Recommended Reading 12/19/21

This photo was taken at The Garden of Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It has been quite a while since the last post (July), so I apologize.  

Let's finish off the year with a recommended reading list.

 Health/Food

If you don't know yet, Cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn tells us "Everything You Need to Know To Start A Plant-based Diet"

From "The No Meat Athlete": 7 Foods Worth Eating Eating Single Day How many do you consume? He along with Robert Cheeke have an incredible new book out called "The Plant-Based Athlete"

Did you know that our bodies produce molecules called cannabinoids, the body's own version of THC and CBD

What the hell is "Sulforaphane" and "Why it is so good for you"  then check out

 "Broccoli- The DNA Whisperer"

Environment

The environment and our health go hand in hand.  Climate change is REAL and our food and lifestyle choices should be the first option in doing our part in helping curb this CRISIS.

How much food is wasted in the world? 1.4 BILLION TONS per YEAR! 80 Billion pounds in the United States alone, which equals 30-40% of food produced. 

The U.S. could feed 800 million people with the grain that livestock is fed.

India is turning "Waste to Watts" using biogas digesters to turn organic waste into electricity.

Did you know the world's largest living single organism is in Pando Forest, Utah?  Alarmingly, deer and elk are devouring it. 

Here in Florida, they are thinking a 20 foot seawall will save Miami from rising sea water.

The year was 1856. Scientists understood physics of climate change.  What The Fuck!

For a free e-book on Climate Change and Global Warming

CRAZY SHIT

When we thought we had heard everything about 9/11, comes the "Great Maritime Rescue of Lower Manhattan"

How Camels- "the ships of the desert" were part of a dark history of  American West.

I will land the plane with "A Letter From 2030"

For an free awesome outlet of environmental, etc. short and full length documentaries check out:

Waterbear 

Have a wonderful Holiday Season.

Be safe.

Judd

Breathe-Increase Your Prana

 

Take a deep breath right now. Are your shoulders raising?

If your shoulders are raising when breathing instead of your belly, you are probably shallow breathing or thoracic breathing.  Being a shallow breather can lead to a long list of health issues.  Stress leads to shallow breath, shallow breath leads to a constant state of stress.  Not good!  It deprives your muscles and joints of oxygen, which leads to tightness, chronic pain and stiffness.  It can also lead to sleep apnea, insomnia and restlessness.  In other words, a crappy sleeper.

We must reteach our bodies to breathe.  Belly breathing or diaphragmatically is the most beneficial way to go.  Watch how a baby breathes, its belly rises and falls.  Try drawing air in through your nose into your lungs and expand your belly, like a baby.  You will be getting more well needed oxygen that your body can use.

Meditation requires intentional breath work.  The more you focus on how your mind and body feel when breathing, the more it will become naturally.  You will feel better and know how to calm yourself in stressful situations.

In yoga, the Sanskrit word for breath or life force is "Prana"

In living beings, Prana is considered to be responsible for the body's life, heat, health and maintenance.  Prana is the force behind life itself.  Increase your Prana through the Five Elements.

Start practicing to belly breath and feel the difference.

Go deep!

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Please get your vaccination and wear a mask.

Judd 

Recommended Reading 06/27/21

 

Miso says it's time for Recommended Reading.

I realized that I haven't done a post since March on reading/viewing suggestions.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.

Let's get started with:

WELLNESS 

I'm pretty sure all of us have had some unwanted anxiety and stress over the past year.

From an awesome eco-conscious company, Waterlust: "Anxiety and the World Around Me"

From The Beet: "Feel Like Your Stuck in a Life Rut?"

You don't have to live in a Blue Zone region to reap the benefits of a longevity lifestyle: "7Things to Do Now to Make Healthy Eating Easy and Fun"

While you are on a healthy plant-based diet, make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need:

"7 Nutrients You May Be Missing and What to Do About It"

"What Will Future Foods Look Like" from Nutrition Studies.

FOOD and RECIPES

Eating fish has it's own set of environmental issues, why not try "Vegan Sushi" or "5 Mushrooms That Can Replace Fish in Your Diet"

From No Meat Athlete: "The Only Plant Power Bowl You'll Ever Need", They also just published a New York Best Seller called "The Plant Based Athlete", check it out.

For the 4th of July try "Easy Balsamic Potato Salad"

If you have trouble deciding what to eat everyday, for under $2 a week you can get all the help you need with Rich Roll's "Plantpower Meal Planner"

ENVIRONMENT

For a multitude of Food, Environmental and award winning content about our world,  you have to checkout a FREE site.  WaterBear  By becoming a WaterBear member(FREE) you will also have a planted a tree in the Scottish Highlands and help rewild Scotland. #1member1tree

Things you need to know about the  Extreme Drought in California

It's a world wide climate emergency: "It's All About The Heat"

"Why Dead Trees Are the Hottest Commodity"

Things we take for granted: "Demand for Water"

"Water Rich, Water Poor"

CRAZY SHIT

Why is this not taught in school? "Long Hidden Tulsa Massacre"

This why: "The Invention of Whiteness"

Out of sight, out of mind: Just 10 Miles of Los Angeles"

"Keeping The Lights On"

For you cyclists: "Tour de France: How Many Calories Will the Winner Burn?"

 Mobile phones have come a long way, "70 Years"

I'm reading a very interesting book titled: "The Hidden Life of Trees", the connections and similarities of humans and trees are fascinating.

"An organism that is too greedy and takes much without giving anything in return, destroys what it needs for life and dies out"

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd

Vitamin N

 

All vitamins and minerals are very important and essential for proper health.  Vitamin N is one that is probably overlooked more than any other.  Vitamin N is essentially a prescription to spend more time in nature. Vitamin "Nature" makes us feel great.  It is why when the sun comes out everyone jumps for joy and heads outside.  Did you know Nature can heal your over-stressed brain, but just how much Vitamin N do we need?  Spending just 10 minutes 2-3 times per week in nature can really make a difference in how you feel.

