by Fern Shaw | Sep 10, 2014 | Health and Hydration, Water
Our local whizz, Shelly, just added a page about healthy water drinks ideas, all containing a herb or spice that packs a power punch of health, with the added bonus of tasting good too. Then there was a mention on social media about the incredible healing powers of garlic and it got me to thinking – just how beneficial is garlic to our well-being?
There are apparently numerous benefits – I’m detailing just a few cloves worth here:
- Garlic strengthens the immune system as well as helps to fight chest infections, coughs and congestion. In the winter months garlic is a great food to boost your immune system and ward off colds and flu.
- Cardiovascular disease can be reduced by ingesting garlic. LDL cholesterol is no friend of garlic and the aortic plaque deposits that gather on the walls of your body’s veins can be reduced with the use of garlic too.
- Fungal and bacterial vaginal infections are toast when treated with garlic. When crushed or bruised, garlic releases Allicin which is a sulphuric compound that is a natural antibiotic. WWI soldiers even apparently used crushed garlic on infected wounds suffered in battle. If you decide to take garlic in tablet form be sure to use powdered capsules. The processes used to create garlic tablets destroy the Allicin that is present.
- Garlic regulates blood sugar as it enhances the level of insulin in the blood. This may assist in the control of diabetes. Seek medical advice if you believe the use of garlic could help your condition.
- Garlic is a great source of vitamin B6 which is needed for a healthy immune system and the efficient growth of new cells. Vitamin B6 can also assist with mood swings and improve your cheery disposition!
So, there you have it – 5 fabulous ways to improve your health and general well-being all packed into a clove or two. I wouldn’t try garlic steeped in water though, perhaps leave that one out.
by Fern Shaw | Sep 8, 2014 | Water
So you know too:
The Ice Bucket Challenge, sometimes called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. It went viral throughout social media during July-August 2014. In the US, people participate for the ALS Association, and in the UK, people participate for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The challenge dares nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and challenging others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation.
Goodness, has this ice bucket challenge set the cat amongst the pigeons, or rather, the catcalls and fur flying amongst the cats! Social media moaning and celebrity silly – Matt Damon used ice (natch) but took water out of his toilets to complete the challenge. Hmm. Some people are whinging because they feel that those participating in the challenge are being insensitive with all the water wastage going on – calling them attention seeking wannabe’s – some are commenting that one bucket of water is more than certain families see in 2 weeks or so.
Do I have an opinion? Of course I do! I wouldn’t be me otherwise. But here’s the thing – for once – I’m keeping my opinion to myself. Suffice to say, ALS or Motor Neurone Disease is certainly receiving a lot of attention. And in a world jam packed full of information overload – isn’t that perhaps a good thing?
by Fern Shaw | Sep 2, 2014 | Water, water cooler
Seeing as I’ve done more intensive online research for blogging this week than a mole trying to tunnel through concrete, I’m taking my foot off the proverbial accelerator pedal and doing a gentle segue into a few fun water facts:
- Human blood is 83% water. Now I better understand Dracul and his ilk – the oke’s just dehydrated, man!
- Over 90% of the world’s supply of fresh water is located in Antarctica. Ernest Shackleton and those that followed were definitely onto something.
- Since life began, we have had the same amount of water on the planet. To the best of human understanding, life can only exist with water. Now you know.
- The water from your tap could contain molecules that dinosaurs drank. Ew.
- More than half (63%) our daily water consumption at home originates from the bathroom and the toilet. Grey water rules!
- Water regulates the Earth’s temperature. Mine too! I overheat badly, so I can really relate.
- Water is the only mineral that is found naturally on Earth in three forms; liquid, gas, solid. Gas – *snigger*
- If the entire adult population of England and Wales remembered to turn off the tap when they were brushing their teeth, we could save 180 mega litres a day – enough to supply nearly 500,000 homes and fill 180 Olympic swimming pools! (One Olympic sized pool is 1 million litres / 1Ml). More brushing, less tap on and more tap off, people!
- Each Briton uses about 150 litres of tap water a day, but if you include the amount of water embedded within products, our water consumption increases to about 3400 litres a day.
At the rate this consumption is going on, I think I’m going to be bringing my blankie to work and draping myself around the water cooler for the foreseeable future.
by Fern Shaw | Sep 2, 2014 | Water
This is not, as one might deduce from the heading, a blog about an elephant and a free-standing water fountain, but rather about steps that you can take when you’re convinced that you’re about to have a meltdown rivalling that of Chernobyl.
- Close your eyes (preferably not when you’re driving your lorry). Gently let the world disappear, and go within to regain your equilibrium. This makes sense as when one thinks of how much information one is exposed to every waking minute of the day – mobiles; TV’s; iPad’s, iPhone’s, iPod’s; Kindles – it can only be a blessed relief to switch off that constant input for a little while – and not just while one is sleeping, as that’s a whole different kettle of fish. Consciously closing one’s eyes and drifting off can calm ones frayed nerves immensely.
- Go outside. This can be easier said than done, as we don’t all have the luxury of a village green, Common or park near us, but you can try to find a safe(ish) open area with a bit of grass or a bench where you’re not jammed in cheek to jowl with other people.
- Breathe deeply. Breathing is the foundation of sanity, because it is the way we provide our brain and every other vital organ in our body with the oxygen needed for us to survive. Breathing also eliminates toxins from our systems. One of the simplest ways to calm the nerves is to stay still (sitting or standing) and breath in through the nose, mouth closed, deep into the stomach, and exhale, again, through the nose, mouth closed. Repeat 3 x.
