Gynura Procumbens - Miracle Plant?

One of it's formal names is Gynura Procumbens - more commonly called "Longevity Spinach" or just plain Gynura.

The person who turned-me-on to Gynura is a Type 1 Diabetic who wears the insulin injection pump device; he claims that, since eating the plant's leaves, his insulin requirement has been reduced a considerable amount! Since he now sells the plant, rooted cuttings, cloning equipment, etc., I figured he was just being a typical, good salesman and was trying to sell me his products. Instead of selling however, he offered me several cuttings, along with a sample of his cloning machine, to try to grow the Gynura plant hydroponically - there is no way in hell I could refuse all those freebies! Also, by that time, I was very curious about the plant's properties and if any of the things he told me about it and things I found on the internet soon after our meeting were true.
Looks like there is a great deal of truth to his story, but that is not all: I started munching the leaves (roughly 6 - 7 medium sized a day) about six months ago. It was an easy task, since I was tending to the cuttings and plants in my greenhouse and - since the Gynura plant grows very fast - leaves were soon readily available.
At the time I weighed 220 pounds and basically, mainly because of my obese condition, did not feel very well most of the time. Sometimes I didn't feel like eating that wonderful Dick's Deluxe or McDonald's quarter-pounder with cheese but managed to forge ahead and eat 'em anyhow!

Now, six months later, I weigh 170 pounds naked (I guess there is part of that you don't really need to know) and I feel great! So, what happened? I have to say that I really don't know; all I did was start eating a few leaves and a couple of weeks later my wife mentioned that I looked like I was losing weight. "You talking to me?" I asked. But, at the same time, I did notice that my pants were not as tight and felt better than normal - sort of what a young buck may feel during mating season..
By the way, why is it so hard to find "stretch-waist" jeans for men? Doesn't seem fair... but, screw it, I don't need them anymore anyhow! I went from a very tight 40 to a rather loose 36 and expect to reduce to a 34 waist before long. What a rush this is to me - I haven't weighed 170 since I was in my very early 30's!!

My neighbor is a Type 2 Diabetic and I told him about the plant and it's owner's claims. I had several plants by then and gave a couple to him. A couple of weeks later he, very excitedly told me that his blood sugar got so low that he had to quit taking the pill! That has been about two months ago and he is still off the pill. My wife is eating the leaves as well - I call it bush-munching - and is also losing weight.

So, I think what Mike from Green Harmony - the Gynura guru - told me was true and I also think that the plant has either changed my metabolism, cut my cravings (it has) or both. It has, in fact, made me a lot more regular! From two number 2's a day to 3 or 4, I would say that's considerably more regular, especially for an old guy...

I don't claim that this herb will do anything for you - I know very little about herbs in general, antioxidants, vitamins, nutrients and micro-nutrients, etc. (Sadly, I've always expended more effort towards fixing my Chevy than learning that herbal stuff!) but I truly believe it has helped me lose weight and feel better so - even if it is a "sugar-pill" and it's all in my mind - I just don't give a hoot; I'm gonna continue growing and munchin' the Gynura bush!

Fast Food Prevails!

Most fast food is not super-good for us, but it's cheap, provides a certain degree of nourishment and down-right delicious!

For example, a burger provides nourishment because it contains an abundance of nutrients; leaning more heavily toward the starch/fat end of the spectrum. But despite the high fat and carb content, it still is quite nourishing and, let's face it, tastes pretty darned good! Reduce the fat content and the taste is also reduced - dramatically! Can you even imagine removing that delicious greasy-fat from a Jack-in-the-box 2 for $.99 deep-fried taco? How about that Jack's Ultimate grease-dripping Cheese Burger? Micky D's Quarter-pounder with cheese? No way dude! By the way, Micky D's cooks-up the best french -fries and Jack produces the best curly-fries.

Despite the present hard times; a weak economy coupled with a lousy job market caused, in part, by an abundant supply of crappy, special-interest politicians, the fast food business will most likely remain a success.
Of course, the main reason it will remain a success is that most fast food tastes GREAT!
My favorite is a Dick's Deluxe burger coupled with a REAL strawberry ice cream shake. Can't handle Dick's fries though, real, hand-cut potatoes but much too limp and greasy for my taste. I believe, after having a little fry-cook experience, that the oil temp is probably too low for erect, sturdy, less greasy fries. We lovingly refer to them as "Limp Dick's fries".

