Dr. Ryan Shelton Zenith Labs Research Director Shares 7 Ways Meditation Helps Mental Health

Health

Karin Kloosterman

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June 30, 2022

Dr. Ryan Shelton Zenith Labs Research Director Shares 7 Ways Meditation Helps Mental Health

Millions of people around the world suffer from some form of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder- are just a few conditions that can make life incredibly difficult. While medication and therapy are often effective treatments, they aren’t for everyone. Some people find that meditation is a better solution for them. In this blog post, Dr. Ryan Shelton of Zenith Labs will discuss seven ways meditation can help improve mental health!

What Is Meditation?

Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, either to realize some benefit or the reason to acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content simply. There are many different types of meditation, each with its methods and purposes.

For example, mindfulness meditation focuses on mindfulness, or the awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings without judgment. Other popular types of meditation include transcendental Meditation, Vipassana Meditation, and Zazen Meditation. While there are many different types of meditation, they all share the common goal of calming the mind and promoting inner peace.

How To Practice Meditation

There are several vital steps to take to practice meditation effectively. The first step is to find a quiet, comfortable space where you can be at peace and undisturbed. This might be a private room in your home or a secluded corner of the local park. Next, you should choose a time of day when you are most relaxed and focused, ideally between early morning and mid-afternoon.

Once you have set aside some time for your meditation session, it’s essential to prepare your body for stillness by taking off any extra layers of clothing, pulling your hair back in a ponytail, and clearing away any distractions or devices that could divert your attention from yourself and your breathing. You might also want to participate in a brief stretching routine beforehand to limber up and get the blood flowing.

Finally, the key to meditating effectively is to stay focused on your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Inhale deeply through the nose, feeling the cool breath fill every inch of your lungs; then exhale slowly through the mouth with satisfaction as all of that tension melts away. With regular practice, meditation can help increase focus, clarity, and overall well-being.

How Does Meditation Help Mental Health?

There are many ways in which meditation can help improve mental health. Below, we will discuss seven of the most common benefits:

Meditation can help improve mental clarity

When you meditate, Dr. Ryan Shelton of Zenith Labs says your mind is allowed to rest and rejuvenate. This can help improve mental clarity and focus. If you have been struggling with making decisions or solving problems, meditation may be able to help!

It can boost your mood and make you feel happier

If you are struggling with depression or anxiety, meditation can be a great way to lift your spirits. Meditation promotes happiness and well-being by releasing endorphins (the “feel-good” hormone) into the brain.

It can help you focus and be more productive

If you have trouble staying focused on tasks, meditation can help. Meditation helps train the mind to focus and be more present at the moment. This can lead to improved productivity at work or school.

It can increase self-awareness and compassion

Meditation allows you to step back from your thoughts and observe them without judgment. This can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and those of others. Additionally, meditation can help increase feelings of compassion and understanding for yourself and others.

Meditation can reduce stress and anxiety levels

One of the most common benefits of meditation is that it can help reduce stress and anxiety levels. Meditation works by calming the mind and slowing down racing thoughts. This can lead to a reduction in stress and anxiety symptoms.

It can improve sleep quality

If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, meditation may be able to help. Meditation can help calm the mind and promote relaxation. This can lead to improved sleep quality and quantity.

It can lower blood pressure

Meditation has been shown to lower blood pressure by promoting relaxation. If you have high blood pressure, meditation may be a helpful way to reduce your risk of health complications.

Where To Find More Information About Meditation

If you are interested in learning more about meditation and how it can help improve mental health, many resources are available. You can talk to your doctor or a mental health professional, look for classes or groups in your community, or find information online.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, while the benefits of meditation are vast and varied, the practice can undoubtedly be advantageous for individuals looking to improve their mental clarity, mood, productivity, self-awareness, compassion, and stress levels. Additionally, those who suffer from hypertension or poor sleep quality may find relief through regular meditation. Though the research on meditation is still growing and more comprehensive studies are needed to make any definitive claims about its effects on human health, what we know thus far is promising enough to consider incorporating it into our daily routines.

The Middle East & Addiction: Is It Being Ignored?

Health

Bhok Thompson

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June 30, 2022

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The Middle East & Addiction: Is It Being Ignored?

khat, Yemen, youth, illiteracy, education, water shortage, addiction — *Young man selling khat, gat or qat leaves in Yemen. It is a plant, but it’s also an addictive drug used freely in the Middle East.*

Right across the world there’s a growing problem with substance abuse and addiction, and the Middle East is no different.

However, when it comes to addiction in Middle Eastern countries, it isn’t being tackled head on as other regions around the world. Culture and beliefs are playing a large part in that, with Sharia Law forbidding the usage of alcohol and drugs, with addiction to those carrying as much as 10 years imprisonment.

narcotics, drugs, khat, Yemen, Israel, food, health — *Khat is a kind of narcotics that you can buy freely in the Middle East*

Those strict legal penalties make it a significant challenge for not only companies and charities to be set up to help combat addiction, but also for people suffering to get the treatment they need.

In fact, studies have shown that people in the Middle East suffering from addiction are even too afraid to discuss their problems with friends and family.

shisha hoosha pupe — *Shisha pipe is a massive addiction in the Middle East.*

That zero tolerance approach has led to a lack of treatment centres to address addiction, whether that be alcohol, gambling, drugs or any other kind. Which is seeing a number of people from the region wanting to address their addictions travel abroad.

At present, Saudi Arabia is the country suffering most with addiction, and these are largely drugs of the prescription kind. Captagon, which is used as a stimulant, is one of the largest problems with misuse, with the Saudi authorities joining forces with Syria to seize over 500 kilograms of the drug, while shortly after 30 million more pills were confiscated in the nation. That’s on top of a large amount of the likes of cannabis and cocaine entering Saudi Arabia.

Elsewhere, there has been an opioid crisis in the Middle East (fuelled by solar panels) that has ravaged through the developing world, including the likes of India and Africa too, with tramadol causing a huge public health dilemma. But without the opportunity for treatment to combat addiction, those looking to get clean are having to go it alone, dealing with tramadol withdrawal, alongside other drugs like Captagon the jihai drug manufactured in Syria.

opium solar panels Afghanistan — *Solar panels are a boon for the planet but they are now fuelling bumper crops of poppies for the Taliban’s opium trade in Afghanistan.*

However, those who can afford to get the treatment they need, without the fear of imprisonment, are largely heading to Thailand.

Treatment in Thailand for people in the Middle East looking to get clean is growing, and it’s proving a popular place to receive the care they need for a number of different reasons.

Firstly, the nation is well known for its expertise, and such is the popularity with Middle Easterners, almost 60% of inbound medical tourists heading to Thailand are coming from the region. That trust is allowing people to get the treatment they need with confidence, as well as benefiting from the excellent technology and amenities the nation offers.

And ultimately, that can be done with peace of mind, for a reasonable cost and with the anonymity that will ensure not only safety from legal repercussions, but also from potentially being cast aside from friends, family and even place of worship.

Of course, that doesn’t help those suffering without the capital to visit Thailand, or anywhere else in the world to receive treatment. The UAE have launched new laws that will prevent people receiving treatment from being prosecuted which has been seen as a large step forward, but it’s a country that is in the minority at present.

Whether that will change in the coming years as more Middle Eastern nations look to adopt western culture and open up to change, only time will tell. But while relationships across borders continue to be fractured, drugs will continue to cross them and be a large root of the problem and the rise of addiction is only going to grow across the region.

