This Man Hasn’t Watered This Sealed Bottle For 54 Years and It’s Still Living

David Latimer planted this beauty in 1960 and it’s still living it large (within it’s own ecosystem). For 54 years since that fateful Easter Sunday, this 80-year-old man has kept this lush micro-forest alive and well in, what would be scientifically termed as, a closed system.


He was a young man when Latimer began this lifelong project. He began by putting some compost and a quarter pint of water in a 10 gallon glass carboy and inserted a spider wort sprout through some wires. He sealed the system and except for once in 1972 to add some water, he has never opened it. All that gets in is sunlight.


The system effectively acts as a self sufficient organism. The bacteria in the compost break down the dead plants and break down the oxygen given off by the plants, turning it in to carbon dioxide that the living plants need to survive. The little garden is an example of how the earth functions without anything but sunlight from the outside world.



“The forest eats itself and lives forever.” -The Poisonwood Bible
Courtesy
Via www.thescienceworld.com

Stay Away From These If You Have Inflammatory Problems

If you have arthritis, there are some foods you need to avoid to stop aggravating inflammation. However, this is not the only thing that happens when you have too much inflammation in your body. This can also result to acne as well as serious illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.
Inflammation causes a painful and burning sensation / Photo by dowhoranzone.deviantart.com

In truth, the body depends on a bit of inflammation, so it can fight off injuries and infection. When inflammation becomes chronic though, the immune system will start attacking your healthy cells and this will result to destruction, instead of the immune system healing your body. In this case, it is only right that you know how to control inflammation in your body by avoiding the following foods:

 1. Alcohol
Consuming high amounts of alcohol, including wine, beer, and cider, on a regular basis can inflame and irritate your liver, esophagus, and larynx. Chronic inflammation resulting to high alcohol consumption can increase tumor growth and cancer. Instead of drinking alcohol, just choose water or jasmine green tea, which is an anti-inflammatory beverage.

 2. Dairy Products
You may be a part of the 60% world population that cannot digest milk as it is an allergen than triggers inflammation. This can cause stomach problems, diarrhea, constipation, breathing difficulties, and skin rashes. Milk and dairy products, along with butter, cheese, and other goods sold with dairy content should be avoided. If you’re not allergic to milk, choose yogurt and kefir instead, as they are easier on your stomach and they have good bacteria as well.

 3. Sugar
Acne, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome can happen due to excessive sugar intake. Forget soft drinks, punches, and other sources of dietary sugars, as well as food products that list corn syrup, fructose, maltose, and sucrose as the ingredients, since these are just alternative names for sugar. Instead, opt for honey, blackstrap molasses, and other natural sweeteners.

 4. Trans Fats
Trans fats can increase your bad cholesterol and promote inflammation, insulin resistance, and obesity. Avoid fast foods, deep fried foods, and baked goods sold commercially. Products in your grocery list should not have trans fats, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated oil.

 5. Vegetable Cooking Oils
This type of oil has high omega 6 fatty acid, instead of omega 3. Consuming high amounts of omega 6 leads to inflammation and can cause heart diseases and cancer. Grape seed, sunflower, and safflower oils are common cooking oils to avoid. Use macadamia oil or extra virgin olive oil to get the balance between omega 6 and 3 in your diet.
This is not to say you should completely avoid the foods listed above. In fact, they are still acceptable as long as you consume them in moderation.

Article By http://www.stethnews.com

How to Eliminate Processed Food from Your Diet

Check your kitchen and ref, chances are you hoard a lot of unhealthy processed foods / PicHelp

Research after research has shown that processed foods are bad for our health. They are loaded with sugar and fructose corn syrup, which can lead to insulin resistance, increased bad cholesterol, and accumulation of fat in the liver and abdominal cavity. They also lack the essential nutrients and energy needed by the body. And the worst, they contain all sorts of artificial ingredients (e.g. preservatives, colorants, flavorants and texturants) that can be harmful to health. So, if you want to live healthy this year, start cutting off processed foods from your diet. Here are a few tips to help you eat clean.

Know the difference between real food and processed food
Obviously, most foods you see in groceries and markets are processed – milk is pasteurized and bottled, and ground beef has been grounded in a machine. But when talking about “processed foods,” we’re talking about those foods that have been chemically altered, processed and made from artificial ingredients. Examples of which are sodas, French fries, and deli meats.

