The social history of plywood – as an innovator in the furniture and transport industries, and a maligned everyday material – is explored in a new exhibition at London's V&A museum, which opens this weekend.
Curated by Elizabeth Bisley and Christopher Wilk, Plywood: Material of the Modern World provides a potted history of plywood through over 120 objects, ranging from the body of a plane to door handles.
Starting in the 1850s and progressing to present day, the exhibition acts as a timeline of the material's development and reputation.
"The exhibition offers a history of technology, it offers a history of the uses of plywood, but also a history of a way a public perception and fluctuating reputation of a material can actually affect how it's used," said Wilk at a press preview of the exhibition.
"People have forgotten the remarkable way that plywood was used."
"The use of plywood, just like the use of other materials, is not just a matter of science and technology," added Wilk.
"The decision to abandon wood in aircraft really in total was revived by de Havilland, the designer of the remarkable Mosquito – the highest flying, fastest aircraft in the second world war – because military leaders in Britain, Germany and the United States decided that metal was a material that fit their view of their airforces as future-looking," he said.
The show is divided into sections by three significant milestones in the production of the material – the invention of the rotary veneer cutter in the early 19th century, the introduction of the molding techniques that formed now-iconic modern furniture designs and the advent of digital technology and CNC-cutting techniques.
A single ply of wood unfurls from the wall at the entrance of the exhibition beside a video showing how many raw sheets like it are layered with their grains running at right angles to create the strong and mouldable material.
Examples of its applications range from packing cases for early Antarctic expeditions to the first architectural experimentations with the material in the 1930s, which resulted in a cheap housing model deployed during the Great Depression and second world war.
Plywood is back at the fore of the construction industry with the development of cross-laminated timber, an engineered wood with thick laminations that is allowing architects to build taller than ever without the need for steel or concrete.
The exhibition will run from 15 July until 12 November 2017 in the V&A's Porter Gallery.
A stainless steel barge that American architect Louis Kahn designed to host orchestral concerts will be scrapped at a Louisiana shipyard, unless it finds a new owner by the end of the month.
Kahn designed the Point Counterpoint II for his friend and conductor Robert Austin Boudreau, and the Pennsylvania-based American Symphony Orchestra, who use the boat to travel America's waterways during the summer months.
However, this year may be its last summer tour, as 90-year-old Boudreau is unable to maintain the vessel's upkeep. Following a long and unsuccessful search for a new owner for the boat, which had its first farewell tour in 1997, plans are now being made for its deconstruction.
Photograph by Flickr user Dan Hatton
Kahn is revered as one the greatest architects of the 20th century. Earlier this month, restoration completed on the worn teak windows of his famous Salk Institute in California.
Despite being one of Kahn's lesser-known projects, the boat bears a striking design. Open-air concerts take place on its central stage, which is topped by a hydraulic roof that opens up like a clam for performances and closes for travelling.
Photograph by Flickr user Spablab
Two stainless steel cabins punctured with circular openings flank the central stage, housing space for 13 crew members and staff, and living accommodation for the Boudreau's, and an art gallery below deck.
It also bears historical significance. The vessel was constructed in 1976, the year of the US bicentennial, and hosted events to mark the celebration.
There is still time to save the boat before it goes to a scrapyard in Louisiana.
American-French cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who is also a friend of Boudreau, has made a call for its rescue, describing it as a "vibrant ambassador for... national unity" despite lacking "the solidity and repose" of Kahn's more famous buildings.
"Anchoring in large cities and small towns, in busy shipping lanes and at public parks, the barge opens like a clamshell to reveal a glittering concert stage," he wrote in a letter published by The New York Review of Books.
"It sails as a powerful, living testament to American creativity and to the elemental role that culture plays in human life," he continued.
Photograph by Flickr user Spablab
Kahn, who died aged 73 in 1974, never lived to see the boat complete. He developed a monumental and monolithic architectural style during his career in Pennsylvania, which became an influential force in the 20th century.
The other day, I was helping my mom garden some of the beds in the back of her house when we stumbled upon something that looked too amazing to be true. A gorgeous Reishi mushroom was growing on the stump of a hemlock tree underneath the fence between her and her neighbor's yard!
