• A hip-hop mogul plans to supply New Yorkers who live in neighborhoods where healthy food is scarce with nutritious food options. He plans on opening a factory and a grocery chain in a business model mirrored after Trader Joe’s. How’s that for karma points? [NY Daily News]

• You may be carrying more than just your wallet in your leather handbag. A study revealed that 20% of handbags have more bacteria than a toilet seat. [Medicalnewstoday.com]

• Caffeinated toothpaste, anyone? A few of the products on this list of “12 things we’ve enhanced with caffeine” are surprising. Sunscreen?? [Mental Floss]

• In “Breaking Bad” fashion, a retired Taiwanese high school chemistry teacher has been teaching food factories how to make an illegal food additive that can cause kidney damage. [Quartz]

• An elderly woman who survived the tornado that hit Oklahoma on May 20 was talking to reporters from CBS News where her house once stood. As she told the reporter about her little dog, which she assumed was still trapped beneath the rubble, the reporter spotted the pup, a little worse for wear but very much alive. [Sky]

• Slate crunched some numbers to determine the best places in the United States to avoid natural disasters. [Slate]

• The makers of Oxycontin introduced a formula of the painkiller that cannot be crushed to deter drug abusers from snorting or injecting it. [PopSci]

• Scientists have pinpointed at last the exact strain of the P. infestans pathogen, which caused the Irish Potato Famine. [Smithsonian]

• Multiple-drug-resistant TB is absolutely no match for a healthy dose of vitamin C. Nutrition scores another win. [BBC]

• Worried how you look on social media? Some users are turning to plastic surgery to enhance their appearance online. [Time Healthland]

• A bacon restaurant has been shut down for smelling too much like bacon. Color us shocked. [Fox News]

• NASA is funding research for 3-D printed food that could put an end to hunger and food waste. [Quartz]

• A mystery respiratory illness has killed two people and infected five others in Alabama. [Gawker]

Grow Jar

City dwellers that want to grow their own vegetables and herbs year-round have limited options. The Grow Jar makes it simple — it requires a shockingly small amount of space, very little water, no soil, no power and no pesticides. Using a simple passive hydroponic process, the plant receives the exact amount of water, fertilizer and air based on the plant’s needs.

Each Grow Jar kit comes with seeds of your choosing, soil-less growing mix, Grow Stones, organic plant nutrient, a seed-growing pod, The Jar (made from 100% recycled plastic), an integrated lid and growing pot, and instructions for planting and growing. You can grow a wide range of herbs, tomatoes, peppers, kale, lettuce, spinach and various other vegetables right in your own kitchen.

Price: $20
 

 

Windowfarms

Indoor gardening has never looked this good. Windowfarms are vertical hydroponic gardens that let you grow your own food inside, even in the winter. Your window is the only space you’ll need for growing just about anything in these 4-foot systems, which can hang from a hook above the window or sit on the floor, windowsill or a shelf next to the window.

Windowfarms make it easy to grow your own food. They system is hooked up to a reservoir filled with water and nutrients, which is connected to a pump that’s on a timer. The timer is set at 15 minute on/off intervals, sending the nutrient-rich water directly to the plants’ root systems twice every hour.

One Windowfarm can hold about 10 plants and works well with just about any type of vegetable or herb. You can grow anything from kale and lettuce to strawberries and squash — even stevia — in these systems. The price is much higher than most planters, but you’re paying for a very efficient, easy-to-manage technology that also looks kind of awesome in your kitchen.

Price: $179 to $399

Aquafarm

You’ve probably seen the grow-at-home mushroom kits that let you grow up to 1.5 pounds of oyster mushrooms in a small box filled with coffee grinds in only about 10 days. Now the same company, Back To The Roots, is at it again with an ingenious product that lets you grow food at the top of a fish tank.

The Aquafarm is a self-cleaning fish tank and planter that upcycles the waste from the fish, breaking it down into nutrients that feed the plants while also cleaning the fish tank water. So you never need to feed the plants or clean the fish tank — you just need to feed the fish! The Aquafarm lets you grow a variety of fresh produce, including spinach, baby greens, oregano, beans, basil, mint, parsley and thyme.

