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melonoverlord · 6 years

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the 50 qs for the goofy drama zip zap boi

Their age?

Their sexuality/sexual preference?

Bisexual

Any siblings/Only child?

He has two siblings, one older sister (Judith) who he’d sell his soul to Satan for, and one younger brother (Reuben) who he’d sell to Satan. Jk, he loves Benny but sometimes he is too much to handle. They are all separably vying for “Most Extra Spiegelmann” Award

Their favourite season?

Winter. His goal every year is to make the tallest snowman with Ashi.

Who were/are their parents/guardians?

His parents were Henry and Antonia, and were pretty good parents to all of them and always encouraged him to be himself, but when Judith disappeared and it didn’t really seem like she had run away because Daniel told the police that she never had a problem at home, but like pre-teens did, sometimes have arguments with her mom and dad (mainly related that Judith wanted to go out and stay out with her friends), they were tried and arrested for child abduction and murder and now Daniel and Reuben officially live with their Great Aunt Theresa, but when Daniel’s boss entered the picture, he paid Daniel’s aunt to have unofficial custody over the boys as long as he paid college education and living expenses for them.

Their gender?

Male

Their date of birth?

September 15, 2002

What clothing style?

Usually gray jeans and t-shirts of either shows he’s been in or the stupid graphic tees you get at target. In his work, his boss has been trying to make sure he dresses better and is now starting to wear either sweaters or button ups with slacks. He doesn’t like that very much.

What is their favourite food after a break-up?

Butterscotch cookies from a bakery in Downtown Grand Rapids. They would know him by name.

Their favourite thing to do after a break-up?

Listen to every single musical or Disney love song and cry while eating chocolate chip ice cream. It hurts his tummy afterwards but it helps to focus on an upset tummy than a broken heart.

What happens in the ‘honeymoon phase’ for this character?

The kid will be broke because he’s always trying to buy gifts based on what you said you liked that one time. He’ll also always be with you and giving you cuddles and holding your hand and say “I found this flower, it reminded me of you.”

How many serious relationships have they been in?

None. He always had eyes for Ashi and didn’t know whether she liked him back.

What is their nationality?

American, though his family came from Poland in the 1930s.

What languages do they speak?

English, Hebrew, and Polish.

What is their profession/Education?

He was taught in Michigan for most of his life in both regular public school and then Hebrew school, and now he’s on a hiatus on school while he works, but still takes classes online at the local city college.

Their favourite comfort food?

Chocolate milkshakes. He’ll drink like five in an hour. Who cares if he’s lactose intolerant.

What’s a food they hate?

Tomatoes. They’re too squishy.

Their music taste?

Alternative rock or musical theatre. He’s honestly a fan of anything except country. Fuck country.

Is there a story behind their name/meaning?

Daniel’s a king in the bible, and Henry wanted to have a strong son that could make their family proud.

Something they do that seems childish to others?

When he gets overstimulated, whether happy or sad, he starts to cry. He once cried because he couldn’t finish an exam on time. He still got a B+ but he cried.

What is their all-time favourite TV show?

Mythbusters. They way they just *clenches fist* bust those myths. He also really likes anything with Gordon Ramsey because he’s funny.

What is their all-time favourite movie?

He’s a super big fan of the Indiana Jones movies, particularly The Last Crusade. His favorite part is where Indy and his dad set the room on fire.

How big is their family?

Originally it was him, Judith, Benny, and his parents, but now it’s him, Benny, techinically Great Aunt Theresa? And kinda his boss.

Are they close to anyone specific in the family?

He was extremely close to Judith when they were younger. He would say she was his best friend and she would come to his theatre performances when his parents had work. Now that she’s gone, he’s close(ish) to Benny, but they have a lot of tension from Benny just wanting his freedom and Daniel wanting to be a brother instead of a parent.

Have they got any allergies?

Bees and mosquitoes. He gets severe reactions from any bug bites that camping anywhere is kind of off the table.

Are they an emotional person?

Yes, but he tries to keep it under control and do whatever he’s being told to do. But the kid definitely feels the highs and lows

Do they get angry/lose their temper quickly?

He’s got a lot of reasons to be angry, but he knows he has to hold it together for Benny (and Ashi). So he just waits until he’s alone and then he cries.

What are some of their guilty pleasures?

Playing video games for hours on end, talking to his pet gerbil Madonna, and writing out letters to Ashi that he can’t send so he keeps under his mattress at home.

Do they have pets? Do they want pets?

He has his pet gerbil Madonna that he and Benny watch over.

Do they like kids? Do they want kids/have kids?

He’s alright with kids, but he couldn’t handle another right now since he’s kind of the sole caretaker of Reuben.

Who’s cuddle buddy are they?

It used to be Judith’s and Ashi’s, but now it’s just Benny, which Benny absolutely hates. He squirms out of every hug that Daniel tries to give him.

Do they have any tattoos?

Nope, baby’s afraid of needles.

Do they have any piercings?

No, for the same reasons.

What is their hair colour? Is it their natural colour?

Dark blonde. He dyed the ends of it to a blue when he was fourteen, and Benny and Ashi both immediately agreed they hated it, so he cut it off.

Do they like musicals?

