WHY PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEAR TO EMBARRASS THEMSELVES ARE MORE CREATIVE

WHY PEOPLE WHO DON'T FEAR TO EMBARRASS THEMSELVES ARE MORE CREATIVE

By lifehack.org - David K William

Want to be more creative?

Creativity is within your reach if you can cultivate the proper habits. You need to cultivate proper habits because connecting the dots and thinking creatively is a process for all of us. It’s a long-term process rather than a single event. Those people who are more inclined to expose themselves to new ideas, people who don’t mind embarrassing themselves, get to improve upon their creativity. Those people who wrestle with creative ideas for years get to refine their ideas and reap the fruits of their labors.

In an excellent post about creative thinking, writer James Clear exposes the myth that is the “eureka” moment, the so-called “light bulb” moment or the “aha!” moment. He demonstrates that a single flash of genius isn’t really what it is made out to be by citing the most iconic eureka moment in the history of scientific storytelling: When Sir Isaac Newton saw an apple fall to the ground in 1666.

When you think of Isaac Newton, you probably imaging he was born a genius. But, he wasn’t. When Newton was young, he did so poorly in grade school that his teachers gave up on improving his grades. And yet he grew up to become the greatest English mathematician of his generation. How did he do it? He kept improving himself throughout his life despite any ridicule and disapproval he faced. 

Concerning Newton’s most famous work on gravitation, Clear writes:

“In 1666, one of the most influential scientists in history was strolling through a garden when he was struck with a flash of creative brilliance that would change the world.

While standing under the shade of an apple tree, Sir Isaac Newton saw an apple fall to the ground. ‘Why should that apple always descend perpendicularly to the ground,’ Newton wondered. ‘Why should it not go sideways, or upwards, but constantly to the earth’s center? Assuredly, the reason is, that the earth draws it. There must be a drawing power in matter.’

And thus, the concept of gravity was born.”

However, what people fail to realize, Clear continues, is that Newton worked on his ideas about gravity for nearly twenty years. It wasn’t until 1687 that he consolidated his brilliant thoughts and published his groundbreaking book, The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy.

“The falling apple was merely the beginning of a train of thought that continued for decades,” Clear points out.

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CHEWY PLAINTAIN SESAME COOKIES - VEGAN

CHEWY PLANTAIN SESAME COOKIES

By onegreenplanet.org - Nikki and Zuzana

INGREDIENTS

120G/1 cup spelt flour

1 ripe plantain, cut into chunks

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

57g/1/4 cup tahini

200g/1 cup soft dates, pitted

50g/1/3 cup sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°F/175C.  Combine the flour and sea salt in a large mixing bowl.  In a food processor combine tahini, plantain chunks, and dates.  Process until you achieve a smooth texture, like liquid dough.  Once achieved mix the wet dough with your dry ingredients.  It’s time to play – the mixture will be thick and sticky, so dip your hands in a cold water as needed. You could also place dough into the fridge for 20-30 minutes to firm it up a bit.  Roll mixture into 1 1/2 inch balls between the palms of your hands, and then roll it in the sesame seeds so that it’s well coated.  Press the dough ball onto a parchment lined baking sheet, using fork to flatten it.  Repeat with all the dough, and then bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, or until they’re golden brown. 

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T TRUST CALORIE COUNTS

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T TRUST CALORIE COUNTS

By greatist.com - Emily Shoemaker

Yes, it’s possible to lose weight eating only Twinkies, provided that your calories in are less than your calories out. And it’s that logic that leads many people to conclude that calories are simple math. Even astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tweeted, "A weight-loss book by physicists would be one sentence long: 'Consume calories at a lower rate than your body burns them.'" Trouble is, things are not that straightforward.

CALORIES IN

Calorie counts are everywhere these days, from fast food menus to fitness trackers. You might even be able to rattle off the calories in a cup of spinach. But what exactly is a calorie?

