Optimal Caveman Diet - Quit blaming the meat!

This will now be a 2-part post, as I have combined another article (Optimal Caveman Diet - Foraging Hunter & Gatherer...) to this one since I have recently deleted an old website of mine and now have a couple hundred articles to re-post amid my multiple blogs and whatnot.

Part 1: "Quit blaming the meat!"

I get so tired of all this negative chatter that tries to give most meats, especially red meat, a bad name. I wish a lot of these vegetarian fanatics and red-meat-haters would just stop and think about a few things, before blaming the majority of diseases and disorders on meat!

A few moments ago, I was doing a quick web search about red meat - just to see if all the debate has calmed down over the years. Nope! It was in full swing! Some of these people were referring to red meat like it was a poison and pretty much had a formula "Red Meat = Death." WTF? At the same time, for the ones who weren't vegetarian, they were acting like eating chicken is superior to beef, and so on. Okay, let's get this straight: For one, I enjoy eating all different types of meat. But, unless you're raising your own livestock or fish, do you really know what they eat and/or what they're injected with? To down the cow and praise a chicken that is being raised in mass production, is a little absurd, if ya ask me. As much as I love to devour a plate full of hot wings, baked chicken legs, and use chicken eggs for a good protein source, I do realize that a chicken is a very nasty animal that will eat about anything it can get down its throat; much like a pig (and we all know how swine gets a bad name). A cow, on the other hand, basically eats grain, fresh grass, hay, etc.

I have no problem with vegetarians or people who don't believe in eating meat, but let's don't start blaming meat for the reason some people are in bad health...

Here's what the main problem is (in my opinion) and the reason why a lot of research points to certain types of meat as being the reason for health problems:

What's in it? This is what many people forget. How many hormones, antibiotics, and other drugs has the animal been subjected to in order to speed up growth and production? Yeah, it seems to me that the chemicals and drugs and all that other crazy crap that is hard to pronounce when reading the ingredients on the food labels, is what may be killing people the most.

Processed meats? Okay, a lot of processed meats contain red meat along with white meat, but processed foods such as bologna, hot dogs, beef jerky, and so on, contain sodium nitrites and other unhealthy, risky additives. Speaking of bologna, hot dogs, Vienna sausages, potted meat, etc.: I'm still not sure exactly what all in the hell is in there. I mean really, some of this junk tastes good, but anytime I read the words "Mechanically Separated Chicken, Beef, Pork," I'm like, "uh, oh shit!" Your guess is good as mine. Hell, who knows, you may have eaten some very exotic meat in those hot dogs for all you know. Ha-ha! Just kidding, well, I hope I was...

Do you trim the fat off your steak? This may very well be a good reason why meat gets a bad rep. Are you one of those who orders or cooks a big rib-eye steak and upon finishing your meal, all you see is a little juice on the plate and nothing else? Damn! It might be a good idea to trim the pure fat chunks and strips off the steak, wouldn't ya say? To me, eating freshly cut steak as opposed to hamburger steak that has already been pattied up, not only gives you a more primal feel when eating the blissful flesh that is full of body building protein and nutrients, it also allows you to have more control over how much of the fat you want to ingest - unlike the hamburger patties or steaks that already have the fat that you'd normally trim, all mixed up with the lean meat.

Eat a lot of sausage and burgers? This is one thing I can't take up for, when it comes to the defense of red meat, pork or beef. If you eat a lot of sausage (the good ol' tasty swine) or a lot of hamburgers (the good ol' American meal), you are getting a mix of all that tasty, unhealthy fat that has literally been run through the mill or grinder to blend the lean cuts with the lard. I've made 'em both, back when I was a butcher. I also enjoy consuming both of these, but at least I know that it is not the healthiest thing I can ingest. You should see somebody make sausage, for example. I still remember adding what appeared to be nearly half lard into the meat tray with lean cuts of pork, running it through the grinder a couple times and presto, all that lard is now blended in with the sausage. Although hamburger meat is leaner than pork sausage, a similar ratio is applied - often 73 lean/27 fat or 80/20 is usually the leanest for the typical burger, which is still a lot of fat per ounce.

