In this article I’d like to introduce you to a research I did on a fruit called Jujube, binomially speaking Ziziphus zizyphus. Other names which people refer to this Jujube fruit are Jujuba, Red Date, Korean Date, Indian Date, or Chinese Date. Be advised that this is not the typical date fruit which grows on a palm tree, but if you would like to know more about those other dates, then read my older article called Dates Fruit Nutrients and Health Benefits.

The Jujube tree is considered to be a small tree even though it grows up to 10 meters (or almost 33 feet) high. It has thorny branches and it’s usually grown for shading purposes. If you expect your Jujube tree to provide lots of good fruits make sure to plant it in a hot sunny place and with sufficient water source.

Jujube fruit can be enjoyed raw as it is, dried, smoked, canned, pickled, or juiced. People eat these fruits in different kinds of ways like with tea, with pickles, as a jam, or as a snack by themselves. Before you decide to try some Jujube let’s look at its nutrients and benefits. So, 100 grams of Raw Jujube contains:

- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B1, Thiamin
- Vitamin B2, Riboflavin
- Vitamin B3, Niacin
- Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine
- Vitamin C (Extreme Amount)
- Protein
- Calcium
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Zinc
- Copper
- Manganese
- Natural Fats
- Carbohydrates
- Calories

According to these Nutrients above, let’s look at the Health Benefits of Jujube below…

Vitamin C:
- Improves wound healing
- Prevents cells from damages
- Improves gums health
- Improves teeth health
- Improves Immune System
- Protects from free radicals
- Reduces Aging
- Lowers Risks of some Cancers
- Improves Iron absorption
- Improves Lung health
- Prevents from frequent colds
- Protects from frequent infections

Potassium:
- Improves nerve function
- Improves muscle function
- Reduces confusion
- Reduces irritability
- Reduces fatigue
- Lowers chance of heart problems
- Lowers chance of high blood pressure
- Protects from chronic diarrhea
- Improves exercise ability

Calcium:
- Maintains healthy bones
- Improves nerve function
- Improves muscle function
- Supports Healthy blood clotting
- Reduces feet tingling
- Reduces hand tingling
- Lowers chance of retardation in children
- Reduces chance of bone deformities
- Reduces feet numbness
- Reduces hand numbness
- Improves teeth health

Below are some of the Jujube/Red Dates products from Amazon which I put together, so if you like shopping on the internet, then give a try to these fun little snacks or supplements…

So, take your time and browse through these amazing, popular, and highly rated organic products below. Make sure to read people’s reviews and comments on the products which you’ll decide to buy. Those product reviews and comments can be found on the product’s shopping page. Below you’ll find top organic foods like oat bran, coconut oil, vanilla bean drink, hymalayan crystal salt, flaxseed meal, maple syrup, lollipops, penne rigate, honey, quinoa linguine, hempseed, and shredded coconut. Have fun and enjoy your organic shopping experience :)

1. – Bob’s Red Mill Organic Oat Bran Hot Cereal, 18-Ounce Bags (Pack of 4)
- Case of four 18-ounce packages (72 total ounces)
- Made from pure organic oat bran
- An excellent source of fiber and protein
- Makes a nutritious, smooth, hot morning cereal
- Made from Northwest-grown oats and packaged in Milwaukie, Oregon

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2. – Nutiva Certified Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil — 54 fl oz
- One 54-ounce jar of pure-white, USDA-certified-organic, extra-virgin coconut oil
- Cold-pressed from fresh coconuts within two hours of chopping; light true-coconut taste, aroma
- No refrigeration required; solid at room temperature and melts at 76 degrees
- Product of the Philippines

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3. – Orgain Organic Sweet Vanilla Bean, 11-Ounce Container (Pack of 12)
- Pack of twelve, 11-ounces per container (total of 132 ounces)
- Absolutely no caffeine
- Gluten free
- Zero trans fat
- USDA organic

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4. – The Spice Lab’s Pure Himalayan Crystal Salt – 1 Pound – Finely Ground .5mm
- 1 Pound X-Fine .5mm 100% Pure Crystal Food Grade Himalayan Salt
- Sold in a Food Grade re-sealable Stand up Pouch for your safety.
- The clean crystals are Gourmet Food Grade and the highest quality Himalayan salt available
- Guaranteed the best Himalayan salt you can buy or your money back.
- Imported and Packed by The Spice Lab.

