20 Foods that Detox Your Body & Mind

The connection between the body and the mind is a very real one, with the way your body feels playing a big part in how your brain functions and whether or not you experience a state of well-being. Keeping it free of toxins, free radicals, and other nasty things that can end up in our insides is essentially to maintaining a healthy life. You’ll notice that with many of these detox foods the road to purification goes through the liver, and getting it to full capacity can have several long-lasting benefits throughout the body.

 

Artichokes
Artichokes help the liver function at its best, which in turn will help your body purge itself of toxins and other things it doesn’t need to survive. It ups the liver’s production of bile, and since bile helps break down foods which helps your body use the nutrients inside them, an increase in bile production is typically a good thing.
Aside from all of the benefits to your liver, it’s also filled with fiber, protein, magnesium, folate, and potassium. It’s simply a good food to add to your diet in order to stay regular, stay healthy, and keep your liver happily doing its job.

 

Asparagus
Despite being a tasty veggie asparagus ranks highly on the detox-o-meter. Not only does it help to detoxify the body, it can help you wage the anti-aging battle, protect you from getting cancer, help your heart to stay healthy, and is a general anti-inflammatory food.
It’s also known to help with liver drainage, which might sound like a bad thing, but since the liver is responsible for filtering out the toxic materials in the food and drinks we consume, anything that backs up its drainage is not doing you any favors.

 

Avocados
Because of its fiber and antioxidant count this is a food that is making it onto more and more detox lists. At first many shied away from them because of they’re high in fat, but ever since the difference between good fats and bad fats become more commonly known, they are now getting the respect they deserve.
Don’t think that the guacamole you can add to your meal at a fast food restaurant for 50 cents more is going to do the detox trick. Opt for organic avocados and consume them without any other ingredients to get the full benefit of their healthy content.

 

Beets
You may only see beets when you order a Greek salad, but you should make a bigger effort to include them into your regular menu, and definitely pick some up if you’re going on a detox diet. There are so many different benefits to them, it’s easy to see why they are often mentioned as a super food.
When you’re detoxing they will help by making sure that the toxins you’re getting out actually make it out of your body. Many detox cleanses go wrong when toxins are reintroduced to the body because they don’t make it all the way out. Beets also help with free-radicals, making them an anti-cancer aid.

 

Broccoli
You’re probably sick of seeing broccoli show up all over the place whenever health food is mentioned. But that’s only because it packs a nutritional punch in a mini-tree shaped vegetable. Why does it belong on your detox food shopping list? It specifically works with the enzymes in your liver to turn toxins into something your body can eliminate easily.
If you’re stuck for ways on how to make broccoli taste better try changing up the way you cook it, or consider eating it raw. But don’t microwave it or it won’t have the same detox properties.

 

Cabbage
Don’t let the fad Cabbage Soup Detox Diet throw you off course with this helpful vegetable. Like most things that go viral this diet has some truth to it, but you don’t have to go to extremes. Cabbage helps your liver with the byproduct being lower cholesterol, so there is more than one reason to include this cruciferous vegetable.
In addition to cleansing your liver cabbage will also aid in helping you go to the bathroom, which in turn helps you expel the toxins, getting them out of your system so you can start fresh.

 

Dandelions
Happy liver, healthy life is the motto here, and dandelion root can help you on your quest to a healthy liver that does its daily duties. This plant is considered a weed by most lawn enthusiasts, but it has several healing properties for the liver, and therefore should not be overlooked when it comes time for detox.
Dandelion has been used to treat liver problems dating back hundreds of years, but you don’t have to wait until your liver is in dire straights to get the benefits. Strengthening an already healthy liver will still yield plenty of good results and makes it worth looking into dandelion on your quest for a cleanse.

Garlic
Many detox diets list garlic as a crucial piece of the puzzle. The reason is that garlic boosts up the immune system as well as helping out the liver. One good thing about garlic is that you can up your intake of it without having to worry if your body is going to get used to it or build up a resistance.
One other positive aspect is that it can help to add flavor to otherwise bland foods that you’ll be eating on your detox program. But if you don’t like the taste of garlic you can still get its benefits because it comes in supplement form.