4 Effective Strategies to Manage Working Time in a Company

Business

Bhok Thompson

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June 29, 2022

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4 Effective Strategies to Manage Working Time in a Company

There are usually going to be a variety of things that can be done if you’re looking to improve the performance of your business. If you want to reach deadlines, boost productivity overall and even ensure your workers get time to rest and reset to ensure that no one gets burnt out, you may be interested in time management.

Here’s a closer look into what you could do to keep track of time in the workplace and the benefits that this can offer.

What are some key strategies in time management?

Sometimes, individuals will find that a little time management can go a long way in ensuring that projects get done – as well as improving the business in general. Here are just 4 of the things that we think will help you in managing time better within your company:

1. Plan out the work day

In some cases, simply having a timetable can assist you with better managing time. With a little effort, you could create the ideal structure for your business’s unique needs. Consider the tasks that need doing, who should do them and any other factors that you think may be important to the process.

2. Learn what and when to prioritise

In some organisations, there’s an issue of simply not knowing how to prioritise the most important work first. Structuring your timetable wrong can be easy to do and can come with a plethora of its own issues, but there is a simple fix to this.

Try to categorise different tasks based on their urgency and importance. Form your to-do lists and schedules based on the projects and tasks that are the most demanding. In most cases, this will work wonders for keeping your employees on track with what needs to be done and when.

3. Keep yourself and your workers organised

A good timetable may not mean as much if you can’t stay organised. Organisation is a skill that any manager needs when trying to ensure that projects get done – and fortunately, it’s one that can be learned. For example, setting up a system to keep your emails as simple as possible (such as with colour-coding) can often be excellent, as well as simply cleaning up the area around you. Often, it’s the little things that can make a difference.

4. Take advantage of the tools available to you

For those who want to implement proper time management, it will often be a good idea to consider some of the different applications that could be of use. If you look at a website like tracktime24.com for example, there’s a good chance that you’ll find a whole host of great tools to help you out.

What are the benefits of time management?

Still not sure if proper time management is really all that useful? Here’s a quick look into some of the key benefits that it can offer:

It can significantly increase productivity and performance in your business
Getting work done can lead to a more positive sense of self, which can contribute to a brighter workplace
It could help your workers to feel less stress and even offer more time for rest and relaxation
You’ll be able to tackle more projects down the line, once you have a decent system in place

Ancient mosque found in the Holy Land

Ancient

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June 24, 2022

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A luxurious estate and a rare rural mosque – among the earliest known worldwide (over 1200 years old) – was recently discovered outside the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev Desert, Israel.

In recent excavations, archaeologists were surprised to discover a rural mosque of the seventh to eighth centuries CE. The mosque includes a square room and a wall facing the direction of Mecca (qibla), the holy city of Islam. A niche shaped in a half-circle, is located along the center of the wall pointing southwards (mihrab).

While synagogues in Israel have been around for thousands of years and churches pre-date Islam, the unique architectural features show that the building was used as a mosque.

The mosque stands alone in the site and it could have been used by several dozen Muslim worshippers, most likely local inhabitants, for prayers.

The mosque is located about 400 meters south of what was once a luxurious estate building constructed around a central courtyard. It includes halls with stone pavement, some paved with marble, and walls decorated with frescoes painted in red and yellow.

Remains of fine tableware and glass vessels, and oil lamps (for genies?) some decorated with drawings of plants and animals show that the people who lived in this area were wealthy.

According to researchers from the Israel Antiquities Authority who manage the site: “The evidence from all of the excavation areas gathered so far: the dwellings, the houses of prayer, the ovens and utensils, sheds light on the beginnings of the historical process that took place in the northern Negev with the introduction of a new religion – the religion of Islam, and a new rulership and culture in the region.

“These were gradually established, inheriting the earlier Byzantine government and Christian religion that held sway over the land for hundreds of years.”

According to the director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, Eli Eskozido, “The important largescale excavation in Rahat contributes to our knowledge, and that of the residents of the city of Rahat, who, together with the Authority for Development and Settlement of the Bedouin in the Negev, will be rewarded with the integration of unique finds in the development of the city – the ancient next to the modern – as in the words of King Solomon: “One generation comes and another passes away, and the earth abides forever.”

Large-scale archaeological excavations conducted by the Israel Antiquities Authority to facilitate the construction of a new neighborhood in Rahat, underwritten by the Authority for Development and Settlement of the Bedouin in the Negev, are providing graphic details of the gradual transition from Christianity to Islam that took place in the seventh to ninth centuries CE.

Close by the archeologists uncovered a farmhouse of the Byzantine period that apparently housed Christian farmers and included a fortified tower and rooms with strong walls surrounding a courtyard. On a nearby hilltop, they found estates constructed in a completely different manner; these were built about a hundred years later, in the late seventh to ninth centuries – the Early Islamic period.

The estate buildings, apparently built by Muslims, were constructed with lines of rooms next to large, open courtyards. Many of the clay-lined ovens revealed in the rooms and courtyards were probably used for cooking food. The walls of these buildings were relatively thin and apparently supported mudbrick walls that have not survived.

What to Do About Always Feeling Sick

Health

Julie Steinbeck

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June 24, 2022

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dog pug feeling sick — *Are you feeling sick chronically – like all the time? Maybe it’s post-covid or long-haul covid, maybe it’s menopause or you are just run down. How can you cope?*

We all have days when we don’t feel well. And everyone will eventually come down with a bad cold or case of flu that puts them out of commission for a week.

But when it seems like you’re sick every day or unable to escape specific aches and pains, it’s something worth looking into as soon as possible. Failure to do so could make matters worse. Besides, who wants to live that way?

If you or a loved one constantly feel sick, it’s time to take action. The following are six paths towards freeing yourself of the agony and burden of persistent illness:

Consult your physician

Doctors are there to help us be healthy. With this in mind, your first move should be to schedule an appointment with your physician. While they might be unable to solve the problem right away, doctors provide an invaluable resource for individuals concerned about feeling unwell. Be honest about all the symptoms you’re experiencing, regardless of how embarrassing it may seem. Your doctor is not there to judge; she’s there to do everything possible to help you feel better.

Get tested

Many instances of chronic illness come down to underlying conditions. The best way to uncover any undiagnosed condition is to test for them. For example, an allergy test is recommended for those experiencing hay fever, eczema, or asthma on a routine basis. Bloodwork is another common way for individuals to test for various diseases and disorders. While most testing is done at the doctor’s office, many companies offer home-testing options. In both instances, samples are mailed to labs for analysis.

Improve your diet

Nutrients play a significant role in immune system health. Generally speaking, those with diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and seafood tend to have more robust immune systems. This means their bodies do a better job at fighting off infectious diseases. If your diet consists of processed meat, sugary drinks, and other nutrient-low, calorie-dense foods and beverages, consider making healthier choices. It won’t take long for your immune system to reap the benefits.

Get better sleep

Sleep is the time our bodies go into recovery mode. While in dreamland, your body works hard to heal tissue, revitalize cells, and destroy pathogens. Therefore it’s not surprising that quality sleep is linked to a stronger immune system. If you’re struggling to get enough sleep each night, take steps to rectify the situation as soon as possible. Start by improving your sleep environment. This can be done by upgraded bedding, better light control, and improved airflow. If this doesn’t help, consider speaking with a sleep specialist about further steps that can be taken.

