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CBD’s relation with our Gut Microbiome

CBD and your Gut Microbiome

The medical profession has never been as intrigued by studies into Gut Health as in the last decade.

The American Gut Project, launched in 2012, is the largest research involving Citizen Science investigating the Human Microbiome. It requires the inclusion in this health and wellness revolution of ordinary people submitting their faecal samples and engaging in it.

Samples were submitted by individuals from all over the world, including the USA, UK, Australia and 42 other nations. The overwhelming reaction testified to the general population's curiosity to further explore the trillions of bacterial friends and enemies residing in and on each of us.

To keep the analysis healthy, over 15,000 samples were obtained from individuals from various backgrounds and ethnicities, and what did they find?

Well to keep it short, they find that the more diverse the diet is in fruit and vegetable forms, the greater the microbiome diversity is. People who consumed 30 or more plant types a week were in a healthy zone called eubiosis, while people who consumed fewer than 10 plant types a week were in a hazard zone called dysbiosis.

Interestingly, it was noted that more meat was consumed as a replacement by those groups that had an insufficient variety of plants, most of which are injected with antibiotics that cause further havoc causing dysbiosis, i.e. an imbalance of gut microflora.

Now the effects of messing with a well-balanced microbiome system in humans extend far beyond healthy food digestion and assimilation, affecting our overall emotional well-being enormously.

Do you remember complaining about how your gut calls are just not working as they used to at work or in life at large? Uh, well, read on.

Start monitoring how many types of plant-based foods you end up eating each week while reflecting on your week to ensure you don't slip back to your previous habits. (We highly recommend it if you don't have a ritual like this)

CBD oil will play a crucial role in preserving the gut microbiome and promoting a balanced gut once you have put yourself on the road to recovery.

Leaky Gut Syndrome is one of the biggest problems faced by individuals. There is a membrane in the walls of the intestines that only allows useful nutrition to reach our bloodstream, while harmful bacteria and other food contaminants are prevented from entering the bloodstream. Good bacteria present in our gut itself which serve as gatekeepers of the wall barriers, perform this important work. Our gut walls become excessively permeable in their absence, enabling all undesirable intruders to pollute our bloodstream.

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Albania Travel Guide

Albania Travel Guide

Rebounding from decades of brutal communism, Albania is a hidden gem brimming with unexplored cobblestoned streets, picturesque towns straight out of a fairytale, pristine beaches lapped by turquoise waters, and unspoiled mountains.

Albania’s isolated past under the repressive dictator, Enver Hoxha, makes it a relatively unknown country, but its enigmatic nature is its biggest draw. Sealed off from the rest of Europe for much of the 20th century, the mountainous silhouette of Albania is not teeming with tourists like its neighbors – Greece, Montenegro, and Croatia – but it certainly holds a candle to the.

Language

The local language spoken by 98% of its population is Albanian, and it is the only surviving descendant of the extinct Illyrian language. Hence, Albanian is a very unique language, unlike any other.

Religion

Albania has been a secular country for a long time. Christians and Muslims have been living peacefully in Albania for centuries without any conflicts. It is very common for marriages to take place between adherents of different religions.

Visa

85 different nationalities can travel to Albania without a visa for a maximum of 90 days. You can click here to see the list.

Indians and nationalities not on the list can travel to Albania for up to 90 days with a valid multiple-entry visa issued by a Schengen area country, United States, or the United Kingdom. The visa must have been used at least once before your arrival in Albania, and the visa can be used at all entry points, on the road and at seaway.

Additionally, if you wish to know things like the best places to travel in Albania where to stay, things to do and more you can check out a travel blog that will give you end to end guides on other travel destination recommendations

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Pamir Highway Road Trip

Pamir Highway Road Trip

The Pamir highway stretches for 1200 km across terrifyingly high mountain passes, through lonely deserts, past magical glacial lakes and in close proximity with pretty villages that are almost lost in time. The Pamir Highway starts at Dushanbe in Tajikistan and runs along the second highest road in the entire world and ends at Osh in Kyrgyzstan, crossing Afghanistan on the way.

There is so much to see on the journey, it’s wise not to travel at great speed so you don’t miss any of the little touches that are awaiting to amaze and captivate you along the way such as the remains of ancient medieval fortresses at the top of the mountains, built during the silk route days to protect the trade routes.