Price: $59.99

Let’s Patch self-watering planter

These attractive, compact planters use sub-irrigation to self-water. All you need to do is place a small amount of soil into a screened-in section of the reservoir at the bottom of the planter, and the system wicks up the water and delivers it the plant’s roots when needed, ensuring the plant doesn’t get under-watered or over-watered.

At 12 inches wide, 6 inches tall and 6 inches deep, the Let’s Patch planter fits perfectly on windowsills and balconies and requires only water and sunlight. You can grow a variety of culinary herbs and greens, and the company plans on releasing more growing options — such as salads, peppers and cucumbers — in the near future.

Let’s Patch is currently a project on Kickstarter, as the company needs to raise $50,000 to step up production and go to a large-scale manufacturer. It’s currently at $13,081 with 23 days to go, its last day falling on June 14.

Price: Currently depends on how much you pledge on Kickstarter

ROMAINE LETTUCE
We usually don’t even cook lettuce indoors, so it’s extra-unusual to consider grilling it. But as it turns out, the charred, wilted edges add a wonderful texture to salads. Wash the lettuce and pat it dry. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with some lemon juice and salt, and grill for about four to five minutes over medium-high heat, turning occasionally.

Chop up the lettuce however you want and add your favorite salad dressing and toppings. Need some ideas? Try this yummy cilantro-lime vinaigrette from OurBestBites.com.

BANANAS
If you’re a fan of bananas foster — and let’s be honest: who isn’t? — you’ll love grilled bananas. Leave the skins on, cut the bananas in half and cook, skin side up, on medium heat for three minutes or until grill marks appear. Turn over with tongs and cook for another five minutes or until the skin pulls away from the bananas. For a sweet dessert, try this recipe for honey-rum grilled bananas from Taste of Home.

PIZZA
Why should we unnecessarily heat up the whole house when pizza tastes just as good — if not better — on the grill? We know what you’re thinking, and yes, you would think the dough would fall through the grates, but it doesn’t! You should make sure the grates are clean so the dough doesn’t stick. Coat the dough with olive oil and lay it on the grill over medium heat. Let it cook for about one to one-and-a-half minutes on one side, and then (carefully!) flip it with tongs.

Throw on the sauce and toppings like you’re participating in a timed challenge on an episode of “Master Chef” — seriously, you need to make it QUICK. Close the grill and let it cook for another one-and-a-half to two minutes, checking at least once to make sure it doesn’t overcook. The cheese should be bubbly and the crust browned. Remove it from the grill with tongs, and eat!

If you need a recipe to get started, try this grilled veggie pizza from MyRecipes.com.

PEACHES
If bananas aren’t really your thing, grilled peaches makes for a tasty summer dessert. You’ll need firm peaches that have a little give when you put some pressure on them. Cut them in half and pit them, brush the grill with oil and cook on low to medium heat for about two to four minutes per side. They should be tender and have grill marks when they’re ready. Try these grilled peaches with honey and yogurt from Skinnytaste.com.

OYSTERS
If you’ve ever been to Drago’s in New Orleans, you already know that charbroiled oysters are heavenly. If you haven’t been, we’ll let you slide this time and help you make grilled oysters from home — but get your butt to Drago’s at some point in your life! Cook oysters over medium-high heat. When the first one opens, which should take about eight minutes, remove all of them from the grill. Shuck, sprinkle with lemon juice and enjoy!

Grilled oyster recipes often use massive amounts of butter. Yes, this is delicious — but it also adds a lot of fat to what could be an amazing AND healthy meal. Keep it simple like we suggested above, or try these wood-grilled oysters in chipotle vinaigrette from Epicurious. You can also grill clams — it should take about the same amount of time to cook.

PINEAPPLE
Grilled pineapple can be eaten as dessert or used in an Asian-style dish for lunch or dinner. You’ll need ripe but not mushy pineapple that has a little give to it when you put pressure on it. Cut off the top and bottom, as well as the rind. Cut crosswise into six slices and cook over medium-high heat until grill marks appear, which should take about four to six minutes per side.

Try this grilled pineapple and scallops teriyaki recipe from Whole Foods. If you’d rather pineapple for dessert, try this recipe for grilled pineapple slices with ginger cream from EatBetterAmerica.com.

