Dozens learn how wiggly worms can help the environment - The Killeen Daily Herald
Dozens learn how wiggly worms can help the environment - The Killeen Daily Herald |
- Dozens learn how wiggly worms can help the environment - The Killeen Daily Herald
- Gary Brown: What possessed us to eat roots? - Canton Repository
- Rope Worm: Intestinal Parasite or Mucus Buildup? - Healthline
| Dozens learn how wiggly worms can help the environment - The Killeen Daily Herald Posted: 26 Sep 2020 12:00 PM PDT  COPPERAS COVE — Around two dozen area residents gathered at the Copperas Cove Civic Center to learn the benefits of worms when it comes to fertilizing the soil. One Copperas Cove resident, Pamela Shelley-Dailey, said she likes to garden, but she did not realize the benefits of worms. "I had them in my yard before our move before," Shelley-Dailey said. "And I didn't realize what a good thing it was to actually include them in it." All residents who attended the class received a bin and worms to begin their own kitchen-sized compost bin. Bob Hill, a volunteer instructor, said people can feed worms anything. "You can shred your newspaper, you can put your cardboard in it, you could put your bread in it," Hill said. "A worm will eat anything that was once alive." The best worms for a worm compost are red wigglers, Hill said. Red wigglers are smaller than the ones sold at bait shops, Hill said. Anyone can purchase red wigglers online, or there is a shop in Evant, Hill said. He also said if someone puts a piece of wet cardboard in their yard, it will probably attract a few red wigglers. Hill said the poop, or "castings" from worms is the best for the Earth since it is all natural and has more minerals than other animal droppings. Hill said having a compost also helps the surrounding environment. "It helps you get rid of your kitchen waste without throwing it away," Hill said. "If you throw it in the trash, it'll end up in the landfill — and we don't have enough land as it is — and when it decomposes ... you get methane gas." For those interested in building a compost, but are unsure of using worms, Roxanne Flores-Achmad, director of Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful, said there is a class scheduled for Jan. 23.  |
| Gary Brown: What possessed us to eat roots? - Canton Repository Posted: 27 Sep 2020 03:34 AM PDT  Ever wonder who first decided to eat the roots of a variety of different vegetable plants. Must have been hungry. "Ahh, that raw potato hit the spot." "But, it was buried in the ground. There was dirt all over it." "No, you can just brush the dirt away with your hand. Most of it comes right off. No problem. Besides, 'You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die,' as my mother used to say." I'd feel better about that root measurement between life and death if it was a bigger basket, especially if you eat vegetables every night at dinner. Potatoes, beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, yams, parsnip, onions. We eat them all, tidying them up a little bit before we stick them into our mouths. And rutabaga. That one has got some Swedish form of the word "root" right in its name, and still somebody started eating it. "You know you're eating a root there pal." "Yeah, this one is not bad. I put some sea salt on it. I might try cooking it next time." Is boiled dirt more tender than raw dirt? Family History My dad used to eat potatoes, boiled and baked, in their skins, by the bushel. "Ew, Dad," my younger sister used to say. "That potato has been in the ground! That skin is what had the dirt on it. That skin is all that is keeping you from eating worm poop." "You leave your father be," my mother used to interrupt. "The skin of a potato has the nutrients," she would add, since God made her guardian of the family's health, as well as anybody else's health who happened to show up to eat vegetables for dinner. "Besides, you have to eat a peck of ..." OK, all right, we covered that Mom. We get to eat a lot of dirt in our lives without it doing anything but weighing us down. Personally, I think Dad ate potatoes in their skins because he had served in the Army in World War II, and had his share of kitchen duty during basic training, so he wasn't planning to peel another potato for the rest of his life. Often, to add a red color to his meal, dad would eat beets with potatoes, a second dose of root that came right from his garden after he got home from work. And if we had meat that particular night, he'd sometimes top it with horseradish. You've really got to want to eat roots to swallow horseradish. Or, you've got to be ill, because it sort of clears out your sinuses. I've always suspected that the first person who ever ate horseradish had a cold. He got the horseradish down and then came the miracle. "I can breathe! I'm cured!" Speaking of Salads Since Mom believed staunchly in the medicinal benefits of eating leaves, but going right for oak or maple leaves would have seemed odd, she forced a lot of salads onto her family. When you eat salads, of course, you have to eat roots. We cover our greenery with carrot root and radish root. We add a little onion and maybe some celery root. I heard a relatively disgusting comment about root vegetables the other day while I was eating a salad. "I read somewhere that ants use the top of carrots — you know, the parts sticking out of the ground — as patios. Got shade and everything. I think the person was joking, but that kind of talk still will make you fork around in what's under your ranch dressing to see if there's anything moving. Yuck. Actually, there is a root vegetable called yuca. I've never had it, but it's supposed to be good. "The starchy flesh of the yuca root is a light white or cream color with a grainy texture similar to potatoes," according to an online description of yuca. "The meaty flesh is often described as having a mild, sweet, somewhat nutty taste." Then I saw a picture of it. It was all brown and gnarly with a rootlike skin. Yuca will forever be yucko to me.  |
