:

How to Make Your Own Jerky

DIY - Butter, Yogurt, Kefir, Oh My!

Homemade Condiment Creations

Choose Your Own Salad Adventure

The Easiest Guide to Safe Household Cleaners You Can Make Yourself

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You may have heard that you can use natural herbal remedies to cure ailments but have no idea where to start. After all, there are thousands of herbs available; not to mention herbs from the east such as Chinese medicinal herbs and ...

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Make sure that you always have adequate lighting when you read. Over time you can really hurt your eyes and strain them without the proper lighting when you are reading. Children are known to read in bed after they are suppose to be asleep. If your child likes to read give them [...]

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Dear Mark,

Do the benefits of tea outweigh its negatives (caffeine, teeth staining, etc.)? Is tea a worthy substitute to a glass of water? If so, how many times a week should one drink tea?

Given our big fall theme the last week or so, I thought this was an especially timely question. The truth is it’s nice to kick back at night with something warm (even in California) once Autumn hits. Call it nostalgia if you will.

The Primal Blueprint is all about loading up on antioxidants. Though I wouldn’t ever suggest that tea should (or could) stand in for veggies and certain fruits like berries, I believe in using other sources to boost my overall antioxidant intake. Wise supplementation is obviously a part of this, as is tea and red wine among other things.

It’s true that tea does carry a few negative factors as our reader mentions. One quick point: since black tea is the worst culprit for teeth staining, you can always go for another variety like white tea. As far as the caffeine goes, I think this is more of a reason to pause. Caffeine, as we mentioned in our Caffeine Talk post, can decrease blood flow to the heart during exercise and can increase blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, if you’re more caffeine sensitive, it can cause heartburn and even increase your risk for non-fatal cardiac events.

I don’t mention these points to be a killjoy - especially for you tea lovers out there. I use tea myself and recommend it as a great addition to a good Primal diet. The fact is tea has only 1/4-1/2 of the typical content of brewed coffee. Besides, even if you don’t want the caffeine, there are other “tea” related possibilities. (I’ll get to that in just a minute.)

But now to the upsides, and there are many. Tea offers anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative properties, which relate to any number of minor and major health issues. The overall picture of research seems to suggest that tea can offer protective factors against cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, arthritis, and (less definitively) many cancers. There’s even some indication that tea intake can lower the body’s absorption of carbohydrates and that tea can play a positive role in the body’s response to bacterial infection.

How much do you need to make a difference? I’d argue that any increase in antioxidant power in your diet is a positive thing. It’s not an all or nothing proposition. In terms of protective factors for diseases (as seen in particular studies), the amounts vary. In a Swedish study showing tea’s protective impact against ovarian cancer, 1 cup a day (black tea) lowered the women’s risk by some 24%. Two cups a day decreased risk by 60%. (It’s important to note that these kinds of dramatic results were not replicated in other prominent studies.) Some research related to tea’s allegedly protective effect in cardiovascular health cites 3 cups a day. Quite a few studies cite 2-3 cups as making the most significant difference but note that 1 cup a day often shows measurable impact.

A few words about choosing teas…

All true “teas” are from the same plant. (Herbal teas aren’t really tea. While they may offer certain particular, often marginal “medicinal” benefit, they generally don’t contain the same antioxidant load of tea.) The differences in black, green, and white tea (the true tea varieties) are a product of processing rather than source. The less processed the leaves are, the more of their polyphenols are retained. White is the least processed of the three main varieties, and black is the most processed. Green and something called oolong (between green and black essentially) are in the middle. Incidentally, not only does white tea retain the most polyphenols, it also has the least caffeine. Nonetheless, if you grew up on black tea and can’t get yourself to drink anything else (and you’re not caffeine sensitive), don’t sweat it. Tea as a whole offers solid antioxidant value whichever variety you choose.

As for “red tea” or Rooibus (not really a tea, but we’ll grant it admittance here), it hasn’t been studied as much as the true teas. Nonetheless, it does seem to display antioxidant properties. If you prefer it to tea, I say go for it especially because it doesn’t have any caffeine.

And let me address the inevitable question about bags versus loose. The trouble with bagged tea isn’t necessarily the bag itself. (Although a lot of people argue that the bag design doesn’t allow the tea to steep properly.) Bagged tea is generally the “dregs” of tea separation and processing. (And usually old, to boot.) Though the powdery remains will offer some antioxidant benefit, it won’t be nearly that of fresh, loose tea. To use loose tea, you’ll likely want to invest in either a press or some kind of an infuser. Alternatively, if you’d rather give up tea than give up the convenience of the bag, look for tea leaves in individual “sachets.” (They’re more common now just about everywhere.)

