#and the one everyone knows about: in your gut stealing nutrients from you. is one version.

[toytulini]

mmm. havent looked into it very far but i think we gotta cool it with the jokes about rfks brain worm. like i get your impulses there but it is ableist and im not joking about that.

his flaws that would make him a terrible president/person, are rooted somewhere besides the worm. the worm is incidental.

[bittercoldbrew]

PLEASE tell me about the alien plant girls im so gay for anthropomorphic fem plants

omg thank you SO MUCH for asking and i apologize in advance for the infodump because i have been thinking about these alien plant people for literal years now, i love them so much. I first started thinking about these guys a little after TFA, because of an oc i was working on for a lil star wars fic that i have mostly abandoned by now--so sorry to the like 3 people who were reading my sidon ithano fic but tlj/tros really killed whatever passion i had for the franchise for a good long time :/ but Mando is great so i've been thinking about them'st again...

anyway i am sticking this under a cut because a) im very attached to these characters and if someone steals my shit i will kermit and b) sweet jesus this got so long, i am so sorry

in the SW universe at least, these plant people (that i still for the life of me cannot settle on an actual name for) were the primary inhabitants of a dwarf planet way out in wild space; they had a pretty symbiotic relationship with a race of sentient insectoid people (basically human-sized bees) who could travel between the planet and their home on one of its three moons (affectionately called the Honey Moon). what the plants didn’t know was that the bees were also able to travel to different planets, and had been doing so for a couple centuries before everything went to shit--but we’ll get to that in a bit.

the plant people weren’t particularly interested in the galaxy around them--they had a decent understanding of astronomy and cosmology, but little cultural interest in journeying to the stars. since the planet was pretty small and distant from the galactic core, it was pretty rare that a visiting ship would even pass them by, and scanners didn’t register them as genuine life-forms separate from the natural flora, so even if someone happened to end up out there it’s not the sort of place anyone would really choose to land. on rare occasions, a pirate or smuggler would try to hide out on what they thought to be an unoccupied planet, and would return to the Outer Rim with tales of mobile, sentient trees and bizarre, organic cities found on some uncharted world; likewise, occasionally a plant person would turn up at the local bar with tales of crashed space-ships and strange aliens that seemed almost like people. neither would ever be taken seriously.

the plants aren’t a particularly verbal people. they understand spoken language (a somewhat-modified Basic, at least, which is what the bees speak hmm i wonder where they picked that up from) and many can talk, but most don’t really bother learning to do so. mostly they rely on an ESP-like combo of pheromones and body language, highly attuned to the point that it’s essentially a kind of telepathy. i think i mentioned in the tags on that post that my character Antheia is sorta kinda a jedi? for these people, force sensitivity tends to manifest as an extra-extra-sensory-perception that causes you to be hyperaware of every living thing in your environment, not just the other sentient ones.

this made her uhhh extremely off-putting as a youth, easily distractable and often disinterested in the other people in the small community she grew up in, where she was already pretty disliked to begin with. there’s quite a lot of diversity among the plant people (a wide variety of skin tones/textures and body types, though few if any secondary sex characteristics; four limbs are most common, though occasionally some have two or more sets of arms; different types of leaves/vines/blossoms/etc in lieu of hair), and though they have a barter-based economy there’s still a lot of classism that’s mostly based around lineage (and thus evinced by one’s appearance and the traits one manifests). to protect (or attempt to bolster) those lineages, prospective parents can apply for a spot in a nursery, where their offspring are propagated and tended--mostly just through infancy before going to live with parents, though sometimes longer, and the very high class have private nurseries that will do all the rearing so they don’t have to.

But, on very rare occasions, certain wild plants will spontaneously develop sentience, and even more rarely will survive on their own long enough to find their way to a community. Hundreds of years ago (or “before the bees could speak”, which is their version of “once upon a time”), these spontaneous growths were revered and cherished, and whoever was first to encounter one would see it as a great honor to be responsible for their care and upbringing. now, with a much more striated society, these “weeds” (derogatory) are considered inferior, feral, dangerous. fortunately for Antheia, the man who found her, tangled in marsh reeds under the light of the Honey Moon, didn’t buy into any of that bullshit. he was a really sweet dad, very attentive and doting on his increasingly-strange adopted daughter; they were very close. but the older she got, the more her unusual ability developed, and the more he realized he was well out of his depth to help her understand that part of herself. eventually, she’s sent away to a kind of temple/convent for other people like her, where she’s trained to hone and control her extra senses, rather than be overwhelmed by them.

many years later, the sudden appearance of several large starships in their atmosphere turns their society on its head. it turns out, the bee-people have been traveling to other planets, forging alliances, brokering deals; they claim they just want to facilitate inter-planetary trade. Antheia is among the first to mistrust these invading aliens and their fleet of well-armed droids who seem hell-bent on mining their planet (which is, apparently, rich with cortosis, which--thank you wookiepedia--is apparently capable of repelling lightsabers and blasterfire alike). She flees her convent, joins up with an underground network of resistance fighters, discovers that her hyperawareness makes her a truly formidable force on the battlefield, and helps lead her people in defending the sovereignty of their home. And then things take a turn for the worse...but we don’t need to get into that right now.

ANYWAY.

my other oc, Shoal, is from the same planet but not even remotely star-warsy; either from a different time period well before the droid incursion, or just like an AU of my own stuff, idk. but she’s great, i love her deeply even though i dont really know what i even want to do with her yet. i mostly just was thinking about what a normal, average person in this world would be like, but then i got too attached. she’s also one of the spontaneous “weeds”, a semi-aquatic plant girl that washed up on a sandbar that occasionally connects a small island with the mainland when the tide is out. she was sort of “found” by multiple people at the same time, since they were making their way across to go trade goods at the mainland market, so to avoid the confusion of who should be responsible for her, she’s just sort of raised by the village as a whole. they name her Shoal, since that’s where they found her (it started as a joke, but then no one could agree on anything else to call her so it just sort of...stuck).

she grows up without realizing that it’s a pretty unusual upbringing. as a teen, she gains the reputation for the island’s best fisher (it helps that she can breathe as well underwater as above, and she’s always been a good swimmer). one thing that’s pretty consistent among all the plant people are their teeth--they all have long, sharp incisors and canines because sexy and also as more of a defense mechanism than a dietary one. they don’t eat much, typically absorbing nutrients from the sun/water/air/soil (mud baths are such a beloved experience, like for the most part they are very dignified people but find them some good mud and they will wallow for days) but when they do it’s pretty meat-heavy. they don’t really enjoy the process of eating very much, especially because they don’t have much gut bacteria so they typically have to swallow some stones to break up their food and nobody wants to do all that. but, at least in the coastal towns near where Shoal grew up, fresh-caught fish is considered a delicacy, and they can trade for quite a lot in return.

as she gets older, though, she starts getting restless. she loves her village, but it’s all she’s ever really known. also, it is so hard to even consider dating when literally everyone your age is practically your sibling, i mean, yeesh. so one day she just packs her bags and says her goodbyes and waits for low tide, then sets off to find her own way in the great wide world. she stops wherever she can, sees everything she can, but eventually settles down working at a tavern in a medium-sized town that’s mostly acclaimed for being a crossroads between bigger and better places. she likes it there, likes getting to know lots of new people and hearing about someone else’s travels more than she actually liked traveling herself. after a few years, the tavern-keeper retires and decides to leave the place to her, and she finds she’s become a permanent fixture in this new community. that’s really all i have for her so far, and i have no idea whether i’ll ever actually do anything with this character lol, but still she is very precious to me so i hope i find a story she’d be a good match for sometime soon.

[kingdomofkitten]

Pretty-Rage & Kamen Haida: Part 2

*some time later, Haida wakes up, in a small house, looking out to rice fields*

Haida: GAH! What the-?! ...wha…

Retsuko: You’re up! Finally! *hands him a bowl of rice* Here you go. Eat up!

Haida: *grabs the bowl* What the-...how did you find this?

Retsuko: Well, let’s just say you were lucky where you crashed. A farmer found us, and brought us over here to recover. Turns out he had a bunch of rice that was almost ready at the time of the food being taken away, so he hid it, in case they were to try to steal it.

Haida: Oh. *starts eating* ...needs some sauce, but it’ll do.

Retsuko: Hey, don’t complain! I’ve been starving for something all day. *eating like an animal*

Haida: Hehe, oh, I know, don’t worry…*looks off to the fields, into the forest, and mountains* …..heh.

Retsuko: What’s wrong?

Haida: Ah, just wondering how we’ve survived as long as we have.

Retsuko: ...what do you mean?

Haida: I mean...I dunno, it always feels like every time we seem to legitimately send the Bryriam back a bit, they always come back, full force, and we have to start over. And every time, it always seems like they’re stronger than ever before. Like, where does it end? Will we finally have the upper hand, or will they win? I want to protect the Earth...for you. For Ikari. For Fenneko. For everyone….but I’m starting to feel like that will quickly become pointless. Especially with this recent dude, their plan straight up knocked us out! It could’ve gotten us killed! How the hell do you jump back from that?! I...I don’t know. *continues eating*

Retsuko: ...well, you know how I jump back?

Haida: ...how?

Retsuko: I see you do it.

Haida: ...hmm?

Retsuko: It’s gonna be a little weird to explain, but...remember, when I was pregnant with Ikari? At that time, crime fighting...that wasn’t something I could keep doing at that time. So, you and I agreed you would do all of that, while I stayed back, and I would get back into it once Ikari was born.

Haida: Well, yeah. That was kind of a given. It came as a little bit of a shock to me when you came back, almost as soon as he was delivered. I would’ve figured you’d need a little extra time.

Retsuko: You know why I came back as soon as I did? Because you put up with fighting them off for nine long months. You had to go through that alone. You fought them neck and neck, and you were occasionally on the brink of near death...but every night, you came home, you crawled in bed with me, and asked me how my day went, treating it as just another day at work. Even when you were a bloodied mess, and we had to tend to your injuries, you kept it up. You wouldn’t stop for a single second, and...there’s something to admire about that, Haida….you remember when we first brought home Ikari?

Haida: Y-yeah. It was at night. He was so tired, we just laid him in his cradle, and let him sleep.

Retsuko: And you remember what we talked about afterwards?

Haida: Um….I kind of forgot.

Retsuko: Well, we said that now that we have a baby, our responsibilities are piled on more. The game has been changed slightly. We have to work harder. We first just fought evil for the safety of the Earth. But now, we don’t just fight for that. We fight, so that our son can have a bright future. So that he doesn’t have to live under the iron fist of the Byriam. I don’t know how much more we will be able to take of them, Haida. I really don’t. But as long as we’re still here, we’re still able to give hope to the people, I’m not gonna stop fighting them, and I hope you don’t either.

Haida: *smiles* I won’t.

Retsuko: *smiles back* Good. *suddenly, her phone rings, and she answers* Hello?

Fenneko: Hey, Retsy! You guys alright? Saw the nasty crash you two took.

Retsuko: How did-

Fenneko: Cameras. Remember?

Retsuko: Ah, right. Anyways, we’re fine. How’s Ikari?

Fenneko: He’s A-Okay, found some water to give him, to hold him over. Though, he might need to be changed soon. Ignoring that, though, um...any chance you guys are coming back to town? Because I’m preeeeetty certain the Byriam has taken the city hostage. *overseeing a large crowd of people, surrounding Phoenixia, Kuishinbō, and the Cronion soldiers*

Phoenixia: *distant* PEOPLE OF TOKYO! WE WILL GIVE YOU BACK YOUR FOOD SUPPLY! HOWEVER, IN ORDER FOR THIS TO OCCUR, YOU MUST GIVE COMPLETE AND TOTAL SURRENDER TO THE BYRIAM EMPIRE!

Fenneko: ...as you can see, kinda need to hurry your asses over here.

Retsuko: Oh! Uh, we’ll be heading over there now! Thanks! *hangs up* Come on! Phoenixia’s got the city wrapped around her finger!

Haida: Yikes! Right! *they get up, and run towards their motorcycle, with an elderly man waiting for them*

Retsuko: Thank you so much for your help! *the two mount the motorcycle*

Old man: No worries! Now get back to Tokyo! And don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me.

Haida: Thank you, sir. *they drive off*

*meanwhile…*

Civilian: P-please! Just let us eat! We’ve been wasting away all day!

Phoenixia: What did I tell you? You surrender to the Byriam Empire, and you will receive your nutrients. Until then, you will starve. KUISHINBŌ! Chow down!

Kuishinbō: Yes, ma’am! *grabs out a giant play of food, to the dismayed wails of the crowd, and opens his mouth* YOOOO-

???: HOLD IT! *the monster stops, as he, and everyone else, turns to see Kamen Haida and Pretty-Rage, driving up to the commotion!*

Phoenixia: WHAT?! They’re back?!

Kamen Haida: Better than ever! *they stop the motorcycle, and jump into the action* *to the civilians* Everyone, head out, we’ll take care of this!

*the people begin running away, as the Cronion soldiers charge at the two for battle!*

Pretty-Rage: Ready?!

Kamen Haida: Ready!

*the two begin their battle with the Cronions*

Pretty-Rage: Heyah! *roundhouse kicks some soldiers, who fall to the ground*

Cronion: *squeals, as it tries to wack her with a staff...only to be blocked with her microphone, and blasted out of the way!*

Kamen Haida: *punches one Cronion in the face multiple times, kicks a few others, backflips onto one, jumps off of that soldier, and then jump kicks another!*

Phoenixia: Ugh! That does it! KUISHINBŌ! GO!

Kuishinbō: Yes, ma’am! *jumps into action* YOOOOOOO!!!! *slashes the two!*

Pretty-Rage: Agh!

Kamen Haida: GAH! *they step back, but keep fighting the monster!*

Pretty-Rage: *tries blasting Kuishinbō with her mic!* Take that!

Kuishinbō: *deflects the blast!* Hohohoho! Nice try, but you can’t stop me! *opens his mouth, to reveal a giant beam* KUIARASHIMASU! *blasts it at the two, who are sent flying back a bit!*

Kamen Haida: AAAH!

Pretty-Rage: AAAH! *they fall to the ground* Crap! What do we do?!

Kamen Haida: I-I don’t know!

Kuishinbō: *walks up to them* This was fun! But this, alas, is the end! *unleashes his sword, aiming to strike them!* YOOO-*suddenly gets blasted by several laser shots from the sky!* OW! Wha?!

