Best Protein Shake Recipes

Best Protein Shake Recipes
One of the most common questions that we see is about protein shakes—they are one of the most common snacks that people use to fuel and recover from their workouts, but there are so many options out there, both homemade and store-bought, that it’s hard to decide what the best choice is for you. So, [...]

One of the most common questions that we see is about protein shakes—they are one of the most common snacks that people use to fuel and recover from their workouts, but there are so many options out there, both homemade and store-bought, that it’s hard to decide what the best choice is for you.

So, we asked a few of our experts about their best protein shake recipes and why they think it is a great choice. Keep in mind dietary supplements like protein shakes are not necessary to help build muscle, or lose fat, but they can sometimes make life a little more convenient.

Best Protein Shake #1 | Green Super Drink

Personally, I stay away from whey and casein because for some people dairy products may have pro-inflammatory effects in the body, myself included. Many people are lactose-sensitive but aren’t aware of it. So instead, I use an organic hemp protein powder. Hemp protein is a complete protein that boosts the body’s immune system, hastens muscle recovery, and has anti-inflammatory properties. I blend hemp protein with a banana, spinach, flax, almond milk, and cinnamon making a delicious Green Super Drink. - Kristin Rooke, CPT

Best Protein Shake #2 | Strawberry & Banana

I like keeping things simple with a protein shake, which I have occasionally after workouts. I prefer making a shake to buying an RTD (ready to drink shake) because it’s cheaper, tastes better, and has natural ingredients. My protein shake includes 1 banana, 1-2 cups of strawberries, 1-2 scoops of vanilla whey protein (around 30-40 grams – just about any high quality vanilla whey protein isolate can work), 4-6 ounces of water, and handful of ice in a blender. If I wanted to add calories and slow down the digestion of the protein and make the shake more filling, I would add peanut, or almond butter. Tastes great every time! Couple tips: Play around with the amount of strawberries, water, and ice. The less water, the thicker the shake will be. Blending the ice to the right consistency is the real trick to make the shake taste great. Also consider adding in some raw spinach to make the shake even more nutritious without sacrificing taste. - Marc Perry, CSCS, CPT

Best Protein Shake #3 | Almond Chocolate

I like Almond Plus Milk with Blue Bonnet Chocolate Protein, a Poliquin Electrolyte packet with a some greens, post-workout. The Almond milk only has 2 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. The Blue Bonnet Protein is an additional 26 grams, the electrolytes help with workout recovery and the greens generally have vitamins, minerals and an overall alkalizing effect on the body. - John Leyva, CSCS, CPT

Best Protein Shake #4 | Berries & Veggies

My Best Protein Shake – My recovery day shake (since I try to get in more veggies) is almond milk, handful spinach, handful kale, 1 banana, frozen berries, chia seeds, 100% cacao nibs, tsp olive oil, protein powder. Tastes way better than it sounds! Being a fitness guy for over a decade I have had the opportunity to try many different types of protein shakes from whey to egg to pea protein. Some are obviously better tasting than others but one thing that I have found is not all protein is created equal in the supplement world. A couple years ago I decided to start doing some of my own research into what goes into some popular brands of whey protein. My only question was, “Does it really matter what brand of whey you use?” Needless to say, I was shocked at what I found. Most companies use low grade whey from grain-fed cows and are loaded with fillers, chemicals and artificial sweeteners. For a society that is aiming for improved health and wellness this is really a step in the wrong direction if you ask me. What I look for now is a good quality whey protein isolate that has few ingredients. A few that are acceptable are natural ingredients such as vanilla, cacao, and stevia. I choose whey protein isolate over concentrate as the filtering process will eliminate RgBH (a dangerous chemical found in grain-fed cattle). Isolate is filtered through an extra process and has also been found to be more readily available to your body. It is slightly more expensive but like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. I have found Whole Foods to have a decent selection but some may be a little pricey. Personally I have found better deals online through various distributors. Some of the brands I stick too are EnergyFirst, Whey Cool, ProGrade and BiPro. For all of my vegan clients I recommend Sun Warrior which is great! - Stephen Bergeron, CSCS, CPT

Best Protein Shake #5 | Blueberry Banana

My favorite protein shake is very generic but an effective homemade recipe. I shoot for a 1:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio made with the following ingredients: 1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk 1/2 serving plain unflavored Greek yogurt 1 tbsp chia seeds ¼ cup of blueberries ½ banana 1 scoop of unflavored 100% whey isolate protein powder (20-30 grams) 3 grams of glutamine + ice cubes Nutrition facts Calories-300 Protein-25 grams Carbohydrates- 30 grams Fiber- 12 grams A 2:1 or 1:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio is ideal for refueling your muscles and replacing glycogen levels. Drink this shake within 30 minutes of your workout: a liquid meal, such as a protein shake, is absorbed more quickly than solid food. The fruit will help you restore your glycogen levels and transport protein to your muscles. Using natural foods such as fruit and unflavored yogurt prevents a severe insulin spike that you get with most “store-bought” shakes due to the large amount of processed sugars and additives that are present. The combination of chia seeds, fruit, yogurt, and almond milk provides an excellent source of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. One tip: Make your shake the night before and store it in the fridge to save yourself the hassle and cleanup in the morning. - Kevin Deeth, CPT

Did you like any of these shakes? Do you have any favorites on your own? We would love to hear what you think, just leave a comment below.

