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Flower power bouncing the way to sustainability

Posted by Dr Sandy on in sustainable energy | 134 Views | Leave a response

sunflowers teach us about sustainable energyWithout flower power, humans would not be able to power their bodies, since we ultimately depend on photosynthesis to create the foods we eat.

But flowers are powering more than just our muscles, they’re helping to turn on our lights – not the metaphorical kind, the overhead lights we see with.

The solar power problem

The idea of using the sun to generate power is not new – the sun’s energy is regularly harnessed to heat water. Solar panels can increasingly be seen absorbing the sun rays on suburban roofs .

Sun power is 100 % renewable and eminently sustainable, provided the sun beams down with sufficient strength, but sun power has a major constraint.

It takes lots and lots and lots of space.

Solar parks are immense

In solar parks mirrors track the sun throughout the day and bounce its rays onto a central tower. But it takes 600 plus mirrors, each about the size of half a tennis court, to convert enough energy to power up 6000 homes.

CSPs , concentrated solar parks, are ENORMOUS.

The mirrors are staggered like chairs in a movie theatre, to “save space”, BUT this comes at a price – SHADOWS. So many mirrors end up being redundant for large portions of the day, because they fail to catch the sun.

Lessons from mother nature

Engineers from MIT and Aachen University in Germany have turned to the true masters of sun power – flowers for a little inspiration.

The sunflower arranges it’s florets in a spiral (Fermat spiral) angling it at 137 degrees.

When engineers arrange the mirrors in the same way as the sunflower – energy production per unit area rockets, because the mirror arrangement is more compact and more efficient i.e. less shadows.

Spiraling out

Officially 2012 is the Year of Sustainable Energy for All. Sustainable energy is about providing energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

New technologies like this, will help make this a reality.sustainable energy logo

But we all need to do our bit by being a little more energy efficient. So turn off that electrical light and light up your world with a little sunlight today.

Heliostat field optimization: A new computationally efficient model and biomimetic layout. Solar Energy (2012)86(2):792-803. Corey J. Noone, Manuel Torrilhon, Alexander Mitsos.
 

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Further reading

bee taking a break mornings only tanning salon sun tanning mushrooms
Bee warned bees only work the day shift in the land of the midnight sun How to sun tan without risking skin cancer Suntanning brings a vitamin D complexion to  mushrooms

The 7 Big Spoons™…. are master switches that turn health on.

balance eicosanoids rein in insulin dial down stress sleep vitamin D microflora think
Balance Eicosanoids Rein in insulin Dial down stress Sleep ! Increase Vit D Culivate microflora Think champion

Hire Dr Sandy from a Spoonful of Science to be the keynote speaker at your next event.

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Posted in sustainable energy | Tagged flower, mother nature, muscles, sun, sunflower, sustainable energy, vitamin D, year of sustainable energy for all

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Ever wonder why your LDL spikes on keto?

It’s not the bacon. 🥓
It’s your liver — working overtime to fuel your body.

On keto, your cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat.
Your liver responds by sending out VLDL particles — packed with fat.
Once the fat is dropped off, what’s left becomes LDL.

⚠️ And that’s what shows up on blood work.
😱 Cue panic.

But if your liver is healthy, those LDLs are just passing through.
If not? They hang around. That’s when trouble starts.

🎥 Watch to understand the science behind rising LDL on keto — and why context matters.

#KetoScience #LMHR #LeanMassHyperResponder #LDLcholesterol #LowCarbLife #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #RootCause
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Ever wonder why your LDL spikes on keto? It’s not the bacon. 🥓 It’s your liver — working overtime to fuel your body. On keto, your cells switch from burning sugar to burning fat. Your liver responds by sending out VLDL particles — packed with fat. Once the fat is dropped off, what’s left becomes LDL. ⚠️ And that’s what shows up on blood work. 😱 Cue panic. But if your liver is healthy, those LDLs are just passing through. If not? They hang around. That’s when trouble starts. 🎥 Watch to understand the science behind rising LDL on keto — and why context matters. #KetoScience #LMHR #LeanMassHyperResponder #LDLcholesterol #LowCarbLife #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #RootCause
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If you’re lean, athletic, and insulin sensitive — you might be what researchers are calling a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR).

In this reel, I unpack new research comparing LMHRs to everyday folks. The LDL in LMHRs is often >190 mg/dL — a number that would alarm most doctors — but their CAC scores suggest their hearts are doing just fine.

The takeaway?
LDL might be loud, but it’s not always telling the truth.
The full picture matters.