You know, Reishi, the "king of herbs" in Chinese medicine? Scientifically known as Ganoderma and believed by ancient Taoists to be a core ingredient in the elixir of everlasting life? Yup, right there in my mom's quaint little yard about 60 miles outside of New York City.
I had heard there were some great mushroom harvests to be had in the woods north of her home, but finding one in her shrubs was definitely unexpected.
The simple lesson here is that we don't need to go far to find the medicine. We fall into the habit of thinking that the transformation or wild prescription for us exists in an exotic location "elsewhere," but oftentimes they can be found right under our noses if we just open our eyes and take a look.
"Give nature half a chance and she has a miracle in store for everyone." – Rosita Arvigo
Below, I've shared 9 common low-growing medicinal herbs and 1 mushroom that you may want to search for in your own backyard or surrounding neighborhoods – plus, we've also noted which regions they can be found in. This is a good reason to keep your backyard chemical-free—and of course make sure you wash everything thoroughly before preparation and consumption.
Since some of these herbs have potent effects, be sure to look up any potential contraindications with regard to pregnancy, allergies, ailments, or other medications you may be taking. You may want to do additional research on those edibles you do find in your own backyard, to see if they align with your personal needs. And perhaps you have something growing in your yard that's not on this list. Take it to your local nursery for help in identification. With a little research, you can discover whether or not that plant has properties worth using, or if it's one to avoid.
Broadleaf Plantain (Plantago major): Unlike the large plantain trees that grow delectable fruits, the broadleaf plantain is a ground cover. Packed with Vitamin K, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals, the broadleaf plantain has a cleansing and detoxifying effect on the body. This medicinal plant has been used in treating colds, diarrhea, burns, open sores, wounds, mouth ulcers, boils, acne, throat pain, sunburn, fever, respiratory infections; improving liver and kidney function; relieving gastrointestinal inflammation; and drawing out poisons and toxins from bites and stings—even snake bites! It's often used as an anti-inflammatory and an analgesic, and you can make it into a tea, poultice, or salve. Where it grows – North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Burdock (Arctium lappa): Burdock Root is an antioxidant powerhouse and has been used in Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Some of its traditional uses include removing toxins from the blood, inhibiting certain types of cancers, treating skin issues, and acting as an aphrodisiac. It's also a natural diuretic, so be sure to hydrate properly. Consume in moderation. Consider trying in a tea, fresh root form, or dried root powder. Where it grows – North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Chickweed (Stellaria media): Chickweed is known as a natural skin rejuvenator, with both cooling and drying effects on wounds, sores, minor burns, acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin inflammations. It has also been used for constipation and relieving irritated eyes. Chickweed is a rich source of Vitamin C and potassium, and also provides nutritious trace vitamins and minerals. It fell out of style as a popular salad green, so you may want to try it that way first, or perhaps make chickweed vinegar by infusing it with apple cider vinegar. For topical use, create a salve from the plant's essential oils. Where it grows – North America, South America, Central America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): Perhaps the most prolific and recognizable, the dandelion is greatly undervalued. This beneficial plant is often found in some of the finest herbal teas, and is used for its healing benefits to treat high blood pressure, calcium deficiency, cancer, diabetes, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary tract infections, and eczema and psoriasis; detoxify the liver; aid digestion; and reduce inflammation. Use in salad greens, or dry the leaves and roots to make a tea. Where it grows – North America, South America, Central America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Lamb's Quarters (Chenopodium album): This "prince of wild greens" is a common garden weed packed with enough protein to rival spinach, along with Vitamins A and C, calcium, phosphorous, iron, and a multitude of minerals. Our ancestors prized this plant's medicine for its purification properties to "improve the blood," and also to treat rheumatism and arthritis, toothaches and tooth decay, constipation, insect stings, eczema, and gout. Keep seed consumption to a minimum, but freely consume the leaves, shoots, and flowers. Eat fresh leaves and flowers mixed in with your other salad greens; steam or stir fry along with your favorite vegetables; or cook and puree with some of your favorite soups. You can also grind seeds into flour. Where it grows – North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia.
Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum): If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where the reishi grows, you may already be aware of its long-touted healing properties. Mainly used in prevention of disease, the reishi offers protection against inflammation, various infections, skin disorders, diabetes, heart and liver disease, sleep disorders, digestive problems, cancer, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and viruses, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. It also helps to restore hormonal imbalance, and regulates various cellular functions. Because of its slightly bitter flavor, it's traditionally dried and then prepared for a tea, or pulverized into a powder and mixed into your favorite protein shake. Where it grows – EasternNorth America, South America, Europe and Asia.
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica): Be careful—this herb can sometimes "sting" and leave a rash when bare skin comes into contact with the acid-filled needles. Once boiled, however, the nettles leave you with leaves that, when ingested, provide nutritious elements and anti-inflammatory properties. Nettle leaves have been used in treating allergy symptoms, lowering blood pressure, improving immune system response, reducing pain, acting as a diuretic, treating skin conditions, thickening hair while also reducing dandruff, and causing a sedative effect. The plant's root has been used to address prostate concerns in men. Handle and harvest while wearing gloves, and then boil or cook to remove the sting from the nettles. The easiest and perhaps most common way to use nettles are in a tea, where you can flavor with other herbs or spices to taste. But once cooked, you can also use nettle leaves like most other greens and use in salads, or season and bake them (like kale chips), or grind to make a pesto. For the roots, toss them in a stir fry or dry like the leaves for use in a tea. Where it grows – WesternNorth America, Europe, Northern Africa and Asia.
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea): Purslane is an excellent source of fiber; Vitamins A, B, and C; iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, copper, and powerful antioxidants. Our ancestors have used it for hundreds of years to prevent and cure disease. It's been used to treat high cholesterol, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders, skin conditions, and cancer. It's believed to improve vision, strengthen bones, increase circulation, and aid in weight loss. Try it mixed with salad greens. Where it grows – North America, South America, Central America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.): Menopause symptoms. Maintaining bone strength. Improving cardiovascular health. Lowering risk for various types of cancers. Reducing skin inflammation. Fighting respiratory infections. Detoxifying the liver. Boosting the immune system. Managing cholesterol. Balancing hormones. These are just some of the many disorders and "symptoms of aging" that red clover has been used to treat. Dry the herb to make a tea, or make a salve for a topical medicine. Where it grows – North America, South America, Central America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Many of these herbs are sold in supplement form, but you can bypass the middle-man and go directly to the source by taking a look around and experimenting on your own. Perhaps LA-based guerilla gardener Ron Finley says it best:
"Growing your own food is like printing your own money."
Nick Polizzi has spent his career directing and editing feature length documentaries about natural alternatives to conventional medicine. Nick's current role as director of "The Sacred Science" stems from a calling to honor, preserve, and protect the ancient knowledge and rituals of the indigenous peoples of the world.
Ozone generators are becoming more affordable and are a common feature in larger commercial growrooms. Domestic and industrial use of ozone is not new, but translating the many benefits into a grow operation deserves a little attention. An inexpensive ozone generator is capable of saving crops from molds, battling predators, oxygenating root zones, sterilizing equipment, disinfecting entire growrooms and more.
We've all heard about ozone, and how the lack of it in the atmosphere caused by pollutants is a problem, so one might ask, "Isn't using an ozone generator just going to compound climate change?" The simple answer is no. The ozone we generate in growrooms is the same stuff that protects us in the ozone layer of Earth's atmosphere, but it won't harm the planet.
Ozone (O3) is a triatomic molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms (instead of two in regular oxygen). Oxygen is one of the most powerful oxidizing agents in the world, and a potent natural disinfectant 3,000 times more effective than chlorine bleach in broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Ozone is not just another cleaner, ozone is a true sterilizer. It can completely destroy impressive amounts of spores, bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus, mildew, smoke particles and other contaminants while at the same time oxidizing any dead organic materials in its path. Because ozone has a spare, unstable oxygen molecule, as soon as it touches a pathogen, the spare atom breaks off and attacks the cell walls of the pathogen, rupturing them and killing it instantly, without hesitation or mercy.
