In Peru approximately 2000 years ago, the Peruvians built reed grass boats called totora horses (caballos de totora). These traditional surf craft are still made today from the local totora reeds and are popular among tourists and surfers alike. Surfing also has a rich history in ancient Hawaii, where riding waves was once reserved as a cultural ritual for chiefs and the upper social hierarchy of

A food allergy is a condition where the immune system misidentifies certain proteins in food as a harmful substance, known as an allergen. Globally, the estimated number of people suffering from a food allergy has reached 250 million-plus. More than 170 foods have been reported to cause allergic reactions. These are symptoms of a life-threatening condition known as anaphylaxis. Emerging evi

Stress is a part of life. If you feel that you are troubled by chronic stress, there are several strategies to help you reduce and manage stress. Removing the root cause is a straightforward strategy to manage stress. If the news regarding an election makes you nervous and uptight, limit your time spent watching related news; if moving is the origin of the stress, comprehensively evaluate your sit

In today’s show, we will elaborate on core training and present some entry-level routines suitable for all as well as some that are well-suited for seniors and women. Core exercises activate muscles located in the abdomen, hips, lower back, and pelvis, as well as the inner muscles that wrap around the spine. Here are some top core exercise routines suitable for beginners: 1. Two-point super

Muscle mass starts to decline around the age of 30, at a rate of 3-5% per decade, and the elderly are at a greater risk for sarcopenia or muscle mass loss due to aging. Resistance training allows us to increase muscle mass, improve muscular strength and endurance, as well as boost our basal metabolic rate (BMR). Our BMR determines how many calories we burn when we are at rest. We must also be awar

Through the Internet, we connect, work, undertake training, learn, recreate, reflect, mobilize, purchase items, do research, etc. We benefit from many conveniences such as taking classes, doing research, and shopping from wherever we are. In fact, we have come to rely so greatly on accomplishing tasks requiring Internet connectivity that a heavy dependence could unfold and result in Internet Addic

While some have succeeded in changing their diet overnight, others have taken more time and had some challenges in effectively transitioning. We joyfully invite you to listen to Ms. Rohini Bajekal, a highly trained British nutritionist, as she imparts to us savvy suggestions and helpful hints for a successful switch. The nutritionist and her mother hold online vegan cooking classes for Made in Hac

Art is a fountain of nectar watering our thirst for freedom and relaxation in the quick pace of modern times. It directs our mind to focus on the present moment so that we can delve into the realm of the artwork and its creator. Art leads us to experience the world in a creative and fun way. Not only can we discover the unique beauty of different places, but we can also better treasure natural res

Art is the creative manifestation of the artist’s thoughts, emotions, intuitions, observations, and imagination. From painting to sculptures, architecture to design, music to dance and literature to digital media, art is a gift offered by artists to the world. Whether it’s starting our day with soothing music in the morning, enjoying the neighbor’s garden design on our way to work, or a fancy adve

"Hallo, I'm Dr. Leila. I used to be a doctor, but I'm now a plant-based nutritionist, and I'm an advisory board member of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK." Dr. Leila has been experiencing severe migraines since childhood, and no medical treatment has been able to resolve this condition permanently. It was a fortunate course of events that brought Dr. Leila to attend a conference in 2018

To have a successful birding trip, it’s best to plan well. The first step is to pick the birds you’d like to see and find out where their habitats are. The best birding seasons are spring through fall, a period when most birds breed. The last thing to plan before your exploration begins is logistics. Using public transportation is a brilliant idea, as you can save fuel and parking costs and it red

Also known as bird watching, it is defined as the hobby of studying birds in the wild. It is one of the fastest-growing hobbies in North America. Birding is gaining in popularity for very good reasons: it has many solid benefits for the body, mind and spirit. Getting to and from your birding spot usually includes hiking, which is great cardiovascular exercise. And while doing so, you are breathing

In general, masks can be divided into two categories: reusable and disposable. Disposable masks include surgical masks as well as N95 and KN95 respirators. Please note that due to high demand and shortages, surgical and N95 masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and not be used by the general public. The cloth mask is one of the most common reusable masks. The United States Centers

Understanding the mode of transmission of an infectious disease like MERS or COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is essential to lessen or prevent the further spread of the illness. Viruses can be transmitted between people through airborne droplets made of mucus, saliva and water. Particles containing viruses can be detected when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, talks, or even exhale

