Author: Nerd

Biking towards a sustainable Life and Environment

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Bike Commuter in Portland Oregon

Both of my patellas are worn in my knees. Considering my doctor first discovered this at a younger age, I was too young for surgery so he suggested I swim and cycle more. A study conducted recently found that older patients with osteoarthritis and knee pain actually improved their condition when introduced to cycling.

Keep your blood pressure low

A daily active regimen involving biking, makes a person 31-percent less likely to develop high blood pressure. 

Weight loss

Losing weight is one of the biggest benefits of cycling. DUH, your burning calories while getting around. Talk about multi-tasking.

Defend from Cancer

It goes without saying, that a regular rigorous exercise regimen, along with a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight will help you fight cancer. Those with a higher fitness level as they approached middle age were at a lower risk for lung and colorectal cancer.  A cycle a day will help keep cancer away.

Better Mood

After any type of exercise or hard work, your body releases “feel good” hormones, that make you feel good about your willpower and accomplishment. Go ahead and pack yourself on the back for your efforts.

Commute Green

If you want to ride every day but are strapped for time, one of the most logical ways to fit it into your schedule is making it part of your commute. “Cycling can be easily integrated into daily life, unlike gym workouts,” Unless you have a gym in your job, or in your building, you must allocate time and typically go out of your way for the gym. Biking again is a great way to multitask getting around and working out.

Quicker Commute 

With only 2 wheels it’s a lot easier to get through lanes and take detours, therefore, avoiding traffic and rush hour.

Sustainable Life (Longevity)

Cycling helps even when you’re getting older. I believe this is the main form of physical therapy for the elderly. A study conducted in Norway followed a group of elderly men in the 70’s to 80’s, they discovered just working out 30 minutes a day extended their longevity by five years. This was compared to men who did no physical activity.

Consider buy, renting, or sharing a bike. Of course, Bike sharing can be more cost, and eco-friendly. There are many used bikes floating around looking for new owners. Seek these options first before buying a new cycle. If you don’t know anything about bikes, volunteer to fix some, and learn more. 

Check out: Recycle a Bicycle

Volunteer Night- Long Island City: Join us on Thursdays from 6:00-8:00pm in our LIC workshop for our weekly volunteer night! Lend a hand, meet others, and learn basic bike mechanics, free of charge. No previous experience necessary! All are welcome!

For more information or to schedule a volunteer event, please send an inquiry to director@recycleabicycle.org

Banana Super Powers

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Though they are native to Asia, Bananas grow in much warmer parts of the world. They are part of the berry family, contain a fair amount of fiber and antioxidants, help you lose weight, reduce bloat, fight cancer and increase your energy, all for just 19 cents a piece. At least that’s what they are going for at Trader Joe’s

One medium-sized banana (118 grams) contains 

Potassium: 9% of the RDI.

Vitamin B6: 33% of the RDI.

Magnesium: 8% of the RDI.

Copper: 10% of the RDI.

Manganese: 14% of the RDI.

Vitamin C: 11% of the RDI.

Protein: 1.3 grams.

Fat: 0.4 grams.

Net carbs: 24 grams.

Fiber: 3.1 grams.

Each Banana contains almost 105 calories, consists mostly of carbs, water, and contains very little protein and no fat.

The carbs in green bananas are mostly of starch and resistant starch, but as the banana turns yellow, starch turns into sugar (glucose, fructose, and sucrose).

They improve digestion

Bananas contain nutrients that help moderate body sugar levels after meals. They also help to reduce one’s appetite by slowing stomach emptying.

Assist in Weight loss 

Because of their appetite reducing effects, Bananas’s can assist in weight loss, since they are low in calories and high in nutrients your bodies need. 

Help in Sustaining your Hearts Health 

In my opinion, Banana’s are the best source of potassium and magnesium. These particular nutrients are essential for a healthy heart. 

A great source of antioxidants 

Bananas are high in antioxidants, such as dopamine and catechins. These potent antioxidants have been known to reduce the damage of free radicals, and lower risks of degenerative diseases, and heart disease. 

