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We all learned in elementary school science class that all living things need nourishment to survive. That includes the most enormous creatures down to the tiniest, microscopic organisms.

The beneficial bacteria (probiotics) that live in our intestines and make up 80% of our immune system are no different. They need to be fed the nutrients that make them thrive. And they need a lot of food because there are literally trillions of probiotic bacteria inside us.

Food for PRObiotic bacteria is called PREbiotics. The more we nourish the probiotics in our gut, the better they will survive and ward off dangerous pathogens that we ingest, and the healthier our immune system will be.

This not only means that you will be less likely to catch colds and flu, but it also means your body will be stronger to fight and resist major diseases like cancer.

And here’s more great news…

Many prebiotics come from delicious foods and drinks.

Here’s 8 foods & food types that contain high amounts of prebiotics:

1- Fresh fruits and vegetables–unpeeled

Antioxidant compounds called phenols are found just under the skins of fruits and vegetables, and probiotics LOVE to eat phenols. Plus, fruits and vegetables also contain soluble fiber which helps you in two ways…

First, your beneficial bacteria feed off the fiber. Then they produce short-chain fatty acids as wastes. These short-chain fatty acids slow the growth of dangerous bacteria such as E. coli.

Second, you have a much easier time when nature calls.

2- Trail mix

A blend of nuts and seeds is the perfect prebiotic. The nuts and seeds are great sources of fiber, protein and dietary phenols.

Just make sure to stay away from mixes that have candies or yogurt-covered nuts, because they add refined sugar (which ends up being food for the harmful bacteria in your gut). That defeats the purpose.

3- Dark berry juices

Juices that contain good levels of dietary phenols include those made from blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, pomegranates, cherries, and purple grapes.

Just be sure you’re buying real JUICE — not a “juice drink” which can contain little or no real juice. Read the label if you’re not sure. If the first and second ingredients are water and sugar, forget it. It’s not juice.

The only exception is cranberry juice cocktail. Pure cranberry juice is quite tart, and the added water and sugar make it tasty without completely compromising the quality of the phenols from the cranberry juice.

4- Herbs and spices

Practically every herb and spice contains dietary phenols (and they’re alkaline — another big PLUS for your body), so spice things up all you want!

The herb with the highest phenol count is oregano, so if you like pizza you’re in luck. It’s also delicious sprinkled over shrimp scampi or sautéed fish or chicken.

Fresh herbs and spices have more dietary phenols than dried, but both are good food for your beneficial bacteria.

5- Oats

Oats are loaded with beta-glucan, which is a soluble fiber and an excellent prebiotic.

But all oats are not created equal. Stay away from those flavored instant oatmeal packets because they’re typically loaded with refined sugar. You don’t want to turn your meal for your friendly bacteria into a feast for the UNfriendly ones.

6- Legumes

Legumes include beans, lentils and peanuts. They’re loaded with soluble fiber (as well as protein and minerals).

The dietary phenol count of beans is one of the highest per weight of any food in existence.

So go ahead and make some split pea soup, a batch of hummus or a pot of chili and feed your friendly microbes.

7 – Red wine

I just made your day, didn’t I?

Moderate consumption of red wine (1-2 glasses per day) not only helps reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, but red wine also has one of the highest phenol contents of any food or drink.

That’s because red wine is made not only with the pulp of the grapes, but also the skin and seeds. White wine uses only the pulp, so it’s not beneficial like red.

And the ultimate dream come true:

8- Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are excellent sources of probiotic-nourishing dietary phenols. (Skip the milk chocolate because its processing decreases the phenol content.)

The higher the cocoa content, the higher the phenols.

Now, this is NOT an endorsement for having a Hershey’s breakfast, lunch and dinner. But an occasional treat of a nice piece of dark chocolate will make your tongue dance AND your beneficial bacteria sing.

So now you have the best of both worlds.

Probiotics & Prebiotics

In addition to these 8 foods, it is good idea to take some medical-grade probiotic because it will beef up the population of beneficial bacteria in your gut and keep your flora balanced. Probiotic bacteria will help ensure that your army of good guys and your immune system stays strong.

