The lessons science and pharmacology teach us about
achieving optimal health, vitality and maximal lifespan with a low net carb, high saturated fat, evolutionarily paleolithic-styled diet aligned with my ancestral heritage and how I lost 50 pounds of body fat. A sorta fairy story.
Had no idea last year 2009 was/maybe our last Thanksgiving feast but actually I don't miss this holiday when we were abroad (Hamburg, Amsterdam and Paris -- no we didn't bump into Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt or the brood).
What is Thanksgiving?? Were we celebrating the lost civilization of Native Americans in essence to some degree? Anyway. Ck out our candy cigarettes from last Thanksgiving -- my beautiful lil' sis 'M' and her ginger, cinnamon, raisin YUMMMICOUS GFCF cakelettes. The pharmacotemptress is holding the cakelettes, CANDY CIGARETTES. *ha*
Ming Tsai's Asian Spiced Turkey Recipe
Like every year, the turkey on the side was roasted by moi... Diesel, free range, fresh from WholeFoods and brined to a perfection with asian spices with Ming Tsai's recipe of PERFECT TURKEY AWESOMENESS. (Did add some cut orange/lemon slices to the cavity to maintain moisture and added strategically placed double folded foil according to Alton Brown to prevent charred, burning).
Been reading a lot of books lately... I'll share later but first and foremost is Dr. Bruce Lipton, PhD that friends and readers Brent, Todd and Nima linked to earlier or recommended. Sincere and kind thanks!
I was lucky enough to meet Dr. Lipton recently at a talk near his local town near Santa Cruz. Amazingly humble, brilliant and down to earth, Dr. Lipton connected the dots for me regarding linking biological sciences, environmental sciences and how the universe may just be a FRACTAL AMPLIFICATION of our trillions of cells (not including the other trillions of our symbiotic bacteria and biofilms), from his new book Spontaneous Evolution released last year with comedian Steve Bhaerman. Life is quantum, not strictly Newtonian. Darwin was mildly off, spontaneous and egalitarian evolution trumps survival of the fittest. Lipton energetically explains the new brave world.
New Paradigms
Principle One: Wealth is well-being Principle Two: Ecology and economy are the same Principle Three: Efficiency is the key to thrival Principle Four: Currency must represent real wealth (ATP=wealth!! *haa ahaaa!*)
In Principle Two, wealth is actually explained in agricultural terms by weighing chloroplasts/photosynthesis (e.g. Calvin Cycle biochemistry) as the measurable metric. Yes. This makes sense. 'In the words of scientist-turned-economist Frederick Soddy, "Chlorophyll was the original capitalist." Chlorophyll molecules are responsible for photosynthesis, the process through which the sun's energy transforms water and carbon dioxide [e.g. AIR!!! see prior animal pharm posts] into nutritional sugar molecules. Plant cells harvest their solar-powered sugar molecules and use them for both metabolic building blocks and life-sustaining energy. The growth of a cornstalk, from a sprout to the eight of an elephant's eye is made possible by the accumlated nutritional wealth manufactured by the plant's chlorophyll. Almost all life on this planet, including our own, is dependent upon photosynthesis-create sugar molecules.'
True Farmers Almost Extinct?
A book I've ordered and can't wait to dig into is about a sassy, New York gal transformed into a small town, sustainable, HAWWWWWWWT, farmgrrrrrl named Kristin Kimball A Dirty Life. Where are the true farmers are are tied to the deep, moist, fertile soil, growing plants of diverse genetic variety and biodiversity and raising pastured, sun-drenched farm animals? Kimball and her husband are first generation farmers who raise produce and animals for 100 members ($2800 per member per year). They milk their own cows by hand and till the fields by horse-drawn equipment, no machinery. The milk and cream are 'taxicab yellow'. Kimball's writing is so fun to read (in the excerpt) and carries warm alacrity and urban sharpness. It's about as dirty as her herbicide-free, pesticide-free, compost rich soil on their rich, wealth-providing, nutrient-dense acreage.
Lipton discusses Charles Walters who has a book Unforgiven and a magazine called Acres which serves the almost extinct population of small farmers. Walters 'has seen in his lifetime, the virtual disappearance of family farms. In their place, more and more factory farms operate monoculturally outside the rhythms of Nature, producing de-natured food and toxic waste. Meanwhile, science and technology have given civilization the opportunity to wantonly mine Gaia's wealth in order to support the excesses of monetary economy.'
Ecosphere Wealth = Reflection of Our Collective Health
Lipton's argument is that 'our ignorance of the planet's fragile web of life has blinded us to the profound damage and havoc we wreak by pillaging the environment's resources and then, adding insult to injury, contaminating that environment with discarded waste.'
'The wealth of the ecosphere, like that of any living organism, is a direct reflection if its health. Decimated rain forests, festering open-pit mines, species harvested to exctinction, toxic smog, pharmaceutically poisoned waterways, discarded radioactive waste, and many other man-made catastrophes have compromised the environment's well-being and devalued its ability to produce health and wealth. Our misperceived efforts to dominate and control Nature have unwittingly disturbed the ecosphere's natural balance and exacerbated environmental crises that now threaten our survival.'
