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Aug 14, 2013Jun 17, 2016

Medical Marijuana Edible Recipes for Food, Drink, and Medicine (Guide)

Medical Marijuana has been helping people for thousands of years and it may be able to help you too! Mona Lisa is a licensed medical marijuana patient who has been providing excellent tutorials on how to cook with cannabis.

Introduction to Marijuana Edibles

The Edible Elements of Cannabis Extraction

If you want to learn how to make the very best medicinal edibles, you ought to know about the basic properties of the cannabis plant. Each element contains something unique which allows you to easily customize your (edible) marijuana extractions to suit your specific medical requirements.

What is Sweet Leaf?

Harvesting medical marijuana is about more than just buds. Everyone always asks me: What should I use to make the very best medicinal extractions? Well, the answer is simple, friends… Use your sweet leaf!

Prepping Marijuana Edibles with Butter and Oil

How to Make Cannabutter, Medical Marijuana Recipe Part 1

If you (or someone you know) live in a constant state of pain due to serious illness or injury, then ingesting marijuana in the form of “cannabutter” may very well be the ONLY ticket to a better quality of life! Not only is marijuana completely non-toxic and non-lethal, it’s also an extremely effective pain reliever when used in the right dosage and manner.

How to Make Cannabutter, Medical Marijuana Recipe Part 2

Now that you know all about making the finest cannabutter (marijuana infused butter), I also wanted to make sure and show everyone how to properly harvest their finished product. If you (or someone you know) is seriously ill or severely injured and currently taking prescription pain medication to ease their suffering…consider that there is a much healthier alternative available.

How to Make Canna Oil, Medical Marijuana Infused Cooking Oil

This healthful recipe for cannabis cooking oil has been around for ages, and I’d like to make sure good information isn’t forgotten.

Marijuana Edible Food, Drink, and Medicine Recipes

Cooking with Marijuana using Cannabutter and Canna oil

Let me show you the basics of cooking with cannabis because marijuana infused foods make perfect medicine for those suffering from chronic pain and anxiety! You only need to know a few simple basics, and soon you’ll be feeling your absolute best!

Basics of Making Marijuana Edible Desserts

Making potent and delicious medical marijuana edibles is surprisingly easy (and fun) to do! Let me show you a few basics so you can convert all your favorite dessert recipes into powerfully effective medicine which become an absolute delight to administer when needed.

How to Make Medical Marijuana Margaritas

If you’re feeling the need for a drink, try this easy medical cannabis drink recipe.

How to Make Marijuana Medicine, Tonic & Tincture

This Green Monster recipe shows you how to make the old-fashioned” “Healthful Tonic and Tincture” medical marijuana that was originally sold before prohibition. It’s ability to provide relief from deep muscular pain and uncontrollable spasms makes it an amazing medicinal application.

Start cookin’ and let us know in the comments how these recipes have helped you improve your life. If you’re already a stoner chef, please share your recipes!

Jul 24, 2013Jun 17, 2016

4 Great Ways To Eat Magic Mushrooms (Guide)

Magic Mushrooms are awesome! Once you get acquainted with the experience the next step is finding your preferred method of ingestion. Before going into the specifics I will highlight a couple of things that take my trips to the next level.

Shroom Trip Preparation

Cannabis

Unless you are not a cannabis smoker this is a definite must. Pre-roll all your joints and blunts because once you blast off you may find that rolling one is a bit of a challenge. Smoking compliments the trip, calms the stomach for the easily queasy and sets up the stage for some introspective moments when you hit your peak.

Fasting

Whether you get nauseous from eating shrooms or not, fasting will make the experience more enjoyable. Your stomach will be calmer and your trip will be stronger. I usually fast anywhere from 12 to 24 hours before tripping. To make the fast easier on yourself, don’t eat too late the night before and sleep in the next day, the majority of your fast will occur while you sleep. Drink plenty of water and if you do get hungry, eat some fruit.

Recording Devices/Pen and Pad/Art Supplies

If you’re an artist get your gear together and prepare to have fun when you feel the creativity flowing. If you’re a writer, record your voice or write down your thoughts. Basically, anything that you want to take back with you to sobreville will be easily transcribed by having the necessary tools. A trip can be visually intense, mentally stimulating, or philosophically ground breaking for your psyche. Knowing that you’ve got this all covered will keep your state of being flowing smoothly so that you can enjoy each moment without thinking: “what if?” or “if only!”

Great Ways To Eat Magic Mushrooms

Shroom Tea

1 cup of tea for every dried out gram of mushrooms. Heat the water to a rolling boil. Add the shrooms and wait until the mushrooms have sunk all the way to the bottom; this may take up to an hour. Do not boil the shrooms for more than an hour, the potency will be severely reduced. Pour the liquid and the shrooms in the wide mouth mason jar. Put the lid on and shake it up, this helps the mushrooms sink faster, making your tea ready faster. Stirring the tea also makes the tea ready sooner. Breaking up the dry mushrooms into a fine powder makes the bits of stems and caps sink faster. Drink the tea along with all of the shrooms that have floated to the bottom. It will bring you up fast into a trip, but it may not be as intense overall.

Shroom Smoothie/Juice

This method is great for anyone who is looking to mask the taste. Crush your magic mushrooms up while in the bag. Make your favorite smoothie, add the shrooms then pulse the blender a couple of times so that it mixes well. For an easier route, simply get your favorite kind of juice; orange juice, any naked juice, etc. Drink a little then add the crushed up shrooms and shake the bottle up. Drink and enjoy. The body absorbs liquids quicker which may result in a quicker come up.