Practice better hygiene

The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us of the importance of practicing good hygiene. Doing so slows the spread of disease. With this in mind, consider ways in which your hygiene practices could be improved. For instance, while you might be remembering to wash your hands on a regular basis, you might not be spending enough time at the sink. The general rule is to sing the Happy Birthday song twice in a row while washing your hands. If you’re not the type to sing in the restroom (which is understandable), simply count to 20.

Explore stress management

Occasional stress is an unavoidable fact of life. However, that doesn’t mean we should be living with stress every day of our lives. Doing so is detrimental to our health and wellness; high levels of unmanaged stress are linked to heart disease and diabetes, two conditions that cause a variety of undesirable symptoms. What’s more, they lead to ane an early grave. The solution is to take steps to manage stress. Options include things like meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness tactics.

Getting sick is bound to happen. But nobody needs to go through life feeling constantly unwell. That’s not normal, and could be a sign of a serious problem. The solution is to take steps to uncover what’s causing the aches and pains, followed by trying various ways to improve health. Chances are one or more of the steps you take will prove beneficial in feeling better going forward.

Julie Steinbeck is a freelance writer from Florida. She enjoys covering topics related to business, finance, and travel.

UN’s Gold Standard climate emissions guide for businesses

Business

Karin Kloosterman

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June 23, 2022

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UN’s Gold Standard climate emissions guide for businesses

Want to be sustainably balanced in the eye of shareholders and your clients, whether they are B2B or B2C? Do you want to go carbon zero in the path of Estee Lauder and Colorado College and maybe avoid the negative press and greenwashing by Nespresso’s B Corp status?

You know you want your company’s business to be better informed about climate change and you want to be future-proofed. You also know sustainably-minded companies do better in the long run. So how do you start? The United Nations and its member countries have developed a Net Zero guide.

The Gold Standard is a voluntary carbon offset program focused on progressing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. Green Prophet is part of the UNEP’s Switcher’s program for instance – to share sustainability with the Middle East. What is your business doing?

The UN’s guidance supports sustainability systems to establish Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Systems that embed credible emissions accounting into the production processes of their certified commodities. This gives companies buying those commodities the data they need to accurately report on their value chain or “Scope 3” carbon footprint and credibly claim progress toward their climate targets.

“Properly measuring and valuing positive impact is a key opportunity of our time,” says Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard. “Capturing climate impact data of the goods companies buy provides an incentive to purchase low-carbon commodities when they can report lower emissions in their GHG inventories.

“At the same time, producers can seek potential premiums and preferential procurement and mitigate the risk of losing demand due to pressure for climate data.”

This guidance was developed in collaboration with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Better Cotton, Textile Exchange, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), and Fairtrade International.

Facilitated through the Value Change Initiative, companies including H&M Group, Kingfisher, and VF Corporation (VF), have provided feedback to this guidance and/or participated in pilot activities to inform ongoing implementation.

“Our 2030 strategy sets a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% per ton of cotton produced. This much change cannot be asked of farmers alone – it will take concerted engagement across the value chain,” says Kendra Pasztor, Senior Manager – Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning at Better Cotton.

“Our participation in this initiative is an important step in ensuring Better Cotton’s GHG accounting system will be credible and meets the needs of our stakeholders to positively contribute to climate change mitigation.

Get the net zero guide here (links to PDF)

Celebrate 4th of July without fireworks with these 8 fun alternatives

Lifestyle

Karin Kloosterman

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June 23, 2022

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Celebrate 4th of July without fireworks with these 8 fun alternatives

fireworks alternatives, pretty firesworks 4th July, Los Angeles — *Fireworks, instead of gunshots, have been the norm for Middle East celebrants of weddings and festivals. Some cities are starting to ban fireworks. Here are some alternatives for upcoming holidays.*

Summer is here here, meaning America’s 4th of July is close. And while we understand your enthusiasm to celebrate the big day with fireworks, hear us out. If you observe the pollution map of some of the big cities like NYC and Washington DC, you will notice a red mark on the map, and that’s where the pollution is at its worst. The air quality deteriorates to an unhealthy level on July 4, and people with respiratory problems are advised to stay indoors. The noise is frightening to people with PTSD, and to pets, and some cities like Tel Aviv, in Israel have banned them altogether.

So, this year let’s try and celebrate Fireworks-Free Fourth of July with these eight fun suggestions that won’t impact the environment.

Use Paper Lanterns in the Night Instead of Firecrackers

Bid goodbye to fireworks and the pollution that comes with them. Celebrate this 4th of July with paper lanterns that you can easily make at home. All you need is some colored paper, scissors, and a stapler. Just make the lanterns in the day and witness the impeccable sight of lighting them in the night sky. Take not to do this over water and not in a residential zone where trees can catch fire. Also do not do this if you live in California or dry states.

Have a Picnic

One of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors and have a good time is by packing up a picnic basket and heading to your local park. This is a great activity for friends and family, especially if you have young kids. You can pack healthy snacks and drinks and maybe even play fun games like frisbee or catch. Take reusable dinnerware or buy one-time use items made from sugar or bamboo.

Go Hiking

Get in touch with nature and go for a hike with your friends or family. This is a perfect way to enjoy nature’s beauty and get a heart-healthy workout at the same time. Make sure you are prepared with the proper gear, including comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hats, and plenty of water. Add a GPS pinging app to your phone in case you get lost.

Have a Beach Day

If you live near a beach, take advantage of it and spend the day with your friends or family. Go for a swim, play some beach volleyball, build sandcastles, or just relax in the sun. Don’t forget to pack some snacks and drinks, and again, don’t forget the sunscreen. You can make your own here with our DIY sunscreen.

Host a Barbecue

Get together with your friends or family and host a barbecue. You can choose vegan meat, set it up in your backyard or head to your local park. This is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have some delicious food.

Plan a Movie Night

If you want to stay indoors, why not have a movie night with your friends or family. You can make some popcorn and snacks at home and enjoy some classic American movies like ‘The Patriot’ or ‘Independence Day.’ Other movies you can consider watching include:

Born on the Fourth of July
Yankee Doodle Dandy
1776
Glory

Play Some Patriotic Songs

With Americans scattered throughout the world there are many classic American songs that you can listen to for that celebratory mood.

Some of the songs we recommend:

‘The Stars and Stripes Forever’ by John Philip Sousa
‘America the Beautiful’ by Ray Charles
‘Born in the U.S.A.’ by Bruce Springsteen
‘God Bless America’ by Irving Berlin
‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee’ by Samuel Francis Smith

Go Camping

Tentsile is a hanging treehouse like tent — *Camping in the city with Tentsile tents*

If you’re looking for a fun and adventurous way to celebrate the 4th of July, go camping! This is a great activity for family and friends. Make sure you are prepared with the proper gear, including a tent, sleeping bags, and mosquito repellent. You can make your own mosquito repellent following our recipe here.

Final Words on a fireworks-free holiday

We hope you enjoyed our list of fun ways to celebrate the 4th of July that don’t involve fireworks. Remember, fireworks can pollute the environment and are bad for pets and people suffering from PTSD. They are also dangerous for children to play with, so let’s try and use some alternative suggestions instead. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

How real and efficient are reverse aging methods?

Health

Bhok Thompson

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June 20, 2022

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How real and efficient are reverse aging methods?

