Some of the best quotes from previous thread, from Richard Bach's links that Jess gave:

" Any powerful idea is absolutely fascinating and absolutely useless until we choose to use it."

"We design our lives through the power of our choices. "

“If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem.”

“Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they're yours.”

“A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow.”

**** other favorites quotes:

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket."

“We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

“You are fettered," said Scrooge, trembling. "Tell me why?"
"I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it.”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude. Nick Vujicic

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=E8E7B877B7A899A8DE780EB0E74E9766.journals?aid=9212991&fileId=S0007114513003875

British Journal of Nutrition

• British Journal of Nutrition / Volume 111 / Issue 08 / April 2014, pp 1507-1519 Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women

Abstract: The present study investigated the impact of a Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 (LPR) supplementation on weight loss and maintenance in obese men and women over 24 weeks. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised trial, each subject consumed two capsules per d of either a placebo or a LPR formulation (1·6 × 108 colony-forming units of LPR/capsule with oligofructose and inulin). LPR-induced weight loss in women was associated not only with significant reductions in fat mass and circulating leptin concentrations but also with the relative abundance of bacteria of the Lachnospiraceae family in faeces. The present study shows that the Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 formulation helps obese women to achieve sustainable weight loss."

*** From Straw: The key is SUBSTAINABLE weight loss, anyone can lose weight, but can they keep it off? I lost 9 lbs. from flu-shot reaction, from 127 to 118, but did I keep it off? Yes, it has been 3 months, and I'm still at 119 for the past 2 months. The best thing about taking Culturelle (L. Rhamnosus GG) is that took care for my peanut-butter allergy. That's one of the most enjoyable things in life !!

Jess: we are so lucky to have free-will: freewill to choose our food, to choose our roses, and to choose our weight too. I already chose Mustead Wood, Poseidon, Lady of Shallot, and Dee-lish roses for May 1 delivery. I choose to eat more pickled cabbage for weight loss, plus for protection of pathogens such as E. coli, Staph Aureus, and Salmonella.

Below is a Science abstract: Probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains isolated from the feces of breast-fed infants and Taiwanese pickled cabbage.

" Five Lactobacillus isolates identified as Lactobacillus reuteri F03, Lactobacillus paracasei F08, Lactobacillus rhamnosus F14, Lactobacillus plantarum C06, and Lactobacillus acidophilus C11 that showed resistance to gastric juice and bile salts ..Most of the strains were resistant to aminoglycosides and vancomycin but sensitive to ampicillin, erythromycin, and penicillin antibiotics.

All the 5 strains elicited antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and –negative (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica) pathogens.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1075996410001666

Such positive news! I'm so glad I could get hold of this, thanks for this info straw!

:-))))

Jess: I went off magnesium for a few weeks, immediately gained 4 lbs, so I'm back on magnesium, hoping to get down to 119 lbs like a month ago. Looks like I have to take magnesium oxide powder with fresh lemon juice daily (tap-water too high in calcium & low in magnesium).

Magnesium work together with B-vitamin in Brewer's yeast to lose weight. Google News had an article on a compound in beer help with weight loss, then I realize that Brewer's yeast is a by-product of beer .... just need to reduce the dosage to avoid selenium excess.

An excerpt from below link: Magnesium and weight loss

" OBESITY, MORE THAN BAD GENES
Animal experiments show, however, that if a mouse with an obesity gene is deprived of B vitamins, the obesity will be expressed. But if it is fed plenty of B vitamins, it will remain thin. The process of metabolizing B vitamins is called methylation, and magnesium is necessary for one of the most important steps in this process.

ABDOMINAL OBESITY
Gaining weight around your middle is related to magnesium deficiency and an inability to properly utilize insulin. It also sets the stage for Syndrome X. You only need a tape measure to diagnose a predisposition to Syndrome X - a waist size above 40 inches in men and above 35 in women puts you at risk. In their book The Magnesium Factor, authors Mildred Seelig, M.D., and Andrea Rosanoff, Ph.D., researched showing that over half the insulin in the bloodstream is directed at abdominal tissue."

From livestrong.com: " Nutrition Facts for Brewer's Yeast

Made from a single-cell fungus, brewer's yeast is not only used as a nutritional supplement but also to make beer. A 3-tablespoon serving has 95 calories, 1 gram of fat, 10 grams of carbs, 5 grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein. It also meets 25 percent or more of the daily value for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid -- all B vitamins -- as well as the mineral phosphorus. Brewer's yeast is also a good source of the trace minerals zinc, manganese and chromium."