How to Break Your Personal Records In The Gym… Every Day

If you’re like most people, you think much too narrowly about breaking personal records (PR’s). If you ask the vast majority of lifters and bodybuilders, “What’s your personal record?” they instantly think of one thing – their one rep max. I believe that this kind of mindset – having only one type of personal record – can actually dampen your motivation, limit your progress and hold back your muscle gains. There’s another way to approach personal record breaking that can boost your motivation and blast your gains into new territory – and keep them coming for the rest of your life. My New 10 X 10 PR I was going to write about the famous (infamous) 10 sets of 10 program today, having just completed 10 sets of 10 barbell back squats in a recent leg workout, but something during that last session prompted me to write about personal records instead. I was due for a change in workout, but I didn’t want to stop squatting, so I decided to simply make a radical switch in my set and rep parameters. It’s been quite a while since I’ve done 10 sets of 10, so I figured that’s an old faithful, sure-thing type of growth stimulator, so off to the squat rack I went. I loaded the barbell with 225 pounds, which was a safe guess for where to start. I’ve actually done more than  225 lbs for 10 sets of 10 (10 X 10) before,  and last week I did (one set) of 225 X 35 reps. Two plates on each side seemed perfect for workout #1. Like any other program, I add weight with each subsequent session for as long as I can. When I finished set 10 of 10, I thought to myself, “Not a personal record – I’ve done this before – but not a bad starter workout for the training cycle.” Then it occurred to me that I had never done more than 10 sets of 225 X 10. So I added one more set and  225 lbs X 11 sets of 10 went in my personal records (PR) journal. That was a new lifetime personal record. Most people would be thinking, “That’s not a record, you’ve squatted 225 lbs for 10 reps before. Heck, you’ve squatted 405.” That’s precisely my point.. Most people have a one track mind and think totally inside the box about personal records. The point is that there are an infinite number of other personal records besides 1 rep maxes to be broken – and when you break them – it works wonders for your confidence and motivation. Usually,  it works wonders for your muscle growth as well. The PR Journal I believe everyone should have two training journals.  One is your regular workout journal, the other is your PR (personal records) journal. Some people have “victory journals” or “achieved goals” journals – same idea. And a great idea it is. I also believe that if you want to, it’s possible to break some kind of personal best almost every time you’re in the gym. Obviously, you’re not going to best your 1 rep max or even your 10 rep max every time, but if you start thinking out of the box, you realize there are many other records to be broken. Let’s stay with the squat example. Believe it or not, I don’t even know what my one rep max is. I have always shied away from 1 rep maxes because I’m not a powerlifter and I felt the risk to benefit ratio wasn’t in my favor, considering my history of low back injuries (ruptured L4 and related complications; sciatica, strains, muscle spasms, etc). Rep records Instead of 1 rep maxes, I started setting squatting goals in all kinds of other rep brackets. I haven’t attempted a 1 rep max squat in years, but my PR journal is filled with all kinds of personal rep records. Glancing through my PR journal I see my personal bests are 405 X 6, 325 X 20, 275 X 32, 225 X 54, among others. My thinking is that at any given poundage you can have a repetition PR and you might at various times in your training career, boost your motivation levels by going after a new PR. One thing I’ve always liked about this approach is that I’ve never injured my lower back with only 225 lbs on the bar. But I have injured my back with 365 on the bar. Contrary to what many people believe however, I can make my legs grow with 225 pounds even though I’m probably capable of lifting twice that. That’s because there are other ways to apply hypertrophy-stimulating progressive overload. Volume records My recent workout was a volume record. I had never done 225 lbs [...]

If you’re like most people, you think much too narrowly about breaking personal records (PR’s). If you ask the vast majority of lifters and bodybuilders, “What’s your personal record?” they instantly think of one thing – their one rep max. I believe that this kind of mindset – having only one type of personal record – can actually dampen your motivation, limit your progress and hold back your muscle gains. There’s another way to approach personal record breaking that can boost your motivation and blast your gains into new territory – and keep them coming for the rest of your life.

My New 10 X 10 PR

I was going to write about the famous (infamous) 10 sets of 10 program today, having just completed 10 sets of 10 barbell back squats in a recent leg workout, but something during that last session prompted me to write about personal records instead.

I was due for a change in workout, but I didn’t want to stop squatting, so I decided to simply make a radical switch in my set and rep parameters. It’s been quite a while since I’ve done 10 sets of 10, so I figured that’s an old faithful, sure-thing type of growth stimulator, so off to the squat rack I went.

I loaded the barbell with 225 pounds, which was a safe guess for where to start. I’ve actually done more than  225 lbs for 10 sets of 10 (10 X 10) before,  and last week I did (one set) of 225 X 35 reps. Two plates on each side seemed perfect for workout #1. Like any other program, I add weight with each subsequent session for as long as I can.

When I finished set 10 of 10, I thought to myself, “Not a personal record – I’ve done this before – but not a bad starter workout for the training cycle.” Then it occurred to me that I had never done more than 10 sets of 225 X 10. So I added one more set and  225 lbs X 11 sets of 10 went in my personal records (PR) journal. That was a new lifetime personal record.

Most people would be thinking, “That’s not a record, you’ve squatted 225 lbs for 10 reps before. Heck, you’ve squatted 405.”

That’s precisely my point..

Most people have a one track mind and think totally inside the box about personal records. The point is that there are an infinite number of other personal records besides 1 rep maxes to be broken – and when you break them – it works wonders for your confidence and motivation. Usually,  it works wonders for your muscle growth as well.

The PR Journal

I believe everyone should have two training journals.  One is your regular workout journal, the other is your PR (personal records) journal. Some people have “victory journals” or “achieved goals” journals – same idea. And a great idea it is.

I also believe that if you want to, it’s possible to break some kind of personal best almost every time you’re in the gym. Obviously, you’re not going to best your 1 rep max or even your 10 rep max every time, but if you start thinking out of the box, you realize there are many other records to be broken.

Let’s stay with the squat example. Believe it or not, I don’t even know what my one rep max is. I have always shied away from 1 rep maxes because I’m not a powerlifter and I felt the risk to benefit ratio wasn’t in my favor, considering my history of low back injuries (ruptured L4 and related complications; sciatica, strains, muscle spasms, etc).

Rep records

Instead of 1 rep maxes, I started setting squatting goals in all kinds of other rep brackets. I haven’t attempted a 1 rep max squat in years, but my PR journal is filled with all kinds of personal rep records.

Glancing through my PR journal I see my personal bests are 405 X 6, 325 X 20, 275 X 32, 225 X 54, among others. My thinking is that at any given poundage you can have a repetition PR and you might at various times in your training career, boost your motivation levels by going after a new PR.

One thing I’ve always liked about this approach is that I’ve never injured my lower back with only 225 lbs on the bar. But I have injured my back with 365 on the bar. Contrary to what many people believe however, I can make my legs grow with 225 pounds even though I’m probably capable of lifting twice that. That’s because there are other ways to apply hypertrophy-stimulating progressive overload.

Volume records

My recent workout was a volume record. I had never done 225 lbs for 11 sets of 10 before – ever in my life. Not because I wasn’t able, but simply because I never tried. Now that I am trying these types of things, I’m setting personal records ALL THE TIME!

What’s especially motivating is that when finishing that workout, I realized I had room for more.  I’m quite certain I can break my PR for poundage for 10 X10, but I also know I have room left to beat my volume record.

This is not only motivating, but also, don’t you think my quads will be MUCH bigger when I hit 255 or 275 lbs for 10 sets of 10?, having worked up from 225 X 10 X 10?

What if I decide to not increase the weight – can I still grow by simply adding volume?  What if I get up to 12 or 15 sets of 10 at 225? Is that a crazy amount of volume? Is it too many sets? is it over-training?  Maybe. But I know increasing volume is a form of overload and I’ll never know the effect it will have until I try it. Even if I try it only once and it never becomes a regular routine, it’s another motivational  entry in my record books – without having to max out.

Just as food for thought – read (or re-read) Arnold’s Autobiography – the Education of a bodybuilder. According to Arnold’s account, he and his buddies hauled weights out into the woods and squatted all day once – 250 pounds for 55 sets. No one in their right mind would train like that on a regular basis. Even if you could hack it and grow from it – it’s not practical. They may have only done that once in their lives. It was by definition, “a shock workout.”  But guess what – it was another entry in the record books and now, part of the “Arnold Legend.”

Why not create your own legendary achievements?

The importance of all these different possibilities for hitting new PR’s is that as your training age increases, it gets harder and harder to keep breaking your 1 rep max. People start to feel frustrated about that because they’ve been taught their whole lives to keep adding weight, but obviously, you CAN’T keep adding weight forever. But you CAN keep breaking records of one kind or another.

