Palm Oil: A Revolutionary New Way to Live Years Longer

In today's fast-paced and health-conscious world, people are constantly searching for natural remedies and superfoods to enhance their well-being and extend their lifespan. One such superfood gaining attention is palm oil. According to an article published on Vanguard News on September 16, 2023, palm oil is being hailed as a revolutionary way to live longer and combat various age-related health issues. Let's explore the benefits of palm oil and debunk some of the propaganda surrounding it.

The Power of Palm Oil:

Renowned American television presenter and professor emeritus of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Mehmet Öz, describes palm oil as "the best oil ever" (Vanguard News, 2023). Palm oil's red color is seen as a "stop sign for aging inside and out." This statement suggests that palm oil has properties that can slow down the aging process and promote overall health.

According to Bryce Wylde, a leading alternative medicine expert, palm oil contains a secret within its flesh that can extend the warranty of almost every organ in the body (Vanguard News, 2023). This secret lies in its composition, which includes the eight components of Vitamin E and co-enzyme Q10, both potent antioxidants. These antioxidants are especially beneficial for heart muscles and can combat heart disease effectively. 

Understanding Palm Oil's Nutritional Value:

Professor Okon Douglas Ekpa, a retired professor of Industrial Organic Chemistry, highlights the nutritional value of palm oil. Apart from fatty acids, palm oil contains carotenoids, which are sources of vitamin A. It also contains the eight components of vitamin E and co-enzyme Q10, making it a powerful antioxidant (Vanguard News, 2023). However, it is important to note that these beneficial components are often removed during the processing of palm oil, significantly reducing its value.

Contrary to popular belief, palm oil is not only beneficial for consumption but also has industrial applications. It can be used in the production of paint, soap, detergent, cosmetics, and biofuels (Vanguard News, 2023). Its cost-effectiveness and high oil yield per hectare make it a favorable option for biofuel production in the current era.

Dispelling Propaganda and Conspiracy Theories:

Despite the numerous benefits of palm oil, it has faced unwarranted demonization, leading some people to opt for alternative oils like soybean or sunflower oil. Professor Ekpa explains that the industrialized world, predominantly responsible for this propaganda, targeted palm oil due to its cultivation in Third World countries (Vanguard News, 2023). They claimed that palmitic acid, found in palm oil, raises blood cholesterol levels. However, the effects of palmitic acid are neutralized when all the components of palm oil are consumed together. Palm oil itself does not contain cholesterol.

Conclusion:

Palm oil is emerging as a superfood with vast potential health benefits. Its rich composition of antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids make it a valuable addition to one's diet. By consuming pure, unadulterated palm oil in moderate amounts, individuals can experience the anti-aging effects, protect their heart, and ensure the well-being of their organs. It is essential to challenge the propaganda surrounding palm oil and embrace its potential as a natural solution to enhance longevity.

SEA TURNS RED DUE TO WHALE'S BLOOD #redsea

Whale driving on the Faroe Islands date back to the late 16th century and involve residents herding pods of whales into shallow waters.

They are then killed using a 'spinal lance' that is inserted through the animal's neck to break its spinal cord. 

While locals have been carrying out the annual hunts ahead of the sparse winter months for centuries, with the meat served salted or cut into steaks and the blubber sliced up and eaten raw, the practice often come off as shocking and gruesome to outsiders.

Cambridge University student Alastair Ward, 22, was visiting the archipelago last month to celebrate his graduation when he and a friend stumbled acros the whale hunt

'He said: 'We were walking round this bay when this family of locals ran over and said 'you're lucky, there's a whale coming'.

'We thought it would just be one being dragged in but more and more boats kept appearing on the horizon.

'I couldn't believe how many whales there were. They were driving them into the bay, prodding them with their oars.

'Once they got close enough, the whole town sprinted in and started hacking at them. Even the children were getting involved, pulling on the ropes and jumping on the carcasses.

'We were just sat there speechless and a bit upset but you couldn't really pull yourself away.'  He added: 'The squealing from the whales was horrible.

'They were putting hooks on ropes in their blowholes to pull them in and then hacking at them with knives. They didn't die in a very humane way.

'A lot of the locals were all saying how it's the same as farming but I couldn't really agree with that.

'Children were jumping on top of them. They just have such a different attitude to us because they're brought up on it.'

The hunt has been criticised by animal rights campaigners in the past, who say the ritual is cruel and unnecessary. 

However, the local government says the hunting is not only sustainable, but ensures that the islands, which has a limited opportunities for farming, are as self-sufficient as possible.

