Warm Herbal Goodness~ the health benefits of tea

I'm a tea drinking girl, I come from a family of Scots who have been known to give tea to babies in their bottles (auntie Emily!) Before bed as a kid my mum would often make tea and toast, an evening ritual I still sometimes partake in today :)
When I was pregnant I gave up coffee and looked to decaf teas instead. It's pretty amazing what health benefits they have to offer. I've had a lot of trouble staying asleep all night since I lost my son so I searched online for the best natural remedies and Chamomile Tea is on all the lists; so thats where I'll start. I was going to write a post about them but found this article from Best Health Mag in my search and it covers what I'd write anyways so steep yourself some warm herbal goodness and give it a read: http://www.besthealthmag.ca/eat-well/nutrition/7-herbal-teas-that-will-make-you-healthy

7 herbal teas that will make you healthier
Need a health boost? Reach for a soothing cup of herbal tea to relieve nausea, bloating and other common ailments
By Meredith Dault

There’s nothing nicer on a cold midwinter’s day than a soothing cup of herbal tea. But besides being a tasty, warming, caffeine-free pick-me-up, herbal tea has lots of wonderful health benefits. From soothing a troubled tummy to easing insomnia and calming a troubled mind, herbs have all sorts of healing powers. Drinking herbal tea can also be a great source of vitamins and minerals.

What is herbal tea?
Herbal tea isn’t really made from tea—which is a specific kind of plant. The French use the word tisane, which is a little more accurate, since herbal tea is really just an infusion of leaves, seeds, roots or bark, extracted in hot water. In drinking a well-steeped herbal tea, we get all the plant’s benefits in an easily digestible form.

The benefits of herbal tea
“In a lot of ways, we might get more benefit from a good organic tea than from a vitamin pill,” says herbalist Marianne Beacon of Elderberry Herbals in Peterborough, Ont. "You’re getting the benefits of hydration. There’s the social element: Tea is something that you can share with people. And when you’re drinking herbal tea, you get aromatherapy at the same time—and that’s something you don’t get from a tablet!”

That’s why Toronto-based herbalist Marcia Dixon says herbal tea should always be steeped in a covered vessel to contain the beneficial essential oils. “Otherwise, your room smells nice but you aren’t retaining the medicinal properties.”

How to choose a herbal tea
When it comes to choosing a herbal tea, both Dixon and Beacon agree that it’s important to look for a well-sourced product made from high-quality ingredients. If you’re drinking tea for the medicinal benefits, then definitely steer clear of products that add things like essential oils or flavours. And to really get the full benefits from drinking herbal tea, make sure you steep your loose tea or tea bags long enough—in some cases, as long as 10 to 15 minutes—to really bring out all the healthful properties.

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“Anytime you’re ingesting something, you’re giving your body the building blocks it needs to manufacture tissues and hormones,” says Dixon. “If you drink tea every day, you can make all sorts of significant changes to your mood, your skin, your sense of well-being and energy.”

There are so many wonderful herbal teas to choose from. Here are a few of the most common. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

Peppermint tea
Halifax naturopath Colin Huska recommends drinking peppermint tea to relieve the symptoms of abdominal gas and bloating, and to relieve muscle spasms. It’s also good for nausea (without vomiting) and for heating up the body and making it sweat. If indigestion or heartburn are problems, however, then Dixon recommends avoiding peppermint altogether. Peppermint tea can also be made using fresh herbs from the garden—and it's one of the easiest herbs to grow.

Ginger tea
Another great digestive aid, ginger can be used to curb nausea, vomiting or upset stomach due to motion sickness. Make fresh ginger tea by simmering a piece of ginger root on the stove for 10 to 15 minutes—add fresh lemon juice and honey when you have a cold for a powerful germ-fighting combination. Beacon also suggests making tea from powdered ginger to ward off a chill.

Chamomile tea
A gentle calming and sedative tea made from flowers, chamomile tea can be helpful for insomnia. It can also be helpful with digestion after a meal. Huska recommends chamomile in cases of cough and bronchitis, when you have a cold or fever, or as a gargle for inflammation of the mouth. Be sure to steep it well to get all the medicinal benefits.