Phoenixia: *looks up* What?!

Pretty-Rage and Kamen Haida: *they both look up* Huh?!

*up on top, they see a lone figure, in robotic armor, and helmet, somewhat resembling that of an astronaut, with a laser gun in it’s hand*

Pretty-Rage: Who...who’s that?

Phoenixia: Identify yourself!

Being: *jumps down, and starts walking towards Kuishinbō* My name is Cosmotaro. You are members of the Byriam Empire, who have tried many times to terrorize, and conquer this beautiful planet. For that, you will be punished.

Kuishinbō: Ooooo, you’re taking precious time away from my lunch! *raises his sword in the charges for an attack* YOOOOOOO! *suddenly gets stopped by a grab of his arm by Cosmotaro* Huh?

Cosmotaro: *punches Kuishinbō in the gut, sending him flying across the street!* Pathetic.

Kamen Haida: *gets up, along with Pretty-Rage* H-hey! Thanks!

Cosmotaro: Spare the thanks, we need to eliminate this being. *aims his gun at Kuishinbō, and starts firing!*

Kuishinbō: AGH! OW!

Pretty-Rage: *grabbing her mic* ...here goes! *goes into death metal mode!* METAL ROOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!! *the might of her scream makes a beam that fires at the monster!*

Kamen Haida: Keep them firing! *charges at the monster, and jumps into the air* HAIDAAAAA KIIIIICK! *jump kicks Kuishinbō straight in the face, and does a backflip off of him!*

Kuishinbō: I NEVER GOT TO EEEEEAAAAAT!!!! *falls to the ground, and explodes!*

Phoenixia: Oh, no, you don’t! *uses her hands, in a waving motion* BRYIAM….GROW!

*suddenly, Kuishinbō returns, as a giant!*

Cosmotaro: Huh?!

Pretty-Rage: Oh no! What are we going to do?!

Kamen Haida: The only thing we can do.

Pretty-Rage: Wha…..oh, come on, Haida, you KNOW I don’t like him doing this!

Kamen Haida: Well, what else do we have?

Pretty-Rage: Well…..uh…..*sigh* fine. *grabs her phone* Fenneko, you there?

Fenneko: *setting Ikari down, on the rooftop of a building* Ready to go. *hands Ikari a small device* Alrighty, buddy, get to work.

Ikari: Bah! *holds the device up to the sky, which causes it to light up!*

*suddenly, in a blinding flash, the small infant has disappeared, and in his place, a giant alien-like being stands tall, against the giant kabuki-like monster….it is….Kyodaikari!*

Kuishinbō: YOOOO! *the two get into fighting stances...before charging, and tackling one another!*

Kyodaikari: GEYAH! DAH! *kicking, and chopping Kuishinbō*

Kuishinbō: *kicks Kyodaikari in the gut, pushing him back, into a building! ...the building’s empty, don’t worry* You will not get away with this! *opens his mouth once more!* KUIARASHIMASUUUUUUUU!!!!!! *fires a beam at the giant hero!*

Kyodaikari: *uses his arms to form a poses, which emits a beam from his elbow* GEAH! *the two beams clash, causing the earth to shake!*

Kuishinbō: YOU CANNOT BEAT ME!

Kyodaikari: GYREAAAAH! *eventually, his beam begins to win out, and he overcomes Kuishinbō’s strength, and blasts the monster!*

Kuishinbō: AAAAGH! *falls to the ground* YYYYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!! *explodes!*

Phoenixia: DAMN! *to the heroes* This is far from the end! *disappears along with the Cronions*

Pretty-Rage: *sighs* Man, you’d think we would be getting close to stopping her by now.

Kamen Haida: Such is the struggle…*sees Cosmotaro leaving* Hey! Thanks for the help! ...who are you, anyway?

Cosmotaro: ...whoever I am is irrelevant.

Pretty-Rage: Well, considering you helped us, it would be nice to know your name, make a new friend.

Cosmotaro: Let’s get something clear. We are not friends in the battlefield. You do know me when we’re civilians, and we do get along. But as this, neither of you are my friends. We are merely on the side of justice. Nothing more. *walks away*

Kamen Haida: *starts to storm towards him* Listen here, you bastar-! *he’s stopped by Pretty-Rage* H-huh? Retsuko!

Pretty-Rage: Haida, just...let him go. It’s not worth getting mad over. We won, that’s all that matters.

Kamen Haida: ……*sigh* Alright, fine. *to the giant Kyodaikari* You can turn back, buddy, you’re done!

Kyodaikari: GEH! *turns back into the small child, Ikari, running to his parents*

Pretty-Rage: *crouching down* Come to mommy, sweetie!

Ikari: *jumps into her arms* Mama! :D

Kamen Haida: Hehe..c’mon, let’s get back to work, before anyone notices we’re gone.

*a short time later, they’re all back in the office, eating lunch, like nothing ever happened*

Retsuko: *chowing down* So, yeah! Another job well done, I think!

Haida: Yeah. And thank goodness, huh? Now people aren’t gonna be miserable all around here.

Fenneko: In this building? Nah, they still are.

Haida: You know what I mean….I’m still wondering who that guy was.

Retsuko: Hmm? Oh, that Cosmo...something, dude?

Haida: Cosmotaro, I think was his name.

Retsuko: Ah...well, I’m not gonna worry about it. If he wants to act that way, that’s his choice. But who knows? Maybe he’ll warm up more.

Haida: Provided we see him again. *sees Resasuke walking up to their table* Hey, Space Cadet! What’s up?

Resasuke: Hey, is the coffee machine working again?

Retsuko: I think so, Resasuke. All the food and beverages went back to everyone, once that monster was destroyed.

Resasuke: ...there was a monster?

Fenneko: Aaaaand of course he missed it. :3

Haida: In any case, it should be fine. If not, lemme know, I’ll go take a look at it.

Resasuke: Thanks. *walks off*

Fenneko: ...honestly, Retsuko, I’m still figuring out how the hell you saw anything in him.

Retsuko: Hey, he’s not a bad guy! Just...not my type.

Haida: Lucky me, then. ;)

Retsuko: Mhm!

Resasuke: *walks over to the coffee machine...and suddenly pulls out a familiar looking laser gun* ….. *in his memory, as...Cosmotaro* You do know me when we’re civilians, and we do get along. But as this, neither of you are my friends. We are merely on the side of justice. Nothing more. ……*he looks at Retsuko and Haida* ….*sigh* maybe soon.

*some time later…*

Retsuko: *talking with Washimi on the phone* And then Ikari did his whole giant superhero thing, and beat the guy until he exploded! It was insane!

Washimi: Wow! Well, that’s wonderful to hear, Retsuko. It’s good to see you’re using your abilities for us Earthlings. You’ve got quite the team now, it seems like!

Retsuko: Yeah. It’s getting tough, but we’re always getting tougher.

Washimi: *chuckles* I bet. Well, listen, I have to go. Gori and I have something planned, and we mustn't be late.

Retsuko: Okay! Talk to you later!

Washimi: Bye. *hangs up, and sees Gori, glaring at her* …..what?

Gori: ...when do you plan on telling her?

Washimi: ...soon enough.

Gori: Well, when you do, try not to be as cruel as you can be with that secret.

Washimi: Gori, you’re my friend, I care about you, but you do not understa-

Gori: I don’t understand? Nuh-uh, YOU don’t understand. You may think you can keep this up, and still be her friend, but one of these days, you’re gonna drive her away...like you drove me away. *walks off*

Washimi: Gori, I-! ….ugh. *receives a call* Hello?

???: Come on down. They’re expecting you.

Washimi: ...on my way. *hangs up, gets up, walks away from her desk...and teleports to a dark, dank, cave-like place, surrounded by tons of alien like individuals, having herself suddenly turned into a familiar looking being…*

The Evil Ruler of the Empire, KAIZER: PHOENIXIA! You have failed once again to get even Japan to fall to our whim!

Second-In-Command DENDO: *a buff, seemingly more militaristic brute* Hmph. Typical, of a weakling such as yourself, Phoenixia.

Phoenixia: Shut it, Dendo! My lord Kaizer, it won’t happen again! I promise!

Kaizer: You are beginning to test my patience, young child! We may have to send Dendo to finish the job.

Dendo: I think that would be an excellent idea, my lord. If my pure force was on the lines, instead of Phoenixia’s inane schemes, the Earthlings would not stand a chance.

Phoenixia: Earth cannot be conquered by raw strength alone. You must be able to tackle their thoughts and emotions as well, before truly breaking them.

Kaizer: Whatever the case may be, remember. This is only to help us. If we cannot acquire the Earth, we, as a species, may not be living much longer. This is only for a secure future! TO THE FUTURE OF THE BYRIAM!

Everyone in the room: TO THE FUTURE OF THE BYRIAM!

Kaizer: Dismissed! *everyone starts scattering around, going to wherever*

Phoenixia: *looking over Earth* …

Dendo: *walking up to her* Just remember something, I will be the one to bring that planet to it’s knees. So you better treat me with some respect very soon. Who knows? I might even let your precious friends live, once I win. *laughs, and walks away*

Phoenixia: …*sigh* Retsuko, I pray that we will never have to confront to the death. But if that day comes, I will not hold back. I will stand my ground. For my empire, for my people. Like how you stand for yours… *leaves*

つづく

“Wow, part 1 sure was big, eh?”

He says, as part two is even bigger.

But yeah, FINALLY got this done! I’m pretty proud of this whole thing, honestly. It was a great way to let off some steam. Will I ever come back to it? I dunno, maybe. It might be fun. But until then, I’ve got bigger fish to fry....oh, and yes, Kyodaikari is supposed to be an Ultraman send-up.

[madamlaydebug]

WE ALL HAVE PARASITES – HELP! One in three Americans is infected with parasites. Continue reading to learn more about what parasites are, how to know if you are infected, and finally how to get rid of them. Parasites can rob you of energy, steal your oxygen, and leach off the food you eat, weakening your immune system and putting you at greater risk to get cancer. Parasites are worms living in your body, literally just hanging there in your digestive tract. They are tiny organisms that live in your body and feed at your expense. Parasites survive off our vitamins, proteins and other nutrients. They are alive and must also release bowel movements. Yup you guessed it, that happens inside of us. Parasites are often found in the colon but they are not limited to just that area. Parasites may also infest are like your: lungs, esophagus, muscles, joints, blood, brain, skin, and even your eyes. Symptoms of parasites: • Abdominal pain • Diarrhea • Nausea or vomiting • Gas or bloating • Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus) • Rash or itching around the rectum or vulva • Stomach pain or tenderness • Feeling tired • Weight loss • Passing a worm in your stool • Gas/bloating • Cravings • Runny nose • Sleep disorders • Headaches • Loss of appetite • Dark areas under the eyes • Yeast/candida infection • Fever • Acne • Allergies • Cravings • Hyperactivity/anxiety • Nervousness • Skin conditions – hives, itching or irritation on the face • Bad taste in the mouth ** some woman have parasites in their uterus, and they are unaware – causing intense PMS symptoms. ALMOST EVERYONE HAS PARASITES. It is a part of life, just as bacteria is on everything we touch. The amount of people affected in their lifetime is astonishing and unfortunately most of do not know we are affected. We are unaware of the symptoms; we have trouble connecting the dots. We believe because we are in the western world we cannot be subject to such infections. This is just not true, and it’s not our fault either. We were never taught about parasites and natural health. We need to make people aware and we need to keep talking about the unspoken and what people are afraid of. How do you get parasites? Parasites are a part of life! • Poor sanitation of food and water • Contaminated food and water You can get parasites from literally anything, fruits, vegetables, meats, coming in contact with others person’s body fluid, and if you live around with pets… yup you have them. . Water pollution has brought these critical immune system depressants: PCBs (Monsanto), benzene, asbestos, azo dyes(synthetic colors in food and clothing), heavy metals, motor oil and radioactive elements. Food has brought the same depressants, through food processing that uses the same polluted water to accomplish it all. – So if you are eating processed food you are ingesting parasites.They are nearly unavoidable but with the correct information, cleansing your body, and eating the right food you will be on the path to wellness, naturally. Parasites thrive in unhealthy bodies. How long they survive depends on our health and how one chooses to take care of themselves. Poor eating choices and unhealthy habits will only make your immune system more susceptible to parasites. In addition even if you are making the correct eating choices, if you have an unhealthy gut you will be unable to absorb the nutrients you need. Does that piss you off? Well it should. But have no fear there are ways to restore your health. I hope this information will cause you to think about the wisdom of detoxing your body to create a more alkaline internal environment that is needed in order to kill parasites. You can complete various parasite cleanses using all natural herbal medicine. You can also increase your sulfur intake to kill off the parasites. I have also read research regarding seaweed and how the iodine and various plant compounds acted as a natural anti-parasitic. To prevent parasites we must eat – anti-parasitic food. The natural way. The way our ancestors did it, the only way before Fast Food and an Era of Misinformation and alternative facts. What did our ancestors eat? Garlic, herbs, fermented foods, ginger Native Americans knew we were supposed to cleanse our bodies to get rid of parasites. They would often induce diarrhea and vomiting to rid of these creatures. Similarity to animals in which we remove worms from every 6 months. This tells us we must look within and think about doing the same. We have lost touch with our ancestral knowledge through generations of miscommunicating information in order to manipulate us into living a certain life. Learn. Unlearn. And Relearn. Herbs used to cleanse parasites: Wormwood: (from the Artemisia shrub – artemisia absinthum) Known for its vermicidal properties and helps those with a weak and under-active digestion. It increases the acidity of the stomach and the production of bile. The wormwood capsules kill the larval stages of the parasites . COMMON CLOVES (from the clove tree – eugenia caryophyllata) Anti-parasitical, anti-fungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. It also removes pain. The clove capsules remove the parasite eggs. Others ways you can prevent parasites and live worm free: 1. EAT HEALTHY – Veggies, salads, leafy greens and cleansing foods. Avoid high sugar foods, and avoid all refined sugar/wheat/processed food. 2. EAT PARASITE KILLING FOOD – Raw garlic, pumpkin pineapples, papaya seeds, oregano essential oil in tea, dried figs, ginger, garlic 3. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER – Keep your system flushing out toxins. Water is so important for flushing and our health. Constantly be drinking water and hydrating your body. There is more to this story, parasites live in other parasites. They contain their own bacteria and viruses too. One round worm named Ascaris is extremely common in humans and bring on illness and diseases such as: herpes, chicken pox, mumps, and coxsackie viruses. We need to be cleansing our bodies and ensuring we put in the right foods in order to prevent parasites from taking over and destroying our health. Instead of vaccines we should begin parasite cleanses from birth. There are many cultures that practice this; it is just unheard of in western societies. Sometimes things that seem uncomfortable at first are actually what we need.

