Higher Ammonia Levels Behind Increased Daytime Sleepiness In Cirrhotic Patients

Researchers have found that higher ammonia levels in blood significantly raises daytime sleepiness in patients with cirrhosis.

The findings available in the March issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, show that higher blood levels of ammonia reduced the ability of cirrhotic patients to produce restorative sleep.

Chronic liver disease can lead to cirrhosis—a condition where scar tissue replaces healthy tissue, resulting in decreased blood flow through the liver and reduced liver function. Viral hepatitis, heavy alcohol use and obesity are among the causes of cirrhosis according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

In patients with chronic liver failure neuropsychiatric abnormalities may arise—termed hepatic encephalopathy (HE)—which experts believe to be due to neurotoxic substances that originate in the gut and are not cleared by the liver, such as ammonia. HE is common following a gastrointestinal bleed, which can be simulated by the oral administration of a mixture of protein mimicking that contained in blood ('amino acid challenge'; AAC).

To investigate the effects of excess ammonia and HE on sleep-wake patterns in patients with cirrhosis, Dr. Sara Montagnese and colleagues from the Dipartimento di Medicina in Padova, Italy and the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology in Zurich, Switzerland, induced hyperammonaemia in participants by an AAC. Ten cirrhotic patients and ten healthy controls underwent eight days of sleep quality monitoring, neuropsychiatric/wake and sleep EEG assessment prior to and following the AAC, and hourly ammonia and sleepiness assessments for eight hours post-AAC.

"Our study found that induced hyperammonaemia led to a significant increase in daytime sleepiness in both patients and healthy volunteers," said Dr. Montagnese. The authors also report changes to the EEG architecture of a sleep episode (nap) in patients with cirrhosis, which they believe points to a reduced ability to produce restorative sleep.

Dr. Montagnese concludes, "Our findings have important clinical implications in that subjective sleepiness may be used as a surrogate marker for HE." The authors also suggest that strategies aimed at reducing daytime sleepiness may result in improved sleep at night.

Source-Eurekalert

Introducing Vegetables into Your Child's Diet Better Than Hiding Them in Food

New research indicates that a better way to increase consumption of vegetables among children is to introduce them gradually into the diet rather than continually hiding them in food.

A survey of adolescents by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System found that only 21 percent of our children eat the recommended 5 or more fruits and vegetables per day.

So not very many children are asking their parents to "pass the peas," and parents are resorting to other methods to get their children to eat their vegetables.

One popular method is hiding vegetables. There are even cookbooks devoted to doing this and new food products promise they contain vegetable servings but don't taste like vegetables.

But this "sneaky" technique has been controversial, as some dietitians, doctors, and parents have argued that sneaking vegetables into food does not promote increased vegetable consumption because children are unaware they are eating vegetables, and are not likely to continue the practice into adulthood.

A study found that informing children of the presence of vegetables hidden within snack food may or may not alter taste preference. Acceptability of the vegetable-enriched snack food may depend on the frequency of prior exposure to the vegetable.

Chickpea chocolate chip cookies or chocolate chip cookies? Investigators from Columbia University enrolled 68 elementary and middle school children and asked just that question.

In each pair, one sample's label included the food's vegetable (eg, broccoli gingerbread spice cake), and one sample's label did not (eg, gingerbread spice cake).

Participants reported whether the samples tasted the same, or whether they preferred one sample. What the children didn't know was that both samples contained the nutritious vegetable. The investigators found that taste preferences did not differ for the labeled versus the unlabeled sample of zucchini chocolate chip bread or broccoli gingerbread spice cake.

However, students preferred the unlabeled cookies (ie, chocolate chip cookies) over the vegetable-labeled version (ie, chickpea chocolate chip cookies). The investigators also assessed the frequency of consumption for the three vegetables involved and chickpeas were consumed less frequently (81 percent had not tried in past year) as compared to zucchini and broccoli.

Lizzy Pope, MS, RD, the principal investigator of this study stated, "The present findings are somewhat unanticipated in that we were expecting students to prefer all three of the "unlabeled" samples. These findings are consistent with previous literature on neophobia that suggests that children are less apt to like food with which they are unfamiliar."

"Since the majority of students had had broccoli and zucchini within the past year (as compared to chickpeas), it appears that there must be some familiarity with a vegetable for the labeling of the vegetable content not to influence taste preference. Considering this then, it is not surprising that the unlabeled version of the chickpea chocolate chip cookies was preferred over the labeled version," Pope added.

Dr. Randi Wolf, PhD, MPH, co-investigator also said, "Food products labeled with health claims may be perceived as tasting different than those without health claims, even though they are not objectively different.

"I've even read studies that have shown children like baby carrots better when they are presented in McDonald's packaging. These prior studies suggest the potential power that food labels can have on individuals. Although anecdotal reports suggest that children may not eat food products that they know contain vegetables, little is actually known about how children's taste preferences may be affected when the vegetable content of a snack food item is apparent on the item's label. This study is important in that it may contribute knowledge of the potential effectiveness of a novel way to promote vegetable consumption in children," he noted.

Based on what the investigators learned from this study, it seems more important to introduce our children to a variety of vegetables rather than continually hiding them.

The results were published in the March/April 2012 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

Source-ANI

Vitamin A Pill may Reduce Skin Cancer Risk

A study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology suggests that taking a vitamin A pill every day may reduce the risk of skin cancer among women.

The study was led by Dr Maryam Asgari from the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research in Oakland, who analyzed the effect of vitamin A supplements among 69,600 men and women between 50 and 76 years of age.

The researchers found that a compound, known as retinol, present in vitamin A reduced the risk of skin cancer among women by as much as 60 percent. “Our data suggest a possible interaction between supplemental retinol use and the anatomic site of melanoma, with sun-exposed sites showing a stronger protective effect than sun-protected sites. It may be that retinol's effects may be mediated by sunlight exposure. This intriguing possibility warrants further exploration in future studies”, Dr Asgari said.

Source-Medindia

New Clinical Practice Guideline On Sudden Hearing Loss

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation published a new Clinical Practice Guideline on Sudden Hearing Loss (SHL).

A sudden loss of hearing is a frightening symptom that most often prompts urgent medical care. Current diagnosis and treatment plans vary greatly. This guideline provides evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of adults who present with SHL. Prompt, accurate recognition and management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), a subset of SHL, may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life. SSNHL affects 5 to 20 per 100,000 population, with about 4,000 new cases per year in the United States.

The purpose of this guideline is to provide all clinicians who may encounter patients with SHL with evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis, counseling, treatment, and follow-up. By focusing on opportunities for quality improvement, the guideline should improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease variations in management, reduce unnecessary tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and rehabilitative outcomes for affected patients.

"We are pleased that this guideline provides doctors with a set of evidence-based recommendations for patients who present with sudden hearing loss. This guideline will help advance the care of afflicted patients and result in improved outcomes," said Robert J. Stachler, MD, Guideline Chair.

Key Points for the AAO-HNSF Clinical Practice Guideline: Sudden Hearing Loss

What is sudden hearing loss and why is it important? Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a frightening symptom that often prompts an urgent or emergent visit to a physician. The guideline primarily focuses on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in adult patients (aged 18 and over).

The panel recognized that patients enter the health care system with SHL as a nonspecific, primary complaint. Therefore, the initial recommendations of the guideline deal with efficiently distinguishing SSNHL from other causes of SHL at the time of presentation. Prompt recognition and management of SSNHL may improve hearing recovery and patient quality of life (QOL). SSNHL affects 5 to 20 per 100,000 population, with about 4,000 new cases per year in the United States.

