Feb & March 2020

  A World Without Trash Shared from article in National Geographic March, 2020 by Robert Kunzig A world without waste sounds impossible, but the vision of a circular economy where we use resources sparingly and recycle materials endlessly- is inspiring businesses and environmentalists alike. Can we make it happen? Can we afford not to? We can look at existing technologies that other countries have implemented and build on that knowledge. In Copenhagen, Denmark, an incinerator uses the latest technology to convert 534,000 tons of waste a year into energy to electrify 30,000 homes and heat 72,000. The plant doubles as a recreational destination, with an all-season ski slope, a tree-lined hiking and running trail, and a 280- foot climbing wall. Which is the world’s tallest. Every year we transform more than 100 billion tons of raw material into products. Less than a quarter becomes buildings, cars, or other long-lasting things. Less than 10 percent cycles back into the economy. The circular economy movement aims to increase that number and reduce the enormous amount of waste. The vast majority of inputs to the economy, 93 billion tons in 2015, are resources extracted from the Earth. Both finite (minerals, ores, and fossil fuels) and renewable ones (biomas). Two-thirds of the material flowing through the economy, 67.4 billion tons in 2015, gets emitted as pollution. The carbon from fossil fuels or other sources are disposed of as waste. In Prato, Italy, where wool clothes have been produced since the 12th century, some 3,500 companies, employing 40,000 workers, process discarded textiles. The wool is sorted by color, washed, and shredded. It is then...

Dec 2019/Jan 2020

  Happy New Decade! I read an article in this month’s National Geographic that I wanted to share with you. They have dubbed this the wellness issue. The article titled, The Microbiome Menagerie, gave me a lot to think about. It’s amazing that we have trillions of microbes living in and on our bodies. They are crucial to our health. Like cells that are constantly regenerating, these microbes can be healthy or unhealthy. Bacteria such as e-coli inhabit the human gut and perform essential functions, such as making vitamins K and B12 and repelling disease-causing bacteria. The bad strain of e-coli can cause food poisoning. Everyone’s mix of microbes are unique. Scientists are learning the man ways these microbes affect our health, weight, mood and even personalities. They are finding the surprising impact of these tiny organisms on how we look, act, think and feel. There are thought to be around 38 trillion microbes for a typical young male adult. That is slightly more than the number of human cells. We know that the cells in our bodies regenerate about every 7 years. We have constant opportunities for a positive impact on how those cells regenerate. This article states that our unique mix of microbes in our bodies is about the same as when we were very young. When a baby is born through the birth canal, he is greeted by all his mother’s bacteria from that area of her body. When a baby is born through a C-section, the bacteria from the mother’s abdomen and breasts attach to the baby. Studies found that a particular bacterium introduced from...

October & November, 2019

  Home Practice to Ease Holiday Stress-A Chinese Medicine Practice by Teresa Biggs, Dec. 2018 Yoga Journal The Physiology of Stress When we are in high gear, plowing through a long to-do list to get stuff done (read: we’re stressed!), the body turns on the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS), otherwise known as the fight-or-flight mode. When the SNS is turned on and we’re under perceived stress, it triggers energy to be released, allowing the body to fight or take flight. By activating the SNS, the energy is directed to prioritized systems to fight or flight and takes energy away from (or shuts down) non-priority systems, such as the immune, digestion, and reproduction systems. This is why some people are more prone to illness, digestive upset, and for women, menstrual irregularities during or after stress. The SNS’s counterpart is the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS), or the rest-and-digest mode. When the PSNS is activated, the body conserves energy and turns “on” all down-regulated systems. So, how can you activate the PSNS? By stimulating the vagus nerve: the longest cranial nerve that interconnects the brain to many organ systems and runs through the back of the throat and through the diaphragm. Pranayama and Yoga are primary ways to access the vagus nerve, because the breath has the capacity to stimulate the vagus nerve through the back of the throat (hello, Ujjayi breath!) and diaphragmatic breathing (a.k.a. belly breathing). By stimulating the vagus nerve, we increase our vagal tone and turn on the PSNS, ultimately counter-balancing the stress response. See also 8 Detoxifying Poses to Boost Digestion of Holiday Feasts—& All That Seasonal Stress Interval Yoga: The Ultimate Counter to...