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5. – Bob’s Red Mill Organic Flaxseed Meal, 16-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4)
- Case of four 16-ounce packages (64 total ounces)
- Made from pure organic flaxseeds
- An excellent source of protein, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium and copper
- Adds a robust, nutty flavor to baked goods and cereals
- Packaged in Milwaukie, Oregon

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6. – Coombs Family Farms 100% Pure Organic Maple Syrup Grade B, 32-Ounce Jug
- Premium Grade B
- Certified organic by QAI
- Certified Kosher
- No artificial flavors, preservatives or dyes
- Winner of the National Certificate of Distinction for Taste Award from the American Tasting Institute

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7. – YummyEarth Organic Lollipops, Assorted Flavors, 5-Pound Bag
- about 325 pops (based on weight – individual pops weight may vary)
- Mix of Sour Apple Tart, Pomegranate Pucker, Mango Tango, TooBerry Blueberry, Googly Grape, Strawberry Smash, Very Very Cherry, Wet-Face Watermelon
- Organic; allergen-free; gluten-free; GMO-free; egg-free; soy-free; nut-free; casein-free; dairy-free
- All-natural: fruit extracts; red cabbage and purple carrots for color; no artificial dyes or flavors
- Certified kosher by the Kof-K Kosher Certification; Made in Mexico

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8. – Bionaturae Organic Penne Rigate, Gluten Free, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)
- Certified Organic & Kosher ( Circle K symbol)
- Imported from Italy
- No rinsing after cooking
- Unique formulation gives true pasta-like texture

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9. – YS Organic Bee Farms CERTIFIED ORGANIC RAW HONEY 100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC HONEY Raw, Unprocessed, Unpasteurized – Kosher 32oz
- YS Organic – Certified Organic Honey is harvested with extreme care
- 100% pure, natural, unheated and unfiltered, fresh from healthy beehives
- The results produce a superior, energy packed honey with the highest possible levels of live enzymes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, healing agents as a functional whole food
- Certified Organic Honey
- 32 Fluid Ounces Solid.

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10. – Ancient Harvest Quinoa Linguine, Organic, Gluten-free, 8-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)
- Pack of 12, 8-ounce boxes (96)
- Quick cooking
- Very low sodium
- No cholesterol
- A Natural Blend of Corn Flours and Quinoa Flour

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11. – Nutiva Organic Shelled Hempseed, 3 Pound Bag
- 3 pound bulk protein plus fiber
- High protein, magnesium and zinc
- Perfect balance of EFA complex, essential fatty acid
- Raw Product
- Vegan, dairy, soy and gluten free

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12. – Let’s Do Organic Shredded, Unsweetened Coconut, 8-Ounce Packages (Pack of 12)
- Box of 12 8-ounce pouches (total of 96 ounces)
- Unsweetened, 100%-natural, finely shredded dehydrated coconut
- Certified USDA organic; vegetarian/vegan; sulfite-free; cholesterol-free
- Ideal for baking, sundae topping, making granola
- Product of Sri Lanka

… And for easier comparison between these Organic products, here is the bundled-up collection of them …

Research carried out by the University of Zurich has concluded that Vitamin D is necessary to maintain healthy bones consistently throughout life – with the implication that taking a vitamin D supplement whilst young may have long term beneficial effects.

Not just about healthy eating

Most of us assume that provided we are following a healthy, well balanced diet then our bodies will be receiving all the nutrients they need for correct function. This train of thought is inaccurate where Vitamin D is concerned. In order to achieve the required levels of vitamin D our bodies need every day we would need to consume fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring or trout twice daily! In order to ensure that we are receiving as much of this essential vitamin are body needs we should also be getting plenty of exposure to sunshine – or perhaps using a dietary supplement.

