Yes! A Tea Can Really Do That!

Even if you have heard about Matcha tea, read this!

The Chinese and Japanese have a history of drinking Matcha tea, and they are healthier because of it. It’s been used for thousands of years!

My favorite way of drinking this tea is either pure (with hot water added) or iced with a bit of sweetener added and some almond milk. Go easy with the sweeteners, though, they can mess up a healthful drink. I make my own matcha at home, so I know exactly what’s in it.

Here are some great benefits to drinking this tea:

1. It has a rare amino acid that gives you relaxation in the brain. Anxiety/stress may lead to an agitated mood but Matcha tea balances your mood. This amino acid is L-theanine and is common in teas but this tea offers up to five times the amount as other teas. How does that stand up to your black or green variety?

2. It increases your metabolism and helps you get rid of fat. You will burn more fat even sitting still than without the Matcha tea. Imagine if you exercise a bit and watch your calories at the same time. You could get some help losing weight.

3. You’ll get about 135 times more antioxidants than regular green tea offers. These antioxidants can get rid of those awful free radicals that cause such damage to your body. It helps you stop some of the UV rays to your skin, as well. So, you can look more youthful in your skin. 😉

4. It helps your immune system to work well. Want a healthy immune system? Drink Matcha tea. It treats inflammation.

5. It helps the memory. L-theanine also helps you to remember important facts. If you are learning all the time, it can improve that retention.

6. It helps you stay younger longer. Matcha has been thought to slow aging. That is like a fountain of youth! Have you ever heard studies of a portion of Okinawa, Japan about their living longer? They do, and often-consumed Matcha may be the reason.

7. There have been links between this tea and reducing cardiovascular disease. So, drink up!

8. Matcha tea can help with depression and anxiety. It can also increase blood flow, healing you from the inside. You won’t feel as stressed. That is worth incorporating this tea into your life.

9. It contains catechins which may have cancer fighting benefits.

So, YES, a tea really CAN do all that!

Will You Get the Covid Vaccine?

I get the first Covid-19 Vaccine in about an hour and a half. I have mixed feelings. Of course I want to prevent myself from getting this virus (a second time) but I also am afraid of this shot. It hasn’t been on the market long, and no one actually knows, on a large scale, what it can do to a person long term.

However, I have eighty year old parents who don’t need this virus, and I don’t want to give it to them either.

So, I am going to one of the local hospitals to get my shot. I’d love to know how you feel about the vaccine. Please leave a comment!

Lea

Aren’t All Psychics Liars?

I’ve always been able to tell what others are thinking and feeling. It wasn’t a special gift or anything when I was young. I just knew I was different. Other kids my age didn’t have the same senses and feelings I did.

As a young adult, I had two children. I was a great Mama. I noticed my empathy for others around me grew stronger during this time. I also could tell what was going on with the neighbor couple we were acquaintances with – like when they were having marital troubles. I knew what Gloria was thinking even though she smiled and said kind words. She never liked us and felt like she was better than we were. Her husband, Bob, was different. I picked up on his sincerity from the first time I met him. He followed like a puppy wherever Gloria said to go, though.

As I grew into my 40s I noticed another shift in my Intuitive nature and the empathy I had for others. I didn’t always like these “gifts.” The strong feelings left me exhausted and hurting for other people. Actually hurting in my chest. It felt heavy. I had a sadness about me when I knew someone was in pain or if their lives were in turmoil.

I’d never believed in “psychics” before but was starting to delve into the subject. I still wasn’t serious about it all. I was just super sensitive my husband told me.

However, in my 50s, I met a woman who worked full time as an online psychic. She made very good money and always seemed to know what I was thinking. I confided in her how I had always felt about my “sensitivities.” She said I needed to get online and help others with my gifts. I shrugged it off for months. I wasn’t anyone special. Who was I to help other people with their problems in life?

One day, I got serious about the subject – after being exhausted one day from holding in a friend’s marriage problems. I got online and signed up to take chats from strangers. I was scared to death but kept myself honest and open. I didn’t use cards or dice or any other devices. I merely was there for these hurting souls. I felt their pain through their words as they typed to me and I typed back.

