Easy on the Grub: 10 Quick Remedies to Alleviate Holiday Indigestion

Holiday season – that means from Thanksgiving all the way to New Year’s Eve – is the time of giving, sharing and being merry. Ironically, it is also the season where we see inexplicable gluttons can magically ingest practically anything and everything that’s on the table. Not that we encourage you to do so, but indeed, we can’t resist the hearty goodness of home-cooked treats with the family that sometimes, it gets to the point wherein we voraciously devour everything we see succumb to food coma. Or worse, dyspepsia! Or as we say in over-indulging layman’s term, indigestion! Although main symptoms include discomfort, feeling bloated and nausea, dyspepsia can also be accompanied by acid reflux/heartburn.

Just in case you feel like you’ve had too much to gobble and shrug this holiday stretch, here are some quick remedies to alleviate dyspepsia.

Chamomile Tea/Oil

It has been a habit in the UK and even here in the States to consume a cup or two of tea. And clearly, the reason for that is to aid your body for digestion. In addition, chamomile contains natural oil that calms, soothes and balances the acidity level in your stomach (now, that’s hitting 2 turkeys in one stone!). Moreover, tea has less caffeine content unlike coffee, which could worsen stomach cramps and discomfort.

Ginseng

American ginseng has been used in the yesteryears by Native Americans to treat several ailments and discomforts… And indigestion is no exemption to this. The adaptogenic herb contains ginsenosides – the main chemical compound responsible for boosting overall wellness and organ motility. To make a nice, hot cup of ginseng tea, simply boil water along with the ginseng root. Wait for 10-15 minutes until the extract blends in. You may add syrup or sugar if you please, though it is advisable to drink it without any sweetener before and/or after a hearty meal.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Experts say that it is better to treat indigestion with apple cider rather than taking antacids, as this after-effect of over-eating is not caused by sudden gush of acids in your stomach, but rather in dire need of enough acid to facilitate digestion. Moreover, apple cider contains just the right amount of acid to neutralize make up for the loss acid level in the stomach to help improve the digestion process. Just mix ½ a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a class of warm water and drink it before/after eating, or when aching persists.

Gum

Although chewing gum does not directly heal indigestion, it can pretty much relieve nasty GERD or chronic heartburn. According to the Journal of Dental Research, chewing gum induces increased swallowing frequency due to the stimulation of the salivary glands to produce more saliva. Acid is then diluted and flushed down, thus improving the clearance rate of reflux within the esophagus.

Almonds

There are a lot of articles about heartburn say that eating almonds are food triggers of acid reflux. It may be the other way around, as a lot of home remedy experts are disputing the said notion. To explain, almonds contains oil and potassium – a combination that is perfect to level acidity in the stomach. So, it is advised to munch on a couple of almonds either before of after meals.

Baking Soda

The sodium bicarbonate present in baking soda neutralizes the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Although it is mainly used for treating heartburn, the use of baking soda to ease the discomfort of indigestion is also practice to assist better digestion, especially fatty food. Mix a half tablespoon of baking soda with a glass of water. Stir well, then let the bubbles settle if it occurs. You may intake this 15 minutes before eating or about 30 minutes after meal.

Ginger

Just like its perennial plant cousin, the American ginseng, ginger is also a potent remedy to combat indigestion. With its anti-inflammatory properties, ginger fortifies the stomach wall and calms down the secretion of acid. In digestion, this plant root facilitates better digestion, especially fatty and greasy substances, as well as food that contains free-radicals.

All in all, to enjoy the holiday season without the hassles of aching tummy, make sure to practice moderation.

Happy holidays, everyone!

5 “Unforgettable” Movie Characters with Memory Loss

Amnesia or memory loss is one of the most used plot devices in TV and in films. This trope became do widely popular and well-used, that directors have to put on some variations and intriguing twist to justify and give a whole new approach in capturing the essence of this close to passé cinematic allegory.