Ginger
This is one root whose medicinal value dates back to ancient Chinese civilizations, and one that is still believed to offer many health benefits. Often used in a tea or other drink, you can add it to the meals you make as well. It is thought to help the liver function, and has some astringent properties.
Some detox diets ask you to chew on ginger root. You may also find that adding it to hot water makes the water taste better. Basically any way you can think of it get it into your system is going to be beneficial, especially if you’re suffering from a fatty liver caused by too much alcohol, or too many toxic foods and drinks.

Grapefruit
The fiber and the nutrient-rich juices in a grapefruit pack a nice detox punch and can really get your body into action as far as detoxing goes. It’s all about flooding the body with good things for it while helping it dislodge the bad things. The effects of grapefruit on weight loss are well-established, and one reason may be because of the way it makes the liver burn up fat.
The big takeaway on grapefruit is that it gets your liver fired up and ready for action, while infusing the rest of your organs with nutrient-laden fruit juice. It’s a winner when it comes to detox foods.

Green Tea
Green tea is often thought of as a great addition to any detox program because of its high antioxidant value. Antioxidants are helpful because they will help seek out and kill free radicals before they can do any damage. This is a great beverage to drink on a daily basis for this factor alone.
Getting into a healthy state of mind is a matter of feeling like you’re doing what’s best for your body. It can be something as simple as substituting green tea for colas, juices, and other teas so that you can actually be benefiting your body from a beverage instead of hurting it.

Kale
Dr. Oz includes kale in his 48 Hour Weekend Cleanse and recommends blending it up in a shake. However you choose to get it into your body, the benefits are that it contains plenty of nutrients, and also acts as a way to help flush out the kidneys, a set of organs that must be cleansed on any good detox effort.
This vegetable is so good for you that it is often recommended to patients that are following a doctor recommended diet when fighting kidney disease. It’s packed with so many antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties as well, not to mention all of the vitamins and minerals it contains.

Lemongrass
This is an herb that is used in Thailand and other parts of the world as a natural way to cleanse several organs at once. It not only helps the liver but also the kidneys, the bladder, and the entire digestive tract. Benefits of using it in your cooking, or drinking it as a tea include a better complexion, better circulation, and better digestion.
It is most often used as a tea in the world of detoxing, and there are several recipes you can try until you find one that suits your tastes best.

Lemons
Lemons and lemon juice are often mentioned when detoxing, and there’s even a few Lemon Detox Diets floating around out there. It’s simply a matter of adding lemon juice to water and drinking it. It’s supposed to flush toxins from your body. Some people add cayanne pepper and sweeten it with sugar, but sugar is not recommended if you’re trying to get a detoxifying effect from it.
It helps with your digestion and you can drink a cup of hot water with lemon added in order to prepare your digestive system for that day’s work.

Olive Oil
Some liver cleanses out there call for olive oil mixed with fruit juice in order to trigger your liver to expunge its gallstones. But aside from that olive oil should be your go-to oil for use in cooking when you’re trying to detox the body. That’s because it has a lot of healthy properties, and makes for a better choice of fat than most of your other options.
Just be sure not to cook with it at high heat. Use it as a salad dress to help things like dark leafy greens go down.

Seaweed
This probably doesn’t enter your menu unless it’s wrapped around a piece of sushi, but seaweed has a ton of nutrients and antioxidants in it. If you’re trying to get more detox foods into the body, don’t go for the nori they used to hold together a sushi roll, you’ll want to go with kelp instead to get the most out of it and avoid the salt that’s added to the dried nori.
The kelp is used in Asian cuisine and can often be found in soups. That’s a great way to have it when you’re detoxing, and it makes it so it’s easy to digest and tastes good too.

Turmeric
This is an herb that usually shows up as a tea, and it has specifically been studied in relation to the effect that it has on the liver. It’s said that you can do a detox using just turmeric tea, and drinking it for a week straight along with a healthy diet.
If you are simply looking for a way to start adding detoxifying foods to your diet, it would be good to keep this on hand and to substitute it for another beverage to reap its healthy benefits.

