Coprophagia

O.k. I know this is totally gross. I am warning you now. Don't read on if you have a weak stomach. I took a serious soul search before writing this cause I believe the post could be written effectively without the following included, but I left it in because I believe it makes a strong, memorable point, and I want you to think outside the box. I encourage everyone to ask questions and think for themselves instead of just going along with the status quo. Basically to pull our heads out of our butts! (You'll see why this is relevant in a sec.!)

Coprophagia or coprophagy is the consumption of feces, from the Greek κόπρος copros ("feces") and φαγεῖν phagein ("to eat"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coprophagia

Recently on the news I heard there was feces found on people's cell phones. This is gross yes, but I want to make a point that the real dangers of germs ect. lie elsewhere and I wanted to bring attention to those dangers, not to encourage consumption of DooDoo. In certain circumstances there are actually medical benefits to it. The risks listed in number 3 below are more easily contracted elsewhere and that's the point of this post. I can also think of better ways to heal than the below prescriptions,(Say, Probiotics...) but that's a whole seperate post!

Medical aspects of Coprophagia according to Wikipedia.
1. Centuries ago, physicians used to taste their patients' excretions, to better judge their state and condition.[6]
2. Fecal bacteriotherapy is when feces from a close relative or spouse are given to patients suffering from intractable diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile. The purpose is to repopulate the intestines with the normal gut flora (intestinal bacteria) to decimate the clostridium. The healthy stool is administered by nasogastric tube, enema, or in a capsule.
3. Consuming other people's feces carries the risk of contracting diseases and bacteria spread through fecal matter, such as E. coli, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, pneumonia, polio, and influenza. Coprophagia also carries a risk of contracting intestinal parasites.
4. Lewin (2001) reports that "... consumption of fresh, warm camel feces has been recommended by Bedouins as a remedy for bacterial dysentery; its efficacy (probably attributable to the antibiotic subtilisin from Bacillus subtilis) was confirmed by German soldiers in Africa during World War II."[7] The introduction of foreign bacteria into the human GI tract via infusion of fecal enemas is, moreover, an established medical practice in cases of ulcerative colitis, especially where the patient's own intestinal flora has been significantly depleted by antibiotic therapy applied for other maladies.[8]

Remember, germs are generally benign. In fact, according to Scientific American:"Most bacteria are well-behaved companions. Indeed, if you are ever feeling lonely, remember that the trillions of microbes living in and on the average human body outnumber the human cells by a ratio of 10 to one. Of all the tens of thousands of known bacterial species, only about 100 are renegades that break the rules of peaceful coexistence and make us sick."

A test done by NSF International for CBS news, swabbed 30 surfaces in 22 homes - that's 660 tests in all - to check for germs in the bathroom, the kitchen, and on everyday household objects.
The germiest spots in your home? According to NSF:
1. The kitchen sponge
2. The kitchen sink
3. Toothbrush holders
A particular families toothbrush holder tested had over a thousand times more coliform bacteria than their toilet seat! CBS Co-anchor Chris Wragge observed, "It's disgusting to think that you'd be safer to basically brush your teeth in the toilet bowl."

According to Germaphobes Beware: The Dirtiest and Germiest Places in America “Clean clothes” is a whopper of an oxymoron. Anytime you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you’re going to get E. coli on your hands. Just one soiled undergarment can spread bacteria to the whole load and the machine. Wash underwear separately (there’s about a gram of feces—a quarter the size of a small peanut—in every pair of dirty underwear), and dry for at least 45 minutes.

So. First and foremost. WASH YOUR HANDS. Use soap and warm water. (Preferably not anti-bacterial soap - Post for next week.) Lather and scrub all surfaces for 20-30 seconds. (Sing the Happy Birthday Song Twice.) Rinse hands under running water. Dry throughly. Turn the water off with the paper towel if available.

Remember, germs are everywhere. Most of them won't harm you. The ones that can are in places other than your cell phone, just ask anyone who's been to a hospital lately.

The best time to buy....

November is the best month to buy what two things?
Pajama's/Slippers
Why: These popular Christmas gift items go on sale in November as retailers try to appeal to shoppers with well-priced packaged sets. Marked-down leftovers will be on clearance in January.
and
Wedding Dresses
Why:There are fewer weddings in the winter months than the summer months so stores reduce prices to keep sales up.

