Superfoods loaded with probiotics deliver a variety of flavors and span seven food groups

Monday, August 13, 2012 by: JB Bardot

(NaturalNews) Good nutrition includes eating fresh organic foods, and also means getting a healthy supply of "friendly" bacteria, or probiotics, to maintain balance in the intestinal tract. Although you could take a digestive supplement, a better choice is to eat selectively fermented foods that supply tons of friendly microflora to promote better gastrointestinal health. Some people turn their noses up at the thought of eating fermented foods. However, you may be surprised to learn that fermented foods come from every food group, including water; and, offer a wide rage of flavor profiles to suit everyone's tastes.

Why probiotics?

Proper digestion and gut health nourishes the body's systems, fostering physical integrity of the intestinal lining. When healthy flora is out of balance, unfriendly bacteria and fungi like candida grow rampantly -- often becoming systemic and compromising the immune system. The result is autoimmune and inflammatory disease such as MS, Lupus, Crohn's, allergies, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema, IBD and other degenerative diseases. Poor gut health also produces symptoms of chronic diarrhea, flatulence, depression and ADHD. Eating fermented foods seals the lining of the gut, restoring its proper function.

What foods are fermented?

Not all fermented foods taste like sauerkraut. Read about the variety of tasty foods that are actually good for you.

Vegetables - Fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut, capers, artichokes, mushrooms, peppers, olives and the Korean delicacy kim chi are prepared by pickling. Modern processing methods don't include beneficial bacteria; however, specialty stores still make these foods in the traditional manner.

Dairy - Yogurt, kefir, creme fraiche, and certain aged cheeses are fermented with various live cultures to enhance nutritional value. Those made from goat, sheep or raw cow's milk supply the best nutrients with the least amount of processing. Organic cow's milk is also a good choice.

Legumes - Popular fermented products made primarily from soy beans have been part of native diets for over 5,000 years. The Japanese eat natto, which is exceptionally high in protein and vitamin K2. Tempe originated in Indonesia and is made from grains and legumes. Miso is fermented soy paste and comes in several strengths. Red miso is often used as a soup base, where light miso is milder and used to flavor foods. Both are high in sodium and should be used sparingly. Soy sauce, or Shoyu, originated in China and is considered one of the oldest-known fermented condiments. Tofuyo, a fermented tofu product is known as the "cheese of the east," and originates from Okinawa. Fermented for three to four months, it is prized for its smooth texture, mild flavor, and medicinal qualities.

Sprouted grains and seeds - Grains and seeds can be sprouted and then fermented to provide beneficial bacteria for breads. Sourdough rye or sprouted wheat breads are more digestible than ordinary breads and may prevent allergic or gluten reactions.

Fruits - Umeboshi plums are a small, tangy, pickled plums originating in Japan that promote better digestion. Fermented for six months, they are considered the "king of alkaline foods." They provide probiotics and potent antibiotic properties.

Water and Juices - Water, coconut milk and fruit juices can be fermented with special kefir starter grains to create tangy, fizzy, delicious drinks that provide friendly bacteria to support the GI tract.

Fish - Nam Pla, or Thai fish sauce, is fermented for many months and used as a popular flavoring and dipping sauce in Asia. The long fermentation process imparts a nutty, cheesy flavor.

Still don't think you'll like fermented foods? Imagine the tangy-sweet, refreshing taste of aged apple cider or a fizzy coconut milk shake and then reconsider whether you're going to add fermented foods to your diet.

Top Tourist Attractions and Places in Mindanao, Philippines

June 30, 2011 By Cille Anne

The island is the 2^nd largest in the Philippines with amazing natural wonders and heart pumping travel adventure activities but unfortunately even Mindanao Top Tourist Spots are not as visited as the other travel tourism destinations of Luzon and Visayas. This is a sad reality due mainly to the ‘perceived’ degrading peace and order situation that is often attached to the word  ”mindanao”. Yes, there are conflict ridden places in Mindanao that is best avoided for those who are only after leisure travel but there are far more many places and destinations where you are as safe as you can be like in any other places and provinces of the Philippines. And what’s more you can have a cheap Mindanao vacation options by doing a do it yourself tour as you can commute by buses, have an affordable food trip and stay in accommodations that is budget friendly.

The vastness of its land area together with the fact that majority of Mindanao provinces are landlocked, traveling and going around the big island to check its tourism hot spots are a lot easier as you can just hop into a car and drive away as opposed to riding boats and braving waves to go around the Visayas Region. Unless of course you are checking out the little islands of Mindanao.

Mindanao long considered as the Philippine’s Land of Promise offers so much to travel aficionados; the area is blessed with rich natural resources and wondrous tourist sites that just take your breath away with its simplicity and raw beauty. You might even discover hidden paradise and beautiful places that are not yet known and popular. If you do, please share it to us and let us help Promote Mindanao Tourism.