A common misunderstanding is that dopamine from bananas acts as a feel-good chemical in the brain, but dopamine produced by bananas never cross the blood-brain barrier. It simply acts as a strong antioxidant instead of altering hormones or mood

Banana’s help you feel full

Bananas ripe and unripe contain high amounts of resistant starch or pectin, both have been shown to have appetite-reducing effects. Both help keep you full. 

Unripe Bananas are a diabetic’s friend

Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for many of the world’s most serious diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Several studies have shown that 15–30 grams of resistant starch per day may improve insulin sensitivity by 33–50%, in as little as 4 weeks

Unripe bananas are a great source of resistant starch, and could, therefore, help improve insulin sensitivity.

Banana’s lend help to your kidneys

Thanks to its potassium potency, eating bananas several times a week can reduce the risk of kidney disease by up to 50%. Potassium is essential for blood pressure control and healthy kidney function.

Works like protein when it comes to Muscles

Because your muscle tissue is made up predominantly of protein, it needs an infusion of dietary protein, such as whey (pref. casein), that is rich in essential amino acids and can repair the damage that occurs during exercise. Potassium also assists your muscle recovery from a workout, strengthens their development and allows you to work out more.

Helps with PMS

Bananas have a  great amount of vitamin B6, which balance glucose ratios in blood and control typical mood swings. You don’t have to eat three bananas daily, but you should try to eat them during menstruation. They decrease stomach, back pain, and will make you happy.

Improves brain functions 

Bananas have a good amount of potassium & magnesium, both minerals are so important for brain development. Potassium provides oxygen to the brain and magnesium repairs electrical activities between the nerves and brain. Eating bananas daily, active your brain and improve memory. They also protect you from Alzheimer and other neurological diseases.

People don’t often carry bananas with them for the day because they are afraid of the banana getting squashed and getting all over the contents of their bag. There’s a solution for this with the Banana Saver. 

 

France 2018

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January – February 2018 I will be Visiting France. I am still attempting to put an Itinerary together and I have some time. Traveling during cold months is a lot different than visiting a country in the Spring or summer, but that has never stopped me. 

Please feel free to share any suggestion. All suggestions are welcomed and appreciated. 

InfluenceHers INSPIREBRUNCH April 22nd

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Join inspiring and influential women in discussing topics that affect the communities we represent and meet the women leaders running these organizations.

Learn about the ways in which InfluenceHers is partnering with organization fighting homelessness, like our international partner Huruma Trust Fund an orphanage which is home to over 100 children rescued from the streets of Ngong, Kenya and our local partner The Star Boutique.

This month’s special guest will be Danielle Skeen, founder and Executive Director of The Star Boutique, a non-profit which serves teenage girls affected by homelessness. 

Read more about them here.

Read More about the event  here

Supporter Appreciation Celebration, April 18th

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Where: Toto USA New York Showroom

Time: 6pm – 8pm

Contact: json@habitatnyc.org or call us at (212) 991-4000 Ext. 351

With 150 homes currently under construction and 100 more in pre-development, Habitat NYC is helping more hard-working New Yorkers than ever before. And we couldn’t have done it without your generous support.

Please join us for a supporter appreciation event to celebrate all that you have helped us to accomplish!

TOTO USA New York Showroom
20 West 22nd Street, Ground Floor
New York, New York, 10010

Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, adult beverages, and an exciting raffle. All guests must register in advance.

Special thanks to TOTO USA, their generous host for the evening and valued partner in our mission to build sustainable, affordable New York.

For more information or if you have any questions, please email json@habitatnyc.org or call us at (212) 991-4000 Ext. 351.

Sustainable Haiku Poem

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Still, in the spirit from visiting Japan,  I put together a Haiku piece.

Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. Haiku poems consist of 3 lines. The first and last lines of a Haiku have 5 syllables and the middle line has 7 syllables. The lines rarely rhyme.

Live Sus-tain-a-ble

Col-lect mem-or-ries not things

Share Nerd-D-N-A

The Minimalist – Bathroom Toiletries

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What if you only had 3 toiletries to use daily?

 

I ran across an interesting startup Akamai, ‘Who’s goal is to encourage people to wash less, which completely aligns with my zero-waste message.