Ozone Safety
Ozone is used in low atmospheric doses in hospital wards, offices, veterinarian rooms, commercial kitchens and factories to keep the air sterile, sterilize bedding, prevent the spread of airborne pathogens and keep the place smelling clean. People occasionally use it at home to sterilize dishes, treat various ailments and make their homes a little fresher. Because ozone is so powerful, it can be harmful to humans and pets if precautions are not taken. Ozone can be harmful to the respiratory system if breathed in high concentrations, but the fact that it breaks down quickly allows us to work with it in relative safety. The safety aspects in this article are overly cautious, but it's worth taking the extra care.
Fortunately, people can start to smell ozone before it becomes hazardous. The familiar smell of it is like that fresh smell after a heavy storm, which is the ozone created by electrical energy in the clouds and brought down in rain.
Choosing an Ozone Generator
Choosing the correct ozone generator is important. Too small an output will be ineffective, too large will be dangerous. For an average-sized grow space, a generator with an output of around 200 to 400 milligrams (mg) per hour will be fine. Huge commercial operations will need upwards of 1 gram of output per hour, and micro-grows can get by with under 100 mg per hour. These are only guidelines. To really make the most of ozone, look for a generator to ozonate water, too. These models have a silicone tube attached with an air stone at the end. Most are wall mountable, but it is more convenient to be able to move them around.
Using an Ozone Generator Safely
You need to be switched-on and alert to safely use ozone. As a general rule in the growroom, you should never be able to smell ozone from your generator while it's switched on. If you can smell it strongly, you are generating more ozone than you need. Switch off the machine and leave the room for at least 45 minutes while it disperses back into plain oxygen. Next time, don't run the machine for so long.
Keep all pets away from the ozone generator while it's running, and for at least 45 minutes after it's been switched off. Get everything else completely ready before you switch on your generator. It should be the last thing you switch on before quickly leaving the growroom. Always connect it to a timer to switch it off after it's finished. Some have a built-in timer, but experience says they are not always reliable.
If you need to re-enter the room while the generator is running, hold your breath.
Ozone is safe for humans if it's not breathed in. It's a good idea to make sure a friend is around, just in case. Consider buying an ORP (oxidation reduction potential) sensor to monitor safe ozone levels in your growroom. If just using the generator to oxygenate water or oil, consider running it in an outbuilding. Close the door of your growroom to keep the ozone contained. Tell anyone else in the house before you use ozone, so they can also stay clear of the room.
Sterilizing Your Room and Equipment
Sterilizing your room and equipment is one of the biggest hassles of being a grower. Ozone acts as a magic bullet that cuts out such soggy labor. You will still have to manually clean up debris with hot water first, but that's the hard part done. Let equipment dry, and then stack it up so air can circulate freely around it. Include things like scalpels, pruners, pH meters, screens and fans because ozone sterilizes everything.
Position your generator in the center of the room and switch on some circulating fans. It doesn't have to be blowing a gale in there, but the air needs to circulate around the entire room. If you have a generator with a tube attached for ozonating water, great! You can set up your nutrient tanks and hydroponic system now, and run the pumps with plain cold water. Attach the end of the generator's tube to an air stone and put it in your nutrient tank. Now you can sterilize the entire room and your nutrient delivery system in one easy move.
Set up a timer to switch off after 30 to 45 minutes. Plug your generator into it and turn it on. Hold your breath to avoid breathing the ozone in as you quickly check the air stone is bubbling ozone into the water, and then leave the room immediately. The generator will switch off after one hour, and the room will be safe to re-enter an hour after that. If your growroom is in the main part of the house, then it's probably a good idea to open the windows to allow any leaking ozone to escape. That's it! Your room will smell incredibly clean and is now completely sterile, ready for your next grow.