Nowadays, the majority of clothing contains synthetic fabrics, such as nylon or polyester. Clothes like T-shirts, dresses and jeans may use cotton that is blended with synthetic materials. These manmade fabrics are comprised of plastic fibers. Workers in the fabric manufacturing plant may inhale them. The dimensions of microfibers are an important factor for their toxicity. Finer fibers are easier

We are surrounded by plastic. It’s used for food packaging, shopping bags, computer parts, cosmetics, clothing, home appliances, and so on. Plastics are made from a wide range of synthetic, semi-synthetic and naturally occurring compounds. Scientifically speaking, these compounds are composed of repeating monomers, which are based on the bonding of carbon and other elements, such as hydrogen, oxyg

Today, we are going to explore why dairy is scary and best to be avoided. Each milk type is naturally designed to meet the nutritional requirements needed for a baby’s optimal growth. Thus, it is plain to see that cow’s milk is not suited for human consumption. For example, it contains twice the protein of human milk and a unique amino acid called leucine that stimulates muscle protein synthesis. High amounts of leucine and protein in milk cause a calf to double its birth weight in around 40 days. Human breast milk has less protein, and a baby takes about 180 days to double its birth weight. A human baby needs less protein, but more fat, during the early stages of infancy when their energy is primarily focused on developing the brain, spinal cord and nerves, instead of muscle. Now let’s examine cow’s milk’s effects on grownups. Lactose is the main carbohydrate or sugar in milk, and a staggering number - 3 out of 4 adults - in the world are unable to break down the substance, a condition commonly known as lactose intolerance. People who are lactose intolerant will have indigestion upon consuming dairy products. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. We now turn to the logical solution, which is to ditch dairy. One of the most commonly asked questions is: How do we get our calcium if not from milk? Studies show that even though milk and dairy products seem to contain a certain level of calcium, people who consume high amounts of cow’s milk have a significantly higher mortality and bone fracture rate than those who drink little to no milk. In the US, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults each day is 1000 milligrams, the UK’s National Health Service advises a daily intake of 700 milligrams, and the World Health Organization recommends 500 milligrams of calcium per day. These amounts can easily be obtained through a vegan or animal-free diet.

Cordyceps militaris is a very powerful medicinal mushroom, whose use goes back more than 5,000 years as part of the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In recent years, Cordyceps militaris has become increasingly popular worldwide, as studies continue to reveal more and more of its impressive health benefits. In nature, it grows on caterpillar larvae, but those who raise it for medical purpo

This two-part series features our interview with Dr. Wen B-Chen, the creator of the Mind-Body-Chi (MBC) relaxation exercise program, with 10 exercises that take 25-minutes to complete. Breathing techniques are integral to meditation, chi gong and yoga, and are of pivotal importance in the MBC program. Dr. Wen explains the reasons from a medical perspective. “And we know in laboratory studies if we

Chi gong is an ancient Chinese exercise that people practice to cultivate the chi – the vital life-force all around and within us. It utilizes meditation, controlled breathing, guided visualization and movements to stimulate the flow of chi throughout the body, thus assisting one in self-healing and preventing illnesses. Tai chi, a popular form of chi gong exercise, is now regarded as a health-promoting activity worldwide. This five-part series features our interview with Dr. Wen B-Chen, the creator of the marvelous Mind-Body-Chi (MBC) relaxation exercise program that incorporates the essence of chi gong, tai chi, yoga and meditation. He will present a unique interpretation of MBC’s various health benefits from a Western medical perspective and give demonstrations of the MBC exercises. Dr. Wen is a former radiation oncologist at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, USA. He was also the radiation oncology medical director at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida, USA. “For people at the age of 30 to 55, that’s my target. Some of them really don’t have time to do exercise to maintain their health. I put together these movements and breathing to help those people. As long as they carve out a certain portion of time for themselves during the day, then their health gets maintained.” “MBC stands for Mind, Body, Chi, and Chi is c-h-i. In our (Chinese) culture, chi represents air, or spirit, or breath, or vitalities. We were taught in our culture that chi exists everywhere, in the universe and in our bodies. Inside the body, chi is supposed to follow the blood, or even go with the blood and nurture our internal organs and extremities, joints, and muscles.” To cater to senior citizens, Dr. Wen has recently expanded the MBC program from the original 6 exercises to 10, with the sequence rearranged. In our series, we’ll cover all 10 exercises. Let’s now see Dr. Wen's demonstration of exercise #1 and #2 of the MBC program.