No one on earth like to age. The aging process is irreversible, it cannot be stopped or reversed, but you can try to slow down the process. Of course, doctors can help with a scalpel and injections. Injections of a wide variety of products that rejuvenate the skin and address aesthetic problems is an alternative to the plastic surgery. However, injected substances can cause allergic reactions, infections, and the death of skin cells or even more serious side effects. It should be mentioned that plastic surgery can have a variety of side effects. For example, decreased sensitivity of the operated area.

This can be a consequence of tissue removal, and if the nerve is damaged during the operation, the operated area can become insensitive for life. Another inconvenience of plastic surgery is the rejection of tissues when an infection develops or the immune system rejects the tissue. It is a known fact that people often suffer psychological problems after the operation because people can suffer side effects of plastic surgery, feel unsatisfied with the changes or even wanting more and more these changes. Nevertheless, there are some natural products and ways that can help to slow down the aging process. So, let’s take a look at efficient, cheaper than plastic surgery and injections, and natural reverse aging methods.

Drinks to make you younger

Let’s start with drinks. For many people, the morning begins with a cup of tea or coffee. Tea is a storehouse of antioxidants that can help to prevent heart disease and reduce the incidence of breast cancer in women. Coffee (decaffeinated) reduces the risk of aggressive common cancers, and caffeinated coffee prevents a person from developing diabetes. In turn, milk drinks strengthen the bones, make the hair silky and fill the muscles with strength. Daily consumption of milk and dairy products (and even fermented fish) has been shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol. Of course, the most important drink is water. Water keeps your body hydrated and helps maintain your skin’s elasticity and reduces wrinkles.

Healthy diets

NMN can be found in fruits and vegetables including avocados, broccoli, cabbage, edamame and cucumbers. Including these as part of your daily diet can increase levels of NMN. But the levels of NNM found in supplements is much higher than you could possibly consume through a natural diet.

Vegetables are another helper against ageing. Carrots and pumpkins are high in carotenoids, which are processed into vitamin A in our body. Thanks to this vitamin, the skin glows and vision is restored. The risk of diseases such as osteoporosis, cancer, and other diseases is also reduced. Tomatoes contain the very valuable pigment lycopene, which is why tomatoes are so bright red. It protects against vascular diseases, macular degeneration, and various types of cancer.

This pigment absorbs better if the product is heat treated. According to various scientific articles, it is recommended to include NMN-rich food in our daily meals. NMN is nicotinamide mononucleotide, an organic compound naturally occurring in life forms.

In numerous studies, supplementation with NMN has increased NAD+ biosynthesis, suppressed age-related adipose tissue inflammation, enhanced insulin secretion and insulin action, improved mitochondrial function, and improved neuronal function in the brain. NMN is naturally found in small amounts in fruits and vegetables such as avocados, broccoli, cabbage, edamame, and cucumbers.

IV bar hydration, Goop, vitamin and mineral boost, woman holding IV bags with greens inside them — IV hydration is marketed on sites like Goop and the practice is known as a quick hangover treatment, but now clinics are marketing a range of indications, from migraines and altitude sickness to skin health to IV nutrition to infusions of anti-aging molecules

What is NAD?

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) IV therapy is a type of intravenous treatment that can stimulate cell regeneration in your body. NAD is a coenzyme that binds with elements in your body, offering a host of benefits like reduced withdrawal symptoms during addiction recovery and enhanced cognitive processing. NAD infusion is a method of increasing these coenzymes in your body quickly.

Exercise for life

Scientific publications in recent years have shown that moderate-intensity physical activity lasting 30 minutes and at least 5 times a week, consuming about 200 kcal of energy per day (e.g., 30 minutes of brisk walking), improves adult health. Researchers have found that moderate-intensity physical activity strengthens the capacity of the cardiovascular system, and skeletal muscle, and helps maintain a healthy weight. Extensive research has shown that physical inactivity increases the risk of spreading chronic diseases. Physical activity in old age strengthens functional capacity and helps not to lose independence.

Physically active people are less likely to be depressed than passive ones. Research has provoked a new term – sedentary death syndrome. The term is intended to emphasize that physical inactivity increases the mortality of the population. Signs of a sedentary lifestyle death syndrome: weak muscles, decreased bone density, high blood, and urine sugar, obesity, poor aerobic endurance, and tachycardia at rest.

These symptoms cause disorders of the whole organism or individual systems, or organs. Exercising daily with aging is even more important if you want to prevent disease and maintain skin elasticity.

Conclusion

In other words, it’s never too late to start to eat healthier, take supplements, exercise, and being happy! – try to implement many other reverse ageing methods to make you look a bit younger.

Green Prophet does not endorse any of these therapies. Speak to you local nutritionist or doctor if any of these methods are right for you.

Palestinian beekeepers make Jerusalem sweeter

Karin Kloosterman

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June 20, 2022

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honey beekeepers palestinian — *Dallal Nsardin Qassem beekeeping on her roof in East Jerusalem, Haaretz*

Bees. We know we need them for pollinating the food we eat – like almonds from California. Their stings may have medicinal properties, and to check we’ve even sent one of writers on a beekeeping mission where she got swarmed.

Besides their delicious honey, bees in all forms are an essential part of the web of life. While vegans don’t eat honey, and some we know like PieBird in Canada are working to liberate bee hives from human needs –– we like to support small, local beekeepers that help honey businesses and honeybees thrive.

In 2012, we uncovered the people at Balyolu, working to train women in Turkey the art and craft of beekeeping so they could make a sustainable living. Part of the model that the American founder of Balyolu created was an eco-tourism aspect.

Instead of selling tourists carpets which Turkish men will do shamelessly, Balyolu had a mission to help tourists explore the rugged, pure nature of Turkey on a honey tasting tour. Taste the land through the honey. What could be better than that?

Well in the Bronx, honeybee keepers have tasted notes of pollution. In Jerusalem will the sweet bees offer a taste of holiness?

A new project in East Jerusalem is taking up a form of the Balyolu dream, no longer operating, by training Palestinian women without professions and teaching them how to be professional beekeepers. Muslims support the idea. Remember in 2012 when we interview the men who are beekeeping at mosques in England?

Fast forward and meet Dallal Nsardin Qassem, 52, a mother of five and grandmother of seven who – reports a local newspaper – learned the art of beekeeping three years ago while taking a course at the Sinsila Center, located on the rooftop terraces of East Jerusalem’s Central Library.

The center is a project of the Muslala non-profit which runs social and art projects in Jerusalem.

Sinsila workshop — *A Sinsila rooftop workshop*

“Bees are blessed and there is a story about them in the Koran where it says: ‘The honeybee holds in its belly a liquid that is a medicine for mankind,’” she says. “I have learned to get close to the bees and to stop being afraid of them. I learned how bees work together, as a single entity, and we humans can learn a lot from them – how to conduct ourselves and behave in the best way.”

She noted that her husband was against the idea at first and her kids were afraid of the bees, but now everyone is onboard and she is teaching others how to tend to the hives, while earning an income. Her husband even collects honey from the hives.

*Palestinian beekeepers on a roof, Haaretz*

It is not common for traditional Muslim women to work outside the home. So a profession that can be built at home on a rooftop is ideal.

Sinsila beekeeper, East Jerusalem — *East Jerusalem beekeeper, via Sinsila*

Tareq Nasser started the idea of Sinsila when he saw the success of the green roof created by Muslala on the roof of the Clal Center in West Jerusalem. This center which even rents tents like an AirBNB, offers an urban green space in the middle of downtown. It’s blessed by activists, artists, environmentalists and educators.