As you begin to think about what kind of new PR’s you can set, get out of the box! Get out of the traditional bodybuilding parameters. Forget the rules once in a while.  Did you ever wonder how many times you could squat 135?  100 times? 150 times?  How about getting REALLY out of the box? How about how many minutes you can squat a certain weight nontstop without racking the bar?  Isn’t that a completely separate PR listing? Tom Platz once did 225 lbs X 10 minutes.

Density records

How about personal records for training density?  I took my time on those 10 sets of 10 squats with 225 lbs. If it took me 38 minutes to get through all 10 sets, then what if I did that same workout in 35 minutes next time (by way of decreasing rest intervals between sets). New PR!

What if then I get the same 10 X 10 X 225 lbs in 29 minutes? Another new PR! 20 minutes? another one!

Increasing density is a form of progressive overload without an increase in the weight.

Superset records

What about supersets? So… you’ve squatted 225 pounds for 20 reps before? What about Squatting 225 lbs for 20 reps and then supersetting into walking lunges across the gym. If you’ve never done THAT before, isn’t that a form of PR?

First Time Records

What if you simply try an exercise you’ve never done before – is that not in itself a PR (with lots more easy PR’s ahead of you before you plateau?)

What about simple variations on a basic exercise like switching to front squats or squatting with a safety bar or with a wide stance or power style instead of a narrower stance and a bodybuilding style?

How about a squat with or without knee wraps and belt? Are each of those separate entries in the PR journal? I reckon they are.

Why not try something different? you could have a new PR in the book today simply because you never tried it before.

Infinite PR’s

I hope the wheels in your head are turning already, but rest assured, I haven’t even scratched the surface. The possible combinations of exercises and acute training variables are infinite, therefore your potential to set new PRs is also infinite.

When you start thinking like this, you’ll never have a shortage of goals to pursue, you’ll never lose your interest or motivation and you might discover some things about how new (and even “crazy”) workouts can stimulate new growth.

-Train hard and expect succcess,

Tom Venuto, author of
Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle

PS For more information about the 10 X 10 program, visit the bodybuilding department at our members-only community – the Burn the Fat Inner Circle: http://www.burnthefatinnercircle.com/members/Ten_Sets_of_Ten_Workout.cfm

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Don't Pop Your Pimples

In order to avoid pimples many experts say that you should keep your face clean. This is true in many cases but as many people know this is not always the case. There are millions of people who suffer from acne who wash their faces religiously but see no improvement in their skin condition. Source

David Katz, M.D.: The Good News About Multivitamins

David Katz, M.D.: The Good News About Multivitamins

As has likely come to your attention by now, a new study shows that daily multivitamin use is associated with a significant reduction in the overall rate of cancer. This is clearly important, and warrants careful consideration in the context of what we already knew, or thought we knew, about multi-nutrient supplementation.

For a long time, the prevailing view of multis -- which as a rule contain a mix of vitamins and minerals, most at or above the level of recommended daily intake -- was that they could and probably should help, and couldn't hurt. Nutrient levels were based on the Dietary Reference Intakes of the Institute of Medicine, and in general all or nearly all of the micronutrients known to be essential were in the mix.

There was always a sound rationale for such supplementation. Average intake in the U.S. of quite a few nutrients is lower than recommended, and intake of quite a few more is lower than optimal. In particular, as people get older, there is a tendency for both calories and dietary variety to fall -- resulting in a rising risk for nutrient deficiencies. Few of these are bad enough to present as overt deficiency syndromes, but even nominal deficits of key nutrients may compromise health. And some cases of overt deficiency -- notably of vitamins B12, folate, iron, and calcium -- are seen.

This all seemed to make a robust argument for routine supplementation, in particular by those over age 50. Most doctors recommended the practice routinely, as did I. And, of course, the supplement industry made hay predictably, providing a wide array of products that competed for attention with claims about nutrient quality, quantity, variety, and customization.

But then the notion that multis could help but "couldn't hurt" started to take a beating. First came a long line of clinical trials suggesting lack of benefit and potential harm from high doses of select nutrients. Then came studies showing associations between multivitamin use and adverse outcomes -- in particular, a higher rate of breast cancer among women.

Since we never had clear evidence of a benefit, even a hint of potential harm from multis was enough to argue pretty powerfully against their routine use. I stopped taking one, and stopped recommending them to my patients in the absence of a clear reason.

I never abandoned supplementation entirely, of course. In general, my clinic recommends supplements to do a particular job. So, for instance, we use omega-3s routinely to reduce inflammation, probiotics to improve gastrointestinal health and immune function, and vitamin D whenever levels are low. We use a wide range of other supplements when there is a specific case for doing so.

As for multis, I switched over to recommending them only when there was a meaningful likelihood of dietary deficits and, for whatever reason, an inability to fix them with food. I also switched form conventional multis to "whole-food-based supplements." I still think those are a good idea, and here's why:

If multis do harm, there must be a reason -- and the most plausible one is a problem of "nutritional noise." Imagine, for instance, that a great electric guitar player from a rock band, a great sax player from a jazz ensemble, and a virtuoso cellist from a symphony orchestra play their own brand of music all at once. No matter how good each is when in the his/her native context, the result of this mishmash would be unpleasant noise.

In putting together multis, we -- not nature -- have chosen the dose, preparation, and variety of nutrients, and taken them all out of their native context in food. We know that nutrients, like musicians, work best in concert with one another. If we have assembled them wrong, they might clash. Nutritional noise could be harmful.

Whole-food-based supplements avoid this potential danger because they preserve the native context of nutrients in foods. This may facilitate the work of nutrients in concert with one another, and make far more beautiful music in our metabolism. It's theoretical, but makes good sense.

But now we have the new study, and it does invite some reconsideration of the traditional multi. The findings, reported in JAMA, are based on a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled intervention among nearly 15,000 U.S. male physicians followed for more than 10 years. There were 8 percent fewer cancers overall in those who took the multivitamin, and this was statistically significant, although barely so. There were no significant effects on any particular cancer, none on cancer mortality, and none on all-cause mortality.

So the findings are intriguing and promising, but far from the proverbial slam-dunk. And they are limited to a population of male doctors age 50 and older. How they pertain to women, younger people, or populations who behave differently on average than doctors, is unknown.

So where does it leave us?

We had seen the gradual accumulation of evidence for potential harm from multivitamins. This study does not eradicate that, but it does suggest that in some populations at least, there is potential for net benefit. Judicious use of multivitamins by men age 50 and older is, if not obviously advisable, perfectly reasonable given what we do and don't know at present.

The theoretical case for whole-food-based supplements remains valid, and absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. We don't have a trial like this using supplements like that, so we are left to speculate about the potential for greater benefits.

We once thought multis could do good and couldn't do harm. We then learned they could do harm, and developed doubts about them doing any good. Our current understanding is far from perfect, but it seems to suggest some potential for both. This invites discussion between patients and doctors, and customized decisions based on personal circumstance. That may not be an entirely satisfying resolution, but anything else would run ahead of the evidence we've got. This study revises our risk/benefit assessment, it is not a basis to renounce it.