He loves musicals. He’s been participating in community theatre since he was around seven or eight (he had his first starring role as Gavroche in Les Miserables) and listens to musicals to calm himself down from panic attacks.

Do they like marmite?

He doesn’t say it to anything, but he actually likes it on toast. He doesn’t eat it that often because nearly everyone on his team hates it, but he enjoys it on the downlow.

Do they like glitter?

He has a glitter folder that he puts his sheet music in. He likes anything flashy and shiny.

Do they believe in the supernatural?

Mothman is real and you can’t convince him otherwise.

Have they ever seen a dead body?

He’s been lucky enough not to, but he’s worried that one of these days in the line of work he’s doing, he’s going to either see a dead body or

the dead body

Have they ever had a near-death experience?

He’s had plenty of near death experiences, a lot of them by his own doing. He once was about 20 feet from splatting on the pavement because he teleported too late.

Have they ever broken a bone?

Despite his general disregard for safety, Daniel is lucky that he’s never broken a bone. He almost broke his tailbone when he fell off a tree when he was fourteen, but he just had the air knocked out of him.

What are they like when they’re drunk/what kind of drunk are they?

He’d be the flirty drunk who just says he loves you so much. He’s also the one that forgets that you’re dating, so when you say you’re taken he starts crying.

Have they ever drunk underage?

Nah, his faith is pretty strict about drinking for funsies.

What is the first thing they do when they wake up?

Go to water his plants in his room. He has a fern named Patricia.

Do they consider themselves popular?

He’s had friends here and there mostly through theatre, but in his mind having Ashi was enough. It didn’t really set in how much he was lonely until she left.

How do they like their tea/coffee?

With as much sugar dumped in. Think you added enough sugar? No, add more.

What do they smell like?

Apple cologne, hazelnut, and pinewood candles.

Are they a virgin?

Yes, he’s only had one kiss and that was a stage kiss for Rent. He played Roger.

Do they wear glasses/contacts?

He wears contacts because he doesn’t like anything crowding around his eyes. He likes his Flicker mask because it actually covers the whole face rather than just his eyes and he can focus on outside stuff.

Are they good at remembering significant dates? Anniversaries, birthdays etc?

He’s good when it comes to Benny and Ashi, but completely abysmal when it comes to himself or other people’s. He once forgot a staff meeting with his team until they were literally at his doorstep politely demanding to come in.

#imaturtlebug #my characters #Daniel Spiegelmann #Library of Alexandria campaign

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helatherwhite · 5 years

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Homemade Rice Milk | Vegan Milk Substitute

This homemade rice milk is a super simple recipe, it helps you avoid all of the additives typically found in store bought rice milk, and works great for all of your vegan baking, cooking, and more.

This recipe can be made using either brown or white rice, and literally can be made with only 2 ingredients and in just minutes.

Whether you are dealing with a milk allergy or intolerance, or you just want a simple option on hand for a last minute handy milk substitute, I have an answer for your troubles that you and your wallet will truly enjoy (and the environment will love as well :-).)

For years now, we've been making our own rice milk and other dairy-free milk alternatives. Our oldest was diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy to dairy before he was even one year old, and my husband is lactose intolerant, so having a milk substitute on hand has been a constant need in our home.

In fact, we make homemade dairy-free milk several times a week for use in recipes, baking, or adding to hot drinks or to cooked hot cereals. Since moving our diet in a lower-carb direction, we mostly make homemade coconut milk or homemade almond milk but homemade rice milk was a mainstay for us for a very long time.

Rice is an easily digestible grain, making rice milk a fantastic choice for someone who is struggling with a digestive sensitivity or upset, plus rice is gluten-free and fairly non-allergenic, so rice milk works well for almost any special diet.

If you have someone in your household who suffers from a dairy allergy or intolerance, you know how beneficial having dairy-free milk substitutes around can be. And when you can make them yourself–all the better.

Besides being helpful for food allergies or intolerances, rice milk is helpful for having around the house for those occasions when you run out of milk in the middle of making a recipe.

How I Discovered How to Make DIY Rice Milk

This discovery came one day, years ago, while shopping at a health food store. And I do mean years ago–way before dairy-free milk substitutes were in vogue. While looking at the pricey options in the “milk substitute aisle”, I noticed that the only ingredients listed on the boxes were — grain, water, and occasionally sweetener and flavoring.

There just had to be a way to make this myself and save a lot of money.

So I went home, got out my blender, estimated the amount of rice and water I should use, added a dash of salt and a tablespoon of sweetener, and the rest is money-saving history!

Why Make Homemade Rice Milk?

Control Over Ingredients

Here is an ingredient list from a store bought rice milk:

Filtered Water, Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola and/or Organic Expeller Pressed High Oleic Safflower Oil, Tricalcium Phosphate, Sea Salt, Organic Vanilla Flavor, Natural Flavor, Carrageenan, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12.

Now, it's nice that they are using filtered water and organic rice and rice syrup and oils and flavoring, but there are some disconcerting ingredients in there.

Natural Flavor

The term “natural flavor” is used as a catch all phrase. According to FDA,

The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.

Basically, anything added to a food for flavor that is not an artificial flavor is a “natural flavor.” There are some companies that use the term to simply conceal propriety truly natural flavorings, but unless you contact the company, you don't know.