Nasser told Haaretz: “This project is really changing these women! And I’m not talking about the elites – most of the women here don’t speak Hebrew or English, most don’t have jobs.

“Now they have a profession, they have a green terrace of their own on their roof. Of the women who participated in the pilot, three have been accepted to teach sustainability at a local school. Can you imagine how that changes the life of a 55-year-old woman who never had a job or completed a degree?”

Bees work with the police in Italy

In Italy, bees are working with the police: City bees in Italy are helping the police fight pollution.

While Italy’s Carabinieri is famous for fighting the country’s toughest criminals, a special unit charged with protecting forests and the environment, is now taking on a totally different kind of organised group. Since 2018 the rooftop of the force’s headquarters in central Rome has been home to beehives.

“One of the main duties of Italy’s Carabinieri police force is to monitor the environment but here we’re using bees in a new way, as biodiversity indicators. They monitor an area that’s 1.5 to 2 km in size. That helps us to gather useful information, which isn’t normally available, about the atmospheric pollutants that might be present in urban areas, such as dioxins and other substances,” explained Giancarlo Papitto, from the Carabinieri’s Forestry and Environment Unit Command.

Cities are rich in biodiversity. Especially Levantine and Mediterranean ones where planter boxes can sit outside year round. Of course you can take plants like olives and plant them in potters (read here on how to grow an olive tree in a container), but in the Med region it’s just natural to plant and pot everything without the worry of frost. And now with the planters and urban trees growing around us, it’s time to start collecting honey.

In 2017, I visited the Crawford Hotel in downtown Denver where I learned about beekeeping. It makes sense that the urban trend found in United States, Canada and all over Europe has made it to the Middle East. And even if you don’t keep the bees yourselves – they can keep themselves in nature with a little help. Plant an urban garden to help them out.

Kickstart a property maintenance business in 2022 – What are the steps involved?

Business

Bhok Thompson

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June 20, 2022

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Kickstart a property maintenance business in 2022 – What are the steps involved?

ribwort plantain medicinal plants — Plantains growing instead of a lawn. The greenest lawn is no lawn. What if property owners ask you to help them make a wild weed garden? Property maintenance for the sustainably-minded consumer will give you these challenges.

Are you someone who has long been thinking of kickstarting a property maintenance business? If yes and if you have done your research, you must already be in a soup after getting to know the large numbers of companies that wind up their property maintenance services overnight due to lack of planning. And maybe you want to look at a special niche: like green or eco services to give you a special edge.

If you have to start off on the path to this kind of business, make sure you write down a precise business plan to make sure there’s no area of your business model that goes overlooked. Maybe you are passionate about indoor air health or wild lawns? Being passionate about property maintenance, you must be trying to turn your dream into a profitable business. Here’s how you can go about the process.

Acquaint yourself with the industry

In case of non-residential or residential properties, there is a range of services that needs to function primarily, some of which are exterior and interior cleaning, carpentry, painting, groundskeeping, locksmith services, plumbing, and much more. Unless you get acquainted with the industry, you’ll find it difficult to forge a good path.

Some clients will ask for ecological solutions like chemical-free paint and pest solutions. Will you have the right answers and partners to satisfy these requests?

Determine your experience and training skills

If it’s a commercial or business property, you need to be able to offer business key performance indicator’s, failure metrics like MTTR in order to let the company get an idea about its performance. On the other hand, in case of residential properties, your training and skill will depend on whether or not you provide the services yourself or you hire experts for each service. For rendering plumbing, electrical and HVAC services, you will need formal training. Or be able to find the pros in your area.

Evaluate the challenges and risks

Most often, it is seen that property maintenance needs serious physical labor where you may have to be exposed to precarious and dangerous environment conditions such as dust, fumes or the risk of falling. You and your employees might even be subject to bodily injuries and other hazards. Consider that on top of the risks, you will have to put in the hours, especially when your property maintenance business is in its initial stage. It is only when you’re ready to face the challenges that you think of setting up the business.

Ask yourself whether you prefer a team or work alone

It might happen that you don’t possess the skillset that is required to offer the array of property maintenance services that you’d like to offer. If this is your case, are you open to hiring new employees and their skillset? Are you ready to work with a team of employees or would you like to work solo? Do you enjoy talking with people during the day or do you like to work alone?

Decide on an appealing name for your business

Among several other things, the name of your business should not only be easy to pronounce and spell in your local language but should also be fitting with the brand identity you’re looking for. Ask some friends and colleagues what they think before you settle on a name.

Draft a business plan

Your business plan should mainly speak about the core goals of your company and also the significant steps you’ll take to achieve the goals. The business plan will serve as a tool and a roadmap to hold yourself accountable later on. Your business plan should have the following details – summary, overview of the company, marketing strategy, market analysis, financial summary, and future goals. Consider sustainability milestones too. All businesses are moving in this direction.

Get a bank account for your business

Once you have a business bank account, you can distinguish between your professional and personal finances. This will also serve as a sign of professionalism while dealing with vendors and clients. For some novice business owners, having a business account is nothing more than just a nice feeling. But the IRS makes it mandatory for all businesses to have a business bank account.

Assemble all the required tools

Lastly, start assembling all the supplies or tools you may require for carrying forth your first week of operations. This will help you avert a last-minute discrepancy while making sure you didn’t forget vital supplies.

Now that you know the steps to start off with a property maintenance business, why not make it more sustainable?

B Corp’s sustainability status slides as Nespresso joins the ranks

Karin Kloosterman

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June 19, 2022

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B Corp’s sustainability status slides as Nespresso joins the ranks

nespresso B Corp marketing material — *Nespresso is now a B Corp. A fair trade organization along with B Corp members are outraged.*

For some years having a B Corp certification in the United States meant you were leading the competition on how to build a sustainable business. Is it organic? Do you pay your adult workers a fair wage? Are you reducing the carbon cycle of your product in a meaningful way? Can you see 100 years into the future? If you passed a series of challenges, and paid the yearly dues, you could join the B Corp club.

But the Fair World Project – a fair trade advocacy organization and certification watchdog – is calling bluff on B Corp. By letting Nespresso wear the badge of honor as a B Corp company, they petition, the trusted B Corp label is no longer meaningful.

“There’s a long history of certifications getting co-opted by corporations as they reach the mainstream,” says Dana Geffner, Executive Director of Fair World Project. “We’ve seen it with fair trade certification as well as with organics. Unfortunately, Nespresso’s certification suggests that B Corp Certification is heading that way as well.”

Among those calling to retract B Corp status from Nespresso, which makes the polluting coffee pods, are other ethical coffee brands and sustainable businesses such as Cooperative Coffees, Exilior Coffee, Peace Coffee, and Thanksgiving Coffee Company.

*Dr. Bronner soap. 18 uses. 18 is also the Hebrew number for “chai” symbolizing life.*

Dr. Bronner’s, Grove Collaborative, LAUDE the Label, and Lotus Foods have also signed the letter to B Lab Global, the organization that runs the B Corp certification process and label.

Here is the Nespresso B Corp marketing page they list on their site with a score of 84.

The companies against Nespresso joining as a B Corp collectively write:

“The fact that Nespresso can achieve a score that allows them to be certified as a B Corp and use the Certification to greenwash its business model and practices demonstrates that the B Impact Assessment scoring system and certification process is in serious need of repair.”