But the most important take away here has to do with the size of effects, rather than their direction. A relative reduction of 8 percent in the overall rate of cancer is better than nothing -- but it is a small effect. In contrast, studies from 1993, 2004, 2009, 2010, and 2011 -- just to name a few -- show that the combination of not smoking, eating well, and being active can reduce the risk of all chronic disease, cancer included, and premature death from any cause by as much as 80 percent. That is a tenfold multiplication of the best effect of multivitamins yet shown. You certainly want that math on your side!

So whether you choose to take a multi or not, remember it's a supplement, not a substitute. There is no substitute for the profound health benefits of a daily dose of well-chosen lifestyle as medicine.

-fin

Dr. David L. Katz; www.davidkatzmd.com
www.turnthetidefoundation.org

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Best Skin Whitening Creams

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Best Skin Whitening Creams
Have you ever wondered the reasons why the majority skin brightening products that are sold in the beauty stores do not deliver what they promise to do? In some cases, they can cause redness. It is frustrating, isn't it?

It is a fact that you are looking for the top skin lightener because almost no one in the right frame of mind would think blotches on your face is beautiful. I'm sure that you hate dark blotches which make their appearance on your once radiant skin. I strongly believe that these brown spots have a devastating effect on your personal life.

It is common for people to check out reviews on the shopping sites before they come to a final conclusion to order online. It is possible to rely on another user's experience to make an evaluation of the merchandize. However, we are different from each other in terms of physiology, anatomy and lifestyle. So, what works for a person may not work for you.

Searching for the best sun spot cream needs a place to begin with. Thus, it is a good move to run through the customers' feedback. Watch out for the favorable effects of the cream. Forget about how effectively the product has faded those spots. Focus on the skin irritation caused by the product.

Here is one journey that is shared by a sufferer who had exhausted all her resources to look for the top bleaching cream for brown spots. Your situation and hers are almost similar. I know for certain she has no enjoyment in looking at her dark patches. From her experience, you can tell that she has gone all her way to search which cream is good enough to get rid of those spots. The question is do you think you'll see the same results.

'My Giant Face Tumor': Ed Port Says Children See Him As A Monster

'My Giant Face Tumor': Ed Port Says Children See Him As A Monster

"The Good Wife": Where We Left Off

When we last checked in on the adventures of Lockhart/Gardner and co., Kalinda was ready to face her demons -- that pesky ex-husband -- and Alicia was debating whether or not to have some pizza with her family. Oh yeah, Louis Canning and Patti Nyholm were creating a whole lot of trouble for Will and Diane, too.

"The Good Wife": What's Ahead

Viewers -- and Alicia -- will finally meet Kalinda's nefarious ex-husband, and a whole new crop of famous faces will guest star in recurring roles. Look for Nathan Lane to pop up as a bank trustee, Maura Tierney as a democratic party bigwig, Kristin Chenoweth and Miriam Shor as journalists and Amanda Peet as Alicia's new pal. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/the-good-wife-season-4-guest-stars_n_1761540.html" target="_hplink">And that's just the tip of the guest star iceberg</a>. <em>"The Good Wife" returns Sun., Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.</em>

"Parks & Recreation": Where We Left Off

Last time we visited Pawnee, Leslie Knope was triumphant in the Pawnee City Council race, beating Bobby Newport. Thanks to his campaign skills, Ben Wyatt got a new gig in Washington.

"Parks & Recreation": What's Ahead

Leslie Knope goes to Washington! Some real-life senators will interact with Pawnee's finest when Leslie visits Ben in his new city. Plus, Lucy Lawless guest stars as a new love interest for ... Ron Swanson. <em>"Parks & Recreation" Season 4 premieres Thurs., Sept. 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC.</em>

"The Walking Dead": Where We Left Off

Zombies, zombies everywhere! The undead took over Herschel's farm after Rick killed Shane, causing our favorite survivors to shoot a lot of guns and head for the hills. In the process Andrea got separated and was saved by a mysterious hooded woman.

"The Walking Dead": What's Ahead

Michonne! Yes, viewers will finally be introduced the fan-favorite comic character and her trusty katana. Plus, Rick and co. find a prison they want to make their home and another group of survivors, fronted by the Governor, come into play. <em>"The Walking Dead" Season 3 premieres Sun., Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.</em>

"Boardwalk Empire": Where We Left Off

After using his connections and cunning to outlast a political coup led by the Commodore, Nucky Thompson managed to claw his way back to the top of Atlantic City's bootlegging trade. Nucky secured an Irish whiskey connection, beat the election-rigging charges against him, and married Margaret Schroeder, although unbeknownst to him, she sold his land holdings to the church. And he finally became a "full gangster" in the season's climactic season finale, when he shot and killed his former protege Jimmy Darmody.

"Boardwalk Empire": What's Ahead

As the "Boardwalk Empire" story skips ahead to 1923, Nucky looks to rebuild his bootlegging empire, but runs into an aggressive, violent obstacle: New York gangster Gyp Rosetti, played by Bobby Cannavale. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/10/boardwalk-empire-season-3_n_1763867.html" target="_hplink">A trailer for Season 3</a> shows Nucky saying, "Gyp Rosetti is trouble for everyone," and Arnold Rothstein incredulously asking Nucky, "You expect me to start a war in New York?!" And good news for fans who thought they'd seen the last of Agent Nelson Van Alden: Michael Shannon will be appearing in the show's third season, but not from Atlantic City. <em>"Boardwalk Empire" premieres on Sunday, Sept. 16. at 9 p.m. on HBO. </em>

"Dexter": Where We Left Off

"Dexter" Season 6 ended with a game-changing finale, as Deb finally learned Dexter's dark secret after she witnessed him killing Travis Marshall. The development came shortly after she realized that she might be in love with her step-brother, so things are just a little complicated between the show's two main characters right now.

"Dexter": What's Ahead

Already-released footage of Season 7's first few minutes shows the action picking right back up where last season left off -- Deb, gun drawn, shocked at what she's seen, and threatening to call the cops. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/dexter-season-7-trailer_n_1790543.html" target="_hplink">A recent trailer</a> revealed a few additional developments: Dexter left a blood slide behind at the crime scene, causing LaGuerta to re-open the Bay Harbor Butcher investigation, while creepy video game programmer Louis Greene takes his obsession with Dexter to the next level. "Chuck" actress Yvonne Strahovski joins the cast as Hannah McKay, a mysterious woman who's helping Miami Metro with an old case. <em>"Dexter" Season 7 premieres Sun., Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. </em>

"Sons Of Anarchy": Where We Left Off

After nearly leaving the club to start a new life, Jax instead took control of SAMCRO on last season's "Sons Of Anarchy" finale. He shot Clay in the chest, avenging the brutal beating he gave Gemma. The Mexican cartel the club was working with turned out to be CIA operatives, leaving the club at the mercy of the government. Meanwhile, the accidental death of Damon Pope's daughter in a car-chase left the Sons looking at a war with a black gang.