Carrageenan

This thickener could cause some gastric distress and has some other evidence of causing other intestinal issues and even inflammation. A small amount might be tolerable, but those who consume a lot of processed foods should take this into consideration.

Vitamin A Palmitate

Vitamin A is a synthetic form of the vitamin that is prevalent in fruits and vegetables, meaning that supplementation is typically not needed. It is very rare for someone to be deficient in vitamin A. Additionally, there are reports of excess vitamin A being linked to birth defects, liver problems, and bone damage.

Canola Oil

Canola oil has been surrounded by many concerns about its safety. Most of the canola on the market is processed using highly a highly refined process involving high heat, hexane, and deodorization, plus almost all canola oil is genetically modified. As a polyunsaturated fat, it has also been linked to possible inflammatory effects.

You can see how canola oil is made in this video.

youtube

I don't think I want this in my rice milk!

Protect the Environment

By making your own rice milk, you are avoiding not only the added waste of the cartons, tetra-paks or bottles, but also the gas needed for additional trips to the store.

Save money

Store bought rice milk is quite pricey, especially when you see how inexpensive it is to make your own.

How Much Will You Save Making Homemade Rice Milk?

At the time that this post was written, a 32 oz container of organic rice milk cost about $4.35 each (even at a good bulk price on Amazon.com).

We purchase organic rice in bulk–$2.25/lb for white basmati, or $1.35/lb for organic long grain brown rice. You can find organic short grain brown rice on Amazon for $1.79/lb.

Organic white rice is a great choice when buying in bulk. It stores well, and has less of an issue with arsenic contamination.

If you assume that a typical household would consume about 2 32 oz. containers of rice milk each week, your savings could be:

Cost of Boxed Rice Milk:

$8.70 per week for 52 weeks = $452.40 per year

Cost of Homemade Rice Milk:

Using Bulk Organic Long Grain Brown Rice:

Use 3.25 oz rice per week to make 64 oz of rice milk = $.27 (if using organic long grain brown rice) = 14.04/yr.

Approximate Annual Savings: $438.46.

That's a lot of savings! And you save even more when you add in the savings in car use and gas by not making another trip to the store.

Savings Disclaimer:

Of course, it would be best to use filtered water for your homemade rice milk (in addition to using it for all of your of your drinking, baking, and cooking needs). This post talks about how to make your drinking water safe. Our family uses the PureEffect Water filters and we love them.

Our cost for filtered water is about 25 cents per gallon. So that would make our cost for this Homemade Rice Milk to be $20.54/yr so your savings would still be a whopping $471.92.

Want more money saving tips?

The following posts might interest you:

Homemade Powdered Sugar Homemade Chocolate Chips Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid Easiest Homemade Coconut Milk DIY Foaming Soap Homemade Taco Seasoning

How to Use This Homemade Rice Milk

Drink it straight

Use in hot drinks like coffee, tea, or this coffee substitute

For cooking–as a non-dairy base for soups, like this Creamy Root Vegetable Soup

As a base for vegan ice cream (like this Vegan Mint Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Almond Chip Ice Cream, etc.)

For baking–like in this Grain-free Coffee Cake

Recipe Tips for Homemade Rice Milk

Rice Amount: Use more or less rice, depending on what you would like the consistency of the final product to be. Standard rice milk is thinner than full fat cow's milk, but it's of course your choice what consistency desire.

Water: It is crucial that you use filtered water for this recipe. My post on how to make your tap water safe goes into more details about tap water contamination concerns.

Cooked rice stored in a plastic bag with Twixit Clip

Time Saving Tip Prepare extra rice ahead of time and portion it out in 1 cup increments in small food-safe plastic bags and store in the freezer for future rice milk making. For this purpose, I love using Twixit Clips (any kind of clip will work, but these clips are simply amazing. They last a very long time, have a lifetime guarantee and are so much easier to use than those pesky twist-ties! Simply thaw out the rice whenever you need rice milk. Bonus time saver, if you have a Vitamix or other high speed blender, it can handle the rice frozen! Simply pop the frozen rice into the blender with the filtered water and blend.

Flavored Milk: Add flavorings like chocolate, strawberry, or coconut–the sky's the limit! Think of all the variations you could make.

Buy a Vitamix If you've been thinking about a Vitamix and someone in your family has an allergy to dairy, you won't believe how much time and money this machine will save you. And clean up is a breeze! There are other high speed blenders, but the Vitamix is my hands down favorite.

Quick Cooling Tip – Make ice cubes out of this Homemade Rice Milk to increase longevity, or to have on hand for putting into hot cereals, hot coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate (or this coffee substitute) to cool them off more quickly than regular rice milk would do.

Homemade Rice Milk

This homemade rice milk is a super easy vegan milk substitute, plus it saves you money and helps you avoid all of the additives typically found in store bought rice milk.

1 cup cooked rice

4 cups water ((<a href="https://wholenewmom.com/health-concerns/is-your-water-safe/">filtered</a>, if possible))

pinch salt

1 Tbsp sweetener ((or to taste; optional))

Vanilla extract ((for vanilla-flavored milk; to taste))

Place all ingredients in blender.

Blend for four minutes in a regular blender, or two minutes in a high-speed blender like a Vitamix.

