5 Great Books Under 200 Pages (Quick Reads)

Still trying to finish that old copy of Lord of the Rings you found wedged beneath the stairs? Who could have known it was keeping up the entire house? Eh, c’est la vie, this too shall pass (or shan’t in the case of Durin’s Bane – don’t worry you’ll get there).

Take your mind off your troubles with any one of these five short novels (alright, alright… a few are novellas), and don’t worry, they’re all a quick read (unlike this introduction).

Find them at your local library (they still exist), or your local book store (read: amazon).

I’ve added the audiobook versions and PDF’s where I could.

Enjoy!

Siddhartha is a 1922 novel by Hermann Hesse that deals with the spiritual journey of self-discovery of a man named Siddhartha during the time of the Gautama Buddha.

It’s a wonderful short read for anyone in need of a little perspective – don’t worry it’s not too much perspective.

Siddhartha PDF

Siddhartha – Herman Hesse (Audiobook)

Chapter Listing and Length

01 THE SON OF THE BRAHMAN – 00:20:59
02 WITH THE SAMANAS – 00:27:05
03 GOTAMA – 00:23:54
04 AWAKENING – 00:12:24
05 KAMALA – 00:36:32
06 WITH THE CHILDLIKE PEOPLE – 00:22:14
07 SANSARA – 00:24:57
08 BY THE RIVER – 00:30:52
09 THE FERRYMAN – 00:35:07
10 THE SON – 00:24:27
11 OM – 00:18:30
12 GOVINDA – 00:29:07

Translated into more than 250 languages and dialects, The Little Prince is a literary masterpiece.

Antoine De Saint-Exupery wrote the short novel in the midst of personal upheavals and failing health, it is a tender tale of loneliness, friendship, love and loss, in the form of a young prince fallen to Earth.

The Little Prince PDF

The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery (Audiobook)

The Stranger is a great book by Albert Camus published in 1942. Its theme and outlook are often cited as exemplars of Camus’s philosophy of the absurd and existentialism, though Camus personally rejected the latter label.

The Stranger PDF

An allegorical novel, The Alchemist follows a young Andalusian shepherd named Santiago in his journey to Egypt, after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there.

The Alchemist PDF

The Alchemist – Paolo Coehlo (Audiobook)

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions is an 1884 satirical novella by Edwin A. Abbott.

Writing pseudonymously as “A Square”, the book used the fictional two-dimensional world of Flatland to offer pointed observations on the social hierarchy of Victorian culture. However, the novella’s more enduring contribution is its examination of dimensions.

Flatland PDF

Flatland – Edwin A. Abbott (Audiobook)

Jul 31, 2014Jun 17, 2016

Cannabis Around the World: 8 Countries That Embrace Marijuana (List)

Unlike the United States’ arcane Cannabis policies, these 8 countries actually take facts into account when classifying and regulating Marijuana.

8 Countries That Embrace Marijuana

Spain

In Spain personal marijuana has been legal for decades. Today Barcelona is en route to challenge Amsterdam as the world center of pot tourism. In Spain, anyone is allowed to grow the herb for personal use, and – echoing California’s rules for medical marijuana use – growers can form collective, nonprofit, members-only cannabis clubs.

Barcelona officials have given their blessing to this new phenomenon. … The number of cannabis clubs that have opened in Barcelona recently has some experts saying this city will soon challenge Amsterdam as the go-to destination for vacationers who want to get high in peace. – Suzanne Daley New York Times

Daley reported that the pot clubs provide an economic boost.

Though they are nonprofits, advocates say the clubs are generating thousands of jobs and tax revenues for the state. In addition to selling a wide array of cannabis products and hashish, many of the clubs also sell food and drinks and offer extras to their members, like live music nights and Pilates classes.

Portugal

Portugal has enjoyed the benefits of all-out drug decriminalization for over a decade. Portugal became the first nation in Europe to decriminalize personal possession of drugs – including marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine – in 2001.

Decriminalization means those drugs remain illegal, but instead of throwing people in jail for their use, the country imposes a fine similar to a traffic ticket and provides addiction treatment options. By removing criminal penalties for drug use, the nation was able to fund the resources necessary to treat drug addiction as the health crisis that it is.

Today in Portugal if you’re convicted of possessing small amounts of drugs, you visit a psychologist, social worker and legal advisor who determine what kind of treatment you need. Prior to decriminalization, Portugal had a serious drug problem, but over the last decade the nation has seen a decline in drug use.

While critics of the law warned that drug use would swell, it has not risen. We have seen significant reductions in H.I.V. infections and in overdoses, as well as a substantial increase in new patients seeking drug treatment. – João Castel-Branco Goulão, Portugal’s national Drug Coordinator & Chairman of the European Monitoring Center on Drugs and Drug Addiction

Canada

While the Great White North does not allow marijuana for recreational purposes anywhere, it has a nationwide government-sanctioned medical marijuana program. About 20 companies are licenced to mass-produce cannabis in Canada for medical purposes.

In addition to the substantial economic boost that comes from the new market, the Canadian government probably took the stacks of convincing research on cannabis’s potential health benefits into account in its decision to allow large scale medical marijuana production and distribution.

Israel

In Israel a $40-million-per-year medical-marijuana industry is thriving.

The Israeli government is funding and supporting breakthrough research on the many healing potentials of the cannabis plant – from cancer, to addiction, to psychological traumas. Israel’s federal government sanctions their national medical marijuana program.

Iceland

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Iceland smokes the most weed in the world, on average. The report, which included a breakdown of illegal drug use per country, found that 18.3% of the Icelandic population smokes weed. The United States ranked fourth in the report, with 14.8 percent of the population using pot.

Whatever the reason for their infatuation with cannabis, Icelanders were also found to be one of the happiest populations on the planet.

Netherlands

Surprisingly, cannabis remains illegal in the Netherlands.

The Dutch government and law enforcement are extremely tolerant of the herb and possession of small amounts is decriminalized nationwide. Two million tourists per year visit the city of Amsterdam for its legendary “coffee shops,” which are licensed to sell weed. You’re not allowed, however, to buy your bud on the streets, and coffee shops do card.

Uruguay

In response to increasing drug trafficking activity and violence, Uruguay became the first nation to legalize marijuana across the board, in December 2013. It did so in an effort to undermine the powerful cartels that have ravished much of the rest of Latin America. The plan in Uruguay is to set government weed prices extremely low so that cartels will be forced out of business.