A unique vitamin

Vitamin D is unique in that, in order to successfully carry out, many of its functions it needs to work in conjunction with other nutrients such as magnesium – found in deep green, leafy vegetables such as curly kale and spinach. This factor may well be the reason many people make the erroneous assumption that a sufficient supply of vitamin D may be ingested through healthy diet alone.

Not only bones and teeth

Recent research has revealed that vitamin D has a much greater role to play in maintenance of good health and fitness as well as lowering the risks of developing a number of diseases and illnesses. Research has also revealed a worldwide increase in cases of vitamin D deficiency – possibly due to the fact that many of us now work, and live, inside more than ever before. It seems likely that few people realize that they are deficient in this necessary vitamin.

Vitamin D deficiency

A blood test is usually required to diagnose a vitamin D deficiency, either, at the doctor’s office, or at home using a home test kit – which are now widely available. There are a number of signs and symptoms which may be indicative of a deficiency and if you recognize some of all of them in yourself you should seek the advice of your medical practitioner promptly.

- Repeated bouts of respiratory infections and the ‘flu – particularly in children. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the number of both of these conditions.
- Muscle weakness – in order that the muscles of the skeleton are able to properly function they must be sustained by an adequate supply of the vitamin.
- Psoriasis – synthetic vitamin D has found to be useful in the treatment of this distressing and unsightly skin disease.
- Chronic kidney disease – patients undergoing dialysis or with chronic disease are unable to manufacture the required active form of the vitamin which supports the metabolism of calcium – taking a the prescribed supplement will also decrease the risk of renal bone disease and regulate associated hormone levels.
- Diabetes and asthma – children prescribed vitamin D supplements and then monitored over a number of years were found to have less incidence of type-1 diabetes and asthma attacks.
- Periodontal disease – vitamin D deficiency is known to cause disease of the gums, inflammation and bleeding are both symptoms that may indicate the need to increase vitamin D intake. Periodontal disease is the result of insufficient levels of the compounds defensins and cathelicidin both of which reduce levels of bacteria in the mouth.
- Heart disease – congestive heart failure has been found to be associated with a deficiency of vitamin D. Studies have shown that women with low levels of the vitamin were 67% more likely to develop high blood pressure.
- Mental health disorders – both schizophrenia and depression have been found to be linked with insufficient levels of vitamin D. Studies have revealed that ensuring pregnant and nursing women as well as children require sufficient levels of the vitamin in order to ensure correct brain development and mental capacity.
- Cancer – there appears to be a definite link between high levels of vitamin D and reduced breast cancer risk. Research has indicated that increased doses of the vitamin were linked to a possible 75% reduction in cancer growth and a 50% reduction in tumor incidence amongst existing cancer patients. It appears that vitamin D supplements have a positive role to play in controlling the development and growth of, in particular, oestrogen sensitive breast cancer.

As always, prevention is better than cure

Although the list of diseases and symptoms associated with vitamin D deficiency does appear to be quite daunting, it really is not something that most of us should be concerned with. Ensuring that we receive the correct amount of vitamin D for healthy bodily functions is as simple as taking a walk or sitting out in the sunshine. Taking steps to ensure that vitamin D levels in our own bodies are at the right levels will give us the peace of mind of knowing that we are lowering our risk of developing any of the chronic diseases associated with deficiency of this essential vitamin.

As the attention for heart disease prevention increases, many studies and researches are currently conducted throughout the world. One example is the team of Italian researchers who confirmed that the diets composed of green leafy vegetables as well as olive oil rich can be a major ingredient for improved heart health.

Dr. Domenico Palli and his colleague, who are working from the CRPI or the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute, have recently discovered that females eating a serving of green leafy veggies at a minimum amount per day are 46 percent less possible to have heart disease in comparison to females who are eating less vegetables. Individuals consuming at least three tablespoons of olive oil per day can have the same benefit too, the study added.

Dr. Palli hypothesized that the mechanisms that are responsible for the protective outcome of plant –based foods on heart diseases include micro-nutrients like antioxidant vitamins, folate and potassium, which are all present in green leafy vegetables. His statements confirmed the previous studies conducted about the Mediterranean Diet.