Use in recipes or drink as you would regular milk.

Store in refrigerator for 3-4 days.

I'm sure you'll appreciate how this Homemade Rice Milk helps stretch your vegan diet and healthy eating budget!

Will you try making you own Homemade Rice Milk | Vegan Milk Substitute? What other dairy-free milk substitutes have you tried?

The post Homemade Rice Milk | Vegan Milk Substitute appeared first on Whole New Mom.

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i-windwater · 4 years

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18 ways to detox your home for better health and wellness

There are many different areas we can improve to create a natural, eco-friendly, and less toxic environment. Think of our parents’ or grandparents’ generation when everything is simple and basic. We don’t need dozens of plastic containers in the kitchen, or rolls of paper towels to clean everything. Soap, water, and the rag can clean most of our space. With the current coronavirus crisis, it is more urgent to reduce the waste, toxic chemicals, and products that end up in a landfill. It is time to rethink about the slow living lifestyle that is more earth-friendly and better for our health.

Add plants

Indoor plants can produce oxygen and refresh the air. It also brings outdoor in and helps us feel calm. Take care of the plants regularly with proper water, lighting, and maybe fertilizer. Rotate plants to outdoor space when the weather is right to keep them healthy.

Lighting

Lighting can affect our mood. Every morning, we can open up the windows and curtains to let the light shine through. For darker areas, you can add lamps to brighten up space. It is a simple way to increase energy and uplift our spirit.

Reduce noise

We are surrounded by all kinds of noise and tend to forget about them. It can be the humming of the refrigerator, humidifier/dehumidifier, TV, computer, and so on. If you live in a city, the traffic outside can be noisy too. If you are buying a new appliance, consider the noise level when in use. For the existing appliance, maybe we can arrange so we don’t spend too much time close to them. Just be mindful of the effect of long term noise exposure. It can be irritating and distracting.

Air purifier

We know indoor air is typically less clean than outdoor space. An easy solution is installing an air purifier. Some have a HEPA filter that can be very helpful for people with allergy, Replace or clean the filter according to the manufacturer’s instruction to maintain the performance. It can effectively reduce any pet odor and dust in the air.

Humidifier, dehumidifier, air conditioner, and heater

Depending on where we live and the season we are in, the air can be too dry, too humid, too cold, or too hot. It is a good idea to adjust it with a humidifier, dehumidifier, air conditioner, or heater. When we are in an extreme environment for too long, our health suffers easily. Setting up a comfortable environment also helps with our mental health.

Water filter

Most of us can benefit from a water filter to remove some chemicals or toxins in our water system. At least we can boil water for a few minutes for everyday drinking and cooking use. Some water filter systems can be expensive and fancy. Most popular water filter in the US includes Brita and PUR. A simple and natural way is to use a charcoal stick. You can find more by searching the charcoal stick water filter. The charcoal has a natural ability to cleanse water in a few hours. All you need to do is boil the charcoal sticks every 3 weeks or so to clean them. They should last a few months before replacing with the new charcoals. This will not remove heavy metal as effectively as a modern water filter, but still a good economical choice. You can combine different methods to get the best water quality and reasonable price.

Cookware

Do you still use a non-stick frying pan in the kitchen? They are very convenient but can be toxic and carcinogenic. The most common one is the Teflon coating. Some might have different names for the coating but all non-sticks are more-or-less the same. Once the surface is scratched (which happens very easily), the toxic chemical can leak to the food we are cooking. So try to limit the use of non-stick pans. When using it, avoid high heat or sharp metal spatula. Most non-stick pans don’t last long. Replace them in a few months when you start seeing scratches. A safer choice is stainless steel or cast iron cookware.

Decluttering your home

That is a basic and effective way to detox your home. Before you organize anything, we can simplify what we own. We really don’t need a lot to be happy. Most of the time it is just the habit of accumulation mindlessly.

One popular decluttering method is Marie Kondo’s decluttering system. You gather all items from one category (for example, books) and go through them one by one asking if the object brings me joy. Donate or discard the rest. It helps us realize what is important for us right now, and give room for future growth.

Set up a home cleaning routine

One system I like is called “Flylady” (www.flylady.net). She has been around long before Marie Kondo’s popular book. The basic idea is to have a schedule, routine, and habit for cleaning and organize the house. Let’s face it, house cleaning is an ongoing job, and perfection is not the goal. But if we have an overall schedule (monthly, weekly, special holidays….) and daily routine, we can have the housekeeping under control. Even if we are busy and miss a few days, we know we can get back to that part of cleaning in the next round.

It does not matter which system you follow. Coming up with your own system is even better. The point is to have a plan and habit so the house can be maintained regularly.

Indoor shoes and slippers

An easy way to stop the dirt and germ at the door is to change the outdoor shoes to a slipper when coming back home. It is a common practice for many cultures. Place some nice slippers by the entrance door can make the transition easier. It encourages visitors to change too so we can keep the indoor floor clean.

Choose low VOC paint

Most household wall paint contains toxic chemical and the smell can last for weeks. That can be harmful to breathe in especially for little kids, babies, or immunocompromised people. If you have the choice, pick the low VOC paint to reduce the toxic chemical smell. They are usually more expensive but worth the investment.