Nespresso produces single-serve coffee capsules. George Clooney who is a part owner of the company along with Nestlé is “saddened by child labor on Nespresso farms’ – article from 2020. While they do provide a bag to encourage recycling of their pods, few people bother to do it. But there are bigger problems than that:

Nespresso received B Corp status on May 2022 and this is “despite a recent history of human rights violations on farms that grow their coffee including child labor, wage theft, and abuse of factory workers,” writes the Fair World Project in a press briefing they sent Green Prophet.

B Lab, a non-profit organization, created and awards the B Corp certification to for-profit companies that voluntarily meet certain standards of transparency, accountability, sustainability, and performance, with an aim to “Be a Force for Good” in the business community and create value for society beyond shareholder profits.

How can coffee do it better?

One example: In 2018, Peace Coffee was named among B Lab’s “Best For Community” list, which includes businesses that earned a Community score in the top 10 percent on the B Impact Assessment.

“We take the commitment to be ‘In it for Good’ seriously,” says Lee Wallace,” CEO of Peace Coffee. “It shapes every aspect of our business, from the way we reinvest profits with the farmer cooperatives who grow our coffee to our commitment to bike delivery and giving back to our local community. That’s not been the norm in a coffee industry historically defined by the likes of Nestlé’s Nespresso—but we think it should be.”

peace coffee headquarters — *Brewing peace, at Peace Coffee*

The Fair World Project members say they are concerned and that Certified B Corp brands should hold higher standards to avoid “greenwashing” by the certification. They are calling that the greater Certified B Corp community demand the same.

“B Corp certification should take account of historically exploitative companies who do not take care of the people and communities impacted by their supply chains,” says David Bronner, CEO of Dr. Bronner’s, the top-selling natural brand of soap in North America and third-highest scoring Certified B Corp overall, who also signed onto the letter.

“The entire fair trade movement was born to address inequities and exploitation in the coffee supply chains of major CPGs like Nestlé, Nespresso’s parent. Given Nespresso’s recent and egregious track record of sourcing from coffee farms engaging in documented human rights abuses, it is disappointing that the brand was granted B Corp status.”

How can B Corps do better? Fair World offers some ideas:

Rather than a minimum total score, there must be minimum scores per Impact Business Model and per applicable Score Area.
The B Corp Standard must center human rights in the Supply Chain Impact Business Model and reference the UN Guiding Principles on Business Human Rights framework, including a company’s responsibility to respect human rights and provide remedy and remediation for harms.
Unless there is demonstrated evidence of remedy and remediation for harms, and course correction to prevent future harm, human rights abuses should be a non-negotiable Disqualification Factor preventing certification.
Sourcing a majority of raw materials from non-fair trade certified supply chains, CAFOs, or industrial farming systems should be added as Risk Factors for consumer goods companies, requiring documented improvement over time.
Risk Factors must be reflected in scores, monitored closely over time for required improvement, and re-certification should be contingent on demonstrated improvement. If Risk Factors are not corrected over time, re-certification should be withheld.”

After the announcement was made that Nespresso received B Corp Certification, Fair World Project published “Nespresso: Known for Human Rights Violations, Now B Corp Certified,” an article further detailing the issues surrounding the company’s dismal track record on human rights and the environment, authored by Anna Canning, Campaigns Manager of Fair World Project.

“We’re seeing a grim trend of B Corp certified companies engaging in union-busting and other violations of working people’s fundamental rights,” says Canning. “Is B Lab going to take action, or is their certification going to become yet another way for companies to rebrand the exploitative status quo as ethical?”

Are you a registered B Corp against Nespresso joining your league? Sign the petition here.

We’ve reached out to Nespresso for comment.

Insect radar monitors the web of life

Lifestyle

Karin Kloosterman

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June 16, 2022

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Radar entomology: The first insect radar installed in Israel near the Hula Valley.

Despite your hatred for mosquitos, or the Fall Armyworm that’s eating lawns and football fields, insects are an important part in the web of life. The bodies of insects contain 10% nitrogen and 1% phosphorus and they are full of protein. Some startups like Flying Spark are even marketing insects for human consumption as part of the Alt Protein movement. Insects, of course, and their larvae, are already a nutritious food source in countries in Africa and East Asia.

But beyond how insects can feed us humans directly, they are excellent fertilizer for plants and crops, they make nutritious meals for birds, bats, and amphibians like frogs and salamanders. Frogs and salamanders are indicator species, helping us know they health of ecosystems. Insects pollinate the food we eat.

If insects go, amphibians go. And if anyone reading this has noticed how much fewer insects stick to your windshield when driving in the country, you can maybe surmise – we have a problem.

Reasons for fewer insects? Pesticides, human development, invasive pests taking over, forestry, industrial pollution.

To help understand insect populations, a new insect radar, the first for Israel, has been installed near the Hula Valley nature reserve. The area is a major rest stop for millions of migratory birds moving between Africa and Europe each year.

The insect radar offers a chance to gauge the quantity of insects in Israel’s skies and was installed by the University of Haifa. The insect radar, like the bird radar installed by Prof. Yossi Leshem a couple of decades ago, will allow researchers to estimate the density, direction and speed of migration, elevation, and body size of the insects, and to assess factors influencing the insects that fly in this area.

“We will be able to identify pollinating insets that are of great importance for wild plants and agriculture, as well as other insects that cause damage to agriculture, such as various species of moths,” said Prof. Nir Sapir at the University of Haifa.

Insects mass migration larger than birds

In a previous study in which Prof. Sapir was also involved, and which was published in the journal Science, it was found that insect migration is the largest migration in terrestrial environments.

In Britain alone, some 3.5 trillion insects migrate every year, creating a biomass almost eight times greater than that of migrating birds.

Prof. Sapir anticipates that insect migration in Israel will be on an even larger scale: “In northern areas such as England, there is no insect activity in winter. In our region there are large insect populations throughout the year, including in winter. The conditions for the development of large populations are much more favorable here.

“Thanks to the radar, we will be able to calculate the quantities of insects of each given size and group that cross Israel – something that was impossible with the previous tools. We will be able to understand if between environmental temperature and other conditions, such as wind, affect the number of insects. We will be able to gauge the impact of global warming on the number of insect.

“This is importance, because insects constitute a major part in vital ecological interactions in many ecosystems,” Prof. Sapir concluded.

Monitoring invasive insects

One of the first studies undertaken by the researchers with the help of the insect radar seeks to monitor the fall armyworm, an invasive species of moth that arrived in Israel recently from South America. It was also detected in Egypt in 2021 so its spread could be rapid and devastating for countries in the Middle East already on the brink of starvation. Prof. Sapir explains that this species is one of the most harmful in the world and is known to cause damage to more than 350 species of plants.

“The crop that is worst affected by the fall armyworm larvae is maize…we have begun to use the radar in order to understand the movement of these moths, as a first step toward controlling their spread,” Prof. Sapir added.

fall armyworm, 1 cm — A fall armyworm in its final, moth stage. As a larva it devastates. Fall armyworms feed on a wide range of plants, including corn, fescue, Johnsongrass, rice, ryegrass, small grain crops, sorghum, Sudangrass and timothy. In corn, caterpillars can injure foliage as well as the ears.

Using such variables as size, flight speed, wing movement pattern, and body shape obtained from the radar, the researchers plan to apply a classification tool based on “teaching” the machine to identify groups of insects and later on specific species, such as the fall armyworm, with the help of the radar.