Each whale provides several hundreds of kilos of meat and blubber, food which would otherwise have to be imported from abroad to the islands at a cost to the locals and the environment. 

Source: dailymail

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Snake rearing, most lucrative business

                                    

                                         Snake

Dr Abubakar Ballah, the Officer-in-Charge of Snakebite Treatment
and Research Centre, Kaltungo, Gombe state, has called on
Nigerians to embrace snake rearing to enhance their economic
status.

Ballah told newsmen in Kaltungo on Friday that snake rearing is
one of the most profitable trades in the world.

According to him, the high cost of snake venom used by
pharmaceutical industries in producing anti snake venom has
glorified the business.
“An ounce of the venom of a Carpet viper snake is 500 USD, that of
Cobra and Puff adder snakes cost 400 USD.
“The good thing about the business is that you can find market
easily through the internet,” the official said.
Ballah said that apart from the production of anti snakebite
venoms, the pharmaceutical industries use the snake venoms in
the production of anti hypertensive, cancer and ulcer drugs.
Besides selling the snakes to pharmaceutical firms, he disclosed
that the reptiles could be sold to earn foreign exchange.
“For example, Indonesia has the largest reservoir of snakes in the
world, very beautiful, colourful and harmless, and the government
of that country exports them to earn revenue,” he said
“In the area of fashion, the skins of the reptile are used in the
production of fanciful belts, ladies handbags, shoes and other
items.
“It is therefore ironical to see fashion-conscious people, dressed in
shoes, belts and handbags made from snake skins, either having
phobia for live snakes, or see the reptile as enemy number one,”
he observed.

In the area of nature’s own nourishment, the officer said snake
meat is a favourite delicacy in some African and Asian countries.
“They remove the venom and prepare special pepper soup,
especially the python meat, which tastes like fish meat,” he said.
Ballah said in the area of agriculture, snakes help in balancing the
ecosystem on farmlands by reducing the number of destructive
rodents, thereby enabling farmers to enjoy bumper harvest.
“Farmers do not go out at night to check their farms; snakes do
that for them, as such the reptiles are supposed to be friends of
farmers, not enemies,” he added.
He attributed the phobia for snakes by people to the awesome
charisma of the elegant reptile, but stressed that snakes were
harmless, and that they only bite in self-defence.
“In most cases, it is only when it feels threatened that it bites, just
like any human being will not hesitate to throw a punch at any
enemy, real or imagined.
“So more often than not, we have cases of people, either
advertently or otherwise, stepping on snakes and the reptile bites
back out of the instinct to protect itself.
“That is why when a snake gets to hear any movement from far, it
tries to run away but when pursued and placed in a tight corner, it
reacts if it has the means to do so,” he explained.
On how to rear snakes considering that taming same is a herculian
task, the officer said interested persons could either engage the
services of snake charmers for a fee per snake, or engage in joint
business with the charmers.
He noted that Nigeria was blessed with varieties of snakes spread
all over the country, as exemplified by what obtains in Kaltungo
town of Gombe state.
Ballah underscored the need to harness same and generate
revenue at individual and government levels.

Source: vanguardngr

Do you know the " Great Blue Heron" ?

Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the
coastline with slow, deep wingbeats, the Great
Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately
heron with its subtle blue-gray plumage often
stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades
belly deep with long, deliberate steps. They may
move slowly, but Great Blue Herons can strike
like lightning to grab a fish or snap up a
gopher. In flight, look for this widespread
heron’s tucked-in neck and long legs trailing
out behind.

Size & Shape

Largest of the North American herons with long legs, a sinuous neck,
and thick, daggerlike bill. Head, chest, and wing plumes give a
shaggy appearance. In flight, the Great Blue Heron curls its neck into
a tight “S” shape; its wings are broad and rounded and its legs trail
well beyond the tail.

Color Pattern

Great Blue Herons appear blue-gray from a distance, with a wide
black stripe over the eye. In flight, the upper side of the wing is two-
toned: pale on the forewing and darker on the flight feathers. A pure
white subspecies occurs in coastal southern Florida.

Behavior

Hunting Great Blue Herons wade slowly or stand statue-like, stalking
fish and other prey in shallow water or open fields. Watch for the lightning-fast thrust of the
neck and head as they stab with their strong bills. Their very slow wingbeats, tucked-in neck
and trailing legs create an unmistakable image in flight.

Habitat

Look for Great Blue Herons in saltwater and freshwater habitats, from open coasts, marshes,
sloughs, riverbanks, and lakes to backyard goldfish ponds. They also forage in grasslands
and agricultural fields. Breeding birds gather in colonies or “heronries” to build stick nests
high off the ground.