The result of Dr. Palli’s studies was published in the journal called American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study had collected useful data from approximately 30,000 Italian females and researchers have tracked the health of these women in more than eight years. The researches then conducted correlation studies of the heart disease cases to the dietary and eating habits of these individuals and they found out that the amount of both olive oil and the green leafy vegetables being consumed by an individual is directly related to the health of the heart.

in addition to providing improvements on heart health, eating foods rich in green leafy vegetables and olive oil has been proven to be an effective method of preventing as well as treating type-2 diabetes. They are also proven to lower the risk of developing breast cancer, help in maintaining healthy weight and preventing obesity. The said diet is also capable of preventing and treating prostate cancer, preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease as well as other forms of dementia and even lengthening human lifespan.

According to the authors of the book “The Myth of Alzheimer’s: What You Aren’t Being Told About Today’s Most Dreaded Diagnosis”, the different components of the Mediterranean Diet promotes reduced inflammation, serum protein levels and oxidative stress and in return, reduce the risk of vascular problems occurrence that can add to the brain aging as well as other diseases like cardiovascular/heart diseases, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke and diabetes.

Need Olive Oil? Check out these products below and Get Your Favorite One ;)

Maintenance of acidity/alkalinity is significant for every body’s continuous well-being. With proper balance in your body, you can augment life longevity, control food cravings and create a healthy environment in your body so that your digestive system will function smoothly through increased presence of good bacteria in the intestines.

The raw fermentation of vegetables is basically foods having naturally occurring lactobacillus and essential enzymes. Commercially available and cultured vegetables are subjected to heat-pasteurization process that can destroy these bacteria. It is advisable to create your own fermented vegetables by purchasing fresh vegetables so that you are ensured to get highest quality bacteria able to assist you in maintaining health and longevity. Lactobacilli in fermented foods can enhance your digestive functions and enhances phytonutrients and vitamin content in your body. This bacteria plus lactic acid can promote health in your intestines and prevent harmful bacteria growth.

Several digestive problems like ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, cystitis, colic, food allergies and even other types of problems like vaginal yeast infections, etc., can be treated through these good bacteria existing in raw and cultured vegetables. These good bacteria provide assistance by working through the inner ecosystem at optimum level resulting to a stronger immune system.

Preparing cultured vegetables can be done simply by shredding/chopping vegetables (carrots, cabbage, onions, turnips, garlic, etc.). You can add fruits in the mixture, sea salt and/or Dulse or caraway seeds. Massage the mixture for about 10 minutes until you create a brine or juice. Pack the mixture tightly in a clean container or earthenware vessel. Cover it properly so that it is airtight and place a weight above (you can use quart Mason jar filled with water). This will be the one forcing out the water from the vegetables and then keep it submerged under brine solution. Use a clean towel to cover it. Keep the container in an environment with 59 – 71 degrees Fahrenheit from 3 – 7 days or more depending on your tastes and air temperature. Longer fermentation day will result to better taste, but not long enough to become rotten; you can taste it actually every day. This time frame is best for good bacteria growth exponentially as it convert sugars and starches to lactic acid. Be sure to remove surface mold that appears. Do not worry about the bad bacteria; the brine solution will take care of that. When you think the taste is good for you, take it out and store the mixture in the fridge.

Cultured vegetables can be a good tandem to any meal and can be placed in the refrigerator for as long as six months. This food is less expensive than the so-called probiotics, but still contains lactobacillus and essential enzymes that will not be depleted during the food’s shelf life.

As more and more cultures rediscover the power of plants, natural remedies are once again becoming popular among the mainstream. Herbal fiber colon cleanses, for example, are one of the most popular methods for body cleansing available. People generally like a fiber cleanse for its simplicity and results.

Feel free to buy these healthy fermented products:

People are always telling you what to eat and what makes you fat. The funny thing is that those who tell you all this do not know the actual truth themselves. They have taken it from what has been carried from one generation to another. So, they just carry on the age-old myths like thousand others.