Do you burn your meats? This is not good at all for your intestinal and/or colon health. When you burn and overcook your meat, it alters the molecular structures in the meat and can release harmful free radicals, blah-blah, and whatever, that can have a negative impact on your digestive tract. Also, even though I know it's fun and tasty, grilling your food on a charcoal grill is also supposed to be bad on your colon, and whatnot. Hey, if you want to grill, I say grill. Quit worrying about everything and live a little, but I'm just saying it might not be a good idea to grill out with charcoal ALL THE TIME or burn your meats on a regular basis.

Do you just mostly eat meat? If so, this is definitely not a wise choice unless you're living off seafood or something - and even if so, you still need other types of food. I think meat also gets blamed a lot for the ones who come down with ailments due to their body being too acidic. If all you eat is chicken, beef, and pork and consume very little fruits, grains, and vegetables, of course you are not doing your body a favor. With that type of eating habits, no wonder these people are always blaming the meat!

Bottom line: When it comes to meat, the best bet is farm-raised, organic, lean cuts and reasonable-sized servings with somewhat of a balanced diet. Some people don't consider fish a meat (why they don't, I'm yet to figure out), but it is an extremely healthy choice that is loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids. Oh, and to finish my defense for beef consumption: it is loaded with balanced Amino Acids which is great for the protein seekers who need it to recover and build muscle from their workouts. Also, beef has B vitamins (especially B-12), a great source of iron, and contains a lot of selenium - which has been found to have anti-cancer properties in some studies. Red meat has also been thought to raise testosterone levels, which is a good thing for males or anyone trying to build muscle. However, I can't say for sure that the last tidbit has been proven without a doubt, but, due to the nutritional value of the common slab of lean beef, I'd say it is very possible. In addition to all of this, Taurine comes from a large variety of meats and seafood. If you're not aware about this particular amino acid, you may want to read the "Health Benefits of Taurine" blog post.

This particular blog entry reminds me of a blog post I did on another site of mine, a while back. It was called "The Optimal Caveman Diet - Foraging Hunter and Gatherer." [Link is no longer active since I deleted that website, but I'll re-post the article below this post.]

---End of Part 1: "Quit blaming the meat!"

Part 2: "The Optimal Caveman Diet – Foraging hunter and gatherer…"

For some reason or another, this is often a controversial topic: whether man was meant to eat meat or was it intended for humans to strictly be vegetarians?

Personally, I disagree with the vegetarian beliefs, simply because it doesn’t sound natural. A human being out in the wild, while trying to survive, would have a very hard time surviving on vegetation alone. It is not that I think people shouldn’t be vegetarians – it is your choice – but to say that we shouldn’t eat meat, is asinine, in my opinion.

Has anyone ever watched the beautiful video, ‘Alone in the Wilderness’? It is the story of Dick Proenneke, living in the Alaska Wilderness. The footage he caught on tape is an excellent example of what it’s like to make it in the wild and to eat like a foraging hunter and gatherer would. If you like nature and survival type shows, I highly recommend it!

Anyway, the caveman diet, also known as the “Paleolithic diet,” has positive health benefits. Although, due to your genetics and any pre-existing health conditions (most of them due to today’s version of “food”), an individual’s optimal diet may vary from one to the next. But, in general, reverting back to this Paleolithic-style of eating may be the way to go.

Most vegetarian supporters often misconstrue this reality: It is not the meat or food that is killing the people of today, it is all the preservatives, chemicals, and crap they inject or put into the products. You know, anybody that has read the ‘content labels’ on some of the foods in today’s market, surely has seen some very unusual words while thinking, “What in the … is that? How do you pronounce that? Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate who? Tripolyphosphate what?” And so on…  There is an endless amount of “additives” in our food today. So, the main point being made here, is that organic, clean & lean meat is not bad for you. Unless you’re allergic to it or have a medical condition, anything natural (I mean ‘natural’ as in man didn’t alter it) is always good. Fat is not bad either (saturated included), as it is an essential nutrient. Your body must have lipids, and I don’t mean it is fine to throw pounds of bacon down your throat either – common sense needs to be applied.