Water
Water is often overlooked but is so important for all of your organs, and for flushing toxins out of your body. If you’re exercising and taking saunas to help release the toxins it becomes even more important to stay hydrated.
If you’re not used to drinking water daily, be sure to only increase your intake by one cup at a time so you don’t overload yourself. Your kidneys won’t know what to do if they’re not used to getting water and then get a ton of it.

Watercress
Give your liver a big boost with cleansing action of watercress. If you’re into making smoothies for your detoxing this is a great one to blend up and drink down. You can also try adding it to a salad, but you might want to make sure you enjoy the taste first. It’s an acquired taste for some, and a source of consistent dislike for others.
This helps to release enzymes in the liver that clean it out and help rid it of toxic buildup. A great way to be good to yourself!

Wheatgrass
All of those health nuts that have been drinking wheatgrass shakes for years were onto something. This is a great boost to your liver and it can help you feel good all day due to its alkaline property.
It’s also effective at lowering your blood sugar and for getting your metabolism back on track. It’s simply a great food to consume, and is a nice counteraction to any junk you may have eaten in the past. Show your body you really do love it.

+ 4 Things to Avoid

Alcohol
Alcohol has a very toxic effect on the liver, and will undo all of your hard detox work. It can single-handedly cause a fatty liver, or it can contribute to one. When your liver is taxed your whole body suffers. Try to eliminate or at least drastically cut back during any detox program you follow.

Caffeinated Beverages
Beverages with caffeine in them have a dehydrating effect on the body, and make the liver work overtime to process the caffeine they contain. You have to drink plenty more water to counteract the dehydrating effects they cause, so it’s easier to just avoid them while you’re trying to detox.

Sweets, Candies, Chocolates
Excess sugar will also cause excess stress to your liver, and will thwart your cleansing efforts. Try your best to cut out these foods you’re craving. You’ll find that as you release toxins from your body you’ll crave these kind of foods less and less, but you have to give them up in order for this to happen.

Overeating
Overloading your digestive system leads to things moving sluggishly, and can lead to an accumulation of toxins. While you’re trying to detox you want to make sure that you’re stopping when you almost feel full, and that you’re eating freshly prepared foods that are high in fiber and nutrients.

Keep in mind that not one single detox food on this list is a magical one that you can focus all of your attention on to fully cleanse the body. Consider increasing your intake on as many as you can reasonably accommodate. Some might be hard to incorporate, either because you can’t find them locally or you can’t picture yourself adding them to your diet. Just do the best you can to come up with a detox plan that works for you and that you feel good about.

7 Weird Reasons You're Tired All the Time

 Here are 7 reasons you could be dragging--and how to regain more energy than you ever remember having.

You're dehydrated 

Healthy women who failed to replace a mere 1.5% of their water weight experienced mood swings and low energy levels, according to a 2012 study in The Journal of Nutrition. The study authors suspect neurons in your hypothalamus--the brain region responsible for controlling things like hydration and body temperature--send mood-altering messages to the rest of your brain as an early warning to drink more water.

Your fix: Drink up, and and ditch that 8-glasses-a-day guideline: A one-size-fits-all water measurement won't work since your hydration needs vary based on things like the weather and your workouts. In general, you should have to pee at least once every three hours and your urine should have a light lemonade-colored tint, says Gina Sirchio, DC, CCN, a chiropractic physician and nutritionist at the LaGrange Institute of Health in Chicago.

You're low on B12
 Your body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells and keep neurons functioning properly. Deficiency decreases the amount of oxygen your blood can carry through your body, leaving you with that sleeping-with-your-eyes-open feeling. As you age, you produce less of a protein called intrinsic factor, which helps you process the nutrient.

Because only animal foods naturally contain B12, vegetarians and vegans face an elevated risk of running low, as do people who've had stomach or intestinal surgeries (these procedures often alter the tissue where B12 absorption takes place, Dr. Sirchio says). Even low or borderline levels--not necessarily full-blown deficiency--can wear you down.

Your fix: If your fatigue comes along with forgetfulness, restless legs, or numbness and tingling, consider B12 deficiency as a potential culprit. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for a blood test of your levels. If you're low, you may need supplements. Your doctor will tell you how much to take, but typical doses range from 100 to 500 mcg. Choose a formula labeled "methylcobalomin" instead of "cyanocobalamin," Dr. Sirchio says--it's easier for your body to use. Note that supplements will only boost your energy if you're low to begin with; unlike caffeine, B vitamins won't give you an added oomph if you already have ample stores. 
 