They are not aware that you can eat all that you want and still be slim. The secret is in maintaining a good balance between the foods that you must eat and foods that you love to eat. Read ahead to know how you can strike this perfect balance and eat right without depriving yourself of your favorite foods:

1. – Eat In Moderation – Okay, you love brownies but size does matter a lot. It is okay to indulge once in a while but while indulging in brownies, don’t forget to have a good portion of vegetables and fruits the same day. They provide you with the essential nutrients and maintain the balance. Also, remember to exercise portion control when you are eating brownies. So, the next time you have a brownie on your plate, reduce the quantity and add a salad with a healthy dressing.

2. – Keep Your Mind On Your Food – Watching TV when you are eating is one of the easiest ways to put on weight. You won’t know what has gone inside your body and how much. Keep your mind on your food when you are eating and resist eating leftovers just because they are going to be wasted. Rather than put the leftovers in your mouth, pack them away to be eaten later. Also, don’t snack when you are watching TV.

3. – Savour What You Eat – Meal times should be given their due importance. So, the next time you eat, sit down for your food without any distractions. Chew your food well like you were taught in school. This will ensure that your eating is controlled and you will feel fuller.

4. – Get A Diet Buddy – Diet buddies can help you remain focused on what you are eating and helps you to exercise portion control. It doesn’t have to be an online friend. You family can also be your diet buddies. You can sit with them and choose recipes, go grocery shopping prepare these foods. Having a diet buddy will ensure that you eat healthy foods along with your favorite dessert or sandwiches.

5. – Vacation time – Give your favorite food a leave of absence for a week. It can be your favorite latte or chips or even brownies. This will help you to wean yourself from all those fattening unhealthy foods. After a week of abstinence, indulge your taste buds a little and reward them for their sacrifice.

Remember, no food is bad. It is only the way that you eat it, which is not good. Eat all that you want but remember to exercise portion control. You will find that you remain slim without depriving yourself.

This is a guest article by Nicole C Harris who is a personal fitness trainer and a freelance writer. In her free time, Harris loves exploring beauty outfits. Recently, she came up with her own range of beauty tips.

You have most likely heard of the old saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But did you know that there’s another tasty and sumptuous food that can make you hearty and robust? Yes there is – and that’s organic dark chocolates! But before we investigate the advantages and good things that dark chocolates bring, let’s try to pick up first what these goodies have that makes them the best for your health.

The key ingredient in dark chocolate is the cacao. Cacao is the healthy part in chocolate. Ergo, the less sugar and milk and other components put inside the chocolate makes the chocolate more pure and resembles more to cacao. A general rule in chocolate is that the darker it is, the healthier it is. If the major component of the chocolate is cacao, meaning its comprised of 70%-90% cacao then you are assured to have a hearty and delicious dark chocolate. If it has a considerable amount of sugar and milk you are far from getting healthy and I suggest you lessen if not avoid such chocolates.

There have been studies showing that cacao seeds can be considered as “Super Fruits” that supplies nutritional values that are in a more advanced point than their macronutrient makeup. Though dark chocolates may sound to be the super food that is the answer to our health needs, dark chocolate need not be taken in big quantities like people do taking a miracle health supplement. A piece or two eaten daily is an ample dose to aid good health.

An organic chocolate bar commonly weighs 100 grams. It’s interesting to note that supporting studies found out that people who consume 7.5 grams of dark chocolate are safeguarded against most heart conditions.

Now that you know what makes organic dark chocolates healthy and nutritious, here are some specific benefits that organic dark chocolates give. Now let’s look at the health benefits of dark chocolate:

1. – First it decreases the likelihood of having cardiac disease or stroke because it aids in lowering your blood pressure.

2. – Reputable studies also reveal that organic dark chocolates degrade the risk of having colorectal cancer thanks to cocoa polyphenols. Here’s an eye-opening fact, dark chocolates has plenty of oleic acids that are good antioxidants and prevents frightening heart diseases.

3. – Another fact to break the myth is that organic dark chocolates actually avert obesity and diabetes by meliorating glucose metabolism.