Confirmation: I’ve heard about and known of too many people living long, healthy lives that were raised up on a farm and ate pork, chicken, and red meat all of their life – and let's not forget, this was also home-raised food without any additives or chemicals. Things have changed, and drastically so, over the last several decades.

Think as a foraging hunter and gatherer would: Random types of lean meats due to fresh kills, raw vegetables, and fruits. And yes, you can cook the meats & vegetables and still be primitive. Nobody really knows when fire was first discovered, other than it being from someone or something … long, long ago. Who knows, maybe an alien dropped off some know-how for these primitive beings, and then deployed into another region in space?

When thinking retrospectively, all the continents used to basically be intact. I noticed the globe looking like a jigsaw puzzle a long time ago, when I was in Kindergarten class. Nobody really knows how many times life has started & re-started on this planet, but after the continents did split apart, it has been all about adaptation, acclimation, and evolution of species. Sure, if this was a perfect world in a constant state of stagnant conditions on one giant plateau, we could have an absolute, optimal diet for everyone. On second thought, after a population boom, I think humans would do poorly on a one-continent world, think about it…… I’m glad the continents split apart. Anyway, the prior statement is irrelevant.

Bottom line: Don’t blame the meat; praise the caveman. Now, go cook yourself a wholesome steak from an organic cow, etc. If you want optimal diet plans, eat like the farm raised people of the past or follow the Neolithic critters of the Stone Age and eat like a foraging hunter and gatherer would; aim for natural, organic foods……

What’s your opinion? Are humans designed to eat meat?

—End of Part 2 "The Optimal Caveman Diet – Foraging hunter and gatherer…"

---End of Post "Optimal Caveman Diet - Quit blaming the meat!"

Surround yourself with positive Chi, Ch'i, Qi, Energy...

This post will briefly talk about the health benefits of being surrounded by things you like, and especially in your home or bedroom. In a moment, I'll provide a few links to other blog posts I wrote in the past, that may help give you some ideas or encourage you to add some creative items into your home, that is, if you're interested in stuff like that. 

Anyway, there is a lot of information and studies about the beneficial effects on the body when it comes to bringing positive Chi (also known as Ch'i or Qi or "energy flow") into your living environment. After a long days work that is often filled with negative energy, it is good to come home to a place or a room that you feel at peace with and/or comfortable. There are so many people who practically come home from work or wherever, and walk into an even bigger mess. It is hard to "feel at home" if your house is in disarray, wouldn't you say? There is enough stress in daily life, so why not try to at least decorate a room or the entire house in a way that sort of represents your way of thinking or level of creativity. Hey, if bare walls and plain colors soothe you, then that is fine too. If you live in a house with a lot of people, you may be better off concentrating on your bedroom or recreation room (if you have one), etc. 

Regardless of this subject matter, I'm not going to be getting into all that Feng shui talk or other Chinese philosophy about positive and negative Chi, mainly because this is a fairly simple concept. I don't see anything miraculous or complicated about why it is healthy to surround yourself with things you like. I think all that chatter about "energy flow" and "positive Chi" and "the force of Qi," is what turns this into a bunch of woo-woo babble and ultimately distracts people from the main point. Ha-ha!

Okay, now back to main reason for this post... Below, I'm going to provide 4 links to other blog posts I wrote elsewhere, that may or may not help give you some ideas for adding some positive energy into your home:

Metaphysical Crystals & Healing Stones - on that post, I briefly go over some of the concepts found within the study of metaphysical tools, charmstones, etc. However, even if all that "crystal healing" crap is just a bunch of marketing baloney, that makes no difference. You can find some spectacular crystals and stones from websites that sell this type of stuff. Personally, I don't use it for any magical practices. I simply use it to decorate the house and provide a positive, natural-looking atmosphere. Some of my favorites are the Amethyst crystal clusters, Rose Quartz, and Malachite. 

Looking for Infinity Mirrors? - on that post, I provided a few images of these crazy mirrors along with a shopping link. If you decide to visit the Infinity Mirror post, you'll see how they could easily add some creativity and uniqueness to a person's home or room. Side note: These things are rather expensive, so don't expect to buy infinity mirrors for just a few dollars. 