New furniture and mattress

Many furniture and mattress have a chemical smell because of the material or finishes they use. That smell can be toxic to our health. So we can either choose a higher quality, organic product or let them sit in an open-air for a longer period of time so the fume will diffuse first. It can reduce the time we expose ourselves to toxic chemicals.

No artificial fragrance

We are surrounded by artificial fragrance including candles, air-refresher, cleaning supplies, and body care products. Most products use artificial fragrance because it is cheaper to produce. However, they can be full of toxic chemicals. A better alternative is the fragrance made from essential oil or natural fruits and flowers. Fragrance-free is even better to avoid the irritation altogether. The best smell should come from food preparation from the kitchen. It can be tea, coffee, dinner, or dessert. Or just fresh flowers, fruits, and herbs.

Skincare and makeup product

There are so many choices in the market, we often just give in to the commercials or price point. They can contain a lot of questionable ingredients and even damage our skin sometimes. There is a lot of bio-science technology involved in the skincare industry. Not all chemicals are bad. We just have to do our research and know what is best for us. If in doubt, natural and simple ingredients are safer choices. Use fragrance-free products to avoid possible allergy.

Cleaning product and pesticide

There are a lot of different house cleaning products available for different purposes. We do not need the whole line to clean our space. If we can use natural homemade alternatives such as baking soda and vinegar, we can protect our health and our wallet. Too many toxic ingredients are in the household cleaning supply and pesticide. We should do our research and find less toxic alternatives from the internet. At least buy products from a reputable company that focuses on eco-friendly and natural ingredients.

Cellphone and electronics

We all know the cellphone, computer, and other electronics can produce radiation and blue light. We don’t know the exact damaging to our health but they are definitely bad for our eyes and health. If we can, do not surround us with those devices all the time. Use an earphone to answer the phone so we can keep some distance from the phone. Set up the night time screen lighting to reduce the blue light at night. The screen turns a little orange but that is better for our health.

Reduce plastic

Do you have a lot of plastic Tupperware for food storage? Plastic bags from grocery stores? and plastic toys for kids? Most of them are bad for our health and our environment. Plastic products are difficult to decompose and can damage our earth in the long term. We should use glass, metal, fabric, paper, or wood products instead of cheap plastic. It might cost more in the beginning, but our health is priceless. If we can all use less plastic and recycle our garbage, we can slow down global warming and protect our future generations.

Microwave

Some people will argue that microwave is not that bad, but others will say the radiation is damaging our health. It can be very convenient on busy days, but we should be aware of the negative side effect. When given the choice, we can cook on the stovetop more, and use microwave less. Most foods taste better when cooked on the stovetop anyway. Sometimes we have to compromise the convenience and find your balance. Faster is not always better.

Watch the video about detoxing your home

#detox #home detox #clean home #eco friendly #natural home #wellness #18 ways to detox home

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powershirt8-blog · 5 years

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I tried CBD oil to control my anxiety, and here’s what happened

The first time I ever heard about CBD oil was on a podcast. Then I saw it on a drink menu. Soon it showed up on my favorite website, and as an add-on at my favorite matcha place. It reached the hands of my favorite Instagram influencers, and appeared as a new ingredient in my beauty products. So what is CBD, exactly?

All The Food and Drink Millennials Killed in 2018

It’s advertised as a miracle oil derived from hemp. When applied topically it’s meant to relieve pain. When you vape it, eat it, drink it, or droplet it into your mouth, it reportedly can help treat epileptic seizures, manage anxiety, chill you out or aid in going to sleep. Unlike marijuana, CBD doesn’t get you high. Some swear by its effects, but recently, there has been pushback against it. Some people have even called it “snake oil.” So does it actually work? I had to try.

First things first, I live in Los Angeles. The CBD trend hit both New York and LA, hard. It’s fairly easy to get your hands on CBD oil here — whether you’re popping into Moon Juice, Whole Foods, or even Urban Outfitters. Plus, this is 2019. You can order almost anything online.

Secondly, I have terrible anxiety. I think it is one of my defining characteristics (unfortunately). I am prone to anxiety attacks and I do take a prescribed medication when they become overwhelming. However, I tend to vibrate with nerves most of the time anyway (fun!). I have been trying to combat them with yoga and therapy, but taking an oil every day sounds like a faster fix (or a potential disaster), and at this point in my life I am game for anything!

Lastly, I don’t burn, bro. I don’t 420 blaze it. I’m high on life, baby! No judgement to anyone at all, I just don’t smoke weed. So I would like to reiterate, although CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant, it is non-psychoactive and cannot get you high. I repeat, it is not THC. It will not get you high. Dad, are you listening?

I decided to start with Charlotte’s Web, the CBD oil brand I had heard about first on that podcast. I looked them up online and was absolutely shook by the prices of their tinctures. The most expensive one retails for $275 and the cheapest that I could find was $99 (Now they offer a $39.99 option, but they didn’t at the time). So, that’s one thing about most reputable CBD tinctures, they’re not cheap. Luckily, the next day I happened to be shopping at Bristol Farms (a California-based supermarket) and found some on sale for $60.