Why is the sudden hearing loss guideline newsworthy? This is the first evidence-based guideline on sudden hearing loss in the United States. The guideline's recommendations should improve diagnostic accuracy, facilitate prompt intervention, decrease inappropriate variations in management, reduce unnecessary tests and imaging procedures, and improve hearing and rehabilitative outcomes for affected patients.

What is the purpose of the sudden hearing loss guideline? To provide clinicians with evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of patients who present with SHL. The guideline is intended for all clinicians who diagnose or manage adult patients (18 and over) who present with SHL. The guideline was developed by a multidisciplinary panel representing the fields of otolaryngology, otology, neurotology, neurology, family medicine, emergency medicine, audiology, nurse practitioners, and consumer advocacy groups.

What are the newsworthy points made in the guideline?
Prompt and accurate diagnosis is important:
a. Sensorineural ('nerve') hearing loss should be distinguished clinically from conductive ('mechanical') hearing loss.
b. Unusual presentations such as bilateral SSNHL, recurrent SSNHL, or focal neurological findings (problem with nerve, spinal cord, or brain function) may represent definable underlying disease and should be managed accordingly.
c. The diagnosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL), is made when audiometry confirms a 30 decibel hearing loss at three consecutive frequencies and an underlying condition cannot be identified by history and physical exam.
Unnecessary tests and treatments should be avoided:
a. Routine head/brain CT scans, often ordered in the ER setting, are not helpful and expose the patient to ionizing radiation.
b. Routine, non-targeted, laboratory testing is not recommended.
c. The following should not be routinely prescribed: antivirals, thrombolytics, vasodilators, vasoactive substances, or antioxidants to patients with ISSNHL.
Retrocochlear workup should be performed in all patients with ISSNHL, regardless of hearing recovery.
Initial therapy for ISSNHL may include corticosteroids.
a. Corticosteroids may be delivered systemically or via intratympanic application.
b. Hyperbaric oxygen, currently not FDA-approved for this indication, may be offered.
Doctors should offer intratympanic steroid perfusion when patients have incomplete recovery from ISSNHL after failure of initial management.
Follow-up and counseling is important:
a. Doctors should educate patients with ISSNHL about the natural history of the condition, the benefits and risks of medical interventions, and the limitations of existing evidence regarding efficacy.
b. Doctors should obtain follow-up audiometry within six months of diagnosis for patients with ISSNHL.
c. Doctors should counsel patients with incomplete hearing recovery about the possible benefits of amplification and hearing assistive technology and other supportive measures.


Source-Eurekalert

I woke up with a smile...thinking how good the LORD is...

I woke up and thank God I am still alive

What about you? Start counting your blessings here...

Study Reveals Lonely People Don't Sleep Through the Night
Study Reveals Lonely People Don't Sleep Through the Night

Lonely people are less likely to have a good night's sleep, a recent study found. According to the survey released by researchers at the University of Chicago published in the journal "Sleep" last Tuesday, loneliness is associated with fragmented sleep patterns.

The research team surveyed 95 adults in one of the city's communities on issues such as how much stress they were under and whether they felt anxious, and then analyzed their sleeping patterns. As a result, they found a strong correlation between increased feelings of loneliness and the frequency of interruptions to their sleep on any given night.

Even though their sleep was more broken-up, however, lonely people still got roughly the same number of hours' rest as other people in the study. Their sleeping patterns also did not show any evidence that it led to them dozing off during the day.

englishnews@chosun.com

5 Fish You Should Never Eat



Eat This, Not That







If you’re over the age of 12, you’ve probably had more than a few dearly held beliefs ruined by reality. Like when you discovered it was Mom and Dad, not Santa, who were orchestrating the magic of Christmas. Or when you spent hours watching “Kim’s Fairytale Wedding” over and over again, only to learn that keeping up with this Kardashian was a waste of time. As they say, reality bites.

Well, folks, I hate to do this to you, but . . .

Not all fish are good for you.

Last year, the USDA increased its seafood recommendation to 8 ounces per week, and that has led many to believe that all fish are equally smart choices. But some are so high in contaminants like mercury that their health benefits are outweighed by their health risks. Others are flown in from halfway around the world, but given labels that make you think they were caught fresh earlier that morning. And still others are raised in filthy, overcrowed pools and loaded up with chemicals to keep them alive.

So let me shed light on some very rough waters. Put these fish at the top of your don't-eat list and you'll avoid most of the troubles of the world's fishing industry.


#1: ATLANTIC BLUEFIN TUNA

Why It's Bad: A recent analysis by The New York Times found that Atlantic bluefin tuna has the highest levels of mercury of any type of tuna. To top it off, bluefin tuna are severely overharvested, to the point of reaching near-extinction levels, and are considered "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rather than trying to navigate the ever-changing recommendations for which tuna is best, consider giving it up altogether. But if you can't . . .
Eat This Instead: Opt for American or Canadian (but not imported!) albacore tuna, which is caught while it's young and doesn't contain as high levels of mercury.




#2: ATLANTIC SALMON (Both Wild-caught and Farmed)




Why It's Bad: It's actually illegal to capture wild Atlantic salmon because the fish stocks are so low, and they're low, in part, because of farmed salmon. Salmon farming is very polluting: Thousands of fish are crammed into pens, which leads to the growth of diseases and parasites that require antibiotics and pesticides. Often, the fish escape and compete with native fish for food, leading to declines in native populations.
Adding to our salmon woes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is moving forward with approving genetically engineered salmon to be sold, unlabeled, to unsuspecting seafood lovers. That salmon would be farmed off the coast of Panama, and it's unclear how it would be labeled. Currently, all fish labeled "Atlantic salmon" come from fish farms.

Eat This Instead: Opt for Wild Alaskan salmon.


#3: ATLANTIC FLATFISH


Why It's Bad: This group of fish includes flounder, sole, and halibut that are caught off the Atlantic coast. They found their way onto the list because of heavy contamination and overfishing that dates back to the 1800s. According to Food and Water Watch, populations of these fish are as low as 1 percent of what's necessary to be considered sustainable for long-term fishing.

Eat This Instead: Pacific halibut seems to be doing well, but the group also recommends replacing these fish with other mild-flavored white-fleshed fish, such as domestically farmed catfish or tilapia.
CHANGE YOUR PLATE, LOSE WEIGHT: People using paper plates tend to eat more later because they consider those meals as just "snacks."

#4: IMPORTED KING CRAB

Why It's Bad: The biggest problem with imported crab is that most of it comes from Russia, where limits on fish harvests aren't strongly enforced. But this crab also suffers from something of an identity crisis: Imported king crab is often misnamed Alaskan king crab, because most people think that's the name of the crab. And supermarkets often add to the confusion by labeling imported king crab "Alaskan King Crab, Imported." But Alaskan king crab—crab that actually hails from the great state of Alaska—is a completely separate animal and is much more responsibly harvested than the imported stuff.

Eat This Instead: When you shop for king crab, whatever the label says, ask whether it comes from Alaska or if it's imported. Approximately 70 percent of the king crab sold in the U.S. is imported, so it's important to make that distinction and go domestic.