Get the best deals on everything from airline tickets to a car. It's all in your timing. Mens Health Magazine Posted Date: April 7, 2011

What: Airline tickets
When: 1 a.m. on Wednesday
Why: This is the best time to find a deal because airlines reset their fares every Wednesday just after midnight, says Peter Greenberg, Men's Health Travel Detective.

What: New suit
When: January or July
Why: The spring collection hits stores in January, so find a deal on fall suits; they'll be marked down as much as 30 percent. It's the reverse in July.

What: Gym membership
When: July and August
Why: New memberships plummet midsummer, so you might find a deal because gyms are in a negotiating mood.

What: Car
When: November and December
Why: Don't, as many experts say, buy the previous year's model in late summer when the new models hit. There's a year of depreciation on them already. Instead, buy next year's model late in the year, when dealers are antsy.

What: Caribbean vacation
When: March and April
Why: There will still be plenty of chilly weather at home to escape in early spring, and you'll save 25 percent or more by avoiding the peak season of December to February, says Orbitz travel expert Kendra Thornton.

What: House
When: October to December
Why: Real estate varies from place to place. But in general, supply exceeds demand in the fall, after the school year begins.

Grapeseed Oil and a Lesson in Fats

I am a HUGE fan of cooking with Grapeseed Oil instead of Olive Oil. I still keep Olive Oil on hand for mixing in dressings and things I don't cook, but for cooking it's Grapeseed Oil all the way because Grapeseed Oil is ideal for high temperatures. It may be heated up to 419'F without burning (toxic fumes).
I buy all my Grapeseed Oil from WildTree, their's is the highest quality. They have Natural AND flavored kinds. GARLIC GRAPESEED OIL = Yum!
You can contact Moe(click for the link) for all your Grapeseed needs. www.moe.mywildtree.com
Reposted here is a summary of Grapeseed Oil info taken from the Wildtree website.
Health Benefits
· There are NO preservatives such as TBHQ or BHT.
· It is NOT hydrogenated.
· There is NO sodium.
· NO trans fatty acids.
· NO cholesterol (it actually aids in cholesterol reduction).
· It has one of the lowest levels of saturated fats of all oils (see chart below).
· It is easily digestible and
· A good source of Vitamin E Alpha (an important anti-oxidant)(4.3 mg per serving).
· Highest concentration of poly (76%) unsaturated acid of any oil.
· Helps the body produce High Density Lipoprotein (HDL).
· High in Linoleic acid - and its health benefits:
-is a fatty acid which acts as a transporter for saturated fats - helps prevent accumulation in the arteries.
-also known as Omega-6 and in near identical proportions to mother's milk.
-vital to life and cannot be produced by the body alone.

Grapeseed Oil Vocabulary
Expeller Pressed - Expeller pressing is a chemical-free mechanical process that extracts oil from seeds and nuts. This method of oil extraction is an alternative to the hexane-extraction method used for many conventional oils. The temperature reached during pressing depends on the hardness of the nut or seed. The harder the nut or seed, the more pressure required to extract the oil, which in turn creates more friction and higher heat. There is no external heat applied during the expeller pressing. n-Hexane is a chemical made from crude oil. Pure n-hexane is a colorless liquid with a slightly disagreeable odor. It is highly flammable, and its vapors can be explosive. It is used in industry, primarily when it is mixed with similar chemicals to produce solvents. Common names for these solvents are commercial hexane, mixed hexanes, petroleum ether, and petroleum naphtha. The major use for solvents containing n-hexane is to extract vegetable oils from crops such as soybeans, flax, peanuts, grape seed, and safflower seed. They are also used as cleaning agents in the textile, furniture, shoemaking, and printing industries, particularly rotogravure printing. N-hexane is also an ingredient of special glues that are used in the roofing, shoe, and leather industries. N-hexane is used in binding books, working leather, shaping pills and tablets, canning, manufacturing tires, and making baseballs. Teach your children and teenagers the dangers of inhaling products that contain n-hexane. Keep products containing n-hexane (quick-drying glues and cements) out of the reach of children.