You're overwhelmed with stress
 Trying to do it all comes with a huge downside. Normally, your levels of the stress hormone cortisolrun highest in the morning and dip down at night, helping you maintain a normal daily rhythm. But chronic stress throws this pattern out of whack in either direction, says Marc Bubbs, ND, CSCS, founder of Naturopathic Sports Medicine in Toronto. If your body remains on constant alert, yourcortisol levels may never fall off at night, disrupting your sleep. Or, your adrenal glands may eventually fall behind in cortisol production, leaving you sleepwalking through your morning.

Your fix: You can't always control the sources of stress, but you can change your reaction. Mindfulness practices have been shown to ease stress and fatigue in people with chronic medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and they work for healthy people, too. 

You have hidden heart disease
In a study in the journal Heart & Lung, half of women who had heart attacks said they had trouble sleeping and felt unusually fatigued in the weeks beforehand. Weariness and shortness of breath when you exercise, climb stairs, or otherwise exert yourself should also raise a red flag, Dr. Hussain says. Blocked arteries or a weak heart muscle reduce blood flow, preventing your muscles and tissues from getting the oxygen they need to function properly.

Your fix: Get to the doctor, especially if you've suddenly lost your get-up-and-go or if you have other strange symptoms, such as chest pain, anxiety, or trouble concentrating. He or she may recommend a stress test or an echocardiogram to screen for heart disease, Dr. Hussain says.

You've probably heard to eat fish for your heart, but not all fish is healthy. Click here for12 Fish To Never, Ever Eat.

Your iron levels are too low--or too high
 Most women know anemia leads to fatigue. But don't assume popping iron supplements will pep you up. Yes, low iron levels lead to poorly formed red blood cells that deprive your body of refreshing oxygen. However, getting too much iron can wear you down as well. Your body uses vitamins, minerals, and energy to rid your system of the excess, leaving you with little left to run on, says Dr. Sirchio.

Your fix: Consider your risk factors: Iron deficiency often strikes vegetarians and vegans, people with digestive diseases or thyroid problems, women on hormonal birth control, and those with a very heavy menstrual flow. On the flip side, high levels can run in families or result from taking supplements, and often cause other signs that include feeling cold, thinning hair and nails, or dizziness when you stand up. Striking the right balance is important, so don't take iron pills on your own, Dr. Sirchio warns--talk with your doctor about yearly blood tests to check your levels. If they're abnormal, have them checked monthly until they level off, then every three to six months until you steadily see normal readings.

You're not working out
 Especially when paired with chronic stress, too much time spent sedentary drains your fuel tank even though you're merely idling, Dr. Bubbs says. Picture it: A stressful day at work cranks up your cortisol and blood glucose levels, triggering your knee jerk reaction to fight or flee. But when you spend your afternoon and evening barely moving between your computer screen and your couch, you never release that energy and tension. This can keep your engine revved and disrupt yoursleep at night--or burn out your body's cortisol factory so much that you're dragging the next morning.

Your fix: Start moving if you're sedentary. Women who get the government-recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week report less fatigue and more energy and vigor than those who don't, according to a recent study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. If you're using exercise to help you sleep better, give your new regimen time to take hold-another study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found you'll need to move consistently for a few weeks or even months to reap the restful benefits. Download our 14 Walking Workouts That Burn Fat And Boost Energy for a plan to get started.

You're exercising too much
 On the flip side, you can have too much of a good thing. If you're sweating every day or doing heavy-duty training for an event like a triathlon, fatigue and trouble sleeping can serve as a sign that you're pushing your body beyond its limits. Workouts--and especially endurance sports like long-distance running and cycling--also cause a spike in cortisol. If you're not striking the right balance between activity and rest, you can overload your system with physical stress just as you can with emotional or mental pressure, Dr. Bubbs points out.