"Sons Of Anarchy": What's Ahead

With Jax in control of the Sons, he finally has the chance to chart the club's path forward, but the walls are closing in. A war with Pope's gang looms, the club is still under the CIA's thumb, and a weakened Clay, who survived the shooting, could still cause trouble. The show made a ton of splashy casting moves, bringing in Harrold Perrineau, Jimmy Smits, Ashley Tisdale and Joel McHale in for the new season. <em>"Sons Of Anarchy" Season 5 premieres Tues., Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET on FX. </em>

"Supernatural": Where We Left Off

A lot happened at the end of Season 7: The ghost of Bobby Singer was laid to rest for good (or was he?); king of hell Crowley kidnapped Kevin the Prophet for his own nefarious purposes; Sam and Dean (and Castiel and Meg) defeated the smarmy Leviathan boss Dick Roman, and Dean and Castiel found themselves zapped into Purgatory in the aftermath. In short, the Winchesters will have a lot of catching up to do come October.

"Supernatural": What's Ahead

Dean will return from Purgatory a changed man, and he'll bring back a dangerous new "friend" who helped him escape -- a vampire named Benny (Ty Olsson). <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/supernatural-season-8-jeremy-carver_n_1739537.html" target="_hplink">According to new showrunner Jeremy Carver</a>, we'll see Dean's time in Purgatory unfold in flashbacks throughout the first half of the season (including what happened to Castiel), as well as meeting the woman (Liane Balaban) who romanced Sam over the summer. Next season will also see Sam, Dean and Crowley all pursuing the same goal, so expect a major clash of the titans. <em>"Supernatural" Season 8 premieres Wed., Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Nikita": Where We Left Off

The explosive Season 2 finale saw Team Nikita reclaim Division after Percy's messy demise, with the government entrusting former CIA analyst Ryan Fletcher with control of the covert agency. Nikita agreed to assist Ryan with running Division and rehabilitating its agents, along with her boyfriend Michael, partner Alex, tech genius Birkhoff and former Navy SEAL Sean. Unlucky for them, Percy's former right-hand-woman, Amanda, is still alive -- and if the final few moments of the finale are to be believed, she's out for blood.

"Nikita": What's Ahead

Nikita and her allies won't just have Amanda to contend with next season; they'll also have to deal with rogue agents, mercenaries and all manner of other bad guys in their quest to clean up Division. Nikita has always been anti-authority, so we're fairly sure she'll also be butting heads with Ryan now that he's in charge of operations. Luckily, since Devon Sawa was recently promoted to series regular, Nikita will have a little backup from super-spy Owen in Season 3. He and Amanda both return in episode 4. <em>"Nikita" Season 3 premieres Fri., Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Gossip Girl": Where We Left Off

Surprise! Chuck's billionaire daddy, Bart Bass, faked his own death, so he returned to reclaim his company and fired Chuck from his own Empire -- which kickstarted yet another spiral of self-loathing that had Chuck lashing out at Blair. Despite his childish behavior, Blair was determined to win Chuck back, following him to Paris to prove her love. Serena was equally self-destructive, seducing Dan but finding her affections rebuffed. She did some coke and ran away from New York on a train, while Dan sought out the scheming Georgina to write a scathing exposé about the Upper East Side. Lily annulled her marriage to Rufus, and Nate was pretty/dull. The more things change ...

"Gossip Girl": What's Ahead

The series is wrapping up with a 10-episode final season, which will see a number of familiar faces -- such as Nelly Yuki and Poppy Lifton -- return for old times' sake. Season 6 will kick off with a wedding, Serena will have a new beau (Barry Watson), and Chuck and Blair seem like they might finally get their happily ever after. Dan and Georgina will still be causing trouble, and we predict that Nate will continue to be pretty/dull. <em>"Gossip Girl" Season 6 premieres Mon., Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Once Upon A Time": Where We Left Off

True Love's Kiss (Emma's love for her son, Henry) broke the curse that had kept the fairytale characters from remembering their past lives, and the unpredictable Rumplestiltskin summoned magic back to Storybrooke after being reunited with his lost love, Belle. Now, everyone remembers who they are, but we're guessing "happily ever after" still isn't guaranteed.

"Once Upon A Time": What's Ahead

As well as promoting Emilie de Ravin (Belle) and Meghan Ory (Red Riding Hood) to series regulars next season, the magical show will be further beefing up its fairytale contingent. Already announced to appear next season are Sleeping Beauty (Sarah Bolger) and Prince Phillip (Julian Morris), Mulan (Jamie Chung), Sir Lancelot (Sinqua Walls), Captain Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) and a mysterious "Jack" (possibly of "Beanstalk" fame). The identity of Henry's father will also be revealed, as will the origin of the "Once Upon A Time" book that Mary Margaret/Snow White gave Henry. You can also expect to see Sebastian Stan's Mad Hatter again, as well as Eion Bailey's Pinocchio, while Regina will stop at nothing to try and win Henry back from Emma.

"Suburgatory": Where We Left Off

After months of being surrounded by the overbearing mothers of Chatswin, Tessa (Jane Levy) started aching for her own mother, who left years before. After convincing herself that she was adopted, Lisa Shay discovered that it was her doofy brother Ryan who is actually the faux Shay.

"Suburgatory": What's Ahead

Mom alert! In the holiday episodes of Season 2, Malin Akerman will appear as Tessa's long lost mother. Elsewhere, Lisa will use her newfound knowledge of Ryan's lineage to get the upper hand on her overbearing parents, and George and Dallas will finally act on all that simmering sexual tension.

"New Girl": Where We Left Off

After Jess trapped her roommates in the desert for an entire night in an effort to stop Nick (Jake M. Johnson) from moving in with his psychotic girlfriend, Nick decided against it on its own and everything went back to its natural order. Phew!

"New Girl": What's Ahead

The new season boasts a number of guest stars, including Josh Gad as a beer delivery guy who tries to woo Jess, Anna Maria Nelson as Winston's mom, and Parker Posey as a "shot girl" at the party for the removal of Schmidt's penis cast.

"Modern Family": Where We Left Off

After Cam and Mitchell spent an entire season working to adopt a second child, their plans fell through and -- surprise! -- it turned out Gloria was pregnant. Talk about a sore subject!

"Modern Family": What's Ahead

As to be expected, Dunphy drama will hit the fan. Not only will Jay get cold feet about being a dad again, but Manny worries all parental duties will be in his hands. Guest stars on the upcoming season will include Wendi McLendon-Covey and Michaela Watkins as a strong-willed lesbian couple whose son gets in a fight with Lily on her first day of school.

"The Big Bang Theory": Where We Left Off

We'd say that heading into space might just be a nerd's greatest dream, and in season 5's finale, Howard got to do just that. He also got married, too, and the other two couples (Leonard and Penny, Sheldon and Amy) renewed their professions of love as only they know how, even if Leonard's marriage proposal timing was a bit "off."