[scaryastheyseem]

Animorphs Secret Santa

It’s time for @animorphsecretsanta! This is for Poppy @hostilepopcorn, who loves AxMarco and the true meaning of Christmas. I hope you like it! I could not come up with a title.

Untitled Secret Santa 2017 Fic

 The space alien sitting across from me has a pointed chin and my best friend’s brown eyes. He is struggling to untie the red satin ribbon on a Whitman’s sampler box of chocolates, because human hands, he keeps reminding me, are large and clumsy and don’t have enough fingers, and he is still getting used to them. “Behold,” I boom, in my best radio announcer voice. “A mighty Andalite warrior, brought low by human gift-wrapping technology.” My voice cracks halfway through the sentence, which sort of ruins the joke.

 Ax glances up from his work long enough to roll his eyes at me. He didn’t roll his eyes before we started dating. I’m clearly a bad influence, which is awesome. “I am not a warrior yet. I am still an aristh. And I have not been defeated. Merely—set back. These human hands are—”

 “Vastly inferior to Andalite hands, because everything humans have is vastly inferior to Andalites, up to and including our Porta-Johns, yeah, yeah, I think I get it by now.”

 He blinks, startled, then gives me a tiny smile, like he’s testing out his face. “I was going to say unexpectedly strong. It is difficult to properly calibrate the amount of pressure I am applying to the ribbon.”

 “Give it to me.” I hold out a hand. “I have a lot more experience calibrating my fingers or whatever.”

 Ax hands over the chocolate box. “You are making an innuendo.” He sounds delighted with himself for figuring it out.

 “Yeah. I have no idea what it was supposed to be implying, though.” Ax’s efforts to untie the ribbon have fucked up the bow to the degree that it actually does take me several minutes and one broken fingernail to untie it. I pass it back to him, and when he opens the box, his face actually lights up. I mean, with a big, goofy grin and round cheeks and sparkling eyes, like a box of chocolates is the best thing to ever happen to him and like nothing bad has ever happened to him, and he’s so bright and blinding that I have to look away for a second and count the pine needles under my bare feet.

 Ax either doesn’t notice or is polite enough not to say anything, and when I look up again, he’s already eaten three chocolates and is cramming a fourth into his mouth, scrutinizing the little chart that tells you which flavors are where intently. The wrappers are neatly folded in a stack next to him. “The hazelnut is better than the caramel,” he tells me. “But both are vastly inferior to the dark-and-white-chocolate swirl. Suh-wirl. Hazelnut. Zel. Zel. Caramel, zel, mel.”

 “And the store clerk thought I was insane for buying my boyfriend a sampler box of chocolates for Christmas.” Actually, Jake thought I was insane, too. Not that he could talk. He got Cassie a flashlight for Christmas. Mind you, this is a guy who breaks into the Yeerk Pool on a regular basis. A guy who’s been running circles around Visser Three since the eighth grade. He’s not an idiot, except for when he totally is. Who buys the girl they made out with on an alien planet—the girl who would totally be their girlfriend, if only they had the guts to ask—a flashlight for Christmas?

 Jake, that’s who. I can’t tell you his last name. Partially because of the whole guerilla warfare thing, and partially because I don’t want everyone to know how totally clueless he is when it comes to girls.

 I’m Marco, by the way. The handsomest, most intelligent guerilla warrior of the bunch. This is Ax, my boyfriend, an alien who can turn into a human, and into a lot of other animals. We can all turn into other animals. Can’t tell you who we are, the Yeerks are everywhere, etc. You know this already, try and keep up.

 “This is an excellent gift,” Ax says reassuringly. There’s chocolate smeared across the lower half of his face. Not a cute little smudge on the corner of his mouth, either. We’re talking a full-on Hershey beard. I want to kiss him anyway, because being in love is stupid. “The variety of flavors and textures serve to enhance the already highly favorable experience of consuming chocolate, and not knowing the nature of the filling before biting into it adds a welcome rush of adrenaline to an otherwise danger-less dessert experience.”

 “Wow, you should write ads for Nestle.” Ax’s brow furrows, and I move on, hurriedly, before he can force me to explain the concept of advertising again. Don’t get me wrong, Ax isn’t an idiot either, and he’s been on Earth long enough to have seen ads. It’s just that Andalites don’t really do ‘money’ or ‘companies’ or ‘capitalism’ the way humans do, so he kind of doesn’t get what they’re for. “I’m glad you like it. Merry Christmas.”

 “This day bears no significant meaning to me,” Ax says, like he has every day this month. “I am from another world. Andalites do not have the same calendar as humans.”

 “Ax-man, some humans don’t have the same calendar as other humans.”

 “I am aware,” Ax says haughtily. The effect is somewhat spoiled because—again, chocolate face. “Rachel has made this point clear. Several times.”

 Rachel hates Christmas carols, so obviously, I’ve spent every boring reconnaissance mission since Thanksgiving doing my best Mariah Carey impression. I told her it was my duty as Ax’s boyfriend to educate him about Earth culture, which as it turned out was a terrible excuse, because Ax told us last week that all human music sounds the same to him. Which is to say, terrible. Even Nine Inch Nails. Even Offspring. Which, aside from being a total affront to the glory that is The Downward Spiral, meant that I had to throw away the mix CD I’d been making him and beg Nora to drive me to the mall so that I could spend two hours searching for the perfect gift. Jake showed up to help me, which mostly consisted of him following me around and saying things like “I dunno, he likes food, right? Maybe get him a crockpot? My dad got my mom a crockpot.”

 “Your dad has been married to your mom for twenty years,” I said. “I’ve been dating Ax for three months. Also, even if we had been dating for twenty years, a crockpot would still be a shitty gift, I like to think that I have a little more game than getting my boyfriend a cooking implement for Christmas. Also, he’s an alien who eats by absorbing nutrients from grass, and he lives in the woods and doesn’t have a kitchen and he probably couldn’t cook without starting a forest fire, and then where would the Ramones live, huh?”

 Jake had been nodding along, but now he stopped and furrowed his brow. “The Ramones?”

 “The baby skunks. The ones that Cassie saved. We named them after the Ramones.”

 “I think you might be freaking out a little, dude,” Jake said, in the same carefully neutral voice that he used to talk about things like Visser One and murder. It should have felt out of place in the mall, but there was a Yeerk pool entrance in the Gap changing rooms. Jake had almost bled to death on the linoleum outside GameStop once. Jake-the-general fit right in with the fluorescent lights and the tinny Christmas carols, the same way that he did in school, or my bedroom, or every other part of my fucking life.

 And he was right. I was freaking out. Which was stupid—I’d been in way more stressful situations than this. “I’m not freaking out. I’m just not getting Ax a crockpot,” I said, in my best semblance of a normal teenage boy with a normal amount of stress over my boyfriend’s Christmas present. My secret boyfriend, who was an alien, fighting a guerilla war with me and my best friend and my boyfriend’s best friend and my best friend’s girlfriend and my best friend’s cousin, who one of these days was going to snap and murder me for telepathically singing Mariah Carey songs in the body of an osprey.

 You know. The normal amount of stress to have over that.

 And in the end I’d panicked, and gotten Ax a freaking Whitman’s sampler, and it turns out that a Whitman’s sampler was the perfect present for your alien boyfriend of three months, who was now singing the praises of rum coconut with his bony shoulders under my arm as we sat together under the biggest tree in the forest where he lives. Even human morph is taller than I am, so he has to slouch pretty dramatically to make it possible for me to even put my arm around his shoulders. Which he does, every time we sit anywhere together, even when it means half-lying down on a bunch of tangled tree roots like he is right now. It can’t be comfortable. I’ve never asked him why he does it. The answer would probably freak me out way more than any Christmas present.

 “I did not get you anything,” Ax says. He frowns. “This is not like a birth-day. Birthhh day. When you are given a gift on this day, it is customary to reciprocate, is it not?”

 “It’s cool,” I say, jumping on the distraction. “I mean, like you said, you’re not even from this planet. You didn’t know what Christmas was until like a year ago, and you don’t have any Earth money anyway.”

 He rifles through the chocolate box, squinting at the little flavor chart. “I have means of acquiring Earth money.”

 I hold up a hand. “Please do not tell me about any more of the felonies that you and Tobias commit together. I’d like to maintain plausible deniability when you two are inevitably sent to Andalite Juvie for your crimes.”

 “Tobias and I have never committed a felony,” Ax says huffily. “Property damage not involving a motor vehicle and not in excess of two hundred fifty of your human dollars—“

 “Not my dollars, and are you saying you and Tobias have never fucked up a car?”

 “—is not a felony.” He pops another chocolate into his mouth. “Ah. Peppermint. You are the one who has stolen and summarily destroyed a motor vehicle. Neither Tobias nor I can drive.”

 “Like I have my license yet?”

 Ax rolls his eyes and looks up at me through brown frizz of curls falling into his eyes. “Would you like me to steal you a car for Christmas, Marco,” he deadpans, and I laugh and give into temptation and kiss him. He tastes like chocolate and pine needles.

 When I pull away, several minutes later, he says, “Why are you not with your father?”

 “Please don’t talk about my dad while we’re making out.” I sit up and shake tree bark out of my hair.

 Ax doesn’t follow me. He stays lying on the forest floor, hair a halo around his head, staring up at me with wide, unblinking eyes. “Christmas is traditionally spent with one’s family. These Messages and the Very Special Episodes were clear on that subject. I care for you, very much.” The way he says things like that, like they’re observable facts of the universe. The sky is blue. You have thirty-two seconds left in morph. I care for you, very much. “But we have only been ‘dating’ for three months. I do not think I can count myself part of your family yet.”

 “Half of my family is probably on the Blade Ship, being used as a meat puppet to torture some poor Hork-Bajir and plot the destruction of our entire planet.” My voice comes out sharper than I want it to, but Ax doesn’t blink. Ax doesn’t blink enough, even as a human. We need to talk about that at some point. “The other half is sitting at home with his new wife, watching Charlie Brown Christmas and eating tamales, totally oblivious. Excuse me if I thought that spending the day with my boyfriend sounded more fun than watching my dad make mushy faces at my math teacher.”

 “You could have gone to Prince Jake’s house. Your families have known each other since you were children. Surely they would be a viable substitute for your own family unit.”

 “Oh, sure. Chinese food and movies with a known Controller, and the slim-but-terrifying possibility that Rachel will try and remove Tom’s Yeerk with a chopstick.” And Jake’s parents giving me pitying looks out of the corner of their eyes when they thought I wasn’t looking, in between scolding Jake about his failing grades. And Jake’s silent thousand-yard stare through Tom’s forehead, like all the failures of the world were on his shoulders. And Rachel’s skinny fingers with their blue glitter nail polish twitching on the edge of the table, just waiting for one of us to give the signal. “You have to admit, that family isn’t exactly relaxing.”

 “So I am your last resort.” Ax looks—it’s hard to read his facial expressions, but I think he looks disappointed, and like he’s trying not to be, or at least, not to let me know. He squares his jaw and looks off to the side. Yup, that’s definitely a my boyfriend just said that he’s only hanging out with me because his dad and his best friend are both totally fucked up face.

 I lean forward and take Ax’s face in my hands, so that I know that he’s listening to me. “You’re my boyfriend. Usually, people want to spend time with their boyfriends. I bought you a box of shitty chocolate specifically so that I could spend time with you, without worrying about alien space battles or alien office politics or being stuck as a flea for the rest of our lives because of alien morphing technology, or—alien things in general?”

 “You realize,” Ax says calmly, like it’s totally normal for me to be leaning over him and squishing his cheeks between my hands while I talk, “That you are an alien.”

 “Bzzt. Wrong. We’re on my planet, therefore, you’re the alien. Take me to the Andalite home world, then we’ll talk about me being an alien.”

 “I would take you to Andal, you know.”

 The thing is that I do know, I really really do. Ax wants to take me to his planet and introduce me to his parents and tell me about their trees and their grass and all the other things that Andalites think are important. And it’s too much, the way that his face over a box of chocolates is too much, the way that I care for you, very much is too fucking much. I steamroll over it, I have to, because if we start talking about family and homes I will actually have a full on panic attack, right here, in front of my alien boyfriend and this big old tree. “You are, as weird as it sounds, the most normal thing in my life. And I care about you. And I want to be here, with you, right now.”

 Ax opens his mouth to say something, and I kiss him again. He tastes like chocolate, and pine needles, and absolutely nothing else.

[lattetimes]

So How About Them New Episodes, Ammirite Ladies??

here’s what i thought of the new episodes via live reactions as i watching them!

overall, it was kinda underwhelming but there were parts that i really did like! and if you liked these episodes, that’s awesome!

MAYOR DEWEY WINS

was this title a reference to the movie/book John Dies at the End, cause if so then i’m shocked i caught that

apparently it is, would you look at that. btw i kinda liked the movie.

damn, Sadie took this hard. and Steven never told Lars’ parents. so i guess Sadie has to do that herself.

why tf does Steven care if Dewey wins?!

OH, IT’S BECAUSE HE DON’T WANT SHIT TO CHANGE AND HE THINKS HAVING A NEW MAYOR WOULD BE BAD WTF DEWEY DOES NOTHING

ok wow, there’s only 24 people in Beach City and he never noticed that Lars was gone!?

“is that why the donut shop was closed?”

“we’ll hire a new donut boy!” DEWEY. DUDE. ARE YOU FOR REAL?!

“high school mayor” lmao

how did he run unopposed for 10 years!?

LARS’ MOM KEEPS A SHITTON OF TOMATOES IN HER PURSE SHE READY TO THROW DOWN ALL THE TIME

i don’t like that Steven is so adamant on Dewey winning.

jesus, Steven, let Nanefua win. she’s obviously the better person for the job

“i’m done pointing my finger at you, and now i direct all my fingers on both my hands to the citizens” top 10 anime deaths

NANEFUA WINS, OH MY GOD YES

STEVEN, DUDE, REALLY?! LEAVE CONNIE ALONE!