4. – Here’s a combo of benefits, it improves brain function and moods thanks to serotonin that helps produce endorphins in the body.

5. – The last benefit is for husbands, organic dark chocolate relieves PMS occurrence. So husbands you know the best gift to give your wives!

Below are some of the most popular and most remarkable Dark Chocolates in the World. Feel free to Get some for your wife, husband, or for yourself :)

Cold sores usually last 10-14 days, but if you want to speed up the healing process than I have a few natural remedies for you that have been known to be effective in treating cold sores. Just a quick note; if your cold sore doesn’t seem to getting better and 14 days have passed, go directly to your doctor for advice on your course of action.

The Remedies

Lysine -

Our first natural remedy is the amino acid Lysine. We get lysine through the foods we eat since our body cannot create it. Lysine creates proteins for our body which is then used to create things like antibodies to prevent infections like the herpes simplex virus. A few types of foods that contain Lysine are beef, eggs, fish, cheese, and chicken. If looking for foods that have Lysine, remember that most dairy and meat products will contain high levels of it.

A study at the University of Southern California of Health Science showed that putting an ointment with Lysine as an ingredient on a cold sore, helped speed up the healing process in half the amount of time. The physicians and the patients of the study agreed that using Lysine as a cold sore remedy was highly effective.

The best way to use Lysine as a treatment is to put a Lysine ointment on the infected part when you first feel the tingle of a cold sore starting to appear. Doing this will help insure the virus does not spread and get worst.

Lemon Balm -

Our next remedy is the calming herb, Lemon balm. For hundreds of years Lemon balm has been used as a treatment for anxiety, stress, loss of appetite, and indigestion. Lemon balm is still used today to help people relax and to also remedy fever blisters and cold sores.

The University of Maryland states that in a study of 116 people with the herpes simplex virus, those who put lemon balm on their cold sores saw massive improvements in swelling and appearance. In another study done in three German hospitals, those who used lemon balm to treat their sores noticed no reoccurrence of the virus.

Tea Tree Oil -

Tea tree oil is taken from the crushed leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia. The indigenous people, called the Bundjalung, of Australia first used tea tree oil by breathing the oils form the leaves to remedy colds and coughs.

Tea tree oil has also been used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, flu, and yeast infections. The many uses of tea tree oil, makes it a must have in your home. On top of all that tea tree oil is also known to have anti-viral properties, having many positive effects in treating a variety of viruses and microorganisms, including the cold sore virus.

Putting a couple of drops of pure tea tree oil on your cold sores when they first appear can stop the cold sore in its track and keep it from spreading.

Honey -

Last but not least on our list of natural cold sore remedies is one that probably comes as a surprise. Honey is that sweet thick liquid that comes from the nectar of flowers. We mostly use honey as a food and eat it, but for hundreds of years honey has also been used as a natural remedy to many medical ailments.

Just a few examples are the ancient Romans use of honey to treat insomnia, the ancient Egyptians use of honey to heal wounds and burns, and the ancient Greeks use of honey to treat fever blisters and cold stores.

The reason that honey is an effective cold sore remedy is because of its high concentration of sugar, in the form of fructose and glucose. Viruses and microorganisms have no chance of surviving in the environment which leads to a much faster heal time when using honey as a remedy. Honey also has high doses of phenolic and flavonoid acid, which have been both known to inhibit viruses like the herpes simplex virus.

If you are allergic to pollen please do not use honey as a treatment, because it may trigger an allergic reaction.

Now that you are aware of these natural cold sore treatments, you should be better prepared to deal with those pesky cold sores when they come.

About the Author

Carrie Shannon is the editor of the website www.yourcoldsoreremedies.com, a website providing information on safe and effective cold sore treatments.

References:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lemon-balm-000261.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_tree_oil

Topical honey application vs. acyclovir for the treatment of recurrent herpes simplex lesions. Med Sci Monit, 2004; 10(8): MT94-98

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes_simplex

With that, here are some basic facts to start permaculture gardening:

- First is to handpick the most suitable location. In choosing your location, the number one factor to consider is the need for plenty of sunlight. Master your property, observe the location in which there is ample sunlight and where shade falls for most of the day. If in your area, the sun is shy then you might want to expose your plants more. Sunlight is good but you wouldn’t want your plants to be dehydrated by too much sun exposure or by extensive wind. Bottom-line is be acquainted with the weather in your area and then plant accordingly.

