Some thoughts about cravings:
1. The more you eat, and the more weight you gain, and the hungrier you get. When we lived in caves, this was a survival tool (“Eat the whole mammoth before it spoils!!”). People with thinner bodies suffer fewer hunger pangs. Life is not fair.
2. Food allergies induce cravings, too. And food allergies are on the rise (Why? that is for another article.)
It comes down to this: If you crave something, it could mean either that you NEED the craved food, or you should AVOID it like the plague, because you are allergic to it. It takes a lot of wisdom (or a very good doctor) to tell the difference! Read More
Blog: On Health. On Writing. On Life. On Everything.
Fresh Air
October 6, 2010
If you live in a house that is perfect in terms of insulation and energy efficiency, you are likely living in a house with stale air – or worse: poisoned air.
The old drafty windows allowed air to go in and out freely. Retrofitted with air-tight windows and doors, you keep in the used-up air. People are often not aware that indoor pollution is much worse than outdoor pollution.
Indoor pollution comes from building materials (wood preservers, paints, plastics, glues, etc.) and household cleaners (detergent, laundry softeners) and molds.
The two most important – and easiest – steps are:
• Sleeping with window open so that you don’t re-breathe stale, polluted air all night through.
• Opening your windows at least twice a day for ten minutes each time. Opening the windows wide but only for a short time, is using less energy than keeping a window slanted all the time.
Respiratory diseases – asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, allergies, increased susceptibility for infections, and so on – are furthered by bad air.
If you have mold at your place, the root cause needs to be addressed: moist walls, flooded basements, condensation issues in poorly ventilated spaces. You better ask a specialist. This can come very expensive. But your health doesn’t come cheap either. And once somebody is sensitive to molds, life can get extremely complicated.
The opposite – too dry air – is also inflicting lung ailments. You can put out open dishes with water or hang up moist towels. Both are better than humidifiers that in many instances get grown over with molds and bacteria, adding to the problem instead of solving it.
Green plants help improve indoor air by humidifying and removing pollutants. Philodendron, spider plant and golden pothos are most effective at the task, and they also happen to be unfussy in their needs.
Aromatherapy can improve air quality. Incense actually is detrimental to your health (as nice as it is for your soul), but essential oils, especially eucalyptus, strengthen respiratory passages.
This all will help you indoor air – provided there’s no smoker in the house. Read More
Berlin – About Friendship
October 5, 2010
I don’t know how I would have made it through my life without my girlfriends.
When I was younger, a girlfriend and I had a saying: “Love is more important, but friendship lasts longer.”
After a few false starts, I have found a wonderful man in my life. But my friendships with women still sustain me through rocky times. And give me much laughter.
Without the advice and support of other women, how would I ever have raised my children? Every little domestic disaster was talked through – and the big ones too. When I had my first child, I was all alone without any friends – living in our little nuclear family, talking to nobody outside, burying myself in reading. Nowadays, I think they would diagnose me with depression. But I know I was not depressed – I was without friends.
Presently, I am visiting Berlin that are filled with women friends for me, friends from far, far back, newer friends, and some in the middle. The last few days, I have reconnected with several old friends, having so much fun. During long walks, over tea or a good meal we told each other what happened in our lives since we met last time, we laughed and were touched.
Men seem to discuss work and politics, fishing and farting (not that I really know what their subjects are when they are alone!). Women talk about life and love and death, about childbirth, boyfriends, menopause, children and old parents. About work too because we all have deep interests. Even politics we mention occasionally.
What makes a good friendship? If you haven’t seen each other for a while – or many years – it is a sign of solid friendship if you click again the moment you meet. No repercussions why it took so long – just pure bliss that you are together again.
Recently in Iran, a made new friends who will stay friends for many years to come. Berlin has renewed some old friendships. New and old friends, they make you examine your life. Without them, life is not worth living. Read More