“i don’t know what you’re talking about, but i need to get a new job” 2018 mood tbh

episode rating: 2 tomatoes out of 5. i can’t stand Steven in this episode at all. but hey, NANEFUA WON!!!!!!

RAISING THE BARN

....was Lapis’ main concern that Steven dropped his phone on Homeworld? not the fact that he was... idk... ON HOMEWORLD?!

ok Lapis is ready to bail immediately and tbh i dont blame her

did she just uproot the entire bard wtf?! 

BARN THE DIAMONDS, BARN THE DIAMONDS, BARN THE DIAMONDS!

episode rating: 1.5 barns out of 5. BARN THE DIAMONDS, BARN THE DIAMONDS, BARN THE DIAMONDS!

GEMCATION

^ mfw Amethyst basically spat an egg out her mouth (it was kinda gross)

well. Greg got some kinda house.... still don’t get why the crew is so against having Greg get a house

also, where’s Peridot?

“remove all shoes before entering” Pearl fucking THROWS A RANDOM ASS PAIR OF SHOES

OKAY PEARL SCREAMING “PARTY GUY, NO!” WAS ACTUALLY KINDA FUNNY

S H O W M E P A R T Y G U Y Y O U C O W A R D S

“Steven, you should join me. become a raisin” ok Garnet

did. did Steven completely cut Garnet off as she was talking about Pink Diamond and the Gem War with the whole, “yeah, yeah, i get it, Mom. i already heard this story” kinda thing? B R U H that ain’t okay

AND GARNET JUST SHUTS UP AND WAS LIKE “good, you understand”

PEARL WAS GONNA STRAIGHT UP ADMIT TO SOME HUGE THING AFTER HER “THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO EXPLAIN” LINE AND HE CUTS HER OFF WITH “CONNIE HATES ME”

WHY COULDN’T STEVEN AT LEAST TELL THESE FOUR THAT HE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT CONNIE HATING HIM?!

I’M KINDA GETTING SICK OF SEEING STEVEN MOPE LIKE THIS FOR 3 EPISODES STRAIGHT AND I HOPE HE DOESN’T KEEP THIS UP FOR THE NEXT 2

OH NO, PLEASE DISREGARD ALL OF THE MESSED UP THINGS YOU SAW ON HOMEWORLD CAUSE CONNIE IS (rightfully) UPSET WITH YOU. LARS D I E D.

GUITAR DAD SAVES THE DAY

i love Greg Universe

how would you not notice if you aren’t getting any service on your phone? your phone tells you when you’re getting service or not

bruh you almost made your dad drive off a cliff for you to get phone service

Greg Universe is a ride or die kinda guy

this ending shot is cute, i’ll give you that. 

episode rating: 2 party guys out of 5. Party Guy should’ve bitten Steven’s phone and his shit attitude. also PEARL WTF ARE YOU TELL US ALREADY

BACK TO THE KINDERGARTEN

Connie i miss you

“of the three things i have to do in the sink now, this is the one i least mind you seeing” B R U H

 Peridot listens to country music, this is disgusting

HOLY SHIT AMETHYST IS TOSSIN’ PERIDOT AROUND LIKE SHE WEIGHS NOTHING AND I’M CRACKING UP

“can i bring my music?” “NO.” damn Amethyst you already threw Peri around like she ain’t nothin’, let her bring her music if it’ll help her

aaaay, they’re in the train again!

dang, Peri really loved the barn.

i kinda like that Amethyst is going around trying to figure out which member of the Famethyst came out of which part of the Kindergarten. kinda cute. 

so everything is seriously determined by the nutrition, right down to the style of a Gem’s hair? ...huh. iron deposits determine hair styles.

damn, Peri went with a sucker punch to the gut with her little speech about how Kindergartens kill off life and are just “lifeless husks” once all the Gems are done being formed. and Amethyst feels awful about it, dang.

ok. there’s a flower growin’ in the Kindergarten, and that should technically be impossible due to all of the nutrients in this one area being used up. this could be interesting.

ok, so now the trio is gonna farm & see what happens. ok, ok, i can roll with this i guess.

FARMING MONTAGE

look at them flowers

they proud

don’t make Peri live here

why the flamingo thingy taller than both of them

gods i didn’t need to see Steven happily showering

they’re talking about how the flowers are probs gonna look beautiful i bet they all died, they’re too positive about this. $5 them flowers are dead.

them flowers are dead,

...now they’re arguing, cause Peri blew up on them. alright. this ain’t good.

aaaaaaaaaaaand Peri crushed the original flower that grew here. both Steven & Amethyst made pained whimpers. ok. this ain’t good.

oh it’s a Gem creature- haven’t seen one of those in a while!

IT ATE PERIDOT HOLY FUCK

SMOKEY QUARTZ IS BACK

ngl i like Smokey’s theme music

btw there’s no dialogue from Smokey, just a quick 2 second thing

Peri doesn’t reform with a star on her

ok, that was kinda cute. and having a technician that also likes gardening is cute too

episode rating: 3.5 dead sunflowers outta 5. it was an okay episode & i did like it. 

SADIE KILLER

heh, i get it. cause lady killer.

oh god, that looks bad

WHY IS THAT MOP SO BIG

instead of reading off a long-ass list to the overly worked employee, just hand Sadie the list so she won’t fuck up?

“and a coffee. hold the coffee.” same tbh

oh. he’s in a band with the Cool Kids. WE GET TO SEE THE COOL KIDS!

“...i hope he [Lars] is safe and all, but working all these shifts by myself has been a huge drag” GIRL, LARS DIED IN SPACE AND IS STILL THERE

Steven stealing all the napkins is something i’d do tbh

man, i love the Cool Kids

is my girl Jenny rockin’ the bass? aaaaaaaaaaay!

Sour Cream, what the HECK IS RAP-A-BILLY?

“Doo-doo. Butt. The government corrupts” Buck is the voice of this generation

welcome to EB Games

they... they admitted to following her home from work....

“doo-doo. i think i broke your bed” Buck wtf

also, i guess them watching all of Sadie’s horror movies gave them inspiration to do that weird donut-brain-eating song. weird.

“we are the working dead, and we lurch for minimum wage” same Sadie

......ok, she’s freaking everyone out. and they look uncomfortable. Sadie, seriously stop. they’re concerned.

...she. put lipstick on her eyes.

see, if she wasn’t freakin’ everyone out with this, i’d say this song is a bop. 

ok they’re fine now & thought it was lit ok cool cool cool. i ain’t a big fan of the lyrics tbh, but i do like the song.

 “aww, doo-doo”

ok so Steven’s askin’ for advice on how to write horror-themed songs from Sadie. how about LARS DIED ON HOMEWORLD

SADIE’S ADVICE IS:

LOSE YOUR LIFE TO A BORING JOB

LOSE THE ONE PERSON YOU WERE CLOSE TO

LOSE YOUR MIND WORKIN A TON OF SHIFTS

GIRL FOR THE LOVE OF GOD

Steven puttin’ Sadie on blast, good lord he just sang an accidental roast tryin’ to sing shit like she does

HE STOLE ALL THE NAPKINS AGAIN

“you can’t help being cute no more than i can help being cool” Buck, you’re a blessing

“yoooooo, what if this is all a dream?” Buck, wtf?

oh. Sadie’s goin’ with them. okay. 

OH. SHE QUIT HER JOB. UM. OKAY?

episode rating: 3 funky riffs out of 5. Buck Dewey is great.

KEVIN PARTY

I DO NOT WANT TO WATCH THIS EPISODE, BUT IMMA DO IT ANYWAY

DIDN’T EVEN START THE EPISODE AND I STILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE

let’s just get this over with...

why’d Steven wait this long to track down Lion?!

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh, here he is......

gods, i still hate him

stop being gross to kids, leave Steven and Connie alone ya freak

at least he knows they use they/them pronouns. 

how did he find out where Connie is? doesn’t she live far away from Beach City? did he track down these two kids just to “invite” Stevonnie?!

“no one turns down an invitation to a Kevin party” i sure as fuck would

lmao Kevin has an old phone

“your name’s Steven? weird, i thought your name was Clarence” OI, DON’T INSULT CLARENCE LIKE THAT

rude, Steven brought snacks and ya just toss ‘em into the void?

ok. he’s creepily obsessed with Stevonnie cause apparently they make parties and shit like that hella fun. um. stop? being obsessed with kids??

WTF WHY IS LION AT THE PARTY

Connie actually showed up. and had Lion the entire time. that’s. super fucked up. Lion is the ONLY way to get to Lars directly!

and also, there’s TWO KIDS AT A PARTY WITH OLDER PEOPLE?! NO ONE BUT DERRICK QUESTIONS THIS?

Kevin’s gonna try to get them to talk to each other... so they can form Stevonnie... so his party won’t suck...

also, he keeps calling them 7-year-olds........ siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh, ok Kevin.

KEVIN YOU IDIOT LET THEM TALK TO EACH OTHER SO HE CAN SAY SORRY DON’T GIVE HIM YOUR “COOL GUY” BULLSHIT

“i need those old people to whisper my name when they die” tbh goals

“who’s Sabina?” Kevin got all red in the face and almost lost his cool

so Kevin’s gonna try to make Steven look like he’s moved on from Connie or some shit. this won’t end well.

NO, NOT DERRICK’S JACKET

now we get a montage of 2 kids being uncomfortable surrounded by older people at a party they should’t be at, ok.

at least Connie looks cute. and she got a haircut! so cute!

NOT CUTE NOT CUTE NOT CUTE

GOD, I HATE KEVIN

Steven, what are you doing?

STEVEN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

ok, quick recap cause i didn’t mention this: Kevin thought Steven & Connie were dating, so, Connie only went to the party to see if Steven’s okay and if they could talk. Steven decided to follow Kevin’s advice for some reason, and Connie thinks Steve’s new BFF is Kevin, and Kevin has no concept of what friends are.

so. Connie didn’t text Steven cause she preferred talking face to face about this, and that texting him wasn’t good enough to work out these issues. very fair point. still don’t get why you legit stole Lion from him, but the not texting back thing makes complete sense.

ok, she rode Lion to his house while Steven, Greg & the Gems were away (the episode Gemcation). and that’s when she bumped into Kevin and got the invite. ok. now Kevin is slightly less creepy, but still disgusting nonetheless.

oh, yay! they’re talking it out! and Steven isn’t disregarding Connie’s anger!

yay! they’re friends again!

don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie, don’t form Stevonnie.

LMAO GET FUCKED, KEVIN, THEY AIN’T FORMIN’ STEVONNIE

episode rating: 1 Lion out of 5. least fave episode, tbh. but hey, we got Connie back!

[howtoloseweightfastsafely]

Part 3 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Part III:

Before getting to some action steps, I'll end the "theory" part of this chapter by, ahem, "droppin' some knowledge".

When it comes to finally getting in shape (or really, any major obstacle in your life), do you ever find yourself saying any, or all, of the following?

"I'm too busy"

"I would lose weight but I have a bad back (or knees, or shoulder, or [insert another body part which has no impact on what you put into your mouth])"

"I'm too tired."

"I have to watch my kids"

"I work so hard already. I deserve a break."

"My coworkers or family eat junk around me, so it's impossible not to join them."

(Or, really any other excuse that's keeping you from your goals)

The thing is, we all have to deal with these, every single day. Even now, I sometimes find myself saying "I just have so much to do today, I can't go to the gym". And this is exactly when I know I have to cut the crap and do exactly what I'm avoiding.

Essentially, we need to train our minds to immediately recognize these B.S. rationalizations for what they are and push through them anyway.

You see, these phrases are called "surface excuses", or excuses that we tell ourselves to cover up our underlying fears.

In other words, surface excuses actually have nothing to do with being busy, or injured, or tired.

While you may actually be busy, in some pain, or really tired, that doesn't mean you can't find 15 minutes to cook a healthy meal or 20 minutes to take a walk or do a quick workout.

In reality, these "surface excuses" mostly have to do with covering up our:

"It's never worked in the past. Why should it work now?"

"Who am I to deserve an attractive, fit body, and will I even be able to maintain it?"

"People are going to laugh when they see me waddling around the gym"

First. No one "made it" by giving up after a few failures.

And even if they really put in the effort and still failed, it's because they followed bad instructions, or they followed no instructions.

With the system laid out in this book, you won't need to worry about that. You get clear, well written and simple instructions from someone who knows exactly how to maneuver around the sticking points.

Second. No one cares about your round stomach, jiggly arms, or big butt. This "self-image" issue can be a big obstacle for many of us who are just starting out. I was like this too: I dreaded working out because I figured people were constantly laughing to themselves about how fat I was.

In reality, though, this is all negative self-talk, and it's simply not true.

One of the most important things I've learned over the years is:

People are much more concerned with how they look in the gym, or what they're eating for dinner, or how they can't wait for the next season of Game of Thrones, or how good the cashier at Starbucks looked today, or [insert mindless drivel that goes through my head, and the heads of 99% of people on the planet].

I also heard a study once to the tune of this: people think 7,000 thoughts per day. And 90% of these thoughts are about themselves. So, while you may personally think you have a huge butt or big ol' man boobs that everyone is secretly mocking, there is a good chance that it's simply not true to the rest of the world. They have their own problems to deal with, and you're probably not one of them. So do what you have to do, and don't worry for even a second about what others think.

Third, and last. I personally get very excited anytime I see someone overweight or obese in the gym, or if I see an overweight coworker bringing in a healthy home-cooked meal.

For me, and likely anyone who works hard in the gym (and/or kitchen), it's incredibly refreshing and empowering to see someone who is busting his or her butt, especially if they're not in great shape already. It shows us they're willing and ready to change, and it reminds us of the struggles and obstacles we faced on the way to our dream bodies.

SO when you see that lean guy or gal at the gym, realize that they aren't mocking you when they look your way; rather, there's a very good chance they're very proud, and maybe even surprised, to see someone out of shape finally taking charge of their life.

 Interested in losing weight? Then click below to see the exact steps I took to lose weight and keep it off for good...

Read the previous article about "Part 2 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality"

Read the next article about "Part 4 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality"

Moving forward, there are several other articles/topics I'll share so you can lose weight even faster, and feel great doing it.

Below is a list of these topics and you can use this Table of Contents to jump to the part that interests you the most.