August & September 2019

Sandra’s Snippets   Diet Check Up-Food as Medicine Health Magazine July/August 2019 by Rachel Lustgarten, Nutritionist Incorporate these foods into your diet to quell inflammation. Berries-high in antioxidants, which neutralize cell-harming free radicals. But because they have a lower glycemic index than many other fruits, they won’t cause a blood sugar spike which contributes to inflammation. Leafy Greens-kale and spinach have vitamins K and E, which have been associated with reduced inflammation and may be protective against heart disease and arthritis. Salmon and other oily fish-tuna, sardines and mackerel contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Extra virgin olive oil-a plant-based source of omega-3s and can be a good alternative to pro-inflammatory saturated fats, like butter. A compound in olive oil, oleocanthal, has been called a “natural ibuprofen” because it mimics the drug’s anti-inflammatory actions in lab studies. Garlic-helps maintain healthy gut microorganisms which researchers say staves off age-related memory issues. Those memory boosting compounds work when eaten raw. Or crush it and let stand 10 minutes before cooking. Whole Grains-oats, bulgur, and popcorn are good sources of fiber and studies show that people who eat more fiber have lower levels of CRP, a key indicator of inflammation, in their blood. Mighty Nest for Small Steps in a Big World I have been loving my monthly surprises from Mighty Nest to help fight the overuse of disposable household items and be a little bit greener. This month I received some reusable cloths that are textured for scrubbing and can replace some of the uses of paper towels. Last month I received some mesh bags for produce at grocery stores. I love...

June & July 2019

I really enjoyed visiting Portugal recently. I needed some down time and found just the place to relax and get away.  It’s nice to go to a place where you don’t see anyone walking around with their cup of coffee. If you want coffee, you must sit and enjoy it. Just that one little action has a calming effect.         Watermelon’s Superpower  article from medicalnewstoday.com A study published recently in Medical News Today, noted that supplements with L-citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon can improve blood flow and improve oxygenation of skeletal muscles, thereby enhancing exercise performance. It has a positive effect on blood vessels and is being looked as an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction if taken in a concentrated form. The key ingredient is converted into nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels throughout the body. The results are more pronounced with concentrated watermelon juice which has higher concentrations of L-citrulline than the fruit.   Mushrooms for Health by Sanna Delmonico, MS, RDN As we know, mushrooms are fungi, more closely related to yeast and molds than to plants. They are eaten on every continent and valued for its medicinal and nutritional qualities. The number and varieties are so great, it may never be known. Hundreds have been studied for their medicinal properties and about 25 are used as food. In the U.S., the familiar mushrooms are mostly limited to three: white button, shitake and portobello. Nutritionally, mushrooms offer fiber, protein, minerals like potassium, copper, selenium and B vitamins, including thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and B12. They also have pantothenic acid, and vitamins C and...

April & May 2019

Dancing with Gravity in Asana By Judith Hanson Lasater, Yoga Journal, February, 2019 When you practice asana, you are constantly experimenting or dancing with the force of gravity and its effects on a pose. Gravity chooses which muscles are working and which are not, in each asana, and why that is. Movement literacy is a tern used on the understanding that the body is an orchestra and movements are the music it creates. When you can see, feel and understand the specifics of the body’s movements, not only do you become a better at asanas, you can eliminate the pain as you struggle into some poses. In a pose like reclining hand to big toe pose, you will notice a stretch in your hamstrings. In this asana, relax while lying you your back and holding your foot up in the air perhaps using a strap to assist in the stretch. You are working against gravity. The hip flexors are undergoing a shortening contraction against gravity. In a standing forward fold, (Uttahasana) hip flexion is working with gravity. A lengthening contraction of the hip extensors occurs. The hamstrings are working with the force of gravity to let you down gradually. It is mostly the hamstrings that are controlling the assent and descent. Begin to notice in your practice which muscles are activated. This is an e\effective way to study muscle actions. It will help u appreciate how wondrously subtle and intelligent all or movements really are.  Working Toward a Sustainable Planet Recycle, repurpose and rethink the items you buy. Think about buying second hand fashions. I have found it a...