While many had hoped to see Uruguay’s pot sales start already, President Jose Mujica announced that complications have delayed sales until 2015.

North Korea

While not officially confirmed, according to Open Radio North Korea, as well as other news outlets and visitor reports, marijuana has never been controlled in the country and is not considered to be a drug. While the North Korean penalty for hard drugs like meth is severe, people are allowed to smoke pot without regulation – it even grows freely on the side of the street.

NK NEWS receives regular reports from visitors returning from North Korea, who tell us of marijuana plants growing freely along the roadsides, from the northern port town of Chongjin, right down to the streets of Pyongyang, where it is smoked freely and its sweet scent often catches your nostrils unannounced. Our sources are people we know who work inside North Korea and make regular trips in and out of the country.

There is no taboo around pot smoking in the country—many residents know the drug exists and have smoked it. In North Korea, the drug goes by the name of ip tambae, or ‘leaf tobacco.’ It is reported to be especially popular amongst young soldiers in the North Korean military. Rather than getting hooked on tar and nicotine like servicemen in the West, they are able to unwind by lighting up a king-sized bone during down time on the military beat. – VICE

> 9 Marijuana Policies From Around the World That Are Way Ahead of the U.S | Waking Times

Jan 7, 2014Jun 17, 2016

Holistic Pain Remedies – Let Food Be Thy Medicine

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” – Hippocrates

Balanced nutrition with the cornerstones of water, fruits and vegetables have shown to promote health and well being.

On that same tip, many foods also have curative properties for common aches, pains and discomfort. These holistic pain remedies are simple to use and effective enough to be mentioned in an era when technology is accelerating at an exponential pace.

Holistic Pain Remedies

Water Flushes Out Pain Inducing Histamine From The Body

Whether it’s your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York’s Manhattan College, say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily.

Experts say water dilutes and flushes out histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues.

“Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “

And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain.”

Ginger for Muscle Pain

When Danish researchers asked achy people to jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of them within two months.

Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.

Peppermint Oil Baths for Muscle Pain

Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies. His advice:

Three times each week, soak in a warm tub scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil.

The warm water will relax your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves — a combo that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.

Tame Chronic Pain With Turmeric

Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 percent of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers.

That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D. and author of the book, Reversing Diabetes.

The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.

Grapes For Your Back Ache

Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often within three hours of enjoying the first bowl).

That’s great news because your back’s vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.

Cloves for Toothaches

Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic.

Bonus: Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

Erase Earaches With Garlic

Place two drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for five days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing bacteria.

To whip up your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy.

For an optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal.

Ease Joint and Headache Pain With Cherries

A daily bowl of cherries could ease your joint and headaches, without the stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East Lansing’s Michigan State University.

Their research reveals that anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, have anti-inflammatory effects 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin.

“Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University.

His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily, then continue until your pain disappears.

Heal heartburn with Cider Vinegar

Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours.

“Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.

Impede the Progress of IBS and Indigestion With Fish

Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases…if your belly always seems to be in an uproar, try munching 18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your bowels.

Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds.

“EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatory, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead, MA.

For best results, look for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.

Pineapple Prevents Digestive Woes

One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California’s Stanford University.

That’s because pineapple is naturally packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

Salt for Ingrown Toe Nails and Foot Pain

Regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within four days, say scientists at California’s Stanford University.

The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain.

Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice daily, until your infection subsides.

Horseradish for Sinus Problems

According to German researchers, this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do.

The study-recommended dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.

Beat Bladder Infections With Blueberries

Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University.

That’s because blueberries are loaded with tannin, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can’t get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University.

Honey Heals and Soothes Mouth Sores

Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey four times daily until these skin woes disappear, and they’ll heal 43 percent faster than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates.

Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.

Tomato Juice For Leg Cramps

Potassium deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages or heavy perspiration during exercise can lead to leg cramps.

Sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily and you’ll not only speed your recovery, you’ll reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.

End Endometrial Pain with Oats

The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal.

Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation into a misery, causing so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping during your period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all month long.

Fortunately, scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 percent of women within six months.

That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at Colombia University.

Flax For Breast Pain

In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of ground flax to their daily diet eased breast soreness for one in three women within 12 weeks.

Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens, natural plant compounds that prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain.

More good news: You don’t have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy seed into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie dips.

If you have a couple of home remedies or holistic approaches to add to this list, feel free to do so in the comments. The feedback is greatly appreciated.

> 20 Pain Cures You Can Find In Your Kitchen | I Village

Dec 23, 2013Jan 25, 2018

Best Psychedelic Videos to Watch While Tripping (Video)

The psychedelic experience can be a magical one with the right environment. However, an unsettling environment can be equally detrimental. Make sure that when you take your psychedelic trip that you are surrounded by loving energy.

The videos below may increase your experience since they are highly artistic visual creations accompanied by appropriate musical scores. That said, if you get a bad feeling from any of them, just stop watching and watch something you do enjoy. Environment is key, and I don’t want anyone to have a bad trip.

If you aren’t tripping, don’t worry! These videos are pretty awesome regardless. Just remember to watch in High definition.

You can find more psychedelic videos here, here, and here.

Let us know in the comments which other videos you like to watch when you’re tripping.

Best Psychedelic Videos to Watch While Tripping

‘Aves del Valle,’ by Armadillo: Animated Music Video from Colombia

Click for more on Armadillo

Armadillo is a band that sprouted out of a creative coincidence in Valledupar, Colombia (the land of Vallenato). Mauricio Álvarez (Cero39) and Diego Maldonado (DeJuepuchas & La MiniTK del Miedo), met up with a bunch of local musicians in that town and started a jam session. The result, an album with 9 tracks, a musical journey through the sounds and timbres of vallenato, mixed with electronic and IDM beats and sequences.

The video centers around symbols and elements inherent to the culture and imaginarium of the Valle de Upar (later called Valledupar). Animals, colors and textures appear throughout the video undergoing change and evolve, as life does. ‘It’s a metaphor about culture in life’ says RAMA, it’s creator. More about Armadillo here. – Boing Boing

Slugabed – Quantum Leap

Birdy Nam Nam The Parachute Ending

Ayahuasca DMT: Drug Trip Sequence

A clip from the movie Renegade (aka Blueberry) in which the main character drinks Ayahuasca which contains dimethyltryptamine, and has a mind blowing trip.