Your fix: If you're exercising regularly but suddenly tire more easily, you may be overreaching. Try taking a few days of complete rest. Then ease back into your routine, doing about 25% of your usual activity for a week and adding another 25% each week until you're back up to speed, advises Tom Holland, MS, CSCS, 21-time Ironman Triathlete and author of The Marathon Method.

You have a urinary tract infection
 If you've had a UTI before, you know the burning urgency that comes when you pee. But about half of women who show up with UTIs also report fatigue and a general sense of illness, and the rate increases among those 40 or older, says Ashley Carroll, MD, an assistant professor of urogynecology at Virginia Commonwealth University. "Basically, it's your body's way of forcing you to rest in order to focus energy on fighting the infection," Dr. Carroll says.

Your fix: Head to the doctor if you suspect a UTI. Prescription antibiotics can banish the bacteria. All your symptoms, including fatigue, should subside within seven to 10 days of completing treatment. As you're healing, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and eat a healthy diet, Dr. Carroll advises. If you're prone to frequent UTIs (more than a couple per year) talk with your doctor--long-term prophylactic antibiotics can ward off future infections. 

Turmeric: Anti-Depressant, Anti-Cancer and More

Vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients in turmeric:

Manganese, iron, vitamin B6, potassium.

Potential Health Benefits of Turmeric:

The phytochemical curcumin (the yellow or orange pigment in turmeric) is thought to be one of the main sources of turmeric’s medicinal properties; it is at the very least one of the most studied nutrients in turmeric. (But as with all beneficial foods, we recommend using turmeric in its whole spice form.)

1. Anti-Inflammatory: Turmeric’s volatile oils (essential oils) and the phytochemical curcumin have been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

“In numerous studies, curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin.” –whfoods.

And thankfully when you’re spicing up your curry with turmeric you don’t have to worry about ulcers, intestinal bleeding or any of the other side effects that the pharmaceutical drugs mentioned above may cause.

2. Relieves depression: A study out of Baylor University Medical Center has demonstrated that curcumin may be nearly as powerful as Prozac for relieving symptoms of depression. Further studies are needed to confirm this study’s findings, but the initial reports are hopeful. 

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Curcumin, along with being an excellent and safe anti-inflammatory, is also a powerful anti-oxidant. These two properties combine to create an excellent recipe for relief from joint discomfort. In studies comparing curcumin use with phenylbutazone (a common anti-inflammatory drug), curcumin produced comparable improvement in mobility, swelling and morning stiffness.

4. Cancer Prevention: Curcumin and turmeric as a whole food have been widely studied in relationship to cancer prevention and treatment. These studies have suggested that components in turmeric could possibly help prevent/treat everything from skin cancer to childhood leukemia.

Just some of what the research has suggested thus far (refers to studies/research done on curcumin unless otherwise noted):

-       Inhibits the growth of skin cancer (melanoma)

-       Protects colon cells from free radicals

-       Helps the body to destroy mutated cancer cells

-       Enhances liver function, inhibiting the synthesis of certain proteins needed for tumor formation

-       Has been linked to lower rates of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer (Research looked at the frequent use of turmeric in one‘s diet.)

-       Slows the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs, when breast cancer is already present

-       Turns off genes associated with tumor growth

-       Suppresses cancer cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis (cell self destruction) in cancerous cells

-       Reduces the risk of developing childhood leukemia (Research looked at foods spiced with turmeric.)

-       Inhibits the carcinogenic chemicals created by the burning of carbon-based fuels

-       Inhibits radiation-induced chromosome damage

-       Irreversibly inhibits the multiplication of leukemia cells (in a cell culture.)

5. Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Research suggests that IBD’s such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis may be treated with curcumin.

6. Cystic Fibrosis: Preliminary studies have shown that curcumin may have the ability to correct the genetic defects that are responsible for cystic fibrosis.

7. Improved Liver Function: Studies suggest that turmeric may improve liver function by increasing the liver’s ability to perform its detoxification duties.

8. Cardiovascular Protection: Research suggests that curcumin may help protect the cardiovascular system from disease. It does this by helping to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. This is important because oxidized cholesterol is part of what builds up in plaque that damages blood vessels and can lead to heart attacks or stroke. Turmeric is also a good source of vitamin B6, which is important for cardiovascular health.