Himalayan Salt Products, Lamps, Tea Light Candle Holders - is a post about the health benefits of heated Himalayan salt - due to the release of negative ions into your home. Within that blog entry, I provided shopping links and images of some of the products that are currently available. I have several of these in my house, and they help provide a very natural look to your living space; very much worth the money! 

Freshwater Aquariums - A scenic, decorative hobby... - is a blog post about starting a freshwater aquarium. I just sort of threw that link on here, in case it might interest anyone. Once you get used to managing your tank, you may end up buying more. They are truly beautiful to have, and they can bring positive energy into your home by adding a touch of nature to your room, etc. At one time, I had 4 tanks in the house and 3 was in my bedroom. My girlfriend at the time, said my room looked like "aqua world" or something. Ha-ha! However, fish tanks are not for everyone. In fact, for some folks, they will do anything but provide positive Chi and will be a big headache for the ones who are not responsible enough for this particular hobby. Basically, you need to make sure you really want to get into this hobby before diving in and wasting your money. I've seen some people who ended up with a lot of money spent for nothing because they let their tank become a sewer with dead fish - due to neglect and stupidity. Anyway... 

Well, that's all the links for this post. I've used all of those things mentioned above to decorate my home, along with other items such as ancient Egyptian stuff, martial art weaponry, dragons, etc. 

The bottom line: if possible, try to surround yourself with positive energy, Chi, Ch'i, Qi, or however you want to label it (ha-ha!), if at all possible - and especially in your home. Cheers! 

Image Credit: Free to use & share via Pixabay.com

 ---End of Post

Buy Motivational Posters for your Workout Room

Yesterday, I did a post entitled "Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!" I started to speak about finding various things you could use to motivate your workouts, but I sort of lost motivation along the way and just started posting humorous images. Ha-ha!

Anyway, today I'm speaking about finding motivational posters for your workout room, that is, if you're lucky enough to have a separate room that is solely used for physical fitness training. This doesn't apply to the ones who use a gym, or have their training equipment spread out throughout the house, etc. But, if you do have a workout room, it might not be a bad idea to buy a few posters that really get your macho, ego-filled, testosteronic engine revved up.

You know, all this poster talk reminds me of when I was a teenager. I had all these hot babes plastered on the wall in the room I would lift weights and, on occasions, it would backfire on me. Instead of looking at them as I was doing the repetitions and sets of exercises while imagining being built and attractive enough for them to want me, I would sometimes just start fantasizing a little too much and would end up leaving the room before even starting and working something else out, then saying, "the hell with it" and cancel the weightlifting session for the day. Ha-ha!

However, for the most part, it is generally a good idea to have some motivational posters in the area that you do your exercises.

Okay, now to the heart of the post. I was browsing through Amazon for some posters. Now they'll list 5 or 6 million posters in their search results, but you can always narrow it down by using more specifics in the search bar. I'll leave that up to you, but I will provide a few images of some of the more attractive posters I found on the first 3 or 4 pages of search results. After that, I'll provide a link that you can use to start your search from here. By the way, if you do go to buy some posters, don't worry about spending much money. I've seen several really good ones for only 2 or 3 dollars, etc.

Click on any image below, to enlarge for a better view:

[I'm sorry, but I had to remove all of the motivational images I originally had on this post, due to the potential violation of Google AdSense TOS agreement.  However, if you follow the Amazon (affiliate) link below, you can find all of 'em again and many more!] 

Shopping Resource: 'Click Here' to Shop for Posters via Amazon!

Image Credit: Free to use & share via Pixabay.com

---End of Blog Post "Buy Motivational Posters for your Workout Room"

Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!

This topic could go on forever, with all the failed and successful regimens that relied, lived or died while being solely based and dependent upon something called "motivation." For starters, we have all heard of the losers who set "New Year's Resolutions" year after year, only to get slightly motivated for a day, week or whatever, as they quickly fall right back into their old habits and wait until the next year to "try it again." Try? What is that? The term 'try' actually sounds quite lame, even when compared to other synonyms such as 'attempt' or 'endeavor'... WTF?

Since this is a health-related post, I'll "try" to keep other non-related issues, politics, and certain circumstances out of it, even though many things in life relate to this subject: "Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!"

