Thoughts on the diet suggestions in"pH Balance: Acids & Alkalis & Antioxidants"
I like the suggestions in this article. It's a good guideline that will help me figure out what I may need in future meals. It encourages me to keep eating less meat and more veggies, which has been a little difficult in the past week since I've had a surplus of meat. I noticed that some of the sweeter forms of some of the fruits and vegetables, like peas, peaches, and grapes, form more alkaline and I'm wondering why that is. I also like how this article said that most people really die from toxemia. We just accumulate so much waste and excess acidity in the common diet, that it becomes difficult to get rid of in the end and overtakes our body.
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Friday, August 10, 2018
Biochemistry - Week 2
Thoughts on this week's class discussions.
It really is disappointing to hear that they still haven't cleaned up the radioactive mess in Fukushima. It is even more disappointing to hear how they are handling the aftermath. Their government seems to be trying to sweep things under the rug as quickly as possible and it's just irresponsible. I mean, they only decontaminated pieces of land, a lot of them with just "20-meter strips along roads, around houses and agricultural fields". Really? It really is living like you're in a prison with invisible walls. And you have 65ft to buffer you between radioactive land? What about the wind? What about the soil? How deep are they decontaminating and how are they ensuring that neighboring radioactive soil won't contaminate the nearby "decontaminated soil"? Also, this really sounds like living here would be a very REAL version of the game of hot lava trying to get around... and I don't know if there would really be anyone winning. And mothers are being "labeled as neurotic or irrational" by both their husbands and the government because they refuse to go back to this? I have no words for these people. I just don't know where to start on that one. It's appalling.
My impressions on "The Virtual Cell – Cell Biology" http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/tour/cell/cell.htm
This is a pretty cool interactive way to get to know the components of a cell and what they do. The way that it's set up, it kind of reminds me of the way graphics were toward the beginning of the internet. Makes me wonder when this was made. There's also a link to learn how to pronounce the parts as well in case you have trouble with that.
It really is disappointing to hear that they still haven't cleaned up the radioactive mess in Fukushima. It is even more disappointing to hear how they are handling the aftermath. Their government seems to be trying to sweep things under the rug as quickly as possible and it's just irresponsible. I mean, they only decontaminated pieces of land, a lot of them with just "20-meter strips along roads, around houses and agricultural fields". Really? It really is living like you're in a prison with invisible walls. And you have 65ft to buffer you between radioactive land? What about the wind? What about the soil? How deep are they decontaminating and how are they ensuring that neighboring radioactive soil won't contaminate the nearby "decontaminated soil"? Also, this really sounds like living here would be a very REAL version of the game of hot lava trying to get around... and I don't know if there would really be anyone winning. And mothers are being "labeled as neurotic or irrational" by both their husbands and the government because they refuse to go back to this? I have no words for these people. I just don't know where to start on that one. It's appalling.
My impressions on "The Virtual Cell – Cell Biology" http://www.ibiblio.org/virtualcell/tour/cell/cell.htm
This is a pretty cool interactive way to get to know the components of a cell and what they do. The way that it's set up, it kind of reminds me of the way graphics were toward the beginning of the internet. Makes me wonder when this was made. There's also a link to learn how to pronounce the parts as well in case you have trouble with that.
Chemistry - Week 10
Investigate the chemicals under your own kitchen sink, and prepare a short report on what you find.
This report will be extremely short. I have no kitchen sink, and the only cleaning products I use with chemicals are my laundry detergent (Arm & Hammer) and dish soap (Method). My Method dish soap says it uses "non-toxic, plant-based 'Powergreen' technology." Not really sure what exactly that means though, but it also says, "designed + sourced responsibly from beginning to end to beginning again," on the back. The A&H detergent says it "contains biodegradable surfactants" on the back. Are they safe? Maybe the Method? Not confident about the A&H. Even if the chemicals in it are safer, I forgot to get unscented and usually, scented products are made from plastic adhesives, so I read somewhere...
Are you seeing more "safer" alternatives to cleaning products?
I think so.. I have noticed the "safer" dish soap alternative, Method, popping up quite a while ago at standard places like Walgreens, Target and Safeway. After I started working at Whole Foods, I did notice that there were quite a few "safer" options on their shelves. I honestly haven't had much time to check them out and see if they really were "safe" though, hence the reference of "safe" and "safer" in quotation marks.