#5 IMPORTED SHRIMP
Why It's Bad: Imported shrimp actually holds the designation of being the dirtiest of all the seafood we looked at. Problem is, 90 percent of shrimp sold in the U.S. is imported. Imported farmed shrimp comes with a whole bevy of contaminants including antibiotics, residues from chemicals used to clean pens, E. coli, mouse hair, rat hair, and pieces of insects. Yum! Part of this has to do with the fact that less than 2 percent of all imported seafood (shrimp, crab, catfish, or others) gets inspected before its sold, which is why it's that much more important to buy domestic seafood.
Eat This Instead: Domestic shrimp. Seventy percent of domestic shrimp comes from the Gulf of Mexico, which relies heavily on shrimp for economic reasons. Pink shrimp from Oregon are another good choice; the fisheries there are certified under the stringent Marine Stewardship Council guidelines.


http://health.yahoo.net/experts/eatt...uld-throw-back

Cinnamon does more than spice up your muffins
1





This sweet spice, used most often to pep up pancakes, toast, oatmeal or buns, has a long and storied history that includes being used in the ancient Egyptians' embalming process. But it may also do more than make our food taste better.
A 2003 study in the journal Diabetes Care of five dozen people with Type 2 diabetes showed that the daily addition of cinnamon to their diet lowered blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels after 40 days.




http://www.myhealthnewsdaily.com

Top 10 most toxic foods
10 surprisingly toxic common foods

While most people know that cakes and chocolate aren’t great for your health, there are other seemingly healthy foods whose dangerous properties slip under the radar. While it is unlikely moderate amounts of these foods will harm you, in large quantities – or in certain conditions – they may do more damage to your health than you think. Here are some of the most toxic common foods.

Mushrooms

While mushrooms available in most supermarkets should be pretty safe to eat, mushroom fans need to be careful about what species' they are consuming as many varieties can be highly dangerous and even fatal. Around 100 species of mushrooms are said to be dangerous to humans, with symptoms ranging from headaches to seizures or even death. In 2010 a small variety of mushroom called the Little White was blamed for an estimated 400 deaths in China.


Chillies

Chillies are renowned for their heat, which is what makes them so popular. However, it is actually the chemical that causes this spiciness (capsaicin) which can cause toxic effects such as stomach pain, itchy skin and, in extreme cases, death. For most people eating chillies will do little harm, however capsaicin is best eaten sparingly so make sure to take it easy and avoid any chilli eating challenges!



Rapeseed oil

There has been much controversy about this seemingly innocent natural oil, but the general consensus seems to be that it could have many negative implications on our health. Reports state that the rape plant - from which the oil is produced - is extremely toxic, and side effects of consuming its oil could include respiratory problems and blindness.

Rice

It is impossible to dispute that rice has many great health benefits. However, like with most things, it may be best eaten in moderation due to its reportedly unsafe levels of arsenic. One study has suggested that one in five packs of American long-grain rice contain potentially harmful levels of the toxic substance, while others have reported concern for the levels of arsenic in rice milk and baby rice. While there is relatively little risk of the odd bowl of rice causing any long lasting harm, the consumption of high levels of arsenic has been linked to cancer.

Nutmeg

Perhaps one of the most immediately dangerous foods on this list is also one of the most surprising, and that is the common store cupboard spice, nutmeg. Although, like many of the foods on the list, nutmeg does have reported health benefits, it can also be extremely dangerous when taken in large doses. Containing a toxic substance called myristicin, moderate proportions of nutmeg can cause hallucinations, while larger doses can cause convulsions, palpitations, nausea, dehydration and death.

Non-organic apples

Although it is advisable to buy as much organic fruit and veg as you can, in reality this is hard to do on most people's budgets. When making decisions over whether or not to go organic, it is important therefore to note that some foods have a higher concentration of pesticides than others, and apples are one of the fruits that top this list. Because apples are vulnerable to insect infestations and growths, growers are liable to coat the fruit in chemical pesticides and fungicides, some of which will absorb into its flesh. To minimise health risks, try to buy organic apples wherever possible, or at least remove the skin before eating.


Farmed Salmon

We may be constantly urged to eat more oily fish, but research has suggested that consuming farmed salmon may not be the best way to do it. A study found that 13 different toxins - including PCBs, which have been classed as a probable human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - are at much higher levels in farm-raised salmon than in wild salmon. Due to the possible health dangers of consuming these toxins, it is advisable to either reduce your portions of farmed salmon (guidelines are for a half to two portions a month, depending on where the salmon is from) or switch to the wild variety.
Microwave popcorn

Although eating microwave popcorn is not believed to be particularly harmful, it has been found that butter flavoured versions of the snack contain a dangerous chemical (diacetyl) in the flavouring which releases toxic fumes when microwaved. While this has mainly affected factory workers so far - with many developing a lung condition dubbed "popcorn lung" - one consumer is now known to have also developed lung problems due to this toxin.
However, this is clearly a case of moderation being key, with the sufferer admitting to eating microwave popcorn at least twice a day for 10 to 12 years. Unless you are eating your popcorn in similar quantities, it is most likely safe to consume popcorn at home, just be careful to avoid the fumes when opening the bag.
Potatoes

Potatoes may look innocent enough, but did you know they actually come from the same family as poisonous plant the deadly nightshade? Although they are not quite as dangerous as this family member, potatoes do pose certain risks to our health due to them containing toxic compounds known as glycoalkaloids, the most worrying of which is solanine which affects the nervous and digestive systems, causing headaches, weakness, confusion, diarrhoea and vomiting amongst other things.
Poisoning from potatoes occurs very rarely but fans of the popular vegetable should take measures to protect themselves by avoiding potatoes with sprouts - which tend to have a higher concentration of glycoalkaloids - and those which have turned green. Although the green colour of the potatoes is harmless in itself, it does indicate that the potatoes have been exposed to light, which can also encourage solanine levels to rise over the safe level for consumption.
Peanuts

Not only are peanuts one of the most common food allergens, but the popular bar snack may also be dangerous to those who don't suffer from allergies. Peanuts are particularly best avoided by those with kidney or gallbladder problems as they contain oxalates which can crystallise and cause kidney and gallbladder stones.
However, even for the rest of us peanuts can be toxic due to their susceptibility to mould and the frequently occurring presence of aflatoxin - a highly toxic carcinogen - that is produced by a fungus called Aspergillus flavus invading the nuts. If you simply can't resist snacking on peanuts, try to purchase ones produced in arid areas - such as New Mexico -where the soil is dry and the risk of aflatoxins is lower.


realbuzz.com

What is GREEN coffee?
Green coffee bean extract is a new ingredient on the market. Green coffee bean has strong anti-oxidant properties similar to other natural anti-oxidants like green tea and grape seed extract. Green coffee beans have polyphenols which act to help reduce free oxygen radicals in the body. Green coffee bean extract is sometimes standardized to more than 50% chlorogenic acid. Chlorogenic Acid is the compound present in coffee which has been long known as for its beneficial properties. This active ingredient makes green coffee bean an excellent agent to absorb free oxygen radicals; as well as helping to avert hydroxyl radicals, both which contribute to degradation of cells in the body. Green coffee bean extract is made from the green beans of the coffea Arabica plant. There are two types of coffee plants, arabica and robusta... the arabica is higher in quality and higher in chlorogenic and caffeic acids, two primary compounds responsible for anti-oxidant activity.
Boiled coffee drinks contain cafestol which is associated with the negative effects of using coffee as a stimulant, this is not present in green coffee beans or the extract.


http://www.raysahelian.com/greencoffee.html

Top-15-Coffee-Effects-on-Your-Health
Some are trying hard to show the beneficial effects that coffee has on our health, others see it as the devil's beverage. Others say it's rather a bogus. Read on and decide for yourself who's right!

1. Some say that the energy boosting effect of the morning coffee is only in your mind and you should sleep more. The caffeine eases withdrawal symptoms accumulating overnight, but does not make people more alert. Only people who do not regularly drink coffee will get a 'push-up' from caffeine, while the British Coffee Association insists that regular drinkers do feel more alert.