Okay, so what's your problem: Are you tired of the same old workout? Do you lack vigor? Are you having trouble staying with anything that might involve a routine or a systematic approach? Do you find it difficult or a task just to get out of bed every day? Are you currently suffering from depression? Do you need to take a pill for every ailment that comes your way? Are you a procrastinator that almost has to be forced against your will just to do anything? Well, if you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you may be suffering from something called "lack of motivation."

Damn, I'm really getting off base here, even though I "tried" to keep it health & fitness related. Anyway, the point is: Finding motivation isn't much different than just waking the hell up and smacking your own self in the face. Simply put: There is no need to search for what motivates you, it is just a matter of going after what you've been too lazy to get. If you need mediums of motivation outside of your own brain, then certain types of music or motivational movies may also help, but regardless, it really is about getting off your ass, just like the picture below demonstrates:

Well, this post may have lost its original motivation to convey the message that motivation is the key to any successful regimen, but it doesn't mean that it has lost its sense of humor...

Below, I'll post a few random images that I gathered from the web, to depict some of the concepts found from the term motivation. Click on any of the images below, to enlarge for a better view. Enjoy...

Well, I hope you enjoyed this pictorial post of motivational concepts. I meant to get into the methods of finding motivation for working out and/or physical fitness training, but I sort of lost motivation along the way and started leaning more towards the relaxed, humorous tact of communication. Cheers!

---End of Post "Motivation is the key to any successful regimen!"

Mental Exercises - Keep the Mind Active as you Age

This blog mainly covers topics about physical fitness and other health-related subjects that pertain to the improvement of physical health, but really, when you "think" about it, mental health is just as important - if not more. To keep the mind active as you age might require more than just a healthy lifestyle, as mental exercises can greatly improve your cognitive functions, help you stay sharp and quick-witted, boost your memory, improve your overall sense of awareness, prevent dementia (mental deterioration), along with other additional health benefits that come with "mind over body" concepts.

Side note: I recently did a blog post over Ginkgo Biloba - which in my opinion, is just a bunch of herbal, marketing baloney with false claims of being able to enhance your brain power. Trust me, exercising your mind via thoughts and mental activity is way better than hoping for some miracle pill to do the work for ya... However, there is some evidence that adding more Omega-3 into your diet may improve your thought processes; the same applies for ginseng supplements, as well. [Edit: I have found out over the years that Sunflower Lecithin is also another excellent supplement for brain health.] 

Speaking of that, my mind has been active a lot lately, but not in a good way. Relationship issues, anger, stress, etc., is not necessarily the healthiest forms of mental exercises, to say the least - but it is "mental activity," nonetheless. That reminds me, I really need to beat the hell out of one of those Body Opponent Heavy Bags to alleviate some pent-up frustrations! 

Anyway, the point is, as the old adage states: "Use it or lose it." Yeah, that saying is often used for people who suffer from erectile dysfunction, but it also applies to the mind and body, as well. 

 Okay, that's enough chatter for now; I think you get the point. I recently did a quick web search and found a few sites that contain brain teasers, mind games, etc. You can do your own search if you wish because there are loads of related websites out there, but before I end this post, I'll provide a couple links below: 

http://www.brainist.com/ (link is no longer active) - contains several mind games, brain tests, memory games, speed reading tests, a short version of an IQ test, trivia, and so on. On that particular site, you'll often have to scroll down to the last half of each page to find the games/tests, since the top half is usually full of adverts. 

https://www.wordgames.com/ - has word games, puzzles, typing games, crosswords, etc. 

For daily tidbits and other word games, go here: www.perpendicularity.org/daily-tidbits-word-games.html (link is no longer active) Cheers!

Update: I also find that playing basic card games (especially when played at a fast pace) on the computer like Solitaire, Free Cell, and Pyramid really help keep those processes within the brain firing on all cylinders. ---End of Update
  ---End of Post "Mental Exercises - Keep the Mind Active as you Age"

Body Opponent Punching Bag - BOB - Dummy

I've recently did a blog post over "picking out the right heavy bag / speed bag stand," but after reading that, some of y'all may realize that you either don't have the room for such a stand or that the area you would like to place it, isn't in good enough condition to withstand the weight and vibrations from hardcore use. Either way or even if you do have the room for the traditional heavy bag stand along with a speed bag setup, you may still be more interested in punching or kicking something else......