This report will be extremely short. I have no kitchen sink, and the only cleaning products I use with chemicals are my laundry detergent (Arm & Hammer) and dish soap (Method). My Method dish soap says it uses "non-toxic, plant-based 'Powergreen' technology." Not really sure what exactly that means though, but it also says, "designed + sourced responsibly from beginning to end to beginning again," on the back. The A&H detergent says it "contains biodegradable surfactants" on the back. Are they safe? Maybe the Method? Not confident about the A&H. Even if the chemicals in it are safer, I forgot to get unscented and usually, scented products are made from plastic adhesives, so I read somewhere...
Are you seeing more "safer" alternatives to cleaning products?
I think so.. I have noticed the "safer" dish soap alternative, Method, popping up quite a while ago at standard places like Walgreens, Target and Safeway. After I started working at Whole Foods, I did notice that there were quite a few "safer" options on their shelves. I honestly haven't had much time to check them out and see if they really were "safe" though, hence the reference of "safe" and "safer" in quotation marks.
Biochemistry - Week 1
"Biochemistry is a science that is concerned with the composition and changes in the formation of living species."
I chose this quote because it explained and helped me most with my understanding of what biochemistry means thus far. Also, it fell in line with the explanation of it that I saw on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJsaq2lNjU). Chemistry is more about the study of the elements and the molecules that make up the matter of the universe and how they react to each other, while biology is more about the study of life. Biochemistry links the two together and is the study of those minute components of what makes life happen on a physical level.
"Acupuncture is a healthcare system"
I think I enjoyed this article the most this week. I always like to hear about people making healing more accessible where it is desperately needed. It reminds me of one of my favorite articles I read that introduced me to Tupac Shakur's stepfather, Dr. Mutulu Shakur. Dr. Shakur made TCM more accessible to his marginalized community, while simultaneously helping to make it a more credible healing method in the US (https://everyones-place.com/2016/10/04/unusual-history-of-acupuncture-in-the-usa/). It makes me very happy that this effort to make sure the underserved have access to healers is continuing to spread!
It was also nice to hear Tara Manjiw's perspective and experience in TCM. I liked how she said that TCM can be a part of a "network of care". It had not dawned on me that a TCM practitioner could work with the patients' other healthcare providers. I don't think it's a regular thing here unless the TCM practitioner is in a facility that already links everyone together. I had assumed that, most of the time, if a TCM practitioner tries to reach out and work with another health care provider in the treatment of a mutual patient, that other health care provider may not be as cooperative and may not take the TCM practitioner seriously. But that was just an assumption, and if I'm wrong, I'd be happy to be corrected on this.
I chose this quote because it explained and helped me most with my understanding of what biochemistry means thus far. Also, it fell in line with the explanation of it that I saw on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJsaq2lNjU). Chemistry is more about the study of the elements and the molecules that make up the matter of the universe and how they react to each other, while biology is more about the study of life. Biochemistry links the two together and is the study of those minute components of what makes life happen on a physical level.
"Acupuncture is a healthcare system"
I think I enjoyed this article the most this week. I always like to hear about people making healing more accessible where it is desperately needed. It reminds me of one of my favorite articles I read that introduced me to Tupac Shakur's stepfather, Dr. Mutulu Shakur. Dr. Shakur made TCM more accessible to his marginalized community, while simultaneously helping to make it a more credible healing method in the US (https://everyones-place.com/2016/10/04/unusual-history-of-acupuncture-in-the-usa/). It makes me very happy that this effort to make sure the underserved have access to healers is continuing to spread!