- Secondly, determine early on which plants to plant and which plants to avoid and to not include in your garden. A general rule is to choose a plant that is suited to grow in your area rather than plants that would need extra effort in protecting them from the environment and conditions in your location. You may also bed-in multipurpose plants and native plants that naturally attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Dodge plants that easily acquire diseases, these are high-maintenance plants.

- The third step is to prepare a shelter for your plants. Opt to use a raised bed for three reasons; air circulates better in raised beds, plants in raised beds are protected from frigidity brought about during spring and raised beds improves water usage. It’s a good option especially if you are an urban dweller and you don’t have that much space to grow your plants since here you use containers.

- After settling your plants, the next step is to feed and water your plants. Wastes of different kinds can be recycled and re-used by having a garden and turning these stuff to compost that can be used in growing your plants. Permaculture gardening uses natural water sources like rain and ground water in watering your plants to promote sustainability.

- Lastly is to secure your plants by driving pests away by natural methods such as companion planting. Companion planting is discussed further in http://www.appropedia.org/CCAT_companion_planting and http://www.gardeningknowhow.com. Poultry can also help in obliterating pests and their manure can help in your garden soil as well.

Benefits of Owning a Green Car

Green cars are easy on your wallet and easier on the environment. They cost much less per mile of driving than a comparably sized regular car. They often get twice the mileage from each gallon of gas and some get much more. They’re also much better for the environment because and help reduce global warming. Widespread use of green cars could also contribute to affordable medical insurance by making the air we breathe healthier.

China will start using a more stringent measuring standard for air pollution in their major cities this year. The US embassy has already said the air quality is very poor, yet the Chinese reported air pollution as “slight.” The difference came because the Chinese didn’t measure the smaller particles produced by smokestacks and exhaust pipes.

At times, a mixture of pollutants has blanketed Beijing in a beige cloud and residents have complained the pollution problem is far worse than the Chinese government admitted. A significant part of the pollution causing this beige cloud comes from vehicle exhaust. If more Beijing residents drove green cars with fewer emissions, the beige cloud could be a lot smaller.

Pros and Cons of Driving a Green Car

There are some downsides to driving a green car, although they’re far outweighed by the benefits. Firstly, let’s take a look at the benefits:

- Better gas mileage.
- Fewer emissions.
- Quieter engine.
- Reduced dependence of fossil fuels.

However, the large batteries required in hybrid and electric cars mean the interior space is sometimes less than a comparably sized gasoline powered car. The batteries are also very heavy, impacting handling and sportiness. Green cars are also less powerful than their gasoline counterparts, because fast acceleration drains the batter quickly. Fully electric cars have to be plugged in any night and can’t be refueled quickly.

During city driving, most of these cons are irrelevant. The handling and acceleration of a car matter less on city streets than they do on the open road. After all, there are fewer opportunities to accelerate and corner quickly. The only real con to owning a green car in a city then, is the slightly reduced interior size. But is a few extra cubic feet really a reason to spend more money on gas and contribute to terrible city air quality and global warming?

Top Green Cars and Electric Cars

The hybrid Toyota Prius has been the perennial sales leader in the green car category, although there are a range of other options available for 2012. The brand new Nissan Leaf is an all-electric car, delivering the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon. It’s also quiet and spacious, making it a true contender. Another new car is the Chevy Volt, which uses a small engine to help recharge its battery, but can travel up to 40 miles on batter alone.

Looking after the planet is everyone’s responsibility. Driving a green car is a great place to start and has benefits beyond just being kind to the environment. You’ll save money on gas, contribute to a reduced dependence on fossil fuels and enjoy the quiet of an electric or hybrid vehicle. If more people drove green vehicles, we could have cheap individual health insurance, as well as a much healthier planet.