AVOCADO
If you’re in a guac slump, grilled avocados might be just what you need. Grilled avocados in non-guacamole form are also amazing. Make sure the grill is clean so the avocado doesn’t stick, and brush the avocados with lime juice and olive oil. Cook, flesh-side-up, on medium-high heat for about three to five minutes. Add a dollop of sour cream and salsa where the pits used to be, or try this grilled avocado, tomato and red onion salad from Michael Chiarello at FoodNetwork.com.

Note: Don’t forget to keep your grilling eco-friendly. To find out how, click here.

1. Angry Birds lunch

That’s one way to get your kid to eat healthy. Here’s the recipe if you want to test the strategy for yourself.

Photo credit: Ellena Guan, Food.insing.com

2. Cauliflower/broccoli poodle

Too doggone cute.

3. Eggs on death row

Gotta love the one in the pan.

4. Yin & yang eggs

5. Sweet potato guinea pig

It’s almost too cute to eat.

6. Ladybug apples

Another great way to get your kids to eat the good stuff! Here’s the recipe.

7. Orange Cheshire cat

Because a list that includes food animals needs a cat.

8. Orange peel man

It’s aliiiiivvveee!

9. Piano sandwich

This one was made by a dad who created cartoon-themed “funky lunches” to get his kids to eat fruits and vegetables. He now has his own party recipe book.

10. Scared pigs in a blanket

Not entirely sure what these are supposed to be …

11. Soup with rice people

We’re never putting rice in the bottom of the bowl again.

12. Strawberry snake

13. Fruit & veggie dog

14. Veggie dinosaur

Can someone please create a food dinosaur Tumblr?

15. Food face

Sorry for the nightmares!

• If you want ketchup on those fries, you’re gonna have to squeeze your wallets a little harder — at select McDonald’s in New York City, that is. [Huffington Post]

• The United Nations thinks you should sink your teeth into a, um, crunchier type of protein. Fire up the grill and get ready for some bug burgers. Or give vegetarianism a shot. Bonus? No exoskeletons. [Washington Post]

• Bacteria that helps you lose weight and reverse Type 2 diabetes in animal test subjects? Oh, science, you are so crazy. [BBC]

• Who says pancakes can’t be healthy? Here are five protein-packed pancake recipes to get your morning started right. [Health]

• Planned Parenthood supporters dressed up in 1960s clothing on Wednesday to protest a “vintage” bill that threatens birth control access. [Think Progress]

• Angelina Jolie has got us all talking about cancer prevention. Here are 20 inspiring celebs who have fought and won the battle. [Time Healthland]

• If you’ve ever wondered why women tend to live longer than men, here’s a potential explanation. [BBC]

• Be mindful of what you order! Researchers found that you can rack up to 66% of your daily caloric intake by eating at an independent or small-chain restaurant. [New York Daily News]

• A 3-D printer changed this little boy’s life forever by printing a mechanical hand. [YouTube]

• Disney, we want to love you, but sometimes you make it so difficult. The company thought Merida, the heroine in Pixar’s “Brave,” needed a makeover, so they trimmed up her waistline, put her in a glittery dress, added makeup to her face and took away her bow and arrow. [Jezebel]

• What’s more important to you, a sex life or pain relief? Time to start choosing. A new study found that long-term pain med use is lined to erectile dysfunction. [U.S. News]

• A CPR machine has successfully brought back to life patients that had been clinically dead for 40 to 60 minutes — with no side effects! [Washington Times]

“The diet places an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes that are typically found in the Mediterranean region,” Dr. Pierce said. “Limiting red meat and dairy consumption, as well as cutting back on salt and sugar intake, is proven to thwart chronic diseases associated with poor diet choices.”

Below are Dr. Pierce’s five reasons to fill your plate with Mediterranean food:

1. Heart healthy

Filled with fats like those in olive oil and dishes that include poultry and omega-3 laden fishes, the inclusion of heart-healthy fats (while limiting saturated and other unhealthy fats) helps lower the risk of heart disease, as well as moderate blood pressure.

2. Cancer prevention

Known cancer-fighting foods, such as cruciferous vegetables (think broccoli and spinach) and legumes (lentils, chickpeas and beans, to name a few), are packed with antioxidants and are classic options on the Mediterranean menu. Opting for produce-rich meals has plenty of preventive properties while packing a healthful punch.