Could it works as an early warning system against locusts and new invaders? Let’s hope countries nearby, such as Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and Syria, will also invest in insect radars so that science can help draw links in a regional, rather than a local scale.

radar entomology cabi biosciences — *Radar Entomology, a handbook published by CABI Bioscience*

CABI, an England-based agriculture NGO I used to do with research with as a graduate student in Switzerland, published a book some 20 years ago – Radar Entomology – indicating how radar can be used for insect pest management. The book deals with the applications of radar findings in the management and forecasting of both pest and beneficial insects, and is an important reference for those working in agricultural entomology and pest management.

What’s in season in June – plus recipes and forager’s notes

Food
Health

Miriam Kresh

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June 16, 2022

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What’s in season in June – plus recipes and forager’s notes

Middle Eastern markets are bursting with the color and aromas of summer’s soft fruits. This is the guide to getting the most out of June.

Fruit:

There are lots of honeydews and cantaloupes. Keep an eye out for heirloom melon varieties offered in Arab markets. Vendors will offer a fresh orange or green sliver, dripping with juice for you to taste, but don’t get carried away; test before you buy.

A ripe melon’s stalk end should yield slightly to the finger, and the fruit should be firm, with a perceptible sweet aroma. However, if you’re buying with intention to serve melon in a day or two, an under-ripe one will ripen quickly in the Middle Eastern heat. Watermelons are always a risk, as far as I’m concerned. No matter how carefully I thump them, listening for the solid sound of a good ripe one, I won’t know if I’ve got a good one until I’ve cut it open.

Apricots are at their peak. Their season will end from one day the next, soon, so be sure to buy that extra kilo or two for preserving. Plums of many varieties have made their first appearance, and are already sweet. The little green sour plums mentioned last month are still in season, although ripening and turning purple now.

White and yellow peaches and nectarines are in full, glorious flush. How about the delicious geranium-scented cream to cover sliced peaches? It’s a deliciously different way to serve fruit.

Kiwis from New Zealand are still present, although expensive. Bananas are very good and cheap right now. Fig season has just started, and you can find both black and green figs. Choose one of these delicious fresh fig desserts.

The promise of a good cherry crop came true. Prices are going down as the season advances, but take care: cherries left out in the heat of open-air markets – or left refrigerated in supermarkets – lose flavor. Taste before you buy. If you love cherries and find good ones, buy now for pickling, freezing, baking, preserving, or eating out of hand.

There are still bags full of green almonds. Avocados still linger, but are expensive and under-ripe. Avocados teach patience to those who must ripen them on kitchen counters. And craftiness in choosing a good one.

An avocado tip:

A tip I recently learned about choosing a good avocado: flick the tiny bump off the stem end. If the color underneath is yellowish-green, it’s a good avocado. If the little depression is dark, brown, or black, put it back in the bin; it’s most likely rotten.

Grapefruit, oranges, and lemons are still going strong. Grapes are sweet and worth buying, and you can still buy their lemony leaves to wrap fish in, or to line a pot of rice. You might find the season’s first mangoes.

mangoes are summer season fruit — Mangoes – exotic, delicious. Luscious.

Salads:

Tomatoes have come down in price and all the colors and sizes are already good. Some heirloom tomatoes may be found in Arab markets. Those excellent tomatoes are ridged and squat in shape rather than round, and may have dark-green streaks.

July is the month for a tomato glut, but if you have time and inclination, it’s already a good time to cook up lots of tomato sauce. Keep some for immediate use, and then cook part of it down to a thick, concentrated mass for freezing by quarter-cups – so handy for impromptu flavoring or quick sauces.

Broccoli is available, but often wilted and showing a yellow top. But cauliflowers are still good. Cabbages, sweet corn, string and wax beans are good too. Sweet corn is a summer favorite and its price is average now. Okra is available, although expensive. Kohlrabi, fennel, red radishes, beets, and bell peppers of every color are good, with average prices.

The root vegetables are still full and fat. Carrots, celeriac, parsley root, and especially red and white potatoes continue excellent.

Cucumbers and eggplants are good, but already feeling the heat. Buy in the cooler early hours of the day to get the best ones. Now is the time for different eggplant varieties, like the ridged baladi (wild variety) for baba ganoush and small ones for pickling or stuffing.

You may still find fresh, green chickpeas with their flavor like that of green peas. Some open-air markets sell them roasted, as a snack.

Pale-green squashes, dark zucchini and pumpkins continue firm and flavorful. You may catch this year’s second artichoke crop, which is scanty but offers good-sized ‘chokes. Onions have finally gotten over the winter doldrums and are big and firm, with healthy golden peels and no more sprouts.

Herbs:

The familiar herbs are in full evidence, with the exception of basil, which is available but looking sad. Last month’s list still serves: parsley, coriander leaf, chives, celery, and scallions. As in last month, sorrel, tarragon, wormwood, Swiss chard, and leeks are out on the stands. Many varieties of lettuce have appeared: romaine, iceberg, and ruffled green and purple lettuces are the most popular. Asparagus is back, as are endives.

Another seasonal treat is Jerusalem Sage, a broad leaf that’s excellent for stuffing with rice. And melochia’s season is now. Make some soup! As noted last month, rinse and hang up any melochia leaves you’re not using, for future use.

jute leaves soup — *Melokhia or melochia, known in English as jute. Makes a good Egyptian soup.*

Forager’s notes:

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum, known also as perforate) is blooming now, for those who know how to dry it or even better, tincture it, for medicine.

Purslane is strong, healthy, and sprouting up everywhere (see our purslane recipe here).

Knotweed (polygonum multiflora) is an almost invisible weed whose aerial parts make an excellent skin-soother and facial rinse as tea. Capers are blooming now. Pick the tightly-closed buds and cucumber-like fruit for pickling if you’re brave enough to withstand the thorns.

A lovely thing to do with caper buds with a white streak showing that the flower inside is almost ready to burst forth: put them in a little bowl of water. They will open in a few hours and look like white and purple butterflies floating. Gather enough of them to enjoy their faint, sweet scent.

Some white mulberry trees are still bearing fruit, especially in the hilly regions. Both red and white mulberries are still putting forth new leaves. Young, tender mulberry leaves are good to wrap lamb or chicken patties in, or to dry as a tea. Tea of dried mulberry leaves is said to control blood sugar. Be aware: fresh mulberry leaves are slightly toxic and must be cooked or dried before use.

mulberry red purple berries from Jaffa — *Mulberries, plucked fresh from the tree. Too tender to transport, you won’t find these in any markets.*

Broad-leaved chicory, known as olesh in some places, may be found wild, although some Arab markets also sell it. Here is a recipe for cooking chicory.

Elecampagne, with its pungent odor and yellow flowers, is now sprouting and flowering. Elecampagne, or Inula, has strong anti-microbial properties and may be used as a field poultice or as a wash to keep wounds from becoming infected.

It’s said that the Bedouin have over 40 uses for elecampagne. If you want to know more about Bedouin folk medicine, follow the link here from our writer in Jordan.

Delicious things you can do with Junes’ produce:

Naples Ecotourism: Best Attractions and Activities

Travel

Bhok Thompson

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June 14, 2022

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Walkway bridge at Corkscrew Swamp, Naples

Since its emergence in the 1980s, ecotourism has become ever more popular with each passing decade. As the need for responsible travel and conserving the environment grows, you may be interested to know how you can participate in this exciting trend in the US.