Antioxidants - A group of compounds which combat free radicals (oxygen-species cause of diseases) in your bloodstream.

Saturated and Unsaturated Fats - Fats and oils are basically mixtures of fatty acids and are identified as "saturated" and "mono- or poly- unsaturated" depending upon which type of fatty acid is predominate. Fatty acids are basically chains of carbon that can react with other molecules. There are two types:
"Saturated"
- Have adequate hydrogen atoms, so they are chemically stable which means they stay fresh longer.
- The chain formation is straight, allowing the chains to pack into a solid form at room temperature (e.g. Crisco).
- Saturated fatty acids raise cholesterol which raises the risk of coronary heart disease.
"Unsaturated"- Are missing adequate hydrogen atoms, so they are chemically unstable and go rancid more quickly.
- The chain formation is curved and not able to pack so that at room temperature the fat is liquid oil.
The two types of unsaturated fats are:
Mono-unsaturated - missing 1 hydrogen atom. Liquid at room temperature, but start to solidify or turn cloudy in the refrigerator.
Poly-unsaturated - missing more than 1 hydrogen atom, making it even more unstable than monounsaturated oils. Liquid at room temperature and remains a liquid when chilled. Goes rancid most quickly. Unsaturated fatty acids help to lower total blood cholesterol.
Hydrogenation - The addition of hydrogen to fats to change a liquid oil (high in unsaturated fatty acids) to a more solid "saturated" form. This process also keeps the product fresh longer. The problem: recent studies suggest that hydrogenated fats may raise blood cholesterol.

Trans fatty acidsProducts of partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
· Adverse affects include:
· Raises "bad" LDL cholesterol
· Lowers "good" HDL cholesterol
· Lowers amount of cream(volume) in milk of lactating females, lowering milk quality
· Correlates to low birth weight in human infants
· Increases risk for diabetes due to effect of increasing blood insulin levels
· Lowers testosterone in males and increases level of abnormal sperm

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - An anti-oxidant-type "good" cholesterol. For those requiring a cholesterol free diet, HDL is not considered a "cholesterol".

Linoleic Acid - Is one of five essential fatty acids, vital to life and cannot be produced by the body alone. Also known as Omega-6 and in near identical proportions to mother's milk. It is also an antioxidant. Acts as a transporter for saturated fats, preventing accumulation in the arteries.

Flashpoint - the temperature at which an oil begins to smoke and burn - 419 deg F for Grapeseed oil and 375 deg F for olive oil.

Money - Loss Aversion

You gotta spend money to make money right? Why is this so difficult to stomach? According to Daniel Kahneman, Ph.D., a professor at Princeton and winner of the 2002 Nobel Prize in Economics, this suggests a deep-seated cautiousness, which he's dubbed "loss aversion." Loss aversion expresses itself as a lopsided response to a loss of money. To put it simply, we experience twice as much pain from losing $10 as pleasure from gaining $10. The same goes for other losing propositions. Some people work for years, in positions they don't like simply because they're afraid to own up to how much time and opportunity they've squandered. The longer they stay, the harder it becomes to face that loss.

What are you having a hard time facing when it comes to money?
Do you worry about money?
If you have it, will there be enough? Will you continue to get more?
Is there something else out there for you? Even in this economy?

Taste the Rainbow

Dr. Oz Tip #6
Taste the Colors
Foods with bright, rich colors are more than just nice to look at. They're also packed with flavonoids and carotenoids, powerful compounds that bind the damaging free radicals in your body, lowering inflammation. (Sadly, skittles do not count.) Eat nine fistfuls of colorful fruits and vegetables each day and you'll reap the benefits without having to give up other foods. Whenever I shop the produce aisle, I'm reminded that these foods are often more powerful than the drugs sold in pharmacies.

For 24 other tips, Read more: Men's Health Magazine

Time

Here's a question:
Do you SPEND your time? Or do you INVEST your time?
Do you see the difference? Who/Where would you be if you continually invested your time instead of just spending it?

Food Matters Film

Oct 2nd - 8th, you can view the film Food Matters for free. Type in this link.
www.FoodMatters.tv/ScreeningEvent