**** From Straw: magnesium is alkaline & help to reduce stomach acid, thus less hunger pangs. More than 1/2 tablespoon of brewer's yeast per day, one risk selenium excess, resulting in chipped nails, weak bones, and hair loss. Brewer's yeast is one of the ingredients in Vitamin pills.

Favorite quote of the day: "The rough is mental, our thoughts are the cause, rather than the effect." My translation: what's rough is how I make it to be, but it's actually not that bad.

Magnesium is a mineral that is low in many people. I had bad restless leg for many decades and when I took CalmC it cut it within an hour. I was actually astounded that it relaxed my entire being/mind. First light bulb to go on in my health journey. Now I use a slow release magnesium that doesn't irritate my stomach like Calm to keep it constant in my body. Mag is also the BEST regulator for constipation issues of which I've had for over 8 years while I look for the cure.

Research is revealing how incredibly important our gut biome's health must be for our physical and mental health to stay well. In addition to what StrawC posted on the protective effects of lactobacillus to our bodies here are some deeper effects of having an undamaged or imbalanced biome.
I may have posted this elsewhere, but, the influence on obesity is eye-opening.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-help-make-us-fat-and-thin/
Plus, as incredible as it sounds we depend on certain gut critters to produce chemicals we thought only our bodies did to feel positive and calm.
http://www.caltech.edu/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495

Human body biology, the need for the right balance of minerals and vitamins, water and the same needs of plants becomes really clear. While digesting all the info on the PH needs of different roses from different regions, types of rootstocks, etc. the correlations are important. Cannot have healthy plants without understanding that the basic elements of all these nutrients must be balanced for both entities to be healthy.

Thank you, aztcqn, for those 2 excellent links ... really enjoy reading them, well-researched scientific studies. I agree with what you wrote about many factors contribute to the health of roses, you said that better than I could !! You are what makes it fun to visit this forum, I appreciate your info. and your honesty as to what works both in our health and in roses.

I paid dearly when I skipped taking magnesium oxide for a few weeks .. not only I gained 4 lbs, my back hurt !! Plus I didn't nap well. I used to take CALM (magnesium citrate), but switch to magnesium oxide since it's more alkaline. Things which are green are high in magnesium. The "green" element in green tea is known to help with depression. Another time I drank Stash Cascade Mint tea ... felt so relaxed and wonderful afterwards ... ready for a nap !! Mint is high in magnesium.

I re-post the info. on aztcqn second link, since serotonin is vital to our happiness: "The researchers found that the EC cells from germ-free mice produced approximately 60 percent less serotonin than did their peers with conventional bacterial colonies. When these germ-free mice were recolonized with normal gut microbes, the serotonin levels went back up—showing that the deficit in serotonin can be reversed. "

See more at: http://www.caltech.edu/news/microbes-help-produce-serotonin-gut-46495#sthash.cKkiqmtf.dpuf

THANK YOU, aztcqn, for both of those links, the Scientific American is a great study on how lack of normal probiotics can promote obesity.

WebMD on serotonin and depression: " There are many researchers who believe that an imbalance in serotonin levels may influence mood in a way that leads to depression. Possible problems include low brain cell production of serotonin, a lack of receptor sites able to receive the serotonin that is made, inability of serotonin to reach the receptor sites, or a shortage in tryptophan, the chemical from which serotonin is made. If any of these biochemical glitches occur, researchers believe it can lead to depression, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, panic, and even excess anger."

Elaine Ingham says.

Healthy soil

Healthy plant

Healthy food

Healthy people.

Thank you too Straw and aztcqn.

Sam: Glad you mentioned "healthy plant", or prebiotics that feed beneficial bacteria are fibrous plant-food like onions, beans, asparagus, oatmeal, and wheat bran. From the below link:

https://www.prebiotin.com/prebiotics/prebiotics-vs-probiotics/

"Prebiotic is a specialized plant fiber that beneficially nourishes the good bacteria already in the large bowel or colon .. Recent studies have also shown prebiotics and good bacterial gut balance play a direct role in mental health. Individuals who consume prebiotics on a daily basis have fewer issues with anxiety, depression and stress.

Prebiotic fiber is found in many fruits and vegetables, such as the skin of apples, bananas, onions and garlic, Jerusalem artichoke, chicory root and beans."

From WebMD: " To help maintain healthy level of probiotics, you can feed them with the foods you eat. Foods rich in prebiotics include asparagus, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, oatmeal, and legumes."