The amazing thing about the Pamir Highway is the remoteness of the region and how few people you’ll encounter on the journey. This is the unspoilt natural beauty of the highest league. One fact that is quite thought-provoking, is that it is believed that there are more snow leopards in the region than there are people living in the local villages! For most of my journey, my party and I were the only living souls there to witness the surreal beauty of the journey and that feeling of peace and tranquillity is really something, a feeling that would be tough to recreate back home! If you want to get away from it all, there’s really no better place.

Additionally, if you wish to know things about Pamir highway road trip, where to stay, things to do and more you can check out a travel blog that will give you end to end guides on other travel destination recommendations

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Visit Iceland

Visit Iceland

Until recently, Iceland was relatively unknown and visited only by the most extreme adventures, much like modern day Greenland. However, things are turning around. These days, the tourism industry in Iceland is booming! Every year, Reykjavík (the small capital of Iceland) somehow accommodates tourists in numbers over 6x more than the number of locals who reside there. It’s not surprising that once the world became aware of the beauty of Iceland, its popularity spread like wildfire.

The natural wonders of Iceland are still being discovered today! As if the stunning waterfalls, snow-capped volcanoes, geysers, and black sand beaches weren’t enough – there’s even more to find. Iceland is a natural phenomenon that will make you realize just how lucky you are to be alive and to witness the beauty in our world.

If the natural wonders of Iceland aren’t enough to make you fall in love with this country – the locals will certainly do the trick. Warm, friendly, and welcoming, Icelanders will make you feel right at home. This country has a gritty, resilient reputation because Icelanders know how to make a comeback!

They have endured much – the major banking crash and recession in 2008, leading to the stock market plummeting by more than 90% and leaving almost every company bankrupt, followed by a catastrophic volcanic explosion in 2011. Iceland has made a strong comeback since both events and has registered an impressive growth of 5.5% GDP this year, with the help of tourism and successful government policies. The people here are strong, kind, and resilient.

Additionally, if you wish to know things like why visit Iceland, where to stay, things to do and more you can check out a travel blog that will give you end to end guides on other travel destination recommendations

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Iceland: Essential Information

Iceland: Essential Information

Language

Icelandic is the official language of Iceland. It is an Indo-European language, belonging to the sub-group of North Germanic languages. It is closely related to Norwegian and Faroese. Most locals also speak English, so the language barrier should be minimal.

Religion

80% of all Icelanders are members of the Lutheran State Church. Interestingly enough, 5% of the population still practice Asatru, a traditional Norse and pagan religion. Asatru is also the fastest-growing religion in Iceland. To read for about Asatru click here.

Safety

Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world, boasting of an incredibly low crime rate. However, there are a lot of natural hazards to be aware of, and the weather can change in a split second. The winter months are extreme in some parts of Iceland, so full precautions and safety measures need to be taken before venturing out to those areas.

Money

The local currency is called Krona or ISK. At the time of writing, one USD was worth 125.40. You can exchange money at most hotels; however, banks will give you the best rate. Some restaurants and tour companies might accept dollars, euros, or pounds.

Additionally, if you wish to know things like how to travel to Iceland, where to stay, things to do and more you can check out a travel blog that will give you end to end guides on other travel destination recommendations

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Tajikistan: Essential Information

Tajikistan: Essential Information

Visa Procedure

People from India and 121 other nations can now get an e-visa for Tajikistan. The process is fairly simple. I got both my visas within one day, however, to be on the safe side you should give yourself a week. The problem with an e-visa is that if you want to leave Tajikistan and enter again (to go to Afghanistan, for example) you need a multiple entry visa. However, there is no option for a multiple entry e-visa and hence you need to apply for the e-visa twice.

When to Travel to Tajikistan

The months from June-September (the summer season) are the busiest in terms of tourism, however, some places can get too hot, reaching over 40 degrees Celsius. The winter season starts from October onwards. During the winter, many roads frequently get blocked because of snow, hence there are barely any tourists from October onwards.

Money

The currency of Tajikistan is called Tajik Somoni. One Tajik Somoni = 7.6 rupees or one USD = approximately 9.5 somoni (at the time of writing). Be sure to carry a lot of money with you (either USD or Somoni) because other than the capital and Khorog it is very difficult to find ATMs in other cities, especially in the Pamir Highway region

Language

Tajik is the national language, similar to Farsi and Dari, and is spoken widely. Russian is the second language and almost everyone knows it from colonial times. Other languages spoken here are Uzbeki (10% population of Tajikistan are Uzbekis) and Kyrgyz.

Religion

Out of all the Central Asian countries, Tajikistan is likely the most religious. The main religion is Islam with 95% population Sunni and 3% Shia believers. 40% of the region which is Gbao accounts for most of the Shia population, as they are followers of the Ismali sect.

