The Frosty Dew ~ #poetry of #winter — Dorinda Duclos – Night Owl Poetry — Arrowhead Freelance and Publishing

What lies beyond the forest mist Comes closer, if you whisper Your breath, exhale, the frosty dew As the air becomes much crisper The path behind you disappears No footsteps can you follow Walking through the fog, just you Staggering, as you wallow In the stillness that surrounds Stop now, inhale, and feel it Winter’s […] […]

via The Frosty Dew ~ #poetry of #winter — Dorinda Duclos – Night Owl Poetry — Arrowhead Freelance and Publishing

Benefits of Fish Oil

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Fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel have fats that can produce fish oil.  Fish oil contains Omega-3 fatty acids which are recommended by health-care professionals to be included in a individual’s diet. Omega-3 acids are mainly docosahexaenoic acid or DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA.

Omega- fatty acids are essential in cell building.  It is important to get them from our diet since the body cannot produce this kind of acid.  Research showed that Omega- 3 plays a significant role in brain and fetal development during pregnancy and infancy. Fish oil are believed and proven to provide numerous health benefits.  Aside from this, there are also a lot of advantages by taking fish oil supplements.  

Fish oil can:

• Improve brain development and memory.  There are studies showing that DHA actually plays a major role in brain functions.  Low levels of DHA can increase the risk of having Alzheimer’s disease.   Intake f fish oil during pregnancy is also recommended.  According to a research conducted by the University of Western Australia showed that pregnant women who ingest fish oil supplement actually give birth to babies with better hand and eye coordination, better in speech and better cognitive development at the age of two and a half.

Aside from Alzheimer’s disease, fish oil can also help in reducing the risk of other mental illnesses like depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among children, dyspraxia, bipolar disorder and dyslexia. 

• Reduce the risk of hear attack.  Even if the DHA and EPA are fatty acids, they can reduce cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure.  It helps in preventing blood clots in the heart.  So aside from heart attacks, fish oil is also important in reducing risks of coronary heart disease.

• Reduce the risk of cancer.  Researches have showed that fish oil can help in reducing risks of developing breast, prostate and colon cancer.  They stop the growth of cancerous cells and inhibit its growth.  For postmenopausal women, those who consume more Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon and mackerel or fish oil supplements are less likely to develop breast cancer.  

• Reduce the effects or helping patients deal with lupus, arthritis, colitis and asthma.  Its natural anti-inflammatory capabilities can reduce pain brought by inflammatory arthritis and gastritis.  

• Help a lot during pregnancy.  Not only does Omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil help in he fetal brain development, it can also reduce the risk of giving early or premature birth, post-partum depression for mothers, allergic reactions among babies an low- birth weight. Not only does it helps in pregnancy, there are preliminary researches showing fish oil to aid in getting pregnant or fertility.


• Help improve the body overall.  Fish oil can help in producing serotonin, the happy hormones.  Happiness can help a lot of people deal with stress and other emotional issues which can totally improve a person’s emotional and mental disposition.  They can also revitalize and rejuvenate skin, reduce wrinkles, weight loss and improve eyesight.  It is even said that fish oil can reduce acne and make your hair a lot better.   

Fish oil is very important in building a better you.  But doctors and experts suggest in taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplements.  The problem with eating too much fish can actually lead to mercury contamination.
So, ask yourself, are you getting enough fish oil in your body?  If not, then it is time to start making sure that you do.

Herb Gardening: The Many Good Things About It

There are a lot of good things why you should have an indoor gardening. Having an herb gardening in particular can be very practical and rewarding. If you start to have one at the back of your home or at any vacant spot at the yard, you will reap the rewarding results of not having to go to the market to buy some for household consumption. 

Culinary uses 

Herbs have many uses for different people. The most common is its being an aroma or spice enhanced for a lot of cuisines and dishes around the world. The culinary use of herbs can be traced back to many prehistoric documents. The history even says that it was used for cooking foods back then not only for the ordinary people but more so for the heads of groups or for the royalties. 