Topic 1: How I Lost 30 Pounds In 90 Days - And How You Can Too

Topic 2: How I Lost Weight By Not Following The Mainstream Media And Health Guru's Advice - Why The Health Industry Is Broken And How We Can Fix It

Topic 3: The #1 Ridiculous Diet Myth Pushed By 95% Of Doctors And "experts" That Is Keeping You From The Body Of Your Dreams

Topic 4: The Dangers of Low-Carb and Other "No Calorie Counting" Diets

Topic 5: Why Red Meat May Be Good For You And Eggs Won't Kill You

Topic 6: Two Critical Hormones That Are Quietly Making Americans Sicker and Heavier Than Ever Before

Topic 7: Everything Popular Is Wrong: The Real Key To Long-Term Weight Loss

Topic 8: Why That New Miracle Diet Isn't So Much of a Miracle After All (And Why You're Guaranteed To Hate Yourself On It Sooner or Later)

Topic 9: A Nutrition Crash Course To Build A Healthy Body and Happy Mind

Topic 10: How Much You Really Need To Eat For Steady Fat Loss (The Truth About Calories and Macronutrients)

Topic 11: The Easy Way To Determining Your Calorie Intake

Topic 12: Calculating A Weight Loss Deficit

Topic 13: How To Determine Your Optimal "Macros" (And How The Skinny On The 3-Phase Extreme Fat Loss Formula)

Topic 14: Two Dangerous "Invisible Thorn" Foods Masquerading as "Heart Healthy Super Nutrients"

Topic 15: The Truth About Whole Grains And Beans: What Traditional Cultures Know About These So-called "Healthy Foods" That Most Americans Don't

Topic 16: The Inflammation-Reducing, Immune-Fortifying Secret of All Long-Living Cultures (This 3-Step Process Can Reduce Chronic Pain and Heal Your Gut in Less Than 24 Hours)

Topic 17: The Foolproof Immune-enhancing Plan That Cleanses And Purifies Your Body, While "patching Up" Holes, Gaps, And Inefficiencies In Your Digestive System (And How To Do It Without Wasting $10+ Per "meal" On Ridiculous Juice Cleanses)

Topic 18: The Great Soy Myth (and The Truth About Soy in Eastern Asia)

Topic 19: How Chemicals In Food Make Us Fat (Plus 10 Banned Chemicals Still in the U.S. Food Supply)

Topic 20: 10 Banned Chemicals Still in the U.S. Food Supply

Topic 21: How To Protect Yourself Against Chronic Inflammation (What Time Magazine Calls A "Secret Killer")

Topic 22: The Truth About Buying Organic: Secrets The Health Food Industry Doesn't Want You To Know

Topic 23: Choosing High Quality Foods

Topic 24: A Recipe For Rapid Aging: The "Hidden" Compounds Stealing Your Youth, Minute by Minute

Topic 25: 7 Steps To Reduce AGEs and Slow Aging

Topic 26: The 10-second Trick That Can Slash Your Risk Of Cardiovascular Mortality By 37% (Most Traditional Cultures Have Done This For Centuries, But The Pharmaceutical Industry Would Be Up In Arms If More Modern-day Americans Knew About It)

Topic 27: How To Clean Up Your Liver and Vital Organs

Topic 28: The Simple Detox 'Cheat Sheet': How To Easily and Properly Cleanse, Nourish, and Rid Your Body of Dangerous Toxins (and Build a Lean Well-Oiled "Machine" in the Process)

Topic 29: How To Deal With the "Stress Hormone" Before It Deals With You

Topic 30: 7 Common Sense Ways to Have Uncommon Peace of Mind (or How To Stop Your "Stress Hormone" In Its Tracks)

Topic 31: How To Sleep Like A Baby (And Wake Up Feeling Like A Boss)

Topic 32: The 8-step Formula That Finally "fixes" Years Of Poor Sleep, Including Trouble Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, And Waking Up Rested (If You Ever Find Yourself Hitting The Snooze Every Morning Or Dozing Off At Work, These Steps Will Change Your Life Forever)

Topic 33: For Even Better Leg Up And/or See Faster Results In Fixing Years Of Poor Sleep, Including Trouble Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, And Waking Up Rested, Do The Following:

Topic 34: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 35: Part 1 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 36: Part 2 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 37: Part 3 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 38: Part 4 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 39: How To Beat Your Mental Roadblocks And Why It Can Be The Difference Between A Happy, Satisfying Life And A Sad, Fearful Existence (These Strategies Will Reduce Stress, Increase Productivity And Show You How To Fulfill All Your Dreams)

Topic 40: Maximum Fat Loss in Minimum Time: The Body Type Solution To Quick, Lasting Results

Topic 41: If You Want Maximum Results In Minimum Time You're Going To Have To Work Out (And Workout Hard, At That)

Topic 42: Food Planning For Maximum Fat Loss In Minimum Time

Topic 43: How To Lose Weight Fast If You're in Chronic Pain

Topic 44: Nutrition Basics for Fast Pain Relief (and Weight Loss)

Topic 45: How To Track Results (And Not Fall Into the Trap That Ruins 95% of Well-Thought Out Diets)

Topic 46: Advanced Fat Loss - Calorie Cycling, Carb Cycling and Intermittent Fasting

Topic 47: Advanced Fat Loss - Part I: Calorie Cycling

Topic 48: Advanced Fat Loss - Part II: Carb Cycling

Topic 49: Advanced Fat Loss - Part III: Intermittent Fasting

Topic 50: Putting It All Together

Learn more by visiting our website here: invigoratenow.com

[heathertruitt]

Shakeology review: can this superfood shake help you shift pounds?

Shakeology is a low calorie, high protein and fiber-packed meal replacement shake.

It is designed to promote weight loss, healthy digestion, muscle gain and increased energy.

The formula includes a wealth of nutrient rich ingredients, superfoods and super greens to support optimum health while cutting calories.

Shakes are available in a wide variety of flavors, ensuring you will never get bored.

This Shakeology review will take a closer look into their formula and benefits to help you decide if it is the right option for you.

Attention Shakeology readers: Click here for our #1 rated meal replacement shake

Benefits

Shakeology is both a convenient and low calorie meal replacement shake which provides all the nutrients you need for health and more.

The formula uses only natural ingredients to provide a punch of protein, a great source of fiber, superfood nutrients and gut supporting microbes that are in digestive enzymes.

This full of goodness formula claims to have the following benefits:

Weight Loss

For healthy people, weight loss is usually a matter of simple math; less calories in, more calories out.

After all, it is a well known fact when your body doesn’t have an adequate supply of  energy, it must look for another solution. Therefore it switches to the only other alternative – body fats.

Shakeology shakes are only 160 calories per serving, making it easy to control your intake and remain in the required negative state.

However, it isn’t just the low calorie content of Shakeology which helps you to lose those inches.  

Their formula is also crammed full of high quality protein, fiber and probiotic bacteria.  All of which are proven to encourage weight loss and fat burning. (1, 2, 3)

Reduced Cravings

Everyone knows processed foods full of sugar, fat and artificial flavors are detrimental for our health.

It is also no secret including these kinds of foods in your diet too often can lead to creeping weight gain.

Yet, even though we know it is bad for us, we still find ourselves drawn to and often yearning for these unhealthy snacks.

There are good reasons for this behaviour.

Firstly, sugar has been proven to generate addictive tendencies similar to that of narcotics. (4)

Secondly, fluctuating blood sugar levels also result in almost irresistible sugar cravings which can ruin your diet. (5)

Shakeology will support you in this fight against bad food cravings.

They use high satiety ingredients to prolong the feeling of fullness after a meal, and also assist in the control of blood sugar levels.

With a combination of both actions, you should find that you no longer feel the need to reach for that donut or other sugary snack between meals.

Healthy Energy

When cutting calorie intake, it is super important to consider whether or not you are getting all the nutrition you need to feel your best.

People who follow a very restrictive, calorie controlled diet can often feel tired and lethargic, particularly on the outset. This is usually due to nutrient deficiency. (6)

Shakeology ensures you get all the right nutrients to bolster your energy levels while losing weight.

Additionally, their ingredients help to balance blood sugar which assists in the maintenance of energy throughout the day.

Supports Digestion

An unhealthy gut can drastically reduce the amount of nutrients the body is able to absorb. (7)

It can also cause bloating, stomach cramps, sluggishness and a general feeling of being unwell. (8)

Maintaining the right proportion of bacteria is what our digestive health relies upon.

Shakeology supports ‘good’ probiotic bacteria which sustains the efficiency of our digestive process.

Keeping the ‘good’ gastrointestinal germs happy and healthy is also essential for overall health.

Studies have shown taking care of probiotic bacteria is critical to immune system functions and can also support weight loss. (9, 10)

Ingredients

Shakeology includes a wide variety of ingredients, amalgamated together into respective ‘blends’ depending upon the advantage they bring.

Their label displays five proprietary blends under the following names: super protein, super fruit/antioxidant, super green/phytonutrient, adaptogen plus prebiotic and probiotic/digestive enzyme.

Below we will examine each blend category and its respective benefits.

Protein

Protein is required by our bodies to build and maintain lean tissue, most notably muscle.

Muscle is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the body, which means it burns many calories even when you are inactive. (11)

Having a high protein diet is beneficial for weight loss. It promotes muscle gain and an increase in calorie burn, whilst simultaneously encouraging fat loss. (12)

Protein also is slow to digest, prolonging the length of time before you feel hungry again. (13)

Shakeology ensures you will feel these benefits by offering a whopping 17 grams of protein per serving.

The formula includes protein from multiple sources: whey protein, sacha inchi, flax, chia, quinoa, amaranth, brown rice and pea protein.

Fiber

Fiber is extremely low in calories but cannot be adequately digested by the human body.

We are unable to absorb it, fiber simply passes straight through the digestive tract, yet it does provide some benefits on the way.

These benefits depend upon the type of fiber consumed:

‘Insoluble’ fiber accelerates digestion and also ‘bulks up’ the stools, helping you to remain regular. (14)

It also traps fats and toxins in the gut as it passes through, reducing fat absorption and lowering bad cholesterol levels in the blood. (15)

On the other hand, soluble fiber slows down the digestion by absorbing water and fluids in the gut. It swells up, creating a gel-like mass which creates a feeling of being full and prevents hunger.

Consuming fiber regularly as part of a healthy diet has been proven to result in gradual weight loss. (16)

Shakeology contains both soluble and insoluble fiber sources for maximum health benefits.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are protective substances  defending body cells from damage caused by disruptive molecules known as ‘free radicals’.

Free radicals are like thieves, they steal chemicals from other cells to fill the gaps in their own chemistry. (17)

Antioxidants supercharge health by combating these free radicals. They can prevent premature ageing, protect the heart and lower risk of infections and disease. (18)

Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients are natural chemicals derived from plants. They are high in nutrients and have a long list of health benefits.

Shakeology includes a variety of ‘superfoods’ and ‘super greens’ containing high quantities of phytonutrients, the most well known being spirulina, spinach and chlorella.

Spirulina is known to reduce cholesterol and promote weight loss. (19, 20)

Chlorella can help to lower blood pressure. (21)

Spinach has anti ageing properties. (22)

Adaptogens

Shakeology contains a blend of adaptogenic ingredients, including gingko, maca, maitake and holy basil.

Adaptogens are plant based substances which work to support the body during times of stress. (23)

Scientific research has shown adaptogens can improve focus, concentration, energy and performance while also reducing fatigue and stress. (24)

Probiotics

Probiotics are a type of bacteria residing in the gut and highly beneficial to our health.

They are often referred to as ‘friendly’ or ‘helpful’ bacteria.

There are literally thousands of bacteria living in our digestive system, yet not all of them are beneficial like probiotics.

Therefore, it is imperative the balance between good and bad bacteria remains positive for our health.

An imbalance of bacteria may lead to weight gain and decreased immunity. (25, 26)

Less serious but still unpleasant symptoms of these digestive irregularities are bloating, gas, diarrhea and stomach pain. (27)

Shakeology uses probiotic bacteria lactobacillus to bump the levels of positive bacteria in the digestive tract.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are by their very nature indigestible by our gut enzymes. They are a kind of fiber, however not all fiber is prebiotic.

Prebiotics move slowly through the gut and gradually breakdown. They then serve as an essential supply of nutrition for beneficial ‘probiotic’ bacteria.

By feeding them, prebiotics encourage good bacteria to thrive which improves our health.

As well as using prebiotics for food, our good bacteria also converts into a type of fatty acid called ‘butyrate’. This has anti inflammatory effects upon the colon.(28, 29)

Shakeology uses yacon root and flax as their source of prebiotic fiber.   

Digestive Enzymes

Of course, when we digest food, it is actually the nutrients within what we eat which are actually absorbed into the body.

In order for the food to be broken down into these key parts, we require the activity of digestive enzymes.

Shakeology supports healthy digestion by including the enzymes amylase, cellulase, protease, papain, lactase, lipase and bromelain.

These enzymes are critical to the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates from our diet. (30)

Studies also suggest that supplementation with enzymes can improve digestive disease symptoms. (31)

Vitamins and Minerals

To ensure you are receiving optimal nutrition from their products, Shakeology also includes all the 23 necessary vitamins and minerals in their shakes.

You will not need to worry about taking any additional multivitamins when using Shakeology.

Side Effects

Potential side effects of Shakeology use are primarily digestion related.

Whilst the ingredients are all natural and supportive of health and weight loss, it may take a little time for your body to adjust to the ingredients and change of diet.

Common side effects are gas, bloating, stomach ache, nausea and bowel problems.

If any side effects appear and do not subside, stop use and seek advice from your physician.

Recommended Dosage

Shakeology recommends you replace one meal per day with one of their shakes, and eat balanced meals for your other meals.

To make the shake, simply mix one scoop of the powder with 8-12 oz of water, juice or milk and ice in a blender.

FAQ

What is Shakeology?

Shakeology is a low calorie, nutrient packed meal replacement shake promoting weight loss and overall health.

How to take Shakeology?

Shakeology should replace one meal per day. Simply mix one scoop of powder with ice and water, juice or milk and blend for a tasty, filling smoothie.

Who should use Shakeology?

Shakeology should be used by those who want a nutritionally balanced, simple and convenient meal replacement option.

How much does Shakeology cost?

Shakeology costs $129.95 for a 30 serving bag or 24 packets.

Is Shakeology legal?

Yes, Shakeology is legal.

Is Shakeology safe?

Yes, Shakeology is safe.

Where to buy Shakeology?