3. Boosts testosterone

Healthy fats in the diet do more than just help your heart. Dr. Pierce cited new research showing that men who consume more omega-3s have increased testosterone, while foods like leafy greens positively impact the prostate. “Low testosterone levels are usually just one piece of the healthy living puzzle,” Dr. Pierce added. “Eating clean and making healthy diet choices will naturally improve the body’s level of functioning.”

4. Weight loss

The Mediterranean diet isn’t so much a “diet” as it is a lifestyle. Simply choosing the foods that are consistent with the Mediterranean food pyramid are bound to be beneficial for your waistline. “Typical Mediterranean diet meals have inherently healthy ingredients, such as vegetables and whole grains,” Dr. Pierce said. “Part of the obesity epidemic stems from consuming processed meals over fresh foods.”

5. Reduces chronic diseases

Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease are just a few of the chronic conditions that decrease statistically when compared to a population that does not stick to a Mediterranean diet. The plant-based food plan — with a breakdown of 50% produce, 25% protein and 25% whole grain — offers a balanced approach that goes along with what dieticians have recommended all along.

• Would it help if restaurants included how long it would take to work off their burger and fries on their menus? [Time Healthland]

• Feeling stressed? It could be making you go gray. [Greatist]

• Look who’s gotten weight-loss surgery. [BusinessWeek]

• While some of these might be questionable, the lion’s share of these 15 ways to burn calories without exercise are worth checking out. And not just cleaning the house or taking the stairs — wink, wink, wink and eyebrow waggle. [Likes.com]

• Say what? Must be 21 to drink coffee? Maybe, depending on what the Food and Drug Administration finds in its upcoming investigation of caffeine, which may lead to coffee being regulated. [Atlantic]

• An oldie but goodie, especially with summer around the corner, FitSugar reminds us what 100 calories’ worth of fruit actually looks like. [FitSugar]

• Up to 40% of patients with chronic back pain could be cured with a course of antibiotics rather than surgery, in a medical breakthrough that one spinal surgeon says is worthy of a Nobel prize. [RawStory]

• The Colorado Senate decided how high is too high to drive: THe marijuana DUI limit is now 5 nano grams per milliliter of marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient, THC. [9News]

• A study has proven what we all already knew: We buy more junk food when we go to the grocery hungry. [BBC News]

• Seems like lack of sleep is the source of a variety of health problems. A new study shows that men who suffer from insomnia have an increased risk of prostate cancer. [Los Angeles Times]

• Houston is having a bit of a mollusk problem. A giant African land snail was found. Since they lay 100 eggs per month, more are expected to be found. [NBC News]

1. “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” by Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver — a writer well-known for her novel about a missionary family in the Congo, “The Poisonwood Bible” — reflects on a year spent eating homegrown and locally produced food in southern Appalachia with her family. She harps on the evils of industrial agriculture, a supermarket-centric diet and the loss of connection with where exactly our food comes from. With today’s locavore trend, replete with the intricacies of your chicken entrée’s farm background detailed on your dinner menu, books on local food and sustainable agriculture are sprouting up on bookshelves with fervor.

But Kingsolver, always a novelist, infuses a distinctive literary flavor to her diary of an accidental gardener, making “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” as delightful of a read as the Price family’s misadventures in the depths of the African jungle.  With vivid passages on “the song of a stir-fry sizzle, the small talk of clinking measuring spoons, the yeasty scent of rising dough, the painting of flavors onto a pizza before it slides into the oven,” you’ll practically be drooling to embrace the lost culture of backyard vegetable gardens yourself.

2. “Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal” by Eric Schlosser

Although published more than a decade ago, Eric Schlosser’s exposé on the fast food industry’s mutilation of the American diet remains as relevant as ever. What Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” did for meatpacking a century earlier, “Fast Food Nation” achieves today.

Schlosser investigates the mysteries behind the mass production of our food, from the chemistry responsible for both “natural” and artificial flavoring to the slop that goes in the cattle’s trough before it becomes your 99-cent hamburger. He begins his horror story with a fascinating historical account of the founding of fast food giants and the quick embrace of frozen french fries and Ford’s assembly line, building up to the overarching question of, “Where do we go from here?”

