3 Ways To Determine If Old Food Is Edible

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Whether you stockpile food in your pantry, basement, root cellar or your bug-out bag, the biggest problem is that some or most of it will go bad at some point. Plus, the bigger the stockpile, the harder it is to manage, and this only increases the chances of you having to throw food away.

Let’s assume you’re rotating your food at least twice a year. The only thing left to do is to look for signs of spoilage.

Spoilage is caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, mold (microscopic fungi) and yeast, if and when they have the right conditions to thrive and multiply. The list of issues is not that big: oxygen, light, humidity and temperature can cause a variety of bacteria and fungi to develop.

Always ask three questions when checking whether food is good to eat:

What Does it Smell Like?

Smelling is a good way to determine whether meat and dairy are spoiled. If it smells rancid or sour, you might as well throw it away.

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The smell test, though, only works for some foods (such as milk, meats and cooking oils). Just keep in mind that not all bacteria smell bad. Which leads us to our next test …

What Does it Look Like?

If it smells OK, then examine it carefully. Look for discoloration or mold forming anywhere on the surface.

Yeast and molds are more likely to form on fruits, veggies and other acidic foots that have been stored improperly or for long periods of time.

Bread, cheese, fruit and vegetables all can be affected by mold, which could look like grey fur, white dots or a white dust. Keep in mind that the mold also gets inside the food, not just on the surface. Although the right thing to do would be to throw the entire piece of fruit or veggie away, many people have reported that throwing away only the infected part worked well for them. Still, I recommend the first option.

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Besides mold, you should also be on the lookout for yeast (false yeast to be precise, because true yeast is the kind used for fermentation). It can develop on high acidic foods or foods high in sugars. Expect to see it in fruit juice bottles, fruit yogurts, and so on. Yeast can be easily identifiable under close examination, but just because it looks good, don’t expect it to taste good.

Speaking of visual cues, you should be extra careful with canned food. If the lid is dented, bulged, cracked or if there are bubbles around it, you should immediately throw away the can. In fact, you should make sure not even your pet would be able to eat it. It’s most likely infected with a toxin called botulism. Bacteria from botulism are nearly impossible to spot because they’re so small, yet they’re more dangerous than yeast and mold.

Also, keep in mind that discolored food inside food also is a sign of spoilage. Plus, in the case of store-bought canned food, always check the expiration date and use an organizer for your #10 cans or even make one yourself. Although the shelf life can range between two and five years, I would strongly recommend you eat and replace them after a year.

What Does it Taste Like?

If food tastes bad, you’ll know right away. But don’t use the taste test for canned food and meat. If they’re infected with bacteria, the danger is greater, so taste-tasting is a bad idea.

Of course, just because food tastes bad, it doesn’t mean it’ll make you sick – at least, not according to the director of the Center for Food Safety from the University of Georgia in Griffin, Ga., quoted by ABC News — but you probably don’t want to take that chance. As the article suggests, one way to ensure proper food storage in your fridge is to keep it a 40 degrees Fahrenheit and, of course, to eat it in a timely manner.

Though it would take a sample and a lab to be absolutely sure a food is safe to eat, for preparedness purposes you just have to follow the above advice and the No. 1 rule: When in doubt, throw it out!

What is your advice on checking the edibility of food? Share your tips in the section below:

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All-Natural Secrets To A Better Night’s Sleep

The blog post All-Natural Secrets To A Better Night’s Sleep See more on: Total Survival

Sleep problems affect 70 million Americans every day—one out of five of us. Are you one of them?

You may have tried things like warm milk or chamomile tea with honey before bed, only to lie awake wondering when it was going to kick in. Or maybe you’ve mentioned insomnia to your doctor, and he handed you a prescription for something you’ve seen on TV. Most of these sleep medications are only intended for short-term use (two weeks or less), and some are actually addictive.

Sleep is one of the best things for your overall health. Long-term poor or insufficient sleep can affect:

• Weight
• Chronic pain
• Depression
• Mental acuity
• Impaired cognition
• Driving
• Emotional balance (crankiness, bad judgment, etc.)
• Hormone production/fertility
• Immunity
• Premature aging
• Behavioral difficulties in children

Computers, smartphones, tablets and even your Wi-Fi can disrupt your sleep with an EMF (electromagnetic field), especially if they’re charging next to your bed. Turn these off at night, or move them at least three feet away from the sleeping area—including children’s rooms. Use a regular alarm clock, also three feet away, with a gentle but effective alarm to wake you up in the morning.