9. Lowering Cholesterol: Research has revealed that curcumin can act as a “messaging molecule” to communicate with genes in liver cells. It lowers cholesterol levels by telling the liver cells to create more receptors for LDL cholesterol. With these extra LDL-receptors, the liver cells can expedite the process of removing LDL-cholesterol from the body.

10. Protection against Alzheimer‘s disease: A rising number of studies suggest that turmeric may help protect against neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s (and possibly multiple sclerosis). This is done, in part, through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin can also cross the blood-brain barrier dissolving “amyloid dibrils” and inhibiting “amyloid-B aggregation,” both of which help prevent plaque from forming between cells (which is characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease).

“The most active ingredient in turmeric root, bisdemethoxycurcumin, boosts the activity of the immune system in Alzheimer‘s patients, helping them to clear the amyloid beta plaques characteristic of the disease.“- whfoods

As you can see, there is plenty of information out there about the health benefits of enjoying turmeric and the phytochemicals it contains – so enjoy some in your stir fry tonight, your tea tomorrow or even your morning smoothie. 

5 Foods and Drinks from the Bible We Still Consume Today

The Bible is chock-full of food: foods that we consume nearly every day, foods that exist but we've only heard about, and foods that exist purely within the Biblical canon. Some are mentioned symbolically, some are simple meals. We've rounded up some of the most important, well-known foods mentioned in the Bible. 

Food makes its first presence known at the (literal) beginning , in Genesis 1:29, where the Bible reads:

"Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.'"  

Food was first created for Adam and Eve to be healthy and strong, according to the Examiner. Throughout the Bible, food is seen as a means to save lives. For example, in 1 Kings 17:4, the Lord says to Elijah,

"You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there."  

Some may even argue that food symbolizes a ritual and spiritual observance, because it takes time to plant, grow, and harvest crops. It is a labor of love, and it teaches the grower to be patient and respect the beauty of nature. 

Some take food in the Bible quite literally: there is even a Biblical diet in which only foods mentioned in the Bible can be eaten. The diet doesn't exactly comply with the USDA food pyramid, but the USDA was not created until much later.

Be it it symbolic or utilitarian, a lot of food is mentioned throughout the Bible. There are many interpretations of what the food actually means, but it's really what you make of it.  

Olive Oil

In the Bible, olive oil is used to keep lamps burning and to make bread. For example, In Exodus 27:20, the Lord said to Aaron, "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning."

Unleavened Bread (Matzo)

In Exodus 12:17, the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come."

The festival mentioned is, of course, Passover. As the story goes, when the Jews were released from bondage in Egypt, they had no time to let their bread rise, so were forced to eat unleavened bread instead. According to The Good News, unleavened bread represents sincerity and truth, and is eaten by Jews every Passover.

Lentils and Beans

2 Samuel 23:11-12 discusses how Shammah defeated the Philistines in the middle of a field of lentils in Israel and brought about a victory for the Lord. According to Gospel Bread of Life, the lentils represented a part of the Promised Land and how it should be fought for. Even if it was a hill of beans, it was a fight to defend God's fruit of labor.

There is also a recipe mentioned in Ezekiel 4:9: "Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side." Many bread recipes, including the popular Ezekiel bread, are based on this passage.

Vinegar

Vinegar was treated similar to wine and other alcohol because it is made from the same ingredients as wine, according to Daily Bible Study. Nazirites were not allowed to drink vinegar. The Lord said to Moses in Numbers 6:3, "…they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink."

Jesus was also offered vinegar twice. The first time was when he was first crucified as an way to numb the pain of suffering on the cross. He refused because he wanted to suffer with a clear conscience, according to House to House. He accepted the second time because he needed to moisten his mouth before he said his final words.

Wine

Like today, wine is viewed in the Bible as both a sacramental and celebratory drink. For example, Melchizedek the King of Salem and Priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine in Genesis 14:17-19 when Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer. Wine is also a divine blessing; according to bibletools.org, it represents "joy, celebration, and festivity," and also is "praised as gracious divine blessing." Aside from intoxicating effects, it also represents the blood of Christ, who famously converted water into wine. 