 Go for real beverages
Starting today, limit your drink choices to “real” beverages – i.e. water, milk, tea, coffee and fresh fruit juices. Avoid colas, power drinks, instant juices, coffees, lemonades and many other sugary drinks.

Choose fresh meat
While deli meats, such as sausages and meatloaves, are tempting and convenient, there are a number of reasons why you should avoid them. One is that they increase your risk to cardiovascular disease by 70%. Even those deli sandwiches, which include refined grains, low fat cheeses and low fat deli meats that are promoted as healthy, can increase your risk to the disease by 8% per serving.

 Take a Fast from Fast Food
Fast food is addictive and it can make you fat. A 15-year study participated by over 3,000 people found that eating fast food can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain. Also, one study found that most fast food has potentially addictive substance that can create fast food dependence in vulnerable population. So starting today, take a fast from fast food. Limit it to at least once a month. Your body will thank you for it.

Via http://www.stethnews.com/

Why Tomatoes are Good for You

Tomato has been found in the laboratory to be very rich in anti-chemical compounds / PicHelp
More than 200 years ago, tomatoes were thought to be poisonous in the United States because their relative species are. However, now these are considered to be among the healthiest food in the world. Tomatoes are called a functional food because they provide more than just basic nutrition. Since they contain healthy phytochemicals like lycopene, they are able to help prevent chronic diseases. Moreover, there are many reasons why people should love eating tomatoes. Anyone who wants to be perfectly healthy should know these to improve their diet.

Benefits of tomatoes
Eating tomatoes can improve the health of a person. Since they are a rich source of many beneficial nutrients, they can be trusted to fight illnesses and help maintain wellness. Here are some of the health benefits of eating these nutritious veggie-fruits.

Tomatoes are known to be a good source of folic acid and vitamins A and C. Furthermore, they are rich in antioxidants such as lycopene, alpha-lipoic acid, lutein, beta-carotene, and choline. For the information of everyone, lycopene is responsible for making tomatoes red in color. Alpha-lipoic acid aids in converting glucose to energy. It can also help in controlling blood glucose, preserve nerve and brain tissues, and even improve vasodilation. Then, choline is a valuable nutrient that helps with memory, learning, muscle movement, and sleep.
Eating tomatoes can also help improve heart health. Tomato extracts and fresh tomatoes are proven to help decrease total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol. Tomato extracts can also aid in preventing the clumping of platelet cells together in the blood. This helps lower the chance of having atherosclerosis and other heart problems. The reason why tomatoes are good for the heart is because they contain phytonutrients that provide heart-protection benefits. Among these phytonutrients are esculeoside, which is a glycoside, and chalconaringenin, a flavonoid. As more nutrients are discovered about tomatoes, they increase their popularity as being one of the best food for the heart.

Fight against diseases
Aside from being good for the heart, tomatoes are known to help prevent other diseases. Here are some of them.

 Cancer
Since tomatoes are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, they can help fight free radicals, which cause cancer. Among the types of cancer that can be prevented by eating tomatoes are prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.

Depression
Tomatoes have folic acid that helps decrease the risk of depression by stopping the formation of homocysteine in the body. Homocysteine can prevent nutrients and even the blood from reaching the brain. When this happens, the production of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which are called feel-good hormones, is interfered.

Constipation
Tomatoes are also rich in fiber and have high water content. Therefore, they can also aid in curing constipation. Eating a lot of tomatoes will keep the person hydrated and even help in regulating bowel movements. Studies show that people who have high intake of tomatoes are less likely to suffer from constipation.
Without a doubt, tomatoes can do a lot to help lower risk of certain diseases. Moreover, they can keep people healthy and fit. For this reason, increasing tomato intake is advisable and should be promoted by health institutions.

Via http://www.stethnews.com/

Easily Burn 100 Calories in an Hour or Less

Believe it or not, you burn calories without breaking a sweat. From breathing to sleeping to standing, you can get rid of 100 calories just like that. Even everyday chores can help you eliminate the calories you get from the food you eat. If you have been counting your calories and you feel that you need to burn at least 100 calories to achieve your fitness goals, here are 11 guaranteed ways to help you:

1. If you’re at the gym, perform seven minutes of a tough spin class to burn 100 unwanted calories.

2. Do some exercises, including sit ups, squats, push-ups, and jumping jacks. Switch from one exercise to another as quickly as you can for eight minutes.