Lemon/Lime Juice Shroom Shots

Smash up your shrooms into a powder inside of the cup or in the bag. Pour in 2 to 4 ounces of fresh lemon or lime juice. Let the concoction sit for 30 minutes to an hour, you can stir occasionally if you please. The citric acid breaks down the psilocybin into psilocin. Your body does this when it digests the shrooms naturally. Drink the shot along with the left over shroom contents. In my experience, this method brings on your peak much faster and intensifies your trip.

Straight Super Mario – Eat The Shrooms Whole

Take your 1ups the old fashioned way. Make sure to chew them very well so that your stomach has an easier time breaking down the magic from the mushrooms. Feel free to chase the taste with whatever drink you prefer.

These are only a few methods that I personally use. Do you have anything to add to these methods, do you have new methods or are you a shroom expert? Let us know in the comments below. The Third Monk staff would love to know your favorite ways to 1up.

May 3, 2013Jun 17, 2016

When to Choose Sativa Vs Indica Cannabis Strains (Guide)

Sativa and Indica are two main types of cannabis plants that have different effects on the body and mind resulting in a wide range of medicinal benefits. Stoners in marijuana friendly states like Denver and California have benefited from the extensive selection of cannabis options.

Identifying Sativa and Indica Buds

Sativa plants typically grow tall and thin compared to Indica plants which grow short and wide.

Indica plants are better suited for indoor growing because of their short growth and sativa plants are better suited for outdoor growing because some strains can reach over 25 ft. in height.

Cannabis Sativa plants are known to be extremely pungent smelling, with aromas ranging from sweet and fruity, to earthy with undertones of diesel fuel.

The flavors and smells of Cannabis Indica include; pungent skunk, earth, hash, pine, or a sweet and sugary fruit flavor.

When to Choose Sativa Buds

Sativa cannabis strains tend to provide an uplifting, energetic and “cerebral” high that sparks creativity. These strains also can make you pause and analyze your perceptions. The creative and mind expanding benefits of Cannabis Sativa makes it very popular among philosophers, artists and musicians.

Choose Cannabis Sativa For These Benefits:

1. Uplifting and Cerebral thoughts

2. Stimulation and Energy

3. Increased focus and Creativity

Popular Sativa Strains: Sour Diesel, Blue Dream, Jack Herer, Purple Haze, and Strawberry Cough

When to Choose Indica Buds

The high produced from Indica cannabis strains is a strong physical body high that will put you in a deep state of relaxation. Indica is perfect for stress and pain relief, giving it a wide audience from patients with disabilities to athletes who use it for muscle recovery.

Choose Cannabis Indica For These Benefits:

1. Body Pain Relief and Recovery

2. Reduction in Stress and Anxiety

3. Deep Relaxation, Sleep

Popular Indica Strains: Granddaddy Purp, OG Kush, Nothern Lights, Afghani, and Purple Urkel

When to Choose Hybrid Buds

Growers mixed Sativa and Indica strains to provide patients with a combination of effects.

Sativa Dominant Hybrids

Hybrids with more sativa provides a cerebral high with a relaxing body effect. Useful for physical and mental relief. Sativa Dominant Hybrid strains include Headband and Purple Trainwreck.

Balanced Hybrids

50% Sativa, 50% Indica even hybrids are for people seeking a perfect balance of head and body. Balanced hybrid strains include White Widow and Super Silver Haze.

Indica Dominant Hybrids

Indica heavy hybrid strains provide a full-body pain relief, with a relaxing head high. Recommended for nighttime use to go to sleep, or daytime relief from minor pain. Indica Dominant Hybrid strains include Skywalker OG and Blackberry Kush.

Mar 27, 2013Jun 17, 2016

Methods of Meditation for the Busy or Impatient (Guide)

If you are struggling with fitting meditation into your daily routine, this guide will help you ease into the practice.

Change Your Mindset About Meditation

Lower your expectations of meditation. Often the reason we are impatient about meditation is we want instant gratification. Replace that expectation with a desire to experience a “slow melt” of your stress.

Be open to non-traditional meditation. Meditation doesn’t have to be done in a seated position. Any activity in which you can slow down your mind, become more inwardly focused and more rooted in the present moment will pass the test for meditation.

Be kind to yourself. Don’t berate yourself for not being “good” at meditating. If you make the effort to meditate, then by default, you are good at it. It’s more a “do or not do” thing versus a “good or bad.”

Commit to slow down your mind for 10 minutes each day. You can obviously do this for longer if you want, but just take your time in building this habit by starting with 10 minutes per day.

How to easily incorporate meditation into your day. Transform some of the things you are already doing each day into mindful meditation:

Exercise Meditation

Any continuous physical activity over a period of time can work. Some great choices are walking, jogging, or yoga. Chores can work too such as sweeping, folding laundry, stacking wood, and washing windows.

The way to transform any of these activities into meditation is to first focus on your breath. Observe it. Modify it. Try long inhalations, holding periods, and slow exhalations if you can. Observe how each part of your body feels. When you start to feel the exercise endorphins kick in, you might also want to express those good feelings with a big smile, a raising of the arms and/or a deep “Ahhhh” sound. Silly? Maybe. Feels good? Definitely.