Regular coffee drinkers swear that their morning caffeine wakes them up, and in case they don't take it, they feel they have no energy and will surely be less efficient in their activities. Researches show that a first caffeine intake does not make the individuals more alert than those who do not drink coffee are.

Others insist that moderate coffee consumption of four to five cups per day is perfectly safe for the general population and has a beneficial effect on alertness and performance even in the case of regular coffee drinkers.

Caffeine, the main active chemical of coffee, blocks adenosine, a chemical that makes you naturally drowsy, increasing concentration and reaction speed. But the long term effects can be really tricky. Once the temporary stimulation stops, the brain cells start needing caffeine for stimulation and a sudden neural sluggishness installs.

2. Caffeine has been found to prevent cognitive decline in the elderly women. Women aged 65 and older who consumed over three cups of coffee (or the same caffeine levels in tea) daily scored better over time on memory tests than women who drank one cup or less of coffee/tea daily did. The memory benefits of the caffeine rise with age - coffee drinkers being 30 % less exposed to memory impairment at age 65 and 70 % less over 80. Still, caffeine consumers did not have lower rates of dementia.

Caffeine seems to slow the dementia process rather than prevent it. Why caffeine has a slightly different effect on women than it does in men is a puzzle.

Caffeine has been found also to protect against Parkinson's disease and depression, and this could be linked to its inhibiting effect on adenosine receptors. Depression is eased because caffeine increases dopamine, the "happy feeling" hormone, in your brain.

3. Italian researchers found that coffee defends against blepharospasm, an involuntary eye spasm which makes patients blink uncontrollably, which may turn into a severe vision impairment, and in severe cases, this can make the patients functionally blind (despite intact eyeballs) as they cannot impede closing their eyes. One to two cups daily have this effect. The blepharospasm onset age was delayed by coffee drinking, with 1.7 years for each extra daily cup, and this could be due to caffeine's effect on the adenosine receptors.

4. Everybody knows the laxative effect of coffee. Brewed coffee also contains soluble cellulose fibers, which help the body absorb vital nutrients, keep a lid on cholesterol and fight constipation. The amounts are of 0.47-0.75 grams of fiber per 100 ml. Freeze-dried coffee came out on top. Men comsume on average about 38 g of fiber a day and women around 25 g. A 240 ml cup of coffee could contain as much as 1.5 g of fiber (3.2 cups means 5 g of fiber).

5. High coffee consumption (more than three cups per day for years) increases loss of bone mineral density. Caffeine is a mild diuretic, speeding up the urination cycle, but "steals" calcium which is lost through urine. Long term, heavy caffeine use leads to a rapid development of osteoporosis.

6. The effect of coffee on the cardiovascular health is controversial: some say it's good, others that it is a risk factor. Caffeine blocking adenosine constricts the brain's blood vessels. The heart beats rate increases, muscles tighten, the blood pressure booms, blood vessels near the surface constrict and more blood flows to the muscles.

Researches show that blood pressure and heart rate spurred in healthy sedentary adults drinking two cans of caffeine containing drinks daily by up to 11 %.

But if you're going to practice sports, the heart beats can increase up to a dangerously high level, while triggering extremities shivering and nausea. On the long term, the unnatural heart racing is unhealthy, and can trigger heart conditions.

7. Caffeine causes sleep disturbances. Don't even think about drinking coffee or other caffeine containing beverages before sleep. And remember that the alkaloid needs 12 hours to be completely eliminated from your body.

8. A new research has found that coffee could cut the risk of skin cancer. 6 cups of caffeinated coffee daily lowered the likelihood of developing skin cancer by 35 %, while 2-3 cups lowered it by 12 %. Caffeine is believed to impede cells dividing in the tumor, or to work as an antioxidant. One research found coffee and exercising fight against sun-induced skin cancer by 400 %.

Other researches suggest that coffee could be beneficial also against breast cancer.

9. Coffee fights gout symptoms! The beverage lowers uric acid levels on short term, easing the most common and excruciatingly painful inflammatory arthritis in adult males. Drinking 4-5 cups of coffee daily significantly decreases the risk of gout by 40 % and over 6 cups per day by 59 %. Tea (which contains caffeine) has no impact on gout incidence, thus other chemical than caffeine induces this effect; the main suspected being the phenol chlorogenic acid, a powerful antioxidant.

10. Two cups of coffee reduce significantly post-gym muscle pain. Caffeine consumed one-hour before going to the gym induces a 48 % decrease in pain; those who drink caffeine before the near-maximum force test have 26 % drop in soreness. Caffeine boosts endurance, and one study discovered caffeine to decrease pain during moderate-intensity cycling. By blocking the receptors for adenosine, released in response to inflammation and implied in pain sensation, coffee could have this effect. Caffeine seems to be more efficient than conventional pain and soreness reliever drugs, like naproxen (the active ingredient in Aleve), aspirin and ibuprofen.

11. Caffeine mixed with acetaminophen (paracetamol), one of the most common painkillers used in the US and Europe could harm your liver. The caffeine was discovered to triple the quantity of a toxic byproduct, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), produced by the enzyme that breaks down the acetaminophen. Still, the effects would be determined by the daily consume of 20-30 cups of coffee.

12. Caffeine gets women in the mood for sex, especially in moderate amounts and when the women are not heavy drinkers. The chemical is also known to increase excitability in men.

Interestingly, female rats that received the middle dose of caffeine had quicker return visits to the males than the highest dose tested.

13. Researches show that the consume of unfiltered coffee increases the level of cholesterol. Why? Because coffee contains a substance called cafestol which triggers the rise of cholesterol levels. The cafestol blocks a receptor in an intestinal pathway crucial for cholesterol regulation, and is the most potent food chemical to do this.

By pouring hot water over the ground coffee, the cafestol is extracted. The same thing happens when the ground coffee is boiled in water by several times, like in the case of Turkish coffee or Scandinavian brew, or a paper filter is employed, like in French coffee. If the coffee is made without the filter, the cafestol remains in the prepared beverage.

A cup of unfiltered coffee contains up to 4 milligrams of cafestol that can raise the cholesterol level by 1 %. The espresso coffee contains cafestol, as it is not prepared with a filter. Still, this type of coffee can increase less the cholesterol if you use a small cup. Less espresso means less cafestol, probably just 1-2 mg per cup. Still, 5 cups of espresso can raise the cholesterol by 2 %.

Decaffeinated coffee contains cafestol, since removing caffeine does not influence the other compound.

14.Coffee was found to remove 78-90 % of the heavy metals dissolved in the tap water, like lead or copper, because the ground coffee has the molecules not electrically charged or negatively charged, attracting the heavy metals, which are positively charged. Stronger coffee removes a higher amount of the toxic heavy metals. Instead, tea removes just one third of the same amount of lead and has not effect on the copper.

15. Coffee can kill you! Just as any other drug, in small amounts, caffeine (and coffee) is a stimulant. But the coffee plant synthesizes the alkaloid with the purpose of killing�its natural consumers. The grazer eating too much coffee will die. We, too, may be killed. The uncontrolled heart beats are the prelude of a heart attack.

Over 400 mg of caffeine (found in 4-5 cups of brewed coffee) can cause caffeine intoxication. Some even snort caffeine powder, which results in a more rapid and intense reaction. The symptoms are just like those induced by any other drug: restlessness, nervousness, excitement, insomnia, face flushing, increased urination, gastrointestinal disturbance, muscle twitching, a rambling flow of thought and speech, irritability, irregular heart beat, and psychomotor agitation.