While this book carries a lot of shock factor akin to Morgan Spurlock’s “Supersize Me” documentary, Schlosser packs in a heaping serving of journalistic prowess. His revealing interviews with underpaid, overworked teenage employees and slaughterhouse sanitation workers will make your jaw drop — and lead you on a speedy exit away from the drive-thru window.

3. “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly” by Anthony Bourdain

Before he trotted the globe sampling an exotic smorgasbord for his TV show, Anthony Bourdain was slaving away behind the scenes as a chef at Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan. In this deliciously funny — and characteristically vulgar — tribute to the often forgotten world of kitchen hands, Bourdain shares surprising tales about the cutthroat, rough-around-the-edges troupe who prepares your fancy dinner out. Although Bourdain would later boil down the very book responsible for catapulting him to fame to an overhyped warning on “why you shouldn’t order the fish on Mondays,” “Kitchen Confidential” is much more than that and is rightfully on the required reading list for foodies.

Our frank tour guide through restaurant kitchens dishes on what makes for the ideal mise en place, why Jackson Pollock-esque garnishes are unnecessary, and of course, why meat has a rightful place in humanity’s diet (vegetarians, read with a grain of salt). Coming from the guy who seems to run his kitchen like machismo hell, expect a rambling culinary commentary spiced up with a good dose of sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, devil-may-care attitude.

4. “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer

Jonathan Safran Foer, contemporary literary darling and author of acclaimed novels “Everything is Illuminated” and “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close,” alternated between being a vegetarian and a carnivore for much of his life. After become a husband and father, he was forced to confront some serious questions about why we are willing to eat meat if we know about the animals who contributed their lives to our meals. Why is it considered OK for us to eat some animals but not others?

If you’ve heard that Foer’s passionate argument against animal cruelty converted Natalie Portman to veganism — or so she claims — then you have an idea of the type of powerful persuasion you’re getting yourself into. Foer delves into the many flaws of today’s “factory farming,” from the government-sanctioned destruction of our environment to the systematic degradation of animals as a mere protein source. He urges all readers to realize that their passivity on the issue only furthers the system, for “in the case of animal slaughter, to throw your hands in the air is to wrap your fingers around a knife handle.”

A true storyteller, Foer infuses a potentially preachy sermon with wit about the insanity of the industry and heartwarming details about his own life and self-examination. Placing himself as the main character in this great dilemma about where our food comes from, Foer engages and moves the reader toward action, leaving an impressive trail of facts, statistics and did-you-know morsels of information behind him all the while. “Eating Animals” is a moral pick-me-up for loyal vegetarians who have fallen into mere habit and a bridge to understanding for skeptical meat-eaters. Regardless of whether or not you ultimately go vegan à la Portman, you’ll never feel quite the same way about the wafting aroma of freshly cooked bacon again. And as Foer will tell you, that’s a good thing.

5. “My Life in France” by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme

Julia Child, Martha Stewart’s precursor, wrote the gold standard on French cooking for Americans, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume One.” “My Life in France” is the true story behind that cookbook. More accurately, it is about Child’s love affair with French cooking.

Child had the good fortune of landing herself in Paris due to her husband’s government job, and eventually studied at the Cordon Bleu, discovering the enchanting secrets of French kitchens. “My Life in France” is a charming ode to the delights of Brie, bouillabaisse, boeuf bourguignon and baguettes. It’s also an inspiring tale, as the reader witnesses Child’s obsessive pursuit of culinary perfection. In her tireless efforts to get an English recipe for French bread just right, she uses up 200 pounds of flour. As she explains, “no one is born a great cook; one learns by doing. This is my invariable advice to people: … be fearless.”

Even those of us too young to have fond memories of Child’s TV cooking show will relish this memoir’s heartwarming nostalgia for post-World War II France and the culinary adventures the country offered to an American woman eager to savor it all. Child’s description of her seminal French meal will make your mouth water and leave you hungering for a similarly enlightening lunch. Bon appétit!

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Location: Iceland

This gorgeous canyon resulted from erosion caused by glacier water flowing through the rocks over thousands of years. At about 100 meters deep and 2 kilometers long, its beauty is amplified by the Fjaðrá river that runs through it.