Bathing Meditation

The next time you shower or take a bath, create your own spa experience simply by flipping the switch in your mind. Let go of any limits. No time limits, no temperature limits. Breathe deeply. Close your eyes. Feel the water. Feel the sensations it gives your body. Allow the water to heal you by transforming your bathing time into a meditation. Focus on your breath and how your body feels. If thoughts involving the past or future come into your mind, observe them and send them packing by returning to your observations of your breath and body. What do you see, feel, smell, and hear?

Let go of words and labels by expressing your good feelings through meaningless sounds such as “aum,” “mmmm,” or “ahhhhh.”

Music Meditation

Listening to music naturally brings us into the present moment. It can also bring us to good memories or daydreams of the future. You can bring more meditative elements to your music experience by noticing how you feel while you listen, play or sing. Add full diaphragmatic breathing and some cannabis too.

Some other music ideas are to pick up that instrument you haven’t played in a while. Don’t worry if you play well or not. The point is simply to become immersed in it and to enjoy it. You also may want to try singing or playing percussion along with your favorite music. Don’t have a drum? Make one. Any object can be a percussion instrument. Just start tapping! Lastly, consider going to a music based event and enjoy. You will be engaged in meditation without any effort at all. No wonder we like music so much!

Hobby Meditation

Similar to the exercise, bathing, and music, immerse yourself in any project that you enjoy such as model building, knitting, car restoration, drawing, painting, crafts, etc. As you enjoy your hobby, add the elements of deep breathing, awareness of sensation, and focus on the current moment and you’ll be meditating. And in the end you’ll have a physical manifestation of that mediation.

Massage Meditation

Schedule a massage for yourself. As you enjoy the physical sensation, be aware of your breath. You may want to focus on one word such as Peace, Calm, Love, Ease, or perhaps a sound with no meaning such as Aum. As everyday thoughts enter your mind, pour them out with the simple mantra “empty the mind.”

> Meditation Techniques for the Busy or Impatient | Dumb Little Man

Mar 8, 2013Jun 17, 2016

The Science of Lucid Dreaming Methods Used by Richard Feynman (Video)

Here are the video’s lucid dreaming pointers in list form:

-Maintain a dream journal: this improves recall and lucidity.
-Reality checks: Remember to check the time often, even when you think you’re awake.
-MILD: Put that dream journal to use! Think of a recent dream as you fall asleep, while focusing on having a lucid dream. Try waking in the middle of the night for half an hour and then heading back to sleep.
-WILD: Keep your mind awake as your body slips into sleep.

Richard Feynman on the Fear of Sleep Paralysis

During the time of making observation in my dreams, the process of waking up was a rather fearful one. As you’re beginning to wake up there’s a moment when you feel rigid and tied down, or underneath many layers of cotton batting. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a moment when you get the feeling you can’t get out; you’re not sure you can wake up.

So I would have to tell myself — after I was awake — that that’s ridiculous. There’s no disease I know of where a person falls asleep naturally and can’t wake up. You can always wake up. And after talking to myself many times like that, I became less and less afraid, and in fact I found the process of waking up rather thrilling — something like a roller coaster. After a while you’re not so scared, and you begging to enjoy it a little bit. – Richard Feynman, Theoretical Physicist

> A handy guide to lucid dreaming, with additional tips from Richard Feynman | io9

Jan 25, 2013Jun 17, 2016

Three Ways to Combine Marijuana and Meditation

Cannabis and other psychedelics are wonderful tools to use in conjunction with meditation. The key is to know how you wish to incorporate these tools within your practice and methods. The possibilities are only limited by your own imagination. Marijuana and meditation both bring states of relaxation, clarity and euphoria, combining them seems natural in this world.

1. Wake, Bake, Meditate

Lots of stoners wake and bake as a ritual to start their day. Pour a glass of water along with your morning toke then when you feel the relaxation of being high come over your body and mind find a comfortable place to rest outside on your porch, by a tree or in the morning sun and set your mind free for a couple of minutes.

The timing works well because you don’t have a full day of happenings to contemplate yet. Often times my days go smoother because I visualize how my day will go during this meditation and I set priorities without stress or tension clouding my judgment. Make sure you set aside a good chunk of time so you don’t feel rushed.

Marijuana’s ability to “distort” time makes it easier to sit for longer stretches of time, so light up on your path to enlightenment and enjoy the moment.

2. For The People Who Get Paranoia, Flip The Script

If marijuana makes you paranoid and brings up the doubting/judgmental voice in your head then this is the perfect time to sit and meditate. Many times when we meditate we have to go through the swirling thoughts that arise before we can reach that tranquil state full of knowing, love and acceptance.

If cannabis brings a certain paranoia or thought patterns, sit and listen. Your own consciousnesses is communicating with you giving you insights into who you are, who you believe you are and who you want to be. Embrace yourself, you are the sum of all your thoughts, feelings and actions.

3. End The Silence With A Bong Rip

Sometimes after a workout or a stretching routine I’ll sit comfortably for a meditation session. I enjoy meditation after physical activity because when you close your eyes or fix your gaze on a spot the blood flow within your body is apparent and it brings the feeling of being inside of yourself.

When I feel my consciousness return to this earthly experience and away from my meditative state I leisurely grind herb and pack my bong. I make sure to have all my utensils around me so I don’t have to go far from where I meditate. I inhale deeply and allow the weightlessness to come over my tired body, soothing my previously active muscles.