Photos Of 19-Month-Old From His ‘Point Of View’ (33 pics)

A guy gave his 19-month-old son his Canon G12. His boy was wandering around the house and garden taking photos and saying ‘cheese’. Here is what his photos look like.

Stan has learned how to use a camera and to shout out cheese as he presses the shutter

He started snapping away saying ‘cheese’ at everything

Guy Makes A Kickass Portable Retro-Gaming Console (24 pics)

Finished product first!

I'm quite happy with how it turned out, considering all the little details behind the scenes to make it work... Here's the key features:
- Raspberry Pi 3 running RetroPie image
- Can emulate all the classic gaming consoles you can imagine up to & including the N64!
- Battery powered with rechargeable 2x 3400mAh Li-Ion
- 5" 800x480 screen
- HDMI output for playing on TV
- Stereo speakers and heaphone jack with volume control
- Battery power/charging indicator lights
- Teensy microprocessor to read button states and act as Joystick

The Side

Here you can see the headphone jack, volume control wheel and a USB port

Hands on

The controller's player number indicators are used to show battery charge when Power button is pressed

Underneath

The HDMI output, charging port and 2 more USB ports are on the top. Controller trigger buttons are intact!
I had to install a small external cooling fan due to some unforeseen overheating problems I'll explain later..

How it all started

I've come across a few posts of people doing similar things with the Raspberry Pi and the RetroPie OS or similar, and there are quite a few write-ups of people following this recipe along with a fully 3D-printed body, or putting it inside and existing Gameboy.

Originally I planned to go for the completely custom 3D printed body because it allowed more flexibility and control over design. I started to order parts including a 5" screen and a bunch of cheap console controllers from eBay to salvage parts from (like the buttons) or use as external controllers for multiplayer games.

Then when I got one of the knock-off Wii Pro controllers in my hand I realised I probably wouldn't be able to design and create something this sleek and ergonomic.. I held the screen to the top of the controller and then I knew exactly what had to be done!

It's meant to be!

First step was to take apart and begin mutilating the controller. I figured the hand grips of the controller would be ideal places for batteries to fit, and they barely did (I had to cut away some of the joystick boards)

Early Layout

This was a very rough layout of components that changed dramatically as I improvised this entire project...

Power Supply Woes

Sorting out the power supply system was one of the most annoying parts of this project. I needed a power controller that would seamlessly handle battery charging, battery protection, battery power supply and external power supply.

Other similar builds have used the Adafruit Powerboost (https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-powerboost-1000c-load-share-usb-charge-boost/overview), and it's pretty much exactly what I needed except it's only rated for 1A power output, but the new Raspberry Pi 3 is a hungry beast and recommends a 2A supply.

Turns out that USB power banks are also quite ideal since they contain all that charging and protection circuitry, and some can output 2A. That mess above is one of those.

However there was an annoying issue with it since it's not designed to have both its output and input connected to the same thing (the Raspberry Pi in this case). The input and output of the power supply seemed to be isolated circuits (not common ground) and when the grounds were connected it caused the charger to enter some kind of semi-on state.

The solution was to use a mini relay to connect the charger input to the RPI when there is external power supplied.

Using controller player number lights as power indicators

The USB power bank also came with handy features like a power button and 4 charging/battery status indicator LEDs. The controller has a power button and 4 LEDs to indicate player number... what are the odds!

Here is the controller's mutilated circuit board with 4 wires connecting to the indicator LEDS (underneath) and one going to the power button pad.

Jumping into the future...

Here's how the other ends of those wires connect to the power button and LED outputs on the power supply board.

The Octopus

Unfortunately the Wii controller was Bluetooth-only and I couldn't even get it to work with anything other than an actual Wii. Therefore it was time to go for the brute force method of reading the button states with a Teensy (a mini powerful Arduino) which can act as a Joystick HID when connected to the RPI through USB.

Luckily the controller board had pads for all the button signals and here you can see them all wired up (except for the analogue joysticks).

Modified Pi

To slim things down a bit I removed the tall USB hubs, Ethernet port and GPIO pins from the RPI. I replaced two of them with thinner, side-by-side ports.