Photo credit: WorldForTravel.com

Kayangan Lake

Location: Coron Island, Palawan, Philippines

The cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines, Kayangan Lake must be one of the most beautiful as well. Its clear, emerald green water attracts snorkelers and scuba divers alike, offering some unbelievable diving spots with several Japanese shipwrecks from World War II. Some of the wrecks don’t require much of a dive at all — depths range from 10 feet to about 80 feet.

Waitomo Glowworm Cave

Location: Waikato region of North Island, New Zealand

Although “Arachnocampa luminosa” is the name of a genus of fungus gnats and not, in fact, a Harry Potter spell like it sounds, many travellers attest to its magic. Only found in New Zealand, the “glowworm” larvae glow phosphorescent to attract prey that might be tricked into thinking they’re flying toward the outdoors. You have a few options if you want to experience this New Zealand cave: a five-hour trip that involves abseiling and climbing, a three-hour black water tubing trip or a boat.

Photo credit: Waitomo.com

Lake Hillier

Location: Middle Island, Recherche Archipelago, Western Australia

Contrary to what it might look like, this bubblegum-pink lake is not filled with Pepto-Bismol. Its highly salty waters span about 600 meters across and can be found in a densely wooded corner of Middle Island, one of the 105 islands off the southern coast of Western Australia. While no one has definitively proven the cause of the lake’s hue, most believe it to be the result of certain bacteria and algae that have been known to turn other salt lakes pink. And yes, you can swim in it — no negative effects have been associated with taking a dip in its waters.

Photo credit: Jean Paul Ferrero/Ardea/Caters News

Lake Retba

Location: Senegal

Like Hillier, Lake Retba attracts tourists from around the world because of its unusual pink color, which varies in shades depending on the season and time of day. Also a salt lake, Retba’s salinity content actually exceeds that of the Dead Sea during the dry season, according to LakeRetba.com. The pink hue comes from a harmless bacteria known as Dunaliella salina, which is attracted by the lake’s salt content.

Photo credit: LakeRetba.com

Gullfoss

Location: Hvítá River, southwest Iceland

Gulfoss, the “Golden Waterfall,” is considered one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls. Spectacular rainbows often arch over the 105-foot double-cascade on sunny days. Though there was talk in the 20th century to use the falls to generate electricity, it was later purchased by the government and protected as a national park.

Hotel Kakslauttanen

Location: Finland

So this destination isn’t so much a “natural wonder” as it is a crazy-awesome hotel that allows you to enjoy a natural wonder. Hotel Kakslauttanen offers 60 beds in real snow igloos — but that’s not even the coolest part. It also offers 20 glass igloos, so you can look up into the sky as you lie in your bed and view the beautiful Northern Lights. The company’s site also mentions it has the world’s largest smoke sauna, HUSKY SAFARIS, snowmobile safaris, reindeer safaris, ice-fishing trips and guided ski treks.

Photo credit: Kakslauttanen.fi

Door to Hell

Location: Derweze, Ahal Province, Turkmenistan

No, it’s not the end of the world — but this natural wonder certainly resembles a doomsday prophecy. Soviet geologists lit this natural gas field in 1971, and the rich natural gas deposits in the area have kept it burning ever since.

Photo credit: Tormod Sandtorv; Wikipedia

Jellyfish Lake

Location: Eil Malk Island, Palau

The 10 million jellies that occupy this 12-acre lake aren’t like the jellies anywhere else. This body of water became so isolated from the rest of the ocean that the creatures in it evolved into a subspecies of their ancestors, and Charles Darwin even used them as evidence of his revolutionary theory, according to the National Wildlife Federation. However, many show up to the island with the misconception that the jellies lost their stingers through the evolution process — this isn’t the case. Their stingers are just too small to be felt by humans. So jump in and take a swim with them — just try to avoid the dangerous layer of hydrogen sulfide 15 to 20 meters below the water’s surface.

Photo credit: Eric Cheng

Terme di Saturnia

Location: Saturnia, Tuscany, Italy

These beautiful, natural springs formed when Roman god Saturn threw a lightning bolt at the earth out of anger for humans’ endless fighting. The warm water that bubbles from the site calmed the people and today still brings wisdom and happiness to those who bathe in it. Or so the legend goes. Today, the springs are known for their therapeutic properties, and the area is part of the renowned Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort.