Source: allaboutbirds

THE PENIS SNAKE

BRAZIL is home to some truly stunning wildlife, but it’s fair to say that this snake-like creature is on the uglier end of the nature spectrum.

This is the Atretochoana eiselti, a slippery critter famed for its resemblance to, well… you know what.

This smutty serpent can be found in the waters of the Amazon, and looks uncannily like something very rude indeed

The snake-like creature may look like a smutty serpent, but the nightmarish freak of
nature is actually classified as an amphibian rather than a reptile.
First discovered in the waters of the Amazon in 1968, the girthy giant is so rare that there weren’t any other confirmed sightings until an entire family was found in 2012.

The critters, which are capable of growing to over one metre long, were thrust into the scientific spotlight after the impressive find, although not much is known about so-called “penis snakes” to this day.
However, experts do know that the amphibious creatures are blind, and live in the fast-flowing Amazon river.

These girthy giants are extremely rare, with not much known about the phallic amphibians
Biologist Julian Tupan was working for an energy company when his firm came across a family whilst excavating a dam back in 2012.

He said at the time: “Of the six we collected, one died, three were released back into the wild and another two were kept for studies.
“Despite looking like snakes, they aren’t reptiles and are more closely related to salamanders and frogs.
“We think the animal breathes through its skin, and probably feeds on small fish and worms, but there is still nothing proven.

“The Amazon is a box of surprises when it comes to reptiles and amphibians. There are still many more to be discovered.”

The rude creature can be found lurking in the depths of Brazil’s Amazon river
The rare creature has been jokingly referred to as the “Man-aconda” ever since its starting resemblance to the sex organ was first picked up on.
But this amphibious creature is totally harmless, and poses no threat to any
Olympians lucky enough to come across one – unlike Brazil’s many dangerous breeds of spider .
One such breed, which may have made its way to the UK, can cause an eye-watering side effect with its venomous bite.

As well as injecting a potentially fatal poison, the Brazilian Wandering Spider’s bite can cause its victims to suffer from extremely painful erections, which can last for up to four hours.

Edan stream: Mysterious water where fishing is prohibited, ‘cures’ Guinea worm disease

Otan Ayegbaju, a rustic community sandwiched in-between intimidating mountains has its presence in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State in Nigeria , and exudes a beauty, so alluring, yet natural, that captivates many people on a first time visit to the town.

Approaching the community from Eripa town through a steep slope, the first impression is that of a serene environment, mostly inhabited by aged citizens, farmers, artisans, traders and local government employees. On entry into the community, one is welcomed to a peaceful environment devoid of the hustle and bustle characteristic of urban areas.

At Otan Ayegbaju, there are many prominent family houses that have over time, become established institutions. One of this is the Oba Nla family house, one that is not only a foremost royal family but is also renowned as the home of a popular stream which, since time immemorial, has come to represent a significant model of worship, taking on the form of a deity.

A rocky chamber where the stream flows through

 
The ancient stream, which is said to possess mysterious powers, is called the Edan stream. According to residents of Otan Ayegbaju, Edan stream has spiritual healing powers to prevent and cure guinea worm disease.

Aside possessing such healing properties, although the stream has much fishes within its marine presence, it is a taboo for anyone to fish in the stream or eat any of the fishes that dwell in this natural habitat. The stream, which flows from a high mountain and cuts across the town to join other water tributaries from adjoining communities, predates the earliest settlers of Otan Ayegbaju.

Nigerian Tribune’s investigations revealed that no one since the early times till now, had successfully discovered the main source of the stream, even if it is known to descend from one of the mountains. According to residents, history has it that attempts had been made in the past to ascertain the source, but such ventures had proved unsuccessful.
Interestingly, the story that has been passed down various generations is that the goddess of the stream is a nursing mother, who appears at the bank of the stream and vanishes at will.

As a result of its acclaimed healing powers and its potent
ability to cure guinea worm, many traditionalists and other categories of herbal medical practitioners besiege the stream, especially during the rainy season to fetch water for healing purposes. Some persons are also said to come from Europe, America and other parts of the world to pray at the stream and also fetch the water.

A visit to the community by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the river is a huge tourist attraction. Some residents who shared experiences of the influx of people who came, especially to visit the stream, stated that it was time for the state government to channel the mysterious Edan stream in order to further make it one of the tourist attraction centres in the state with a view to making it a source of revenue generation.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, 75-year-old Pa Peter Alalade, whose house is located near the Edan stream said: “This stream has been in existence before our great grandfathers. What I know about the stream is that they don’t fish in it. They use it to cure anybody afflicted with guinea worm disease. If you drink water from this Edan stream, you are automatically immune against guinea worm.