Yes, you’ll likely pay more for loose, fresh tea than for the jumbo box of Lipton at Costco. I always say it’s about nutritional bang for your buck, and that mantra holds here as well. HOWEVER! (Worth the capitalization.) This doesn’t mean you have to go to a fancy specialty shop and break the bank. Though the service and variety in these places are excellent, I’m sure, the important thing you’re looking for is freshness. (As with anything else in the nutritional realm, freshness equals optimum antioxidant value.) Most specialty shops will likely offer that, but I’d argue that a good ethnic market likely provides the same fresh product for a fraction of the cost. If you live in an area that doesn’t offer this type of market, consider going online for fresh tea rather than using the typical grocery store fare. (There’s no telling how old it is.) Good readers -we’d love to read your suggestions for Internet/mail order sources! I’ve heard good things about Upton Tea Imports and Adagio Teas, but I’m sure there are many good online purveyors out there. 

Finally, the one “tea” I’d forgo (and forget) is chai. I mean specifically the doctored up chai tea drinks you see in the West at coffee houses. They’re loaded with sweeteners - some hovering at or above 40 grams of sugar per serving! My advice: stick to the simple thing. (How often that’s true in life and nutrition, eh?)

Thanks again for your questions and comments, and keep ‘em coming!

mat.teo, naama, slambo_42, avlxyz, Allie’s.Dad Flickr Photos (CC)

Further Reading:

Tea Time

How to Eat More Chocolate and Drink More Wine Every Day

Is All Chocolate Created Equal?

Top 10 Natural Ways to Reduce Inflammation

The Entire “Dear Mark” Series

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I’m addicted to personal development. One of my strongest core principles is that I will continue growing each and every consecutive day. This doesn’t mean I want to get wider and fatter, it means I’m committed to exploring the truth about myself and the world, fortifying my ethical and moral outlook, and taking to the next level my ability to be a productive, healthy, and loving human-being.

A long time ago I decided that in order to maximize the quality of my life I needed to have a balance in all the pillars of my life. When I say pillars, imagine the Parthenon, the tremendous Greek structure that has pillars (columns) holding up the roof of the structure. The pillars holding up the structure of my life are my health, family (and girlfriend), education (and growth), finances, and friends.

When completing my end of the year review of my life I noticed that I was neglecting certain areas of my life. The areas in review were physical, mental, work/career/finances, relationship, family, emotional, spiritual, social, personal development, and fun. I was excelling in certain areas, mediocre in certain others, and than I noticed one that wasn’t even on the radar.

I was completing ignoring spiritual growth, and thus putting the Parthenon of my life in danger. In a tremendously-heavy structure if a pillar is down, the whole structure is shaky. Obviously I didn’t want to be living a shaky life, and thus made a resolve to fortify the foundation by getting my spirituality goals way above my comfort level.

Judaism

I was born Jewish, but other than a couple of holidays here and there I had no real understanding of what that meant. It completely escaped me whether Judaism was a cultural, national, or religious phenomenon. I sneered at the idea of keeping up with Jewish tradition because it seemed unreasonable, prehistoric, and unpractical for me.

After reading hundreds of books and articles on personal development I began to get a better appreciation for optimal ways to live my life. Upon taking a deeper look at Judaism at the beginning of this year I was shocked to find that almost every commandment in Judaism had the underlying precursor of being a personal development concept. Each rule, no matter how hard it seemed, was designed to make someone a better person in a very practical way. It just took me learning personal development in order to appreciate and see personal development in this religion.

Did I mention I’m a personal development addict? I was hooked. I began exploring, learning, and characterizing things as ‘practical personal development‘ or ‘currently ambiguous and requires faith.’

RAJE- The Israel Trip

From the beginning of this year several of my friends and I enrolled in a Jewish learning program. It consisted of 10 Sunday learning sessions, followed by a 2 week trip to Israel. By the time Israel was coming to an end I had learned a lot, and was very open minded about learning more.

I realized that the Jewish people are absolutely crazy about networking, and the community is very strong amongst Jews of all religious backgrounds. I’m talking about support for total strangers as if they were family, on the spot dinner invitations when you meet someone, help with careers, or friendly advice about life.

At the end of the trip I was primed and pumped for more. The group leader in Israel noticed that my curiosity far surpassed anyone in the group and offered me an exclusive invitation to one of Israel’s most prominent Yeshivas. The promise was that this school would not only offer me an education, but that the alumni were all super successful professionals including some of the richest people on the planet.

Let’s get that straight:

• First class education in something I believed to be the ultimate form of personal development
• Networking opportunities with some of the most financially successful people on earth.

Sign me up.

Getting In

Earlier in the year I was told about a very cool learning program at a camp grounds in upstate New York. It now occurred to me that the headmaster of the Yeshiva that I was told about runs this upstate NY program, and that I should go see him in order to gain admittance to the Yeshiva. I went.