The brand offers various dosages, so as a first-timer I started with the lowest offered, which is their “Full Strength CDB Oil.” The bottle offers 6.65 milligrams of CBD per milliliter. The flavor was olive oil (although they do offer a Mint Chocolate version online).

I had high hopes, but reader, I could not get past the taste. I am very sensitive to flavors, which is great for some things (like taste-testing Pringles) and bad for others I suppose. I could have tried mint, but honestly, I hate artificial mint flavoring. I abandoned this one after a few days despite the brand’s suggestion that I could put it in something like a smoothie, coffee or yogurt.

Also, I didn’t feel like it was doing anything to me! I had read that consistency is key, but I wanted to be consistent with something that didn’t make me gag when I smelled it — which honestly made me feel more anxious! Apparently, this product has worked for a lot of people. Great news for them! But it’s not for me.

While on my quest to find something tasty that I could take daily, I stopped by Moon Juice — which offers juices as well as coffees and matchas with adaptogenic “dusts.” My local shop offers CBD as a beverage add-in. The brand is still Charlotte’s Web, but they only offer the highest dosage.

I decided “what the heck” and ordered a CBD-infused iced matcha, hoping the flavor of the tea would conceal the olive oil taste. And it did! Not only was the drink tasty as always (I love Moon Juice and am not being paid to say this) but it made this warm feeling spread through my body like a non-sleepy calm, and this was only a single dose. But I wondered if it might just be a placebo effect. Was I just imagining this? Or had something changed?

After some light Googling, I found that the original dosage I had been taking wasn’t high enough. Apparently, the right dosage for your body is a total Goldilocks situation. You may have to try out a few different amounts before you get it just right. I wasn’t imagining things. The higher dosage actually helped.

Soon after, I was able to try a CBD oil tincture from another brand. Our editor-in-chief suggested I try Hawaiian Choice CBD oil, which she'd heard about through a former colleague in Hawaii whose husband launched the company. Their products come in a spray bottle. Each spray delivers 10 milligrams, and the company advises users take one to three sprays and hold it under their tongue for 30 seconds before swallowing. The bottle is expensive — $99, but it’s also flavored with passionfruit, pineapple, noni (a Polynesian fruit), and Big Island honey. Plus, it has a higher dosage than the first Charlotte’s Web product that I tried.

The particular tincture I tried is labeled “Active,” and the bottle says it’s meant to help with exercise and appetite control. It did nothing for my appetite (nor did I want it to) but the flavor situation here is a game changer. It tastes like candy. It also seemed to impact my anxiety levels in a major way. It worked!

After taking this brand’s oil consistently, I’ve noticed that I feel mellowed. Not subdued, mellowed. Now when I wake up and drink a big glass of water and take my allergy pills and my gummy vitamins, I gleefully squirt this CBD oil into my mouth and it helps me to have a more focused, less anxiety-brained morning. It’s not like the anxiety isn’t there, it’s just much quieter and doesn’t radiate through my body. That warm feeling that I got from taking a higher dose is there, and when it’s at its most powerful in my system, I feel looser inside my body (a positive feeling, I swear).

One morning I forgot to take some, and by mid-afternoon I felt that little pit of dread that always seems to well up inside of me shrieking again!

At first, I was confused as to why I needed to leave it under my tongue. Why not just swallow it? But apparently leaving the oil under your tongue has surprising absorption benefits.

According to marijuana education website Nice Paper, “Humans are made of water. Most CBD tinctures are made of oil. Your body is hydrophilic and CBD tinctures are the opposite (hydrophobic, remember, this is a chemistry class)… Of all the ‘oral’ methods [sic] this is one of the better ways to absorb CBD.”

In my research I had seen that CBD can also be applied topically. It’s especially healing for anyone with joint pain and inflammation, as well for people who suffer from migraines. I came across a Sagely Natural’s “Relief & Recovery Headache Roll-On” one day while I was shopping at Urban Outfitters. As someone who sits in front of a computer eight hours a day, I am prone to headaches. I bought it.

The second I got a headache, I busted this Sagely roll-on out and put it on my temples and rolled it across the front of my forehead. Because it’s formulated with the essential oils of peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus, it had an immediate cooling effect. Also, it made me smell like a beautiful forest.

Then the CBD kicked in and the headache lessened. The dull throbbing practically vanished. Applying it topically seemed almost better than ingesting the CBD. I reached out to the company not only to profess my love, but to find out how this product works and why the mainstream (I was shopping at Urban, let’s not mince words here) seems to be gravitating to more holistic health methods like topical CBD.

I spoke with Kerrigan Behrens, co-founder and CMO of Sagely, who told me that their customers are people who are sick of using traditional methods because they’re not natural. “They’re popping Advil or Xanax to get a quick fix — but they’re excited about Sagely Naturals products because they offer them natural alternatives to those types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs,” Behrens said.

She also highlighted that the delivery method is an important factor in how quickly and efficiently the CBD will work in your body.

“The most common form of CBD you’ll find on the market is suspended in oil — i.e. a tincture — which has an oil dropper that you either put under your tongue or a sprayer that sprays directly into your mouth.” She mentioned that if you don’t love the taste of CBD, you can also take CBD capsules.