That’s why it is up to the actors on how to flawlessly pull off a remarkable and convincing portrayal of an amnesiac. So good, that it stays afloat in our… well, memory. They did it so well, that we desperately want to jump into the screen and offer them those memory-enhancing supplements and ginseng roots with high hopes of recovery just to have that oh, so happy ending. Not to mention, it is a bit of a paradox to say that these movie memory-impaired heroes and heroines made quite an impact, enough to be unforgettable.

So, before these characters go down to Hollywood oblivion, here are the 5 “unforgettable” movie characters suffering from memory loss.

Lucy Whitmore (50 First Dates)

To quote the great Friedrich Nietzsche, “The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time”. And this is exactly what Lucy Whitmore experienced. In the movie, Lucy got into a car accident and suffered from a temporal lobe damage that caused her short term memory loss and inability to create new memories. This pretty much explains the numerous “first kisses” she had experienced with Henry Roth. Kinda cute, if you’d think about it. On the other hand, it is the complete literal meaning of U2’s hit song, Stuck in a Moment, and You Can’t Get out of It.

Dory (Finding Nemo)

Talk about a fish that has a memory of a goldfish. Dory has a short term memory loss that somehow gives color to the Regal Tang fish. The “amnesia” element was well-utilized in the film in a sense that it provides a convenient yet effective obstacle throughout the film. We empathized with her shortcomings during her adventures with Marlin as they embark on a mission to find Nemo, more specifically from those scenes wherein frustration arises due to her inability to remember a darn thing.

Hancock (Hancock)

Forget Wolverine’s derailed memory due to a bullet wound. Hancock’s backstory is way more compelling. The badass superhuman loss his past memory when a brawling incident happened just before he and his companion enter the movie house to watch Frankenstein… 80 years prior to the movie’s timeline. The memory loss narrative served the film well in giving way to a more revealing life antecedent that eventually helped the anti-hero answer his questions about his past.

Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

Emotionally dragged Joel Barish has been separated with her girlfriend, Clementine for a couple of years when the two got into a nasty fight that provoked the latter in deciding to erase her memory. Joel later decides to undergo the same procedure as well in order for him to move on with his already miserable life, only to see him fight off the process in his subconscious in an effort to bypass the procedure and keep some of his memories of Clementine.

Leonard Shelby (Memento)

50 First Dates’ use of VCR to maintain the continuity of Lucy Whitmore’s life beyond her retained memories is one thing. But for auteur, Christopher Nolan, tapes ain’t gonna cut it. That’s why in Memento, the protagonist, Leonard Shelby – suffering from anterograde amnesia – tries to solve the mystery of his wife’s gruesome death. In order for him to keep track of the details of his life as he splices the clues pointing to his wife’s killer, he devised an elaborate journal in the form Polaroids, sticky notes and tattoos. What a way to infuse complex element to a simple plot device.

Did I forget something? Please feel free to refresh my memory by leaving a comment!

Moobs: A growing number of guys with growing breasts

Let’s face it. Men like boobs. But in terms of today, it seems that nearly half the population of men all over the world loves a nice rack so much, that it starts to grow on them… Literally! The result: MANBOOBS or MOOBS!

Manboobs, moobs, b!+(# tits, whatever you want to call it. Gynecomastia is a serious condition.
Screengrab from the movie, Fight Club

Manboobs – or GYNECOMASTIA in medical terms – is an endocrine disorder wherein breast tissues of men start to develop due to mainly due to hormonal imbalance. This imbalance is usually caused by other illnesses, injuries, food and medications that can alter the function of significant glands that produce hormones in the body, particularly irregularities in the secretion of estrogen and androgen.

Considering this some sort of a disorganized process happening inside the man’s body, there are still quite a handful of factors to consider as to why this hormonal imbalance literally gives guys the worst case of “Robert Paulson”. You know who that is? Just take a look at the screengrab from the movie, Fight Club.

Listed are just some of the common causes of gynecomastia:

Chronic diseases and illnesses that can be linked to hormonal imbalance

Diabetes, kidney failure and endocrine illnesses (hypothyroidism, etc.) are just some of the diseases and ailments that can affect the production of hormones in the body – specifically androgens and estrogens. These chronic diseases may trigger hormonal imbalance by deterring and interrupting the regular production of the testosterone in the body. As for liver cirrhosis being linked to gynecomastia, the liver’s ability to metabolize hormones is damaged and can no longer able to regulate excess estrogens. These effects can also be attributed to cancer –particularly prostate, testicular, etc., when it comes to the production and balancing of the testosterone.