Rooibos tea
High in vitamin C as well as other minerals, rooibos has all sorts of health benefits. An easy drinking tea, it’s largely grown in South Africa and has been touted for its antioxidant properties—which may in turn help ward off disease and the signs of aging. It has also been shown to help with common skin concerns, such as eczema.

Lemon balm tea
An easy-to-grow plant, lemon balm is helpful for lifting the spirits. “It’s good for the winter blahs,” says Deacon, “and it can help improve concentration.” She adds that lemon balm is safe for children and may help prevent nightmares when consumed before bed. This herb also makes a refreshing iced tea, and can be flavoured with lemon or maple syrup.

Milk thistle and dandelion tea
When consumed as a tea, milk thistle or dandelion are gentle liver cleansers. “They help the liver to regenerate and function at a higher capacity,” says Huska. “They can also assist in the production of bile, which can help with our digestive process.”

Rosehip tea
Rosehips are the fruit of the rose plant and are one of the best plant sources of vitamin C, which is important for the immune system, skin and tissue health and adrenal function. Consider reaching for rosehip tea next time you need a health boost.

Paul Is Dead~George Harrison's Last Testament

I remember as a kid hearing rumours that the real Paul McCartney was dead. I remember trying to play the records backwards to hear the "I buried Paul" lyrics. But I never put too much thought into it since, until I watched this documentary last night... I can't stop thinking about it now. Could it be true? Could they really have pulled this off? Did this Beatles secret maybe lead to John Lennon's assassination? It's pretty crazy stuff but just crazy enough that they might have my buy in. You can view it on Netflix and probably find a clearer version of it elsewhere in the web but give it a watch and see what you think!

Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament Of George Harrison from Osde on Vimeo.

A Lifetime Of Misery For A Few Minutes Of Entertainment

The truck the elephants live in all year long, chained to the inside.

The circus is no fun for elephants or any of the animals who are tortured into learning the tricks they perform in order to provide humans with a few short minutes of entertainment. More is posted on PETA.org but one article states bears, elephants, tigers, and other animals do not voluntarily ride bicycles, stand on their heads, balance on balls, or jump through rings of fire. They don't perform these and other difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't.

For animals in circuses, there is no such thing as "positive reinforcement"—only varying degrees of punishment and deprivation. To force them to perform these meaningless and physically uncomfortable tricks, trainers use whips, tight collars, muzzles, electric prods, bullhooks, and other painful tools of the trade.

Elephants are beaten, hit, poked, prodded, and jabbed with sharp hooks, sometimes until bloody. The trainers break the spirit of elephants when they're vulnerable babies who should still be with their mothers. Unsuspecting parents planning a family trip to the circus don't know about the violent training sessions with ropes, bullhooks, and electric shock prods that elephants endure. 

This year over seventy of us gathered in protest of the Shine Circus in Hamilton Ontario. There was some resistance from the misinformed who would yell out that we're ruining the fun for the children but for the most part we got very positive feedback. Some people left at intermission, saying they had never realized before what the animals suffer and the life they are forced to live. One father who left mid way brought his teenage daughters over to speak to us asking for more literature as our information had opened their eyes. A friend of mine didn't even get settled in her seat before deciding to leave with her four children because one of them asked what a bullhook is. Another woman I know posted on my Facebook page before the event even happened that my advocacy makes a difference because she has chosen to not use her tickets after all. All of this matters. My family has been at this five years in a row now; lets hope Hamilton simply bans the use of animals for entertainment purposes and the Circus will not be back in town again. But if it is, we'll be there. 

Another Media Mention

Another mention about our demonstration via Our Burlington

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON  October 24, 2011  Maple Leaf Foods announced yesterday that they are going to close the Burlington distribution and refrigeration plant on Harvester Road sometime  2013, which will mean the expected loss of 87 jobs.