“The best way to ensure you’re getting the most CBD absorbed into your body (i.e. the highest bioavailability) is to look for capsules that are water soluble,” Behrens said, offering the hot tip. “If you’re using CBD for symptoms like anxiety or sleep, oral applications are usually your best bet.”

Now when I do something like forget to take my tincture, want to dose up because I am feeling more anxious than usual, or feel pain in my body, I have armed myself with a battery of CBD products that I genuinely feel work and make me feel less anxious and achy.

Here are some other things I learned as I researched CBD and my own issues:

The organic beverage company Vybes makes flavored-drinks that include 15 milligrams of CBD. I have been able to find them at quite a few trendy health food shops in LA, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago. I am a big fan of Buddha Teas, which makes various CBD-infused teas that come in convenient little tea bags that I have started drinking most mornings, and they give my dosage a cozy little boost.

Lord Jones makes CBD gumdrops and chocolates as well as tinctures and lotions (that are on the expensive side) that are not only delicious but will melt your anxiety into a puddle of calm. Curious Elixirs does booze-free CBD cocktails that not only chill you out but come in cute bottles so no one will know that you’re not actually drinking alcohol.

If you’re in Los Angeles for any reason, I recommend juice chain Kreation for CBD snacks and beverages. Their CBD brownies are especially a delight. West Hollywood restaurant Gracias Madre also has a beverage menu with a bunch of cool CBD cocktails.

Hawaiian Choice also has a “Relax” tincture that I take before I go to sleep and since taking it regularly, I find that I am sleeping more deeply and for longer hours despite my caffeine intake.

There are a few things you should know about CBD besides my flawless opinion. There is a school of thought that CBD oil actually does nothing. And because CBD products are being produced without regulation, some of them might actually do nothing.

In a recent New York Times op-ed, psychiatrist Richard A. Friedman wrote that “CBD looks more like an expensive placebo than a panacea,” citing a 2017 study in the Journal of the American Medical Asscociation that found that only 26 out of 84 samples of CBD products purchased online contained the amount of CBD advertised on their labels.

The FDA has even issued a warning regarding a few CBD oil brands on the internet who have been dishonest about the amount of CBD listed on their products.

So basically, If you’re not buying from a reputable brand, you could be getting snake oil, because they can put just about anything in there and call it CBD. So do your research before you buy. And even if you are getting the right dosage, there is still a lot of debate about how effective CBD oil is for many types of conditions.

It’s only legal in 30 states, and although it’s a major hit in New York and LA, although the New York City Department of Health began cracking down in February on restaurants that serve CBD as an additive in food.

It’s also a multibillion-dollar industry right now with major names in the food and beauty industry linked to it, including Martha Stewart. According to Forbes, nearly 7 percent of American adults use CBD products, and that number is expected to grow rapidly in the next several years. If CBD hasn’t come to your city yet, just you wait. It’s one of the 20 food trends to look out for in 2019.

Lily Rose is The Daily Meal’s West Coast editor. She has never met a matcha she didn’t like. You can follow her food adventures on Twitter and catch up with all of her content on The Daily Meal here.

Source: https://www.thedailymeal.com/eat/i-tried-cbd-oil-for-my-anxiety

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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ouraidengray4 · 6 years

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Is Oat Milk the New Almond Milk?

From this year's overnight oats craze to the rise of savory porridge, the humble oat has had a breakout year. Its most recent accomplishment? Becoming milk. Whether you’re vegan, dairy-free, or just love a good plant-based milk alternative, you’ve likely heard about the dairy-free milk that’s suddenly splashed onto the scene, finding its way into coffee shops and grocery stores across the country.

But before we put all our oats in one basket, there are a few things we ought to know before committing. Like, is it actually made out of oats? Can it be trusted in our coffee? And what would happen if you put oat milk... in your... oatmeal? We know you have questions. So we took a deep (metaphorical) dive into the world of oat milk to dig up the answers you deserve.

OK, so what is it?

Oat milk is a nut-free, dairy-free milk alternative made from strained oats. (Yep, the same kind you’ve been eating for breakfast.) How do oats become milk, you ask? The process is actually quite simple—and very DIY-able. Soak steel-cut or old-fashioned oats in water, blend until smooth, strain out the remaining solids, and drink up! You can keep the homemade stuff in the fridge for up to four days.

Why is it so popular?

OK, well, first of all, oats are so hot right now. Second, this milk is lower in fat than most dairy varieties and higher in protein than some of its other plant-based competitors like almond milk and coconut milk (though it's important to note that soy milk, pea protein milk, and dairy milk still come out on top for this one). And since the process keeps all of the soluble fiber intact, oat milk has one of the highest fiber contents of ALL the milks, including almond, coconut, and even cow's milk!

So if you’re looking for a milk alternative with a great taste and better texture that will keep you full for longer, this might just be the milk for you. Oat milk also is rich in beta-glucan, which can help keep cholesterol levels in check.

Nutritional benefits aside, oat milk is naturally creamy and sweet, and lots of people are reporting it’s the best-tasting milk alternative on the block.

Are there any downsides?

Though it’s got a lot going on for it nutritionally, oat milk tends to be higher in calories. One cup of this stuff has somewhere around 130—compared to almond milk and soy milk, which, unsweetened, even out at around 30 and 80 calories, respectively. In other words, if you’re cutting the cals, oat milk probably shouldn’t be your go-to beverage. Also, some brands can be insanely high in sugar, so be sure to check the nutrition label before adding it to everything you eat or drink. That being said, it's creamy and delicious, so when you're feeling up for it, go ahead and treat yourself.