That explains why and how “Robert Paulson” got the ridiculously-large pair of tits, and why I am associating this bodybuilder-turned-testicular-cancer-survivor fictional character with this post.

Medications and treatments

Tied up to the first one is the medication that goes with it. And this could get your chest all pumped up and juicy. Chemotherapy and dialysis are two major medications may and can save you from cancer and kidney-related diseases. However, there’s a big chance that your chest may grow even more due to the treatment’s effect on the gonad – a gland responsible for the production of hormones in the testicular area – as you undergo with these treatments.  This also goes for anti androgens and radiation treatments used for curing prostate cancer.

Moreover, medications for depression, ulcer, antibiotics, and even anabolic steroid can cause a firm man to grow a pair… of tender boobage. Instead, try something more natural like ginseng root to alleviate minor illnesses and ailments.

Food and booze

And just because you’re healthy as a horse, it doesn’t mean you’re exempted from sprouting a pair of fun bags. There are a number of foods and beverages that contains phytoestrogens – compound that mimics the characteristics of an estrogen. This can be found mostly on hops – which is normally found on beer – as well as green tea, soy, cereals, chickpeas, processed and legumes among others. So, you might wanna take it easy on shrugging down a 6-pack and be mindful of what you eat. Moderation is the key.

Drug abuse

Surprised? Believe it! Marijuana, along with those other drug substances found in heroin, meth, methadone as well as other barbiturates and opiates can slow down the production of testosterone in the body. So regardless if you’re into legal organic stuff or those high caliber drugs, you might want to steer clear from these drugs.

To sum up, the causes of gynecomastia mentioned above all boils down to one factor: hormonal imbalance. As a solution, experts recommend to track your testosterone level. Also, with the help of exercise, balanced diet, proper use of medication, as well as taking care of yourselves and of course, you will be able to regain the loss manly hormone in your body and restore the chiseled figure that you used to have.

Furthermore, sipping a nice warm cup of ginseng tea to facilitate hormone regulation and promote overall well being won’t hurt a bit in ensuring your toned chest won’t sag and look like Kim Kardashian’s oily booty.

So Bad, It’s good: Healthy Food with Bad Taste but Good for You

A rhetorical question for every meat lovers that keeps on coming everytime mom serves those good ol’ broccoli and carrots for dinner, “Why bacons can never be considered healthy food?”

If you think about it, it’s quite sad to see most of those green & leafy veggies, plant root, bean curd and those other grub being left out just because most of them taste weird. Some even taste more bitter than your ex-girlfriend/boyfriend (that means you, bitter gourd). Truth be told, bland is definitely an understatement when it comes to most healthy food we see. But nevertheless, these foods meant well, especially when it comes to taking care of our well-being.

So before these good eats go into obscurity, here are some of the most hated food that we should all love:

Wheatgrass

Just by simply seeing that green stuff being poured in a glass makes us want to throw up instantaneously. Wait until you shrug down the shot of this bitter-tasting smoothie. Wheatgrass is made from wheat sprouts, and has been long-recognized as a wonder tonic by dieticians, nutritionists and doctors for its high vitamins and amino acid contents to enhance overall well-being.

Okra

We can blame our hatred on this vegetable’s hairy outer texture and its mucus-like gooey fiber on the inside. Looks and texture aside, this “lady finger” vegetable (or is it a fruit?) is rich in vitamins, riboflavin, zinc, antioxidants, folic acid and fiber, making it ideal for pregnant women, as well as for people who are undergoing detox.

Durian

The smell is without a doubt, unbearable, that you can actually compare it to a soiled diaper or a guava fruit covered in used pair of socks sundried for 3 hours without exaggerating it. Don’t believe me? In Singapore, the spike-skinned fruit is banned on most public transits and hotels. Mind you, it may smell like a cesspool of rotten fruits but it sure does good to one’s health and wellness, but it can sure take away the blues, as it contains high Vitamin B6, which is responsible for the production of serotonin. It is also fiber-rich, which is essential for better digestion.