That beginning turned out to be a huge blessing of a job for me. I now work part time as an advisor on keen.com (I’m Cajun Queen). I have heard many stories about many types of people. It’s a very interesting career. I feel so blessed and satisfied to be able to do this job. Yes, I get tired mentally and stiff after sitting for so long some days. But, it’s worth it to help those out there who are in need.

I just thought I’d let you know how some of us who are online advisors (some are called psychics) think. I’m not out to make the callers stay online as long as possible for the money. That is a misconception some of my acquaintances. I type quickly and I don’t waste their time.

So, there are some of us out here who are honestly doing a service for others on these psychic sites. Just thought you’d like to know.

Andrea Yates, Murdered her Children

Andrea Yates, born July 2, 1964, lived in Clear Lake, Texas (a Houston suburb) with her husband and five children. However, happy she was not. She was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression and schizophrenia and had tried to commit suicide at least once before she drowned her children on June 20, 2001, one by one, in the bathtub. There was Noah, 7, John, 5, Paul, 3, Luke, 2, and Mary, 6 months.

Andrea started with John, Paul, and Luke, and then laid them in her bed. Then she drowned Mary and left her floating in the tub. Noah came in, and asked what was wrong with Mary. He then ran, but she soon caught him and drowned him. She left him floating in the tub, and laid Mary in John’s arms in the bed. They had all just been eating breakfast.

She then called the police repeatedly saying she needed an officer, but would not say why. So she called Rusty, and told him to come home right away. After the drownings, she laid each on her bed.

Her husband, Rusty, a former NASA engineer, had left for work, leaving Andrea alone to watch the children – against her physician’s instructions to supervise her around the clock. His mother, Dora Yates, had been scheduled by Rusty to arrive an hour later to take over for Andrea. In the space of that hour, Andrea drowned all five children.

She was convicted of capital murder but has lived in a Texas mental hospital since 2007, when she was declared in court to be not guilty by reason of insanity. This decision outraged much of the public. They could not understand how a mother could kill her own children.

In August 2004, Rusty filed for divorce, stating that he and Yates had not lived together as a married couple since the day of the murders. The divorce was granted on March 17, 2005.

Andrea now is likely living out the rest of her life at the Kerrville State Hospital, a low-security mental health facility in Texas.

I Diet. I Exercise. Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Okay. I’m being honest here. I tried Atkins/Ketogenic Diet for two months and lost 12 pounds but sticking with that strict of an eating plan was torturous. I had to remain on the “Induction” (introductory) phase so I could lose at a decent pace (I have a LOT of weight to lose, as well). Plus, I stopped losing and stayed the same weight for another month after losing the 12 pounds. So, I joined Weight Watchers for the 1,245,391st time! It’s been five days and the scale has not budged even 1/10 of a pound. That is despite exercising AND watching what I’m eating!

I’m sick of trying SO hard only to see minimal (or no) results. Yes, I take one or two meds that might be hindering my weight-loss efforts but THIS much? So, I’ve decided to stay with the Weight Watchers plan because it offers so much variety and group support BUT I’m doing a “no-no” according to their rules; I’m going to cut my daily calories (or points).

I’m almost 54 years old and so age isn’t my friend anymore when it comes to losing fat. I’ve become pre-diabetic but refuse to let myself get any more out of shape. I do notice that carbs make me very sluggish. That is an awful feeling. Sometimes, I have to actually take a nap to get over the sleepiness. It’s ridiculous.

So, instead of 24 points tomorrow, I’m only having 20. I’m sure there are W W leaders and members out there who will chastise me for trying this but SOMEthing has to give. I’m already exercising every day. I’m also still refraining from desserts, sweets, regular sodas, and things made with white flour, rice, or pasta. Whew!

 

I’ll keep y’all up to date on how it’s going. I WILL find a way out of this fat-trap I’m in. I’ll share it here with you, too! Honesty all the way.

Anyone have advice for a fed-up fat woman? I’m going to Cozumel in November! This is my time to lose unwanted pounds. I have 8 months.

 

Love you guys, Lea

Low Carb Flu? Get Back into Ketosis.