Remember, healthy diet is good, but very few people have a healty diet that is THAT good. There are just too many foods today that kill off the good bacteria in our guts. So taking prebiotics is very important! A healthy dose of Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which are a type of fiber found naturally in most plants, have been credited with providing health benefits like lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels, stabilizing blood sugar, improving mineral absorption and insulin response. FOS are ideal prebiotics because they reach your large intestine virtually untouched since humans don’t have the stomach enzymes to break them down. That means a full buffet for the friendly bacteria to feast on once the FOS reach your large intestine.

The right foods with the right probiotic formula are the way to go to keep your immune system in proper order and your gut feeling great.

Did you know that taking acid reducing medicines long term also can impair your body’s ability to produce enzymes? Insufficient enzymes can cause poor digestion and contribute to acid reflux problems and gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

It’s never too late to feel great! Fun, laugh and prevention is the key for long life.

Don’t let disease and disability overpower quality of your life. Think about growing older as privilege and joy! Enjoy your senior years in robust health and pleasure.
Pay close attention to your body’s care and maintenance. It’s about choices, simple choices that will add years and quality to your life.

Some of the simple choices to help you create your own manual for healthy, happy and long life:

<>1. Have a cup of green tea in the morning. Polyphenols called catechins have been shown to protect healthy cells and stop tumors.

2.Use olive oil for your salads. It contains an anti-inflammatory component that is strong as aspirin. 3. An apple a day really keeps the doctor away! Apples have properties that no other fruits have, many of them proven overtime. They are rich in flavonoid, a known antioxidant.

4. Start daydreaming! According to researchers from the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – daydreaming is excellent activity for our brain. When we daydream activity increases in many areas of our brain including problem solving.

5. Take 1/2 cup of tomato sauce once a week and decrease risk of prostate cancer by up to 30 to 45 %.

6. Exercise and sunshine can prevent diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer.

7. Use nuts before each meal and slow the emptying of your stomach, digest slower, eat less and feel full longer.

8. Try to keep regular sleep habits to improve your health. Sleep deprivation increase the risk of diseases.

9. Avoid television, it drains your mental reserves and increases stress levels. Instead try to improve your social life, read good book, choose creative hobby or some other activity you like.

10. Start laughing. Laughing is like exercise, it increases blood flow to the heart & brain, and provide numerous other benefits for your health.

Recommended Books:

Long Life Prescription – Reader’s Digest
Prescription for Long Life – Essential Remedies for Longevity

Some easy rules that will help you to party with the best and feel great:

• Always have food in your stomach before you start drinking.

• Little snacking such as cheese and crackers, small sandwich or some chicken wings will help you to absorb the alcohol.

• Try to have some food after drinking to prevent a hangover. Oily food in your stomach means less alcohol absorption.

• Drink a lot of water between your drinks to avoid dehydration. Dehydration will help to wash out the alcohol from your system faster. If you don’t want to drink water, have a glass of ginger ale, which helps soothe your stomach.

• Don’t mix the drinks because you will get drunk faster and uglier and they will make you sick. If you decide to mix drinks, always eat between them.

• Avoid very sweet or very creamy drinks, they are heavy on the stomach, cause bad hangover and add extra calories. A pina colada, for example is made with pineapple juice and coconut milk, and an 8 oz glass can have as many as 450 calories and 18 grams of fat. A rum and coke has about 250 calories, and a gin and tonic has about 200 calories, though at least those are fat-free.

Calories in some popular drinks:
- 12 oz of regular green beer have about 150 calories.
- 12 oz of light beer have about 100 calories.
- 5 oz of wine have about 100 calories
- A shot of most distilled spirits have about 100 calories.

Smart Meters and Time-of-Use (TOU) prices are new energy management tools that enable consumer to help smooth “peak demand”. Electricity prices vary based on the time of day, day of week (weekdays versus weekend), and by season (winter or summer) and reflect the cost to produce electricity at different times. Prices for electricity rise and fall over the course of the day and tend to drop overnight and on weekends based on the amount of supply available and our levels of demand. When we are using a lot of electricity at the same time we create “peak demand” periods. Supplying electricity at peak times has a range of impacts:

• It adds to electricity costs because higher demand leads to higher prices.
• It increase need for investments in new power plants, transmission and distribution networks that must be build and consumers must pay for.
• It is hard on environment because higher demand requires the building of additional power plants.