3. Take your skipping rope and use it for at least 10 minutes.

4. Do some yoga poses for 15 minutes.

5. Ask your partner to dance with you for 20 minutes. You can also do this with your kids.

6. Go biking for at least 23 minutes. You don’t have to do some intense cycling since casual biking would do the trick.

7. If your kids don’t want to dance, play with them outside for 25 minutes.

8. Get rid of the fallen leaves in your yard for 25 minutes.

9. If you have a dog, be a good owner and walk your pet outside for about 30 minutes.

10. If your house is untidy, you have a chance to clean up the place and even remove excess calories. Get your vacuum, wash the windows, de-clutter, and even tend to your plants for 30 minutes to burn
100 calories.

11. If you need to restock your fridge, shop at the grocery store for 45 minutes.

Bonus:

As mentioned, everything you do can help you burn calories. Even your everyday activities can lend you a hand in torching 100 calories or more. These simple activities include:

1. Showering, brushing your teeth, and doing other tasks to take care of yourself for 45 minutes can burn at least a hundred calories.

2. If you sleep enough, you can get rid of calories. A hundred calories can be eliminated when you sleep for two hours. Imagine how much more you can burn when you sleep more than the said number of hours.

3. Avoid the elevator and use the stairs for six minutes.

4. Stand up while waiting or talking to people for at least an hour.

5. Prepare food for 50 minutes to remove extra calories.

6. Carry your baby for 24 minutes.
As you can see, burning 100 calories is easy. By simply being active and getting enough sleep, you can get rid of at least a hundred calories every day.

113 Year-old-man reveals his secret: 5 Foods for long life

Bernardo LaPallo is already 113 years old and still kicking.

Bernardo LaPallo is not an ordinary man. Born in 1901 and at 113 he is older than any of you and that happened not by chance but by sheer discipline and desire to live longer. He has a few secrets though; five of them to be exact and he shared that so you can live a long life too.
LaPallo who hails from Mesa, Arizona claims that he has never been sick a day in his life and that he has avoid red meat and eats mostly organic food and vegetables. His secret is a recipe that he inherited from his father who was a doctor and a much disciplined man.

If you think that yeah maybe he’s 113 years old but can’t live decently, you’re wrong. He can still do a lot of stuff including solving crosswords and reading books – not ebooks, he is traditional like that.
Check the video done when he was 110 below to learn his 5 secret foods for long life, and yeah he’s still alive:
We listed the five foods below for your convenience:

Garlic
Garlic has been used in many continents as a medicinal herb. It has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that have been proven to work effectively without the side effects.

 Honey
Honey, nature’s best sweetener has been featured in our website several times for its wonderful effects. If you need a sweetener, our 110-year-old legend wants you to use this.

 Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a popular food enhancer and while extracts from the bark of the cinnamon tree have also been used traditionally as medicine throughout the world, the very cinnamon power you can buy in stores can lower blood cholesterol and prevent onset of diabetes.

Chocolate
The food of the gods is called as such for a reason. And if you think chocolates are just for kids or those with sweet tooth, you’re wrong. LaPallo says it’s a vital ingredient in having a long life.

 Olive oil
Wars have been fought for olive and its oil. We’re not kidding. But today you can easily buy them in groceries and they’re not expensive at all. Incorporate it in your daily diet and feel the difference.
Bernardo LaPallo holding a bottle of olive oil during an interview with the press.


Five Best Exercises for Weight Loss!


1 # Running
If you’re one of the many people who love to run, you’re in luck.
Running burns about 600 calories per hour, helps build strong bones and connective tissue and gets your heart pumping at a healthy rate to help prevent heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

The only equipment running requires is a good pair of shoes to protect your joints and, if it helps you keep the pace and maintain motivation, an iPod with your favorite tunes.

Interval training can bump up the calories you burn on your daily run. Also called speed work, interval training involves short spurts, usually between 30 seconds and two minutes, of running at top speed.

Intervals burn a large number of calories in a short amount of time, improve your resting metabolism to help you burn more calories during the day, and increase your muscle mass.

Experts now recommend that you don’t stretch before you run. Instead, warm up by marching in place, bringing your knees up high, or walking for five minutes before beginning your run.