Deadly coffee doses have not been tested on people, but in rats the average lethal dose (LD50) of caffeine is 192 mg/kg: 50 % of the rats died after consuming this quantity. In humans, however, the value would be linked to weight and each one's sensitivity, to about 150 to 200 mg/kg of body mass.

So, you have to drink 80 to 100 cups of coffee very quickly to die... This also varies with the coffee variety, and cup size, as this determines how much caffeine enters your body. Actually, cases of death caused by coffee drinking have not been reported yet (at least from rapid drinking; the chronic effects are another story) but caffeine pills (just 2 g) are much more effective and have been proven lethal.


news.softpedia.com

Breakfast made easy...
Fruit and Cheese

A balanced, easy-to-assemble make-ahead morning meal: Grab an apple, wrap 1 to 2 ounces of Cheddar in plastic, and toss ¼ cup of fiber- and protein-rich walnuts into a resealable plastic bag.




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Diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduces stroke risk in women: study
In another reminder to eat more fruits and vegetables, a new study has found that women who ate a diet rich in antioxidants reduced their risk of stroke, regardless of their cardiovascular history.
Published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association last week, researchers tracked the dietary habits of 31,035 women who were heart disease-free and 5,680 women with a history of cardiovascular disease from the Swedish Mammography Cohort. The women were aged 49-83 years old.
After collecting dietary data from food questionnaires, researchers from the Karolinksa Institutet in Sweden determined the participants’ total antioxidant capacity (TAC), which measures the free radical-reducing capacity of all antioxidants in the diet.
Results showed that women with the highest levels of dietary TAC reduced their risk of stroke by 17 percent.
In this group, fruits and vegetables contributed to 50 percent of their TAC, while whole grains made up 18 percent, tea 16 percent and chocolate 5 percent.
Women with a history of heart disease with high levels of dietary TAC also lowered their risk of hemorrhagic stroke by up to 57 percent.
Antioxidants help counter the effects of free radicals -- organic molecules responsible for aging, tissue damage and disease.
They also help reduce the risk of stroke by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress, the imbalance between the production of cell-damaging free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralize them.
Some of the most antioxidant-rich foods include berries, broccoli, garlic, green tea and tomatoes.
Cooking also alters antioxidant levels in foods. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Food Science found, for instance, that cauliflower suffered the highest loss of antioxidants after it was boiled or zapped in the microwave. Peas lost much of their nutritional properties after being boiled, as did zucchini when boiled or fried.
The sturdiest vegetables turned out to be artichokes, beets, garlic and green beans, which held onto their antioxidant properties after most cooking treatments. Not only did green beans hold steady to their nutritional properties, they -- along with celery and carrots -- actually increased their antioxidant levels after cooking.
The most antioxidant-destructive cooking methods overall? Pressure-cooking and boiling.


http://ph.she.yahoo.com/diet-rich-fr...163419540.html

Juice, milk, and gum to join the probiotic trend
Probiotic juices, milk, gums and chews are predicted to be the next big thing when it comes to functional products that boast health benefits, predicts research market group Euromonitor.
In a podcast published November 21, Ewa Hudson, head of health and wellness at Euromonitor International, said that though probiotic juices brought in a modest $130 million US in sales globally, the recent spate of product launches indicates a strong interest -- and growth -- in fortified juices.
New probiotic products include juices like GoodBelly, which claims that its probiotic strain can survive the stomach’s acidic environment and reach the intestinal tract unlike other active cultures on the market. GoodBelly is sold at Whole Foods Market. Walmart also carries Naked Juice, a line of probiotic fruit smoothies.

The probiotic industry has taken a lot of hits among consumer groups and food authorities lately, for what critics say are misleading claims about their health benefits. Some of the most common assertions are that probiotic products boost the immune system, help with digestion and reduce gut problems.

The European Food Safety Authority maintains that the science behind such claims are flimsy at best and has rejected 260 out of 300 probiotic health claim submissions, reported NutraIngredients.com earlier this month. Nor is the US Food and Drug Administration convinced that probiotics carry scientifically proven health benefits, treading carefully around the subject.

Despite the negative press, however, global sales of probiotic products exceeded even Euromonitor’s expectations, said Hudson, posting a 24 percent growth in the UK in 2010, and 9 percent growth in the US. Sales in France remained flat at one percent that same year.

Perhaps the biggest fortified milk-like product is the Japanese brand Yakult, made with fermented skim milk and a special probiotic strain. EFSA rejected Yakult’s health claims last year.

Meanwhile, expect to see more probiotic gum, mints and chews, which will claim to have oral health properties like helping with tooth decay and whitening, Hudson added.
http://ph.she.yahoo.com