Hagenbeck Zoo We just finished visiting the aquarium and zoo at Hagenbeck in Hamburg, Germany, one of the few progressive, privately owned zoos in the world. Each cageless biotope enclosure displayed harmonious groups of animals, surrounded by watery moats. Curious combinations included orangatuans + sea otters; hairy cheeked rabbits, guinea pigs, sparrows; etc. Images, Chinese muntjacs which wandered around freely on the zoo campus, along with one peacock, many Australian cavies and free-ranging chickens. Muntjacs are extremely friendly allowing my daughters and I to pet them on their heads and neck like a dog. My daughter named a pair Otis and Otissa!
Hagenbeck, One of First Conservationists Mr. Hagenbeck was one of the world's first naturalist and conservationist.
Interestingly, his zoo in 1897 was on of the first to hybridize a male lion and female tigress... LIGER cubs. In South Carolina earlier this month, a liger cub was again born at a wild animal preserve, see HERE. Ligers are gigantic, larger than both lion fathers and tigress mothers. Nutso!! Reminds of other hybrid births (e.g. Twilight... and Neanderthal+H.s.s.)
GUT DYSBIOSIS: Passively Paleo, Neolithically Advanced
On this trip because we were eating out of the house daily, we relied on factory produced pancreatic enzymes to break down, degrade and render HARMLESS gluten from grains and casein from dairy. Enzymes are 'cutters' in biological systems. They 'cut' things into smaller pieces. DNA and RNA are broken down to nucleotides by DNAses and RNAses. Meat/protein degraded to amino acids by proteases, collagenases, elastases. Veggie fibers by cellulases... starches by amylases, glucoamylases, maltases, phytases, pectinases, beta glucanases, xylanases, etc. Lactose (milk), lactases, galactosidases. Gluten, DPP-IV. Fats to fatty acids, lipases. Etc.
Enzymes work the best under optimal situations which many of us damaged by the SAD and other environmental and epigenetic factors does not apply to: acidity/pH, temperature and cofactors. For every degree less than optimal 98.6F, approximately 20% less enzymatic activity occurs.
After food is broken down to constituent basic units, optimal digestion requires optimal ABSORPTION which requires acidity/pH, temperature, cofactors including good gut bacteria for conjugation of vitamins, nutrients and bile acids (cholesterol derived 'detergent' factors) from the gallbladder and enterohepatic circulation.
Who has these???! Few. Even children have suboptimal digestion these days.
Are you a hard-gainer?
Is your body temp less than 98.6 F?
Do you have a gallbladder?
What percent is your diet raw? 100% 75% 50% 25% None???!
Dr. Francis Pottenger (Brent's relative) in his Empire study with cats reported that in cats, apparently 50% of the diet as raw maintained fertility and health in the cats, obligate carnivores. In humans, marine carnivores (obligate?? I would argue, YES) require what percentage? For cats, 100% raw diet, thrived. Having a partially raw diet confers active, raw, and/or fermented components including enzymes which help nutrients to be digested. Pottenger cats: Price-Pottenger video.
My sister 'M' introduced us to the below products. SHE IS A GENIUS and constantly scans the spectrum/ASD boards, forums and networks.
Products we like to cheat with *wicked laugh!*: [ found at amazon.com, local health food store, iherb.com]
(1) Peptizyde = broad spectrum plus GLUTEN-enzymes and CASEIN-enzymes; available in chewables for children as well
(2) Trienza = GLUTEN-enzymes and CASEIN-enzymes
(3) Glutenease = GLUTEN-enzymes and CASEIN-enzymes
(4) Digest Gold = broad spectrum digestive enzymes, POWERFUL strength
(5) Now SUPER ENZYMES = broad spectrum digestive enzymes PLUS OX BILE for those without perfect gallbladders.
Shame? Hardly... we're passively paleo, neolithically sophisticated and advanced (because we have to be to SURVIVE)...
Our French Thanksgiving
Happy Turkey Day!
Menu: Wine, wine, wine
Carpaccio
Salad with Gizzards and Pâté
Country Pâté
Lamb Chops with Herbs
Lemon Tart
Crème brûlée
Chocolate Mousse
Espresso with cream PEPTIZYDE + GLUTENease
Alizee, French Pop Princess
SWEET, WICKED and hilarious
'I'M FED UP (!!)... with single-minded extremists...
Je me prelasse voici... relax... It's my aquatic state...
Content... everything's delicious...
mildly offensive...'
red HAAAWWT goldfish on her cute *ss...
In the book Talent is Overrated, Fortune Magazine editor, Geoff Colvin highlights recent studies that show that greatness can be developed by any man, in any field, through the process of deliberate practice. How does one practice deliberately? Colvin proposes five elements that allow a man to practice deliberately and thus achieve greatness.
1. Deliberate practice is an activity designed specifically to improve performance, often with a teacher’s help... Stay humble and hungry.