Photo credit: WX on Panoramio.com

Longsheng Rice Terrace

Location: Longsheng, China

These beautiful layers of rice fields are sometimes referred to as “Longji,” meaning “dragon’s backbone,” for the way they resemble the spine of a sleeping dragon when viewed from the highest point at 880 meters. Once used for the basic purpose of feeding the families who lived there, the Rice Terraces are also now a tourist attraction, and locals no longer use the fields as their main source of income. The most popular terraces for visitors are the Ping An Rice Terrace and the Jinkeng Rice Terrace. Go in the spring or summer for the best views.

Photo credit: severin.stalder, Wikipedia

Hotel Ristorante Grotta Palazzese

Location: Polignano A Mare, Italy

Why eat at a normal restaurant when you can eat at a restaurant INSIDE A CAVE? Part of the Grotta Palazzese hotel, this restaurant is carved into a limestone cave that overlooks the Adriatic Sea. Talk about a romantic dinner!

Photo credit: GrottaPalazzese.it

Meteora

Location: Greece

Literally meaning “suspended in the air” in Greek, Meteora consists of monasteries built in the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th centuries on practically inaccessible sandstone peaks. The rock pinnacles developed from the cone of a river and were further transformed by earthquakes, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Take a hiking tour to walk the ancient trails used by the monks and hermits, and don’t forget your camera for the spectacular views.

Photo credit: VisitMeteora.travel

The Wave

Location: Coyote Buttes, Arizona

You don’t have to go outside the United States to see a spectacular natural phenomenon. The Wave is a multi-hued, striped sandstone formation that only 20 people are allowed to see each day — seriously, you can either get one of 10 daily permits online four months in advance, or you can show up to the National Monument office in Kanab, Utah, at 8:30 in the morning and pray you are randomly chosen for one. These dunes were buried underground for more than 100 million years, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, until they emerged 4 million to 5 million years ago and were molded into the colorful waves they are today by wind and water. If you plan on attempting a visit, bring a GPS. It’s a 6-mile hike, but the 1-mile path ensures the directionally challenged will get lost.

Hidden pool in Ik-Kil Archeological Park

Location: Yucatan, Mexico

This stunning cenote is open to the public, so visitors can climb down the carved stairway and jump in from the swimming platform.

Haiku Stairs

Location: Oahu, Hawaii

What began as a wooden ladder installed on a cliff for workers stringing antenna cables evolved into an incredible — and challenging — trail consisting of approximately 3,922 steps. Unfortunately, the Haiku Stairs were closed to the public in 1987, but there’s still a way to legally access them — and it’s not for the amateur hiker. Expert hikers can climb to the top of the stairs from the other side of the island and take the trail down.

Green Lake

Location: Tragoess, Styria

During the winter, hikers tread through this area at the foot of the Hochschwab Mountains. But once the weather warms up, those hikers are replaced by scuba divers as the basin is filled with water from the melting snow and ice on the mountains.

Photo credit: Exclusive Pix; OddityCentral.com

Ngorongoro Crater

Location: Tanzania

The largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world, the Ngorongoro Crater developed after an enormous volcano exploded and collapsed approximately 3 million years ago. The crater is about 610 meters deep, with a base area of about 260 square kilometers, and is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is home to 25 black rhinos, 4,000 zebras, 62 lions and a variety of other wild animals, including hippos and elephants.

Photo credit: William Warby; Wikipedia

Museo Subacuatico de Arte

Location: Cancun, Mexico

So obviously these sculptures weren’t magically created by erosion — Mother Nature isn’t THAT good. But we thought we’d include this amazing art installation because it involves snorkeling or scuba diving, which we consider ways to enjoy nature’s underwater beauty. Created in 2009, this underwater museum includes 450 permanent life-size sculptures made from customized materials that promote coral life.

Photo credit: Jason deCaires Taylor; UnderwaterSculpture.com

Mendenhall ice caves

Location: Juneau, Alaska

Located underneath the 12-mile Mendenhall glacier are unbelievable, blue-hued ice caves that look like they belong in some kind of storybook fantasy — Narnia, perhaps. The tunnels are carved out by water streaming down the slopes of Mt. McGinnis, attracting locals and tourists alike.