Shakeology can be purchased from their website, Amazon and Walmart.

Does Shakeology really work?

Shakeology is very low calorie per serving. If you replace a daily meal with an 130 calorie shake and eat sensibly the rest of the day, you should reach a low calorie situation and lose weight.

Are there any Shakeology alternatives?

A popular option is SlimFast, although you can see our #1 rated meal replacement shake here.

Summary

Shakeology is a nutrient rich, convenient low calorie meal replacement.

The formula goes over and above many others, packed full with all necessary nutrients, enzymes, probiotics and antioxidants.  

The shake is very low in calories, yet rich in weight loss supporting ingredients, you are almost certain to shift pounds with Shakeology.

The only downside to their extensive formula is that it is a proprietary blend, meaning we don’t know the concentration of the active ingredients listed.

That said, we still feel that Shakeology can be a great choice for those who want to boost health and shrink their waistline.

Attention Shakeology readers: Click here for our #1 rated meal replacement shake

https://bodynutrition.org/shakeology/

https://bodynutritionorg.wordpress.com/2018/07/12/shakeology-review-can-this-superfood-shake-help-you-shift-pounds/

[organiclifestylemagazine]

Nut Butter - The Bad, The Good, and How to Make it Better

Nut butter is creamy, delicious, healthy, and versatile. Just one spoonful can fulfill your craving for a sweet and satiating treat that satisfies some of your body’s mineral, vitamin, fiber, and healthy fat needs as well. This makes nut butter a win-win dietary solution.

However, nut butter should only be an addition to your diet and not a staple. There are even some types of nut butter that are so unhealthy that eating them is never a good idea. So, which nut butter should you avoid? Let’s find out.

The Dirty Truth About Nut Butters

You probably know by now that many commercially produced nut butters (like Skippy peanut butter) contain added sugar and fully-hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oils. This combination is lethal. The added sugars feed candida, while the hydrogenated oils dramatically increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Related: Candida, Gut Flora, Allergies, and Disease

However, going for the natural peanut butter or almond butter may also cause health issues as well. To figure out which nut butter is best for you, we must explore three of the main health concerns with nut butter.

Related: Natural Diabetes Cure

Three Health Concerns with Natural Nut Butter

Health Concern #1: They Contain Inflammatory Fats

All nuts (except for macadamia nuts) are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In small quantities, these fatty acids allow for a healthy inflammatory response, but in higher quantities, these fatty acids promote the pathogenesis of many diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. If you consume vegetable oils, canola oil, soybean oil, and/or heavily processed foods daily, then your body will be in a chronic state of inflammation. The same thing will happen if you consume nuts and nut butter as the majority of your daily calories.

Related: What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good

Health Concern #2: Too Much Processing Oxidizes The Fats

Many nut butters (store-bought and homemade) take the inflammatory effects of omega 6 fatty acids one step further.

How?

During processing, the polyunsaturated fats in the nuts are exposed to heat, air, and light. The omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the nuts will then begin to oxidize into compounds that are as toxic to the body as partially and fully hydrogenated oils.

Related: Healthy Fats the Healthy Way

However, this isn’t the case for every nut butter. Macadamia nut butter and coconut butter, for example, contain high amounts of healthy and stable fats that won’t oxidize during processing. (Side note: coconuts are technically not nuts, but coconut butter will still be included in the nut butter discussion during this article.)

Health Concern #3: Their Phytic Acid Steals Your Minerals

All nuts, beans, seeds, and beans contain phytic acid.

Phytic acid is the principal storage form of phosphorus in many plant tissues. It contains the mineral phosphorus tightly bound in a snowflake-like molecule.

In humans and animals with one stomach, the phosphorus is not readily bioavailable. In addition to blocking phosphorus availability, the phytic acid molecule readily binds with other minerals (like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc), making them unavailable as well.

This means that consuming raw (or close to raw) nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes can cause tooth decay, nutrient deficiencies, lack of appetite, and digestive problems. On top of that, phytic acid also can inhibit some of the enzymes we use to digest protein and carbohydrates, leading to more digestive issues.

Does this mean that you should stop eating nuts and nut butter all together?

Related: Homemade Calcium and Magnesium

The Practical Truth About Nuts and Nut Butter

Having some omega-6’s and phytic acid in your diet will do you no harm as long as foods like nuts and nut butter are eaten in moderation. In fact, small amounts of phytates act as an antioxidant in your body and help detoxify toxic metals from the gut. However, if you love nuts like me, it is easy to consume too much phytic acid. A handful and a half of raw almonds or 3-4 tablespoons of raw almond butter, for example, has enough phytic acid to drain your energy and cause digestive issues.

The best way to minimize phytic acid consumption is by soaking and sprouting (when possible) your nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes. Soaking and sprouting raw almonds, for example, can vastly decrease their phytic acid content.

The phytic acid content of most phytic acid containing foods can also be reduced by roasting them. (It is best to roast most nuts at temperatures below 320 degrees Fahrenheit to keep their fatty acids from oxidizing.)

To sum it up in one sentence — the phytic acid and omega 6’s found in nuts and nut butter will not cause issues as long as they are prepared correctly and eaten in moderation.

The Good News About Nut Butter

Now that the unhealthy aspects of nut butter are out of the way, let’s explore what makes it healthy.

Each nut comes with a unique combination of protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, fats, and phytates that give them specific benefits. Walnuts, for example, prevent heart disease and atherosclerosis, while almonds help improve insulin sensitivity in people with prediabetes. All nuts, in general, help people lose weight and decrease cholesterol and inflammation levels.

This is why nuts and nut butter are a healthy part of almost everyone’s diet, especially if the negative effects of omega 6s, oxidized fats, and phytic acid are mitigated. However, this doesn’t mean that every mindfully made nut butter will be right for you.

Must Read: How to Kill Fungal Infections

What’s The Healthiest Nut Butter? It Depends.

Different nut butters will be healthy for different people at different times. If you have a selenium deficiency, for example, then having a nut butter that contains brazil nuts may be healthiest for you.

3-4 brazil nuts can cover your daily selenium requirements (depending on the soil they are grown in). If you have reproductive issues, autoimmune disease, or thyroid issues (common symptoms of selenium deficiency), then supplementing your diet with brazil nuts may help.

The tastiest way to supplement your diet with brazil nuts is to indulge in a nut butter called Nuttzo Organic Smooth Power Fuel Seven Nut and Seed Butter. This is my favorite nut butter because it is a delicious combination of organic cashews, organic almonds, organic Brazil nuts, organic chia seeds, organic flax seeds, organic hazelnuts, organic pumpkin seeds, and sea salt. in comparison to the other the store-bought nut butters, Nuttzo is one of the healthiest because it comes with the health benefits of multiple nuts and seeds in a delicious combination.

However, these seeds and nuts are not soaked or sprouted, so people who struggle to digest phytic acid or have other mineral deficiencies will need to find another option. Luckily, there are two healthy and delicious options that are low in phytic acid.

Related: Sprouting to Remove Enzyme Inhibitors

The first is sprouted almond butter. The sprouting process helps to reduce phytic acid of almonds, making them easier to digest. The only problem with almond butter is that it contains more omega-6 than many other types of nut butter. This means that it is not as healthy as my personal favorite — coconut butter.

The Nut Butter with the Healthiest Fats

You may not consider it as a nut butter, but coconut butter is one of the healthiest “nut” butters you can have. The phytic acid content of coconut is negligible, and it is one of the best sources of healthy saturated fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs).

With coconut butter, you will also get all the minerals and some of the sweetness that is found in coconut water and the fiber from the coconut meat. This makes it the ideal way to consume coconut. If you define the term “nut” loosely, then this is — in my opinion — the healthiest nut butter.

What about the nut butters that are actually made from nuts?

Macadamia nut butter is arguably one of the healthiest nut butters. This is because it has the lowest omega 6 content and the most monounsaturated fats of any nut. Monounsaturated fats are another type healthy fat (different from MCTs) that enhance heart health and protect against chronic disease.

Macadamia nuts have a relatively low phytic acid content as well. If you are not a fan of coconut, then macadamia nut butter is the way to go. It’s irresistibly creamy and can be made into a sweet, savory, or salty nut butter.

Related: Everything You Should Know About Fat

The Takeaway

The “healthiness” of the nut butter depends on the needs of the person that’s eating it.

Don’t eat a lot of grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds, and you can digest nuts well? Have your favorite raw nut butter (just watch out for added sugars and trans fats).

Have a selenium deficiency? Have a tablespoon or two of nut butter with brazil nuts in it.

Struggle with phytic acid digestion or eat a lot of grains, nuts, legumes, and seeds every day? Eat nut butter that has lowest phytic acid content, such as macadamia nut butter and coconut butter.

Have chronic inflammation? Consume the nut butter with the lowest omega-6 content, such as macadamia nut butter and coconut butter.

Regardless of the nut butter you choose, eat it in moderation (a tablespoon or two a day), and you will get all the benefits with little to no side effects.

To get the benefits, however, you don’t have to search for an over-priced healthy nut butter at the store. You can save your money and your health by making it at home. All you need is a high-quality blender, your favorite organic nuts, and a healthy oil.

How To Make Nut Butter Better

Nut butter is one of the simplest and easiest foods to make. Here’s how you do it:

Get raw organic nuts (or shredded coconut)

Put them in a food processor or high-powered blender and turn it on

Blend until it turns into a creamy butter, stopping frequently to scrape the sides down. (This may take 5 to 10 minutes depending on the power of your blender.)

In 10 minutes or less, you can have your own homemade nut butter. Feel free to add a small amount of raw honey or stevia and unrefined salt to improve the taste.

You can also experiment with different herbs and spices. For example, try adding lavender, honey, and cinnamon to your macadamia or cashew nut butter to make it into a deliciously satisfying dessert.

However, one problem arises when we expose the nuts to high-speed blenders — fat oxidation. Due to the friction of blending, heat builds up and oxidizes the polyunsaturated fats in the nuts.

Preventing Fat Oxidation

To ensure that most of the delicate fats aren’t oxidized, reduce the blending time. Once the nuts are blending into a grainy flour, add a couple tablespoons of tasteless coconut or avocado oil. This will make it into a nut butter much faster while adding some healthy and stable fats.

Reducing Phytic Acid

Don’t forget about the phytic acid! To decrease the phytic acid content of your nuts, soak your nuts (and sprout them if they can sprout).

To soak them properly, simply put them in filtered water for the suggested time. Rinse them and change the water at least once.

Here are the soaking and sprouting times for popular nuts (including peanuts and coconuts):

Almonds

Soaking Time: 8-12 hours

Sprouting Time: 3 days (only if they are truly raw and not pasteurized)

Rinse the almonds and change the water once every 12 hours

Peanuts

Soaking Time: 12 hours

Won’t Sprout

Roast the peanuts in the oven at 300°F for 20 minutes until they resemble a nut with more of a peanutty flavor. (This temperature will not oxidize the fats in the peanuts.)

Brazil Nuts

Soaking Time: 3 hours

Won’t Sprout

Cashews

Soaking Time: 2-4 hours

Won’t Sprout

Hazelnuts

Soaking Time: 8-12 hours

Won’t Sprout

Macadamias

Soaking Time: 2 hours

Won’t Sprout

Pecans

Soaking Time: 6 hours

Won’t Sprout

Walnuts

Soaking Time: 4 hours

Won’t Sprout

Coconut

Don’t Soak

Won’t Sprout

Blend coconut flakes or buy already made coconut butter from the store

After you soak your nuts, throw them in the dehydrator or the oven at a temperature below 200 degrees Fahrenheit until they are crisp. (For almonds, wait until they sprout before you dehydrate them.)

Throw your crisp and previously-soaked nuts in the blender with some healthy fats, and you’ll be able to make a healthier homemade nut butter.

Related Reading:

Homemade, Vegan Nut Milk Recipes and More

Sprouting to Remove Enzyme Inhibitors

Homemade Two Ingredient Healthy Fruit and Nut Bars

10 Vegan-Friendly Sources Of Protein

Sources:

Living With Phytic Acid — Weston A. Price

The importance of the ratio of omega-6/omega-3 essential fatty acids — Science Direct

Nuts and health outcomes: new epidemiologic evidence — AJCN

Nuts and their bioactive constituents: effects on serum lipids and other factors that affect disease risk — AJCN

Nuts, especially walnuts, have both antioxidant quantity and efficacy and exhibit significant potential health benefits — Royal Society of Chemistry

Health benefits of nuts: potential role of antioxidants — Cambridge

High performance liquid chromatography analysis of phytate (IP6) in selected foods.— Europe PMC

Selenium Benefits, Signs of Deficiency, & Foods — Dr.Axe

How to Soak & Sprout Nuts, Seeds, Grains, & Beans — Vegetarian Times

Smoking Points of Fats & Oils — The Spruce

Almond consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with prediabetes. — NCBI

Nut Butter – The Bad, The Good, and How to Make it Better was originally published on Organic Lifestyle Magazine

[yes-dal456]

8 Things You Need To Know About Your Body's Energy Levels

By Hallie Levine

Your energy makeover starts now

It’s no wonder so many of us struggle with energy issues. We go, go, go from morning to night, running on little but grit and caffeine. But it doesn’t have to be that way! “The reality is, you can get a real boost by making a few simple changes,” says Nada Milosavljevic, MD, director of the integrative health program at Massachusetts General Hospital. That’s why we put together this complete guide to all-day energy: It’s packed with proven strategies that will keep you powered up as you plow through your to-do list. You’ll also learn about surprising energy drains (social media, we’re looking at you) — and how to keep them from stealing your mojo.

Allergies can leave you drained

People with hay fever often feel sluggish. “You spend so much time trying to breathe, you don’t have energy for anything else,” says New Jersey-based allergist Neeta Ogden, MD, spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Your congestion might also keep you awake at night: French researchers found that more than 40 percent of seasonal-allergy sufferers reported they weren’t able to get a good night’s sleep when their symptoms flared.

RELATED: 20 Ways to Stop Allergies

Studies have shown that over-the-counter nasal steroid sprays (like Nasacort and Flonase) effectively relieve congestion and improve quality of life — including fatigue and sleep issues — in people with seasonal allergies. Dr. Ogden suggests pairing a spray with a daily dose of an OTC nonsedating antihistamine (such as Claritin or Allegra); the drug will block the action of histamine, the compound that triggers pesky nasal symptoms. For best results, begin treatment a couple of weeks before sniffle season starts.