Therapeutic uses 

Herbs are not only for culinary purposes. They were also popular because of the medicinal properties they have. Many people from all over the world have been using herbs to treat or cure certain human illnesses and various ailments. Hundreds and hundreds of years were seen people cultivating and growing herbs specifically for this purpose. Even up to now, herbs are used for medicinal, therapeutic purposes, and sometimes for beauty skin care.  

Herbs come in many kinds. And there are those that can be grown at the comfort of your home. Some choices easily grow on a bed of garden. If you are a starter, you can have parsley, oregano, thyme, and basil. These are some of the known most versatile herbs because they are commonly and often used for cooking food and for therapeutic uses. 

Where to plant them 

In terms of making your own garden, you can easily make a single bed of soil and here you can grow your herbs. If your yard is bigger, you can have several beds to plant them. Just be sure to nurture them so they will grow properly. With a bed of planted herbs, it will be convenient for you whenever you want some spice for your cooking and some stuff when you want to alleviate some sores and pains. 

It would be great idea, but if you don't have a wide space at your yard, or if you are living in an apartment or condominium where there is no space for gardening, there is always another option. An indoor gardening is always possible. You can start off with having some pots and planting them with the herbs of your choices. You can place the pots with the planted herbs by the windows on your kitchen and some can even be placed by the windows in your bedroom. 

You can also use pots that can be used for decoration of the house without the need to redesign or renovate the place. Just be sure that they have proper drainage holes for the watering. Engaging into this activity not only provides herbs for cooking or therapeutic effects, but having your little indoor gardening can shake off your stress because they can provide air to relax you a bit after working the whole day.

Gardening Tips For Beginners

If you are just beginning with gardening, don't be afraid for it is not meant to be difficult. In fact, it can be so much fun much more than what you think. If you don't know how to start, there is always an avenue of knowledge for you: your grandmother to assist you, informational books and magazines to read, and the internet to browse more information. 

It used to be that gardening appeals only to the older folks. But nowadays, people of all ages, children, young adults, adults, and old folks alike, they see gardening as a refreshing and rewarding hobby to take. Why not? With all the benefits that you get, your being a busy, career person should never be used as a hindrance to start growing your own plants indoor or outdoor. You will see the big difference when you get to reap your own fruits of labors. 

It doesn't matter what you prefer. Would you like to have a bed of beautiful and colorful flowers, country garden full of wild flowers and shrubs, manicured lawn strategically placed with shrubs and little trees, or just a simple backyard with lots of pots and containers planted with grown plants? It isn't a problem to start one because you can find lots of information on how you can start doing them. You can also ask questions and assistance from the experts. 

For a starter, you will need these basic tools: trowel, spade, lawnmower, rake, and plants of your choice to grow. It would help a lot if you have some sort of garden plan based on the space that is available. In this way, it won't be difficult for you to arrange some things like flower beds, lawns, paths, and on your garden bed or space.  

The kinds of plants that you will grow will depend on what you want, the availability, and the climate that your location has. There are plants that grow only for the season but there are others too that can be cultivated to grow year after year. If you consider yourself a hobby gardener, then you would want to have plants that do not grow more than two seasons. These are perennial plants that allow you to tend to other things other than mere gardening. 

If you don't know what plants to start growing, you can always ask assistance from the local nursery available in your location. The experts from there should know what types would thrive specifically considering the climate in your area. And speaking of the local nursery, it is one avenue to buy plants you want on your garden. It is usually available with packets of seeds or small young plants for the beginners to grow. You can obtain them whether via online or mail order. 

The small young plants are great choice if you want to have an automatic decorative display on your garden. Otherwise, choosing seeds to grow and watching them grow will provide great satisfaction from the accomplishment of having to cultivate and care for them. You can have the seeds planted on pots or containers, or you can plant them onto pre-designed bed of soil. Gardening should be this fun and exciting, and of course, rewarding, even if you are a beginner.