Because running is a high-impact exercise that can damage your joints, it’s always best to have a professional fit you with the right running shoes, based on your gait.

2 # Walking
Walking is an ideal exercise for weight loss: It doesn’t require any equipment, other than a decent pair of walking shoes, and you don’t need a gym membership to do it.

It’s a low-impact exercise, which means it won’t blow out your knees or cause other stress injuries that can leave you on the sidelines for weeks or even months.
For those with certain health issues, including obesity and heart disease, walking is an effective, low-intensity weight-loss activity that can lead to better overall health, as well as better mental wellbeing.
Depending on how much you weigh, walking at a pace of four miles per hour will burn between 5 and 8 calories every minute, or between 225 and 360 calories for a 45-minute walk.

At this pace, walking 45 minutes a day most days, you can lose up to a pound a week without changing any other habits.

So put on your walking shoes, turn on your iPod and go for a brisk stroll through the neighborhood. If you live close to where you work or shop, make walking your primary mode of transportation most days, and watch the pounds melt away. When the weather is bad, take to the local track or indoor mall, or hop on the treadmill.

3 # Tennis
A good game of tennis can burn up to 600 calories in an hour.
If you’re the type who prefers to exercise with a partner, tennis is an ideal way to get active. It’s also perfect for those who don’t particularly like to exercise, but who love a good competition.

You don’t have to be a great tennis player to lose weight doing it. After all, running after the balls is still a form of exercise.

The nature of tennis makes it a great whole-body workout, and playing it can help you improve your flexibility, balance and posture, as well as let off some steam to reduce stress.

Throughout the game, especially every time you hit the ball, your arm, abdominal and leg muscles are engaged, building strength and burning calories. But that’s not all that’s engaged. Your brain gets a good workout every time you play tennis, from thinking quickly and creatively to planning ahead.

Games like tennis boost the brain’s function to improve memory and the ability to learn new things. It also helps increase your peak bone mass; in fact, the National Institute of Health lists tennis as one of the activities that promotes bone health.

4 # Cycling 
Bicycling is another low-impact, high-rewards activity for losing weight.
Cycling can burn anywhere from 372 to over 1,100 calories per hour, depending on your weight, your speed and the terrain you’re biking across.

Unlike running, cycling is easy on the joints, and even the most out-of-shape beginner can hop on a bicycle and ride several miles without feeling like they’ve just been through the wringer.

Outdoor cycling is best, because the varied terrain enables you to get a well-rounded workout that includes strengthening your lower body and getting a good cardiovascular workout.

If you live within biking distance of your job, cycling to work can stimulate endorphins and boost your metabolism for the day, as well as save you money on gas. If outdoor cycling is difficult or dangerous in your area, consider spinning.

Offered at most gyms, this group cycling activity is one of the lowest-impact classes offered, and yet it’s one of the most effective for burning calories and revving up your metabolism.

Even seasoned runners or bikers will likely find themselves challenged by the spinning instructor. An hour-long spinning class covers about 20 miles and challenges participants to reach speeds that they may find impossible when riding an actual bike.

5 # Swimming
Vigorous swimming can burn anywhere from 400 to 700 calories an hour. All types of swimming are effective for helping you shed pounds, from a front crawl to a breast stroke or even the dog paddle.
Swimming is a highly effective exercise for weight loss and toning. It’s one of the lowest-impact exercises out there, and it strengthens, tones and conditions your whole body.

It’s particularly ideal for women in their last trimester of pregnancy and individuals who battle with arthritis, obesity, and musculoskeletal conditions.

It’s also great for those who suffer from exercise-induced asthma, because the warm, moist air around the water helps keep the airways clear.

Many athletes use the pool as a cross-training tool, as well as to stay fit while rehabilitating an injury. When you’re neck-deep in water, your body is only bearing ten percent of its weight, and yet the water provides 12 times the resistance of air, making it ideal for strengthening and toning your muscles.

Swimming engages all of the major muscle groups, from your abdominals and back muscles to your arms, legs, hips and glutes. It effectively compliments other exercises, like running and walking, or it can be your sole form of fitness.

Don’t know how to swim? Not a problem. If you can propel yourself through the water from one end of the pool to the other, you can swim well enough to lose weight doing it.