You can still feel pooped after a full night’s sleep

It’s estimated that up to 26 percent of all adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, a disorder that involves shallow breathing or pauses in breathing while you sleep. If you’re among them, you may often feel like you’re in a “brain fog,” even if you’re clocking seven hours of shut-eye a night. If your primary care physician suspects sleep apnea, she can refer you to a sleep center. Most cases can be diagnosed with an at-home test, says Raj Dasgupta, MD, professor of sleep medicine at the University of Southern California and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Mild cases can often be treated with lifestyle modifications, such as losing weight and avoiding alcohol before bed. Moderate or severe cases may require sleeping with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which supplies a steady stream of air to keep your airways open.

Exercise is the ultimate invigorator

A sweat session is great for upping your oomph, even when you feel like you’re out of juice. “When you exercise, you release hormones like adrenaline. This hormone actually tells our bodies to ignore feelings of pain and fatigue while enhancing blood flow to large muscles,” says Sabrena Jo, senior exercise scientist at the American Council on Exercise. As a result, a workout can leave you with more energy than you had beforehand — an effect that can last several hours.

As a result, a workout can leave you with more energy than you had beforehand — an effect that can last several hours.

RELATED: How to Get More Energy, From Morning Until Night

And it doesn’t take much. One study looked at healthy, sedentary people who began exercising three days a week for just 20 minutes a day, at either a moderate or a low intensity. By the end of six weeks, their energy levels were 20 percent higher than those of a control group of nonexercisers.

Remember: The idea is to leave the gym energized, not exhausted. “If you feel beaten down by the time you step off the treadmill, it’s a sign you need to scale back,” says Jo.

Are you getting enough vitamin D?

Research suggests this key vitamin plays a role in keeping us charged up. Experts suspect D helps regulate insulin secretion and metabolism, both of which affect energy levels. The nutrient has also been linked to better moods (not to mention a slew of other health benefits). If you find yourself constantly dragging, particularly in the winter, it might be worth asking your doc to check your D levels. Since it can be tough to get an adequate amount from food (sources include fatty fish, eggs, and fortified milk), she may recommend a supplement.

How to use Facebook so it’s energizing, not draining

There are two reasons social media can be an energy suck, says Brian Primack, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health at the University of Pittsburgh. “On one hand, you look at everyone’s curated photos and get depressed because your life doesn’t look so perfect,” he explains. “But on the other hand, anything that’s negative also gets magnified. Neither extreme is good.” Indeed, one of his studies found a link between the amount of time spent on social media and the likelihood of depression.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Boost Your Energy

Not ready to cut the Facebook cord? Try paring your “friends” down to your actual friends. “When you don’t know someone, you’re more likely to have a miscommunication or be upset by something in their feed,” says Dr. Primack. “But using social media to connect with old friends can have the opposite effect — it’s energizing.”

Eat to fuel

To improve your everyday energy, try this tweak: Substitute plant protein for animal protein whenever possible, suggests Samantha Heller, RD, a nutritionist at the NYU School of Medicine. Plants feed the “good” bacteria in your gut, she explains, which help boost your immunity to keep you healthy. They may also boost overall mood. A 2015 study found that people who followed a plant-based eating program for 18 weeks saw an increase in their productivity. Here, Heller describes a sample menu for an ideal day.

Breakfast: A Berry smoothie. Blend 1/2 cup berries with a scoop of avocado and 3/4 cup soy milk. The shake is high in both fiber and protein to stabilize your blood sugar until lunch.

Lunch: Lentil soup and kale salad. Lentils and kale are a mighty nutritional combo, offering protein, fiber, iron, potassium, zinc, folate and more.

P.M. snack: Fruit and nuts. This duo serves up a nice balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to help you power through the rest of the afternoon.

Dinner: Vegetarian tacos. Wrap beans with shredded lettuce and cheese, chopped tomato, avocado, and salsa in a corn tortilla for a light dinner that won’t mess with your sleep.

Fast pick-me-ups

Take a mini break. Stand up and stretch, or watch a funny video. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers found that people who took two short breaks during a repetitive 50-minute task performed better than those who worked straight through.

Go for a quick walk. A landmark study published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that a brisk 10-minute walk can have a revitalizing effect, enhancing energy for at least two hours.

Chew a stick of gum. A 2015 U.K. study found that this trick raised alertness and improved concentration, possibly because chewing increases blood flow.

When fatigue is a symptom

Sometimes feeling spent isn’t a problem that can be solved with a nap. Below are a few possible medical explanations for flagging energy.

Anemia. This condition, common in women, means you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. If blood tests reveal you’re anemic, you may need to take an iron supplement.

Celiac disease. Fatigue is one of the symptoms of this serious condition, in which an autoimmune reaction to gluten damages the intestines. If blood tests suggest celiac, you’ll need an intestinal biopsy to diagnose it. The only proven therapy is a gluten-free diet.

Hypothyroidism. “If your body isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone, you’re going to feel like you’re running low on fuel all the time,” says Dr. Milosavljevic. This disorder can be treated with synthetic hormones.

Heart disease. A 2003 study published in Circulation found that 70 percent of women who’d suffered heart attacks had reported feeling unusual fatigue for up to a month beforehand. “Patients often say that they feel tired in their chest,” says Dana Simpler, MD, internist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. After a full workup, your doc can prescribe a treatment plan.

8 Things You Need to Know About Your Body’s Energy Levels originally appeared on Health.com.

More from Health.com:

27 Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine

25 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be a Happier Person

7 Unexpected Reasons You’re Feeling Anxious

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

from http://ift.tt/2qwOD8h from Blogger http://ift.tt/2pF7xII

[imreviewblog]

8 Things You Need To Know About Your Body's Energy Levels

By Hallie Levine

Your energy makeover starts now

It’s no wonder so many of us struggle with energy issues. We go, go, go from morning to night, running on little but grit and caffeine. But it doesn’t have to be that way! “The reality is, you can get a real boost by making a few simple changes,” says Nada Milosavljevic, MD, director of the integrative health program at Massachusetts General Hospital. That’s why we put together this complete guide to all-day energy: It’s packed with proven strategies that will keep you powered up as you plow through your to-do list. You’ll also learn about surprising energy drains (social media, we’re looking at you) — and how to keep them from stealing your mojo.

Allergies can leave you drained

People with hay fever often feel sluggish. “You spend so much time trying to breathe, you don’t have energy for anything else,” says New Jersey-based allergist Neeta Ogden, MD, spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Your congestion might also keep you awake at night: French researchers found that more than 40 percent of seasonal-allergy sufferers reported they weren’t able to get a good night’s sleep when their symptoms flared.

RELATED: 20 Ways to Stop Allergies

Studies have shown that over-the-counter nasal steroid sprays (like Nasacort and Flonase) effectively relieve congestion and improve quality of life — including fatigue and sleep issues — in people with seasonal allergies. Dr. Ogden suggests pairing a spray with a daily dose of an OTC nonsedating antihistamine (such as Claritin or Allegra); the drug will block the action of histamine, the compound that triggers pesky nasal symptoms. For best results, begin treatment a couple of weeks before sniffle season starts.

You can still feel pooped after a full night’s sleep

It’s estimated that up to 26 percent of all adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea, a disorder that involves shallow breathing or pauses in breathing while you sleep. If you’re among them, you may often feel like you’re in a “brain fog,” even if you’re clocking seven hours of shut-eye a night. If your primary care physician suspects sleep apnea, she can refer you to a sleep center. Most cases can be diagnosed with an at-home test, says Raj Dasgupta, MD, professor of sleep medicine at the University of Southern California and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Mild cases can often be treated with lifestyle modifications, such as losing weight and avoiding alcohol before bed. Moderate or severe cases may require sleeping with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which supplies a steady stream of air to keep your airways open.

Exercise is the ultimate invigorator

A sweat session is great for upping your oomph, even when you feel like you’re out of juice. “When you exercise, you release hormones like adrenaline. This hormone actually tells our bodies to ignore feelings of pain and fatigue while enhancing blood flow to large muscles,” says Sabrena Jo, senior exercise scientist at the American Council on Exercise. As a result, a workout can leave you with more energy than you had beforehand — an effect that can last several hours.

As a result, a workout can leave you with more energy than you had beforehand — an effect that can last several hours.

RELATED: How to Get More Energy, From Morning Until Night

And it doesn’t take much. One study looked at healthy, sedentary people who began exercising three days a week for just 20 minutes a day, at either a moderate or a low intensity. By the end of six weeks, their energy levels were 20 percent higher than those of a control group of nonexercisers.

Remember: The idea is to leave the gym energized, not exhausted. “If you feel beaten down by the time you step off the treadmill, it’s a sign you need to scale back,” says Jo.

Are you getting enough vitamin D?

Research suggests this key vitamin plays a role in keeping us charged up. Experts suspect D helps regulate insulin secretion and metabolism, both of which affect energy levels. The nutrient has also been linked to better moods (not to mention a slew of other health benefits). If you find yourself constantly dragging, particularly in the winter, it might be worth asking your doc to check your D levels. Since it can be tough to get an adequate amount from food (sources include fatty fish, eggs, and fortified milk), she may recommend a supplement.

How to use Facebook so it’s energizing, not draining

There are two reasons social media can be an energy suck, says Brian Primack, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health at the University of Pittsburgh. “On one hand, you look at everyone’s curated photos and get depressed because your life doesn’t look so perfect,” he explains. “But on the other hand, anything that’s negative also gets magnified. Neither extreme is good.” Indeed, one of his studies found a link between the amount of time spent on social media and the likelihood of depression.

RELATED: 8 Ways to Boost Your Energy

Not ready to cut the Facebook cord? Try paring your “friends” down to your actual friends. “When you don’t know someone, you’re more likely to have a miscommunication or be upset by something in their feed,” says Dr. Primack. “But using social media to connect with old friends can have the opposite effect — it’s energizing.”

Eat to fuel

To improve your everyday energy, try this tweak: Substitute plant protein for animal protein whenever possible, suggests Samantha Heller, RD, a nutritionist at the NYU School of Medicine. Plants feed the “good” bacteria in your gut, she explains, which help boost your immunity to keep you healthy. They may also boost overall mood. A 2015 study found that people who followed a plant-based eating program for 18 weeks saw an increase in their productivity. Here, Heller describes a sample menu for an ideal day.

Breakfast: A Berry smoothie. Blend 1/2 cup berries with a scoop of avocado and 3/4 cup soy milk. The shake is high in both fiber and protein to stabilize your blood sugar until lunch.

Lunch: Lentil soup and kale salad. Lentils and kale are a mighty nutritional combo, offering protein, fiber, iron, potassium, zinc, folate and more.

P.M. snack: Fruit and nuts. This duo serves up a nice balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat to help you power through the rest of the afternoon.

Dinner: Vegetarian tacos. Wrap beans with shredded lettuce and cheese, chopped tomato, avocado, and salsa in a corn tortilla for a light dinner that won’t mess with your sleep.

Fast pick-me-ups

Take a mini break. Stand up and stretch, or watch a funny video. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign researchers found that people who took two short breaks during a repetitive 50-minute task performed better than those who worked straight through.

Go for a quick walk. A landmark study published in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that a brisk 10-minute walk can have a revitalizing effect, enhancing energy for at least two hours.

Chew a stick of gum. A 2015 U.K. study found that this trick raised alertness and improved concentration, possibly because chewing increases blood flow.

When fatigue is a symptom

Sometimes feeling spent isn’t a problem that can be solved with a nap. Below are a few possible medical explanations for flagging energy.

Anemia. This condition, common in women, means you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. If blood tests reveal you’re anemic, you may need to take an iron supplement.

Celiac disease. Fatigue is one of the symptoms of this serious condition, in which an autoimmune reaction to gluten damages the intestines. If blood tests suggest celiac, you’ll need an intestinal biopsy to diagnose it. The only proven therapy is a gluten-free diet.

Hypothyroidism. “If your body isn’t producing enough thyroid hormone, you’re going to feel like you’re running low on fuel all the time,” says Dr. Milosavljevic. This disorder can be treated with synthetic hormones.

Heart disease. A 2003 study published in Circulation found that 70 percent of women who’d suffered heart attacks had reported feeling unusual fatigue for up to a month beforehand. “Patients often say that they feel tired in their chest,” says Dana Simpler, MD, internist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. After a full workup, your doc can prescribe a treatment plan.

8 Things You Need to Know About Your Body’s Energy Levels originally appeared on Health.com.

More from Health.com:

27 Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine

25 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be a Happier Person

7 Unexpected Reasons You’re Feeling Anxious

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://huff.to/2pEnGOr

[robertsmorgan]

Are Harmful Gut Organisms Negatively Impacting Your Health?

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites—there are many types of harmful organisms and nearly everyone is affected at some point in their life.[1]  Although they share a common name, harmful organisms have different effects on the body. Here, we’ll look at harmful organisms that can affect your well-being by targeting and disrupting gut health specifically.

This is a good time to mention that you probably shouldn’t eat while reading this article. Just trust me.

What Are Harmful Organisms?

Harmful organisms are organisms that live off another organism by living on or in them, stealing nutrients, releasing waste, and negatively affecting the overall health of the host organism.Harmful organisms have plagued humans since the beginning of time, references even appear in some of our oldest written records.

Harmful organisms have plagued humans since the beginning of time, references even appear in some of our oldest written records.[2] Harmful organisms are present everywhere, from developing nations to those considered first-world.[3]

What Is “The Gut?”

The human digestive tract is a complex system comprised of many parts that, together, function as a single unit. This includes organs, enzymes, bacteria (commonly referred to as the gut microbiota), and all the other components that collectively make up what we know as “the gut.” In many ways, it can be considered an ecosystem.

One truth I’ve observed again and again is that gut health is closely tied to overall health. When your gut is vibrant, so are you. When it’s not, neither are you. In fact, when gut function is disrupted, every part of the body is negatively affected. It’s a reality that makes gut-targeting harmful organisms that target the gut especially devastating.[4]

Which Harmful Organisms Affect the Gut?

The gut is home to many organisms. Many, like probiotics, are absolutely essential to your health, others are detrimental. The two most common organisms that prey on the gut are protozoa and helminth worms.

Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms; there are about 70 species that can affect humans.[2] Some protozoa can form protective “shells” called cysts where they can lay dormant for years before striking. Cysts even allow protozoa to survive outside a host for a time, meaning they may form in one host only to be transferred to and infect another.[5]

Helminth worms are a bigger threat, in terms of species (nearly 300 types can affect humans) and size—-adult helminths range in size from under a millimeter to over a meter in length.[6] That’s not a misprint—over a meter, in your body.

Until recently, we thought there were two major varieties of helminth worms—roundworms (nematodes) and flatworms (platyhelminths). Flatworms include tapeworms (cestodes) and flukes (trematodes).[7, 8] Researchers have also discovered an entirely new type of helminth called ropeworm.[9]Ropeworms can grow to a meter long and have a lumpy, rope-like shape. They are often mistaken for feces or mucus and go undetected.

How Do Harmful Organisms Affect Gut Health?

Protozoa are aggressive and attack quickly. In the human body, protozoa multiply rapidly in a very short period of time.[10,11] Because of this rapid growth, protozoa can be overwhelming and, in the worst situations, be deadly.[7] Symptoms vary by species of protozoa but typically include diarrhea and stomach troubles.

Worms, on the other hand, live long and grow slowly. They attach to the intestinal lining or burrow deep into tissue. There, they steal nutrients and cause intestinal obstruction, often producing chronic, gradually-worsening health conditions such as inflammation, edema, anemia, lesions, granuloma, fibrosis, hypertension, and organ malfunction.[6] In children, helminths can cripple the proper development of the body and brain.[7] The good news, if there is any, is that, unlike protozoa, helminths cannot multiply within the human body.

How to Avoid Harmful Organisms

Harmful organisms are transmitted through fecal contamination of food or water, or by person-to-person contact.[10,12] If your system is overtaken by protozoa, a problem will be apparent. Worms, however, can live inside the human gastrointestinal tract for years without causing symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they tend to surface in the form of digestive issues.

Proactive measures are the best defense against all types of harmful organisms. Strategies for avoiding harmful organisms include:

Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating.

Be cautious about the origin of your food (especially prepared foods).

I advocate a vegan raw-food diet. But, if you choose to consume meat, make sure it is cooked thoroughly and appropriately.

Wash your hands with soap and water before handling food or eating.

If you grow your own produce, use safe, organic methods of pest control.

Protect yourself from parasite-friendly environments. For example, don’t walk barefoot through puddles.

If you have indoor pets, limit their outdoor time and make sure to groom them regularly.

Regularly cleanse your living environment.

Have harmful organisms negatively affected your life? Leave a comment below and share your experience with us.

References (12)

“Parasites and Foodborne Illness.” United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. USDA.gov, 7 Aug. 2013. Web. 06 June 2016.


Cox, F. E. G. “History of Human Parasitology.” Clinical Microbiology Reviews15.4 (2002): 595–612. PMC. Web. 6 June 2016.


ZACCONE, P et al. “Parasitic Worms and Inflammatory Diseases.” Parasite Immunology 28.10 (2006): 515–523. PMC. Web. 7 June 2016.


”Intestinal Parasites.” University of Maryland Medical Center. University of Maryland, 8 Apr. 2014. Web. 07 June 2016.

Yaeger RG. Protozoa: Structure, Classification, Growth, and Development. In: Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 77.

Wakelin D. Helminths: Pathogenesis and Defenses. In: Baron S, editor. “Medical Microbiology. 4th edition.” Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 87

“Helminth Parasites.” PARA-SITE. The Australian Society for Parasitology, n.d. Web. 07 June 2016.

Haque, Rashidul. “Human Intestinal Parasites.” Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition 25.4 (2007): 387–391. Web.

Volinsky, Alex A., et al. “Development stages of the” rope” human intestinal parasite.” arXiv preprint arXiv:1301.2845 (2013).

“About Parasites.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 05 Mar. 2014. Web. 07 June 2016.

“Protozoan Parasites.” PARA-SITE. The Australian Society for Parasitology, n.d. Web. 07 June 2016.

Lee, Marilyn B. “Everyday and exotic foodborne parasites” The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases 11.3 (2000): 155–158. Web.

  The post Are Harmful Gut Organisms Negatively Impacting Your Health? appeared first on Dr. Group's Natural Health & Organic Living Blog.

from Robert Morgan Blog http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/are-harmful-gut-organisms-negatively-impacting-your-health/

[howtoloseweightfastsafely]

Part 2 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Part II:

Moving on, I feel compelled to share this next short piece, because it concerns a topic that is near and dear to my heart: depression and low self-esteem.

This essay of sorts was actually written to a friend of a friend who has been struggling with his own depression, low confidence, and feeling "stuck" for lack of a better word.

Also, this man, Chris, is not exactly dealing with the best of circumstances.

He is a young, 18-year-old man just out of high school, coming from a single-family home in gang-heavy Camden, NJ (one of the deadliest and most under-served cities in the U.S.)

The good thing is he is on the right path and has entered college as of September 2013. And from what my friend tells me (she was his high school mentor), he is a very smart, kind, and caring young man.

Chris wrote my friend, Melissa, an email telling her how life has been very tough, he's sad all the time, has trouble finding true friends at school, and that he feels like he's stuck with "no way out".

My friend then asked for some guidance from me, as I've dealt with many of the same exact issues myself in the past.

Here's what I said, and here's what I think anyone can apply to their life, whether depressed, just feeling down, out of luck, or feeling "not good enough" or "not worthy" or "defeated" or who think it's "too hard", or whatever it is keeping them from their goals, desires, and dreams:

 "I know how you must feel, but it's not true that things won't get better. They always do. It just takes longer for some.

But that's never a reason to give up.

And I know it's hard to see now, but there's a good side to this, as there is with everything in life.

In this case, the good side is you're getting stronger every single day that you push through the struggles, hard feelings and negative thoughts.

You get so strong that by the time you overcome this (it always happens), you're a machine and nothing fazes you.

You will see amazing things come into your life and you will start doing amazing things.

And while everyone else is doubting themselves when the going gets tough...you'll laugh and get through difficulties like a walk in the park.

Because you've already done the hard work. You've seen the living hell on the bottom and you still fought it and made it out.

You've developed a massive level of inner strength and confidence, whether you realize it or not.

And when you bring this strength to anything in life, whether its writing music, starting a business, getting lean, or doing whatever you want in life...you'll see that it's much easier for you than anyone else.

You've already done the much harder work of battling depression, and you're winning. Keep this with you when your mind keeps filling with negativity and self-hatred. As real as it feels, every single second you fight it, you get better, smarter and stronger.

Here's a fun little exercise: think about anything and everything you want, no matter how insane it sounds. And write it down. If you want ten million dollars or a threesome with some gorgeous models or you want to buy your own island, or be famous, or have a 3 car garage with a Mercedes, Ferrari, and Aston Martin...or if all you want is to be happy every day, write it all down.

And understand that you can have it ALL. And you will.

When the time comes that you realize your true strength and potential, you'll see a miraculous transformation where you go after all your goals and desires...without letting anything stop you.

You'll rip shit up and destroy the competition, and you'll do it better and faster than anyone else.

So as bad as it looks now, just keep looking up. Keep on searching and striving for more.

A lot of people are stuck in depressive, hellish situations, and it definitely sucks, but there is ALWAYS a way out. Don't give up.

Also, there are little things you can do every day to start feeling better.

You see, every day is a chance to have an amazing life and do amazing things. Even more so, every day is a chance to help someone else or do a simple little thing to brighten someone's day.

The thing about life that most people don't tell you is...to build self-esteem and to feel better, you have to:

1) Do esteem-able things

2) "Fake it til you make it"

Remember that you're the shit and you have an amazing personality. You have so much to give to others.

So much so that it'll make them smile and laugh and love their life...and after you do this, you'll see the rewards and happiness come back to you tenfold.

To be clear, you don't have to anything above and beyond to reap the benefits.

A simple smile or hello or just holding open the door could mean the world to someone.

While you're in your own dark spot, someone else could be in the same spot too. And you never know if you saying "hi" or smiling to them was the 1st nice thing someone said to them all week.

That simple little gesture could make someone's day, week or month. You just never know. So give a little bit back whenever you can. And when you see the joy it brings them, you'll slowly but surely feel better too."

Moral of the story: NEVER give up. Keep pushing, keep working, and keeping reaching to be the best you can be. And one day you'll get it. And then you'll move on to even bigger and better things. Most importantly, keep helping others. Give all that you can through love and kindness, and you will reap the rewards tenfold. Challenge yourself and greatness will come. It isn't always easy, that's for sure, but it is definitely worth it.

 Interested in losing weight? Then click below to see the exact steps I took to lose weight and keep it off for good...

Read the previous article about "Part 1 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality"

Read the next article about "Part 3 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality"

Moving forward, there are several other articles/topics I'll share so you can lose weight even faster, and feel great doing it.

Below is a list of these topics and you can use this Table of Contents to jump to the part that interests you the most.

Topic 1: How I Lost 30 Pounds In 90 Days - And How You Can Too

Topic 2: How I Lost Weight By Not Following The Mainstream Media And Health Guru's Advice - Why The Health Industry Is Broken And How We Can Fix It

Topic 3: The #1 Ridiculous Diet Myth Pushed By 95% Of Doctors And "experts" That Is Keeping You From The Body Of Your Dreams

Topic 4: The Dangers of Low-Carb and Other "No Calorie Counting" Diets

Topic 5: Why Red Meat May Be Good For You And Eggs Won't Kill You

Topic 6: Two Critical Hormones That Are Quietly Making Americans Sicker and Heavier Than Ever Before

Topic 7: Everything Popular Is Wrong: The Real Key To Long-Term Weight Loss

Topic 8: Why That New Miracle Diet Isn't So Much of a Miracle After All (And Why You're Guaranteed To Hate Yourself On It Sooner or Later)

Topic 9: A Nutrition Crash Course To Build A Healthy Body and Happy Mind

Topic 10: How Much You Really Need To Eat For Steady Fat Loss (The Truth About Calories and Macronutrients)

Topic 11: The Easy Way To Determining Your Calorie Intake

Topic 12: Calculating A Weight Loss Deficit

Topic 13: How To Determine Your Optimal "Macros" (And How The Skinny On The 3-Phase Extreme Fat Loss Formula)

Topic 14: Two Dangerous "Invisible Thorn" Foods Masquerading as "Heart Healthy Super Nutrients"

Topic 15: The Truth About Whole Grains And Beans: What Traditional Cultures Know About These So-called "Healthy Foods" That Most Americans Don't

Topic 16: The Inflammation-Reducing, Immune-Fortifying Secret of All Long-Living Cultures (This 3-Step Process Can Reduce Chronic Pain and Heal Your Gut in Less Than 24 Hours)

Topic 17: The Foolproof Immune-enhancing Plan That Cleanses And Purifies Your Body, While "patching Up" Holes, Gaps, And Inefficiencies In Your Digestive System (And How To Do It Without Wasting $10+ Per "meal" On Ridiculous Juice Cleanses)

Topic 18: The Great Soy Myth (and The Truth About Soy in Eastern Asia)

Topic 19: How Chemicals In Food Make Us Fat (Plus 10 Banned Chemicals Still in the U.S. Food Supply)

Topic 20: 10 Banned Chemicals Still in the U.S. Food Supply

Topic 21: How To Protect Yourself Against Chronic Inflammation (What Time Magazine Calls A "Secret Killer")

Topic 22: The Truth About Buying Organic: Secrets The Health Food Industry Doesn't Want You To Know

Topic 23: Choosing High Quality Foods

Topic 24: A Recipe For Rapid Aging: The "Hidden" Compounds Stealing Your Youth, Minute by Minute

Topic 25: 7 Steps To Reduce AGEs and Slow Aging

Topic 26: The 10-second Trick That Can Slash Your Risk Of Cardiovascular Mortality By 37% (Most Traditional Cultures Have Done This For Centuries, But The Pharmaceutical Industry Would Be Up In Arms If More Modern-day Americans Knew About It)

Topic 27: How To Clean Up Your Liver and Vital Organs

Topic 28: The Simple Detox 'Cheat Sheet': How To Easily and Properly Cleanse, Nourish, and Rid Your Body of Dangerous Toxins (and Build a Lean Well-Oiled "Machine" in the Process)

Topic 29: How To Deal With the "Stress Hormone" Before It Deals With You

Topic 30: 7 Common Sense Ways to Have Uncommon Peace of Mind (or How To Stop Your "Stress Hormone" In Its Tracks)

Topic 31: How To Sleep Like A Baby (And Wake Up Feeling Like A Boss)

Topic 32: The 8-step Formula That Finally "fixes" Years Of Poor Sleep, Including Trouble Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, And Waking Up Rested (If You Ever Find Yourself Hitting The Snooze Every Morning Or Dozing Off At Work, These Steps Will Change Your Life Forever)

Topic 33: For Even Better Leg Up And/or See Faster Results In Fixing Years Of Poor Sleep, Including Trouble Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, And Waking Up Rested, Do The Following:

Topic 34: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 35: Part 1 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 36: Part 2 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 37: Part 3 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 38: Part 4 of 4: Solution To Overcoming Your Mental Barriers and Cultivating A Winner's Mentality

Topic 39: How To Beat Your Mental Roadblocks And Why It Can Be The Difference Between A Happy, Satisfying Life And A Sad, Fearful Existence (These Strategies Will Reduce Stress, Increase Productivity And Show You How To Fulfill All Your Dreams)

Topic 40: Maximum Fat Loss in Minimum Time: The Body Type Solution To Quick, Lasting Results

Topic 41: If You Want Maximum Results In Minimum Time You're Going To Have To Work Out (And Workout Hard, At That)

Topic 42: Food Planning For Maximum Fat Loss In Minimum Time

Topic 43: How To Lose Weight Fast If You're in Chronic Pain

Topic 44: Nutrition Basics for Fast Pain Relief (and Weight Loss)

Topic 45: How To Track Results (And Not Fall Into the Trap That Ruins 95% of Well-Thought Out Diets)

Topic 46: Advanced Fat Loss - Calorie Cycling, Carb Cycling and Intermittent Fasting

Topic 47: Advanced Fat Loss - Part I: Calorie Cycling

Topic 48: Advanced Fat Loss - Part II: Carb Cycling

Topic 49: Advanced Fat Loss - Part III: Intermittent Fasting

Topic 50: Putting It All Together

Learn more by visiting our website here: invigoratenow.com