But since I mentioned Dick's Drive-in Restaurant, and they are local establishments - let's use Dick's as a prime example of success; I borrow the following brief history from Wikipedia:

"Founders Dick Spady, H. Warren Ghormley, and Dr. B. O. A. Thomas opened the first Dick's in 1954 in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood, on N.E. 45th Street close to the University of Washington. In 1955, a second Dick's was opened in Seattle's Capitol Hill district. This was followed by a third in 1960 in the Ballard neighborhood, a 4th in 1963 in Lake City, a fifth in Queen Anne in 1974. In September 2010, it was announced that Dick's was planning on opening a new sixth location in Seattle and that an online poll on their website would determine the new location. After a few weeks of polling, North Seattle won the right for a new Dick's Drive-In. On October 15, 2010, Dick's officials announced the new location to be in Edmonds on the corner of Hwy 99 and 220th St. All but the Queen Anne location are without customer seating. The Queen Anne location has indoor tables and no drive-in. The restaurants only accept cash; there are no ways to use electronic forms of payment.

The simple menu has changed little over time. It features fast-food staples such as hand-cut french fries, and individually made milkshakes. Dick's is particularly well known for the "Dick's Special," which includes lettuce, mayonnaise, and chopped pickles; and the "Dick's Deluxe," a quarter-pound version of the Special, with cheese. These burgers were added in 1971. Cashiers do not accept variations on the burger's preparation, or omissions such as asking for the burger without lettuce, but will serve the Deluxe without cheese.

For several years Dick's has promoted benefits offered to employees such as 401K, medical coverage, and a college tuition scholarship."

End of history.

I would like to mention here, perhaps adding to the history of Dick's Restaurant, that Dick's serves a wide range of customers, ranging from the poorest among us (that would probably include me) to one of the richest people in the world - Bill Gates, Jr. At least that is what is reputed to be true.

Also, over the past 30 years that I have visited Dick's for an occasional "Dick's deluxe and a strawberry shake", I have noticed they obviously do not discriminate in either clientele or employment opportunities.

So, in very deep recession, despite pending competition from four (4) other major fast food establishments in very close proximity - a new, modern Dick's drive-in Restaurant is being built. New people are hired, trained, etc. Rather telling, I would say, about the popularity of fast food even in the most troubled times.

I recently discovered (quite by accident) a diet that works well for me and that I know will stay with me. Six months ago I weighed 220 pounds - today I weigh 175. Pretty easy math on that one.... But that's another story. The point for this post is that, part of the "diet" concerns drastically reducing the consumption of what we refer to as fast or "junk" foods. But, I said
"reducing" not eliminating. So, here's a couple of photos of my favorites - "Dick's Deluxe"; two pure beef patties, one slice of cheese, a generous glob of mayo mixed with lettuce and pickles and a pure white bun and a real ice cream strawberry shake - yummy to the power of 10 !! Click on that Dick's Deluxe photo on the left - can't you almost taste the goodness!
By the way, if you want ketchup or onions, it will cost you 5 cents a small cup - darned good way to cut waste!

So here's the wrap: I have been told that the owners of the business are conservative and I don't doubt that - but these folks are true conservatives - unlike the group in congress and the senate making the most feeble attempt running our great country via special interest groups. I'm talking about so-called conservative democrats too. These Dick's partners may even realize that Reagan was actually a lousy president and maybe republicans shouldn't continuously use him as a pattern.
True conservatives know how to run a business effectively, these guys obviously have that know-how and truly know and practice the bottom line: Businesses are made most effective by how it's employees handle the product and conduct themselves. A happy worker is more than pleased to do a better than average job and they are made happy by being treated fairly. I am sure that the employees of Dick's drive-in restaurants feel like part of a family by the way they are treated - fair wages, excellent benefits, a chance for promotions and higher education - I wonder if I am too old for an interview?