"The Big Bang Theory": What's Ahead

Executive producer Steve Molaro revealed that the cast will be dealing with more "adult" themes in season 6. Howard will be in space for a few episodes before returning to Earth and dealing with his new wife/living situation, Amy will be working on Sheldon's anti-relationship mindset, and Leonard and Penny will be trying to figure out just what their relationship is, and how they'll move on. As for Raj, well ... anything can happen. <em>"The Big Bang Theory" season 6 premiere airs on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 9 p.m. on CBS.</em>

"Fringe": Where We Left Off

It's not a proper sci-fi finale unless someone temporarily dies, and in this case it was Olivia; she didn't die, but Walter believed that her Cortexiphan powers may be forever affected. She revealed after some recuperation that she was pregnant with Peter's child. Bell's biological experiments were stowed away, and the finale ended with September's cryptic statement: "We have to warn the others. They are coming."

"Fringe": What's Ahead

This fifth and final season will focus on the predicted occurrences in 2036, continuing with the events involving the hostile Observers from the future. It won't all be about the impending Observer battle, though; the producers of the show promise major payoffs for long-time fans. Most importantly, we'll find out why Olivia slightly hesitated before telling Peter the news about her pregnancy. Yes, there was a reason. <em>The season 5 premiere of "Fringe" airs on Friday, September 28, 2012 on FOX at 9 p.m. ET.</em>

"How I Met Your Mother": Where We Left Off

Strange how a lot of finales deal with marriage, and "HIMYM" is no exception. The finale closed out with a flash-forward to Barney's wedding, and despite the fake-out that made us believe he was marrying Quinn, in the final shot it was revealed that he was actually marrying Robin. Ted and Victoria (after much discussion and reminiscing) bailed on her planned wedding and drove off into the sunset together. Marshall and Lily had their baby -- and named him Marvin.

"How I Met Your Mother": What's Ahead

The 8th season premiere will (again) flash-forward to Robin and Barney's wedding day -- before flashing back to where we left off last season. We'll meet Victoria's jilted groom (Thomas Lennon, "Reno 911"), and we'll see Robin and Barney freak out before the ceremony. To keep Barney from running, Marshall and Lily have to literally restrain him. We're likely to see the trials and tribulations of raising a baby, too. <em>Season 8 of "HIMYM" premieres on Monday, September 24, 2012 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.</em>

"Happy Endings": Where we left off

Brad finally told Jane that he lost his job, and the gang headed to a wedding where Max's band Mandonna rocked the house. Penny started to realize she might have feelings for Dave, but the episode closed with Dave and Alex holding hands.

"Happy Endings": What's ahead

The season will start off in a rocky way for Penny, but she'll soon be dating a guy and will always be "flirting with screwing it up," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/happy-endings-season-3-year-of-penny_n_1695437.html" target="_hplink">according to executive producer Jonathan Groff</a>. Dave and Alex will begin dating again, and Max will get a love interest too. An unemployed Brad, meanwhile, will explore the slacker-y Max lifestyle while he's out of a job and Jane brings home the bacon. <em>"Happy Endings" returns 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23. </em>

"Revenge": Where we left off

Emily broke up with Daniel and headed over to Jack's -- where she was greeted by a pregnant Amanda. Could Victoria be dead -- and was the evidence against Conrad destroyed in the plane crash that appeared to take her life? Among many other developments, Charlotte's apparent suicide is small potatoes compared to what Nolan revealed to Emily -- her mother is still alive. Dun-<em>dun</em>-dun!

"Revenge": What's ahead

<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/revenge-abc_n_1708130.html" target="_hplink">Creator Mike Kelley revealed</a> that Season 2 would open with a terrible event at the end of the summer, and then, as Season 1 did, the show will trace how the Hamptonites got to that point. Emily's mom (Jennifer Jason Leigh) will arrive with plenty of baggage in the form of serious mental problems, and Barry Sloane will also turn up as an old pal of Em's. Fan favorite Nolan will get a love interest -- and this time, it's a lady. <em>"Revenge" returns 9 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 30.</em>

"Homeland": Where we left off

A traumatized and hospitalized Carrie remembered a key clue -- Nicholas Brody saying "Issa," the name of terrorist Abu Nazir's son -- but within seconds she was subjected to electroconvulsive therapy, which may have destroyed that memory. Fans were left wondering whether she would recall what she knew about Brody, her former lover, who's been revealed to be one of Nazir's operatives. And will Brody, a former POW who is regarded as a hero by everyone, ascend Washington's power ladder -- and serve or subvert Nazir?

"Homeland": What's ahead

When the new season begins, Carrie's gotten treatment for her bipolar disorder and is far removed from the intelligence community. Brody, on the other hand, is "a sitting congressman serving in the House of Representatives," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/homeland-season-2-spoilers_n_1644512.html" target="_hplink">according to executive producer Alex Gansa</a>. "I think we're still hopefully going to be able to walk the high wire of character development and thriller," in Season 2, Gansa said, though of course the "Homeland" writers won't be able to rely on the is-he-or-isn't-he secret that drove much of Season 1. <em>"Homeland" returns 10 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 30 </em>

"Parenthood": Where We Left Off

In the Season 3 finale of NBC's "Parenthood," everyone cried ... a lot. Crosby and Jasmine got married in one of the sweetest ceremonies in TV history, but before that, there was a lot of bitterness. Crosby did not react well to Adam selling The Luncheonette behind his back (both drinks and punches were thrown in front of every single Braverman). He replaced Adam as best man in wedding. But when Adam stood up to make a speech at the reception, he decided to put Crosby first and to go not go through with The Luncheonette deal. The wedding made Sarah realize that she doesn't know if she wants another baby. She told Mark and they broke up after realizing they want different things. But when Mark showed up at Crosby and Jasmine's wedding and proposed, her smile indicated that things are back on. Meanwhile, Hattie got into Cornell, Amy and Drew had sex and Amber tearfully decided to put work first, asking Bob to work as his assistant, but not date him. And speaking of the Braverman kids -- Julia and Joel, after mourning the loss of being the parents of Zoe's baby, had another opportunity to have a second child by adopting nine-year-old Victor.

"Parenthood": What's Ahead

When the Bravermans come back, the family is celebrating Haddie's graduation and her starting at Cornell; struggling to accept Mark in Sarah's life; dealing with the addition of Victor; and Amber is working in Crosby and Adam's recording studio. Three new characters are also headed to Season 4 of "Parenthood": "American Idol" alum Paul McDonald, who will play Nick, the lead guitarist of a band who is recording at the Luncheonette (and a love interest for Amber); Matt Lauria, who will play a returning soldier from Afghanistan who bonds with fellow war vet Zeek; and Ray Romano, who will create a love triangle, playing yet another love interest for Sarah. <em>"Parenthood" Season 4 premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.</em>

"The Vampire Diaries": Where We Left Off

After all these years of fighting it, Elena's a vampire. The season finale saw Elena decide between the Salvatore brothers. Elena told Matt that Stefan was there for her when she had nothing, but that when she is with Damon, she feels passion. Alaric staked Klaus and though Damon, Stefan, Caroline and Tyler immediately worried that it would be the end of them too because he originated their bloodline, it was revealed that he's still alive. Bonnie created a spell to transfer Klaus into Tyler's body in order to save her friends and her mother. Elena realized that she loves Stefan, choosing him over Damon. She remarked that things might have been different if she had met Damon first ... but it turns out she did, as seen in a flashback, though he compelled her to forget the meeting. Rebekah plotted to kill Elena and Alaric by driving them off a bridge, which is the same way Elena's parents died. Elena drowned in the water after asking Stefan to save Matt instead, but it was the revealed that Dr. Fell gave Elena vampire blood to heal her earlier. In the final scene, we saw a believed-to-be-dead Elena open her eyes in the hospital as she transitioned into a vampire.