I’m pretty sociable when I need to be (okay, I love networking), and being the perfect candidate for the school by blood I quickly befriended the headmaster and obtained his approval to start at the school. Since the whole school only accepted 25 people per year (including first and second years), I must have gotten pretty lucky in order to get this spot.

During the 2 week learning session in NY I already noticed that some of the classes weren’t for me. It didn’t strike me as a red flag because I figured I’d deal with it, or learn to appreciate it as time went by.

I had applied for a very exclusive scholarship, and since I had known one of the members on the board of trustees I thought it would be an absolute certainty that I would obtain the scholarship. It would cover flight, school payments, and throw in $5000 spending money.

After finishing my masters in May I had run into some debt (you don’t have to tell me that’s a bad idea — I got it!). I had a plan to work for a year while applying to Dental school for next year, and it would have perfectly taken care of my debt. With the dreams of getting this scholarship, I would be able to pay off my debt, and spend the year learning and growing.

Israel 9 months, errr 2 weeks

When I set my sights on something I get it. I became determined to let nothing stand in the way of me getting to Israel. This meant going against by parents wishes and creating a huge ‘fight’, it meant not seeing my amazing girlfriend for 9 months, and certain other issues such as being a hassle to travel to dental school interviews in the states.

Then I got denied for the scholarship. Supposedly all the scholarships had already been given away. Now I was broke, yet determined more than ever to make it to Israel and continue on my spiritual journey. I even went as far as asking readers for donations in order to buy plane tickets to Israel (thanks guys, I sincerely appreciate it). I planned to figure out the rest of the expenses when I got there.

Upon arriving I realized it wasn’t as glamorous as I had expected. The decision to come had dawned on me, and I felt really out of place. It was a 3 story building. You sleep on the third floor, study/pray on the second, and eat on the first. Not much else going on, so there was not much leaving. The only internet access (and we all know I need me some internet access) was in a laundry room on a tiny table, that was meant to service everyone in the building. At one point there was wifi that I could access from my room (which I shared with 2 other people), but than the second year students decided they wouldn’t share it anymore, and turned it off. The food was awesome, but all other conditions sucked.

The conditions really didn’t have too much to do with me feeling out of place. I lost the big picture of wanting to become more religious, and it dawned to me that I was very happy back in my life in the US. My life was full of growth and joy. This made every moment of being there miserable.

At first I attended all the prayer services (3 a day) and classes (about 7 per day), but quickly grew bored of most of them. I didn’t like praying so much, I didn’t like learning about prayer, I didn’t like learning about Jewish ancient and impractical Jewish laws and customs. I liked the headmasters class, I liked the twice a week self-improvement class, and I liked learning Hebrew.

I stopped attending most of the classes, and realized that it was not worth staying there for the few things that I did like. I could continue learning what I wanted and what I liked from back home, whilst surrounded by the people I love. After two weeks of being miserable I decided religious Jewry was not for me, I booked the next flight out of town and came back to the states.

I realized that I really didn’t like what I saw of the orthodox Jewish lifestyle. I saw some really awesome and successful people, and I saw some people that I wasn’t impressed with at all. It’s not a nation of super-people walking around spreading an aura of light onto everything they touch. They’re just as human, with the same problems and character faults as anyone else. This solidified my resolve to continue the pursuit of conscious growth on my own terms; ones that resonate with me.

I’m back

On the ride back from the airport I secured an internship at NYU-Dental School, one of my top choices for next year. Then I secured a job dental assisting, something I’ve done since I was 15, which earns an honest living while, most importantly, honing my dental skills and motor-dexterous abilities. I’m going to have an advantage over other students in dental school due to these experience, if I ever make it there!

I’ve been back for two weeks now. No current interest in persuing any religious endevours, and ready to live life awesome. I feel very happy and fulfilled with every day of my life, even if it doesn’t involve God — and that’s being honest with myself.

Have you ever been so sure of anything, only to discover you aren’t anymore?

Many people are searching for natural remedies for panic attacks as well as seeking alternative ways to stay healthy. Anxiety attacks can be scary and interrupt a person's daily life in upsetting ways. Many herbal remedies for panic ...

Everyone knows that there are many health benefits to be seen by using green tea in order to flush your body, raise your metabolism, and boost your immune system. It is not a shock, nor is it something to be surprised at, that a diet that includes green tea is one that is going to benefit your health in many ways.

However, there is a problem with green tea and some people, and that is that the tea itself might cause some people some discomfort. Some bodies just aren't capable of handling tea, as it is a diuretic, and also because it is going to contain caffeine. However, the health benefits of the green tea itself are so great that green tea supplement capsules can be used if you can't handle tea. You also might want to use green tea supplement capsules if you like tea and your body can handle it, but if you simply don't want to drink the tea every day.

What Is It?