Maple Leaf announced at the same time a massive expansion into the Red Valley Business Park in Hamilton where more than 1,500 jobs will be created. The announcement of the Hamilton move just may be the beginning of a stretch of economic growth that Hamilton needs if it is every going to shed its steel manufacturing industrial base.

Given that Burlington has had a working relationship with Maple Leaf Foods for some time one wonders if this city was ever in the game for the expansion?  We certainly have the land and the Paletta people do know how to take advantage of an opportunity.

Hamilton did have a leg up on this one with the Canada Bread operation also being set up in the Hamilton community as well.  The municipal taxes on the meat processing plant will amount to $2 million annually.

The Maple Leaf announcement was brought about by that city’s Economic development department which is an in house operation.  The Burlington Economic Development Corporation is an arms length organization that has council representation on it.

A 150 year old corporation that plays a significant role in the Burlington economy. Should a slughterhiuse be in this location?

There are some who feel that there is a bit of a silver lining in the announcement for Burlington and that is Fearman’s could take up the Maple Leaf Foods space which is immediately adjacent to their property on Harvester Road abutting the Applyby GO station.  The question for the city is – does Burlington really want a slaughter house right in the middle of an industrial part of town and next to a GO station?

Burlington will begin reviewing its Official Plan in 2012 and that question is sure to be asked.  The Strategic Plan, that city council will pass within a week, sheds no light on industry specifics, but does talk about prosperity and those elusive high tech, high paying jobs.  Nothing high tech or high paying about a slaughterhouse; but without them, bacon and eggs, and a ham at Easter won’t happen.

The F.W. Fearman’s brand is over 150 years old. So, it’s not only the oldest continuously operating pork processing plant in Canada, but also the first of its kind in the country. It was established in 1852, in Hamilton, Ontario, by F.W. Fearman, a dealer in sugar-cured hams and smoked meats.

Fearman’s sits on a site immediately to the west of the Maple Leaf plant and were the object of one of the more misdirected protests the city has seen in some time.  Nearly 20 Toronto Pig Save supporters picketed the Fearman plant early in October. “We’re talking about how animals are inhumanely treated,” said Patti Blersch. “I live in Burlington and one of Ontario’s largest slaughterhouses is down the street.”

Blersch wore a pink pig costume while protesters also spread their message with signs, pamphlets, a megaphone and video-audio display. They plan more protests in Burlington, said one of the animal rights group’s founders. She claims 8,000-9,000 pigs are killed each working day at Fearman’s.

Fearman’s is  an affiliate of Sun Capital Partners Inc., a Boca Roton, Florida hedge fund that has recently provided significant amounts for the upgrading of plant and equipment at the Burlington location.

Obviously a major hydro user and also a company that is well funded and in a postion to grow their operation if the market demand is there.

“The Ontario pork processing business is an impressive facility with significant potential to increase production levels. We are fully committed to growing the business, bringing our investment experience in the food processing industry to bear, working closely with hog suppliers and serving the markets with top-quality products. We believe there is opportunity to further expand into international markets and build out the company’s market share for specialty and value-added products,” said Anthony Polazzi, Principal at Sun Capital Partners. “Maple Leaf Foods will continue to be an important customer as we move forward.”

“This sale will complete the transformation of our fresh pork operations to focus our growth on branded, consumer-focused prepared meats and meals business,” said Michael Vels, Chief Financial Officer of Maple Leaf Foods. “We are very pleased to have secured a buyer who will continue to operate the facility, providing ongoing employment to a highly skilled workforce, and an important market for Ontario’s hog producers.”

Sun Capital has approximately $8 billion of capital under management and often bridges the entire purchase price at closing, raising permanent debt financing afterwards.

The company targets companies with up to $5 billion or more of revenues, but many of the transactions are with businesses with sales between $50 million and $500 million. A staff of approximately 150 people and a decisive approach to business enables them to close deals within 30 days compared to three to six months for most other buyers. Appropriate acquisition and investment targets may include private businesses, divisions of larger companies, and publicly-traded companies.