Wikipedia listed the top 10 foods for pre-biotics: "Gum Arabic85%Raw, Dry Chicory Root64.6%Raw, Dry Jerusalem Artichoke31.5%Raw, Dry Dandelion Greens24.3%Raw, Dry Garlic17.5%Raw, Dry Leek11.7%Raw, Dry Onion8.6%Raw Asparagus5%Raw Wheat bran5%Whole Wheat flour, Cooked4.8%Raw Banana1%

In contrast, the foods that feed the bad bacteria are, see below link:

“Avoid the foods that feed the bad bacteria, including sugar, gluten, and conventional dairy,” says Dr. Josh Axe, MD, a certified doctor of natural medicine, doctor of chiropractic, and a clinical nutritionist. This will help you lose weight while mending any damage caused by leaky gut."

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/05/01/how-to-lose-weight-for-summer-32-tips-from-top-doctors.html

From Straw: Agree that beans, onion, garlic, dandelion green feed the good bacteria. I fed my kid a beef-lentil soup. She picked out all the beef, and left only lentils behind. That soup sat there for 2 hours in warm temp .. I ate that lentils left-over, and that was still fresh & yummy. In contrast, chicken soup would stink up in 2 hours. Meat also feed the bad bacteria .. it gets spoiled fast. Will have to find a good recipe for dandelion-greens salad at 24.3% prebiotics !!

Thanks Straw I liked the 32 ideas on fox news. They mentioned the probiotics. Honey was one also.

Sam: Do you have dandelions on your lawn? I'll test eating dandelion greens first, and let you & aztcqn & Jess know later.

Dandelion green-salad: 1/2 lb. dandelion, 1/2 red onion, 2 tomato, some basil. It's quite bitter, but I'll try that just to feed the probiotics in the Kefir which I drink daily.

The below link talks about if one picks dandelion greens from a shady, cool, wet area, it's less bitter than from a hot & sunny and dry location. When foraging, young greens that are harvested before the flower head appears will be less bitter.

Some tips to de-bitter dandelion greens: oil &vinegar dressing, bacon grease, also " Leaching: using fresh, rapidly growing greens, you only have to boil them once for three to five minutes for them to release most of their bitterness.

http://www.backwoodshome.com/making-dandelions-palatable/

Dandelion greens provide four times as much calcium, 1.5 times as much vitamin A and 7.5 times as much vitamin K as broccoli. This leafy green vegetable also contains twice as much iron and three times as much riboflavin as spinach, and, while spinach provides no vitamin E or carotenoids, dandelion greens boast 17 percent of the daily adult dose of vitamin E and 13,610 international units, or IUs, of lutein and zeaxanthin per 3.5-ounce serving.

Researchers of a study published in the May 2008 issue of the "International Journal of Oncology" found that dandelion leaf extract, but not extracts of dandelion flower or root, decreased growth in tissue cultures of breast cancer cells. Dandelion leaf extract also blocked the spread of prostate cancer in the study.

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/health-benefits-eating-dandelion-greens-4433.html

One cup of dandelion greens contain 203 mg of vitamin K, 244 mg of potassium, 147 mg of calcium, and 3 grams of fiber. They also called nature’s most abundant green vegetable source of beta-carotene. One cup contains 10,000 IU’s of vitamin A and to top it all off it also contains 4,944 mg of zeaxanthin and lutein, good for your eyes.

http://healthybodynow.net/dandelion-greens-nutrition/

Here's a yummy salad-dressing recipe for dandelion green: "

• 1 lemon juiced
• 1 Tbsp. mirin (found in the Asian aisle)
• 1/8 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. tamari soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ tsp. maple syrup

Hey Straw - that's fascinating! So how does one get Lactobacillus Rhamnosus??

Carol

Carol: One can inoculate with L. Rhamnosus (a strain taken from a healthy person) ... with Culturelle probiotics, or make your own pickled-cabbage. If you scroll up, you'll see the research which listed many good bacteria in pickled cabbage, one of them is L. Rhamnosus ... which suppress other bad bacteria such as E. Coli, Samonella.

One pill of Culturelle before bed helps me to sleep better than melatonin, thus help with weight-loss. Innoculation with one pill per day isn't enough ... the good bacteria are constantly killed off by the antibiotics added to beef & milk and poultry, plus junk food like sugar promote yeast, while suppressing the good bacteria.