Blockhead – The Music Scene

From Blockhead’s album ‘The Music Scene’ – released 18 January 2010 on Ninja Tune.

HIGH MIX – This is some trippy shit

Deep Mandelbrot Set Zoom Animation

Gong – How To Stay Alive

Click for more on Gong

From the new Gong album 2032 – You can buy the CD (with lyrics booklet) from http://www.planetgong.co.uk A wonderful manga animation of Daevid Allen’s drawings by ace Japanese team Mood Magic, who also made System 7’s Hinotori.

Mellow – Shinda Shima (1999)

From 1999 and the album “Another Mellow Winter.”

the bird and the bee – Polite Dance Song

Aug 20, 2013Jun 17, 2016

How to Pair Beer and Food (Guide)

Beer and food have been enjoyed together for centuries.

Beer’s broad range of flavors, aromas and textures make it a perfect match for nearly any kind of food, from handmade sausages to gourmet dishes. Choosing beers and foods that enhance each other requires paying attention to the gustatory qualities of each. The Brewers Association, along with several beer and food experts, have suggestions that will make your culinary experiences more enjoyable.

For great beer and food pairings, a number of things should be considered according to Randy Mosher, author of Tasting Beer: An Insiders Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink:

Match strength with strength. It is common sense that delicate dishes work best with delicate beers. It is equally true that strongly-flavored foods demand assertive beers. With beer, flavor intensity involves a variety of qualities such as alcoholic strength, malt character, hop bitterness, sweetness, richness and roast factor.

Find harmonies. Combinations often work best when food and beverage share common flavor or aroma elements. The nutty flavor of an English-style brown ale and a handmade cheddar cheese; the deep, roasted flavors of an imperial stout and chocolate truffles; or the rich, caramel flavors of an Oktoberfest lager and roasted pork.

Consider sweetness, bitterness, carbonation, heat (spice) and richness. This is straightforward. Specific characteristics of food and beer interact with each other in predictable ways. Taking advantage of these interactions ensures that the food and beer will balance each other, creating a desire for a taste of the other.

Look to classical cuisines. The cuisines of traditional beer-drinking countries offer many beer and food combinations. Schnitzel with pale lager may be obvious, but who would have thought to put stout together with oysters? Classic matches like this can be found if you seek them out, and offer a great start to further exploration.

> Principles of Matching | Craft Beer

Jul 16, 2013Jun 17, 2016

8 Home Remedies You Can Use in a Pinch

Not everyone is sold on home remedies, but through a combination of science and testimonials, here are 8 home remedies you can use.

Duct Tape to Remove Warts

In 2002, a group of doctors compared duct tape’s effectiveness with liquid nitrogen in removing warts. After two months of wearing duct tape on a daily basis and using a pumice stone about once a week to exfoliate the dead skin, 85 percent of patients’ warts were gone, whereas freezing only removed 60 percent. “The question is whether there is something in the chemical adhesive itself, or if the occlusion (suffocation) causes the destruction of the wart,” says New York City–based dermatologist, Robin Blum, MD. “The other thinking is that the duct tape causes irritation, which stimulates our body’s immune cells to attack the wart.”

Vapor Rub to Cure Nail Fungus

While there are no studies to prove coating infected toenails with vapor rub once or twice a day is an effective treatment for nail fungus, a basic Internet search results in a number of personal testaments to the medicinal ointment’s fungus-killing powers. “I’ve heard many patients say that vapor rub does help, but I’m not exactly sure why,” Dr. Blum admits. While some argue it’s the menthol in the balm that kills the fungus and others say it’s the smothering effect of the thick gel, if used consistently, vapor rub has been shown to get rid of not just the fungus, but the infected toenail, too, which will turn black and eventually fall off. When the new nail grows in, it should be fungus-free.

Oatmeal to Soothe Eczema

“This is absolutely true, as oats have anti-inflammatory properties,” Dr. Blum says. Whether it’s used as a paste or poured into a bath, most experts recommend choosing colloidal (finely ground) oatmeal and soaking the affected area for at least 15 minutes. In addition to reducing inflammation, oats are thought to have an antihistamine effect, Dr. Blum says. By lowering levels of histamine, which triggers inflammation as part of the immune system’s recovery response, she explains, oats prevent or reduce the redness.

Yogurt to Cure Bad Breath

Bad breath comes from a number of places, the two most common being the mouth and the stomach. The neutralizing powers of yogurt and other probiotics treat the latter cause. “Yogurt shouldn’t have any effect at all on the bacteria that live on the tongue because it’s not there long enough,” says Robert Meltzer, MD, a New York City–based gastroenterologist and attending physician at Lenox Hill Hospital. However, it likely has a neutralizing effect on the acid that resides anywhere between the mouth and the stomach, including the back of the throat and the esophagus, he explains. “I think almost any milk product or food that contains live cultures would have the same effect.” While yogurt can get rid of bad breath that results from gastrological conditions, like acid reflux, it won’t have any real effect on bad breath that is the product of gum, liver or lung disease, says Ohio-based dentist Matthew Messina, DDS.

A Spoonful of Sugar to Cure Hiccups

In 1971, Edgar Engelman, MD, conducted a study to find out if a spoonful of sugar really is an effective cure for hiccups. He assembled a group of 20 patients who had been experiencing intractable hiccups for more than six hours, eight of whom had had them anywhere from a full day to six weeks. Each of the test subjects was given one teaspoon of white granulated sugar to swallow dry, and for 19 of the 20 hiccup patients, the cure was immediate. André Dubois, MD, a gastroenterologist in Bethesda, Maryland, noted in The Doctors Book of Home Remedies that “the sugar is probably acting in the mouth to modify the nervous impulses that would otherwise tell the muscles in the diaphragm to contract spasmodically.”

Bite A Pencil to Cure Tension Headaches

While doctors aren’t sure why we do it, clenching our teeth is a common side effect of stress. According to Fred Sheftell, MD, director of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut, when we clench up, we strain the muscle that connects the jaw to the temples, which can trigger a tension headache. By placing a pencil between our teeth—but not biting down—we relax our jaw muscles, which eradicates tension and reduces pain. Just remember, the remedy really only applies to tension headaches—not migraines or headaches caused by sinus pressure, etc.