🎬 This is Part 2 in my LMHR cholesterol series. Follow so you don’t miss Part 3, where we dive into the Lipid Energy Model — a theory that may explain what’s going on in LMHRs (and maybe in you too)

#LDL #Cholesterol #LMHR #InsulinResistance #CACscore #HeartHealth #LipidEnergyModel #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #TyGIndex #HealthEducation #LowCarbScience
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Is your LDL sky-high… but everything else looks great? If you’re lean, athletic, and insulin sensitive — you might be what researchers are calling a Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR). In this reel, I unpack new research comparing LMHRs to everyday folks. The LDL in LMHRs is often >190 mg/dL — a number that would alarm most doctors — but their CAC scores suggest their hearts are doing just fine. The takeaway? LDL might be loud, but it’s not always telling the truth. The full picture matters. 🎬 This is Part 2 in my LMHR cholesterol series. Follow so you don’t miss Part 3, where we dive into the Lipid Energy Model — a theory that may explain what’s going on in LMHRs (and maybe in you too) #LDL #Cholesterol #LMHR #InsulinResistance #CACscore #HeartHealth #LipidEnergyModel #BetterBodyChemistry #MetabolicHealth #TyGIndex #HealthEducation #LowCarbScience
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Your numbers say danger zone — but your body says everything’s fine.
You might be an LMHR.

🎥 This is part 1 of a bigger story. Follow for what happens next.

#LDL #Cholesterol #LowCarbLife #MetabolicHealth #InsulinResistance 
#HeartHealth #KetoProblems #HealthExplained #BodyChemistry #BetterBodyChemistry 
#HealthTips #WellnessJourney #Biohacking #FunctionalMedicine #KnowYourNumbers
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Your numbers say danger zone — but your body says everything’s fine. You might be an LMHR. 🎥 This is part 1 of a bigger story. Follow for what happens next. #LDL #Cholesterol #LowCarbLife #MetabolicHealth #InsulinResistance #HeartHealth #KetoProblems #HealthExplained #BodyChemistry #BetterBodyChemistry #HealthTips #WellnessJourney #Biohacking #FunctionalMedicine #KnowYourNumbers
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🎯 One number.

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🎯 One number. One test you’ve probably never had… even though the data is already in your blood work. It’s called the TyG Index—and it’s one of the best ways to see if insulin resistance is quietly messing with your metabolism. 🔍 My Metabolic Check makes it easy to calculate, understand, and use this number—and right now, you can get it FREE inside the Next Level Life Bundle. 💡You don’t need to figure everything out today. But you do need to grab access before the bundle closes. 🕛 Deadline: Tonight at midnight (March 27) 🎁 100+ personal development tools 💻 Yours forever—if you sign up in time. 🔗 Link in bio #NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #MetabolicHealth #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTools #HealthResources #ScienceBasedHealth #KnowYourNumbers #SugarCrashFix #EnergySupport #FreebieAlert #BetterBodyChemistry #DeadlineAlert
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It’s not Tai Chi... 🥋
It’s the TyG Index that brings balance to your metabolism.

🐾 If you’re wondering whether insulin resistance might be behind your sugar crashes, stubborn weight, or low energy—there’s a number that can help.

🧪 It’s based on ordinary blood work.
📊 It’s called the TyG Index.
💻 And you can calculate it yourself using my Metabolic Check tool—available now for FREE in the Next Level Life Bundle.

But hurry...
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🔗 Link in bio

#TyGIndex #MetabolicCheck #InsulinResistance #NextLevelLifeBundle #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTool #MetabolicHealth #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #ScienceBasedHealth #EnergyFix #HealthTools #BundleCountdown
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It’s not Tai Chi... 🥋 It’s the TyG Index that brings balance to your metabolism. 🐾 If you’re wondering whether insulin resistance might be behind your sugar crashes, stubborn weight, or low energy—there’s a number that can help. 🧪 It’s based on ordinary blood work. 📊 It’s called the TyG Index. 💻 And you can calculate it yourself using my Metabolic Check tool—available now for FREE in the Next Level Life Bundle. But hurry... ⏳ The bundle closes tomorrow at midnight (March 27)! 🔗 Link in bio #TyGIndex #MetabolicCheck #InsulinResistance #NextLevelLifeBundle #BloodSugarBalance #FreeHealthTool #MetabolicHealth #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #ScienceBasedHealth #EnergyFix #HealthTools #BundleCountdown
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🩸 Did your metabolism ace the test?