"The Vampire Diaries": What's Ahead

We don't know too much about "Vampire Diaries" Season 4, but there are three things you can depend on: More Meredith (Torrey DeVitto), more Esther and more vampire sex. "Elena saved Matt's life, so he's going to end up paying it forward in a very peculiar way," <a href=" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/vampire-diaries-season-4-spoilers_n_1720414.html" target="_hplink">Nina Dobrev, who plays Elena, told TV Guide</a>. "It's like she's going through puberty and vampire sex is going to feel like her first time." <em>"The Vampire Diaries" Season 4 premieres Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Grey's Anatomy": Where We Left Off

On the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/greys-anatomy-lexie-dies-shonda-rhimes_n_1526833.html" target="_hplink">viewers said goodbye to two cast members</a> -- Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and Teddy (Kim Raver) -- after a plane crash left Lexie dead and Teddy moved on for a job at the United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). For the entire heart-wrenching episode, the doctors at Seattle Grace had no idea what happened to their loved ones -- Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Mark (Eric Dane), Christina (Sandra Oh) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) -- who were still stranded from the plane crash. Finally, at the end of the episode, Hunt realized they never made it to Boise. Meanwhile, back in Seattle, Avery made the choice to take a job offer at Tulane Medical Center (which tore April apart a bit) and Ben and Miranda decided to get married, even though he's going to start his surgical internship in LA.

"Grey's Anatomy": What's Ahead

The Season 9 premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" will surely be just as emotional as the finale. While showrunner Shonda Rhimes has remained tight-lipped about what's the come, we do know one thing: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/eric-dane-leaving-greys-anatomy_n_1707755.html" target="_hplink">Eric Dane is leaving "Grey's Anatomy."</a> Though pictures from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/eric-dane-die-greys-anatomy_n_1721023.html" target="_hplink">Patrick Dempsey's Twitter indicate that Mark could die on the series</a>, there's no word on how Dane's character will exit. Season 9 will also have a bevy of <a href="[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/go-on-michael-vartan_n_1827410.html" target="_hplink">new "Grey's Anatomy" guest stars</a>, including <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/tina-majorino-greys-anatomy_n_1795746.html" target="_hplink">Tina Majorino</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/gaius-charles-greys-anatomy_n_1677785.html" target="_hplink">"Friday Night Lights" alum Gaius Charles</a>. Check out this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/greys-anatomy-season-9-promo_n_1827693.html" target="_hplink">"Grey's Anatomy" Season 9 promo</a> for more teases about what's to come. <em>"Grey's Anatomy" Season 9 premieres on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET.</em>

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Vegan MOFO: Great Grains [infographic]

Vegan MOFO: Great Grains [infographic]
In this infographic for week three of Vegan MOFO on Vegan Mainstream, we are focusing on grains - and specifically oats, pasta, rice and (the non-grain) quinoa! Find out why these whole foods are good for you, and get some tips too!

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Vegan Skin Care Products - Better Than People Think

Vegan skin care represents a newly emerging market, based on solid concepts. There are several good reasons why such products are better than the regular ones - not only in ethical terms, but also concerning people's health. Find out why these make for a better choice and why hesitation or prejudice should be overcome in this matter. Complete article

Five Surefire Ways on How to Treat Age Spots

Five Surefire Ways on How to Treat Age Spots
Age spots, or liver spots as some would call it, but I prefer calling it age spots because the term liver spots sound like a dreaded disease, is a skin pigmentation condition characterized by the appearance of small flat brown spots on the skin. It is primarily caused by too much exposure to the sun and poor lifestyle habits, which means, it is not impossible to develop such spots even if you're only on your twenties. Luckily, there are ways to treat age spots. Let me share to you five surefire ways on how to do so.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Peter S. Goodman: Romney's Compassion Problem

Peter S. Goodman: Romney's Compassion Problem

One little problem with the compassion thing that Mitt Romney keeps touting in his recent television ads: He doesn't seem to have any.

We can safely assume that he cares about his wife and their boys. He must feel concern for the fellow congregants of his church and perhaps for some of his neighbors at one or another of his residences. He probably even liked that dog he stuck on the roof of his car.

But somewhere between his traditional social circle and the broader world -- a place inhabited by strangers whose jobs might require elimination in pursuit of profit -- Romney seems to lose emotional regard for the troubles of others.

It looks that way in part because Romney has made it look that way, cultivating the image of a stern and unsentimental disciplinarian in the face of wasteful federal spending in a bid to win over the anti-government zealots who dominate his party. This is how best to understand his decision to train his sights on Big Bird in last week's debate.

It looks that way because Romney is a creature of privilege, the son of a CEO and governor who spent his formative years at elite institutions of higher learning, and then in the exclusive ranks of premier business consulting and private equity firms. One can assume he didn't meet hordes of poor people at Harvard Business School or Bain Capital. It's hard to summon compassion for people who, within one's own experience, effectively don't exist.

In any event, it looks that way.

When you spend months bemoaning an expansion of food stamps in response to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, as Romney has done, word gets around that you are perhaps not the biggest-hearted mansion-owner on the lake.

When you lie about your challenger's supposed efforts to weaken limits on welfare while implicitly contending that anyone who needs government help is a loser, word gets out that concern for the vulnerable is not your defining feature.

And when you tell a room full of well-heeled campaign contributors that you have written off nearly half the country as a bunch of government-dependent parasites, compassion is not the word that springs first to mind.

Not that any of this recent history gave Romney pause when laying claim to compassion in his ads. Those in the business world like to celebrate themselves as self-made. Romney is self-made-up: He gloms on to any word that seems capable of selling the product, which is whatever incarnation of Mitt Romney he is playing that day.

"We shouldn't measure compassion by how many people are on welfare," Romney says in one ad. "We should measure compassion by how many people are able to get off welfare and get a good paying job."

That's a smart, politically opportunistic line, one that plays on the crucial need for jobs as well as on a traditional disdain for welfare recipients held by large slices of the electorate. It's also devoid of anything resembling genuine compassion.

Many people on welfare are there because they have tried and failed to secure decent paying jobs. The last Republican president put his imprint on the weakest so-called economic expansion in modern memory. Romney has been running on a pledge to extend and enhance Bush's policies, giving tax cuts to the wealthy, which would necessitate cuts to the social safety net. Yet here he is, invoking compassion as grounds for voters to congratulate themselves for their sensitivity while they join him in doing something small and mean-spirited: Cutting welfare (along with Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps and unemployment benefits) in order to hand out the proceeds to the affluent.

