My Health "Tea"

Ever since 2020 I've had an extra interest in how to boost the immune system and since then I've made my special health "tea".

I have a lot of herbs, spices, roots and barks, so every time I make a batch I make a new combination, to make sure the diversity is as big as possible. 

Sometime it tastes like a soothing lemonade and sometimes it tastes like a bitter, used sock, but I drink it every time with good spirits, because I know there are a lot of good nutrients in there.

Yesterday I made a 5 liter batch with red onion peels, pine needles, bamboo leaves, Swedish rowan berries, white clover, cinnamon, ashwagandha, banana leaves etc.

I let it cool over night, so the nutrients really have a chance to come out, pour it in to glass bottles and store it in the fridge, easy to access when I need a refreshing drink.

Clouds

How often do you raise your gaze and look at the sky? 

I love looking at the sky and the formations the clouds create. Light or dark, fluffy or thin are they sailing across the sky, over our heads.

We are completely depended on the clouds for rain and shade, so take a moment today and look at the sky and see what the clouds tell you. I can guarantee that they are more correct than the weather forecast.

I took this photo the other day when I was out walking the dogs.

The sun is about to set behind the Himalayas.

Learn more about clouds here.

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Most people have heard about antioxidants and free radicals, but what are they really?

It is, of course, a complex matter, but imaging that the free radicals are harmful hooligans roaming around the body causing disease and inflammation and the antioxidants are the police taking care of the issue, neutralizing them.

Then imagine the hooligans being part of different gangs, so the police needs to have specialized teams to take care of each type of gang. That's where the diversity of food makes the difference.

Some examples of antioxidants are Vitamin C, Polyphenol; Quercetin, Flavonoids, Curcuminoids are Carotenoids.

The colors of the fruits and vegetables shows the different types of antioxidants, so a colorful plate of food is helping chasing the free radical hooligans away. Just like your old grandmother said when you were a kid. Imagine that they knew that for generations, before internet and all easy accessed information we have at hand, at all times, nowadays.

For a more technical description of antioxidants click here. 

Click here to see a short video.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a fiber and nutrient dense vegetable and it's packed with antioxidants, which will protect you from harmful free radicals and inflammation, and boost the immune system.

Studies show that it's good for weight loss, heart, brain and bone health, lowering blood pressure, digestive issues, diabetes 2, cancers etc.

Cauliflower is affordable and easy to add to your diet. Raw, cooked, steamed or roasted, so why not buy a cauliflower for dinner today already?

Read more about the health benefits of cauliflower here.

Watch a video about cauliflower here.

Photoshoot

Yesterday I had a photoshoot for the covers of my new books "My health journey; Part 1: The Issues" and the sequel "My health journey; Part 2: The solutions".

I went up the mountains in the morning with two photographers and one of the guys was actually born up there. We were able to go and take photos in places that are closed for other people.

Amazing, undisturbed nature made my photos magical, which you'll see in a couple of weeks when I will publish the first book.

If you are in Nepal and need a professional photographer, sound or event planner please contact Flash & Tune Event here.

Manifestation

Manifesting for changes in your life is very trendy at the moment. I approach life with logic, my logic, that is. Just standing in front of the mirror saying some magic words doesn't help.

If you want to meet a partner you you can't dress like a bum, not taking care of your hygiene, not going our meeting new people. It doesn't matter how many hours you spend in front of that mirror, you will not meet a new partner.

If you want to be rich you can't manifest money just landing in your lap one day, unless you have a rich aunt about to die, but what if she stays alive for years and decides to give away all her money to a cat home. You have to get out in the world and work for it.

Manifestations can set your intentions and you have to be very clear what you want, so the universe can help you reach your goal. Asking for a red car one day and a blue the next isn't helpful for anyone.

Magic happens, but you have to be a part of the journey.

The Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi has some wise words to say about manifestations and life in general. Click here to see the interview with James English. 

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are both tasty and beneficial for the health. Just make sure to buy mushrooms from a reliable source.

They are good for the gut and immune system, to promote lower cholesterol and support brain health.