There’s a surprising number hiding in your standard blood work…

It’s called the TyG Index, and it could be your first clue that insulin resistance is quietly messing with your energy, weight, or sugar levels.

🎯 Want to know your number?

Metabolic Check is my contribution to the [Next Level Life Bundle]—and right now, you can grab it for FREE (along with 100+ other personal growth resources).

But don’t wait—
🕛 Bundle closes Thursday at midnight (March 27).
🔗 Link in bio!
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🩸 Did your metabolism ace the test? There’s a surprising number hiding in your standard blood work… It’s called the TyG Index, and it could be your first clue that insulin resistance is quietly messing with your energy, weight, or sugar levels. 🎯 Want to know your number? Metabolic Check is my contribution to the [Next Level Life Bundle]—and right now, you can grab it for FREE (along with 100+ other personal growth resources). But don’t wait— 🕛 Bundle closes Thursday at midnight (March 27). 🔗 Link in bio!
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🚨 It’s LIVE!
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🚨 It’s LIVE! The Next Level Life Bundle just dropped—and it’s bursting with 100+ free resources to help you feel better, think clearer, and actually make progress on the things that matter. 🧠 My contribution? Metabolic Check A quick, science-backed tool to help you figure out if insulin resistance might be messing with your energy, weight, or sugar levels. No fluff. No guessing. Just numbers you can use. ✨ And that’s just ONE of the incredible resources inside. The bundle is only available until March 27—and yes, it’s completely free. 📥 Grab your copy now — link in bio. #NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #InsulinResistance #BloodSugarBalance #FreebieAlert #BetterBodyChemistry #FreeResources #HealthGoals #ScienceBased #BundleLaunch #WomenInScience #MindBodyHealth #EnergySupport #Type2Diabetes #MetabolicHealth
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🧪 Insulin resistance is behind rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, and stubborn weight gain… but most people have no idea they have it.

Why? Because no one’s measuring it.
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betterbodychemistry
betterbodychemistry
•
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🧪 Insulin resistance is behind rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, and stubborn weight gain… but most people have no idea they have it. Why? Because no one’s measuring it. But it can be measured—if you know how. 📊 That’s exactly what you’ll learn in Metabolic Check, my contribution to the Next Level Life Bundle. It helps you uncover hidden risks using the blood work you already have. 💥 The bundle goes live soon—with tons of resources to help you smash your goals and take control of your health. 🎁 And yes, it's completely FREE (for a few days only). 🔗 Get on the waitlist—link in bio! #NextLevelLifeBundle #MetabolicCheck #InsulinResistance #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #HeartHealth #MetabolicHealth #HealthTools #ScienceBased #BloodSugarBalance #FreeBundle #YouCanMeasureIt
1 month ago
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🚨 One number. That’s all it takes to see if your arteries are in trouble.

It’s not cholesterol.
It’s not blood pressure.

🔥 It’s the TyG Index—and most doctors aren’t checking it.

💉 The good news? You can check it yourself. And inside the Next Level Life Bundle, you’ll get Metabolic Check—my tool that helps you do just that.

💥 And it’s FREE for a few days only!

✅ The bundle is packed with resources to help you take control of your health, your habits, and your future.

🔗 Grab it now—link in bio.
🎁 Live March 24–27!

#NextLevelLifeBundle #HeartHealth #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #HealthTools #BloodSugarBalance #FreeBundle
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🚨 One number. That’s all it takes to see if your arteries are in trouble. It’s not cholesterol. It’s not blood pressure. 🔥 It’s the TyG Index—and most doctors aren’t checking it. 💉 The good news? You can check it yourself. And inside the Next Level Life Bundle, you’ll get Metabolic Check—my tool that helps you do just that. 💥 And it’s FREE for a few days only! ✅ The bundle is packed with resources to help you take control of your health, your habits, and your future. 🔗 Grab it now—link in bio. 🎁 Live March 24–27! #NextLevelLifeBundle #HeartHealth #MetabolicCheck #TyGIndex #InsulinResistance #KnowYourNumbers #BetterBodyChemistry #HealthTools #BloodSugarBalance #FreeBundle
1 month ago
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Dr Sandy Dr Sandy Evans, PhD

Located in Johannesburg, South Africa

Disclaimer : The stories and articles are provided as a service. Dr Sandy's opinions are for information only, and are not intended to diagnose or prescribe. For your specific diagnosis and treatment, consult your doctor or health care provider.
 

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