It is a dirty world out there, with nowhere to run when trying to avoid the microscopic pests that cause everything from mild irritations to agonizing death – and all that lay between. The following list contains some everyday places, to some rarer ones that make sense, some destinations that may require travel, and maybe a few surprises that pose the highest risk of contamination. There are always precautions that can be taken, of course, but it is entirely impossible to completely stave off the influence of bacteria, viruses, and other malevolent microbial menaces. Sleep well tonight!
1. Portable toilets
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A combination of high traffic and no plumbing make portable toilets a veritable Shangri-la for bacteria and other microbes.
2. Slaughterhouses
Though heavily sanitized in some areas, the main floor of the slaughterhouse involves hundreds of farm animals crammed into one tiny space. And then they get dead, and then they get hacked into meat. Suffice to say, slaughterhouses are rather germy establishments.
3. The Blarney Stone
Thousands of tourists each year flock to Blarney Castle in order to kiss its celebrated stone. Hoping to gain eloquence as a result, they also walk away having pressed their mouths to the exact same spot as millions of other dirty, potentially diseased individuals
4. Kitchen sinks
Most people do not realize it, but kitchen sinks are one of the dirtiest places in the home, harboring used dishes and their accompanying decaying food particles. People also use them to wash clothes, as substitute toilets when vomit does not want to stay down, and other lovely unsanitary things.
5. Door handles
No matter where they are located, door handles act as a magnet for germs, dirt, and assorted grime. They are one of the most guilty culprits in the spread of flu and colds.
6. Baku, Azerbaijan
According to Forbes, this Caspian oil city ranks as the world’s dirtiest. The accompanying air and water pollution grants it a Mercer Health and Sanitation Index Score of 27.6.
7. Underwear
There is a reason why nonprofits who take clothing donations always emphasize how much they really do not want your old underpants, and that reason has nothing to do with having Spongebob Squarepants’s godforsaken lemon-yellow face right there across the keister.
8. Outdoor music festivals
Hit Burning Man or another one of Woodstock’s many successors to learn firsthand why the patrons are derisively referred to as “dirty hippies.”
9. Playgrounds
Hardly surprising, given children’s fondness for mining gold without ever actually having to pan or chip away rock for it. Swings, jungle gyms, and other equipment where kids have to use their hands rank as the dirtiest.
10. Ganges River
Consistently ranked as one of the most polluted in the world, people coming into contact with Ganges water put themselves at risk for cholera, dysentery, cryptosporidium, and other water-borne illnesses.
11. Purses and handbags
Numerous studies have shown that the inside of purses, backpacks, and other daily transports harbor all sorts of unpleasant viruses and microbes. Food, gum, and other perishables only serve to make the situation worse.
12. Dhaka, Bangladesh
The second dirtiest city in the world, the Bangladeshi capital city plays host to disconcerting levels of water pollution which come to negatively impact the 150 million people residing there.
13. Monkey cages
Monkeys sure are cute, what with looking like particularly fuzzy people and all. They also happen to really, really enjoy slinging their own feces about, too.
14. Hotel linens and towels
Even the cleanest hotel linens and towels were once used by hundreds – if not thousands – of other people. Sure they get run through the washers and dryers, but…
15. Wet laundry
…even ostensibly “clean” items such as a load of wet laundry can transmit certain microbes – many of whom thrive in warm, wet environments like the washing machine. E. coli is especially a concern when washing undergarments, which can spread the bacteria to other clothes.
16. Antananarivo, Madagascar
With a Mercer Health and Sanitation Index score of 30.1, Antananarivo and its people suffer under too many crammed into too small a space.
17. Oscar Wilde’s grave
Like a Parisian Blarney Stone, tourists traditionally leave a kiss for the celebrated Irish writer right on his tombstone. The rock is spotted with thousands of red lipstick smears and their associated microscopic companions.
18. Landfills
Tons of trash, both organic and synthetic, cannot possibly be sanitary under any condition. The rusting, used razors and needles alone hold the potential to pass around any number of blood-borne diseases.
19. Fish farm lakes
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Hundreds of salmon, tuna and other fish eat, spawn, and relieve themselves in farm ponds. After removal, many farmers recycle the polluted water by dropping catfish or tilapia (not to be confused with Tila Tequila, who was considered for this list) into its murky depths and let them continue the work of their forebears.
20. Sewers
Filled to the brim with human and animal waste, dirt, food chunks from the garbage disposal, and other various and sundry unpleasantries, it probably comes as no surprise that rats are actually the cleanest denizens of sewage systems everywhere.
21. Waste treatment ponds
Prior to receiving the full sanitation process, the ponds at waste treatment facilities squeeze together all the bits of metabolic leavings into one teeming mass of sludge and disease.
22. Port au Prince, Haiti
As a major hub of commercial activity, Port au Prince unfortunately falls victim to a corrupt system that ignores the well-being of its peoples and cares little for pollution control.
23. Keyboards
The sweat and oils from fingers and hands leave behind grime and communicable diseases such as the flu, colds, strep throat, and others. Public computers at libraries, schools, and other organizations pose the most threat.
24. Communal office equipment
Staplers, phones, chairs, copy machines, and other devices shared by an entire office follow the same basic logic as keyboards and playgrounds. If people touch it, it gets smeared with grease and filth and runs the risk of spreading all sorts of illnesses.
25. Cell phones
Many recent studies have shown that cell phones, which come into intimate contact with hands and mouths, are actually far dirtier than toilets.
26. Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico City perpetually sits within a dense smog of some of the world’s absolute worst air pollution, with 85% of the year characterized by dangerous ozone levels.
27. Schools
According to The Wall Street Journal, teachers actually come into contact with more harmful bacteria than almost any other position. Neurotic mothers may not appreciate hearing just how many communicable diseases pass through their children’s schools each year.
28. Airplane bathrooms
Airplane bathrooms are basically aerospace Port-A-Potties, except with some semblance of plumbing.
29. Kitchen sponges
Nobody ever thinks to clean their cleaning supplies, and porous surfaces such as sponges collect bits of food and grime that just sit there, rot, and allow bacteria to pop in and do a little Tango.
30. Bath tubs & shower curtains
People may exits their bath tubs feeling sparkly and clean, but the receptacles themselves harbor dead skin cells, oils, and daily grime that get washed off with soap and water.
31. Water parks
Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Not that anyone would want to, considering how the millions of people traipsing through water parks every summer leave behind their dead skin, bacteria, and diseases in the pool.
32. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Due to insufficient sanitation, inhabitants of Ethiopia’s capital suffer from a high infant mortality rate, extremely low life expectancy, and horrifying diseases.
33. Healthcare facilities
Obviously, some parts of hospitals and doctor’s offices remain almost completely sanitary. However, waiting and emergency rooms witness a multitude of illnesses on an hourly basis, and the biohazard depositories alone probably contain enough disease-ridden blood, pus, saliva, metabolic waste, tissues, and other human leavings to kill a bull elephant.
34. Nursing homes
Unfortunately, far too many elderly individuals end up in lackluster care centers that delay the cleaning of urine and feces or neglect changing their bed linens. This leads not only to bacteria which may cause serious illness – even death – in these centers’ frail inhabitants, but the possibility of terrible sores and infections as well.
35. Vacuum cleaner bags
All the dirt, pet hair, mites, dust, and other detritus that gets sucked up through a vacuum cleaner follows the Law of Conservation of Mass. It has to go somewhere, and as a result the bags whose sole purpose involves collecting all the grit and grime condenses all the little household microbes together into one powdery stew of abject terror.
36. Mumbai, India
Mercer Health and Sanitation Index bestowed a score of 38.2 on Mumbai, though recent political and economic investments in the area may slowly improve the sanitation and overall quality of life.
37. Beds
Some estimate that humans spend up to 1/3 of their life in bed, both asleep and awake. Because they are often subjected to sweat, drool, gas, blood, mucus, the occasional “accident,” and other perfectly natural but nevertheless off-putting facts of life, beds are practically Petri dishes.
38. Murder/suicide scenes
Bodies begin decomposing mere minutes – if not seconds – after death. More grisly murder or suicide cases involving firearms, cutting, or jumping onto concrete distribute blood and bits of bones, tissues, and organs across a queasily wide expanse of space. These, in turn, begin their own decomposition process and spread the accompanying, potentially disease-ridden, bacteria further than cases involving booze and pills, hanging, asphyxiation, or other “clean” methods.
39. Farms
Housing a number of animals in a small, contained space especially concentrates the microbes present in their waste and on their skin, making even clean barns one of the more bacterial areas of a farm.
40. Zoos
Zoos follow the same logic as barns. No matter how good a job the zookeepers do, keeping animals and their dirty selves in a pen only merges their collective filth into one overhanging haze of potential illnesses and infections.
41. ATM machines
ATMs see a lot of traffic, and with the sheer volume of hands passing over the buttons, the greasy oils and residues left behind provide a treasure trove of bacteria – many of whom may lead to unpleasant illnesses.
42. Dumpsters
As enjoyable as dumpster diving can be sometimes, adventurous bargain hunters need to understand the real dangers lurking in these potential treasure troves. Bonus bacteria come with ones containing medical waste.
43. Baghdad, Iraq
The oil industry and ongoing war have rendered Baghdad’s air quality some of the worst in the world. Outbreaks of cholera and other diseases transmitted by water unfortunately still devastate the population as well.
44. Public transportation
Buses, trains, subways, trolleys, and other methods of public transportation may help keep the atmosphere cleaner, but any enclosed space with several people is going to be a breeding ground for communicable diseases. One cough can spread a cold or the flu in one small, crowded train car.
45. Gym equipment
Equipment at public gyms are basically relatively stationary versions of public transportation. The biggest difference being, of course, that these machines take it upon themselves to absorb all the sweat and accompanying bacteria. Just like a jaunt through space, it is always a good idea to remember to bring a towel to the gym and wipe down the equipment. However, this does not necessarily remove all the microbes. It only transfers them.
46. Almaty, Kazakhstan
Negligent pollution standards in combination with an oil and petroleum-based economy result in a Mercer Health and Sanitation Index Score of 39.1. Numerous toxic waste dumps pepper the city as well, poisoning the populace and harboring a multitude of potential health hazards.
47. Money
Coins and paper dollars alike change hands quickly, as a result transferring germs, grease, and grime from one person to another. They only become dirtier and dirtier as they move about in circulation, accumulating a little bit of every owner on their surface.
48. Soap
It may seem paradoxical that soap and soap dispensers – especially those in public restrooms – are actually quite dirty. But it follows the same logic as any other object that comes in contact with a multitude of people throughout its lifetime. Washing hands with a bar of soap means both cleaning and acquiring all the leavings of previous users.
49. Brazzaville, Congo
Because of its poor plumbing system, drinking water the city of Brazzaville is contaminated by potentially deadly bacteria. Beyond that, it also suffers under the crushingly hazardous air quality.
50. The human mouth
Anyone who reads this list and considers sequestering him- or herself away in a hypoallergenic, fully sanitized room will never actually escape bacteria and viruses. The human mouth actually contains more harmful microbes than dogs – one animal that loves its own feces almost as much as monkeys. No matter what measures someone takes to stay safe from, something unpleasant will always be around.
Bacteria are like the funk. They can’t be stopped, though in the case of the former it is possible to somewhat stave off. Understanding where potentially harmful microbes thrive make it easier to practice responsible cleaning habits and practices to minimize the risk of transmitting colds, flu, diarrhea, and other illnesses. It also sheds light on parts of the world in need of serious aid and socioeconomic/sociopolitical reform that will shape citizen’s lives for the better and help them and their descendents feel happier, healthier, and stronger.