Have you recently begun a low-carb diet and are feeling MORE fatigued than usual? Having a few muscle cramps, brain fog, dizziness, or headache? Ready to throw in the towel and chock up this eating plan as another failure? Don’t give up right now! It’s likely what we call “low-carb flu.” It is a state of transition. Your body is adjusting to burning fat instead of carbohydrates, and it will definitely pass. If you lowered your carb intake markedly, you are inducing ketosis. Soon, the opposite will be true, and you’ll be brimming with energy. Really!

 

Once you have cleaned your body of sugar and junk foods that had nothing but empty calories, your life will be much more focused, and your body will join your brain in a state of clarity.

But for now, you need help getting through the low-carb flu (no, it’s not a true flu with fever, etc). Try eating more fat since it’s key in this way of eating. Fat is not the enemy as was once preached. Read a few up-to-date nutrition articles from reliable sources. You’ll see that low-carb, higher fat, and low carb eating is what our bodies thrive on. It can be difficult to make the switch after decades of believing the other way. If you fuel your body with fat instead of carbohydrates, it will adjust to burning fat instead of sugars and empty carbs. The energy you’ll experience will be SO worth your living this diet. Think mayo, cheeses, butter, steak, chicken with the skin on (not battered), half and half in your coffee, avocados, nuts, and sauces without sugars but with fat as a base (ex: Hollandaise sauce).

In addition, be careful how much protein you consume. About 4-6 oz a meal is plenty. Your body might decide to convert protein you are eating into sugars and burn those instead of the fats. Balance is key.

You’ve heard that drinking water is vitally important to feeling your best. It’s even more important when you are on this type of eating plan. However, you flush away electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, sodium) when you drink good amounts of water. So, take a multi-vitamin every day. Also increase your sodium intake. I know, we’re flying in the face of recently-modern medicine but it’s now been researched and is becoming the norm given by health professionals.

Glass and jug of ice water

 

Another idea if you are in a low-carb flu is to avoid sweeteners. They can cause cravings by their sweet taste.

One last idea – move! It may be the one thing you do NOT want to do right now but just move a little. Just walk at a slower pace, and encourage yourself to do something besides lay around.

When you’ve eaten, had a drink of water, taken your multivitamin, and followed other actions to combat the low-carb flu, sit back and look forward to energetic days ahead!

Love you guys! Hang in there. It’s only temporary. Remember . . . good-bye sugary junk and hello new, healthy life!

 

Where IS This Monster?

 

Where is William Bradford Bishop, Jr?

WHO is William Bradford Bishop Jr?

Mr Bishop is a killer. He “is wanted (by the FBI) for bludgeoning his wife (age 37), mother (age 68), and three sons (ages 5, 10, and 14) in Bethesda, Maryland on March 1, 1976. He then allegedly transported their bodies to Columbia, North Carolina, where he buried the bodies in a shallow grave and lit them on fire.

Now you know who Mr Bishop is.

But WHERE is he these 41 years later? The FBI added him to their top ten fugitives list. THEY would like to know where this man is, too. There is a $100,000 reward for information leading directly to his arrest. He was a US Government Foreign Services Officer in 1976 and speaks English, Italian, French, Serbo-Croatian, and Spanish.

He was 6’1 and was born in Pasadena, California, August 1, 1936.

Have YOU seen him? Is he YOUR neighbor?

Age-progression drawings show what he might look like.

I can’t imagine beating your family to death, burying them, then lighting the grave on fire. This man, if still alive, must be caught. He’s been free for far too long.

 

A Climate Tax on Red Meat? One Country is Trying To Do It!

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/a-climate-tax-on-red-meat-one-country-is-trying-to-do-it/

This is a re-blog of a very information-filled article on http://www.onegreenplanet.org. Please take a read. Link above is to the original article. 

While countries around the world have started setting up regulations for major companies contributing to greenhouse emissions and in turn, climate change, this week, the Danish government voted to take a different approach. Instead of trying to tackle the monumental climate change crisis solely by collaborating with major industry players, the Danish Council of Ethics, an independent body that advises parliament, ministers and other public authorities on ethical issues, has proposed a “climate tax” on products with the greatest negative impact on the environment, namely meat.

As we saw last month when the Netherlands recommended a lower meat intake, the Danish Agriculture and Food Council is not happy about this proposal. More surprisingly, not every politician in Parliament is gung-ho about the idea either, with one going as far as to say, ”Maybe [the tax] would get beef consumption to fall in Denmark, but it wouldn’t do much of anything for the world’s CO2 emissions.”