“If somebody is afflicted with guinea worm, he can drink water from the stream and bathe with it and the disease will go off. This stream has been here from time immemorial. We met it here. Nobody dares fish in this stream. There was a time some people got some fishes in the water. When they got home and tried to cook them, they discovered that the fish could not be cooked as they were still fresh even after several hours of cooking. They had to return them into the stream,” he said.

From left; Moses Oladele, Pa Alalade and Pastor Faleti

Pa Alalade added that, “there was a time the government planned to construct a kind of drainage to channel water from the stream. In this community, some people have formed the habit of throwing refuse in the stream and this is not good at all. The government that promised to channelise the stream only carried out such plans on some part of it and abandoned the project.

“I want to appeal to the Osun State government to complete the channelisation of the stream for easy flow. This is important because Edan stream passes through the length of Otan Ayegbaju to other towns, including Ada and Iree,” Alalade remarked.

Speaking on whether the stream is worshipped like a deity, another resident, Moses Oladele, stated that “it is possible that they may be worshipping Edan stream in the olden days, but now they are not worshipping it again. The advent of Christianity and Islam has overwhelmed our culture and traditional beliefs”.

He further that the mysterious powers possessed by the stream would not allow anyone go there for any fishing purpose.
Another native of Otan Ayegbaju, who identified himself as Pastor George Faleti Olorunayo, explained that, “it is believed that Edan stream flows from the mountain of Agunloko, but nobody knows its source. But, it flows from that place into the town. The goddess of Edan stream is a nursing mother that straps her baby to the back.

“The stream goddess sometimes comes out in the afternoon around 12.00pm to 1.00pm. So, people don’t go to the stream around that time to fetch water. There was a time she appeared to a young lady who went to fetch water from the stream and warned her to never visit the stream at that particular time. The young woman defied the goddess warning and she went back.

“When she returned the second time, the goddess was angry and she beat her with the cloth she used to strap her baby. When the young woman got home, she died. This incident occurred about 25 years ago.”
He further explained to Nigerian Tribune that, “The stream, which is from the mountain has compartments inside the big stone that can be likened to a room. So, if you move from one compartment, you will see water and if you proceed to another compartment, you will also see water. When we were kids, we used to enter the compartments until we got to a place where we became afraid and we would retreat. We were usually warned by the elders in those days to be very careful of exploring the compartments of the stream inside the mountain. This is because when an individual reaches a certain level, he or she may not be able to come out again.

“There was period a big python was sighted in Edan stream. At Agunloko spot, where the stream flows from, the rainbow appears there too sometimes. The stream cuts across the community and bursts out at a place called Arinoyun and in Ibokun, Iragbiji and Ada.”

A resident standing beside the stream

Mrs Ronke Nihinlola, another resident, also confirmed that the water from the stream has healing powers. “This water can cure guinea worm disease. It can be used in different ways to cure guinea worm. Anybody afflicted with guinea worm can dip his or her legs inside the water and the guinea worm would come out.

“Some of our indigenes here usually scoop the water in bottles and take it overseas for use. People like the water from Edan stream very much. Fishes in the water don’t run away or hide when they see people. They would just stay and watch you. The water is also effective to cure barrenness in women. If they drink it, they would conceive and bear children.

“I have seen the goddess of Edan stream before. I was in the company of another person on a visit to the stream when we saw the goddess. We were frightened and we ran away.”

The Edan stream tradition continues to defy civilisation as the belief of the people in its efficacy remains strong and no one dares to breach the unwritten code of behaviour around the stream.

Source: Tribune

10 Totally Unexpected Finds People Discovered in Their Backyards

There probably isn’t anyone who wouldn’t dream of finding hidden treasure or making an important archeological discovery.
Bright Side has collected some stories of real people who did just that...and in their own backyard. Some of these finds are amazing, while others make your skin crawl.

A Ferrari

In 1978, two kids were digging in the ground in their backyard in Los Angeles and suddenly stumbled upon a Ferrari Dino 246 GTS. When the police excavated the car, they determined it had been stolen. The theft and the burial that followed were probably part of an insurance scam. The Ferrari was handed over to the insurance company and then sold at auction.

Unfortunately, resting in the ground didn’t do the car any good.
Source: jalopnik

A prehistoric armadillo shell

Jose Antonio Nievas from Argentina found a giant "dinosaur egg," as he called it, near his farm.

What it turned out to be was a shell of a glyptodon — a prehistoric armadillo the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. A hole was found in the shell that was probably made by another glyptodon in a fight.