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Making your room completely dark (or as close as you can get) will help normalize your circadian rhythm and start the production of melatonin. A slightly cooler temperature—around 69 Fahrenheit—is optimal. Even a small bit of light—from outside, from a phone, or from anywhere else can disrupt your sleep and stop the normal flow of melatonin.

Regular exercise also helps, but not at night–unless it’s a relaxing yoga or other type of stretching. Avoiding big meals and caffeine too late at night allows your system to relax and sleep. But if you’re still having trouble sleeping, or you’re waking up at night, natural sleep aids are non-addictive and readily available.

• Melatonin. This hormone controls your sleep and is produced by the pineal gland. Pill dosages range from 3mg to 10mg, so you’d have to try some and find out how it affects you. Too much can lead to headaches, nausea and other side effects, so start with a small dose and raise it as needed. Take it one hour before bedtime, unless it’s a “quick release” pill. Melatonin is best for short-term use.
• Valerian root. One of the most common natural sleep aids available. The plant is native to Europe and parts of Asia, and is consumed either as a tea or in capsules. Valerian root promotes deep sleep and calmness, and increases GABA levels.
• GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid. This amino acid works in the central nervous system to tamp down the brain’s nerve activity. Low levels of GABA interfere with deep sleep, causing you to wake up frequently. GABA is sometimes combined with 5-HTP to promote sleep.
• L-Tryptophan. Yes, this essential amino acid in turkey also helps with sleep on its own. Available as a supplement, 500 mg nightly helps maintain serotonin and 5-HTP levels and promotes sleep.
• L-Theanine. This green tea extract is an amino acid that’s also available in pill form. It promotes calmness both day and night, resulting in a deeper sleep. Recommended dose is 50 to 200 mg.
• Magnesium. A deficiency of this multipurpose mineral can cause insomnia. Taking 200 to 400 mg of magnesium citrate before bed removes calcium from the muscles and relaxes cramped muscles. You also can soak in Epsom salts or rub magnesium oil on your skin to absorb it quickly.
• Lavender. A small pouch of dried lavender placed under your pillow, or in a sleep mask, can help you relax and fall asleep. Lavender spray on bedding also works.

Try only one of these supplements at a time, and when you have time to sleep (i.e., weekends, a day off). You don’t want to be late for work because something knocked you out! Once you determine if it works, you’ll know if you can take it regularly.

Sources:

Magnesium makes me sleep, Dr. Carolyn Dean, 12/26/2012

Nightcaps, sleeping drugs and magnesium, Dr. Carolyn Dean, 2/18/2010

Sleeping with the enemy, Dr. Carolyn Dean, 08/16/2010

8 Natural Remedies That May Help You Sleep, Mercola.com, 01/06/2009

What Happens in Your Body When You’re Sleep Deprived?, Mercola.com, March 03, 2016

How Much Melatonin Should You Really Be Taking? Sleep.org (The National Sleep Foundation)

Why I chose Magnesium over Melatonin, Sylvie McCracken, HollywoodHomestead.com, December 2013.

7 Natural Sleep Aids that Really Work, DrAxe.com

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This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here

Learn More Here: All-Natural Secrets To A Better Night’s Sleep

Tensions Mount: Japan Deploys Largest Warship Since WW2; French Sending Ship; What Will N. Korea Do?

Tensions Mount: Japan Deploys Largest Warship Since WW2; French Sending Ship; What Will N. Korea Do? Read more on: Total Survival

Japan is sending it largest warship to join in possible action against North Korea in what is being called the nation’s most significant military move since World War II.

The helicopter carrier Izumo will escort supply ships supporting the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Strike Group One, which has been dispatched to the North China Sea.

The Izumo is the largest Japanese warship deployed since World War II, The Japan Times reported. This is the first time a Japanese warship has faced the possibility of action since 1945.

Meanwhile, North Korea is threatening to conduct another nuclear test.

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Japan’s constitution technically bars the use of military force except in case of national defense, but Japanese law was amended last year to make it easier for the nation’s military, or Self-Defense Force, to take part in military operations.

The 817-foot-long Izumo is an amphibious assault carrier that can carry up to nine helicopters. The Japan Times noted that the Izumo is as big as a World War II aircraft carrier but is called a destroyer to get around a provision in Japan’s constitution that bars the military from having offensive weapons.