Fearman’s is clearly owned by people with very deep pockets – so buying up the Maple Leaf plant is not a financial problem.  A reliable source in Burlington’s financial community suspects conversations between the two are already taking place.  Should that happen – the jobs lost through the Maple Leaf closing would be more than made up with a Fearman’s expansion.

We Made The News, ....And Hopefully An Impact

Pork plant targeted by protesters

Pork plant targeted by protesters. THIS LITTLE PIGGY HELD A PROTEST: Toronto-based animal rights organization Pig Save, staged a weekend protest outside the Fearmans Pork Inc. pork processing plant — located to the southeast of Appleby Line and Harvester Road — on Saturday morning. Right, Patti Blersch donned a pig costume and held up signs intended to catch the attention of passersby. Michael Ivanin – Burlington Post

While some Burlington residents were anticipating Thanksgiving turkey dinner, animal rights protesters were condemning the slaughter of pigs at a local processing plant owned and operated by Fearmans Pork Inc.

Nearly 20 Toronto Pig Save supporters picketed last Saturday (Oct. 8) at Appleby Line and Harvester Road, beside the pork processing plant.

“We’re talking about how animals are inhumanely treated,” said Patti Blersch. “I live in Burlington and one of Ontario’s largest slaughterhouses is down the street.”

Blersch wore a pink pig costume while protesters also spread their message with signs, pamphlets, a megaphone and video-audio display.

While not specifying Fearmans’ operations, Blersch recalled a video of United Kingdom slaughterhouses.

“It shows the gross brutality,” said Blersch. “The animals suffer and feel fear.”

Fearmans Chief Executive Officer Patrick Sugrue declined to comment or answer questions about the protest when contacted by a reporter yesterday (Tuesday).

The Fearmans website says the company’s mission is to “feed the world delicious, safe and high-quality meat products.”

It states that farms supplying Fearmans are committed to quality and their standards include best practices of the Canadian Quality Assurance program.

Blersch said she and her husband have stopped attending Ribfest. (Fearmans was the title sponsor of Ribfest in 2011.)

Toronto Pig Save advocates moving to an organic, local, whole grain, plant-based (vegan) food economy — away from meat.  

“In a world with so many alternatives to meat and dairy products, there’s just no need,” said Blersch.

More protests will be held in Burlington, said one of the animal rights group’s founders.

“We feel it’s very dramatic to be on site and bear witness,” said Anita Krajnc.

She claims 8,000-9,000 pigs are killed each working day at Fearmans.

“We don’t want to shut the plant down and have it moved somewhere else,” she said. “We don’t want jobs that involve killing enslaved animals.”

Krajnc said a whole grain, plant-based food economy will create jobs. She said the group protests three times weekly at another pig slaughterhouse, Quality Meat Packers in downtown Toronto.

Krajnc doesn’t blame workers at these processing plants.

“We get along with workers,” she said. “When we started, a few people were giving us the finger. Now people honk at us.”

Krajnc said leaflets are passed to motorists at stoplights during pickets in Toronto.

At Saturday morning’s protest in Burlington, some motorists reacted by honking horns.

One driver yelled “Get a job!” at the protesters.

Meanwhile, the nearby Fearmans parking lot was nearly empty, with only three or four vehicles.

Krajnc said she’s making a film in Burlington and Toronto that combines the protests, scenes of quiet streets and the slaughterhouses.

Pigs Give Thanks for Vegans - Fearmans Slaughterhouse Protest

Facebook Event:

Join us west-enders, along with Toronto Pig Save, for a protest on Thanksgiving weekend and help give these sweet pigs something to be thankful for.

Fearman's Pork Inc.(formerly Maple Leafs Pork) is the largest pork-processing facility in Ontario, slaughtering upwards of 45,000 every week and primarily servicing Toronto and the Eastern United States.

As a point of interest, there's also a poultry-processing facility just down the street.