Have you ever heard of a dummy known as "BOB," the "Body Opponent heavy Bag?" Just going by looks, these are some nifty little/big bastards, and are great for a more realistic, life-like target to punch, strike and kick into. Speaking of that, this may be the perfect bag for you, when you feel stressed with pent-up frustrations and decide to release the fury on occasions!  Besides, it just sounds kind of cool when somebody tells you what all they do for a workout and you simply reply with, "well, personally, I just go out to my garage and beat the hell out of BOB."  Ha!

Below, I'll provide an image of a typical Body Opponent Punching Bag:

I've recently browsed through a small selection of these types of exercise bags (human torso targets) at Amazon.com, and the product description for the one above, was as follows:
"Work the entire upper body with this realistic heavy bag! Body Opponent Heavy Bags are excellent, realistic and life-like punching bags. Excellent for home, apartment, school, and aerobic boxing. Perfect every punch and kick in your arsenal. Punch to the face, chin, body ... anywhere you'd hit your opponent. Now even more realistic for a variety of techniques. Base fills with approx. 270 lbs. of sand or water for solid and sturdy use. Made of high strength plastisol filled with urethane foam for durability. Adjustable height to accommodate multiple users. Base is rounded for easy roll location."

Personally, I've never tried one of these, but I really enjoyed the water-filled heavy bag I once owned. The pros for these human-shaped dummy Body Opponent Heavy (BOB) Bags seem to be its compact size, life-like appearance, adjustable height, and sturdy base. Now, what I would like to know, is just how much of a beating can this human-like dummy really take? They are fairly pricey, but if they are as good as they say they are, it would be well worth the money. 

Update:  July 4th, 2013 - Well, I waited nearly 2.5 years before I purchased one of these BOB thingies, but I must say it was well worth it!  I currently have it out in the garage, but if we have a bad winter, I may bring it in, since I filled it with water instead of sand.  I wouldn't want it to totally freeze and burst, although 270 lbs. of water will take prolonged temperatures way below freezing, but we'll see.  I also bought some 14 oz. boxing gloves to go with my Century BOB XL with Stand, so I'm finally set!  This thing is really fun to use and is a great workout for not only the upper body, but also for a good cardio workout, as well; cheers!

Side Note:  Some people have mentioned that this particular human-shaped dummy / punching bag moves a bit while they use it (going by some of the reviews I have read).  Well, after using it myself, I can attest to this.  I have done two things to combat such movements, although I will say, like other people have mentioned, the fact that BOB does move around upon heavier impact, adds to the training experience.  Anyway, I have my body opponent heavy bag cornered in, literally.  I have mine in a concrete building/garage/carport, in the far corner.  That way, it can only move so much to the left and right and can't go backwards at all.  The second thing I did, since I had an extra one, is put a weighted vest on it, to add some more weight to it, which helps some.

Additional Update: I revisited this post after a few years from my last update above and just wanted to add that I have owned one of these human-shaped punching dummies for several years now (it is now toward the end of 2021).  It is tough, rugged, and can take a beating.  The last few years I have kept the XL BOB outside in the open and it has still held up, even during the winter! Definitely worth the money, to say the least.  Anyway, in case you're interested, I'll provide a shopping (affiliate) link below:

'Click Here' for a selection of Body Opponent Heavy Bags

Image Credit: Fair Use - Product Image via Amazon.com

---End of Post "Body Opponent Punching Bag - BOB - Dummy"

Ginkgo Biloba supplement or just a pretty tree?

I've heard about people taking Ginkgo biloba capsules, several years ago. In fact, I think I first run across this supplement about 16 years ago. Although, this extract from the Ginkgo biloba tree most likely has some positive effects on the body, the most touted claim for this substance is its ability to improve and preserve memory and possibly preventing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. These super marketing claims for enhanced cognitive function is what sells the pills, but by most studies I have read, they simply just aren't true and there is no clear-cut evidence to support these wild claims. Personally, in my opinion, when it comes to enhanced brain function, I think it is a big slop of pill-pushing herbal baloney. 