Olives for Motion Sickness

According to the National Library of Medicine, there are a number of symptoms that present themselves as a result of motion sickness, including increased salivation, which is the body’s way of protecting the teeth from the high doses of acid accompanied by vomit. Enter olives, which contain tannins that, when released in the mouth, work to dry saliva—first eliminating the symptom and then the body’s instinct to follow suit. However, the treatment is only effective during the early stages of nausea, when the salivation changes first appear.

Gargle Salt Water for Sore Throat Relief

When you were a kid and had a sore throat, your mom likely made you gargle warm water with salt in it…and she was definitely on to something. According to Douglas Hoffman MD, PhD, author of the website The Medical Consumer’s Advocate, a sore throat is an inflammatory response of the infected tissues, and the salt helps draw out the excess fluid to temporarily decrease swelling and the pain it causes. Most remedies call for a ratio of 1 tablespoon salt to 8 ounces of water, but it’s always better to opt for more salt rather than less. Just keep in mind that you are treating the symptoms—not the illness. As Dr. Hoffman notes on his website: “The relief is very real, but also tends to be short-lived, since the gargle has done nothing to remove the cause of the sore throat.”

Jun 16, 2013Jan 25, 2018

18 of the Best Animated Shorts Ever (Video)

Animated Shorts are absolutely amazing. The pure creativity and passion that goes into these works is hard to imagine. And to think, some of these shorts were completed by only one person!

I hope you will love these animated shorts as much as I do. And do tell us which your favorite ones are, or share your favorites if they aren’t in this list. Enjoy!

Oxygen

We follow Oxygen as he tries to make friends on the playground. Unfortunately for Oxygen, he is unaware of the many things that can go wrong when trying to interact with his other elementary kin…

Mac ‘n’ Cheese

When you find yourself running scared and running out of energy, there’s only a few options left to outrun your opponent through the southern desert. Stopping at nothing, watch these two guys wear each other out and rip through boundaries hitherto unbroken. Enjoy the ride!

Alma

Seizing the possibility of directing his first independent short film, Rodrigo Blaas asked some of the best artists in their field to take part in this independent project. In October 2010, it was announced that DreamWorks Animation is developing an animated feature film based on Alma. Short’s director Rodrigo Blaas is again set to direct the feature, with Guillermo del Toro executive producing it.

Oktapodi

How adorable are these octopi? In Oktapodi, these two cuties help each other escape the clutches of a tyrannical restaurant cook. But, even once theyre out of the kitchen, their battle to stay together is not over.

The Passenger

A one-man project created between 1998-2006. Find out how and why at http://chrisj.com.au

Get Out

Gary, is a madman, shut up in a padded cell which he refuses to leave. He has a phobia about doors and lives in an imaginary world where he feels secure. A psychiatrist uses different plots to try to get him to leave the cell, but with no success. Finally he has to employ force.

Pigeon: Impossible

A rookie secret agent is faced with a problem seldom covered in basic training: what to do when a curious pigeon gets trapped inside your multi-million dollar, government-issued nuclear briefcase.

Replay

In a destroyed world, the only glimpse of hope is the memory of a forgotten past. But be careful not to let your dreams control your mind…This is Replay an amazing animated short film.

One Life

This animation will make you think about your life. The song is “old man” by Neil Young. Animation by Corey Hayes.

The Last Knit

When knitting becomes an obsession.

Kiwi!

Kiwi! has received a large following for its deep meaning and heart touching manner.

Skhizein (Jérémy Clapin,2008)

After being struck by a 150-ton meteorite, Henry has to adapt to living precisely 91 centimeters from himself.

MEET MELINE : THE 3D ANIMATED SHORT FILM

Meet Meline tells the story of a little girl whose curiosity is sparked by a mysterious creature as she plays in her grandparents barn.

Dailymotion – Dans la Tête a video from Esma-Movie dans la tete animation english

A story of of fate, love, and death. Highly enjoyable!

A Quoi Ca Sert L’amour? (Perils of Love)

This wonderful short follows the ups and downs of a young couple.

Les Dangereux – A Ninja Love Story

A vacationing ninja finds true love, but it’s much more than he expected.

Thought of You

One of the greatest parts of making this film is reading the comments left on Vimeo and Youtube. I love the variety of interpretations and meaning – Creator Ryan Woodward

The Man Who Planted Trees

The Man Who Planted Trees (French: L’homme qui plantait des arbres) is a 1987 Canadian shortanimated film directed by Frédéric Back. It is based on the story of the same name by Jean Giono. This is a 30-minute film.

Sep 26, 2012Jun 17, 2016

Top 10 Greatest Stoner Athletes of All Time

Weed makes everything better including catching touchdowns passes, submitting opponents, and winning gold medals. Cannabis is the best option for athletes who want to rest and recover, eventually you’re going to see team doctors carry ounces of herb with them on team flights. Here is our list of top ten stoner athletes who represent for their favorite plant.

10. Rasheed Wallace

Sport (Years Played): Basketball (1993-2010)
Accolades: 2004 NBA Champion, 4x NBA All-Star

Famous for holding the NBA single-season record for technical fouls (he committed 41 in 2000-01), ‘Sheed is less well known for being one of the savvier players during his 15-year career (flipping the script on the laid back but dumb pothead stereotype). He was arrested with fellow Blazer Damon Stoudamire and charged with weed possession in 2002.

9. Mark Stepnoski

Sport (Years Played): Football (1986-2001)
Accolades: 2x Super Bowl Champion (1993 and 1996), 4x Pro Bowl (1992-1996), named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade team

You’ve got some smokers who only feel motivated to hit up their weed man to re-up and then you have others who are really all about the movement. Mark Stepnoski is a member of the latter group. After his football career, which included a couple Super Bowl rings with the Cowboys, Stepnoski has put his focus on advocating the legalization of marijuana. He’s a member of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), Stepnoski’s public support of the group led his alma mater—a Catholic high school—to rescind his nomination for their hall of fame despite Mark’s success on the field. Eh, their loss.