Inline Odor Control
The most common use of ozone by growers is inside the ventilation ducting with a carbon filter. This gives an extra insurance against unwanted odors escaping. This works great and is a belt-and-braces addition to odor control. This method is also completely safe because the ozone is immediately extracted through ventilation into the outside, leaving no possibility of ozone buildup inside the growroom. For this set-up you need a medium output inline generator to place inside your ducting. Here the ozone molecules mix with the smelly plant terpenes inside the pipe. In an ideal world, you would have this inline ozone system paired with a portable ozone generator.
Ozonated Water
If you buy a generator with a tube and air stone option, then you can ozonate water. This is a fantastic way to ensure your root zone stays healthy and lets you disinfect a hydroponic system with your plants still installed.
Working with ozonated water is much safer than using it in the air. When ozone is bubbled through water, the unstable molecule behaves as it does in the air; attaching itself to any single-celled pathogen and killing it instantly. The by-product of this is pure residual oxygen in the water. Once all the pathogens are gone, the ozone actually starts to be absorbed into the water too, where its power can be harnessed.
When using a 400 mg ozone generator, place the air stone at the bottom of the water container and ozonate for around two minutes per liter of fluid. If possible, do this in open air as to not breathe ozone. Use the water right away, as the ozone starts to break down into oxygen over 30 minutes. Once you have ozonated water you can really do some amazing things with it, such as:
Spray it directly on your plants to kill any spores, rust spots, fungus, powdery mildew or bud rot. It is safe to use at any time in the flowering period because there are no chemicals.
Immediately dip fresh cuttings in the solution for 30 seconds to sterilize them before dipping in rooting hormone. This improves strike rate dramatically.
Dip pots, syringes, pipettes, meters, drippers, pumps, connectors and anything else that goes near your plants in the solution for one minute to sterilize safely.
Pour it straight into your root zone to give a massive oxygen boost and sterilize the rhizosphere.
When you change your solution, ozonate the fresh nutrient solution thoroughly before running it through the system, disinfecting everything and giving the plants a huge oxygen boost.
Working with ozonated water is more forgiving than ozonated air. You can safely handle it, and people with skin complaints may actually find it helps a lot, as it gently keeps skin sterile. There is no point in using organic nutrients or supplements in freshly ozonated solution, as the ozone will kill any beneficial bacteria too, including trichoderma. If your supplement isn't compatible with liquid oxygen, it's not compatible with freshly ozonated water. But, because ozone only remains active in water for around up to 45 minutes before turning back to oxygen, you can still use organics if you wait for an hour or so after running the ozone through your system, and get the best of both worlds.
No More Bud Rot
An ozone generator can save crops from botrytis and other pathogens, even if it's already started to weave its gray web around plants. It does this quickly without adding any toxic chemicals at all. Here's how to go about it:
At the first sign of mold, physically remove any infected material from the room.
Switch off your extractor fan but leave your circulation fans running. (You will need to set a timer to switch your extractor back on in about 15 minutes).
When using a 400 mg per hour generator, try running it for 30 to 45 seconds per square meter of enclosed grow space and then switching it off. If you have a machine with a tube outlet, you can attach it directly to a circulation fan for maximum spread.
Leave the extractor fan off for 15 minutes afterwards, but make sure the circulation fans are moving lots of air around inside.
After the extractor fan has been on for 15 minutes, open your tent and look at the mold. Instead of looking a vibrant, fluffy gray, it should now look brown, crusty and dead.
If mold is more progressive, you may need to run the ozone for longer. For serious infestations, run for up to an hour without the extractor on.
Dispose of any previously infected matter. Although the mold is no longer active, it shouldn't be ingested.
Inspect every plant thoroughly, and if there is any mildew alive, repeat the process. Be aware that building up too high a concentration of ozone in a room can cause plant damage to the stomata, resulting in burnt leaves, especially at the tips and wider shade leaves closest to the generator. There have also been reports of it damaging the delicate trichomes with major overuse. Tread carefully, using it sparingly yet often to prevent contamination, and you will be OK. You might have to toss a few plants if they were infected already, but it will not spread and you have saved your crop from death or early harvest. Check your plants for new mold thoroughly every day for a week, and if you spot any new stuff, repeat the process.