This bong rip to the dome brings, an at ease state of mind, into an euphoric existence. This helps extend and ground the meditative state I feel beyond the time of the session into my next activities and tasks.

Nov 14, 2012Jun 17, 2016

Meditation Basics – Breathing and Focus Points (Guide)

Meditation will help you realize just how far, and how fast, your mind can wander from what you’re supposed to be doing at the moment. In an age of multitasking, hyper-scheduling, and instant internet distraction, that alone can be a huge help.

Beyond just anecdotes, it’s also been suggested that meditation can actually exercise your brain’s “muscles” to increase focus, and has been shown to lower stress and increase forgiveness among college students who take up the practice.

Following Your Breath

Following and steadying the breath is the most universal of meditation techniques.

In The Miracle of Mindfulness, a classic text that introduces the thinking and practice behind meditation, Thich Nhat Hanh lays out a thoughtful case for how the breath is connected to the mind, which controls the body. By actively watching one’s breath, and evening it out, one can bring their entire being to what some call the still point.

The instant you sit down to meditate, begin watching your breath. At first breathe normally, gradually letting your breathing slow down until it is quiet, even, and the lengths of the breaths are fairly long. From the moment you sit down to the moment your breathing has become deep and silent, be conscious of everything that is happening in yourself. – Thich Nhat Hanh

For some of us, that’s easier said than done. You start focusing on your breath, and after a brief victory, in comes the growing wave of random brain chatter—What should I eat for lunch today? Did Marissa say she would drop the bike off this weekend or the next?.

Hanh offers the simple, straight-ahead counter to distractions of the mind:

If following the breath seems hard at first, you can substitute the method of counting your breath.

As you breathe in, count 1 in your mind, and as you breathe out, count 1.

Breathe in, count 2. Breathe out, count 2.

Continue through 10, then return to 1 again.

This counting is like a string which attaches your mindfulness to your breath. This exercise is the beginning point in the process of becoming continuously conscious of your breath.

Without mindfulness, however, you will quickly lose count. When the count is lost, simply return to 1 and keep trying until you can keep the count correctly.

Hanh goes on to suggest that controlling the breath is useful in many situations beyond the quiet moments of meditation.

Focus Points for Meditation

Seek inspiration: If you are inspired by Eastern spiritual traditions, you might reflect upon an image or icon of the Buddha. You can also use the flower of life, a crystal, or other object that has meaning for you. Lightly allow your attention to sit there, quietly and peacefully.

Recite a mantra: A mantra literally means “that which protects the mind.” So reciting a mantra protects you with spiritual power. It is also said that when you chant a mantra, you are charging your breath and energy with the energy of the mantra. Again, choose something with meaning for you within your spiritual tradition. Tibetan Buddhists use a mantra for peace, healing, transformation and healing.

Do a Guided Meditation: Guided meditation is akin to guided imagery, a powerful technique that focuses and directs the imagination toward a conscious goal. (Think of a diver imagining a “perfect dive” before he leaves the platform.)

> A Guide to Meditation for the Rest of Us | LifeHacker

Oct 25, 2012Jun 17, 2016

12 Healthy Snacks for Stoners (Guide)

Hungry but don’t have the time for a full meal? Healthy snacking is the key to speedy metabolism, energy and endurance. Here is a list of healthy snacks that stoners will enjoy:

	1. Beef Jerky Extremely high in protein and low in fat, beef jerky is probably the ultimate stoner snack. Bring your bag of beef jerky to your next smoking session and watch how fast that bag gets passed around. Get them in bulk at a place like Costco because the small bags you get at the gas station can be way overpriced.
	2. Fruit Smoothies Fruit smoothies are the healthiest way to satisfy your sweet tooth. They’re delicious and the nutritional benefits (protein, fiber) of the fruits outweigh all of the sugar used.
	3. Breakfast Cereal Cereal is good for any time of the day but it’s perfect for a midnight snack because it won’t bloat your stomach before you go to sleep. Choose one with lots of fiber and add your favorite fruits and nuts to it for extra benefits. Remember to drink water after because water and fiber are homies.
	4. Carrots and Hummus Combining baby carrots with a dip like hummus is good idea because it’s high in nutrients and will satisfy your hunger. If you love hummus but hate vegetables, use toasted flat bread instead. You won’t get the benefit of a carrot but can still enjoy the protein from the hummus.
	5. Tapioca Pudding If you’re craving something creamy and sweet, go for Tapioca Pudding. It doesn’t really have any health benefits but it keeps the unhealthy ingredients to a minimum.
	6. Waffles with Nutella Chocolate This is the low budget version of stoner dessert favorite, Crepes with Nutella chocolate and sliced bananas. The wheat waffle is healthier than a crepe, providing you with protein and fiber. The chocolate doubles as an antioxidant and aphrodisiac, keeping you healthy and horny.
	7. Cashews Who doesn’t love cashews? You can throw them in almost anything but eating them alone is enough to give you a healthy boost. Eating two handfuls will raise your body’s levels of iron and magnesium.
	8. Instant Oatmeal Oatmeal has a ton of fiber to give you healthy dumps. Top it with berries or banana slices along with some nuts for a mega powerful healthy snack.
	9. Protein Bar When you have to skip a meal, consider a protein bar because there are enough vitamins and nutrients in a protein bar to be a substitute for a meal. We don’t recommend making your daily lunch consist of two protein bars but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
	10. Tortilla Chips and Salsa Get a bag of multi colored tortilla chips, they’re more flavorful than the regular kind. Eating the chips with your favorite salsa provides you with protein and fiber. If you find yourself eating too many, regulate your body with fiber filled fruit like an apple.
	11. Frozen Banana Slices Dice up an overripe banana into slices and freeze them overnight. You can eat them plain as a tasty healthy snack but if you’re really stoned, top them with Nutella chocolate spread or chocolate syrup.
	12. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Upgrade your PJ sandwich by using natural peanut butter which has more protein and none of the extra preservatives that regular peanut butter has. Instead of using jelly from a jar, smash some blackberries, blueberries, or raspberries in between the bread.