To feed the good bacteria like L. Rhamnosus, one need to consume pre-biotics daily, such as beans, oatmeal, wheat bran, asparagus, or best dandelion greens. From actzqn link (THANK YOU, actzqn for that Scientific American link):

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-help-make-us-fat-and-thin/

" In studies of twins who were both lean or both obese, researchers found that the gut community in lean people was like a rain forest brimming with many species but that the community in obese people was less diverse. Lean individuals, for example, tended to have a wider variety of Bacteroidetes, a large tribe of microbes that specialize in breaking down bulky plant starches and fibers into shorter molecules that the body can use as a source of energy.

Blaser has shown that when young mice are given low doses of antibiotics, similar to what farmers give livestock, they develop about 15 percent more body fat than mice that are not given such drugs. When Laurie Cox, a graduate student in Blaser's laboratory, combined a high-fat diet with the antibiotics, the mice became obese.

Studies showed that the mice carrying microbes from the obese human had picked up some of their lean roommates' gut bacteria—especially varieties of Bacteroidetes—probably by consuming their feces, a typical, if unappealing, mouse behavior. To further prove the point, the researchers transferred 54 varieties of bacteria from some lean mice to those with the obese-type community of germs and found that the animals that had been destined to become obese developed a healthy weight instead. Transferring just 39 strains did not do the trick.

A diet of highly processed foods, for example, has been linked to a less diverse gut community in people. Gordon's team demonstrated the complex interaction among food, microbes and body weight by feeding their humanized mice a specially prepared unhealthy chow that was high in fat and low in fruits, vegetables and fiber ... Given this “Western diet,” the mice with obese-type microbes proceeded to grow fat even when housed with lean cagemates."

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-gut-bacteria-help-make-us-fat-and-thin/

*** From Straw: My flu-shot reaction led to pneumonia and led to antibiotics. After finishing antibiotics, I was 119 lb., then I took Culturelle (with R. Rhamnosus), stayed between 118 to 119 lb. for 2 months, plus eating pickled-red-cabbage daily. The minute I stopped Culturelle, finished pickled-red-cabbage, plus stopped magnesium .. I gained 4 lbs.

I suspect beneficial bacteria plays a role in deep & good sleep which helps to suppress ghrelin, the "hunger hormone". I notice the night which I take Culturelle plus magnesium before my night-snack .. I sleep really well, and eager to exercise in the morning. I sleep way better with that combo (culturelle & magnesium) than with melatonin.

I guess I could find Culturelle in a health food store? I would never eat pickled red-cabbage....just too yucky. Unfortunately I'm really fussy - don't like legumes, etc. I don't see that changing. Oh well.

Carol

Below are some of my favorite roses: deep pink is Duchess de Rohan, dark red is Mirandy (smells good, but nasty thorns). Red are Firefighter (perfumy scent), Beige is Mary Magdalene. CPM and Golden Celebration below.

More of my favorite roses: Pat Austin, Stephen Big Purple, and Red Yves seedling: All have strong fragrance.

Below research show how wheat bran feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut: "Research from European and American scientists are confirming that wheat bran contains a special prebiotic fiber called arabinoxylan oligosaccharides which boost bifidobacteria content within the gut, and helps relieve numerous gastrointestinal issues."

http://www.realnatural.org/prebiotic-wheat-bran-boosts-and-feeds-important-bifidobacteria/

Fiber-One cereal (with whole wheat and corn bran) once helped me to lose weight fast, 20 lbs. in 6 months, down to 97 lb. Plus it helped my cholesterol to be in normal range & same with triglycerides. Fiber One cereal once a day is OK, but twice a day can cause stomachache. Below is from Los Angeles Times:

http://articles.latimes.com/1988-10-23/local/me-287_1_corn-bran

WASHINGTON — Georgetown University Hospital researchers found when people ate raw corn bran their serum cholesterol was lowered 20% and triglycerides 31%--"the same order of magnitude as reported for oat bran and bean diets," the researchers said.

Straw - I really like your Mirandy!!! So dark!! I was wishing the dark red one is Firefighter - cause I'm getting it this weekend. Mirandy is a standout!!!

Here is a Intrigue, Tropicana, and Yellowstone. My favorite hybrid tea roses.

I think Tropicana is related to Fragrant Cloud.

Yellowstone is beautiful .. will have to look that up in HMF !! I love the color of your intrigue and deep orange of Tropicana (they sell those at Menards for $10 this week with lots of blooms).

I love the look of your Intrigue!!! The petals look so velvety!!! And the color is wonderful!

Carol