Battle Spider Mites
Spider mites spread fast and are tough to beat. A higher level of ozone will break down the respiratory systems of spider mites and kill them. Be warned that the levels you need to run ozone at to kill spider mites may cause plant damage, but spider mites will cause worse damage.
Conclusion
Ozone is a wonderful tool for the hydroponic gardener. If treated with respect, it can troubleshoot many problems and maximize efficiency in a growroom.
When we get upset in a relationship, it really comes from a place of fear – fear that someone or something isn't going according to plan. So we react by trying to regain control of the situation. And one of the most common – and also most damaging – ways that we do that is by punishing our partner.
But here's the Catch 22 of doing that: Punishment then exacerbates the disconnection and pushes you even further apart. Which, in turn, makes you feel even less in control.
When you start to punish your partner, you risk creating a deep level of injury. There is no love in punishment – only hurt, pain and neglect. It makes the individual feel even more alone and more misunderstood. And when punishment is used over and over again, there can be a serious break in trust. So that even if both of you stay in the relationship, there will be a massive emotional, psychological and even spiritual divide. Because the partner being punished will put up a wall to protect him- or herself from enduring more pain.
But what is the alternative to punishment? How do you express your disappointment and ensure that your partner learns from the experience? It comes down to one key ingredient – pleasure.
THE JACKPOT
If you really want to transform your relationship, you must understand the power of what Tony calls "the jackpot." It stems from a research study on the way dolphins are trained. Dolphins are inherently sensitive creatures. They are highly social, but if something happens that breaks their state, they can fall into a deep frustration.
Now, research has shown that when a trainer wants them to step out of that frustration and perform for them, but chooses to do so with force and anger, the dolphin feels that energy and retreats even further. However, when the trainer implements "the jackpot" – I.e., taking an entire bucket of fish and dumping it on the head of the dolphin – the dolphin becomes so overwhelmed with pleasure and joy that it is able to break out of its depressive state.
And when the dolphin begins to perform the way the trainer wants, the trainer immediately reinforces it. They never punish; they only reinforce. And when there is nothing there to reinforce, the trainer only seeks to create a little spark that ultimately guides the dolphin in the right direction.
This is not meant to minimize the complexity of humans, nor to be condescending. It's simply meant for you to open your eyes and see that there is always a choice of how to approach a problem. Take potty-training as another example. Should you punish your child when he or she doesn't use the toilet correctly? Or do you reward and reinforce the good behavior? Any modern parenting handbook would recommend the latter. It goes even further – sometimes, you reward even attempts or intentions of good behavior, because if you waited for perfect behavior to give a reward, you'd be waiting a very long time. So you reward their effort, even if it doesn't result in a complete success.
OPENING TO A NEW TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP
The jackpot is all about creating an opening in the relationship. When you open up, even during the difficult times, when you're scared and hurt and angry, and choose to say "I love this man or this woman, and I don't want to cause more pain" – that is when you are really fighting for the relationship.
Kindness is not a fixed trait in a relationship. Think of it rather, as a muscle – something that must be worked on every single day if it is to develop. And when we treat each other with kindness and compassion, we are essentially training each other how we should treat each other.
MAINTAINING POLARITY
Women are highly sensitive beings – they feel everything all the time. And choosing the path of reinforcement doesn't mean repressing feelings or emotions when your partner does something that upsets you. In a relationship, both partners should be able to share anything, anytime. The key is to approach it while in a beautiful state. That means, convey and receive with love. Express how you feel without attaching stories or making accusations. And listen with absolute compassion with the sole goal of helping your partner feel understood and cared for.
This not only facilitates communication, it helps keep the masculine and feminine energies in the right balance.
When a feminine woman begins to punish, she becomes masculine. And if the man succumbs, he becomes more feminine – and polarity will vanish. Likewise, if a masculine man punishes a feminine woman, she puts up walls and retreats, becoming more masculine, and again, polarity disappears. (Take this short quiz to discover if you carry more masculine or feminine energy.)