http://www.forensicsciencetechnician.org

30 Scary Food facts you need to Know



Food is a common necessity in our everyday life. We constantly have to make decisions about food for both ourselves and our families. While trying to decipher the labels while standing in the aisles of the grocery store, one might establish that many of the foods we consume are indeed made of some unexpected ingredients, and some that are just unpronounceable in the English language. There are hundreds of little known facts about food out there, but we have picked the ones we think are both a bit intriguing and undoubtedly scary at the same time. Either way, we think that these facts are absolutely worth knowing about. So if you think you’re up for it, here we go.
Fast Food
We’ve all heard the horror stories about fast food restaurants. These facts will definitely make you think twice about super sizing.
1. An average person’s yearly fast food intake will contain 12 pubic hairs. – Fast food products are more likely to have human hairs and you will never know about it. Think about all the reported cases of customers finding strands of hair in their fries. What about all the hairs that possibly ended up in your stomach that you never even noticed! Now that’s scary.2. Most fast food chains dip their French fries in sugar to give them that deliciously golden brown hue after frying . – What many of us don’t realize is that some fast food fries aren’t just fatty and starchy. They are also sugary as well. While they don’t taste very sweet, the sugars are added for other incentives. It also helps to develop that nice outer crispiness that can be complicated to imitate when frying at home.
3. The Strawberry flavor Contains 50 Different Chemicals. – In order to copy the flavor of a strawberry, fast food corporations include 50 distinct chemicals like ethyl acetate, phenythyl alcohol, rose, and solvent. So, the next time you get a craving for a strawberry milkshake, take a minute to remember the ingredients.
4. Grilled chicken sandwiches and salads on fast food menus, might contain beef. – For example chicken McNuggets contain several beef additives disguised generally with secret names like “extract” or “essence”. Current offenders include Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich and KFC’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich.
5. Hamburgers are made in huge factories. – One ordinary hamburger can encompass pieces of beef from a variety of cattle from many different areas. This multiplies the risk of contamination being that just one unhealthy cow in the group can have a major effect on making hundreds of people ill in distant regions of the country.
6. Propylene Glycerol used for antifreeze keeps your salad crispy . – This chemical, also comes with alerts like skin and eye irritation if exposed to the human body. It is generally used in products like Sierra Anti Freeze and even worse Astroglide Sexual Lubricant .
7. You would have to walk for seven hours straight to burn off a Super Sized Coke, fry and Big Mac . – Unless you plan to get right on the treadmill after your lunch, it’s probably best not to go for those extra humungous fries and drink with your bacon double cheeseburger.
Beverages & Sauces
You’ll be surprised when you read these facts about the ingredients used in your favorite beverages and sauces.
8. The highest price coffee in the world comes from civet droppings. – Kopi Luwak are coffee beans that come from Civet poop. The animals indulge on only the most exquisitely ripe berries, and excrete the partly eaten beans, which are then cultivated to be sold. Kopi Luwak sells anywhere from $120 and $600 per pound. It is primarily sold in the U.S. and Japan. 9. About one-third of bottled water contained synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. – In a study of over 900 bottles and 100 store brands that were tested by the National Resources Defense Council. On another note, there are also more than 115,000 human-made chemicals that are finding their way into the public water supply system.
10. Pink-grapefruit juice drinks may contain bugs. – You won’t find it listed in the contents, but it is definitely there. The insects are in the shape of an ordinary food coloring named cochineal extract, carmine, or carmines acid. The reddish color is derived from the insect known as Dactylopius Coccus Costa, whose diet is of red cactus berries. The bugs are dried up and then ground into a fine powder that is used in a lot of processed foods with a pink, red or purple tint.
11. Worcestershire sauce is made from dissolved fish. – The world renown English sauce is made with liquefied anchovies. The anchovies are soaked in vinegar until they are totally melted down. This includes the bones and all!
12. The phosphoric acid found in cola is so acidic that it can dissolve a nail in 4 days. – The pH of soda is equivalent to the pH level of vinegar .That’s what makes this the most acidic beverage that is sold. Next time you see a truck toting concentrated Coca-Cola, look for the highly corrosive materials sign.
13. Water is reusable. – So basically, an allotment of the water you’ve been drinking has already been drunk by someone else. Maybe even more than once.
Sweets & Snacks
Read some of these fascinating tidbits about popular staples found in any American families pantry.
14. Jelly Beans keep their shine with Shellac. – Shellac is regularly associated as being a type of wood finishing material. It’s common uses include furniture, guitars and even AK-47′s that special shine. Shellac is derived from the excretions of the Kerria lacca insect which is native to the Thailand forests.15. The FDA allows bugs and rodent hair in peanut butter. – The FDA allows an average of 30 or more insect fragments and one or more rodent hairs per 100 grams of peanut butter. To find out more about other foods, here is the link to the FDA Defect Levels Handbook , which provides this scary information.
16. Sugar derived from pure sugar cane goes through a purification process using bone char. Bone char is manufactured by using bones from cows that have died of natural causes. These bones are mostly from the countries of I Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. After being bleached by laying in the hot sun, they are then sold to exporters who in return sell them to the gelatin and sugar companies.
17. Natural vanilla can be moderately addictive – Reason being? It causes the body to increase the levels of catecholamine’s known to us as epinephrine, and even more commonly, adrenaline. These claims have not been documented precisely by a group of scientist, but there are several articles out there on the web.
18. Many mass produced ice creams have seaweed in them. – This does not mean a chunk of seaweed from the ocean is in your ice cream. What you will see on the label is the name carrageenan .It’s a seaweed extract not added for flavor, but as a stabilizer to keep the ice cream crystal free.
19. Peanuts can be used for a component to make Dynamite. – Peanut oil can be produced to create glycerol, which is then processed into nitroglycerin, one of the items that make up dynamite. This is not usually the norm however; there are several other ways to generate dynamite with the use of peanuts being involved.
Beef & Poultry & Fish
Here are a few weird facts about beef, poultry, and fish.
20. About 4 years ago, the FDA allowed the use of bacteriophages to fight microbes that are found on lunch meat, sausages, and hot dogs. – If you are wondering what a bacteriophage is, the general term would be virus. What this really means is that that the processed turkey you eat for lunch contains a number of virus’s that are being used to fight off one microbe that can be dangerous for consumption.21. Over 90% of the salmon that is sold to us in stores is farm-raised and can contain as many as 16 more contaminants than wild salmon. – Did you realize even realize that salmon are gray and not supposed to be pink? Since farm raised do not consume their natural foods, they are given coloring agents that give them the salmony pink color.
22. The waste produced by one chicken in its lifetime can supply enough electricity to run a 100 watt bulb for five hours. – Is there really any more to say? That’s just icky and gross.
Delicacies
Finding out these details on what some considered to be delicacies might find you with a bit of a week stomach.
23. The fungus called truffles can cost $800 to $1,500 per pound. – They are snorted out by female pigs, who recognize the chemicals smell from being produced by the saliva of the male pig. This exact chemical is also originated from the perspiration of human males.24. The largest item on any menu in the world is the roast camel. The camel is stuffed with a sheep’s carcass, which is then stuffed with chickens, which are then stuffed with fish, which are finally stuffed with eggs. This is a rare delicacy and is mostly served at Bedouin wedding feasts.
25. The toxic puffer fish delicacy called Fugu kills about 300 people per year. -In spite of the meticulous measurements of expert chefs, this total remains. The emperor of Japan can only eat Fugu when it is going to be his last meal. And for those experts chefs, they must also eat their own Fugu once It is cooked.
26. In ancient China and certain parts of India, the meat from a mouse was considered a great delicacy. – Furthermore, in ancient Greece, the mouse was help sacred to Apollo. Mice were often relished by the temple priests.
27. Casu Marzu is a cheese made from sheep’s milk that has cheese flies purposely added. – This cheese is a delicacy in Sardinia . And it is also illegal. This dish requires protective eyewear being that the larvae are able to jump into the air about 6 inches. The taste is potent enough to burn your tongue and when undigested larva can live long enough to infest in the intestine walls, causing vomiting and severe diarrhea…yummy.
Dairy
Insert paragraph describing Sub-Section 1
28. Cheese Products Contain Less than 51 percent Cheese. – This is truly one of the more interesting facts we’ve come across. Any cheese whose package states it is processed or pasteurized is most likely made from less than 51 percent of cheese The other 49 percent would be a concoction of flavorings and concocted with additives and flavorings to give your taste buds the illusion of cheese.29. When Swiss cheese ferments, the bacterial chemistry creates a gas. – When the gas is released, it creates bubbles that eat their way through. This is how the holes are made in your Swiss cheese.
30. Some yogurts contain beef or pork gelatin. – The gelatin used in most leading brands of yogurt is derived from beef and/or pork. Many products containing Glycerin or its pseudonym, Stearic Acid have animal by-products. Stearic acid comes from beef tallow and Glycerin comes in synthetic or natural form, but usually has beef tallow as an added ingredient also.
When we eat, we don’t always think about where are food came from, or what ingredients were used, but maybe the above facts might make you take a closer look at what you are feeding our stomachs, as well as our families too.