The following are the most popular tourist destinations and spots in Mindanao for both local and foreign visitors (according to me hahaha, for any protest just shoot me an email ^_^ ) :

Cagayan de Oro (CDO) – This famous city south of the Philippines is gateway to the major tourist spots in the landlocked provinces of Mindanao. It has its own domestic airport as well as seaport that make the life of any traveler easier. Among the top favorite thing to do in CDO is its white water rafting adventure. Get your hearts pumping on this wild river ride, caution though this adventure is not for the faint of heart because you will need to navigate the river aboard a small rubber boat while strong rapids threaten to overturn your boat and your fellow adventure seekers. Best pasalubong or local delicacy food item from CDO is Pastel, that bread with sweet filling goodness and Chedeng’s roasted peanuts, and the delicious CDO Jamon de Cagayan.

Camiguin Island – Lanzones, Underwater Cemetery, Hibok-hibok Volcano, Bura Soda Water Swimming Pool in Catarman, the white sand beaches, easy rural living are the great tourism draw of this tiny island in the northern part of Mindanao. Be charmed with the beauty of Camiguin and feast your eyes on laid back island sceneries.

Siargao Island – If you are dreaming of that huge rolling waves and cloud 9 barrels then head to Siargao, an island that faces the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Deep on the northeastern part of Mindanao. Siargao Island is the Philippines’ surfing capital and fast becoming one of the world best surfing haven, in fact every October the island is host to an international surfing competition that attracts the best surfers across the globe. Siargao belongs to the province of Surigao del Norte. Surigao Del Sur on the other hand offers hidden gems like Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig City.

Bukidnon – Bukidnon is home to the largest pineapple plantation in the country, and not only that its vast plain and mountains allows the rich locals to herd horses and establish haciendas, if you want to see cowboys in the Philippines, your best bet is to go to this province.

Davao City – Davao province is the commercial and economic center of Mindanao and you can do a lot of things in Davao City, its capital. Here you can find one of the Philippines famous resorts The Pearl Farm as well as the highly popular Samal Island with white sand beaches and an assortment of resorts that caters to every budget. Davao is a major fruit producer for the country from the pungent smelling but tasty durian fruit to sweet sour pomelo to marang and export worthy bananas. Nightlight is bustling in Davao’s Matina Square in downtown area. If you are interested in wildlife you will not be disappointed because there are many wildlife conservation centers in Davao from the centers that focuses on the Philippine Eagle and Philippine Crocodiles. The Philippines highest peak, Mt Apo can also be found in Davao.

Zamboanga City – This unique city on the northwestern part of Mindanao speaks a dialect with most words inspired by the Spanish language. Zamboanga City is famous for its colorful vintas that sail its waters and the curacha, a large type of crab, batiks and malongs, dried fish and more.

There are still countless cities and places in Mindanao that has a great potential of becoming one of the Philippines premier tourism destinations. And hopefully more tourists especially Filipinos will check out its wonderful places. Go now to Mindanao and discover the hidden gems and wonderful places. Have more adventure! It’s more fun in the Philippines!

Tinuy-an Falls, Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

Emotional Memories Can Be Erased From Our Brains

Emotional memories that are recently formed can be erased from the human brain.

 A new study by Thomas Agren, a doctoral candidate at the Department of Psychology, under the observation of Professors Mats Fredrikson and Tomas Furmark, has indicated that it is possible to erase newly formed emotional memories from the brain. This finding, published in Science, brings scientists a huge step forward in future research on memory and fear.

The results coincide previous research which suggested that memories of fear can be substantially modified into benign memories when they are ripe for change, and can be kept that way.

An enduring long-term memory is formed when individuals take in new information by using the process of consolidation, which is based on the formation of proteins. When we recall an event, a place, or anything from our past, the memory becomes unstable for a while. Another consolidation process begins, and the memory is restabilized.

This is because we are not remembering what originally happened, but instead, recalling what we remembered the previous time we thought about what happened, the authors explained.

Memory content can be impacted by interrupting the reconsolidation process that occurs after remembrance.

The participants in the study were shown a neutral picture, while given an electric shock at the same time. This was done so that the picture came to elicit fear, meaning a the subjects formed a fear memory. The picture was then displayed without any shock in order to activate the fear memory.

The reconsolidation process was disrupted in one experimental group by repeatedly showing presentations of the image. A control group was also observed, where the reconsolidation process was finished before the volunteers were shown the same repeated presentations of the picture.

In turn, the experimental group was not able to reconsolidate the fear memory, the fear they had previously connected with the picture dissipated.

The findings suggest that by disrupting the reconsolidation process, the memory was made neutral and no longer associated with fear. The scientists used a MR-scanner, which proved that the traces of that memory was no longer in the part of the brain that usually stores fearful memories, the nuclear group of amygdala in the temporal lobe.

Thomas Ågren concluded:

"These findings may be a breakthrough in research on memory and fear. Ultimately the new findings may lead to improved treatment methods for the millions of people in the world who suffer from anxiety issues like phobias, post-traumatic stress, and panic attacks."

Written by Sarah Glynn
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

New Report Shows U.S. Lagging on Education Indicators

The U.S. is behind other OECD countries on high school graduation rates, early childhood education

By Danielle Kurtzleben

A new report shows that Americans are lagging behind their peers in education, but are still reaping big benefits from their diplomas.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's 2012 Education at a Glance report shows that the U.S. falls behind many of its peers, and below OECD averages on several measures of educational progress. Below are a few of the measures on which the U.S. is falling behind.

