Kinda coooool (Taken with instagram)
Interesting idea. I applaud them for their efforts in supporting reforestation and using trees from “well managed forests,” but trees take much longer to grow than to remove. I’m not sure if I think this is a better alternative than plastic for packaged water yet…at least you don’t have to worry about BPA leaking into your water? And why is there a “best by…” date on there?
One day I’ll find it.
A Fast Food Burger Is 3 Times Larger Now Than in The 1950s
Research has shown that the bigger your plate, the likelier it is you’ll overeat. The same logic may apply to fast food, where according to a new infographic by the Centers for Disease Control, portion sizes for popular items have increased dramatically since the 1950s.
Read more. [Image: CDC]
Adele - Right as Rain
I can’t stop listening to this song - it makes me want to dance non-stop
Health benefits of coconut oil.
I hadn’t heard much about coconut oil until recently, and as it’s a part of my new diet I thought I’d do a bit of research to find out why.
• Coconut Oil is a rich source of fibre, vitamins (particularly B and C) and minerals (including iron, potassium and phosphorous).• An effective energy booster.
• Helps reduce inflammation.
• A powerful antioxidant, which helps to boost the immune system andprotect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals.
• Has anti viral, anti bacterial, and anti fungal properties.
• Assists in the elimination of parasites.
• Aids digestion, and is beneficial for sufferers of Crohn’s and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
• Helps to restore the electrolyte balance during gastric upsets.
• Can provide relief for constipation sufferers.
• Coconut oil can assist in providing relief from yeast infections.
• Can assist in treating ear infections.
• A great moisturizer.
• Helps alleviate the symptoms of eczema and other skin conditions.
• Beneficial for sufferers of asthma, and other respiratory conditions.
• A lovely hair conditioner and can help to control dandruff.
• Supports and helps to regulate healthy thyroid functioning.
• Helps reduce the signs of fine lines and pre-mature aging.
• A wonderful healthy heart tonic. Naturally helps to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure.
• Assists in the regulation of blood sugars.
• Can put it on cuts and wounds to protect from infection.
• Assists in weight loss. Contrary to popular belief, saturated fat is not allbad! An important point to note though, is DO avoid hydrogenated coconut oil. Coconut oil can in fact, help to speed up your metabolism.
• Can help to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infections.
• Helps to dissolve kidney stones.
• Assists in alleviating the symptoms of menopause and PMS.
• Assists in the absorption of calcium and magnesium, leading to stronger bones and teeth, and therefore reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
• Coconut oil contains around the same amount of lauric acid that is found in breast milk. This wonderful nutrient is what helps to strengthen the immune systems of new born babies.
I bolded the last one because it really stuck out to me. It must be pretty powerful stuff!
Do you use coconut oil?
(taken from http://abundanceofwellness.com/blog/benefits-of-coconut-oil/)
I love coconut oil!
(via yogi-health)
(via theabsolution)
Rare Venus Transit of Sun in June to Amaze Skywatchers
Make sure to see the June 5 passage of the planet Venus across the face of the sun: a similar event won’t happen again until the year 2117.
In the Image:
Watching the tiny silhouette of the planet Venus slowly cross the face of the sun doesn’t evoke the same drama and excitement as experiencing a total solar eclipse, but what makes a transit so unique is its rarity and historical significance.
(via discoverynews)
I’ve been wanting to try to make a raw soup and what better day than to make one on Earth day (it doesn’t require cooking so saves a bit of energy)! I got this recipe from yourBuddhi.com. There are tons of variations of raw avocado soup. This recipe uses parsley, but if you’ve only got cilantro on hand, substitute it instead or use this recipe from Whole Living Daily.
Ingredients
2 avocados, halved
1 cup watercress
1 cup baby spinach
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon white miso
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
3 to 4 cups water or nut milk
Lydia’s Organics Raw Italian Crackers
Salt and pepper
(I didn’t have any miso or crackers so I just made it without them. I also added English peas.)
Method
Blend all ingredients except for half of one avocado in a high-speed blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dice reserved avocado half and sprinkle crackers to garnish soup. Play with making different versions of the soup by adding diced cucumber, tomato and carrots for more texture.
I topped the soup with walnuts and parsley.
**Please note that if you do not like bitter foods, it would be best to leave out the watercress. The amount of bitterness of the watercress depends on the season and its growing conditions but its generally quite bitter.
Lori Nix sure knows how to make a diorama!
It’s not until you take a closer look that you’ll notice these are photos of miniature scenes.
I usually have a few hours in between my classes, so I’ll just go home and cook a big lunch. This time, I used my down time to make banana bread. I wonder how many other people do this on their breaks… Anyway, I’ve been wanting to try to make this ever since a friend of mine posted up this recipe from the Food Wishes blog on his tumblr. I was sold at dark chocolate chips - it’s genius!
Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup soft butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
(I used Bob’s Red Mill brown rice flour, turbinado sugar, and Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate chips)
*Bake in a 9x4 loaf pan at 325 degrees F. for about 1 hour 10 minutes. (You’ve probably noticed that I baked it in a round cake pan because I didn’t have a loaf pan. You could also bake this in a muffin pan.)
For the mixing instructions, you’ll have to go to the Food Wishes blog and watch the video posted there. The recipe is pretty simple and easy to make overall. I made the mistake of scrutinizing the video and thought my batter was a lot more watery than Chef John’s batter, so I added an extra half-cup of flour, along with 1/4 tsp of baking powder, baking soda and salt. My bread ended up on the dry side and crumbled if you didn’t baby it while taking it out of the pan. I was disappointed, but the bread was still super delicious. 
One of the best things about banana bread is that it fills your home with the most amazing smell while baking.
![theatlantic:
A Fast Food Burger Is 3 Times Larger Now Than in The 1950s
Research has shown that the bigger your plate, the likelier it is you’ll overeat. The same logic may apply to fast food, where according to a new infographic by the Centers for Disease Control, portion sizes for popular items have increased dramatically since the 1950s.
Read more. [Image: CDC]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4hig4HkOx1qcokc4o1_500.jpg)