It was also nice to hear Tara Manjiw's perspective and experience in TCM. I liked how she said that TCM can be a part of a "network of care". It had not dawned on me that a TCM practitioner could work with the patients' other healthcare providers. I don't think it's a regular thing here unless the TCM practitioner is in a facility that already links everyone together. I had assumed that, most of the time, if a TCM practitioner tries to reach out and work with another health care provider in the treatment of a mutual patient, that other health care provider may not be as cooperative and may not take the TCM practitioner seriously. But that was just an assumption, and if I'm wrong, I'd be happy to be corrected on this.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Biochemistry - Week 4
In class, we had a couple of articles regarding skin care this week and it's made me a little sad. I mean, I'm sure rejuvenating tired skin is a thrilling feeling, but it amazes me how much we focus on the aesthetics to look healthy in our society and how little we seem to focus on actual health. I mean, advertisers and magazine just keep turning our heads with beauty headlines, the main two being skin and weight. What I'm thinking is that constantly fixing the appearance, only makes it easier to forget that the appearance is really a symptom of what's happening on the inside. It's like patching up cracks and holes and painting a house that was built on a faulty foundation that made the cracks and holes in the first place.
I like the last sentence in the first article "How to Cure Tired Mom Skin" that was brought up in class that stated, "going to bed an hour earlier usually solves everything". While I get the argument that changing habits is difficult when you have a busy life, running yourself into the ground won't help you in the long run. Bad skin is a sign we probably shouldn't just gloss over. It's our body telling us to find ways to take better care of it. I feel like we put so much emphasis on not showing our flaws and/or offending other people with how we look, we forget that first and foremost, our health and well-being matters so much more. I personally feel like I may not be a beauty queen, but I don't feel a need to hide my imperfect skin or any other imperfections because I don't want to lose that reminder to learn how to take better care of myself when I look in the mirror. Besides, I prefer to know right off the bat if I'm dealing with someone who cares too much about how I look so I don't have to waste my time with them. Also, given the choice between 15 minutes of more sleep or 15 minutes of makeup or skincare, I always pick sleep.
And while I'm on the subject of looks, I also want to say, we as a society focus so much on weight loss that I notice many lose sight of actually eating and living healthier. It's not about how you look! Some people just have thicker builds, so what? It doesn't make you any less attractive than a thin person. I think it's unhealthy to constantly worry about gaining and losing weight. I feel like many would benefit more if they focused on taking in real nourishment and taking care of themselves. It's way less stressful than thinking you have to be more attractive all the time and never feeling like you're good enough. Besides, the media is wrong (though I think it's starting to turn around). Skinny is NOT the only attractive shape out there. I think the mentality should start veering away from "if you look good, you'll feel good" and more toward "if you take better care of your being, you'll feel good".
Monday, July 30, 2018
Biochemistry - Week 3
"..the human species is living as if it had more than one planet to occupy..."
I would say that for the most part, this is true. This is true for the more "privileged". It seems the most true for many of those who have so much more than they need that they have because they want. Those that have not yet experienced a solution they could not buy. However, it is also true for those in this seemingly "privileged" society that are pretty much enslaved due to the high cost of living and the three jobs they need to have just to make ends meet, those who have no choice but to "keep going" to survive without any time at all to really think and ruminate on these things, time to find new ways to conserve. It is true for those who bought into this oblivious paradise of thought that we can live like royalty, just work for it, pay for it, live it up and gorge. Leave behind a trail of damage that someone else can fix, for a fee, of course, and someone else can pick up that tab or just deal with the consequences, it's not like we're rich or something. We can move on, move trash around, make more land somehow.. right? I'm pretty sure it is not the whole of our species, but the modernized world. (Sorry if I sound bitter..)
Thoughts on today's discussion:
It seems we have been so fearful and controlling as a species that we have both directly and indirectly ruined the equilibrium with this planet's oldest inhabitants.. bacteria. I mean, did we think we'd win or something? Not only are we screwing with our own health with our obsession with antibiotics, anti-bacterial soaps, and perfectly sanitary everything, but apparently, we screwed the bees! So not fair for our helpful, hardworking bees. We've damn near wiped out the native species of plants they evolved alongside and left them with a small variety of our choice processed brands. We might as well have just made them their own 7-11. I can only imagine them going up and down the blocks like, "Umm.... where's the REAL food? Seriously... WHERE is it?? Well... this resembles it.. I guess...? I'll just.. I guess.. I'll just eat this. *Nom Nom* This is lacking in something... I guess I'll just supplement some of that with umm... concrete? There's gotta be a variety of minerals or bacteria in that.. *Sigh* Ok..." We brought the food desert to the bees. Holy crap. This is sad news.