The state of Florida offers many eco-tourism possibilities, especially in the city of Naples. So today we look at the best ecotourism attractions and activities that you can enjoy in Naples, Florida.

Explore Ten Thousand Islands By Boat

The Ten Thousand Islands Refuge is one of the top choices for an ecotourism destination in Naples. And one of the best ways to see this maze of lagoons and mangrove swamps is by boat. There are several boat tours of the area that you can look into, with expert guides.

If you like to be the “captain of your own ship” then one of Naples boat rentals may suit you better. In this way, you can spend as much time exploring the area as you like, without the noisy chatter of fellow tourists. But be cautious of the depth of the water. Shallows are common here.

Whichever option you choose, though, you will not be disappointed, as these shallows house a great variety of marine species.

Go For A Hike In Audubon Corkscrew Swamp

Hiking in the outdoors is beneficial for both the body and the mind. And part of the hiking experience is enjoying the great beauty and diversity of nature all around you.

Audobon Corkscrew Swamp is part of a sanctuary that was established to protect the bald cypress and pond cypress of North America. Some of the species that inhabit this swamp include the Florida Panther and the Black Bear.

This is also a haven for the Wood stork and many other types of birds. Learn all the ways that you can help birds and other wildlife, while you take a guided boardwalk tour.

Pedal Your Way To The Pier

One of the best and healthiest ways of eco-traveling is cycling. It’s kind to the environment, as well as great exercise. And we discovered three cycling trails that are perfect for your eco-friendly vacation in Naples.

Pine Island Bike Path starts in St. James City and ends in Bokeelia. Ride through forests, marshes, and swampland as you enjoy the fresh smell of nature. And if you have kids traveling with you, you can enjoy a family picnic at one of the picnic facilities.

The Gordon River Greenway biking trail will take you past scrubland, palm trees, and Pine Flatwoods. And you’ll be treated to the sight of various types of wildlife from the more elevated sections that cross the wetlands.

On the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail, you may spot everything from gators and herons to egrets and eagles. This biking trail runs parallel to the Ten Mile Canal and offers plenty of awesome photo-taking opportunities.

Camp Out In The Everglades

Your trip to Naples is the ideal gateway to a marvelous ecosystem, The Everglades. Visitors to Naples and Marco Island can enter the Everglades National Park in Everglades City. But few people realize that there are several campground facilities in the Everglades region.

Your choice of the campground will be determined by whether you choose to drive in with an RV or walk-in. But there are options for both. Taking the kids camping will teach them about the natural world, and can also be loads of fun. And what better place to take them camping than this.

This tropical wilderness is home to alligators, crocodiles, snakes, and turtles as well as a vast number of smaller wildlife. Go on one of the airboat tours, or take the kids kayaking for an adventure they will never forget.

Volunteer At The Rookery Bay Reserve

Do you want to make your vacation time count for something more? Volunteering is often overlooked as a tourism activity, but this is more often than not due to a lack of information. Many environmental causes rely on the generosity of donations and volunteerism.

One of these is the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, situated at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands. Volunteers play a crucial role in the preservation and restoration of this protected mangrove estuary.

There are opportunities to get involved at the aquarium, butterfly garden, and many other facilities. And this is only one of many nature reserves that would appreciate your time and dedication to nature. So put your skills, and love of the outdoors, to good use and enjoy a vacation with true purpose.

Muslim shaving: the halal and the haram

Beauty

Bhok Thompson

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June 12, 2022

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One of Green Prophet’s most-read stories ever is our how-to article on sugar-waxing, an ancient method of hair removal that predates waxing. What is it about body hair that makes for riveting reading? Come learn what I’ve picked up about dealing with body hair in the Arab Middle East.

Feedback welcome: I’ve been knocking around the region for four years, happy to hear if I’m presenting “fake news”!

The Hairline Timeline

Humans first started removing hair from men’s faces, most likely for cleanliness, and the first “razors” were rock blades made of flint. Shaving got a boost by Alexander the Great who required his soldiers to be beardless in battle so as to gain an advantage in hand-to-hand combat. Many contemporary militaries still follow this practice.

Egyptians are also credited with inventing sugaring, believed to predate shaving. It’s similar to waxing, but uses a sugar-syrup paste that gets spread onto skin. When the mixture cools, it’s quickly peeled off, yanking hair out at the roots. You can eat the sweet pre-product if you use our recipe.

Hair removal by “threading” started in India 6,000 years ago using thin cotton thread to wrap and tug hair out in a rapid rolling motion. Called fatlah or khite in Arabic, Middle Eastern men and women both partake as a method to highly define brow shape. Fingers and toes also get plucked as part of the routine regime in most gender-segregated beauty salons.

Arab hair removal — *Toe plucking time.*

Below-the-chin hairlessness now seems the norm for women, while men tend towards judicious man-scaping. If you’re dealing with a forest of fur (see our lead image), electrolysis may be the answer. Performed by licensed technicians, a needle-like probe is inserted into each individual hair follicle, zaps it with heat or chemicals, and the hair is removed with tweezers. Multiple treatments are needed, but your hair will be history.

To grow a beard or shave?

According to a hadith of Ibn ‘Umar’s (a hadith is a collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad which, with accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of guidance for Muslims apart from the Koran), Muslim men are obligated to keep their beards as a means to differentiate them from non-believers, advising men to, “Do the opposite of what the pagans do. Keep the beards and cut the mustaches short.”

But what about all the hipster beards we see today?

Or those that can’t grow can knit one instead. Pattern is here.

Most Islamic scholars agree that the mustache should be trimmed to ensure hygienic practice so the hair does not touch the lip, and that beards are kept at an appropriate length, which is generally a fist length.

What About the Hairy Head?

According to Islamic scholars, there are only several kinds of head shaving that are permissible: when performing Hajj, Umrah, shaving a child’s head on the seventh day after birth, when a man converts to Islam, and shaving the head as a remedy for disease.

Pubic Hair and Shaving for Women

Women are not permitted to shave their heads or eyebrows, but everything else is fair game including the pubic region, armpit and forearm hair, and thighs.

When showing the above image to local Arab men in Aqaba, Jordan, they didn’t see the gorgeous face, instead recoiled from the naturally hairy arms!

Curiously, removing a unibrow is permissible as it is not exactly part of the eyebrows. Although in some countries and regions like among Bukharian Jews, a woman is revered for her unibrow.

A unibrow is a sign of beauty in Tajikistan and among Bukaran Jewish culture

It is widely advised for Muslim men and women to remove pubic hair and armpit hair as a way to remain clean; pubic hair is shaved with a razor, while armpit hair is tweezed (ouch!), but what matters is the removal, and in modern times depilatory substances (even edibles ones like sugar wax!) are permissible.

Make your own sugar wax

In an increasingly challenging sociopolitical and geopolitical climate, the symbols and meanings attached to fatwas are rapidly changing. Which hair removal method you choose and on which part of your body seems less important in comparison to very real and pressing issues the Muslim world is facing.

Curious about a new movement to keep body here? Follow Januhairy.

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Meditation can help improve mental clarity

It can boost your mood and make you feel happier

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It can increase self-awareness and compassion

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1. Plan out the work day

2. Learn what and when to prioritise

3. Keep yourself and your workers organised

4. Take advantage of the tools available to you

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Pubic Hair and Shaving for Women

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