Calf’s Liver
I, myself ain’t a fan of this “superfood”. Along with its stale smell, the texture of this food is like chewing a rubber tire with grainy stuff all over it. And yes, imagine eating an animal part that’s responsible for deterring toxins in its body is already a factor for hating it. However, calf or cow’s liver is essential for regulating blood circulation as well as the production of red blood cells and improvement of the immune system with its high vitamin B12, riboflavin, iron, zinc and omega 3 contents.

Asparagus

One of the default “hated greens” by kids, merely because of its musty smell and bland taste. But with the right seasoning, prep and cooking, asparagus is one of the most delectably-tasting veggies. Not only that, this strings of veggies are good source of fibers, folic acid, amino acids, glutathione and other antioxidants to detoxify and helps the immune system to fight off free-radicals.

Spinach

This food is so hated by many, even Popeye had a hard time convincing them to devour a spoonful of these leafy food. In reality, spinach is known to contain vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, which is good for the improvement of vision, blood circulation, muscle efficiency, brain function and in the production of hemoglobin.

Tomatoes

Maybe it’s because of the seeds and the watery part of this fruit that makes it unpalatable for kids and even to some adults, which is kinda weird if you think, considering it is one of the key ingredients in making spaghetti. Going back, eating fresh tomatoes are fortified with folic acid, fiber, potassium, as well as vitamins A, C and E, the last two being the key nutrients for having a more radiant youthful skin.

Bleu Cheese

Another food that breeds hatred (and molds)… Now who would want to eat a food that is practically spoiled? Nevermind the “cannot be unseen” fungus living all over the cheese, this processed milk contains anti-inflammatory properties to keep the arteries free from blockages, as well as preventing arthritis. Moreover, this food is calcium-filled, making it vital for fighting osteoporosis.

Ginseng

In its most basic form, the taste of American ginseng can be compared to that of its cousin, ginger. It has this strong and sharp bitter taste, with a hint of pungent sensation, leaving your tongue somewhere in between feeling the sense of discomfort and being numb. On the other hand, this perennial plant contains high dose of ginsenoside – a chemical compound responsible for a number of health benefits including reviving your virility, stimulate brain cells and deter chances of having an erectile dysfunction just to name a few.

Mushroom

Heck, just look at how Mario and Luigi love this fungus food. This icky food contains a significant amount of vitamin D – rare vitamin that can only get from a few source like… well, shrooms. This vitamin is responsible for regulating and absorbing calcium and phosphorous intake. No wonder those videogame superheroes love this! Moreover, a substantial intake of vitamin D lowers the risk of getting type 1 diabetes and cancer.

Is it bad? Maybe it’s not.

Researchers, doctors and dieticians says that these foods are not exactly “bad” in terms of taste. Okay, granted that some those have sharp taste, and even odd smells. But the main point is that once you get the hang of it, this list of food won’t be that bad anymore, and in fact can be substituted – or included to say the least – to your typical meat dinner for a more balanced meal.

Got anymore bad tasting food in your fridge that are not included on this list? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Aphrodisiacs That Can Make You Go EWWW instead of WOW!

If you think ingesting the most potent ginseng is a major sacrifice that you need to accomplish just to wake “One-Eyed Willy”, then think (or taste) again. You’ve got to taste these weird food and animal parts that will surely challenge your gag reflex go gaga in the name of boner alert.

Here are 6 of the world’s out of this world aphrodisiacs that will make you think twice… And acquire a bulge at the same time:

By CCAYearbook via morguefile

1. Balut

For most people, this icky, slimy duck embryo is just another taboo (not to mention unappetizing) food reality shows offer to poor challengers with weak stomachs to see if they have the guts to chow down the whole thing in exchange for a wad of cash. But for countries like the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, balut is considered a staple food, and believed to be an elixir for your manhood.

