8 Bizarre Looking Veggies That Are Good For You

Shopping for fresh produce at the farmer’s market is always an exciting experience.

Aside from getting the best, most fresh, and nutrient-packed ingredients for your family meals, the farmer’s market offers a number of less common vegetables that you might not see in the grocery store.

Here are eight of the strangest veggies you might find and their nutrition-packed health benefits.

Don’t judge them before you try them!

1. Purple Potatoes

Purple potatoes might look abnormal, but they are almost exactly the same nutritionally as red new potatoes. The vibrant purple inside can make an awesome addition to the color of a meal. Research also shows that new potatoes and purple potatoes are a significant source of antioxidants[1]. Not only do they look interesting and add flair to a meal, they can also help you fight off disease and sickness.

2. Chioggia Beets

These “candy cane” style beets have a red-striped interior. They keep their color when you cook them, but they are best served raw in salads. Beets offer a variety of health benefits. They might be able to improve athletic performance and they are known to provide high levels of fiber, foliate and potassium[2].

3. Orange Cauliflower

Canadian farmers first started growing this strange-colored cauliflower about three decades ago. A natural genetic mutation caused the plant to absorb excessive amounts of beta-carotene—the same pigment found in carrots. As a result, the flowering head of the plant turns bright orange. It tastes the same as white cauliflower. The added benefits of beta-carotene rich foods are numerous. Some studies suggest that beta-carotene and foods high in vitamin A—like the orange cauliflower—are excellent ways to prevent disease and cancer[3].

4. Purple Carrots

Purple carrots contain high levels of beta carotene. Additionally, research in the British Journal of Nutrition demonstrates that purple carrots have exceptionally high levels of anthocyanins[4]. As evidenced by a recent study, scientists believe that anthocyanins are more than a pigment[5]. They have a “demonstrated ability to protect against a myriad of human diseases.

5. White Eggplant

These are essentially identical to purple eggplant in nutritional quality. The flesh, texture and taste is milder and smoother than purple eggplant, but it’s prepared identically in the kitchen. Traditionally, white eggplant is available in the early summer months. Eggplant peels contain nasunin—an important health-boosting antioxidant studied by medical researchers[6].

6. Green Zebra Tomatoes

These tomatoes are more “spicy” than traditional red tomatoes. They are an excellent addition to salads—the perfect raw tomato treat and an ideal injection of new flavors. Green tomato extracts contain high levels of tomatine. A 2009 study determined that green tomato extracts were effective for inhibiting the growth of breast, colon, liver, and stomach cancer in humans[7].

7. Purple Spring Garlic

The white varieties of garlic that you see at the grocery store are usually grown overseas. Purple spring garlic—you often find it complete with green shoots extending from the bulb—are often grown locally. Garlic is a powerful antioxidant and radical scavenger that removes toxins from your body[8]. Scientists also discovered that the garlic compound allicin has microbial properties[9].

8. Romanesco Broccoli

You can usually find this interestingly shaped vegetable in the spring and early summer. It’s closely related to  traditional broccoli and has a high level of vitamin C. It’s one of many broccoli variants that you might now know about. By far, the most valuable element of broccoli is the cancer fighting compound sulforaphane.

Research suggests that raw broccoli is one of the most potent and powerful cancer preventing vegetables[10]. Unfortunately, not enough people eat it and if they do it’s usually cooked. Try adding broccoli to salads or eating it as a snack to get the most of it’s health benefits.

6 Tips For A Great Work/Life Balance

I will be the first to admit it; I haven’t always had a good work/life balance. For some time I worked as a Strategy Consultant for a global management consulting firm. For me, it was hell on earth. An eternal battle just to get a decent night’s sleep, let alone spend time with the people I love.

My time there came to a close when I reached a point where I couldn’t sleep at all. We were working in Kuwait City at the time, quartered at the fancy hotel, and I remember walking the hallways during the nights, trying to fight feelings of anxiety and a growing desperation. After 3 nights like this, I called back home and quit the job everyone had told me I ought to be proud of.

