Farewell, green-goers!

Farewell, loyal blog-readers.

The time has come for the semester to end, and my blogging to cease (at least at this speedy rate).
I hope you cherish all of the wonderful times we've had together- learning the beauty of black beans, the joys of St. John's Wort, and the dangers of traditional Western medicine.

But seriously- if there is one thing I will remember about this class, it's how we combined our knowledge with the forefront of information on living green, now becoming a huge phenomenon in the United States.
And it's about time- all it takes is a few minutes to change a lightbulb into one more eco-friendly, or a second thought to turn off the running water while you're brushing your teeth.
These little actions will help us all in a big way, and I hope that if there's anything YOU take away from this, it's that the small stuff really does count.
I have learned a lot in my eco-adventures. Up until this point I had never blogged before, nor used the Internet for educational purposes (I know, I know, shame on me). I'm realizing now that there is much out there to see and do, something I intend to get started on by graduating.
Living greeen is important, especially in this day and age.
So while you're printing out this last blog entry, scouring it for a bit of hope and inspiration (and hopefully a good laugh), please, please, please, reuse your printer paper.
And remember: Nothing feels better than helping to save the world.
So, turn off your water. Buy a hybrid car with all of the money you'll save on your bills.
We all prosper when we pitch in to do our parts.

Thanks for the good times,
Kelly

St. John's Wort for the blues

--Photo by 'smoobs' on Flickr

Got the blues?

New studies suggest that the herb, St. Johns Wort, could actually serve as a natural remedy for depression.
According to a study conducted by the British Medical Journal, St. John's Wort contains hypericin, a chemical that wards off monoamine oxidase, a big fancy name for a chemical normally associated with depression.
Patients who had depression and were given St. Johns Wort expressed an increase in appetite, more interest in life and greater self-esteem.
Who knew?
As the weather changes and the trees outside begin to lose their leaves, it's easy to let yourself get down and out, especially around the holidays.
Normally given out in the form of a leaf, St. John's Wort can be best made into tea for easy digestion.
It is also known for it's power to ease anxiety.

So get out of bed, sleepyheads.

Drink a cup of St. John's Wort. I promise it tastes better than it sounds!

Caffeine woes

Caffeine- it's in your soda, your coffee, your life. Despite it's obvious effects in adding energy, did you know that caffeine also has some very negative side effects?
When you injest caffeine, many parts of your body are effected. First, the drug will hit your hormones, including adrenaline and dopamine, making you feel jumpy and alert.
At the same time, it will also effect the hormone cortisol, which is responsible for weight gain and is also linked to diabetes.
With all the changes in your hormone level, caffeine has also been linked to mild depression, stemming from the point when caffeine begins to wear off and your body goes through a 'low'.
Also, the drug has been linked to sleep- or the lack therof.
Similarly, it has been known to add to dehydration, and because caffeine increases production of urine, calcium can be lost in the process, leading to concerns of bone marrow health.


To help you, loyal readers, eliminate caffeine from your diets (slowly) here are some tips that I think might help.

1. If you drink coffee, try to put more milk or cream into it, to decrease the amount of caffeine.
2. Try to limit your intake of caffeine to one drink per day, whether it's coffee or soda.
3. If you're looking for a boost of energy, try exercise instead. Just one set of 10 jumping jacks should help increase blood flow and boost endorphins, making you feel more energized.
4. If you take caffeine pills (and you really, really shouldn't) try to take them before exercising, so that your workout is enhanced and the pills work there way through your system.
5. If caffeine affects your sleep, don't drink any past 2 p.m. That way, you're sure to be able to fall asleep.

Now, if you'll excuse me, Starbucks is having a sale on frappacinos.

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Beans, beans, the magical fruit. The more you eat, the longer you live?

Recent studies have shown that black beans, in particular, can have an effect on lowering cholesterol, preventing blood sugar levels from spiking too quickly and that one serving a day can help with your health- which makes them my favorite food this week.
So, in honor of my new love, here are some easy, black bean recipes. Enjoy!

Black Bean Salad with Feta and Red Peppers - from Care2.com
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Two 16-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 medium red bell peppers, cut into short thin strips
½ cup natural low-fat vinaigrette
½ cup fresh parsley
½ to 2/3 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and top with feta cheese.

This is one of my favorite recipes, especially because it's so easy! (And, who doesn't love feta cheese?)

Another classic: the Black Bean Burger-

Mix hamburger meat with a can of black beans (mashed) and mix in onions with 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs.
Form patties with your hands and grill, as with any other burger. Delicious, and (slightly) more healthy.





Voila!

Don't believe what they say- beans will give you much more than gas.