Here are a few excerpts from Wikipedia: 

---Ginkgo for dementia? 

Extracts of Ginkgo leaves contain flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids (ginkgolides, bilobalides) and have been used pharmaceutically. Ginkgo supplements are usually taken in the range of 40–200 mg per day. Recently, careful clinical trials have shown Ginkgo to be ineffective in treating dementia or preventing the onset of Alzheimer's Disease in normal people. 

---Ginkgo for memory? 

Ginkgo is believed to have nootropic properties, and is mainly used as memory and concentration enhancer, and anti-vertigo agent. However, studies differ about its efficacy. The largest and longest independent clinical trial to assess Ginkgo biloba’s ability to prevent memory loss has found that the supplement does not prevent or delay dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Some controversy has arisen over the conclusions drawn by some studies that were funded by a firm which marketed Ginkgo. 

In 2002 a long-anticipated paper appeared in JAMA titled "Ginkgo for memory enhancement: a randomized controlled trial." This Williams College study, sponsored by the National Institute on Aging rather than Schwabe, examined the effects of ginkgo consumption on healthy volunteers older than 60. The conclusion, now cited in the National Institutes of Health's ginkgo fact sheet, said: "When taken following the manufacturer's instructions, ginkgo provides no measurable benefit in memory or related cognitive function to adults with healthy cognitive function." The impact of this seemingly damning assessment, however, was ameliorated by the almost simultaneous publication of a Schwabe-sponsored study in the less prestigious journal Human Psychopharmacology. This rival study, conducted at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, was rejected by JAMA, and came to a very different—if not exactly sweeping—conclusion: There was ample evidence to support "the potential efficacy of Ginkgo biloba EGb 761 in enhancing certain neuropsychological/memory processes of cognitively intact older adults, 60 years of age and over." 

---As you can see, the conflict of studies can cause confusion, but one must wonder what the motives truly are: The truth, whether it works or not? Or how can we sell more products? And so on... 

---More attention needs to be paid to Ginkgo biloba's other potential health benefits, such as: 

Out of the many conflicting research results, Ginkgo extract may have three effects on the human body: improvement in blood flow (including micro-circulation in small capillaries) to most tissues and organs; protection against oxidative cell damage from free radicals; and blockage of many of the effects of platelet-activating factor (platelet aggregation, blood clotting) that have been related to the development of a number of cardiovascular, renal, respiratory and central nervous system disorders. Ginkgo can be used for intermittent claudication (muscle pain, generally in the calf, that occurs intermittently during physical activity/exercise). Some studies suggest a link between Ginkgo and the easing of the symptoms of tinnitus (constant ringing of the ears).  As a side note, if you're more interested in common ear problems, go here: https://health-fitness-guru.blogspot.com/2011/04/ear-problems.html

---As you can see, when it comes to the battle over whether this supplement can enhance memory or is it just merely a pretty tree, it is obvious that we should just let Ginkgo thrive as beautiful shade trees, at least to me. Think about it: This supplement most likely does improve blood circulation and is an antioxidant, etc., but what's so unique about that? There are lots of herbal supplements that can help in that department. Now, if you have a product to enhance brain power then wow(!), you have yourself a unique product line. You get my drift? Anyway, on to the side effects... 

---Ginkgo Side Effects per Wikipedia: 

Ginkgo may have undesirable effects, especially for individuals with blood circulation disorders and those taking anticoagulants such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or warfarin, although recent studies have found that ginkgo has little or no effect on the anticoagulant properties or pharmacodynamics of warfarin in healthy subjects. Ginkgo should also not be used by people who are taking certain types of antidepressants (monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or by pregnant women, without first consulting a doctor. Ginkgo side effects and cautions include a possible increased risk of bleeding, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and restlessness. If any side effects are experienced, consumption should be stopped immediately. 

---Ahh, the good ol' side effects section always makes you just wanna go start popping their product down your throat, right? Ha-ha! Regardless of all the health talk about this supplement, Ginkgo biloba still makes for a very pretty tree...

[Image Credit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ginkgo_Biloba_Leaves_-_Black_Background.jpg]

Read more about this subject, here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginkgo_biloba

---End of Post