A bit later, in 2006, I started my own company together with 3 friends. Today, we have 200 employees in our offices in London, Berlin and Copenhagen. We have invested in around 150 start-ups across the world, and set up co-working spaces with hundreds of entrepreneurs. All the while taking 6 weeks of vacation each year, travelling the world with my family and friends, and working an average of 45 hours a week.

I have discovered that it’s actually not that hard to have a great work/life balance, if only you apply a few simple tips with consistency:

1) Choose a mission that motivates you

It doesn’t matter if you are self-employed or working for others, the important thing is that you put your efforts into something that is meaningful to you. Why? Because it releases a lot of energy. You will never get a good work/life balance if you are demotivated, frustrated with your job, or feeling what you do is a waste of time. When you finally arrive at home, you will be drained of energy. When you do a job you truly care about, it will give you energy, and you will be happier with your life in general.

2) Stand up for yourself

We often fall in the trap of trying to please everyone around us. It’s counterproductive, because it’s only going to make us unhappy, thereby compromising our ability to be of value to others. Figure out what you need to be your best self. In my case, I need to work out 4-5 times a week, regularly practice meditation, and sometimes a nap in the middle of the day. As you can probably imagine often people try to pull me away from those self-nurturing activities (example: my daughter wants to play with me, rather than go with me to the gym) but I have taught myself to stand up for my needs, and not be ashamed of them.

3) Optimise your time in flow

I used to optimise the amount of hours I was working, believing that the more hours I spent on the job, the more successful I would become. Then I was fortunate enough to have some good role models that taught otherwise; when we are in a state of flow, we can be up to 10 times as efficient as when we are semi-distractedly slaving away. What is flow? Flow is the state where you are fully immersed in the task at hand, not thinking about anything else. Time and place cease to exist. It’s a wonderful state, and when it’s over you are surprised how much you actually managed to get done!

Today, I design my day so that there is the best possible chance to get a lot of flow-time. Quite often that involves a walk in the park in the middle of the day, or some other kind of refreshing break. In my view, it’s irresponsible not to take that break when you need it. Likewise, I often isolate myself for a few hours to protect my flow state – for instance by working some mornings from home.

4) Make a today list

N.R. Murthy, the founder of Infosys, shared his secret for work/life balance with me; he makes a today list. Simple as it sounds, I too have realised the powerful potential of this small tool. Most of us are used to making long to-do lists—lists including everything that needs to be done, both in the near and distant future. Such a list is fine for the purpose of liberating your mind from having to remember it all, but it’s a really bad idea to spend too much time together with that list. It will only create stress and make you feel overwhelmed. Plus you can easily lose sight of the few things that are massively important.

Like Murthy, make it a habit to jot down a list of 2-3 things every morning that you want to get done TODAY. Only include the activities that are critically important, that will bring you towards your most important goals. Get them done before lunch, and remember to feel good about it.

5) Never write or respond to emotional emails

This is really a big time-waster in most modern workplaces; long and emotional email correspondences. If someone sends you an emotional email, never press “reply” and fire away. Instead, call up the person or meet over a cup of coffee. Talk about the matter in person. Emails are a terrible communication tool when there are emotions involved. What could be sorted out with just 10 minutes face-to-face conversation suddenly explodes because of misunderstandings and misinterpretations, and you witness yourself spending half your day sorting out energy-draining conflicts that are completely unnecessary.  If you are spending hours of your life dealing with tasks like this, you might need to ask yourself: am I winning without losing?

6) Just go home

I had a boss once that gave me a piece of advice that helped me out a lot. He said something along the lines of: “You will be coming back tomorrow, so you don’t end your day by reviewing all your unanswered emails, cleaning up your desk and going through your to-do list. Instead, just get up and walk out the door.”

My boss was very good at not obsessing about anything, not believing that everything would fall apart if he missed an email, or left the office an hour earlier than normal. He danced to his own beat, and he was incredibly happy and cheerful, which went a long way to creating a healthy and productive atmosphere in the company.