2. The practice activity can be regularly repeated... The “ten-year rule” cuts across disciplines, too. Top musicians, athletes, scientists, and authors don’t reach the top until after they’ve put in around ten years of work and practice. There are no short cuts to success. If you want to be the best man you can be, you’ll have to commit yourself to years of repeated practice.
3. The practice activity provides feedback on a continual basis... For activities like these it’s a good idea to get a third party’s opinion or a mentor’s input.
4. Deliberate practice is highly demanding mentally, whether it’s purely physical or mental.
Industrial, Mass-Produced, Round-Up (pesticide)-laden-corn-fed Beef, Anyone? 'Opus One' By Madison Park
Crossfit Helped Me Wean-Off Cheap Costco Meat
So this is the song that actually got me off grocery store and Costco (American warehouse) beef, chicken, eggs, pork and turkey.
Grassfed, local, organic beef and pastured pork ROCKKKKS.
My Crossfit gym (diablocrossfit.com) was the first place I got our grassfed beef. Collectively a couple families shared one or two steers. About ~2 yrs ago I bought reasonably inexpensively a 1/4 steer (about 60 to 80 lbs) at ~4.99 to $5.50 per lb which included ALL cuts but no organ meats. The osso bucco cuts go fast! Really it's a fantastic deal and beats Trader Joe's in freshness. But TJ's still is fine.
In addition, we get our grassfed beef, organs, pork, bacon, and leaf lard from: --Berkeley Bowl which includes Eel River (3 varieties of 100% grassfed) --local farmer's markets: 100% grassfed Holden Ranch and Prather Ranch (grainhead-finished) which gave us a tour last Dec which was AWESOME at their Mt. Shasta ranch
FYI LARD MAKES THE BEST CANDY CIGARETTES (e.g. almond flour cookies)!
Nutritional Fact: Humans require vitamin B12 for neural tissue growth, regeneration and maintenance. Without B12 temporary and permanent brain and peripheral nerve damage occurs. This is known as Wernicke's in alcoholics (who lose B1 and B12 via rapid alcohol damage, degradation and malnutrition) and in vegans who do not consume adequately from diverse broad spectrum microbial food sources including brewer's yeast and other fermented foods. Poop? Yes that is apparently a source widely utilized in the animal kingdom and small children w/ access to their diapers. Gut dysbiosis also predisposes all ages to B12 deficiency. An unhappy gut leads to an unhappy gut flora which are unable to conjugate and preserve optimal absorption of B vitamins, including B12.
Many drugs deplete B12 by affecting the gut flora and/or causing gut dysbiosis: oral contraceptives, synthetic hormones, stomach acid-blockers (Prilosec, Pepcid, etc), metformin, ANTIBIOTICS ANTIBIOTICS ANTIBIOTICS including those in mass-produced industrial beef/pork/chicken/turkey, et cetera.
Foods deplete B12 by causing gut dysbiosis and include: the biggest offender -- GLUTEN which is found in barley rye WHEAT WHEAT and especially high-gluten(baking)-wheat and the Monsanto wheat being shipped to drought-ridden Russia. Good, less wheat for S.A.D. Americans.
Coprophagia -- The Eating of 'Poop' Vitamin B12 Source
Thank you to Peter at Hyperlipid for below link and conversation started by my FAVORITE ANIMAL and PALEOKING, Richard Nikoley: Watch this... *GROSS* Gorilla coprophagia...
Nikoley breaks down the SCIENCE for nutritionally-challenged, fat-phobe, meat-phobe Dr. Seale 'any vitamin B12 present in any animal foods is only from bacterial contamination' HERE.
Great articles have recently come out on The Scientist regarding the gut microbiota and how we are really just hybrids of ~10% HUMAN + ~90% MICROBES/POOP. Ratio is probably dependent upon certain factors. I think some are more weighted toward the microbial content *ahaaa ah*.
Well you may or may not buy in but we are not only what we eat (poop, dirt, worm feces, probiotics, kim chee, sauerkraut), but we be attracted to others who eat WHAT WE EAT, research in fruit flies appears to suggest! Ergo, if we eat cr*p, we may also be attracted to those who eat cr*p. This may explain the contradictory patterns of hookups between the most unattractive elements with other unattractive peeps (AND YES I CAN SAY THIS [AND YOU CANNOT] BEING PREVIOUSLY IN THIS BOAT EMPIRICALLY SPEAKING). Do people settle? No, it may be the microbes talking and attracting!
wtf?
UBER COOL articles and links where animal s*xxx porn came from:
Gut S*x (our gut may determine our mating choice? we KNOW synthetic hormones, e.g. oral contraceptives RUIN IT, Thorne et al; I suspect estrogenic MOOBIES do as well -- beware the perils of pesticides and plastics)
Had no idea last year 2009 was/maybe our last Thanksgiving feast but actually I don't miss this holiday when we were abroad (Hamburg, Amsterdam and Paris -- no we didn't bump into Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt or the brood).