Medieval treasure

In 2007, Andreas K. from Austria found a whole treasury in his backyard: there were about 200 jewelry items, such as rings, brooches, buckles, and silver platters.
The man put it all into a box and carried the fortune into his cellar, forgetting about it for two years. He only remembered about it when he decided to move house. When experts assessed the jewelry, they determined it was about 650 years old. Andreas gave it all to the local museum as a gift.

Meteorites — six times in a row

This man didn’t even have to search for anything. Would you agree that the chances of a meteorite falling into your backyard are very slim? Well, Radivoje Lajic from Bosnia was (un?)lucky enough to have 6 of them fall almost onto his porch, despite all mathematical predictions.

Scientists from the University of Belgrade confirmed they were actual meteorites, and they currently investigate the magnetic activity around Lajic’s house to understand the cause of this anomaly.
And Lajic himself has recently decided to reinforce his roof with steel bars — just in case.

A perfectly preserved bomb shelter

When Chris and Colleen Otcasek bought their house in California, they knew about an anti-radiation bomb shelter in the backyard, built during the Cold War. An engineer who’d lived in the house previously constructed it for himself.
Chris and Colleen thought that after more than 50 years there’d be nothing left of the shelter, but they couldn’t have been more wrong: it was in perfect condition, complete with paper towels, sleeping pills, tin cans, coffee, books, and magazines.

A tunnel to the Great Pyramid of Cheops

One of the residents of El Haraneya village, near the legendary Giza Plateau in Egypt, was digging in his backyard and stumbled upon a mysterious tunnel. This was probably a hidden passage to the largest and oldest of the three Giza pyramids — the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops).

The tunnel was described by Herodotus, the Ancient Greek historian who had visited Egypt.

Thousand-year-old bones of an Indian

Ali Erturk, a 14-year-old boy from Salt Lake City, made a gruesome discovery in 2014. He was digging a hole for a pond in his yard and found human bones in the ground.
The boy’s father called the police at once, and a forensic test showed that they were the remains of an American Indian who had lived there about 1,000 years earlier.

Archeologists continued excavating in the yard, and they think they’ll find Indian burial grounds which will help them understand more about ancient cultures.

We can’t help but wonder what it’s like to realize that your home stands on an old Indian cemetery?

A bag with $175,000 worth of marijuana

In December of 2012, Mack Reed from Los Angeles decided to install solar batteries on the roof of his house. When he opened his cellar, he discovered a bag full of jars, packs, and envelopes with marijuana.
Apparently, when Reed was not home, someone trespassed into his backyard and hid the drugs. Later it was determined that the cost estimate of the bag was about $175,000.

Reed left a note to the criminals in case they returned, saying, "We’ve found the bag and called the police. They confiscated the drugs and put my house under surveillance. Sorry".

One of the biggest hidden treasures in US history

In 2013, a married couple found hidden treasure while walking their dog in their own backyard. They saw a rusty box sticking out from the ground and found gold coins inside. Eight more boxes were dug up, full of coins minted from 1847 to 1894. The nominal value was $27,980.
The coins were perfectly preserved, and some of them were apparently never used. The couple sold most of the coins at auction.

No one knows how those boxes happened to be in their backyard. The find was nicknamed "Saddle Ridge Hoard," and its total value is about $10 million.

Dinosaur remains

In 1997, John Lambert from Ipswich, England, decided to build a fence around his house. While digging, he hit a large bone with his shovel, but he didn’t pay attention and took it to his barn, forgetting about it for 16 years. In 2013, he finally brought his find to specialists, and it turned out to be a bone of a pliosaurus — a giant sea serpent that inhabited the Earth 60-250 million years ago.

Source: Brightside

Feast your eyes on the ugliest animals in the world

The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is a nocturnal lemur that has an unusually long middle finger. It eats grubs that hide beneath the bark of trees. It taps on the wood to find them, then chews through the wood and uses its middle finger to extract them.

Condylura cristata is a small Canadian star-nosed mole. It has bizarre tentacle-like organs sprouting from its face. They are covered with extremely sensitive receptors, which the mole uses to find its way around.

Chlamydoselachus anguineus is a rare shark that lives in the deep sea. Its unusually wide jaws allow it to swallow large prey whole.

This unidentified Linophrynespecies is an anglerfish. It uses a lure to help catch its prey.

Also known as the hairy frogfish, the striated frogfish (Antennarius striatus) is an expert at camouflage. It uses a "rod and lure" to attract prey.

The illuminated netdevil (Linophryne arborifera) is another species of anglerfish. In this group, males are much smaller than females and attach themselves permanently to the female's body.

Source: BBC NEWS