Aug 26, 2012Jun 17, 2016

Eat Your Colors Every Day to Balance Your Diet (Guide)

Eating your fruits and veggies is definitely important. What is also important is the color of the fruits and veggies you eat. Each color comes with a variety of different nutrients and benefits. Eat a mix of colors every day and enjoy a balanced diet that will maintain your health.

Red Fruits and Vegetables

Contain the nutrients lycopene, ellagic acid, quercetin, and hesperidin, to name a few. These nutrients reduce the risk of prostate cancer and tumor growth. They lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels. They also scavenge for harmful free-radicals and support join tissue in arthritis cases.
List Of Red Fruits and Vegetables

Beets
Blood oranges
Cherries
Cranberries
Guava
Papaya
Pink grapefruit
Pink/Red grapefruit
Pomegranates
Radicchio
Radishes
Raspberries
Red apples
Red bell peppers
Red chili peppers
Red grapes
Red onions
Red pears
Red peppers
Red potatoes
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Watermelon

Green Fruits and Vegetables

Green vegetables contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and Beta-carotene. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels. They normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision. They also fight harmful free-radicals and boost immune system activity.

List Of Green Fruits and Vegetables

Artichokes
Arugula
Asparagus
Avocados
Broccoflower
Broccoli
Broccoli rabe
Brussel sprouts
Celery
Chayote squash
Chinese cabbage
Cucumbers
Endive
Green apples
Green beans
Green cabbage
Green grapes
Green onion
Green pears
Green peppers
Honeydew
Kiwifruit
Leafy greens
Leeks
Lettuce
Limes
Okra
Peas
Sno Peas
Spinach
Sugar snap peas
Watercress
Zucchini

Blue and Purple Fruits and Vegetables

Contain nutrients which include lutein, zeaxanthin, resveratrol, vitamin C, fiber, flavonoids, ellagic acid, and quercetin. These nutrients support retinal health, lower LDL cholesterol, boost immune system activity, support healthy digestion, improve calcium and other mineral absorption, fight inflammation, reduce tumor growth, act as an anti-carcinogens in the digestive tract, and limit the activity of cancer cells.

Black currants
Black salsify
Blackberries
Blueberries
Dried plums
Eggplant
Elderberries
Grapes
Plums
Pomegranates
Prunes
Purple Belgian endive
Purple Potatoes
Purple asparagus
Purple cabbage
Purple carrots
Purple figs
Purple grapes
Purple peppers
Raisins

White Fruits and Vegetables

Contain nutrients such as beta-glucans, EGCG, SDG, and lignans that provide powerful immune boosting activity. These nutrients activate natural killer B and T cells, reduce the risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancers, and balance hormone levels, which reduces the risk of hormone-related cancers.

List Of White Fruits and Vegetables

Bananas
Brown pears
Cauliflower
Dates
Garlic
Ginger
Jerusalem artickoke
Jicama
Kohlrabi
Mushrooms
Onions
Parsnips
Potatoes
Shallots
Turnips
White Corn
White nectarines
White peaches

Orange and Yellow Fruits and Vegetables

Contain beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C. These nutrients reduce age-related macula degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer. They lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure. Promotes collagen formation and healthy joints. They fight harmful free radicals and work with magnesium and calcium to build healthy bones.

Apricots
Butternut squash
Cantaloupe
Cape Gooseberries
Carrots
Golden kiwifruit
Grapefruit
Lemon
Mangoes
Nectarines
Oranges
Papayas
Peaches
Persimmons
Pineapples
Pumpkin
Rutabagas
Sweet corn
Sweet potatoes
Tangerines
Yellow apples
Yellow beets
Yellow figs
Yellow pears
Yellow peppers
Yellow potatoes
Yellow summer squash
Yellow tomatoes
Yellow watermelon
Yellow winter squash

Aug 14, 2012Jun 17, 2016

Test and Fix Your Posture to Maximize Muscle (Guide)

Almost everyone has a posture problem. Over time, your poor posture takes a tremendous toll on your spine, shoulders, hips, and knees. In fact, it can cause a cascade of structural flaws that result in acute problems, such as joint pain throughout your body, reduced flexibility, and compromised muscles, all of which can limit your ability to burn fat and build strength.

But don’t worry—all these problems can be corrected. The first step to fix your posture is to analyze your alignment by having a friend take a full-body photo of you (with your shorts on) from the front and from the side. Keep your muscles relaxed but stand as tall as you can, with your feet hip-width apart.

Now compare your photos with the illustration below to diagnose your posture problems.