Photo credit: Dan Trimble

Marble Caves

Location: General Carrera lake, Patagonia, Chile

Located on a solid marble peninsula bordering Lake General Carrera, the Marble Caves developed from 6,000 years of waves splashing against the calcium carbonate, according to Atlas Obscura. The lake’s blue water is reflected on the cavern walls, with colors ranging from turquoise to deep blue based on the season and weather conditions. The only way to access the caves is by boat, and a local company operates thirty-minute tours for tourists.

Photo credit: TravelingMyself.com

Jiuzhaigou Valley

Location: Min Mountains, Central China

This picturesque nature reserve is known for its ribbon lakes, waterfalls and unusually colored pools. Rare animals like giant pandas, golden monkeys and white-lipped deer call the area home.

Photo credit: GlobalPrideTravel.com

Lake Baikal

Location: Siberia

Freezing temperatures (think -36 degrees Fahrenheit) and powerful winds sculpted these crystal-blue ice formations, called “ice hummocks,” across Lake Baikal. The lake has been around for about 25 million years and contains about one-fifth of the world’s fresh water.

Photo credit: Alexey Trofimov; Solent News

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Location: Hunan Province, China

Looks a little like Pandora from “Avatar,” huh? That’s because James Cameron modeled the fantasy film’s paradise on this real-life paradise in China. In fact, what was originally known as the “Southern Sky Column” among these narrow sandstone pillars — some of which reach more than 650 feet high — was renamed “Avatar Hallelujah Mountain” after the movie’s release.

Son Doong Cave

Location: Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam

Discovered only two decades ago, Son Doong cave sets the record for world’s largest cave, with its biggest chamber measuring 5 kilometers long, 200 meters high and 150 meters wide. An underground river runs through the limestone cavern, which is completely surrounded by jungle.

Photo credit: Barcroft/Fame Pictures; NationalGeographic.com

Photo credit: CNN.com

HellaWella’s Media Mash is a weekly feature listing the latest and most interesting health-and-wellness stories we’ve read in the past week, pulled from the Web and linked for your convenience.

• Want Michelle Obama’s arms? Yeah, we all do, but some women are resorting to surgery to get those fabulous results. May we suggest hitting the gym instead? [Los Angeles Times]

• Before you decide to unload your depressive thoughts on a friend, be careful — it can be contagious. [Time Healthland]

• Guess which country has more psychologists per capita than anywhere else in the world? [CNN]

• The worldwide collapse of bee colonies may be tied to high-fructose corn syrup, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [Phys.org]

• In India, you have to worry about drunk elephants stampeding your village. [NBC News]

• This eye-opening piece about California’s failing mental healthcare system tells the harrowing story of a family who couldn’t get the help they needed for their schizophrenic son — and the tragic consequences that followed. [Mother Jones]

• Good news for all the men out there who detest shaving! Women prefer men with a 10-day beard over those who are clean-shaven. [Nature World News]

• Scientists have developed a baseball-playing robot that’s equipped with an artificial brain. [Wired]

• Because of the many complications involved in domestic adoptions, some parents-to-be, like this one, walk away scarred. [Atlantic]

• The Food and Drug Administration has approved Plan B One-Step emergency contraception for over-the-counter sale to people over the age of 15. [Boston Globe]

• Mashable is not the first place one thinks to look for information on health and wellness, but this short article on their site lists four apps for tech-savvy people who have hopped — or want to hop — on the health bandwagon. [Mashable]

• Primrose is often recommended to those who have eczema. Turns out it may not be so beneficial after all. [New York Times]

• Soup and salad are healthy meals, and in Detroit, about 300 people gather each month to nourish their bodies and their neighborhood. Five bucks gets them soup, salad, a bit of bread and a vote on a creative community project aimed to better their city. [Good]

• If you’re feeling constantly bloated, it may not be gluten intolerance or exposure to salmonella. Carrageenan, an ingredient derived from seaweed and added to beverages to keep their ingredients from separating, may be to blame. [Prevention]

• There’s a smartphone in development for the visually impaired. The screen forms into Braille shapes when a text or email is received. [CNN]

• Would a menu displaying the amount of exercise needed to work off your dinner deter you from overeating? A new study says yes. [New York Times]

• Turn it up! Music has mental and physical health benefits — and it’s definitely cheaper than medication. [CBC News]