2. Bull’s Testicles/Penis

Photo courtesy: telegraph.co.uk

Never mind all the sexual innuendos that are running through your mind as you read this. Bull’s testicles, AKA Soup Number 5 is known to unleash your inner-matador in bed. Is it because the bull’s “strength” is practically being channeled on to you by means of literally eating out the lone cattle’s genitals? Be it certified “horny” or nothing but a “bull crap”, this exotic soup delicacy can sure make your stomach turn.

By singhajay via morguefile

3. Cobra Blood

Again, enough with the double meaning “snake” jokes and other sexual insinuations. It is highly-regarded that drinking this poisonous creature’s blood equates to playing Let’s Get It On and Sexual Healing by Al Green in full-blast. While some want it straight up, others preferred to mix the whole thing or its body fluids (bile and blood) onto the rice wine for a more flavorful experience.

 

By Peter Kaminski via wikipedia

4. Ambergris

Ambergris is basically sperm whale puke and/or crap. Aside from being used as fixatives for perfumes, this whale discharge can awaken your manly senses by applying and rubbing it directly to the skin. Now you know why Moby Dick is called as such!

5. Oysters

By DAVEFILLA via clker

It has the appearance and texture of a slimy wad of mucus packed in a shell. Love it or hate it, oysters have been widely considered as men’s refuge to achieve a stiffy. Perhaps, it is safe to say that most guys couldn’t agree more on this. Of course, what a better way to stimulate your shaft than to partake of the appetizer that resembles a woman’s beef curtains, right, guys?

6. Tiger Penis

By ProjectManhattan  via wikipedia

Just like bull’s testicles, it is said that devouring a tiger penis will give you the endurance, stamina and the hard-on that can make a man growl for more lovin’. These feline danglers typically serve as a soup, the way soup number 5 is cooked. Looks like this is how Charlie Sheen got his tiger's blood, and why he is always “winning”. But that’s just a thought.

Ginseng Wars on TV: History Channel’s Appalachian Outlaws

You want to know what seems to be the big fuzz about ginseng? Find out on TV.

Appalachian Outlaws is a relatively new, 6-part series made and released early this year by History. It tackles about rival families trying to conquer and outsmart each other over the claims of their own share of vast land, deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

In search for furs, moonshine and the main cast of the show: Ginseng; These families are willing to risk jail time, even lives, just to get a chunk of the ginseng action, as well as the other riches of the Appalachian to sustain their day-to-day lives.

Talk about recapturing The Godfather and Breaking Bad fighting over turf, only set in the rural area of North America.

War over ginseng but across America, has been running for quite sometime now, and it continues to rise whether the camera rolls or not. To know more why Appalachian locales outsiders alike are clamoring about the “Green-Gold” plant root known as American Ginseng, here are some quick facts about it:

-    Ginseng, along with moonshine and fur, is the primary source of income in the Appalachian Mountains. This explains the rising feud between families and locales that are situated in the said mountain region of North America.

-    The supply of American ginseng is slowly deteriorating. As an alternative for its natural cultivation process (wild method), wild simulation is being utilized to help its sustainability. This allows landowners to cultivate their own ginseng plant, provided that they should acquire permits, certificates and other licenses from US Fish and Wildlife Service.

-    Wisconsin, particularly in Marathon, is known to be the largest ginseng producers in America, supplying a record high of 97% of the total ginseng production in the US.

-    Unlike any other ginseng that is grown in America, Wisconsin ginseng proves to be more potent and effective, containing a higher concentration level of ginsenosides, a compound responsible for the medical effects found in the plant root.

-    Harvest of ginseng is strictly regulated. One of the stipulations is the plant must have at least three leaves to the maturity of the ginseng (at least 5 years.). For the state of Illinois, it requires at least four leaves (10-year maturity) before it can be legally harvested.

-    The cost of ginseng can be as high as $1,000 per pound. This explains why some landowners, families, poachers and other ginseng players are willing to literally get their hands dirty for this plant.

Appalachian Outlaws premiered last January 9, 2014 in the US, and will be shown in Asia on August 21, 2014. Intrigued ginseng followers can also binge watch reruns on various video sites.

See the ginseng war as it erupts right before your eyes!