Posture Repair Plans

1. Problem: Forward Head

Where pain strikes: Your neck

The problem: Stiff muscles in the back of your neck
Fix it: Stretch with head nods daily: Moving only your head, drop your chin down and in toward your neck while stretching the back of your neck. Hold for a 5 count; do this 10 times.

The problem: Weak front neck muscles
Fix it: Do this neck “crunch” every day: Lying faceup on the floor, lift your head so it just clears the floor. Raise your head, and hold for 5 seconds; do 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily.

2. Problem: Elevated Shoulder

Where pain strikes: Neck and shoulders

The problem: Your trapezius (the muscle that starts at the back of your neck and runs across your upper back) is shortened.
Fix it: Perform an upper-trap stretch. With your higher-side arm behind your back, tilt your head away from your elevated side until you feel the stretch in your upper trapezius. Apply slight pressure with your free hand on your stretched muscle. Hold for 30 seconds; repeat 3 times.

The problem: A weak serratus anterior, the muscle just under your pecs running from your upper ribs to your shoulder blades
Fix it: Try chair shrugs. Sit upright in a chair with your hands next to your hips, palms down on the seat, and keep your arms straight. Without moving your arms, push down on the chair until your hips lift off the seat and your torso rises. Hold for 5 seconds. That’s 1 rep; do 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily.

3. Problem: Rounded Shoulders

Where pain strikes: Neck, shoulder, or back

The problem: Tight pectoral muscles
Fix it: Try a simple doorway stretch: Place your arm against a doorjamb in the high-five position (that is, forming an L), your elbow bent 90 degrees. Step through the doorway until you feel the stretch in your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold for 30 seconds. That’s 1 set; do a total of 4 daily.

The problem: Weakness in the middle and lower parts of your trapezius
Fix it: Use the floor L raise: Lying facedown on the floor, place each arm at a 90-degree angle in the high-five position. Without changing your elbow angle, raise both arms by pulling your shoulders back and squeezing your shoulder blades together. Hold for 5 seconds; do 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily

4. Problem: Hunched Back

Where pain strikes: Neck, shoulder, back

The problem: Poor upper-back mobility
Fix it: Lie faceup on a foam roller placed about midback, perpendicular to your spine. Place your hands behind your head and arch your upper back over the roller 5 times. Adjust the roller and repeat for each segment of your upper back.

The problem: Weak muscles in your back
Fix it: Perform the prone cobra. Lie facedown with your arms at your sides, palms down. Lift your chest and hands slightly off the floor, and squeeze your shoulder blades together while keeping your chin down. Hold for 5 seconds; do 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily.

5. Problem: Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Where pain strikes: Lower back (because of the more pronounced arch in your lumbar spine). The tilt also shifts your posture so that your stomach pushes outward, even if you don’t have an ounce of belly fat.

The problem: Your hip flexors, which allow you to move your thighs up to your abdomen, are tight.
Fix it: Kneel on one knee and perform a front hip stretch. Tighten your gluteal (butt) muscles on your kneeling side until you feel the front of your hip stretching comfortably. Reach upward with the arm that’s on your kneeling side, and stretch in the opposite direction. Hold this position for a count of 30 seconds, and repeat 3 times.

The problem: Weak glutes
Fix it: The glute bridge is your solution. Lie on your back with your knees bent about 90 degrees. Squeeze your glutes together and push your hips upward until your body is straight from knees to shoulders. Hold for 5 seconds; complete 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily.

6. Problem: Pigeon Toes

Where pain strikes: Knee, hip, or lower back

The problem: Tightness in the outer portion of your thigh (your tensor fasciae latae)
Fix it: Stand up, cross your affected leg behind the other, and lean away from the affected side until you feel your hip stretching comfortably. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

The problem: Weak gluteus maximus and medius muscles
Fix it: Use an exercise called the side-lying clamshell. Lie on one side with your knees bent 90 degrees and your heels together. Keeping your hips still, raise your top knee upward, separating your knees like a clamshell. Pause for 5 seconds; lower your knee to the starting position. Perform 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily.

7. Problem: Duck Feet

Where pain strikes: Hip or lower back
The problem: You lack flexibility in all the muscles in your hips.
Fix it: Drop to your hands and knees and place one foot behind the opposite knee. Making sure you keep your spine naturally arched, shift your weight backward and allow your hips to bend until you feel the stretch. Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, repeat 3 times, and then switch sides.

The problem: Weakness in your oblique muscles and hip flexors
Fix it: Try the Swiss-ball jackknife. Assume the top of a pushup position but rest your feet on a Swiss ball. Without rounding your lower back, tuck your knees under your torso by rolling the ball with your feet toward your body. Roll the ball back to the starting position. Do 2 or 3 sets of 12 reps daily.

> Principles of Good Posture | Men’s Health

Aug 10, 2012Jun 17, 2016

How To Open The 7 Chakras (Guide)

Open the Root Chakra (Red)

This chakra is based on being physically aware and feeling comfortable in many situations. If opened, you should feel well-balanced and sensible, stable and secure. You don’t distrust people around you for no reason.You feel present in what is happening right now, and very connected to your physical body. If it’s under-active: you tend to be fearful or nervous, and easily feel unwelcome. If it’s over-active: you may be materialistic and greedy.

Root Chakra Mudra

Use the body and become aware of it through physical activity like yoga or exercise, this will strengthen the root chakra.