Like many topics, getting people to understand the importance of changing their habits for the better can be difficult, most prefer to stick with their daily routine. Imagine a bare or clutter free medicine cabinet and bathroom. To the average human, limiting your toiletries to 3 products may be impossible.

This is what US-based personal care startup Akamai wants to influence us to do, it’s quite unusualto ask customers to buy less.

Akamai, which started trading earlier this year, claims to solve all of your personal care needs with 3 products: A soap/face/hair bar, toothpaste; and a hair and body oil spray for fragrance and moisturizing. Akamai encourages customers to wash less often.

I agree with Co-founder Vincent Cobb, this isn’t his first run with a conscious concept. He’s known for an online store selling reusable products and says, the concept is a reaction against an industry set up to drive over-consumption; which isn’t sustainable.

“Typical personal care product companies want you to consume more of their products, so they say, wash your hair and body every day,” says Cobb. “We have been led into this false sense of what is required to have healthy skin, teeth, and hair.”

In agreeing with Cobb, this should be the opposite for several reasons including the use of fluoride in tap water for many nations. Subjecting your skin, teeth, and hair to such a harsh chemical daily is harmful. Please read more about, “The effects of fluoride in your tap water.

The UK beauty and personal care industry is worth £17bn, according to research company Mintel. Besides the luxury end of the market, most beauty products fall into the “fast moving consumer goods” category, which means,  retailers and manufacturers, rely on selling high quantities.

The rise of e-commerce, selfie nation, and beauty/fashion blogging have also boosted the steady growth and development of product lines, empowering an industry surge even during periods when the economy is unpredictable, according to market research firms. Let’s face it some people seem to care more about how they look, then if their bills are paid.

Convincing people that less is more when it comes to beauty and personal care is no easy task, says Ashenburg. “That sense of insecurity, especially among women, that I might not be smelling perfect is embedded in our culture – and advertising makes enormous use of that insecurity.”

Industrial growth comes at an environmental cost. More beauty products mean more chemicals and water used in manufacturing and more plastic packaging. Since the containers used are often hard to wash out, or to recycle, much of it ends up in a landfill, says Dustin Benton, acting policy director at environmental charity Green Alliance.

Akamai isn’t the first company to tackle problems with . Clothing company Patagonia, for example, famously ran a Don’t buy this jacket ad in 2011, and encourages customers to repair garments rather than throw them away.

Such companies face the question of whether calling for reduced consumption while actively marketing their products is really a viable fix for consumerism. Patagonia’s sales, for example, went up following its campaign.

Hopefully, Akamai is successful in using their products to change consumption habits for the better, I think they’ve started off with the perfect items. People will always need and seek products to clean their skin, teeth, and hair, but can be encouraged to buy less of these items. 

The Powers of Licorice Root

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Licorice Root Benefits

Licorice root contains many anti-depressant compounds and is an excellent alternative to St. John’s Wort. As a herbal medicine, it has an impressive list of well-documented uses and is probably one of the most over-looked of all herbal wonders.

Hundreds of potentially healing substances have been identified in licorice as well, including compounds called flavonoids and various plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). The herb’s key therapeutic compound, glycyrrhizin (which is 50 times sweeter than sugar) exerts numerous beneficial effects on the body, making licorice a valuable herb for treating a host of ailments. It seems to prevent the breakdown of adrenal hormones such as cortisol (the body’s primary stress-fighting adrenal hormone), making these hormones more available to the body.

It has a well-documented reputation for healing ulcers. It can lower stomach acid levels, relieve heartburn and indigestion and acts as a mild laxative.

It can also be used for irritation, inflammation, and spasm in the digestive tract. Through its beneficial action on the liver, it increases bile flow and lowers cholesterol levels.

Boosts immune system

Licorice also appears to enhance immunity by boosting levels of interferon, a key immune system chemical that fights off attacking viruses. It also contains powerful antioxidants as well as certain phytoestrogens that can perform some of the functions of the body’s natural estrogens; very helpful during the menopause. Glycyrrhizinic acid also seems to stop the growth of many bacteria and of viruses such as influenza A.

Relieves pain and stress

It has an aspirin-like action and is helpful in relieving fevers and soothing pain such as headaches. Its anti-allergenic effect is very useful for hay fever, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and bronchial asthma. Possibly by its action on the adrenal glands, licorice has the ability to improve resistance to stress. It should be thought of during times of both physical and emotional stress, after surgery or during convalescence, or when feeling tired and run down.