DATE/TIME

Saturday, October 8th
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Appleby Line & Harvester (Fearmans is on the corner at 821 Appleby Line)
Burlington, ON



LOGISTICS

We'll position ourselves on each of the four corners of the intersection with various signs. It's mostly going to be vehicle traffic with few pedestrians but anyone who has literature to hand out, do bring it in the event there are people walking by. If anyone has a megaphone, please feel free to bring it as well!! I will work on some chants.

For anyone coming by transit, the protest is about a 10 minute walk from the Appleby Go Station. You want to take the North or Harvester exit out of the train station. Then hang a left once you get out of the Go Station parking lot.

For anyone driving, there's Wendy's/Tim Horton's where you can likely park without any issues.



SIGNAGE


We'll have a few signs but please bring one with you if you can. I also have a new pig costume which will make its debut at the protest!

Killer Coke Stories

What I learned today from an email from watercheck.biz about The Coca Cola Company is sickening and sad. Read a copy of the email here for yourself. I could blog about my opinion on it all but instead I'll list the links and let you read the information written by those involved first hand:


Start with Killer Coke and you'll get the picture.


What was written on The Council Of Canadians astounds me. Damaged water supplies and more. 

The documentary The Coca Cola Case tells a man's story of losing his brother  in Columbia because he was a Union Negotiator.

The website http://films.nfb.ca/the-coca-cola-case/ has a quick video on what the story is about.


There is definitely more out there to be read, so check it out.

So Nice Top 20 Blogs To Follow In 2011

So I'm just discovering this now, eight months later but whatever, it's never to late to brag when So Nice mentions you! Click on the title and see.

PETA's Accidentally Vegan List

PETA put out a list of products that Accidentally Vegan and although not all of them are the most healthy, it's still very cool that they are animal free!

PETA Ad Banned....? With actor James Cromwell

http://bit.ly/eyNuw4

Only Losers Sell Fur

Recently I have had to and will continue to, boycott one of my favourite retailers Winners. It's difficult to be sure the clothing I buy is sweat shop free and I do what I can to be sure I make purchases that are cruelty free and ethical however I know that indirectly I have supported sweatshops and other mistreatment unbeknown to me. I don't know what I don't know, which is why I question almost everything I buy. I have learned Winners sells fur. Now I must voice my disgrace on the subject. 


On the Vancouver Animal Rights Campaigns blog they posted in detail recent encounters with Winners:

Winners Selling Raccoon Fur

Well, this is it, we are SICK AND TIRED of seeing cheap, cruel fur for sale atWinners, and we are even more sick and tired of being lied to about it!

Winners sells fur from many different species of animals like rabbits, raccoon dogs, mink and foxes, raised on fur farms in several different countries including Canada, Greece, Finland and China.

When contacting Winners in the past regarding their sale of fur they have stated “as long as it is in style, we will continue to sell it.”

When a concerned customer contacted them in regards to a raccoon dog trimmed jacket they were sold and specifically told by Winners staff that it is FAKE FUR, their response was “well our staff are not experts on the subject.”

NOW, this is the latest from WINNERS:

“Hi ****,

Thank you for your email.  We appreciate the time you have taken to contact

us and have taken your comments very seriously.  Your voice does count, and

we will continue to evaluate the sale of fur in our stores.

As a retailer, our goal is to provide our customers with the widest

selection of merchandise, while providing the best quality and value.

Therefore, as a retailer with a diverse clientele, we make every attempt to

understand and satisfy the needs and concerns of all of our customers.

Please be assured WMI does not condone the unethical treatment of any

animal.  Our buyers only purchase fur products from reputable manufacturers

in the industry.  We have very tight systems in place to ensure that we do

not purchase or sell any merchandise containing dog or cat fur. Whenever

possible, our buyers purchase domestically produced goods, where it is

illegal to use dog or cat fur and any new purchases require manufacturers’

documentation that no dog or cat fur is involved.

Our Buyers travel to China periodically throughout the year and tour many

of the factories, however we have Agents who live there that we pay to

protect our interests and to ensure our vendors are abiding by our

agreements.  Be assured we have all of our Vendors sign an agreement that

indicates no fur from endangered species, dog, cat, racoon dog, asiatic

racoon, etc…  will be a part of any product offered to, shipped to or

sold to our Organization by them or their affiliates.