8. Rob Van dam

Sport (Years Played): Pro Wrestling (1990-present)
Accolades: 2x ECW World Tag Team Champion, WWE Heavyweight Champion

Rob Van Dam has amazed wrestling audiences around the world with his aerial athleticism and martial arts skills. Throughout his wrestling career, Rob Van Dam rarely hesitated to voice his affection for cannabis — coining the popular catch-phrase, “Nobody gets higher than Rob Van Dam”. RVD was stripped of his WWE World title following his arrest for minor marijuana possession. RVD is open about his marijuana use and the need to reform America’s cannabis laws, frequently discussing the issue on his live radio show.

Our federal government prohibited this organic plant based on lies, continues to classify it among the most dangerous drugs to validate billions in funding pointless agendas, and denies it’s medical value, causing countless lives to suffer needlessly. How can anyone not care?

7. Dock Ellis

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (1968-1979)
Accolades: 1971 All-Star team, 1971 World Series champion, 1976 A.L. Comeback Player of the Year, No-Hitter thrown on 6/12/1970

Dock Ellis is most famous for having thrown a no-hitter while high on LSD, but he was an all-around badass baseball player, who famously did not take shit from anyone (he once intentionally hit three of the first five batters in a game).

6. Tim Lincecum

Sport (Years Played): Baseball (2004-present)
Accolades: 2x NL Cy Young Award winner, 2010 World Series Champion, 4x All-Star

If the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) ever starts a PETA-style celebrity campaign, Tim Lincecum would be a perfect pitchman. He looks like a stoner, talks like a stoner, has a stoner nickname (“The Freak”), and, judging by the misdemeanor pot charge he picked up in November 2009, probably is a stoner. And he’s really, really, really good at what he does. In his first four full seasons in the majors, Lincecum’s logged more than 200 innings each year, and led the National League in strikeouts three times. He’s done it all with a frame many scouts considered too small for a power pitcher, and with an unorthodox delivery that many of those same scouts thought would lead to injury. Think an occasional puff has anything to do with his prowess?

5. Nick Diaz

Sport (Years Played): MMA (2001-present)
Accolades: 27-7; Former Strikeforce Welterweight Champion

If there’s one group of athletes who deserve a pass when it comes to a little recreational toking, it’s gotta be MMA fighters. These dudes are subjected to some of the most brutal indignities in organized sports, and yet they’re not allowed to get high now and again? One of MMA’s respected and rising stars, Nick Diaz is known as Captain Cannabis and beloved by members of the MMA stoner community like Joe Rogan.

4. Ricky Williams

Sport (Years Played): Football (1995-2011)
Accolades: 1998 Heisman Trophy, 2002 1st team All Pro, 2002 Pro Bowl MVP, 10,000 Rushing Yards Club member

Football x marijuana = Ricky Williams. No other athlete has ever received as much coverage and created as much controversy for their marijuana use as the stoner NFL running back. Ricky’s love of the ganja led to his first retirement in August of 2004. This decision came as Williams had already reportedly failed three drug tests and was facing a one-year ban from the NFL. While away from the league, he studied holistic medicine at the California College of Ayurveda that fall in Grass Valley, Calif and openly used marijuana saying it was a form of psychotherapy treatment for his social anxiety disorder.

3. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sport (Years Played): Bodybuilding (1968-1980)
Accolades: 1968 Mr. Universe, 7x Mr. Olympia (1970-1975, 1980)

The same man with one of the craziest life stories ever (bodybuilder/actor/governor) has also been one of the biggest influences on the marijuana movement in this country. Aside from lighting up back in his younger days, Schwarzenegger changed the whole game in 2011 when, while serving as California governor, he reduced the charge for carrying an ounce or less of marijuana to an infraction rather than a misdemeanor. Meaning people found with that amount would only face a fine of $100 and would not have the offense appear on their criminal record.

2. Randy Moss

Sport (Years Played): Football (1996-present)
Accolades: 1998 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 7x Pro Bowler, Record for most TDs in a season (23), Fifth on the All-Time TD list (154) and All-Time Receiving Yards list (14,858)

Randy Moss was the cool stoner version of T.O. and Chad Ochochinco before those guys were making headlines for their antics. Back in ’96, before reporting to jail to serve a 30-day sentence for a battery conviction, Moss lit up an L and later tested positive for THC during his bid. As a result, his sentence was extended by 60 days, Florida State revoked Moss’ scholarship, and he was subsequently dismissed from the university. Moss had another positive test—administered by the NFL—in 2001 but he passed on the other tests throughout his career despite admitting to using the drug in a 2005 interview with Bryant Gumbel.

1. Michael Phelps

Sport (Years Played): Swimming (2002-present)
Accolades: 22 Olympic medals including 18 gold

Ahh, the most infamous bong rip in sports history. After becoming a media sensation by winning a record eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Phelps was seen as an American hero who could pretty much do no wrong. Well, right until a photo of him using a bong at a University of South Carolina house party was released by the British tabloid News of the World in January 2009. As a result, Phelps received a three-month suspension from USA Swimming and Kellogg’s said they would not renew their endorsement of the Olympian. Bad move by Kellogg, Joe Rogan and other stoners love cereal.

> The 25 Greatest Stoner Athletes of All Time | Complex

Sep 17, 2012Jun 17, 2016

Universal Life Hacks – Domestic, Productivity, Health, Free Stuff (Infographic)

Life Hacks are ingenious ways to do everyday things that make life easier, more convenient, more fun, or otherwise better. They require little effort, and can cumulatively make a big difference.

Universal LifeHacks – Domestic, Productivity, Health, Free Stuff Text Transcript

Domestic Hacks

1.) Reverse your hangers!
Put your clothes in your closet with the hangers reversed once a year. As you pull your clothes out, reverse the hanger. Every year, gie away any clothes that you never took out (hangers facing the original direction).

2.) Get out of the house in time!
Make your playlist exactly as long as you have to get ready in the morning. Go from chill songs to more energetic ones. You will be able to tell how you’re doing on time by the song that’s currently playing.

3.) Unlock a chain lock from outside!
Find a rubber band. Attach the rubber band to the chain lock, then to the inside door handle. As you close the door from the outside, the rubber band will pull the chain and the lock will dislodge. Works like a charm.

4.) Open a banana the RIGHT way!
Instead of tearing open the banana at the stem (which can be a real struggle). just flip the banana over and open it by pinching the stem. There’s a reason monkeys do it this way!

5.) Remember to Bring the Important things!
When you need to remember to bring something with you, put your car keys on it the night before, or put the item you need to remember on your shoes.