Don’t make a big fuss out of leaving the office. Just do like you would if you were merely going to the restroom. Stand up and walk out the door. You’ll be back in no time anyway.

9 Reasons You Need To Be Giving and Receiving Hugs Everyday

9 Reasons You Need To Be Giving and Receiving Hugs Everyday

Hugging helps the immune system, cures depression, reduces stress and induces sleep. It's invigorating, rejuvenating and has no unpleasant side effects. It is all natural, organic, naturally sweet, no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients and 100 percent wholesome. There are no batteries to wear out, no periodic check-ups, low energy consumption, high energy yield, inflation proof, nonfattening, no monthly payments, theft-proof, nontaxable, nonpolluting and, of course, fully returnable. Hugging is practically perfect, with the only exception that it can't recreate the wheel. Here are 9 reasons you need hugs everyday.

A famous quote by psychotherapist Virginia Satir goes, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." Whether those exact numbers have been scientifically proven remains to be seen, but there is a great deal of scientific evidence related to the importance of hugs and physical contact.

1. STIMULATES OXYTOCIN
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts on the limbic system, the brain's emotional centre, promoting feelings of contentment, reducing anxiety and stress, and even making mammals monogamous. It is the hormone responsible for us all being here today. You see this little gem is released during childbirth, making our mothers forget about all of the excruciating pain they endured expelling us from their bodies and making them want to still love and spend time with us. New research from the University of California suggests that it has a similarly civilising effect on human males, making them more affectionate and better at forming relationships and social bonding. And it dramatically increased the libido and sexual performance of test subjects. When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland, lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

2. CULTIVATES PATIENCE
Connections are fostered when people take the time to appreciate and acknowledge one another. A hug is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation and acknowledgement of another person. The world is a busy, hustle-bustle place and we're constantly rushing to the next task. By slowing down and taking a moment to offer sincere hugs throughout the day, we're benefiting ourselves, others, and cultivating better patience within ourselves.

3. PREVENTS DISEASE
Affection also has a direct response on the reduction of stress which prevents many diseases. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine says it has carried out more than 100 studies into touch and found evidence of significant effects, including faster growth in premature babies, reduced pain, decreased autoimmune disease symptoms, lowered glucose levels in children with diabetes, and improved immune systems in people with cancer.

4. STIMULATES THYMUS GLAND
Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body's production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.

5. COMMUNICATION WITHOUT SAYING A WORD
Almost 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. The interpretation of body language can be based on a single gesture and hugging is an excellent method of expressing yourself nonverbally to another human being or animal. Not only can they feel the love and care in your embrace, but they can actually be receptive enough to pay it forward to others based on your initiative alone.

6. SELF-ESTEEM
Hugging boosts self-esteem, especially in children. The tactile sense is all-important in infants. A baby recognizes its parents initially by touch. From the time we're born our family's touch shows us that we're loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.

7. STIMULATES DOPAMINE
Everything everyone does involves protecting and triggering dopamine flow. Low dopamine levels play a role in the neurodegenerative disease Parkinson's as well as mood disorders such as depression. Dopamine is responsible for giving us that feel-good feeling, and it's also responsible for motivation! Hugs stimulate brains to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Dopamine sensors are the areas that many stimulating drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine target. The presence of a certain kinds of dopamine receptors are also associated with sensation-seeking. 

8. STIMULATES SEROTONIN
Reaching out and hugging releases endorphins and serotonin into the blood vessels and the released endorphins and serotonin cause pleasure and negate pain and sadness and decrease the chances of getting heart problems, helps fight excess weight and prolongs life. Even the cuddling of pets has a soothing effect that reduces the stress levels. Hugging for an extended time lifts one's serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness. 

9. PARASYMPATHETIC BALANCE
Hugs balance out the nervous system. The skin contains a network of tiny, egg-shaped pressure centres called Pacinian corpuscles that can sense touch and which are in contact with the brain through the vagus nerve. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system - parasympathetic.