We hope this information answers your concerns.  If you have any other

inquiries, please feel free to contact our toll freeCustomer Serviceline

at:  1800-646-9466 in order to speak to one of our Representatives.”

Winners has now stated that they do not sell ASIATIC RACCOON.  The problem is we were in Winners on December 23rd and we found a whole rack of winter jackets with raccoon dog trim labeled as ASIATIC RACCOON. (attached are pictures of the trim and the tag)

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!  WE WILL NOT BE LIED TO AND WE WANT WINNERS TO STOP SELLING FUR OF ALL KINDS!!!!!

PLEASE EMAIL WINNERS STAFF AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU THINK OF THEIR BLOODY, CORRUPT, DISHONEST BUSINESS!!!

mike_faulkner@winners.ca, leslie_berg@winners.ca,shannon.johnson@winners.ca, liz.mcdonald@winners.ca,bob.cataldo@winners.ca, sherry.zaremba@winners.ca,Teresa.kakish@winners.ca, mike.kinnon@winners.ca,andrew.todd@winners.ca, judy.schroffel@winners.ca,katie.dryburgh@winners.ca, cheryl.zamalynski@winners.ca,andrea.little@winners.ca, kevin.hale@winners.ca,brenda.mackirdy@winners.ca, brenda.berg@winners.ca,graem.rolfe@winners.ca, kim.stark@winners.ca,connie.johnson@winners.ca, marsha.loft@winners.ca,pat.steed@winners.ca, gary.burney@winners.ca,lauren.henry@winners.ca, brandy.ross@winners.ca,tulin.aulgin@winners.ca, ray.nero@winners.ca,shahin.fooladbary@winners.ca, sharalyn.landon@winners.ca,maura.cowie@winners.ca, gary.howell@winners.ca,cam.badwal@winners.ca, rene.pichett@winners.ca,rob.sewell@winners.ca, helen.abdullah@winners.ca,darlene.abukar@winners.ca, kevin.roberge@winners.ca,debra.sikorski@winners.ca, don.phinney@winners.ca,jason.baird@winners.ca, doug.kleininger@winners.ca, ,pat.stead@winners.ca, patty.harris@winners.ca,lori.markel@winners.ca, shannon.pagen@winners.ca,barb.hayes@winners.ca, joel.lohr@winners.ca,joanne.lafrenier@winners.ca, edma.grasfler@winners.ca,lori.kennedy@winners.ca, karen.ramo@winners.ca,kasia.orlow@winners.ca, cservice_department@winners.ca, michael.case@winners.ca

ONE MORE THING!

Winners has stated: 
“Our Buyers travel to China periodically throughout the year and tour many
of the factories, however we have Agents who live there that we pay to
protect our interests and to ensure our vendors are abiding by our
agreements.”

We contacted the manufacturer Soia and Kyo whose fur trimmed jackets are for sale in Winners right now.  They told us that Winners has not ever inspected any of their factories, let alone a fur farm, as they are an independent manufacturer.  So Winners has NO IDEA where they source their fur from, or how the animals are treated.

Thank you for your efforts, please forward this email!

VADL

Please note:

This alert is not meant to incite any illegal activities and all the information in this message is for legal use only. We don’t take

responsibility for other people’s actions no matter how much they make us smile. Thanks for your support.

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Fur from China is often mislabelled as fur from other species or even as "all man made materials". There aren't any laws in Canada regarding labelling. Products do not have to say which animal the fur is a source of and don not have to even indicate that it is real.. But you can't mislabel them, legally. Fur is exported to countries throughout the world to be sold to unsuspecting customers.

PETA has been documenting articles and footage of the the Fur Industry for years. 

There are no penalties for abusing animals on fur farms in China who are the largest fur exporters in the world. Be aware, ask questions and please don't support cruelty. Compassion Is Fashion!!