Additionally, if you wish to know things like the best places to visit in Tajikistan or Tajikistan tour tips, where to stay, things to do and more you can check out a travel blog that will give you end to end guides on other travel destination recommendations

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Bolivia: Essential Information

Bolivia: Essential Information

Bolivia travel advice

Visa

Bolivia gives visas on arrival for many countries, including India. You can find the list here. However, due to reciprocation, Americans have to get the visa beforehand and pay.

Visa on arrival is only available at Laz Paz and Santa Cruz airports. The cost for the visa is $60 USD and the process is fairly simple. You will need to show return flight, itinerary, hotel booking for the first few days, yellow fever vaccination proof, a bank statement and a passport-sized photograph.

Language

Spanish is the main language and spoken by about 84% of the population. However, each of the 36 ethnic groups has their own language and the most prominent ones are Quechua (which is spoken by 28% of the population) and Aymara (which is spoken by 18% of the population). English is hardly spoken at all, even in cities like La Paz and basic knowledge of Spanish is required to get things done.

Religion

Roman Catholic Christianity dominates the country, accounting for 77% of the population. Catholicism was brought to Bolivia when the Spanish people arrived in the 1500s. Many of the indigenous people of the day adopted the Catholic religion while mixing in their traditional spirituality and beliefs. This remains the case today. In addition, many adhere to the beliefs and traditions of their ancestors.

Safety

Although Bolivia is considered to be one of South America’s safest countries, many crimes still do occur. Petty theft is common in crowded places. Targeting and kidnapping foreigners to get cash from ATM’s and theft at ATM’S are on the rise. Being the world’s third-highest cocaine producer, gang-related crimes are common in rural parts of Bolivia. One should remain vigilant and careful at all times while walking around. Walking alone at night is definitely not recommended.

Additionally, if you wish to know things like the best places to visit in Jordan where to stay, things to do and more you can check out a travel blog that will give you end to end guides on other travel destination recommendations

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Rwanda: A Travel Guide

Rwanda is called the land of a thousand hills and is situated in the central-eastern section of the African continent and covers just over ten thousand square miles of terrain that varies from forested mountains to savannah and swamps. It’s possible to drive the width of the country from east to west in less than eight hours which means you can cram an awful lot of your Rwanda travel into one vacation.

The capital, Kigali, with its high-rise Central Business District and extensive urban spread, is a lively city of stark contrasts and full of interesting places to visit. There are museums, art galleries, colourful markets as well as artisan craft centres to browse around when you travel to Rwanda.

While Rwanda may be one of the smallest countries in Africa, and apart from a few elephants, rhinos and giraffes, almost devoid of the major big game species, Rwanda one of the best places in Africa to travel to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitat.

When To Travel To Rwanda

The annual climate in Rwanda is divided into four seasons. Two wet and two dry during both of those temperatures tend to maintain a relatively constant level with average highs of around 25°C. The wet seasons run from February through to mid-June and from September to mid-December.

Typical Food Of Rwanda

You’re more likely to find a vegetarian meal than one containing meat being served on the tables of most Rwandan homes. Common ingredients in the traditional food of Rwanda are fibrous root vegetables such as the cassava, bananas and their more savoury cousin plantains, plus pulses like lentils, beans and chickpeas.

Language & Religion

Rwanda has four official languages. Kinyarwanda, a Rwanda-Rundi dialect, which is the most widely spoken. The second most spoken language is English followed by French and Swahili.

Safety

There have been several serious incidents of civil unrest in the north of Rwanda along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Anyone travelling to the region to visit the Volcanoes National Park and the Nyungwe Forest National Park should be aware of the disturbances and take precautionary measures to avoid putting themselves at risk. There has also been unrest along the border between Rwanda and Burundi.

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Plant Protein VS Animal Protein

Plant Protein VS Animal Protein

Here are a few reasons why plant protein is whey better for you than animal protein!

Plant Protein VS Animal Protein

1. Plant Proteins offer the protein superiority of whey Extra Vitamins & Minerals

Legumes such as peas and brown rice have about 8 per cent protein, much like milk. When we extract protein from plants enzymatically (versus chemical extract), we result in the same 80 per cent concentrate that whey is popularly considered to have.

