Dear Cia Column

Dear A4,

Thank you, finally! XD
Anyway, this was already asked before eons ago, but it's worth rehashing that, aside from being used a little during the first few days of the forum, that feature has never really proven popular. In fact, I'd consider disabling it if not for the relatively harmless nature of it. ^^

--Cia

Dear Cia,

Can having a pet actually relieve stress? Does having more than one pet strengthen this effect?

Dear Avocado,

Well, assuming your pet isn't a killer crocodile trying to eat you, pets can offer "some" stress relief, especially if they are loving and friendly companions. We're social creatures by nature, so any companionship, even non-human, can help fill in an emotional and spiritual void.  Just be mindful that taking care of a pet isn't ALWAYS stress relieving... when it is naughty, gets into fights with other pets, gets sick, or eventually passes, those can be very stressful experiences (though hopefully this is only rare).

As far as whether the effect is amplified.... 

I view pet ownership as following the same law of diminishing returns... having more than one loving pet can increase the stress relief slightly since you'll feel more of this companionship, but of course the work also doubles or triples.  There comes a point where this bell curve reaches its peak and then spirals downward into a precipice of terror, whereby you have to care for 15 or 20 dogs and cats, and your house is as chaotic as a zoo... that is NEVER stress-free no matter how much you love them, as the poop alone would be a chore to clean on an hourly basis. XD


--Cia

Dear Cia,

What are some good ways to boost ones metabolism?

Dear Spit,

Well aside from my standard health advice I've already offered, I wouldn't say there are any "good" ways since boosting one's metabolism is not really an on/off switch in us that can be activated for extreme weight loss.  Something like coffee or other caffeine can boost your metabolism temporarily, but not in a way that is sustainable in the long-term; green tea might be slightly better, but its no panacea.  Aerobic exercise like running offers a good short-term boost, while anaerobic exercise like weight lifting helps offer a more long-term boost in metabolism (albeit while doing activities, not from just sitting around all day).  To the latter I can probably add that reducing the time you spend all day sitting or lying down will help... stand or kneel as often as possible to spend a bit more calories than just sitting.  

And contrary to popular belief, you don't want to engage in semi-starvation diets as these will cause your metabolism to slow-down in the long-run, and that's not good for anyone. Short-term intermittent fasting, however, can help, so I would definitely consider this practice for general wellness if you don't do this already.  

Also not as effective, but still fun and healthy, I find coconut offers a nice pick-me-up to metabolism, so look into that. ^^

But this is a subject that is a LOT more complicated than it sounds and a bit far from my expertise, so i strongly encourage you to check out some info on your end:

http://paleoleap.com/metabolism-boosting-myths/

This could probably help you.  ^^


--Cia

Dear Cia,

I have a newfound love for avocados and enjoy their taste. Are they any good for you and how can I use them in cooking?

Dear Spit,

Oh that's a wonderful newfound taste!  Avocados are superb for you, a great source of potassium, as well as a decent source of vitamin C, E and K, Folate and some B vitamins, as well as other great micronutrients such as lutein.  They also are a superb source of monounsaturated fat, about as good or better than olives.  The have a decent amount of soluble fiber, which is a lot kinder to your digestive tract than insoluble fiber.  They are low in sugar, and thus can be eaten plentifully without raising blood sugar issues or jacking up your trigylceride levels.  Becasue they are a good source of fat, they help ou absorb fat-soluble vitamins stored in other plant foods.  Avocado oil is a superb replacement of olive oil that has more monounsaturated fat and tolerates heat just a bit more (though its still not great for high heat cooking).  And overall, avocado has an amazing taste that works for any dishes, whether they're meat-based, plant based, or smoothies.

The main downside is that avocados can be expensive, they oxidize easily after cutting them open, and they can be a source of allergies for a very small percentage of the population. But if none of these apply to you, then by all means dig in!!  ^^


--Cia

Well, I think I've had my fill of questions for one lifetime, plus there's been a wane in user interest anyway.  So it's time to close my beloved Dear Cia and give it a good retirement.  ^^

For those of you whom I still owe points to, I'll be sure to get you paid sooner or later.  Thank you everyone for making this such a memorable thing for me to do!  It's helped me out in so many more ways than you think!