I'll leave you with the wonderful real life story of Juan Mann, a man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger put a smile on their face. In this age of social-disconnection most all of us lack that simple human touch from another, the effects of the Free Hugs Campaign are now felt around the globe.

Honey Naturally Speeds Up Wound Healing

Honey was a conventional therapy in fighting infection up until the early 20th century, at which time its use slowly vanished with the advent of penicillin. Now the use of honey in wound care is regaining popularity again, as researchers are determining exactly how honey can help fight serious skin infections.

According to their findings, certain types of honey might be more effective than antibiotics! After any skin injury, bacteria that live on your skin can infect and penetrate the wound site. One particularly common type of strep (Streptococcus pyogenes) can result in wounds that refuse to heal.

But honey, especially the kind made by bees foraging on manuka flowers, was found to destroy these bacteria. Scientific American recently reported i:

“In lab tests, just a bit of the honey killed off the majority of bacterial cells — and cut down dramatically on the stubborn biofilms they formed. It could also be used to prevent wounds from becoming infected in the first place.”
According to the authors of the study, “These findings indicate that manuka honey has potential in the topical treatment of wounds containing S. pyogenes.” ii

Should You Dress Your Wounds with Honey?

As long as you use the right kind of honey, science does back up its use for wound treatment, which is especially relevant today as antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are on the rise.

Five years ago, the FDA authorized the first honey-based medical product for use in the US. Derma Sciences uses Manuka honey for their Medihoney wound and burn dressings, which can be found online from medical supply stores. Amazon.com also sells them. These products can also be found in Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

When considering using honey for the treatment of wounds, it’s extremely important to understand that there’s a major difference between raw honey—and especially Manuka honey, which is in a class of its own—and the highly processed “Grade A” type honey you find in most grocery stores. The latter is more akin to high fructose corn syrup, which is more likely to increase infection, and should never be used to treat topical wounds! (It also will not offer you the same health benefits as raw honey when consumed.)

Manuka honey, on the other hand, is made with pollen gathered from the flowers of the Manuka bush (a medicinal plant), and clinical trials have found this type of honey can effectively eradicate more than 250 clinical strains of bacteria, including resistant varieties such as:

• MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
• MSSA (methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus)
• VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococci)

Compared to other types of honey, Manuka has an extra ingredient with antimicrobial qualities, called the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). It is so called because no one has yet been able to discover the unique substance involved that gives it its extraordinary antibacterial activity. Honey releases hydrogen peroxide through an enzymatic process, which explains its general antiseptic qualities, but Active Manuka honey contains “something else” that makes it far superior to other types of honey when it comes to killing off bacteria.

The level of UMF can vary between batches, so each batch is ranked and priced accordingly. The higher the concentration of UMF, the darker, thicker, and more expensive it is.

To determine its rating, a sample of the honey batch is placed on a plate with a bacterial culture. The area where the bacterial growth stops is then measured. This area is compared to a similar area produced by a solution of phenol and water. The UMF number refers to the equivalent percentage of phenol in water, so, for example, honey with a UMF rating of 10 has the same antibacterial strength as 10 percent phenol. A rating of UMF 10 or higher is recommended for medicinal use.

Evidence Supporting Use of Honey against Infectious Bacteria

Aside from the featured study, many others confirm the soundness of using good-old-fashioned honey for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections. For example, a 1992 study found that honey sped up the healing of caesarean sections iii, iv. Another study found that honey cured the intractable wounds of 59 patients, and it’s been known to help heal everything from ulcers to sunburn. According to the International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, positive findings on honey in wound care have been reported from v:

• 17 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1965 participants
• Five clinical trials of other forms involving 97 participants
• 16 trials on a total of 533 wounds on experimental animals

A study published in the summer of 2009 also found that chronic rhinosinusitis sufferers might benefit from honey vi. In 11 isolates of three separate biofilms, honey was found to be significantly more effective than commonly-used antibiotics in killing both planktonic and biofilm-grown forms of pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and staphylococcus aureus (SA), two important factors in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

The findings may hold important clinical implications in the treatment of CRS, which affects 31 million people each year in the United States alone, and is among the three most common chronic diseases in North America.