Since proteins are formed by amino acid chains, it is unavoidable that plants should also have them - making them excellent sources of arginine and BCAAs. Plus, to ensure your protein is a full source, we combine the amino acids of various proteins. Plus, since minerals come from the earth and not cows, plants are naturally rich in iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

2. Plants are Alkaline While Whey is Acidic

Alkaline diets are known to make it very hard for cancer cells to replicate. However, acidic diets make you vulnerable to all kinds of illnesses. This is why we give a thumbs-up to the Plant-based Diet! In your body, an acidic atmosphere will result in acne, gas, and bloating.

3. Plants are sustainable & animal agriculture simply isn't

The beauty of plants such as peas is that they fix nitrogen, which means it draws nitrogen from the atmosphere and traps it in the soil with the aid of bacteria (Rhizobium). Compared to their animal counterparts, plants need considerably less water and land to grow, and that's why we believe it's the only diet that can support our ever-expanding population.

Switch to a good plant-based protein that will supplement your health as well as the environment.

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5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID SOY IN YOUR PROTEIN POWDER

5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID SOY IN YOUR PROTEIN POWDER

Of the many protein sources available today, here are five reasons why you should avoid soy in your protein powder and some of the side effects of soy protein.

1. Extremely fond of being genetically engineered (GMOs)

Did you know that soy protein powders are made from soybeans, the number one crop in the world that is genetically modified? In fact, over 90 per cent of the world's soy is produced from genetically modified seeds. Genetically modified crops are bad, not just for our long-term health, but also for our soil's biodiversity - the base of our climate.

2. Application of Hexane for extraction

Soybean processing requires the use of hexane, which is a dangerous air pollutant and a neurotoxin. While hexane is poor, it is widely used because it is an inexpensive and highly efficient way to extract traditional soy oil and protein ingredients. Whole soybeans are practically bathed in hexane in order to distinguish the soybeans' oil from their protein.

3. Unsustainable

Soybeans are mostly cultivated by a highly inefficient farming system called monoculture agriculture. A single crop is repeatedly grown on the same field in this system of agriculture. This allows some nutrients to become removed from the soil because specific types of nutrients are needed by a particular form of crop. On the other hand, nutrients and vitamins present in the soil are naturally restored when you rotate various crops on the same land.

4. Soy protein isolated contains concentrated quantities of oestrogen

Soy contains significant quantities of compounds called isoflavones that are biologically active and serve as phytoestrogens. These are plant-based compounds that can cause changes in our body's oestrogen activity. They can act as endocrine disruptors and can interfere with the normal function of hormones and disrupt the normal functioning of our body in turn.

Switching to a plant-based protein made out of pea protein instead of soy is a much better alternative.

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ARE PLANT PROTEINS COMPLETE?

ARE PLANT PROTEINS COMPLETE?

Have you ever come across someone with a deficit in amino acids? Or a deficiency in proteins? Chances are, possibly not. There are nine of the twenty two amino acids available, which our bodies are unable to produce on their own and rely on food sources rich in protein to acquire.

Different protein sources contain various kinds of amino acids in varying quantities. For instance, peas are extremely rich in leucine (about 9% of their weight), which is great for muscle building purposes. It is simply not true that plants are deemed not to contain all nine of the essential amino acids that our bodies need. The truth is among various sources of protein, amino acids differ in concentration.

For instance, pea protein is rich in leucine, but low in methionine. Our bodies easily combine amino acids that satisfy our requirements by consuming a diverse diet rich in different sources of protein.

To function properly, our body needs 22 different amino acid forms.

Complete vs Incomplete Proteins

Important amino acids are categorised into two categories of protein - complete proteins or incomplete proteins. Full proteins are those that contain adequate amounts of all essential amino acids, and incomplete proteins are those that do not contain all or have insufficient amounts of all 9 essential amino acids to fulfil the needs of the body and must be supplemented with other proteins.

In general, animal-based proteins such as beef, fish, milk, eggs are complete proteins, and incomplete protein sources are most plant-based protein sources. But there are also a couple of plant sources that are regarded as complete. There are Quinoa, Buckwheat, Spirulina, Hemp and Chia Seed.

But just because incomplete proteins are those plant-based sources does not make them inferior. To have the right combination of essential amino acids, they only need to be mixed.

Are plant-based proteins complete?

When combined, plant-based protein sources have a full amino acid profile and fill up any possible nutritional void that arises from a single source of protein.

Brown rice and pea protein are one of the best plant-based protein combinations. As animal protein (whey), they have equivalent amounts of essential amino acids and thus have a full amino acid profile. In their protein content, they also exceed other plant-based sources - the pea (yellow split pea) protein content is 80 percent and brown rice has a 90 percent protein content.