Control respiratory problems and sore throat

Licorice eases congestion and coughing by helping to loosen and thin mucus in airways; this makes a cough more “productive,” bringing up phlegm and other mucous bits. Licorice also helps to relax bronchial spasms. The herb also soothes soreness in the throat and fights viruses that cause respiratory illnesses and an overproduction of mucus, such as irritating coughs, asthma and chest infections.

Lessen symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

By enhancing cortisol activity, glycyrrhizin helps to increase energy, ease stress and reduce the symptoms of ailments sensitive to cortisol levels, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromylagia.

Combat hepatitis

Licorice both protects the liver and promotes healing in this vital organ. The herb’s anti-inflammatory properties help calm hepatitis-associated liver inflammation. Licorice also fights the virus commonly responsible for hepatitis and supplies valuable antioxidant compounds that help maintain the overall health of the liver.

Treat PMS and menstrual problems

The phytoestrogens in licorice have a mild estrogenic effect, making the herb potentially useful in easing certain symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), such as irritability, bloating and breast tenderness. Although the glycyrrhizin in licorice actually inhibits the effect of the body’s own estrogens, the mild estrogenic effect produced by licorice’s phytoestrogens manages to override this inhibiting action.

Prevent heart disease

Recent studies have found that by limiting the damage from LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, licorice may discourage artery-clogging plaque formation and contribute to the healthy functioning of the heart. Research indicates that modest doses of licorice (100 mg a day) have this effect.

Latin Names

Glycyrrhiza glabra, Liquiritia Officinalis

Common Names

Chinese Licorice, Gan Cao, Kan-ts’ao, Kuo-lao, Licorice, Licorice Root, Ling-t’ung, Liquorice, Mei-ts’ao, Mi-kan, Mi-ts’ao, Sweet Licorice, Sweet Wood, Yasti Madhu

Properties

Anti-allergic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, emollient, estrogenic (mild), expectorant, laxative, pectoral (moderate), soothing

Indicated for

Addison’s disease, allergic rhinitis, arthritis, athlete’s foot, baldness, bronchitis, bursitis, canker sores, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, chronic fatigue, colds, colitis and intestinal infections, conjunctivitis, constipation, coughs, dandruff, depression, duodenal-ulcers, emphysema, exhaustion, fibromyalgia, flu, fungal infections, gastritis, gingivitis and tooth decay, gout, hay fever, heartburn, hepatitis, inflamed gallbladder, liver disease, Lyme disease, menopause, prostate enlargement, psoriasis, shingles, sore throat, spleen disorders, tendinitis, throat problems, tuberculosis, ulcers, viral infections, yeast infections. Reducing stomach acid and relieving heartburn and indigestion. Increasing bile flow and lowering cholesterol. Improving resistance to physical and emotional stress.

Do not confuse with licorice confectionery which contains very little, if any, licorice and is in fact flavored by anise.

Can cause water retention and raised blood pressure. Prolonged use should be avoided if you suffer from high blood pressure.

Can cause mild adrenal stimulation.

Fall in love with this Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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Omg, I tried this and loved this. There are so many different combinations of cheese you can swap out. 

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices bread (try to find one filled with lots of different whole grains and seeds)
2-3 tablespoons Green Herb Pesto or see (Recipe)
2 slices mild white melty cheese like mozzarella
handful fresh baby spinach
¼ avocado, sliced
2 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
olive oil (and butter optional )

Directions

Spread about 1 tablespoon of Green Goddess Herb Pesto onto each slice of bread (2 tablespoons total, but if you’re sensitive, go light, the pesto is STRONG).

On one slice of bread, add 1 slice of cheese, sliced avocado, crumbled goat cheese, spinach, second slice of cheese, then top it with the second slice of bread. Press together gently.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat. (If you want to use butter, add it to the oil and let it melt). Add the sandwich to the oil and cook until bread is golden brown. Press down on the sandwich lightly, then flip the sandwich over and cook until the second side is golden brown.

NerdDNA Green Goddess Herb Pesto Recipe