Ground yourself. Stand up straight then relax with feet shoulder width apart and slightly bend your knees. Move your pelvis forward a little and keep your body balanced so that your weight is evenly distributed over the soles of your feet by sinking your weight forward. Stay in this position for several minutes.

After grounding yourself, sit cross-legged and let the tips of your thumb and index finger touch gently, in a peaceful motion, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Root chakra and what it stands for, at the spot in between the genitals and the anus.

Silently, yet clearly, chant the sound “LAM.” The A is pronounced as”ah” and the M is pronounced as “mng”

All this time, let yourself relax, still thinking about the chakra, it’s meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.

Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed. You may have a “clean” feeling.

Open the Sacral Chakra (Orange)

This chakra deals with feeling and sexuality. If open, feeling are released with liberty, and are expressed without you being over-emotional. You would be open to affinity and can be passionate as well as outgoing. You also have no problems based on sexuality. If it’s under-active: you tend to be unemotional or impassive, and are not very open to anybody. If it’s over-active: you tend to be sensitive and emotional all the time.

Sacral Chakra Mudra

Sit on your knees with your back straight and relaxed. Lay your hands in your lap, palms ups, on top of each other. Left hand underneath, the palm touching the back fingers of the right hand, and the thumbs touch gently, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Sacral Chakra and what it stands for, at the sacral bone (lower back).

Silently, yet clearly, chant the sound “VAM.” The A is pronounced as”ah” and the M is pronounced as “mng”

All this time, let yourself relax, still thinking about the chakra, it’s meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.

Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed. Again, you may have a “clean” feeling.

Open the Solar Plexus Chakra (Yellow)

This chakra encircles confidence, especially when in a group. When open, you should feel in control and have good feeling of dignity in yourself. If it’s under-active: you tend to be passive and indecisive. You could be frequently apprehensive and this doesn’t reward you. If it’s over-active: you tend to be imperious and aggressive.

Navel Chakra Mudra

Sit on your knees with your back straight and relaxed. Put your hands before your stomach, slightly below your solar plexus. Let the fingers join at the tops, all pointing away from you.

Cross the thumbs and straighten the fingers, this is important, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Solar Plexus Chakra and what it stands for, at the spine, slightly above the navel.

Silently, yet clearly, chant the sound “RAM.” The A is pronounced as”ah” and the M is pronounced as “mng”

All this time, let yourself relax even more, continuing to think about the chakra, it’s meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.

Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed. You should have a “clean” feeling (for every chakra).

Open the Heart Chakra (Green)

This chakra is all about love, caring, and endearment. When open, you seem to be compassionate and friendly, always working in amicable relationships. If it’s under-active: you tend to be cold and unfriendly. If it’s over-active: you tend to be so “loving” towards people that you suffocate them, and you could be seen as selfish for it.

Heart Chakra Mudra

Sit cross-legged and let the tips of your index finger and thumb touch on both hands. Put your left hand on your left knee and your right hand in front of the lower part of your breastbone, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Heart Chakra and what it stands for, at the spine, level with the heart.

Silently, but clearly, chant the sound “YAM.”

All this time, continue to relax your body, and think of the chakra, it’s meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.

Keep doing this until you are completely relaxed, and the “clean” feeling returns and/or intensifies within your body.

Open the Throat Chakra (Blue)

This chakra is based on self-expression and communication. When the chakra is open, expressing yourself is easy, and art seems to be a great way to do this. If it’s under-active: you tend not to speak too much, so you are classified as shy. If you lie often, this chakra can be blocked. If it’s over-active: you tend to speak so much, it annoys a lot of people. You could also be a pretty bad listener.

Throat Chakra Mudra

Sit on your knees and cross your fingers on the inside of your hands, without the thumbs. Let the thumbs touch at the tops, and pull them up a bit, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Throat Chakra and what it stands for, at the base of the throat.

Silently, but clearly, chant the sound “HAM.” The A is pronounced as”ah” and the M is pronounced as “mng”

All this time, keep on relaxing your body, thinking of the chakra, it’s meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.

Keep doing this for about five minutes, and the “clean” feeling will intensify once again.

Open the Third Eye Chakra (Indigo)

Like it’s name, this chakra deals with insight. When open, you have excellent clairvoyance, and tend to dream a lot. If it’s under-active: you tend to look up to other people to think for you. Relying on beliefs too often, you also tend to be confused most of the time. If it’s over-active: you tend to live in a world imagination all day long. In the extremes, you could suffer from frequent daydreams or even hallucinations.

Third Eye Chakra Mudra

Sit cross-legged and put your hands in front of the lower part of the breast. The middle fingers should be straight and touch the tops, pointing away from you. The other fingers are bent and touch at the two upper phalanges. The thumbs point towards you and meet at the tops, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Third Eye Chakra and what it stands for, a little above the center of the two eyebrows.

Silently, but clearly, chant the sound “OM” or “AUM.”

All this time, relaxation of the body should come a bit naturally, and continue to think of the chakra, it’s meaning, and how it does or should affect your life.

Keep doing this until the same “clean” feeling seems to come back or intensify.