We, respectfully, disagree. And considering 14 of the 16 members of the council support the tax, we’d say we are not alone. Animal agriculture is responsible for 18 percent of allgreenhouse gas emissions, more than the total exhaust from all forms of transportation worldwide. So, to remark that the world’s CO2 emissions would not be changed at all from less meat consumption is not only ridiculous, it’s downright irresponsible.

As proponents of the tax stated, the Danish people are, of course, responsible for making climate-friendly choices on their own. However, after six months of deliberation the Council felt it was imperative to push people in the right direction. They hope to extend this tax on other products with a negative impact, but felt that starting with meat would be the smartest move considering its immensely destructive environmental impact.

When we look at how the meat industry and government have worked together in the past, this Danish approach makes total sense, in fact the US could learn a thing or two from Denmark. After all, the animal agriculture industry and the US government have been in cahoots for years now, we can’t expect them to lead the change. Look at government subsidies for example. Despite the fact that meat consumption has come down by a thirdsince the 1970s,  the US government hands out $38.4 billion a year to ensure that people have an easy time entering the industry, and that production continues to grow. Nice work,lobbyists. The worse part about this system is that these hand-outs aren’t coming from the pockets of government officials. If only! The government actually takes tax dollars from its citizens to pay off the very industry that is destroying the planet. If you’re trying to figure out how that makes sense, we’ll save you the time, it doesn’t.

While we can’t deny that the US government has begun to make strides in addressing climate change, the destruction will become unmanageable if we continue at this snail’s pace. Although this new Danish tax hasn’t been set into motion yet, the US government should definitely consider implementing a similar law. After all, the first way we should be fighting climate change is with our forks, a connection our government needs to make, and soon.

 

 

Women in Midlife Crisis – Suicide

I read an interesting and disturbing article today. It seems women in midlife (ages 45-64) are taking their own lives 24% more often than in 1999. That is a very large jump – in the wrong direction. 

I was also unaware that suicide is among the top ten leading causes of death for women.

Reasons? A few were suggested. Aging Baby Boomers are a large portion of these women – even from adolescence. Possibly, it is cultural with youth being celebrated and aging “getting a bad rap.” Social isolation is another explanation for possible midlife female suicides. Spouses die or divorce. Kids are grown with families of their own . . . busy and often living in other cities. A study showed that women who had strong social supports were less likely to have a premature death – by threefold. Another reason given was finances. With a lagging economy came more deaths. Finally, easy access to medications in the home didn’t help depressed situations. Pain killers can kill more than muscle or joint pain.

I’ve personally experienced seven years of Major Depressive Disorder and have medicated, changed my life (gotten rid of most stress), and introduced new friendships and activities to my days. I now have come through times of suicidal ideation and have a firmer grip on my emotions and behavior. Perimenopause isn’t helping much, though. Erratic hormones have turned me into a Jekyll and Hyde but I don’t give up, and I don’t give in.

We women of middle age are strong. We’re resourceful and wise enough to know how to change our circumstances. Fear will get in the way, though, if we aren’t constantly aware of our goals, and it will stall or even stop our progress toward mental and general health.

Remember Rosie the Riveter from the 1940s? We can do it!

 

 

 

Japan – A Disaster Waiting to Happen

I’ve blogged a few times about the Fukushima Nuclear Plant’s fallout and the water and land damage it caused. It was due to a 9.0 earthquake named Tohoku and its following tsunami on March 11 of 2011. See the link below for that blog:

https://everydayclimb.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/remember-the-2011-japanese-earthquake-fukushima-nuclear-plants-meltdown/

 

The blog also stated that Japan is ripe for another large earthquake, possibly in or near Tokyo. See the article I read today below:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/strong-quake-hits-japan-tsunami-warning-issued-170923403.html?ref=gs

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Tokyo.

Friends, the earth is a powerful entity. We don’t control it. We don’t manage it. It behaves as it behaves. Enjoy your days here. Love your family and laugh with friends. Make a difference in people’s lives for the better. It’s a fleeting existence. Make it a full one.