I would say that for the most part, this is true. This is true for the more "privileged". It seems the most true for many of those who have so much more than they need that they have because they want. Those that have not yet experienced a solution they could not buy. However, it is also true for those in this seemingly "privileged" society that are pretty much enslaved due to the high cost of living and the three jobs they need to have just to make ends meet, those who have no choice but to "keep going" to survive without any time at all to really think and ruminate on these things, time to find new ways to conserve. It is true for those who bought into this oblivious paradise of thought that we can live like royalty, just work for it, pay for it, live it up and gorge. Leave behind a trail of damage that someone else can fix, for a fee, of course, and someone else can pick up that tab or just deal with the consequences, it's not like we're rich or something. We can move on, move trash around, make more land somehow.. right? I'm pretty sure it is not the whole of our species, but the modernized world. (Sorry if I sound bitter..)
Thoughts on today's discussion:
It seems we have been so fearful and controlling as a species that we have both directly and indirectly ruined the equilibrium with this planet's oldest inhabitants.. bacteria. I mean, did we think we'd win or something? Not only are we screwing with our own health with our obsession with antibiotics, anti-bacterial soaps, and perfectly sanitary everything, but apparently, we screwed the bees! So not fair for our helpful, hardworking bees. We've damn near wiped out the native species of plants they evolved alongside and left them with a small variety of our choice processed brands. We might as well have just made them their own 7-11. I can only imagine them going up and down the blocks like, "Umm.... where's the REAL food? Seriously... WHERE is it?? Well... this resembles it.. I guess...? I'll just.. I guess.. I'll just eat this. *Nom Nom* This is lacking in something... I guess I'll just supplement some of that with umm... concrete? There's gotta be a variety of minerals or bacteria in that.. *Sigh* Ok..." We brought the food desert to the bees. Holy crap. This is sad news.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Guilt-free non-action
7/2
I thought I was actually good at this, but apparently, not so much. I have not really achieved this very well this semester. I was doing this well last semester to keep me sane, but I think that I'm so overloaded this semester, I just can't do it without the guilt. I keep freezing up and/or getting lost in my "OMG, how the heck am I supposed to do all this and continue simple self-care practices like feed myself and clean" thoughts and then I lose track of time. I'm never done with what I need to do and I end up penalizing myself for the lost time by trying to force myself to do anything involving study or self-care instead. The closest I can get so far is my occasional hanging out with a friend who I know I can talk TCM with and get to know what I have already absorbed a little better. It's my strange way of doing "nothing", but still doing something. Not sure if that counts though..
7/13
I'm not entirely sure about this non-action, and I'm definitely not sure about this guilt-free thing. At this point, I'm struggling to stay not too far behind, so even the productive things I need to do like getting food and cleaning are starting to come with a smidgen of guilt, but at the very least, in the moment I'm somewhat guilt-free, the guilt usually comes when I'm looking at all studying I have to get done again and trying to figure out how I'm going to do it. I'll say that I have small successes in between studying when I need to just take a break, I'll eat a snack and watch a short video or go for a short walk. I have been going for walks with a friend most mornings guilt-free, but I don't know if it counts as non-action. It's a well-calculated "non-action" maybe, because I'm not exactly doing nothing. I am letting myself enjoy a break while crossing multiple things off my to-do list (socializing, exercise, breakfast, and Chinese medicine talk). Does that count as non-action? I don't know...
7/13
I'm not entirely sure about this non-action, and I'm definitely not sure about this guilt-free thing. At this point, I'm struggling to stay not too far behind, so even the productive things I need to do like getting food and cleaning are starting to come with a smidgen of guilt, but at the very least, in the moment I'm somewhat guilt-free, the guilt usually comes when I'm looking at all studying I have to get done again and trying to figure out how I'm going to do it. I'll say that I have small successes in between studying when I need to just take a break, I'll eat a snack and watch a short video or go for a short walk. I have been going for walks with a friend most mornings guilt-free, but I don't know if it counts as non-action. It's a well-calculated "non-action" maybe, because I'm not exactly doing nothing. I am letting myself enjoy a break while crossing multiple things off my to-do list (socializing, exercise, breakfast, and Chinese medicine talk). Does that count as non-action? I don't know...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)