http://www.forensicsciencetechnician.org

Sleep Disorders Might Be a Sign of Diabetes, Says Study


Sleep Disorders Might Be a Sign of Diabetes, Says Study


It has been recently revealed that the poor sleeping conditions in people might be directly linked to the bad sugar levels of the person.

This was a recent study made by Michelle Perfect from the University of Arizona, the main investigator of the matter. In the study, the sleep health of children between the age group of 10-16 years was tracked, and it was found that the ones, who had troubles with sleeping, could be a huge risk of Type 1 diabetes.

The study was of the view that the children affected by the disease, tend to spend more time in light sleep. This could also lead to increased blood sugar levels and consequently falling performance at schools.

"Despite adhering to recommendations for good diabetic health, many youth with type 1 diabetes have difficulty maintaining control of their blood sugars. We found that it could be due to abnormalities in sleep, such as daytime sleepiness, lighter sleep and sleep apnea", revealed Perfect.

It is essential that kids get enough rest and sleep, and if they have a trouble getting proper sleep at nights, one should consult the doctor. It would be better to find out about diabetes and start controlling it, before it moves further to become even more pronounced.

Sleep is directly proportional to good health and the sleep patterns of children need to be monitored by the parents, to find out if they have a reason to worry. It is essential for them to find out about any health problems in children at an early age, so that effective measures can be taken for controlling them.

Sugar problems might lead to causing troubles such as misbehavior and bad school performance for the kids, and there is need to make sure the kid is on proper medication for the same.
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Improve Your Eyesight Instantly
If the sky’s going to be foggy on your drive home tonight, eat a dark chocolate bar an hour before you leave work. The flavonols in dark chocolate might improve your eyesight in difficult, low-contrast conditions, according to a new study in Physiology and Behavior.
Researchers at the University of Reading in England found that participants’ vision improved by 17 percent in contrasting light conditions after they ate a dark chocolate bar compared to when they ate a white chocolate bar, which contained far less cocoa flavonols. The study participants also performed better at several brain function tests after eating dark chocolate.
One likely reason that dark chocolate gives your eyes a boost is because flaoanols help to aid bloodflow in the body, according to lead researcher David Field, Ph.D., a psychology lecturer at the University of Reading. “The retina uses a lot of energy, but doesn’t have a very good blood supply. So flavonols improve the peripheral bloodflow to the retina, and better blood flow equals more energy. That’s one possible explanation,” Field says.


The researchers tested the participants two hours after they ate each bar, but Field suggests that the effects from flavonol could kick in as soon as an hour after eating.
As for how much dark chocolate you should eat to see the effects, Field isn’t sure. He and his team used a chocolate bar that contained 773 milligrams of cocoa flavonols, but since most U.S. chocolate manufacturers don’t list flavonol content, Field says it’s tough to gauge how much you need to actually eat in order to upgrade your eyesight. Try Dove dark chocolate bars, which retain as many flavonoids as possible.
Is chocolate the only source of these eyesight-boosting benefits? Not necessarily. Flavonols are a member of a larger group of phytochemicals called flavonoids. All of the flavonoids (also found in certain teas, fruits, and veggies) have similar, though not identical, effects to cocoa, Field says. More research would need to be done to see if other foods could have similar effects on eyesight.


news.menshealth.com

Calorie Cutting Tips
The following are strategies for eating smaller portions:
Serve smaller portions than normal. Cut them down by one-third at first. If you ate very large portions before starting your weight-loss journey, eventually cut your portion size in half.
Avoid food portions larger than your fist (except for veggies!).
Use a smaller plate, such as a salad plate instead of a dinner plate, so that small portions look generous.
Spread out your portions, rather than piling them up, so they take up more room on your plate and look bigger.
Avoid putting serving bowls on the table. That makes it harder to have seconds.
If you do have seconds, choose the lowest-calorie foods. Fill up on the vegetables and salad with low-fat dressing--or no dressing at all.
Discontinue your membership in the "clean plate club." Don't finish all the food on your plate. Either save it for another time or throw it away. Next time, take a smaller portion.
Eat half a sweet treat, pastry, or dessert. Share your piece with someone else or save it for another time. You still get to enjoy the flavors you like, with only half the calories!
Keep your portion size from growing unintentionally. While cooking, take only the minimum number of small bites you need to taste and adjust flavorings. And put leftovers into small containers so you won't be tempted to nibble on them while you're cleaning up the kitchen
Create obstacles for eating large amounts of high-calorie foods. Divide up a large bag of chips or box of cookies into individual servings and store them in recloseable plastic bags. Not only will you limit the amount you eat, you'll readjust your eyes to the proper serving size. Cut high-calorie foods such as cheese and chocolate into small pieces. Eat only a few small pieces, and put the rest away. Freeze foods such as muffins and cakes. If they're frozen, you can't grab and eat.
/health.howstuffworks.com