Peak demand management does not necessarily decrease total energy consumption, but could be expected to reduce the need for investments in networks and power plants. Supply and demand also encourages the consumers to use less electricity during peak hours, when it is less expensive for energy companies to produce

Simple changes to your routine can help smooth those peaks and create real supply and environmental benefits. It will also reflect financially on your budget, because as a consumer you will be charged less for using electricity during off-peak hours, and more during peak hours.

Saving Tips:

• Wash and dry your clothes during off-peak periods where possible.
• Rinse and wash your laundry with cold water whenever possible.
• Avoid running your air conditioner during “peak demand” periods.
• Install a programmable thermostat and set it to reduce your energy use when you’re sleeping or when you’re not home.
• Use a portable fan in conjunction with your air conditioner and set the thermostat to 26 – 28ºC. Consider fan first for cooling.
• In the summer, keep curtains and blinds closed to keep out the midday sun.
• Check doors and windows for drafts and leaks that will let your winter heat out and invite muggy summer air in. Caulking and weather stripping are simple and inexpensive.
• If you have a swimming pool, spa or sauna, try using timers where possible to operate pumps, filters and heaters during off-peak hours.
• Have electronics turned off while you are asleep or away.
• Consider automatic timers, motion sensors and dimmers to help maximize your control over lighting costs.
• If you have electric lawn mower, consider using it on weekends or off-peak times.
• If you need to purchase a new appliance, consider appliances with timer functions that allow you to take advantage of TOU rates.

When Pa is sick, he’s scared to death
An’ Ma an’ us just holds our breath.
He crawls in bed an’ puffs and grunts,
An’ does all kinds of crazy stunts.
He wants Doc Brown, an’ “mighty quick,”
For when Pa’s ill, he’s awful sick.
He gasps an’ groans, an’ sort of sighs;
He talks so queer, and rolls his eyes.
Ma jumps an’ runs an’ all of us,
An’ peace an’ joy is mighty scarce…
When Pa is sick, it’s something fierce!

Who says you can’t potty train a man?

In Amsterdam, the tile under Schiphol’s urinals would pass inspection in an operating room. But nobody notices. What everybody does notice is that each urinal has fly in it. Click on the image for bigger image.

Look harder, and the fly turns into the black outline of a fly, etched into the porcelain. It improves the aim. If man sees a fly, he aims at it. Fly-in-urinal research found that etchings reduces spillage by 80%. It gives a guy something to think about. That’s perfect example of process control.

Herbs can be very powerful weapon in the war against infection. They boost immunity, fight off bacteria and certain viruses (like colds and flu), and on the top of all that, they do not promote resistance or eradicate beneficial flora. Some herbs have the added advantage of easing the pain or common side effects of antibiotics (like severe diarrhea), and preventing the overgrowth of harmful microorganisms that usually move in when antibiotics wipe out the protective bacteria. Always check with your health care provider or pharmacist before taking any herbs.

Goldenseal, one of natures natural immune supporting agents, gets its healing properties from berberine alkaloids bitter tasting compounds that have been shown to naturally stimulate healthy immune function. Taken orally, Goldenseal may be highly useful in preventing respiratory challenges, washing harmful bacteria from the urinary track, supporting the bodys ability to naturally heal wounds, comforting scratchy throats and promoting healthy skin. *

Its active ingredient fends off a variety of bacteria, viruses and fungi, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, E. coli and salmonella. Goldenseal should be used only symptomatically, since it is too irritating to take it every day.

Wheat Grass – Amazing Grass wheat grass – By restoring alkalinity and neutralizing acid production your body can recover quicker, metabolize faster, reduce food cravings and achieve your optimal health. Wheatgrass can help you get more from your life-more energy to be active, more confidence in your ability to stay healthy, and more hours alert and awake each day to accomplish your goals in life. To find out more about this powerful grass read “The Wheatgrass Book: How to Grow and Use Wheatgrass to Maximize Your Health and Vitality“

Legal Disclaimer
* Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication.