The Izumo’s primary mission will be to protect U.S. and other ships from submarine attack. North Korea reportedly has dozens of submarines.

Japan is not the only country sending ships to the region. The French amphibious assault ship Mistral arrived in Nagasaki on April 29, The Japan Times reported. The Mistral is expected to be joined by another French ship, the frigate Courbet. The French ships will take part in exercises with Japanese, American and British warships in the Pacific.

Do you support military action against North Korea? Share your thoughts in the section below:

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The 5 Best Herbs To Stop Spring Allergies

The blog post The 5 Best Herbs To Stop Spring Allergies is courtesy of http://ift.tt/1nr27gs

Butterbur. Image source: Pixabay.com

If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from springtime allergies — sometimes called hay fever — then you already know that finding the perfect solution means finding ways to treat those annoying symptoms, rather than actually “curing” the problem.

Our ancestors used herbal remedies for thousands of years before the first commercially made anti-histamines were available.

I’m fortunate in that I have no known allergies to anything. My husband, though, is not so fortunate. But he did find a solution that seems to work remarkably well after following the recommendation of an old-timer who grew up in our area. (I’ll fill you in on that at the end of this article.)

Here are five herbs that are known to help bring relief from those springtime allergies:

1. Stinging nettle

If you have ever touched one of these plants (and I have), then you are probably thinking this idea is crazy, but I’m not suggesting that you eat fresh leaves! This plant, besides being rich in vitamin K and beta carotene, has been shown in studies to help relieve allergy symptoms almost as well as the usual prescription medications. You should start taking freeze dried supplements a few months prior to allergy season arrives in your area for best results.

2. Butterbur

Like stinging nettle, butterbur has been used for ages to help relieve allergy symptoms. This little plant opens airways to improve breathing due to its ability to inhibit leukotrine, which causes swelling of our airways. Butterbur also is said to work as well as drugs like Zyrtec, but without making you feel sleepy. Consume butterbur supplements a few months before hay fever strikes.

3. Tinospora cordifolia

Tinospora cordifolia.

Also known as guduchi or moonseed, this plant, native to India, has been used to treat hay fever symptoms for perhaps thousands of years in its homeland.

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The heart-shaped leaves of this plant have been reported to stop sneezing, itching, runny nose and watery eyes. The supplement is usually sold as a tablet and unlike other herbal supplements, you can take it just a week or so, or even when symptoms start, to find quick relief.

4. Ginkgo biloba

Although you might think of this as the energy herb, consuming this supplement also has been shown to help manage allergy symptoms. Ginkgo biloba works as a natural anti-inflammatory and also contains several antihistamines, which makes it a natural when it comes to stopping those allergy symptoms.

5. Reishi mushrooms

Sometimes called the mushroom of immortality for its numerous health benefits, Reishi mushrooms have been used as medicine by the Chinese and Japanese since ancient times. These mushrooms act as natural antihistamines due to the high level of compounds called lanostan, which inhibits the release of certain chemicals in the body. Reishi isn’t the type of mushroom you want to eat with a meal, however, as it is very woody and hard. The recommendation for allergy relief is to consume a supplement with 1,000 mgs three times each day.

Now, let me tell you what actually worked for my husband. I did not include it in the list because, technically, it’s not an herb.

I live in a secluded part of the mountains, among wonderful pine trees, oak trees and tons of wildflowers. While they don’t bother me, they certainly do bother my husband. An old-timer who has lived here all his life told him that he used to have allergies when he was young. However, he was given local honey when he was a youngster and he never had a problem with allergies again.

It seems as if everyone here raises bees, so getting local honey isn’t a problem. My husband took one tablespoon of raw honey from the local beekeepers here every single day. (He switched providers every time he finished a jar to ensure he would get a good mixture of wildflower honey.) It probably took a year, but one spring, he noticed that he hardly sneezed and had no other reaction to the pollen.

I’m not a doctor, but it only makes sense that this worked because he allowed his body to get small doses of the pollen and, over time, he developed an immunity or resistance to it.

I’m certain that if we travel and he encounters pollen from other plants that aren’t indigenous to our part of the world, his symptoms will return. However, for now, isn’t this a sweet little trick to stop allergies where you live?

What advice do you have for stopping springtime allergies? Share your tips in the section below:

This Article Was Originally Posted On offthegridnews.com Read the Original Article here

Read Full Article Here: The 5 Best Herbs To Stop Spring Allergies