6.) Use aluminum foil correctly!
On the ends of every box of aluminum foil there are tabs to push in that keep the foil from popping out, same for cling wrap.

7.) Ice cold drinks in 3 minutes flat!
If you want to cool a warm beer or soda to ice cold in 3 minutes put the can or cans in a pot and cover with ice. Next, add 2 cups of salt and fill with water. It will be cold in 3 minutes.

School, Education Hacks

1.) Sources for your Thesis!
If you are charged with writing a lengthy research paper, find one very solid source that directly pertains to your thesis, and then you can use that source’s bibliography to back into locating new sources. Alternatively, use the bibliography of a Wikipedia entry.

2.) Buy some Time!
Need more time writing that paper? Grab a jpg, mp3, or some other media file and rename it “My Awesome Essay.doc” and send to professor. The “paper” will “corrupt” and it’ll buy you a day or two more.

3.) Get your Thumbdrive box!
Put an “identification.txt” file in your flash drives. Include all relevant contact info so you can get it back if you lose it.

Work, Productivity Hacks

1.) Get paid to poop!
You’ll be using less of your own time and more of your company’s time. If you poop for an average of 10 minutes per day, your company will have paid you for more than 40 hours of pooping by the end of the year. That’s half as long as most paid vacations!

2.) Keep motivated!
If there’s something big you need to get done, tell all your friends you’re going to do it. The fear of looking like an ass helps keep you motivated.

3.) Work as a beer taster!
When you’re about to be born press up, up, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, and select. If you did it correctly, you’ll later get a job as a beer taster. (Ok, this one is a lie)

Free Stuff Hacks

1.) Free phone chargers!
Next time you lose your phone charger, don’t buy another one! Go to a hotel and say you think you lost it there. It’s the #1 most left behind item at hotels, so most places have a big bin filled with every phone charger imaginable.

2.) Free hotel porn!
Next time you stay in a hotel that uses a Nokia TV system, enter the following code using the remote control: 2-2-1-Down Arrow then push and hold the OK button.

3.) Free air!
At Shell gas stations, press the button on the side of the pump three times. The pump will start without you having to insert any coins!

4) Free hotel reservation cancellations!
If you’ve got hotel reservations and need to cancel, but you’re already within however many days prior to the cancellation policy stated, just reschedule for a future date (for which there is no charge or penalty), call back, get a different representative, and cancel free of charge!

5.) Free Wi-Fi at Airports!
For those that have “for pay Wi-Fi” by adding ?.jpg at the end of any URL. Often, Wi-Fi at airports do not redirect images, allowing this hack to work.

Health, Body Hacks

1.) Don’t lose your hair!
If you are losing your hair, get Propecia for $2.50 a month instead of $189.00. Go to your doctor. Get him/her to prescribe you something called Proscar which is 5 mg of Finasteride (for prostate health) while Propecia is only 1. The good part about this is insurance covers proscar (because there is a medial purpose for it) so instead of paying 189 bucks a month you pay roughly $10 a prescription. Then cut it up into quarters. So it’s a 4 month supply for $15 bucks.

2.) Change your Circadian Rhythm!
Your circadian rhythm can be manipulated by your eating schedule. Stop eating during the 12-16 hour period before you want to be awake. Once you start eating again, your internal clock will be reset as though it is the start of a new day. Your body will consider the time you break your fast as your new “morning.”

3) Prevent “Splashing”!
You know you hate it too. When you have to go number two in a public restroom and you get “splashed”. Before pooping in a public toilet, put a couple sheets of toilet paper in the landing zone. This usually prevents splashing.”

4.) Save a life with coconut water!
Coconut water is sterile, works extremely well as a sports/hydration drink, is nearly isotonic to human blood, and in an emergency can be used as an IV fluid.

5.) Speed up 911!
When calling 911, the very first thing you should state is your location. Cell phone triangulations is imperfect and sometimes landline info is out of date. The moment an operator has an address or intersection, the police can be dispatched.

6.) Cure brain freeze!
Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth cures brain freeze fast! It also makes the urge to sneeze go away.

7.) Sneeze fast!
If you’re about to sneeze, but it isn’t happening as fast as you would like, look into a bright light and you will sneeze.

8.) Combat acne!
Persistent acne can be almost universally cured or substantially reduced by sleeping with a freshly washed towel over ones pillow at night. This works better than any acne medication. No lie.

9.) See in the Dark!
When you wake up in the middle of the night to do something, cover one eye with your hand and leave it there until you return to darkness. The eye that was covered will have retained its ability to see well in the dark so you will not run into the dresser on your way back to bed. This advantage is the reason pirates wore eyepatches so they could see in the darkness below deck after being in bright sunlight.

10.) Avoid sinus congestion!
If you have sinus congestion and steam just isn’t doing the trick, there’s another body hack you can try to relieve the pressure. Thrust your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then press between your eyebrows. Repeating these two things rocks your vomer bone back and forth and loosens up the congestion, allowing your sinuses to drain.

Miscellaneous Hacks

1.) Extend a remotes range!
If you are opening a gate with a remote and you are a bit out of range, put it under your chin pointing upward. Your skull is a close enough approximation to a parabolic reflector to direct some extra energy forward giving you extra distance.

2.) Use your hand as a ruler!
Measure your hand from your fingertips to palm and memorize it. Now you can judge the size of anything without a ruler. Try to pick a finger that is pretty close to a standard length (1 inch). You will never need a ruler to estimate again.

3.) Reboot the credit card machine!
To piss off an annoying customer behind you in the checkout, hold down all 4 corner buttons on the credit card machine to reboot it. It will take a while to restart.

4.) Go straight to your Floor!
To go directly to your floor on an elevator, even if other floor numbers have been pressed, simply press the desired floor number and door close button at the same time and you will go directly to that floor!

5.) Spend less time in the cold!
If your lock is frozen, use instant hand sanitizer on it. With its heavy alcohol content, it can break down ice. Squirt some in a resistant lock and get out of the cold!

6.) Test a remote!
If you point a TV/DVD remote at a cellphone camera and press any button you can see the infared light. This trick will also let you see if IR security cameras are on in the dark!

7.) Extra batteries!
9 Volt batteries contain six AAAA sized cells that can be used in electronics that take AAA batteries. Small sized 12 volt batteries contain eight 1.5 volt batteries which retail for $3 – $5 dollars each.