Helpful Additions to Your Home First Aid Kit

If you’re considering using honey to treat a mild burn, sunburn, or small wound at home, make sure to use either Manuka or raw honey. Like the Manuka honey, high quality RAW honey will help draw fluid away from your wound and suppress the growth of microorganisms. Part of what gives raw honey its antibacterial properties is an enzyme called glucose oxidase, which the worker bees excrete into the nectar. This enzyme releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide when the honey makes contact with your wound. A chemical reaction between the honey and the tissue also makes your wound smell good. Heated honey will destroy this perishable enzyme which is why you want to only use raw honey for this application.

For your home care kit, two other natural wound dressings that offer impressive results without drugs are Duoderm and HemCon bandages. The HemCon bandages are made from a natural protein found in shrimp shells, which not only promotes clotting, but also offer an effective antibacterial barrier against microorganisms such as MRSA and VRE—two common antibiotic-resistant strains.

While the focus of this article is on the topical uses and benefits of honey, it also has numerous health benefits when consumed in moderation.

Unfortunately, bee populations are rapidly declining.  Farmers are forced to import bees from other countries or truck them across the states for different seasons of produce.  Toxic chemicals, genetically engineered crops, overuse of antibiotics in animals (their waste is typically used as fertilizer) and monoculture farming are likely the primary contributors to the collapse of the bees.

The collapse of bee colonies should be looked at as yet further proof of our unsustainable farming methods.

6 Simple Alterations to Become More Present

Do you think about the day ahead, the deadlines, projects, meetings; while driving? Do you worry and stress over an email you sent days ago that didn’t get a response? Do you feel the urge to check your phone while in a middle of a conversation or when spending time with your family?

Distractions are all around us. We fixate on the past and the future at the expense of the present.

I would think about why certain things happened. My meandering mind on the past then created scenarios on how to steer the future.

This thinking pattern led to high levels of stress and anxiety.

Looking back to a year ago, the weight on my chest from the anxiety was something I had never experienced before. It was as if I had a twenty-five pound plate lying on my chest each time I inhaled and exhaled.

The fear of experiencing something much worse than the pain I was already feeling was the catalyst to a journey of transformation.

Committing to a journey of intentional self growth was the medicine I needed, I vowed to taking care of myself first in order to give my best self to others.

I gave myself permission to let go. Letting go and surrendering to the only moment that mattered, this very moment.

Being present originates from within your mind, it’s a mindset, or mind shift, that occurs overtime, with practice.

Just like anything else it’s a muscle that needs to be exercised; and to keep that muscle healthy, it’s a constant devotion.

As much of being present resides within your mind there are things you can do to reduce the noise by removing your outside distractions; aside from meditation, which I highly recommend.

Here are 6 simple alterations you can do to become more in tune with the present moment.

1. Remove your TV from your main living space

This is something we did several months ago and I can honestly say it was one of the best things for our family.

You will appreciate the stillness of the moment without the unnecessary background noise. You will appreciate the spontaneity of the moment. You’ll find yourself gravitate towards the things nature what’s you to do; the things you are interested in.

You don’t have to get rid of it, just don’t have it be the focal point of where you spend the most time within your home.

Since removing it, our family gets lost in the timelessness of play now more than ever. These are tiny moments I will cherish for a lifetime.

2. Stop wearing a wrist watch

This is new for me, but I am trying it and so far am loving it.

Each time I looked at my watch, mostly out of habit, a sense of urgency took over regardless if it was something urgent or not. I felt like I needed to hurry up and get on to the next thing.

Removing my watch removed the unnecessary urgency that would flood my body.

3. Simplify

Much like how the meandering mind pulls you away from the present moment, the accumulation of stuff is just as much of a distraction.

Keep the things that will allow you to live each day. Unnecessary items are unnecessary burdens. When you have them, you have to take care of them.

The lighter you are the freer you feel. The freer you feel the more present you can become.