So if you are a vegan or are adopting a diet focused on plants, then the combination you should look for in your protein supplement is brown rice and pea protein.

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5 REASONS WHY ACAI BERRIES ARE AMAZING ANTIOXIDANTS

5 REASONS WHY ACAI BERRIES ARE AMAZING ANTIOXIDANTS

It's a deep-purple coloured berry native to the Amazon rainforest with incredible antioxidant properties, if you haven't heard of Acai berries before. Surprisingly, only in the Amazon can acai berries be grown because their climate provides the most ideal conditions for their growth. Given their short shelf life, immediately after harvesting, they are generally processed into freeze-dried powders, pressed juice or purees that traditionally lengthen their use.

Let's take a look at the five main health benefits of acai berries:

1) It's filled with minerals and vitamins

Did you know that acai berries are one of Planet Earth's most nutritiously full foods available? It is filled with vitamins A, C and E and packed with minerals that are often missing in our daily diet, such as iron, zinc, magnesium and calcium.

2) Antioxidant-rich

Some of the most important health benefits of acai come from plant compounds called anthocyanins. Such plant compounds function in the body as antioxidants.

3) Assist with cholesterol improvement

There are studies that have shown that by decreasing total and LDL cholesterol, acai berries can help boost cholesterol levels. This means that the cholesterol levels will be positively influenced by eating acai berries. In acai berries, the anthocyanins present along with plant sterols have a positive effect on your cholesterol levels

4) Improve brain function

Did you know that your brain can be protected from damage by the plant compounds found in acai berries? Acai berries' antioxidants counteract the detrimental effects of inflammation and oxidation in brain cells that can adversely affect memory and learning. Not only that, but with their anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidants can also help reduce the risk of illnesses such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's

5) Anti-cancer properties

This miracle berry also has anti-cancer properties to which a relation has been found by many studies. Research has shown that the anthocyanins found in acai berries have an anti-cancer effect. There was also one study which showed that the acai pulp reduced the incidence of colon and bladder cancer.

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Plant-Based Protein vs Whey Protein

Plant-Based Protein vs Whey Protein

If you’re taking a protein powder to help build muscle, support health or are at least considering it as an option you need to ask yourself the question - which source? Whey may be the most popular, accessible and cheap protein.. but is it the healthiest?

1. CLINICAL STUDY PROVES THAT YOU CAN BUILD MUSCLE AS EFFECTIVELY WITH PLANT-BASED PROTEINS

The Study:

The clinical study titled “Pea proteins oral supplementation promotes muscle thickness gains during resistance training: a double-blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled clinical trial vs. Whey protein”compares the impact with 161 men between the ages of 18 to 35.

The study was evaluated by performing tests on the muscle thickness and strength over three intervals - before the training program, six weeks into training, and after the training period was over. Muscle thickness was evaluated using ultrasonography and strength was also measured.

2. PEA PROTEIN USERS AND WHEY USERS DISPLAYED AN IDENTICAL GROWTH IN MUSCLE THICKNESS.

The Results:

Shocking! After the 12 week period, all three groups showed a consistent increase in muscle thickness and muscle strength.

However, further observations were:

The group supplementing with pea protein showed significantly greater bicep thickness compared to the placebo group. Compared to the group supplementing with whey protein, there was no significant difference either.

3. PLANT PROTEIN HAS SEVERAL OTHER ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OVER WHEY

ZERO INFLAMMATION: Plant-based proteins are dairy-free and gluten-free. This ensures that it does not causeinflammation in the body that a dairy-based whey protein can.

ZERO BLOATING: Most of whey protein’s side effects are related to digestion. Some people have trouble digesting it and experience problems like bloating, gas, stomach cramps and diarrhea. None of these side effects occur when you opt for a plant protein.

ZERO ACNE: One of whey protein’s other popular side effects is acne breakouts. Milk hormones and whey protein increase sebum production of the skin follicles which leads to acne. People suffering from acne are often advised to stop consuming whey protein altogether and opt for a rice or pea protein.

4. PLANT PROTEINS ABUNDANT BENEFITS MAKE IT AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE TO WHEY

So whether you’re a vegan and want assurance that supplementing with vegan protein has the same effect as with whey or if you’re looking to ditch whey in favour of plant-based options, the science speaks for itself.

Plant-based proteins, when used in adequate dosages (50 grams per day) statistically have the same effect on muscle thickness and strength as does whey protein supplements.

So the next time you’re looking to purchase a protein powder, feel empowered by opting for a plant-based protein powder.