High School Graduation

Out of 27 countries, the U.S. ranks No. 22 on this measure, with a 2010 high school graduation rate of 77 percent. That's well below the OECD average of 84 percent, but well above countries at the very bottom of the ladder, like Mexico (47 percent graduation rate) and Turkey (54 percent). Still, a 77 percent graduation rate is an improvement over 2000, when the U.S. secondary school graduation rate was 70 percent.

Early Childhood Education

In some countries, virtually all 4-year-olds are enrolled in some form of early-childhood or primary education. France, The Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, and Belgium all report the highest enrollment, at or near 100 percent. The U.S., however, reports that 69 percent of its 4-year-olds are in school, below even the OECD average of 81 percent.

Teacher Salaries

In the U.S., high school teachers can expect to earn roughly 72 percent as much as all U.S. college graduates age 25 to 64 earn, on average. The OECD average is 90 percent, and a few countries are far higher: in Spain, teachers earn 138 percent of what college grads earn. Still, it could be much worse. In the Slovak Republic, the ratio is 45 percent.

Interestingly, U.S. teachers are paid significantly less than their foreign counterparts, but tend to teach more. U.S. high school teachers spend around 1,050 hours a year teaching, behind only Argentina and Chile. However, as OECD Deputy Director for Education Andreas Schleicher pointed out Monday, this doesn't take into account teachers' duties outside of the classroom, which could mean that several other countries' teachers work more than their U.S. counterparts, though the data may not reflect it.

Educational Mobility

The children of less-educated parents in the U.S. have a tougher time climbing the educational ladder than in other countries. Out of 28 countries, the U.S. ranked 26th in terms of the odds of these students going to college. The odds ratio, a measure of statistical association, is 0.29 for these students going to college, compared to a 0.44 OECD average. At the top of the spectrum, Iceland's odds ratio is an impressive 0.83, nearly three times the rate of the children in the U.S.

Still, there is one key advantage that Americans have over many other OECD countries, and it's one major reason why people go to school in the first place:

Money

Education pays off in the U.S. more so than many other countries. A college education earns a person around $19,000 more than someone with a high school education in the U.S., putting it above all other countries studied by the OECD, when earnings are adjusted for purchasing power parity (a measure of currencies' values relative to one another). Other countries that come close are Luxembourg (nearly $18,000) and the Czech Republic ($15,500), as well as the United Kingdom, Austria, and the Netherlands, all with income differences of over $12,000. The average advantage for OECD countries is much lower, at around $8,900.

Zamboanga schools join Smart's online campus journalism program

MANILA, Philippines - From A to Z - that’s the distance already bridged early this school year by journ.ph, the online journalism platform of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).
The journ.ph program was recently introduced to the whole Zamboanga Peninsula when the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd) conducted a campus journalism training for advisers and selected student editors in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur. About 250 participants representing 80 high school and elementary school papers participated in the campus paper editorial and management training which was highlighted by the Smart online campus journalism training, said Dr. Visminda Valde, regional school publications supervisor.
Dr. Valde invited Smart to conduct the online journalism training after learning of the telco’s program at the National Schools Press Conference held in April in Puerto Princesa City where journ.ph was introduced to a nationwide audience.
“It is, indeed, a blessing that Smart brought the online journalism technology to our region, thus our publications are now given the opportunity to be part of a pioneering digital media initiative,” Dr. Valde said.
With the recent connectivity of the Zamboanga Peninsula with the Smart program, journ.ph is now actively operational in three regions. In the high school level, it was implemented in Western Visayas in 2010 with the support of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) - Region VI and early this year in the MIMAROPA Region.
The Smart journ.ph training brings to the regions online journalism experts. At the Pagadian training, Journalism educator Chay Hofilena of Ateneo de Manila and Rappler.com, lawyer Jaime Fortunato Caringal, founder of a Metro Manila-based law firm, and UP Los Banos alumnus Alfred Franco Caballero, a graphics designer specialist, discussed the nature of online journalism, media ethics and the law and online journalism designing, respectively.
In Zamboanga City, Daniel Renz Roc, a student of the Regional Science High School, continues to reflect on the insights he gained at the training. “It’s a priceless blessing for me as it helps me to have a clearer way to see events and articles deeper through the use of multi-media images. I have realized better that I can be a speaker and writer for the world through journ.ph.”
Advisers, too, were just as appreciative. “Journ.ph it an amazing program and I am able to educate myself and gain more exposure to the world of digital technology and literacy,” said Marilyn Pacong.
“I expect more of my students to be more interactive not only in their school but also with those from other schools,” expressed Anthony Din of Ayala National High School in Zamboanga City.
Dr. Valde expressed the hope that Smart will sow more journ.ph seeds across the Zamboanga Peninsula region, saying, “this way we will be constantly be updated even if we are far from the metropolitan centers and become an active part of the information highway.”