It's important to understand that women often put emotion into everything, so they have a profoundly detailed memory – because information paired with emotion makes an indelible mark. Men, on the other hand, don't couple emotion with everything. It's not that they don't care, it's that masculine energy is about breaking through and then letting go. Feminine energy is not about letting go. It's about filling up and gathering up. And sometimes talking is just a means of getting that energy out of the system.
So learn how to treat each other kindly, and when you find yourself starting to punish the other, make the decision to choose reinforcement. Because you always have the choice – to punish your partner and create more resistance and disconnection and polarization, or to open up to reinforcement and learn how to build an even stronger bond.
RANKED: The 10 healthiest leafy greens you should be putting in your salad
We used the CDC's ranking of powerhouse foods, combined with how many nutrients (specifically potassium, fiber, protein, riboflavin, niacin, folate, B6, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and B6) the greens pack per calorie, to determine the healthiest leafy greens you can choose. Following is a transcript of the video.
At the bottom we have a peppery-tasting arugula. While it's got Vitamins A and K, it's lacking a real nutrient punch.
Next is the perennial, burger-topping iceberg lettuce. You'll need 33 cups of the stuff to get your daily Vitamin C.
Our purple friend here is called radicchio. It's packed with more than 100% of the Vitamin K you need in a day. That’s the vitamin that promotes blood-clotting to help wounds heal.
Leaf lettuce is one the most nutritious in our lettuce family. Low in calories — high in vitamins A and K!
Endive is a bitter cousin of radicchio. Loaded with vitamins, it has 20% of the vitamin A you'll need. Vitamin A is an essential part of normal vision and a health immune system.
This pretty red and green leaf is chard. And it's a powerhouse. We're talking 300% of your daily vitamin K. As well as magnesium to control blood pressure, glucose levels and to help muscle and nerve functions.
Coming near the top is — butter lettuce? It's also called Boston or Bibb lettuce. But unlike real butter, this is crammed with folate, iron, and potassium.
No Caesar salad is complete without romaine lettuce. The CDC calls this a top 10 powerhouse food. One cup has more than 80% of your vitamin A.
And at the very top we have a tie!
Popeye was right! Spinach is a phytonutrient-packed beast. Filled with both iron and potassium, it's got what you need to regulate blood pressure. And 402% of that Vitamin K.
Tied with spinach for first is Kale.One cup has all the Vitamin A, C, and K you need for the day.
Next time you're on salad duty, you got this one covered.
We all encounter mental roadblocks in life, to feelings of self-doubt to anxiety and depression, mental hindrances can be extremely tough to deal with.
However, we're not the first human beings that suffered from such obstacles.
Buddhist monks and philosophers have studied and practiced the art of freeing the mind from these negative emotions that tie us to what they call the Wheel of Suffering.
They found 5 common hindrances to the mind.
We've gone through each of them below and we've also discussed how we can actually go about overcoming these obstacles for a peaceful and happy life.
1) The Mental Hindrance of Desire for Sensing.
What is it:
The hindrance of sensory desire is latching onto thoughts or feelings based on the pleasures of the five senses.
Buddhist master Traleg Kyabgon explains it best:
"This term alludes to the mind's tendency to latch on to something that attracts it–a thought, a visual object, or a particular emotion. When we allow the mind to indulge in such attractions, we lose our concentration. So we need to apply mindfulness and be aware of how the mind operates; we don't necessarily have to suppress all these things arising in the mind, but we should take notice of them and see how the mind behaves, how it automatically grabs onto this and that."
How to overcome it:
To overcome the hindrance of sensory desire, the meditator must use mindfulness and acknowledge the hindrance. Then they must observe the hindrance and experience it fully. Once experienced fully, the meditator must contemplate the impermanence of the pleasant desire. Buddhist master Ajahn Brahmavamso emphasizes the technique for letting go of concern for the body and five senses completely:
"In meditation, one transcends sensory desire for the period by letting go of concern for this body and its five sense activity. Some imagine that the five senses are there to serve and protect the body, but the truth is that the body is there to serve the five senses as they play in the world ever seeking delight. Indeed, the Lord Buddha once said, "The five senses ARE the world" and to leave the world, to enjoy the other worldly bliss of Jhana, one must give up for a time ALL concern for the body and its five senses."