Screen

The screen is a 5" car reversing camera screen which takes the composite video feed from the Rpi It's meant to be powered by the 12V from a car battery, but actually has a switching regulator which converts this down to 3.3V. Unfortunately this built-in regulator didn't work too well with a 5V input voltage, so I had to bypass it and use another 5v to 3.3v regulator.

Originally I used an inefficient linear regulator to do this, but then found it got very hot due to the power it was dissipating (even with a heatsink), and replaced it with a better switching regulator.

Audio

Here I'm testing some mini speakers with a small stereo amplifier. I found that the audio output from the RPi was just a bit low for my liking, apparently it's not meant to power headphones directly. So I decided to use USB soundcard, which also meant I then needed a USB hub to split the single remaining internal USB port (for the Teensy and the soundcard). This caused some issues with the USB hub dying when things got hot inside the case, so in hindsight it might of been best to just deal with the lower audio volume.

I put analogue volume control wheel in between the soundcard and the headphone jack, and the speakers are disconnected when headphones are plugged in.

The speakers are contained within the controller body and the gaps around the analogue joysticks conveniently allow sound to pass through, without having to make any extra holes.

CAD Time!

Now I needed to design the housing for the screen and other components, and how it would attach to the controller.

First step was to intricately measure every component and all their details and draw them up in Solidworks.

Then began the incredibly time consuming process of improvising a design to contain them all. In the end it worked out quite well and was very compact.

The screen slides into the slot underneath on the right.

Without the bits

The screen goes behind this, facing the other way, with lips around the edge to hold it in place. The screen controlling board will be in that big gap in the middle.

I took an overhead photo of the controller to get the curved contour shape of its top, then scaled it and traced over it in Solidworks. The bottom of this screen holder will go inside the controller and be secured with screws & glue.

There is also a back plate which goes on top of this and has grills for ventilation.

From pixels to real life

I got the model SLS printed by an online 3D printing service, turned out very nicely. Here I'm just testing it out before sanding, priming & painting.

WIth Back cover

Wiring it up

This is when it all starts to come together
- Power supply board on the right, connected to RPi power input at the top through the relay (white box) and to the batteries down below
- USB hub (orange/brown board) with Teensy connected (rainbow ribbon)
- USB Soundcard (green with black blob) connected directly to USB hub, audio output wires coming off - Linear regulator for screen (down the bottom with red feet - to be replaced).

Finishing touches (take 1)

So this is pretty much what it looks like under the hood.
- The audio amplifier is sitting in the middle on top of the Teensy
- Speakers are on the sides next to batteries and thumb-stick boards
- There are two white plugs near the middle of the controller, next to the big red connector. They connect to the trigger buttons contained in the bottom half of the controller case.

Adding a Fan

When I finally got to use the device I discovered the USB Hub overheating issue.

Even though I put ventilation grills on the back cover, the components are just so dense inside and the back of the RPi effectively shields its CPU (underneath) from any air movement, so it get hot in there pretty quick.

I drilled some extra holes in the back case, some where the fan will go and a few more on the vertical face to allow air to. come out the side. I glued on some supporting screw holes to secure the fan to.

The fan fits nicely and isn't super obtrusive. Its power wires go through one of the cut-out slots and will be connected to a detachable plug.

I also drilled some holes through the RPi board itself (Where the USB ports used to be) to allow air to flow out from underneath. There is a strip of adhesive foam on the back cover which stops air from taking the easy path straight across to the opposite ventilation holes, forcing it to flow underneath the RPi where the CPU & heatsink is.

Fan Control

Everything is smart these days, even fans. I set it up so that it only turns on when the RPi CPU temperature gets too high. This is done with a Python script running on the RPi, reading temperature, and triggering a transistor to turn the fan on or off.

The fan works well to solve overheating problems and keeps the CPU temperature below 60C!

Time to Play!
Now it's time to catch up on all the old classics I never got a chance to try. I can also use it as a media centre with Kodi! This was a fun & rewarding project, and I think it's a very good, unique alternative to trying to design an ergonomic body from scratch. Finding a suitable controller that uses a standard USB connection and not having to use a USB hub would simplify things quite a lot. Thanks for reading!