Romney seizing on this buzzword "compassion" seems like the result of the desperation manifest in not having enough of it in the first place.

From the beginning of the race, Romney has been plagued by troubles that stem from one fundamental truth: He is a prisoner of his own limited social experience. He can't adequately connect with people, and the people to whom he reaches out can see through him. He lacks authenticity.

In a recent national poll by NPR, half of those surveyed said they had "cool" or "unfavorable" feelings toward Romney. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll asked registered voters which candidate "better understands the economic problems people in this country are having," and which one "seems like the more friendly and likeable person." Obama trounced Romney on both counts, by 52 percent to 39 percent, and 62 percent to 29 percent, respectively.

Translation: People don't relate to Romney, even the people who will vote for him on policy grounds. They don't understand him, and what they do understand they don't much like. Worst of all, they think that he is in no position to understand them.

The potential electoral consequences of these numbers seem clear enough. When people don't like you, and when they don't think you have a grasp of their problems, they maybe don't work up the same passion about helping you to become the president of the United States.

The broader consequences of a compassion deficit seem to exacerbate Romney's problems, sowing stress that seems to make him prone to saying the bumbling and unsympathetic things that have undermined his candidacy.

Those who are emotionally disconnected from others suffer physiological consequences, according to academics engaged in the scientific exploration of compassion. Research has found that taking care of others actually yields health benefits, lowering stress levels, delivering more oxygen to the brain and relieving strain on the heart.

"Compassion is simply recognition of another's suffering," said James R. Doty, a neurosurgeon who heads Stanford University's Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. "We know -- and evidence has borne this out -- that a person who cares for others actually has improved immune states and lower levels of stress hormones. When you are more compassionate and caring for others, you actually improve your physical and mental health, because there are mechanisms in us that actually improve when we care for others."

So maybe if Romney had more of the stuff he's advertising, he would be calm enough to think before he speaks and avoid costly gaffes. Maybe he would sleep better, and perform better on the stump. Maybe he would be better attuned to what is happening around him in the rooms where he is addressing voters, and in the country he seeks to govern.

Or maybe not. Romney is surely not invoking such an elevated conception in his campaign ads. He's just trying to win a few votes by draping a selfish impulse -- 'Quit wasting taxpayer money on lazy poor people!' -- in morally palatable language.

But if compassion is a tempting word for politicians to throw around, it is also a dangerous thing to claim for those who don't really have much of it, warn psychologists who have identified a clear backlash that tends to result.

"Viewers have the ability to feel that viscerally," Emma Seppala, associate director of the Stanford compassion center, tells me. "Romney may be better off sticking to sincerity. If he's sincerely compassionate, then great, people will buy it and his policies will reflect that. If he's pretending, however, he's likely going to make more enemies than friends and create discomfort among his viewers."

The one consolation for Romney in that scenario: If viewers feel discomfort, he probably won't notice. And if he does notice, he probably won't care.

Follow Peter S. Goodman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/petersgoodman

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

VEGAN MOFO: 2 bean soups I’m having for dinner this week

VEGAN MOFO: 2 bean soups I’m having for dinner this week
Since we're focusing on BEANS this week for Vegan MOFO, I've been inspired to up my own bean consumption - practice what you preach, that's what they say, isn't it? So, I've tried out 2 new recipes - though I have to admit, I didn't actually MAKE one of these...I'll explain

Since we’re focusing on BEANS this week for Vegan MOFO, I’ve been inspired to up my own bean consumption – practice what you preach, that’s what they say, isn’t it? So, I’ve tried out 2 new recipes – though I have to admit, I didn’t actually MAKE one of these…I’ll explain.

First, soup season is here, and when I asked my husband what he felt like for dinner the other night, he didn’t pause long before he said, “How about Pea Soup?” So I dug out one of my favorite soup recipe books, Rebar, and found the Smoky Green Split Pea (with sage and roasted garlic) recipe that I thought I remembered making once, and liking. I realized with distress that the recipe said to soak the peas overnight, which I had not done, so I consulted another recipe that said you could just cook the peas for a while ahead of time, and then add, so that’s what I did. It was….delicious! Here’s the recipe:

This is the soup before I puréed it

Smoky Green Split Pea (with sage and roasted garlic)

• 2 cups green split peas, soaked overnight (or cooked for about 30 minutes ahead of time)
• 8 cups vegetable stock
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 bay leaves
• 1/4 tsp red chile flakes (I used sambal oelek instead)
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 carrots, finely diced
• 3 celery stalks, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup minced sage
• 2 garlic bulbs, roasted (I used 2 elephant garlic cloves – which are really leeks – did you know that?!)
• 1 tsp cracked pepper
• 3/4 tsp liquid smoke
• 1 tsp chipotle purée (I only used 1/2 tsp)

1) Heat the stock and keep it warm while you prepare the soup. Drain the peas and rinse well. Heat oil in a large soup pot and sauté onion until translucent. Add bay leaves, half the sage, chile flakes, salt, carrots, celery and minced garlic. Stir and sauté for 10 minutes. Add the green split peas and warm stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until peas are soft and falling apart. Remove bay leaves.

2) Squeeze the roasted garlic  into the soup pot with remaining sage, black pepper, liquid smoke and chipotle. With a hand blender or food processor purée the soup until smooth, adding more stock if it’s too thick. Before serving, reheat the soup gently and season to taste.

But I have to say that the showstopper soup of my week was a soup that was made FOR me by a very dear friend, as part of my birthday dinner. Take a look at this picture! It was as beautiful as it was delicious…and the recipe came from a mutual favorite – Oh She Glows. Check out the recipe for this wonderful Vegan Tortilla Soup here.

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Source: feedproxy.google.com

The Saline-Based Treatment for Non-Facial Spider Veins

The Saline-Based Treatment for Non-Facial Spider Veins
Learn how the saline-based treatment for spider veins works to get rid of your swollen blood vessels in the legs. This short article describes the procedure, its benefits, and other information that spider vein sufferers must know before undergoing sclerotherapy.
Source: EzineArticles.com

How To Not Blush

If you're reading this post then you're probably suffering from excessive blushing or you're experiencing unwanted blushing episodes. Either way, you're looking for information on how to not blush. Before we delve into the various techniques that you can use to not blush you need to understand that everyone blushes at one point or another in their lives and that it is usually harmless - a normal physiological response that is triggered by the brain in response to strong emotions that rock the body. Complete article

The Secret Routines of Anti-Aging

Most people would go to great lengths to attain youthful beauty. In fact, many have opted to undergo expensive therapies and treatments just to halt aging. But beware, because surgeries and treatments only offer temporary solutions. Source

How to Get Clear Skin Overnight - Natural Remedies For Clear Skin

How to Get Clear Skin Overnight - Natural Remedies For Clear Skin
It is the wish of every person to have glowing skin free of dark circles, pimples, acne and wrinkles. Now you can get it overnight without using any drugs or going through any surgery. You must try natural remedies for curing all the skin problems, as they do not have any side effects.
Source: EzineArticles.com