A guy is over 75 years old and loves to fish. He was sitting in his boat the other day when he heard a voice say, ‘Pick me up. ‘ He looked around and couldn’t see any one. He thought he was dreaming when he heard the voice say a gain,’Pick me up.’?

He looked in the water and there, floating on the top, was a frog.

The man said, ‘Are you talking to me?’

The frog said, ‘Yes, I’m talking to you. Pick me up then, kiss me and I’ll turn into the most beautiful woman you have ever seen.

I’ll make sure that all your friends are envious and jealous because I will be your bride!’

The man looked at the frog for a short time, reached over, picked it up carefully, and placed it in his front breast pocket.

Then the frog said, ‘What, are you nuts? Didn’t you hear what I said? I said kiss me and I will be your beautiful bride.’

He opened his pocket, looked at the frog and said,

‘Nah, at my age I’d rather have a talking frog.’

Say good-bye to messy, open compost pile and bad odors that come along with it! Use above-ground tumbling bin which rotates on a base and produces bushels of ready to use compost in just couple of weeks.

Composter: Back Porch ComposTumbler
This lightweight, portable composter is a good choice for people who don’t have a lot of room. The Back Porch ComposTumbler is 37 inches high x 31 inches wide x 26 inches deep and stands on a frame that rests on 6 inch wheels. It holds 37 gallons of compost material, and 4 inside mixing fins help break up large pieces of compost. The combination of an aerator/drainage unit on the bottom of the composter and screened side vents makes sure your compost gets the proper amount of oxygen while preventing animals from getting into it. 5 year manufacturer warranty.

Tumbleweed Composter Tumbling Compost Bin
The Tumbleweed Compost Maker is an above-ground tumbling bin which rotates on a solid stainless-steel axis. Use kitchen, lawn and garden scraps to produce earthy compost quickly! Gardeners have long been aware of the benefits of adding rich organic nutrients to the soil by composting. Now, thanks to the Tumbleweed Compost Maker, backyard and urban gardeners of all ages and abilities can compost quickly and cleanly. The patented design of the Tumbleweed Compost Maker takes the work out of composting by featuring a vertical tumbling action with dual-end, twist lock, animal-resistant vented lids which allow for easy filling and emptying of the bin, while producing maximum aeration. The solid stainless steel axis of the Tumbleweed Compost Maker creates an aerobic action that enables a quick and odorless form of composting. Put your kitchen and yard waste to work for you with a daily spin producing up to 8 cubic feet of earthy dark brown compost in as little as 21 days, without the need for any chemical starter!

Composter: Original ComposTumbler
The original ComposTumbler was developed as a hot composter for faster decomposition of materials. The aerator/drainage units on the doors of the chamber, along with the screened endcaps allow a constant flow of air, so your compost won’t stink! Turning the drum is easy because of it’s gear driven, so it won’t slip. The drum of the composter holds 18 bushels, or about 180 gallons of material and sits 27 inches off the ground, so it won’t leak into the ground or be bothered by animals. Assembly required. Composter measures 68 inches high x 50 inches wide x 40 inches deep. 5 year manufacturer warranty.

This particular story just made me laugh. Every time I think about it, the vision of that poor cat just amuses me to no end. Hope the story leaves a bright spot in your day. Whoever said the Creator doesn’t have a sense of humor?

Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc.

The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.

That’s what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke.

The tree went ‘boing!’ and the kitten instantly sailed through the air – out of sight.

The pastor felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they’d seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, ‘Lord, I just commit this kitten to your keeping,’ and went on about his business.

A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, ‘Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?’

She replied, ‘You won’t believe this,’ and then told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, ‘Well, if God gives you a cat, I’ll let you keep it.’ She told the pastor, ‘I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won’t believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and landed right in front of her.’

Never underestimate the Power of God and His unique sense of humor.