Herb - Cumin

Cumin comes from drying the seeds of the herb Cuminum Cyminum, which is a member of the parsley family. It thrives in a long hot summer climate of 3 to 4 months with day temperatures of at least 86 degrees, similar to it's native land of Syria. The seeds are sewn in Spring, and require a fertile and well drained soil. Seeds are harvested by hand and resemble caraway seeds, oblong shaped and yellow and brown in color.

Cumin is the second most popular spice in the world following pepper, very popular in India, Pakistan, North Africa, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Northern Mexico, and the Middle East regions, although also found in Western Chinese cuisine as well as in some Dutch cheeses and breads from France. It's strong warm aroma is due to it's essential oils, and is a common ingredient in chili powder. Cumin seeds are also used whole or ground in curries, enchiladas, tacos and many other Cuban, Mexican, Indian and Middle Eastern dishes, often added to salsas, and is one of the main ingredients in authentic Mexican guacamole.

Medicinally, Cumin is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, referred to as xiao hui xiang. It is classified as a stimulant, carminative and antimicrobial. Cumin seeds contain a large amount of iron, but are not considered a significant source dietarily because you'd need to eat 1/2 ounces per day.

Reduce your electric bills with LED lighting

You probably already have some form of LED (light emitting diodes) lighting in your home or vehicle. They form the numbers on digital clocks, transmit information from remote controls, are used in watches, appliances, and collected together they form images on TV screens, traffic lights, and are becoming popular forms of lighting around the home and office.

Ordinary incandescent bulbs have a filament which gets hot, vibrates and can burn out quickly. LEDs product light from the electricity moving from one semi-conductor crystal to another type of crystal within the LED. These crystals are surrounded by a miniature reflector and together with a lens assembly form the desired beam pattern.

LED lights are up to 90% more energy efficient than standard lighting, last over 50,000 hours or ten times longer, and can pay for itself in one year. An LED connected to a standard 12v car battery will run for 400 hours. LEDs are more energy efficient because a much higher percentage of the electrical power goes directly to generating light rather than heat. Other advantages:
* LEDs are made without toxic chemicals like mercury found in fluorescents.
* LEDs can be made to produce any color of light in the spectrum
* LEDs have no moving parts making them more durable
* LEDs fit more easily into modern electronic circuits.
* LEDs are cool to the touch, so they're safe around children and pets

LED lighting is also very versatile and can solve many lighting problems around your home, office, etc where standard lighting fixtures may not work. For example, LED light bars can be used under kitchen cabinets to provide both ambient and task lighting on your work surface. Waterproof LED bars are another way to add decorative as well as functional lighting to your bath area, edge lighting for glass, art pieces, bookshelves, drawers, architectural models, yachts, outdoor tents, and vehicular accent lighting just to name a few. LED strip lighting can be used as direct as well as indirect lighting in a wine cellar as it can be completely hidden yet illuminate the bottles for viewing. Because many wine cellars have low ceilings, the fact that flexible strips can be mounted on the top of wine racks and cabinets makes it an ideal choice.

Many exterior path lights now come in LED, as well as holiday decorating lights. LED Christmas lights are all that I will buy from now on. They are just as bright or even brighter than the old twinkle type lights, and they never get hot. I have had them for several years and have had no problem with them burning out like the old light strings did after a season or two of use.

One more thing to consider - there are many commercials and public service messages about switching your light bulbs to fluorescents as it's the "green thing to do." Don't believe it. As mentioned above, they contain mercury and even the small light bulb size fluorescents for lamps cannot be placed in landfills. They need to be disposed of properly and there's reason to be wary of having them in your home. LEDs are safe for the environment and your family, energy efficient, and need no special disposal precautions.

Are dangerous chemicals lurking in your cookware

The most popular and easy to use cookware in America is Teflon, and we all love it. But it contains PFOA, a synthetic chemical that makes it non-stick. Once heated to a temperature of 446 degrees, teflon and other non-stick pans release toxic fumes into the air. Dupont, the maker of Teflon, just settled a lawsuit with the Environmental Protection Agency for $10.25 million, alleging that Dupont hid data on the health affects of PFOA for twenty years.

A study by the CDC detected PFOA in almost 98% of the population tested. Another study by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2007 showed evidence of newborn infants exposure to PFOA while in the womb. The research detected PFOA in 100% of the newborns examined.