Open the Crown Chakra (Violet)

This is the seventh and most spiritual chakra. It encircles a being’s wisdom and being one with the universe. When this chakra is open, prejudice disappears from your To Do list, and you seem to become more aware of the world and it’s connection to yourself. If it’s under-active: you tend to not be very spiritual, and may be quite rigid in your thoughts. If it’s over-active: you tend to intellectualize things all the time. Spirituality seems to come first in your mind, and if you are really over-active, you may even ignore your bodily needs (food, water, shelter)

WARNING: don’t use this meditation for the Crown Chakra if your Root Chakra is not strong or open. Before dealing with this last chakra, you need a strong “foundation” first, which the Root exercises will present to you.

Crown Chakra Mudra

Sit cross-legged and lay your hand before your stomach. Let the little fingers point up and away from you, touching at their tops, and cross the rest of the fingers with the left thumb underneath the right, as shown in the picture above.

Concentrate on the Crown Chakra and what it stands for, at the very top of your head.

Silently, but clearly, chant the sound “NG” (yes, this chant is as hard as it looks).

All this time, your body should now be totally relaxed, and your mind should be at peace. However, do not stop concentrating on the Crown Chakra.

This meditation is the longest, and should take no less than ten minutes.

Jul 28, 2012Jun 17, 2016

Healthy Eating for People Who Hate Cooking (Guide)

One of the barriers for healthy eating is the time it takes to actually prepare a healthy meal. However, it is possible to make healthy meals without actually working too hard for them and we’ll show you how to do it.

The Smoothie for Vegetable and Fruit Intake

The smoothie is something like a garbage-disposal of healthy food. If you can’t or don’t like cooking, it’s the easiest, simplest way to ensure you still get the fruits, vegetables, and vitamins you need in the day without having to come up with complex recipes that require you to cook several foods at once. All you have to do is toss a few fruits and vegetables into a blender with some water or ice, stand around for a few seconds while it blends, and then you end up with a food that’s really a drink and requires a stupidly small amount of effort.

How much do you need to throw in there? Let’s look at the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables and see how we can get that into one or two no-cook meals.

Fruits: For most Americans over the age of 18, 2 cups worth of fruit is recommended a day. That’s about a single large fruit—as in, one apple or one banana.

Vegetables: Vegetables require a bit more than fruit as far as recommended amount. You need at least 3 cups of raw or cooked vegetables.

So that boils down to about two cups of fruits and vegetables a day, which isn’t hard to get out of a blender. Thousands of smoothie recipes are out there and it always boils down to preference, but here’s a few to use to get your recommended daily allowance.

The nutritionally complete meal: Monster Chef shows off this simple recipe with some frozen mixed fruits, cranberries, milk, walnuts, and chocolate that smashes together an entire meal in six easy steps and about five minutes of your time.

The kid friendly approach: If you hate the idea of cooking, you might like the simplified kid-friendly smoothie recipes parenting blog Inhabitots suggests making for kids.

The incredibly easy approach: Even though cutting and tossing a few ingredients into a blender isn’t hard, an easier way exists. Namely, removing the the cutting part. Recipes out there vary from just adding almond milk to some frozen fruit to tossing a frozen banana in with some peanut butter and soy milk.

While that will certainly take care of your fruits and vegetables, a smoothie can’t cover your entire nutritional intake. That’s why we’re going to show you the crock pot, a nearly automated cooking device.

The Crock Pot as Automated Cooking Device

The crock pot aka slow cooker is about as close as you can get to set-it-and-forget-it automatic cooking. Throw some food inside in the morning or afternoon and it automatically cooks so it’s edible later.

The benefit of the crock pot isn’t just in its ability to cook food without you paying any attention to it, it’s also the fact you don’t need a lot of ingredients. The Simple Dollar’s collection of five ingredient crock pot recipes will do most cooking-haters good and provide the protein and vegetables needed in your diet. The benefit? The directions are: dump food in crock pot, turn crock pot on low, walk away for 8 hours and return to a cooked meal.

A Few More Ideas For Minimal Effort Healthy Meals

The above options, of course, are not the only ones. In the chilly winter, the crock pot provides a nice way to get a hot meal without any effort, but come summer it’s not nearly as nice. Here are a few ideas from around the web to keep your diet healthy without the hassle of hours in the kitchen.

The sandwich and salad approach: These two great meal options come without the aid of cooking utensils and both provide your daily nutrients in a number of ways. If you don’t know what to actually make, recipe site Eating Well has a bunch of suggestions for no-cook meals that are dead simple to make and require nothing more than a few minutes and a knife.

Embrace the microwave: Hardcore foodies will likely scoff at this suggestion, but the microwave isn’t as bad a place to cook food as we’ve all been lead to believe. The key is knowing how to read the frozen food labels properly and watching for a few key facts on the nutrition label. WebMD suggests you: keep the calories in the 250-300 range, pick meals with less than 4 grams of saturated fat, less than 800 milligrams of sodium, and with at least 3-5 grams of fiber.

Cook and freeze in bulk: If you happen to fall into the, “I don’t despise cooking but still don’t want to do,” category, then the idea of bulk cooking meals for a month or five days might be appealing. This, of course, requires you to cook, but it boils down to dedicating just one or two days a month to it instead of of every day. You cook all your meals, freeze them up, then simply reheat later on.

Strategize your restaurant and take-out foods: Of course, the ultimate no-cook method of healthy eating is to do absolutely nothing and have the food delivered to you. If you’re not sure where to start, Cooking Light has a big list of healthy foods at a variety of restaurants as well as tips for ordering healthy foods.

> Healthy Eating for People Who Hate Cooking | LifeHacker