In short, it’s a measurement of energy; the “calories” seen on nutrition labels describes the amount of energy needed to heat up a gram of water by one degree Celsius. But the energy in the cranberry muffin you just ate doesn’t go to heating up water; instead, it provides fuel for a number of processes in the body, including staying alive and breathing. So figuring out how many calories are in that muffin is a bit more complicated.

How Calories Are Measured

To determine the total energy content of a food, scientists use a fancy-pants piece of scientific equipment known as a bomb calorimeter. Into this device goes our muffin, which gets completely incinerated. During that muffin-burning process, the bomb calorimeter measures the heat produced. This number represents the total amount of energy—or what is known as the “gross energy”—of the muffin.

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MAPLE BUCKWHEAT CREPES WITH SPICED APPLE CHESTNUT RELISH

MAPLE BUCKWHEAT CREPES WITH SPICED APPLE CHESTNUT RELISH

By onegreenplanet.org - Jodi Kay

Crêpes:

150g/1 1/4 cup buckwheat flour

60g/1/2 cup rice flour

Pinch sea salt

1 tablespoon ground flax seed

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup

600ml/2 1/2 cups nut milk

1 tablespoon melted coconut oil, plus extra for the pan

Relish:

110g/3/4 cup roasted chestnuts, peeled and roughly chopped

3 small organic apples, roughly chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, nutmeg + cloves

1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

65g/1/3 cup golden raisins

Water, as needed

Preheat oven to 350°F/175C.  Using a sharp or serrated knife, make an incision through each chestnut shell, just into the flesh of the nut, and work your way around half its circumference. Make an incision the same length but in the opposite direction to make an X. Repeat for all nuts.  Place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the outer shell starts to peel away from the center of the X. Remove from oven and let cool slightly. While the chestnuts are still warm, remove and discard each shell and the papery skin with a small knife or just your fingers. Roughly chop the nuts and set aside.  Cut the apples into small cubes. Place apples in a small saucepan with 1/4 cup of water and add the spices. Bring to a simmer and cook down until the apples are soft and tender and starting to fall apart, add more water if need. Stir in chestnuts and golden raisins to warm through, then remove from heat and stir in apple cider vinegar. Set aside.  Place all crêpe ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and brush with a little coconut oil. Pour in about 1/4 cup of crêpe batter and swirl to evenly distribute. Cook for 45 seconds to a minute or until the batter bubbles and is just set in the middle, then run a spatula around the edges and flip, cooking on the other side for 30 seconds to a minute or until golden brown. Serve immediately or place on a baking sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. Repeat with remaining batter.  Serve crêpes with warm apple relish, a few fresh apple slices and a good drizzle of maple syrup.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF RED ROOIBOS TEA

HEALTH BENEFITS OF RED ROOIBOS TEA

By organic facts.net

Health benefits of red rooibos tea include its use as a cure for nagging headaches, insomnia, asthma, eczema, bone weakness, hypertension, allergies, and premature aging. The tea is absolutely free from caffeine content and is also low in tannins. You can enjoy the refreshing beverage all day long with no possible side effects. Drinking rooibos tea can further ease severe stomach cramps, as well as bring relief to asthma and other related conditions. It also boosts the immune system of the human body.

The health benefits of red rooibos tea are abundant. This form of tea has traditionally been popular due to its great taste and unique color, while also boosting the health of the body. Rooibos tea or red tea is a medicinal, herbal beverage that is acquired from the Aspalathus linearis bush plant that is found in South Africa. According to the South African Rooibos Council, rooibos is not a true tea, but an herb. The fermented tea is red in colour.

Its medicinal attributes have been confirmed by The US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, which has affirmed that red rooibos tea is capable of reducing cancer, heart disease, premature ageing and other serious conditions.

Nutritional Value of Red Rooibos Tea

Red rooibos tea has no oxalic acid and therefore, it can be consumed by people who have kidney stones. Rooibos tea is rich in many mineral contents such as iron, calcium, potassium, copper, fluoride, manganese, zinc, magnesium and alpha hydroxy acid. It also contains antioxidants like aspalathin and nothofagin, and the extremely potent and versatile phenolic compounds.