Who should avoid it?

Don’t hop on the oat milk bandwagon if you’re a proper caveman or are on the keto diet, since oats are grains, and grains are, sadly, off-limits. Those who are looking for low-sugar options should be sure to check the label (it can vary from brand to brand) or make their own version at home. But if you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and have nut allergies to boot, these oats are yours for the taking.

What should I use it for?

Obviously, it’s delicious enough to guzzle down a whole carton on its own. But we think oat milk also comes out on top in several contexts. Due to its rich texture, it’s starting to become the plant-based milk of choice when it comes to coffee. The heavier consistency makes it perfect for latte art, and adding it cold to any iced coffee or latte will give you a creaminess that goes even beyond whole milk. Since it’s on the sweeter side, it’s also great in smoothies and matcha lattes.

Where can I find it?

If you’re sold on this sweet nectar of the oat—and honestly, who isn’t?—scan your local grocery store or look online for Oatly, the Swedish brand that recently rose to fame in U.S. artisan coffee shops. Within the past year, it’s spread from being sold in just a few New York shops to more than 1,000 locations across the country. Oatly also offers low-fat, chocolate, and super-foamable barista varieties, so you can keep it light, drink it as a sweet snack, or froth it like there's no tomorrow.

Is it a good thing that it might be replacing almond milk?

Unless dietary restrictions prevent you from doing so, mix up your milks when you can. You’ve heard it before: Too much of anything can be bad—especially when it comes to the effects some food crazes can have on the environment.

As almond milk rose to worldwide domination popularity, drastically more land, water, and even bees were diverted to growing these nuts. (And it turns out almonds are really thirsty crops grown in a drought-prone area—80 percent of the world's supply is grown in California!) The amount of water diverted from rivers to grow almonds is so significant, the California king salmon population is now under threat. Oats, however, require just one-sixth of the water needed to grow almonds. So, though it might not be top of mind, thinking about switching to the oat life might actually be good for you—and for Mother Earth.

from Greatist RSS https://ift.tt/2LLJjVe Is Oat Milk the New Almond Milk? Greatist RSS from HEALTH BUZZ https://ift.tt/2JKQdK5

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thomastedrow-blog · 6 years

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2018 Food Trends

Every year brings new food trends. Some catch on, while others quietly fade away to obscurity. While last year brought us coffee in an avocado and many specialty Starbucks drinks, I believe this year holds many unexpected surprises. If you are a foodie like me, read on to find out my ranking of 2018’s predicted food trends.

7. CRICKETS

Who would have predicted that 2018 would see us eating bugs? It turns out, many food writers have been predicting an increase in the amount of people willing to try a new protein alternative. While crickets are expected to pop up as powders, in processed snack bars, and even whole, I am not sold on eating crickets just yet. Furthermore, anyone with a shellfish allergy should avoid crickets and other arthropods, as they may contain the same allergen and cause similar effects.

6. LAB-GROWN MEAT

I am a big fan of meat. I like steaks, burgers, and a nice pork chop. Recently, scientists have discovered how to engineer meat in labs. Although I am not opposed to trying artificial meat, I am concerned about possible side-effects down the line that may come about from this new technology.

5. MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms are good in a soup, salad, or gravy, but it will be a long time before I drink mushrooms in my coffee. Grocery stores are expecting to see mushrooms appear in just about anything — even candy bars. I can get behind the health benefits of mushrooms, but I am not convinced that the taste of any of these specialty foods would be good enough for me to buy.

4. EDIBLE FLOWERS

Here is where I started to come around. People eat flowers all the time, from lavender-infused teas to dandelion greens. An increase in flower-based products would be a welcome addition to my local store, and I’m sure I will try some new items from this trend.

3. THE ENTIRE PLANT

In the past few years, people have been juicing their fruits and vegetables to get some much-needed vitamins. Yet, studies are showing that eating entire plants could be a good thing. Most of us know that the skin of an apple contains the most nutrients, but the same could be said for nearly any produce. Beyond that, people are predicting that the roots, stems, and leaves of plants are going to make an appearance on our plates, and I am perfectly fine with that.

2. FERMENTED VEGGIES

Studies have recently come out about the health benefits of eating fermented foods. These include yogurt and pickles, but some of the best fermented foods come from other cultures. We can expect to see foods like kimchi show up in our grocery stores, and I think our stomachs will be much better off for it.

1. ANIMAL FATS

Fats used to be touted as harmful, but they have made a comeback now that we know they are actually quite healthy for us. This year, we will start to see more products being cooked with animal fats, like lard and duck fat. While this may be more of a restaurant trend, there will surely be recipes you can make at home.

Out of all of 2018’s predicted food trends, I am not so excited about eating crickets, but I am ready to eat duck fat fries. Ultimately, this year will probably bring tons of unexpected twists, so for now, we will have to keep an eye out at our local supermarket and see what products start to line our shelves.

Originally posted on ThomasTedrow.org

#food #food trends #trends #foodie #eat #eating #2018

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