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

The Most Powerful Food Combinations

Who came up with the idea that we are supposed to drink orange juice at breakfast? And why, if oatmeal is so good for us, do we eat that only in the morning as well? Nutritionists are starting to realize enjoying the two together is healthier than eating each of them alone.

Epidemiologist David R. Jacobs, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota calls it food synergy, and he, along with many other nutritionists, believes it might explain why Italians drizzle cold-pressed olive oil over tomatoes and why the Japanese pair raw fish with soybeans.

As researchers work to unravel the complexities of the interactions of the foods we eat, try the most powerful food combinations currently known to science.

1. Tomatoes & Avocados

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a pigment-rich antioxidant known as a carotenoid, which reduces cancer risk and cardiovascular disease. Fats make carotenoids more bioavailable, a fact that makes a strong case for adding tomatoes to your guacamole.

“The lycopene in tomato products such as pasta sauce is better absorbed when some fat (e.g., avocado) is present than if the sauce were made fat free.” says registered dietitian Susan Bowerman of California Polytechnic State University.

2. Oatmeal & Orange Juice

A study from the Antioxidants Research Lab at the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that drinking vitamin C-rich orange juice while eating a bowl of unprocessed oatmeal cleans your arteries and prevents heart attacks with two times as much efficacy than if you were to ingest either breakfast staple alone. The organic compounds in both foods, called phenols, stabilize your LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or so-called “bad” cholesterol) when consumed together.

3. Broccoli & Tomatoes

In a recent Cancer Research study, John W. Erdman Jr., Ph.D., of the University of Illinois, proved that the combination shrunk prostate-cancer tumors in rats.

“We know that tomato powder lowers the growth of tumors,” says Erdman. “We know that broccoli does too. And we know they’re better together. But it’s going to take years to find out why.”

4. Blueberries & Grapes

“Studies have shown that the antioxidant effects of consuming a combination of fruits are more than additive but synergistic.” says Bowerman.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition by Rui Hai Liu, Ph.D., from Cornell University’s department of food science, looked at the antioxidant capacity of various fruits individually (apples, oranges, blueberries, grapes) versus the same amount of a mixture of fruits, and found that the mix had a greater antioxidant response.

5. Apples & Chocolate

Apples, are known to be high in an anti-inflammatory flavonoid called quercetin, especially in their skins. (Note: It’s important to buy organic because pesticides concentrate in the skins of conventionally grown apples.) By itself, quercetin has been shown to reduce the risk of allergies, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prostate and lung cancers.

Chocolate, grapes, red wine, and tea, on the other hand, contain the flavonoid catechin, an antioxidant that reduces the risks for atherosclerosis and cancer. Together, according to a study done by Barry Halliwell, Ph.D., a leading food science professor at the National University of Singapore, catechins and quercetin loosen clumpy blood platelets, improving cardiovascular health and providing anticoagulant activity. Quercetin is also found in buckwheat, onions, and raspberries.

Susan Kraus, a clinical dietitian at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, recommends the following combinations: sangria with cut-up apples; green tea with buckwheat pancakes and raspberries; and kasha (roasted buckwheat, made in a pilaf) cooked with onions.

6. Lemon & Kale

“Vitamin C helps make plant-based iron more absorbable,” says nutritionist Stacy Kennedy of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. It actually converts much of the plant-based iron into a form that’s similar to what’s found in fish and red meats. (Iron carries oxygen to red blood cells, staving off muscle fatigue.)

Kennedy suggests getting your vitamin C from citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, strawberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, and broccoli, and getting plant-based iron from leeks, beet greens, kale, spinach, mustard greens, Swiss chard, and fortified cereals.

So whether you’re sautéing dark greens or making a salad, be sure to include a squeeze of citrus. You’ll increase your immunity and muscle strength with more punch than by eating these foods separately.

7. Soy & Salmon

According to Mark Messina, Ph.D., professor at Loma Linda University, an isoflavone in soy called genistein inhibits enzymes in the colon and prostate, raising the amount of vitamin D bioavailability in those tissues.

“The higher vitamin D levels may offer protection against cancer,” says Messina. “There is emerging research suggesting that vitamin D reduces cancer risk, and many people don’t get enough of the vitamin. You do make it in your skin, but most people don’t make enough.”

Fish such as salmon and tuna are high in vitamin D, so take a cue from the Asian diet and eat fish with a side of edamame.

8. Peanuts & Whole Wheat

According to Diane Birt, P.D., a professor at Iowa State University and a food synergy expert, the specific amino acids absent in wheat are actually present in peanuts. You need, and very rarely receive in one meal, the complete chain of amino acids (the best form of protein) to build and maintain muscle, especially as you get older.

So enjoy a peanut-butter sandwich right after a workout instead of drinking a terrible gym-rat shake.

9. Red Meat & Rosemary

Grilling over an open flame produces nasty carcinogens, but if you get a little more experimental with your spices, you can temper the cancer-causing effects of the charred flesh.

The herb rosemary, which mixes well with all kinds of grilled foods and contains the antioxidants rosmarinic acid and carnosic acid, was recently shown in a Kansas State University study to lower the amount of the cancer-causing heterocyclic amines (or HCAs) that appear in the charred meat when you grill at temperatures of 375°F to 400°F. It’s thought that the herb’s antioxidants literally soak up the meat’s dangerous free radicals.

10. Garlic & Fish

Minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, iodine, and selenium work as cofactors to make the best use of the natural anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-reducing fish oils EPA and DHA.

Cooking your fish with garlic lowers your total cholesterol better than eating those fillets or cloves alone. A study at University of Guelph, in Ontario, found that garlic keeps down the small increase in LDL cholesterol that might result from fish-oil supplements.

11. Eggs & Cantaloupe

According to Kennedy, a very basic food synergy is the concept of eating protein with foods that contain beneficial carbohydrates, which we need for energy. Protein, Kennedy reminds us, slows the absorption of glucose, or sugar, from carbohydrates.

Cut as many bad carbs (i.e., anything white, starchy, and sugary) as you want. But when you eat healthful carbs (whole grains, fruit, vegetables), don’t eat them on their own.

12. Almonds & Yogurt

We already know that good fats help increase lycopene absorption. But did you know that many essential vitamins are activated and absorbed best when eaten with fat?