Here's 5 ways nature can help you be a better you:

*Nature clears your head: A 90 minute walk in a natural environment has a positive impact with lower levels of anxiety and obsessive worry.

*It improves your mood and lowers stress: All types of green exercise activities improve self-esteem and combats negative moods like anger, tension and depression.   

*It spurs creativity: Are you stressing about a big project or exam, take a walk in the woods.  Problem solving skills are thought to originate in the same area of the brain as we use for selective attention and threat detection.  Researchers are concerned that our ability to think creatively is being overwhelmed by the constant stimulus of digital and indoor life.

*It improves your immune system: Sick of getting sick?  Walking in nature has been found to increase our natural killer cell activity.  Natural killer cells are our bodies weapons against invading bacteria and viruses. 

*You're less likely to snack on unhealthy foods: Being more active means decreased likelihood of overeating while being sedentary.

Have you ever heard of "Forest Bathing"?  

For more reading: Why we need Nature

Grab some hydration and go take a walk.

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd

Vitamin K

Vitamin K

Vitamin K was discovered in 1929 by Danish researcher Henrik Dam.  He named it after finding it prevented chickens on a fat-free diet from bleeding out.  He called it the "koagulation" vitamin using the German spelling. 

The body needs Vitamin K to produce prothrombin, which is a protein and blood clotting agent.  It is important in blood clotting and bone metabolism. Vitamin K1 or phylloquinone comes from plants, such as kale, when it is eaten, bacteria in the large intestine converts it to it's storage form of vitamin k2.  It is then stored in the small intestine to be used (combined with Vitamin D)when needed for bone health and blood clotting.

Vitamin K may help keep blood pressure lower by mineralization, where minerals build up in the arteries.  This enables the heart to pump blood more freely.

The RDA is only 70-90 micrograms per day.  1 cup of raw chopped kale is 472 mcg!, so it very easy to be getting enough K.  By eating a balanced healthy diet you will get enough. 

Here are 2 articles for more information:

Food Revolution: Vitamin K

Health Guide: Vitamin K

Vitamin E

 Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and may help your cells from damage. Also, being it is fat-soluble, your body stores and uses it as needed.  Like rust on your bike or automobile, a similar process of oxidation and accelerated aging takes place in our bodies when we are exposed to free radicals.  Free radicals weaken and break down healthy cells, contributing to heart disease and cancers.  Free radicals form as a result of normal body processes, but more so with exposure to industrial chemicals, pollution, cigarette smoking, etc.  Vitamin E helps in reducing the damage and slowing the aging process down.

It has been shown in many studies that high doses of Vitamin E supplements actually DECREASE life span.  The NIH, reports that taking high doses of Vitamin E in supplement form can cause serious side effects. Including increased risks of hemorrhagic stroke.  

The following foods are good sources:

1 ounce serving:

*Dry roasted sunflower seeds = 7.4mg

*Dry roasted almonds = 6.8mg

*Dry roasted hazelnuts = 4.3mg

*Dry roasted peanuts = 2.2mg

1 cup serving:

*Spinach boiled = 1.9mg

*Broccoli chopped and boiled = 1.2mg

The easiest way to get your RDA (15mg) is by adding a tablespoon of wheat germ oil to a recipe or alternatively snacking on sunflower seeds throughout the day.  Or even a kale/spinach salad with tomato, sunflower seeds sprinkle with wheat germ.  Get creative!

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Get vaccinated!

Judd

Recommended Reading 03/07/21

 Over the past year our son, Jay Bird, "The Bird Nerd" ( I say that lovingly) has been utilizing an app by The Audubon Society to spend time outdoors and learning about the native birds in his area. Kris and I downloaded this app yesterday and already have been using it.  It is an easy way to get outdoors and enjoy nature and an awesome learning tool.

Over the past few weeks I have come across a multitude of articles that are very interesting.  I hope you enjoy this section of the blog as I much as I do researching them. Knowledge is power.

Let's get started with 

ENVIRONMENT

Speaking about the Audubon Society...here's one from National Geographic:

Bringing back the "Most Endangered Bird"  in America.

This one hits home for me, as my work involves some time spent in The Everglades and surrounding areas:

Big Cypress National Park Drilling.

Texas is getting called out on:

Wind Power Lies

Come on Texas, who are you trying to fool: Blackouts weren't caused by renewables.

Aren't there farms in Texas?

South Korea knows what's going on: $43 Billion dollar Worlds largest offshore wind farm.

It's called a "Forest Town", a 42,000 home "eco city" being built in Singapore.

The wild ways  "Local Governments" are blocking renewable energy.

What are the benefits of a "Blue Economy"

Rewilding: How Cities are Prioritizing Green Spaces

HEALTH

What diet is worst for the environment?  IT IS NOT A PLANT-BASED DIET

Trying to eat healthier.. What are "anti-nutrients?

This is an interesting concept: What if Doctors were paid to keep people well?

Here's a free Plant-based Mini Course from The Center for Nutrition Studies

CRAZY SHIT

Guaranteed Income Works

Two Atomic Bombs fell on North Carolina! WHAT!

Russia's Monster Submarines are even scarier than you can imagine.

You can now own The Skinniest House in London, it's only six feet wide.

How about a "Double-decker Bus" with a fireplace, bathtub and walk-in closet.

This one is both Environmental and Crazy:

How Fast are Oceans Rising?

I hope you enjoy these recommendations.

Have a great week.

Be kind.

DON'T BE AN ASSHOLE, WEAR YOUR MASK

Together, we can get through this!

Judd