2) The Mental Hindrance of Aversion and Ill-Will.
What is it:
This involves latching onto thoughts or feelings based on hostility, anger, resentment, bitterness etc.
"Ill will refers to the desire to punish, hurt or destroy. It includes sheer hatred of a person, or even a situation, and it can generate so much energy that it is both seductive and addictive. At the time, it always appears justified for such is its power that it easily corrupts our ability to judge fairly. It also includes ill will towards oneself, otherwise known as guilt, which denies oneself any possibility of happiness. In meditation, ill will can appear as dislike towards the meditation object itself, rejecting it so that one's attention is forced to wander elsewhere."
How to overcome it:
According to Ajahn Brahmavamso, meditation on loving-kindness is crucial:
"Ill will is overcome by applying Metta, loving kindness. When it is ill will towards a person, Metta teaches one to see more in that person than all that which hurts you, to understand why that person hurt you (often because they were hurting intensely themselves), and encourages one to put aside one's own pain to look with compassion on the other."
3) The Mental Hindrance of Lethargy and Laziness.
What is it:
This is characterized as a morbid state of lacking energy and desire for wholesome activity.
Ajahn Brahmavamso states:
"Sloth and torpor refers to that heaviness of body and dullness of mind which drag one down into disabling inertia and thick depression. […] In meditation, it causes weak and intermittent mindfulness which can even lead to falling asleep in meditation without even realising it!"
How to overcome it:
To overcome laziness, we need to use our energy sources. Ajahn Brahmavamso says:
"Sloth and torpor is overcome by rousing energy. Energy is always available but few know how to turn on the switch, as it were. Setting a goal, a reasonable goal, is a wise and effective way to generate energy, as is deliberately developing interest in the task at hand. A young child has a natural interest, and consequent energy, because its world is so new. Thus, if one can learn to look at one's life, or one's meditation, with a 'beginner's mind' one can see ever new angles and fresh possibilities which keep one distant from sloth and torpor, alive and energetic."
4) The Mental Hindrance of Restlessness and Regret.
What is it:
This refers to the mind being agitated and unable to settle down. Ajahn Brahmavamso explains it best:
"Restlessness [uddhacca] refers to a mind which is like a monkey, always swinging on to the next branch, never able to stay long with anything. It is caused by the fault-finding state of mind which cannot be satisfied with things as they are, and so has to move on to the promise of something better, forever just beyond. […] Remorse [kukkucca] refers to a specific type of restlessness which is the kammic effect of one's misdeeds."
How to overcome it:
Gil Fronsdal says it's about understanding what makes you restless and accepting it and taking action:
"[There are] a variety of ways to engage restlessness, be present for it. […] [One is] learning, reflecting, meditating and contemplating what the nature of restlessness is. […] There might be a really good cause for you to be restless. […] Maybe you haven't paid your taxes in ten years. […] [In this case] you don't need meditation, you need to pay your taxes. You don't use meditation to run away from the real issues of your life. […] Sometimes what's needed is to really look and understand are there root causes for being restless."
5) The Mental Hindrance of Doubt and Uncertainty.
What is it:
This involves self-doubt and not truly understanding oneself.
"Doubt refers to the disturbing inner questions at a time when one should be silently moving deeper. Doubt can question one's own ability "Can I do This?", or question the method "Is this the right way?", or even question the meaning "What is this?". It should be remembered that such questions are obstacles to meditation because they are asked at the wrong time and thus become an intrusion, obscuring one's clarity."
How to overcome it:
According to Ajahn Brahmavamso, this is overcome by having clear instructions and a way to move forward. He says:
"Such doubt is overcome by gathering clear instructions, having a good map, so that one can recognise the subtle landmarks in the unfamiliar territory of deep meditation and so know which way to go. Doubt in one's ability is overcome by nurturing self-confidence with a good teacher. A meditation teacher is like a coach who convinces the sports team that they can succeed."