4. Turn your phone off or at least put it away

Or at the very least, remove all notifications.

As much as technology has evolved, it’s also pulled us further away from the present moment. It dilutes the level of true engagement.

Too many times I would find myself needing to scratch the itch of looking at my phone in the middle of an intimate conversation or a super hero battle with my son.

Not only does this pull me from the present moment, but the connection between my son and I weakens. It’s a habit that takes intentional effort.

5. Listen

Actually listen.

Don’t just appear like you are listening while you’re actually thinking about what you’re going to respond with, but genuinely listen to the other person while engaging in a conversation.

Feel the emotion stemming from the spoken words.

6. Journal

Not only will you be more present by intently listening to your external surroundings, but also by listening to yourself, your vulnerabilities, your fears, your feelings.

Recognize those and become more aware of your internal space. Accept them, acknowledge them, own them and be honest with yourself. Get them on paper.

Too often we go through life numbing ourselves of the present moment because we’ve for so long suppressed our true selves.

If you were only to do one thing, journal.

Top 10 Outdoor DIY Projects You Can Do in Under an Hour

You don’t need a ton of time or even effort to upgrade your outdoor space. In fact, in an hour or less you could complete a project that will further turn your backyard or balcony into an impressive oasis. Here are 10+ such projects to consider.

10. Get Rid of the Pests

Nothing kills an outdoor party like insect bites. Make your own citronella candles or turn an empty wine bottle into an attractive mosquito repelling torch. The simplest and quickest bug deterring “project,” though? Plug in a fan.

9. Create a Vertical, Space-Saving Garden

Even the smallest of spaces can sport great greenery, as long as you have some sun exposure. This canvas shoe organizer, for example, instantly becomes an herb garden once you hang it up and add some herbs. Take it to the next level by adding a hydroponic watering system. Or you could create a vertical garden with a wooden pallet too, and perhaps fill it with mosquito-repelling plants for a two-in-one project.

8. Turn Your Backyard into a Theater

For under $10, you can create a portable projector screen for both indoors or out (a quicker alternative to the Wired build shown above, which takes an afternoon at least). If you want to get more advanced than that and have more money (and possibly more time to spend), you’ll find answers to all things outdoor theater at Backyard Theater.

7. Stream Music Outdoors

You gotta have good tunes for your outdoor oasis. Build audio components into an outdoor table or, for an easier solution, just stream music with Plex to your mobile phone (hooked up to portable or outdoor speakers). You can even make your own waterproof speakers (that float!).

6. Build an Outdoor Oven

Cooking outdoors doesn’t have to be limited to just your grill. Make a cheap tandoor oven for baking naan and other flatbreads using just some terra cotta pots, a metal bucket, and some sand. You can also create a solar oven out of cardboard and let the sun do all the work for you. (The sturdier solar oven version shown above might take you more than an hour, unless you’re a speedy carpenter.)

5. Create an Outdoor, Weather-Shielding Canopy

With a dropcloth and four poles, you can shade your outdoor retreat and protect guests from sudden rain. Not only is it quick and simple to put up, a DIY canopy costs a lot less than a custom shade or buying an umbrella.

4. Create a DIY Smoker

For a different kind of cooking and the unmistakable flavor of smoked meats, turn flower pots into a smoker or hack your grill into a cold smoker. (Bonus project: turn terra cotta pots into a drink cooler.)

3. Turn Mason Jars into Outdoor Lights

How about some simple, cheap mood lighting? Ubiquitous jars make handy hanging candle lanterns, battery-powered LED garden lights, and solar-powered sun jars.

2. Make a Mini Fire Pit or Flaming Bowl

For lighting with more flare, consider create these flaming rock bowls or mini fire pit. Both make an impressive fire show for your patio or deck.

1. Build Some Epic Outdoor Games

Finally, liven up the outdoors with some classic fun games, like this DIY giant Jenga, huge Slip ‘n Slide, super-sized DIY bubble wand, or a lawn game made from pipes. Enjoy!

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