Vitamins that are considered fat-soluble include A, D, and E. Carrots, broccoli, and peas are all loaded with vitamin A and should be paired with a healthy fat such as the kind found in olive oil. Vitamin D—rich products include fish, milk, yogurt, and orange juice.

So toss some almonds into your yogurt, eat full-fat dairy foods, and pair your morning OJ with a slice of bacon. To get the most vitamin E with fat-soluble foods, try baked sweet-potato slices or spinach salad topped with olive oil.

> Powerful Food Combinations | Men’s Health

Aug 13, 2012Jun 17, 2016

10 Smartest Stoners Who Admitted To Smoking Weed

You’ve probably seen those “Above The Influence” anti-drug commercials in which they show worst scenario outcomes to people smoking weed. Really depressing shit. They always make the person out to be an accidental murderer, or homeless, jobless, friendless. No prospects of anything positive on the horizon. Well, here’s a list of the smartest stoners who ever admitted to smoking weed.

Steve Jobs

It’s been reported the Apple co-founder smoked pot and took LSD in his first semester at Reed College in Portland, Oregon in 1972. After dropping out from the school, he’s went on to become one of the most successful and wealthiest people in America. In 1984, he received the National Medal of Technology from President Ronald Reagan. In 2007, Fortune Magazine named him the most powerful person in business and then California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger inducted him into the California Hall of Fame. Fortune also named him CEO of the Decade in 2009 while Forbes ranked him #57 on their list of the World’s Most Powerful People that same year. The Financial Times named Jobs its person of the year for 2010. I’m not sure, but I don’t think you can have those kind of accolades being dumb. Plus, the guy’s a Beatles fan, dated Joan Baez, and sold one of his houses to Bono from U2. That’s some hip, hip company, my friend.

Carl Sagan

Astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, pothead. It’s hard to argue for pot slowing you down when you look at Carl Sagan’s record. Apparently a confirmed and admitted stoner, among his many achievements are a Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy, a best-selling novel, as well as more than 500 science papers and articles. He was a founding member of the Planetary Society, and he won a pipe load of scientific awards. Hardly surprising, he is said to have believed in the validity of stoned insights. I believe in them too, it’s just that Carl’s revolved around the origins of the cosmos, not which bagel store is open at 3 in the morning.

Stephen Jay Gould

Paleontologist, biologist, science historian. Most famous scientific contribution was the theory of punctuated equilibrium, which says that most evolution is marked by long periods of stability. Kind of like most of us after a good bong hit. One of the most influential and best read writers of popular science, Gould became an advocate for medical marijuana following his diagnosis with cancer. He claimed it had an “important effect” on his recovery. He also testified in court to the benefits of marijuana, and is quoted as saying “it is beyond my comprehension that any humane person would withhold such a beneficial substance from people in such great need simple because others use it for different purposes.”Gould used pot to help retain his health for twenty years, the same period during which he wrote The Structure of Evolutionary Theory, not what you might call an insignificant work.

Francis Crick

Won a Nobel Prize for figuring out the double-helix structure of DNA. Rumor has it that he was on acid at the time. Crick wasn’t the first to see twin twisted monsters coming at him during an acid plunge, but he was the first to recognize as an important scientific discovery. As a founding member of Soma, a legalize cannabis group, he also experimented pot, which he believed helped to remove the filters of abstract thought.

Margaret Mead

Ok, so it’s probably not totally accurate to describe Margaret Mead as a pothead, but she was a major proponent for marijuana, so we’re going to widen the definition a bit. When she died in 1978, Mead was possibly the most famous Anthropologist on the planet. Time had named her Mother of the World in 1969. She authored or co-authored around 40 books, received 28 honorary doctorates, and was President of both the American Anthropological Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Most famously, she testified before Congress on the legalization of marijuana. She testified on lots of stuff, but it’s this one everyone remembers. Afterwards, she was called a dirty old lady, crazy, and no doubt many other things.

Andrew Weil

Had a mushroom named after him. Do we need to know any more? Well, yes, we do. Although he looks like he’s been binging on an all-night high, Dr. Weil has medical and biology degrees from Harvard, is a naturopath, as well as a widely acknowledged expert on medicinal herbs, alternative medicines, and mind and body interactions. He was on the cover of Time, has written a bunch of books, and used to write for High Times. He talks about the advantages of stoned thinking, as well as an innate need to alter consciousness. Is that him or us? Whatever, it’s clearly worked for him.

Kary Mullis

Another Nobel Prize winner, another stoner. Mullis tried heavier drugs than just pot. He invented the polymerase chain reaction, which if it’s slipped your mind, is the one that allows duplication of parts of DNA. He says acid helped him to develop it, perhaps along with pot, which he allegedly smoked just before his first trip. While most of us have trouble figuring out how a chair works when we’re high, this guy was working out how to mimic nature.

Oliver Sacks

If you’ve seen “Awakenings” with Robin Williams, you already know something of Oliver Sacks’ work. He’s a neurologist, the film based on his book of the same name. He also wrote The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat. Sacks is an Oxford graduate and professor of neurology at Columbia Medical Center. He’s been referred to as the poet laureate of medicine, and received numerous awards and honorary doctorates in the field of neurological science. Not bad for a man who’s admitted to using marijuana on a more that recreational level, seeing it as a potential gateway to other minds and other consciousnesses.

Richard Feynman

Physicist who helped design the atomic bomb. Well, nobody said anyone on this list was wise, just smarter than average. Feynman used pot to enhance his out of body experiences while in a sensory deprivation tank. When he came out, he won a Nobel Prize for his theory of quantum electrodynamics.

Sergey Brin

He has a BS from the University of Maryland, a MS from Stanford and took PhD courses at Stanford before putting that on hiatus to co-found Google with Larry Page. His dad’s a math professor at the University of Maryland. His mom’s a research scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. His wife, Ann Wojcicki, is a biotech analyst who graduated with a B.S. in biology from Yale in 1996. She and Brin are working with leading researchers to help doctors, patients, and researchers analyze the human genome data and try to repair “bugs” as if DNA were HTML. He was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, which is “among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer” and received the Marconi Foundation Prize, the “Highest Award in Engineering”. I can only imagine the first time he described DNA as HTML to someone, he/she must’ve been like, “are you high?” To which, he responded, “No! Why? You holdin’?

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