In animal studies, PFOA caused:
* serious changes in organs such as the brain, liver, kidneys, prostate and thymus.
* death of several rat pups from PFOA exposure
* changes in the pituitary in female rats, at all doses, which controls growth, reproduction, and many metabolic functions.
* tumors in at least 4 different organs in animals, and implications of an increase in prostate cancer in PFOA plant workers.

PFOA can come from sources other than Teflon and non-stick pans, but it's worth looking at. You can read more on this topic, as well as see a chart showing a 2009 Heavy Metals Leaching Test performed on common types of cookware at Dr. Mercola's website Here.

God enjoys a good laugh!

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:
1. He called everyone brother
2. He liked Gospel
3. He didn't get a fair trial

And then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:
1. He went into His Father's business
2. He lived at home until he was 33
3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God

And then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:
1. He talked with His hands
2. He had wine with His meals
3. He used olive oil

And then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:
1. He never cut His hair
2. He walked around barefoot all the time
3. He started a new religion

And then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:
1. He was at peace with nature
2. He ate a lot of fish
3. He talked about the Great Spirit

And then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:
1. He never got married.
2. He was always telling stories.
3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all - 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:
1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was virtually no food
2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it
3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do

Can I get an AMEN!!

(author unknown)

Herb - Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm is a perennial herb and member of the mint family, native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. It grows easily in the U.S. in zones 4 through 9, but in zone 4 requires winter mulching and a well-drained sandy soil to survive. The herb prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade better than most herbs, especially in dry climates. It also does well grown in a pot indoors. As with other mint family members, if grown outdoors in a limited space, it's best to contain the roots by planting in a submerged pot. The leaves have a lemon scent much like regular mint, and bees are attracted to the nectar in the small white flowers in late Summer.

Lemon Balm is used to flavor ice cream, in fruit dishes and candies, and with a combination of other herbs in teas. Its crushed leaves can be rubbed on the skin as a mosquito repellent. Lemon Balm is also used as an antibacterial and antiviral agent (especially effective against Herpes Simplex) along with being useful for it's calming benefits as a mild sedative.

One word of caution: Lemon Balm should be avoided by people taking thyroid medication as it can inhibit the body's absorption of the medication.

Swine Flu - don't rely on Tamiflu

Whether you are concerned about the recent Swine Flu outbreak or believe it's a lot of media hype, common sense and good hygiene practices should always apply to remain healthy. Those who are most susceptible to any virus are the elderly, the very young, and those with compromised immune systems. If you eat primarily processed foods, are under stress, and don't get enough sleep, your immune system is most likely not working properly, and you should consider supplementing your diet and taking steps to improve your overall health.

First of all, wash your hands frequently (rubbing for at least 30 seconds. Also avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth and ears as these are entry points for viruses. Drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep, and avoid crowded confined inside spaces. In addition, here are some supplement recommendations by Dr. Al Sears to boost your immune system:

Multi-vitamins - a good multi-vitamin is your first line of defense, helping to fill in the gaps in our daily nutritional needs left by eating processed and refined foods. A diet lacking in the proper nutrients leaves us vulnerable to serious health threats.

COQ10 - You get COQ10 naturally in red meat, but modern methods of grain feeding has diminished it's levels, so unless you're eating grass fed beef, it's a good idea to take a COQ10 supplement - it bullet proofs the immune system and is very helpful for brain and heart health.

S.O.D. - (Superoxide Dismutase) Like a suit of armor making every cell in the body more resilient and able to fight off free radicals, it's one of the most important and powerful antioxidants in our body along with glutathione for fighting free radicals. S.O.D. is available from Dr. Sears in his Res3 and Radiance supplements.

Resveratrol - Acts as a potent antioxidant by binding with free radicals. It's naturally found in grapes, blueberries and cranberries but it's difficult to get enough from food alone.

Cod liver oil - a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids that reduces inflammation. It also is a great source of Vitamin D that boosts your immune system. Studies have shown that if you're low in Vitamin D you have a 40% higher chance of respiratory infections.

Don't wait until you catch the flu and have to rely on Tamiflu. It may or may not help, and especially in an epidemic situation, it may not be available in sufficient quantities for a large portion of the public.