Win the battle of the bulge with probiotics and green tea

With obesity reaching epidemic proportions, new ways to slim down are in demand. Instead of fad diets and strange drinks, try natural green tea and probiotics. Both are found to be exceptionally effective in helping individuals shed extra pounds and maintain healthful weight.

Several studies have established a clear connection between an imbalance in gut bacteria and excess weight. Researchers found that bifidobacteria levels were nearly double in healthy weight infants between the ages of 6 and 12 months compared with those who became overweight. This may explain why breast-fed babies, who tend to have thriving colonies of bifidobacteria in their gut, are at a lower risk for having weight problems later in life.

How To Build a 400sqft Solar Powered Off Grid Cabin for $2k

(Off Grid World) How to build a nice small cabin powered by solar panels. Lamar Alexander built this cute little 400 square foot cabin for approximately $2000, and powers it with a 570 watt solar and wind power system. The whole system is very inexpensive, and the best part is he is mortgage free. Very cool little cabin. I’d be proud to build something like this myself, and call it home.

“…This cabin is 14×14 with a full loft and approximately 400 square feet of living space. Downstairs is Kitchen, Bathroom, Dining and Living area. Upstairs is a large Bedroom and Office. There is enough room for 6 people to sleep comfortably. Power system is 580 watts Solar electric and 400 Watts wind power which powers a 12 volt fridge, lights, water pump, TV’s, laptop and many gadgets. Heat source can be propane or wood stove. Toilet is composting or a septic tank system…” ~www.simplesolarhomesteading.com/

Seeking the key to happiness? Research suggests taming the wandering mind

Eastern philosophies have advocated it for more than a millennia. Ram Dass wrote a book about it. And now, an iPhone app has collected data on it. The subject is presence and its relation to happiness. Over the last few years, happiness has been a hot topic of research. Scientists have investigated how to spot it, maintain it and acquire more of it. But one aspect is clear: it isn't external circumstances that determine happiness, it's how present we are in the moment.

"Be Here Now"

The Buddha was known to say, "Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." And Richard Alpert, a Harvard University professor who would later be known as Ram Dass, wrote "Be Here Now" in an attempt to convey a similar message: pay attention. What both realized (and science validates) is that when we are present in our lives, happiness grows. Interestingly, happiness is not the flashy car or good job, but simply to be fully engaged with what is right in front of us.

Roof Farm-Topped Whole Foods Set to Open in December

(Inhabitat) Whole Foods has announced that it will be opening its long-awaited Gowanus store on December 17th this year. In addition to putting the usual organic and artisan products on it shelves, the new location at 214 3rd Street will bring the local food trend to new heights with a 20,000 square foot rooftop farm right on top of the building. It doesn’t get more local than that!

The rooftop farm was made possible thanks to a partnership with Gotham Greens, a Greenpoint-based rooftop farm. The two organizations are calling the endeavor the first commercial-scale greenhouse farm and say that it will help reduce the carbon emissions spent on transporting food from far away sources. The elevated greenhouse will grow high-quality, pesticide-free produce all year round to be sold at the bustling supermarket below.

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Beat holiday bloat and weight gain with bitter elixirs

Don't be weighed down by heavy meals and sugary treats this holiday season. Instead, try a bitter aperitif to help reduce indigestion, nausea, extra pounds and much more. Designed to improve digestion and detoxify the body, herbal bitters ease the complaints of poor food choices. But bitters are not only for those times of overindulgence -- even when the diet is in top form, these tonics support universal vigor and health.

Time-honored recipe for health

The first record of a bitter tonic is attributed to Swiss Renaissance physician Paracelsus, but many believe bitters originated much earlier in ancient Babylon and Egypt. Jonathan Samst, an 18th century Swedish doctor, developed the classic "Swedish Bitters" we know today. Considered a panacea, bitters are said to:

Oxytocin spray may encourage a brighter outlook for troubled marriages

An unusual scientific experiment involving the hormone oxytocin sheds new light on the dynamics of relationship. Known as the 'trust hormone,' oxytocin is usually associated with childbirth, lactation and bonding. Researchers are now studying the influence oxytocin has on happiness and contentment as well as harmony in partnerships.

Created in the hypothalamus region of the brain, oxytocin is responsible for a sense of love, connectedness and kindness. Research has also found the hormone to be involved in feelings of fulfillment and well-being.

Celebrate the holiday season with a colorfully healthy twist

As we enter into winter, many cultures around the world pay tribute to the shortest day of the year and the coming of the light. The time-honored observance of the winter solstice is closely tied with nature, the life-giving properties of the sun, family and connection. Traditionally, the food used for the festivities was far from healthy. By adapting the spirit of these gatherings with a modern approach, the festival of peace and light is transformed into a colorful (and guilt-free) celebration. To symbolize darkness and the return of sun-filled days, black, purple, orange and yellow edibles share the spotlight.