Health Benefits of Red Rooibos Tea

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TOP 18 HERBS THAT PROMOTE LONG LIFE

TOP 18 HERBS THAT PROMOTE LONG LIFE

By wake-up-world.com - Melissa Burns

Of the hundreds of edible herbs, there are several that can be categorized as “life prolonging.” While some of the better known herbs have a reputation for boosting the digestive or immune system, or for helping people become more mentally alert or have better vision, there are some powerful herbs that specifically work to prevent serious diseases and illnesses, particularly in the area of heart health and overall cardiovascular fitness.

A general review of the medical evidence to support claims made for herbs was published in WebMD. It discussed many of the ways in which herbs help aid practically every known component of the human body, from cardio health to brain function. Keep in mind that many herbs have been around for more than a thousand years as remedies for common ailments. Garlic and Echinacea are just two examples of herbs that have a long, rich history as healing agents.

Any herbal plant that is able to make the heart work better or just achieve a better state of health can indeed prolong a person’s life. Heart attacks are one of the most common causes of death in industrialized nations. Likewise, herbs that work to boost the immune system can keep the body generally more healthy and go a long way toward increasing longevity. Here is a brief outline of the 18 best-known herbs that can help add years to a person’s life, either through better heart health or by addressing serious illnesses and the immune system. The name of each herb is followed by a short description of its medical effects:

1. Garlic

Garlic has been used for decades to help control high blood pressure and to prevent heart disease. In addition, some people use it because of its bacteria-killing properties and suspected role as a way to prevent certain types of cancer.

2. Hawthorn

This herb works to bring on lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate and open the arteries. It is reported that hawthorn takes several months before the benefits become apparent.

3. Guggul

A cholesterol-specific herb that chemically reduces “bad cholesterol” even before it is able to reach the blood.

4. Horse chestnut

This age-old remedy, long popular in Europe, strengthens veins and capillaries, thus reducing swelling. Healthier veins are an all-around form of protection against a wide array of heart ailments.

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12 REASONS YOU SHOULD KEEP DRINKING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

12 REASONS YOU SHOULD KEEP DRINKING APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

By lifehack.org - Julie Dargan

Apple cider vinegar is a fruit vinegar with apples as the starting material. No surprises there.

What will surprise you is the following 12 reasons why you should be making apple cider vinegar a part of your daily routine.

1. Weight loss

Keeping in shape can be a hard task for many people, especially for women as they enter the menopause. Apple cider vinegar is one of these easiest additions to your daily routine that will help with weight loss by increasing your body’s metabolism and decreasing your appetite.

It also is excellent in stabilizing your blood sugar levels.

2. Improves Digestion

In its raw form, apple cider vinegar is an excellent digestive tonic, aiding the liver in breaking down fatty foods, proteins and minerals, as soon as foods enter your stomach.

The pH of the stomach should be in the range of 1.5 – 3.5 making it an acidic environment. Malic acid and tartaric acid are both found in apple cider vinegar and help keep the acid content in your stomach in balance.

Improving your digestion aids in weight loss also. You are not what you eat, but what you absorb. If your body is not breaking down the nutrients from the foods you eat, you may not feel satisfied after eating a meal and are tempted to eat more.

Apple cider vinegar helps in breaking down the nutrients from the foods you eat, making them accessible to the cells of your body, the result being less cravings.

3. Keeps osteoporosis at bay

The manganese, silicon, magnesium, phosphorous and calcium found in apple cider vinegar help in sustaining bone mass, which is a common concern particularly for women as they reach menopause due to the decreased levels of progesterone.

If you are currently taking calcium/magnesium supplements, adding a small amount of apple cider vinegar to the water to swallow your tablets can assist the breakdown of these supplements in the stomach and improve their absorption factor.

4. Mosquito repellent

Daily intake of apple cider vinegar actually changes your perspiration odor. The good news is that people around you will not notice an unpleasant odor but the mosquitoes will certainly give you a wide berth due to the odor being unpleasant to them.

Apple cider vinegar also helps you cope with heat stress during the summer months.

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