- Find some water. Whether it’s a local pond or a gentle babbling brook, being close to running water is very calming. On the rainy or snowy days that you can’t really venture outside, take a shower and imagine (albeit briefly) that you’re on some tropical island underneath a waterfall – and [insert name of favourite fantasy companion here] is preparing your meal nearby
- Drink water. When you’re overwrought, keep drinking it – a big glass of it once an hour. Walk beside some water, look at it, and listen to it. Get into some if you can, for a bath or a swim. Hot baths and hot springs are popular for good reasons.
adamlane
by Fern Shaw | Aug 4, 2014 | Water, water cooler
This is an absolutely 100% true story. I’m still a bit traumatised, so I’ve been guzzling water for the past hour or so in order to calm down enough to write this.
I’m beginning to wonder about karma; destiny; poetic justice – all those good? things that defy normal day-to-day occurrences.
Allow me to explain:
My poor, long serving car went in for what Round 32 in seems to be an endless series of repairs this past week. The mechanic decided to loan me his car as I needed to get around while he’s effecting repairs.
During the week, I had replied to an e-mail from my mum, where she made mention of her car being rear-ended by a chap driving a Lexus. My response, based mostly on concern, was that she seemed to not have the best luck when it came to having accidents (and she’s had some humdingers in her time).
I’ve always prided myself on being able to drive just about anything – this includes, with absolutely zero experience, a big lorry for the first time ever, down the M5 when I was working on a farm some years ago – without incident. I also have a rather overdeveloped sense of responsibility when it comes to driving other people’s cars – I take exceptional care of other people’s belongings as I would like them to take of mine.
Add to this, the fact that I have had, in 30 years of driving, a total of 1 accident that I caused. It involved a Fiat Mira Fiora, a Greek style toga made out of a bedsheet and a very slow release clutch on a steep hill. ‘nuff said. Anyhow, let’s return to the story.
So, I’m tootling along in the loan car; which is easy peasy as it’s the same make as mine – doing good I might add – buying tinned food to donate to a charity that’s holding an indoor market in the area. I buy the tinned food, get into said car, check behind me to my left for oncoming traffic and people walking behind me and slowly reverse out, smack bang into an Audi which has parked illegally behind me. Loan car’s bumper 1 – Audi bumper 0. It honestly felt like I’d collided with soft tin. Huge dent in the Audi’s bumper. A man the size of a caber tossing Highlander (and I’m not kidding) gets out of the Audi. Things went pretty pear shaped from there.
I then had to ‘phone the friendly mechanic and explain to him that I’d just dinged his car.
So that’s my sad story. It’s left me wondering. Was it because I’d cautioned my mum about her bad luck? Because I’d loaned a car instead of just patiently (not my strong suit) waiting for my car to be returned?
Whatever the reason, I’m not the happiest camper at the moment. Silver lining? Hmm, I’ll have a good story to tell at the water cooler when I get in on Monday.
by Fern Shaw | Aug 4, 2014 | Health and Hydration, Water
Humans and animals have always had a rather tempestuous relationship. Everyone has their own belief system about this relationship, mine is pretty simple. I believe that we humanoids are by our mere presence obligated to look after animals. They are pretty magnificent creatures and have every right to enjoy their existence on this Earth. But, then, that’s just me.
Animals have fascinated me since I was the sprog of sprogs. Wild animals especially. Their capabilities have always astounded me, whether it’s an ant that can carry 100x its body weight or how about a hummingbird’s wings that can beat at an astonishing 200 times per second!
So, this led me to wonder – which animals are the heavyweights – hyuk hyuk – when it comes to water storage or the ability to last the longest without water?
As one would imagine, the camel is usually the animal that comes to mind. What is a little surprising though, is that the beautiful giraffe – or ‘jarfie’ as my family calls it – and the teensy kangaroo rat can go as long as the camel, if not longer, without slaking their thirst.
Camels
Camels have humps on their back filled with fatty tissue, not water. But one gram of fat is equivalent to one gram of water when metabolised. Storing fat in their humps, instead of having the fat distributed evenly throughout their entire body, allows the camel to keep cool. Otherwise, the overall body fat would act as insulation and cause extreme heat within the camel’s body. The fatty tissue in the hump is a source of energy and water that the camel uses when needed.
They rehydrate faster than any other mammal, able to gulp down 113 litres of water in just 13 minutes.
Giraffes
Giraffes can go longer periods of time without drinking water than a camel. Giraffes get most of their water intake from plant sources. Acacia leaves are the main plant food source for giraffes. They only drink water once every few days. Their bodies do not have resources to store water. However, their plant diet is plentiful and provides a large portion of their water intake
Growing up to 18 feet in height and weighing up to two tons, these gentle vegetarians need to eat around 34 kilograms of leaves and fruit per day.
Due to the high water content in the food they eat, giraffes have the ability to go weeks without drinking water – though when they do, they do it in a big way, guzzling up to 45 litres at a time.
Kangaroo Rats
In terms of endurance, kangaroo rats blow everybody else out of the water. Not that they need to be in the water either. Kangaroo rats drink water rarely. They live in arid environments and are able to metabolise water from their food, which consists primarily of seeds.
‘Roo-rats can go without water for so long because their bodies have evolved to conserve it. For example, most species of kangaroo rats have no sweat glands. Kangaroo rats may take their eschewing of water a little bit far, however, when you consider their bathing habits. In what may be the least refreshing bath known to the animal kingdom, kangaroo rats clean themselves by rolling in the dust.