| Rope Worm: Intestinal Parasite or Mucus Buildup? - Healthline Posted: 01 Jul 2020 12:00 AM PDT  There are multiple types of intestinal parasites that can infect human beings, such as tapeworms, pinworms, hookworms, and more. In recent years, there's been discussion of another potential intestinal inhabitant called the rope worm. While some people believe that rope worms are intestinal parasites, the more plausible theory is that these "worms" are more likely strands of intestinal mucus. In this article, we'll discuss the literature on rope worms, including the parasite theory, intestinal mucus theory, and how to treat and prevent this gastrointestinal condition. The parasite theory of the rope worm is only a recent development. In 2013, a non-peer reviewed research paper was published by Dr. Alex Volinsky and his colleagues on the details of this intestinal parasite. According to Dr. Volinsky, the rope worm, otherwise known as funis vermes, is a parasite that spend its entire life inside of the human body. It doesn't fall under any other known family of human parasites and may consist of a single organism or a community of organisms. Rope worms feed on fecal matter in the intestines and are usually the result of a poor diet. Dr. Volinsky and his colleagues claim that there are five stages of the rope worm life cycle:
The authors of the paper claim that there are various methods of extraction for each developmental stage, including salt milk enemas, baking soda enemas, and eucalyptus/lemon juice enemas. They believe that if these rope worms are not flushed from the body, they can release toxins that may have negative cognitive effects. The intestinal lining or mucus buildup theory is an alternative to the parasite theory of the rope worm. This theory claims that these long rope-like structures are simply shed pieces of intestinal mucus. Intestinal mucus is produced as a barrier to prevent harmful microorganisms from entering the bloodstream through the intestines. As with all cells in the body, these intestinal barrier cells routinely turn over and shed. While routine shedding is normal, excessive or altered shedding of intestinal mucus may be a sign of gastrointestinal conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colon cancer. During enemas and colon hydrotherapy sessions, some people experience a flushing of what is believed to be a buildup of mucus. This buildup of mucus, which is sometimes referred to as mucoid plaque, actually closely resembles what others believe is the human rope worm. There's no definitive scientific proof that mucoid plaque buildup even exists. However, there's even less scientific proof for the existence of the rope worm as an intestinal parasite. Perhaps the most critical evidence against the parasite theory is the fact that when the DNA of the "rope worm" specimen was tested, it consisted of 99 percent human DNA. Rope worms are usually discovered during colon cleansing procedures such as enemas and colonic cleanses. According to the research from Dr. Volinsky, almost all patients undergoing colon irrigation will present with rope worms. Once these rope-like strands have been cleansed, patients have reported relief from digestive issues. However, these claims are purely anecdotal and there's no current peer-reviewed research to support this. Current research is lacking on the diagnosis and treatment of rope worms, and there's no clinical recommendation for treatment. A healthy level of mucus turnover is completely normal for a healthy bowel, but an increase in mucus or the presence of long strands of material is not. The potential causes of increased mucus in the stool may include: In some cases, the evacuation of long, worm-like structures may be the result of an undiagnosed parasitic infection from a species that is known to infect humans. If you're noticing an increased level of mucus or other unknown materials during colon cleansing, it's best to visit a doctor or gastroenterologist for an official diagnosis. It's believed that eating a diet rich in processed foods may contribute to the presence of rope worms or the buildup of mucoid plaque. While there's no scientific proof to support this theory, there is merit behind the idea of maintaining a healthy gut. Taking care of your digestive systemGut health is just as important as heart health, lung health, and the health of any other organ in the body. Even if the literature doesn't prove the existence of rope worms or mucoid plaque, here are some ways you can take care of your digestive system:
Rope worms are often discovered during enemas and colonics. There's little evidence to support the theory that these worms are a newly discovered type of human parasite. The more likely explanation for the expulsion of these rope-like strands is the shedding of intestinal mucus. However, both theories lack the necessary scientific evidence to definitively say what these "rope worms" really are. If you're experiencing an increase in mucus or notice the presence of worm-like strands during colon cleansing, it's always best to schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor or gastroenterologist.  |
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