The green tea supplement capsules are going to be capsules that contain exactly what is found in the tea - all of the good points that you might need in your diet, in order to get the best health benefits out of it. However, they are not tea, because they are contained in capsules, like pills. You can simply take these into your body once or twice a day, and you'll be able to see results as they dissolve in your stomach.

Where Can You Find Them?

The best places to find green tea supplement capsules are at health food stores and other health stores. You are going to want to check and make sure that they contain the same ingredients that you are looking for in the green tea. If you aren't sure what kind of green tea supplement capsules you need, you should check with your doctor or with someone who knows a lot about nutrition before you make up your mind as to what you should be taking when it comes to green tea supplement capsules.

Are They Safe?

When it comes right down to it, green tea supplement capsules are just as safe as drinking green tea is. If you are allergic to anything in green tea, or if your body reacts to green tea, you will want to consult with your doctor before you try the green tea supplement capsules because it will contain the same ingredients. To everyone else, they are going to be perfectly safe.

Water is humanity’s most valuable resource. Want to green your use? Here are 5 ideas which cost next to nothing and can each save a thousand gallons a year.

It’s been said so many times, it has become a bit of a cliche: water is our most precious resource. On a global scale, the world’s population tripled during the 20th century — and water use increased at twice that rate. The general trend toward urbanization has stressed groundwater supplies to the breaking point.

Closer to home, municipalities from the Southeastern United States to East Africa to Australia are dealing with unprecedented drought conditions. Whether you chalk it up to global warming or a run of bad luck, water shortages are becoming a vexing and increasing familiar fact of life.

There is some good news. Most of us are so wasteful with our everyday water use that basic conservation methods can really make a difference. And they needn’t mean replacing your appliances or expensive home renovations.

We’ve rounded up five free (or very inexpensive) ways to save water. Each should save at least a thousand gallons of water per year. That’s a little but more change in your pocket — and water in the tap.

Reduce your current shower time by one minute

The average non-conserving shower head has a flow rate of 5 to 8 gallons per minute, and a water-saving unit uses about 2.5 gallons. For several days, use a cooking timer and log how long it currently takes you to shower. Average these times — then subtract a minute. If you shower every day, you’ll easily save a thousand gallons a year by cutting the time you run the water by just 60 seconds. You can probably make up this time simply by making sure everything you need is close at hand before you turn the water on.

Locate and repair silent toilet leaks

Worn hardware can easily — and quietly — leak several gallons per day. Drip by drip, it all adds up. Put some dark food coloring in your tank. If you notice color in the bowl within 15 minutes, you’ve got a leak worth fixing. Head to your local home building supply store and pick up a repair kit.

Water lawns on demand, not on schedule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 30 percent of all household water consumption is used outdoors. Of this, up to 50 percent is simply wasted due to wind, evaporation, broken irrigation systems — and overwatering. The last one is something over which you have full control. Check your lawn on a schedule instead of automatically watering. Here’s a quick test: step on a patch of grass. If it springs back, it doesn’t need watering. And consider hardy native plants and low-water garden design the next time you landscape.

Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth

It’s one of those hard-to-break habits, but it’s surprisingly wasteful. Running the tap while you scrub sends 5 to 8 gallons of fresh water straight down the drain. Double that for morning and bedtime scrubbing, and we’re talking several thousand gallons a year. All you really need is a few ounces to wet and clean the brush.

Be smart about dishwashing

If you’re doing dishes by hand, don’t rinse under an open faucet. Buy an in-sink rack, load your soapy dishes, and rinse by pouring hot water over the top or using a hand held spray nozzle. Have a dishwasher? Use the short cycle for all but the dirtiest dishes. ENERGY STAR suggests skipping a pre-rinse before loading your dishwasher: it can use up to 20 extra gallons per load. Just scrape and go.

What’s next?

It should probably go without saying that obvious plumbing problems should be fixed immediately. At a drop a second, a worn tap or outdoor faucet is leeching about 20 gallons a day — over 7000 gallons per year. If you’re going to be away from home all day, shut down anything which would use water and make note of your utility meter. This is a great way to spot sneaky leaks.

Beyond this cheap, low-hanging fruit is the pricier process of replacing inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR rated models. The washing machine is probably your best bet, followed by the dishwasher. Both will save energy and water when compared to models more than a few years old.

In the realm of home improvement, water-saving shower and faucet attachments are clearly the first priority. A trigger-operated spray nozzle on kitchen sinks is a real saver, particularly if your home isn’t equipped with a dishwasher. Making sure pipes are insulated properly is next, which will reduce waste caused by waiting for the water to get to the right temperature. Water-saving toilets are within the budget reach of most homeowners, particularly as older units wear out. If rainwater collection is legal where you live, consider setting up a modest system to handle your gardening needs.

Do you have a favorite water saving tip? Please share in our comments section.

More reading:

Simple steps to save water (EPA)
100 Water-saving tips WaterUseItWisely.com)
A to Z of water saving tips (BBC)

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