I use to put my mushrooms in the sun for a couple of hours before I fry them in ghee. They soak up vitamin D from the sun and share it generously to the consumer. 

Read more about the health benefits of mushrooms here.

Teej

At this time every year, we celebrate the Hindu festival Teej. Women fast, dress up and dance.

It's of course a religious story behind it and the fasting is done to give luck to the married women's husbands, but besides all that, it's a time when women come together and celebrate their friendship and just have a good time.

Read more about Teej here.

Watch a Teej song here.

Green Tea

Green tea is my absolute favorite kind of tea. It doesn't taste much, but its compounds have some profound benefits to your health.

Some amazing things about green tea:

Contains plant-based antioxidant compounds

May improve cognitive function

Could help with fat burning

Might lower the risk of some cancers

May protect the brain from aging

Could help with oral health

May help with managing blood sugar

Might help prevent heart disease

Go for an organic green tea and adding sugar is an absolute NO!

Click here for more info about green tea.

Hug a Tree

Lean in with your heart against the trunk and wrap your arms around it. Breathe slowly, clear your mind and feel the heart fill up with unconditional love.

Trees are old and wise and they want to help us. Talk to it and give it time to give you advice on how to move forward in your life.

I have close connection with a couple of trees in my vicinity. This pine tree has given me solace many times.

Click here for a video explaining a bit more about the connections we make with the trees and universe. 

Breathe

When I worked as an Ombudsman for the workers' union in Sweden, I used to joke that I would inhale when I started working after the summer holiday and not exhale until Christmas. Nowadays I don't see it as a joke, but a symptom of a real issue. 

Breathing is, of course, something we take for granted since it happens day in and day out. It continues automatically till the day we die, but how we breathe is a matter of life and death since our health depends on it.

There are many different techniques you can try, but first and foremost it's a good idea to acknowledge your breathing pattern. Are you breathing mostly trough your mouth? Are you snoring? Are your breaths shallow and panting?

Yesterday I walked up the mountain, on a serpentine road, to the Jamchen Vijaya stupa. I breathed through the nose the whole walk. When it felt too much, that I wanted to open my mouth and breathe, I just slowed down to get the controlled breathing back.

Click here for more info about the stupa.

James Nestor is a breathing expert. Click here to watch an interview that will give you a good understanding of the importance of breathing.

If you'd like a breathing challenge I can recommend checking out Wim Hof, the Iceman. Click here for a guided breathing session.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea and can easily be made at home if you can get hold of a scoby starter and have the patience to let the fermentation run its course.

Kombucha is loaded with healthy bacteria, so it's beneficial to your gut health. It may reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer and manage diabetes 2. Besides all the health benefits, it's a very taste beverage. 

Read more about the benefits of kombucha here.

If you want to make your own kombucha, like I do, check out an informative beginners video here.

If you live in Nepal and can't find a scoby online, just buy a readymade kombucha with some floating stuff at the bottom of the bottle. It's enough to get started. 

Omega3

I think most people know that you need Omega3 fatty acids and that you should eat fat fish. Omega3 might help reducing depression, ADHD, Alzheimer's, inflammation, high blood pressure etc.

Nepal is a landlocked country, so fish isn't a natural part of the common cuisine, so we have to take a daily supplement or eat mackerels or sardines on a regular basis.

Read more about the benefits of Omega3 here.

Dr. Sten Ekberg has made an excellent video about the function of Omega3. Watch it here.

Jackfruit

Yesterday a friendly neighbor gave me a jackfruit. My first since I moved to this part of the world almost 14 years ago.

It tastes like a combination of pineapple, mango and banana and is fibrous like white asparagus.

The jackfruit is packed with antioxidants like vitamin C, carotenoids and flavanones that can help boost the immune system, decrease the risk of cancer, diabetes 2 and heart problems. 

Learn more about the benefits of the jackfruit here and here.

Nature, Art, Science and Ethics

This morning I came across something that was completely new to me.

Lex Fridman interviews Neri Oxman, a scientist who manage to combine nature, art and science in an ethical way.

I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you are curious you ought to give it a try.

Watch the video here.