Exercise is really good for the body...

Children should be given vitamin D drops daily, Scotland's health chief

The chief medical officer of Scotland, Sir Harry Burns has sad that all the children aged between six months and five years must be given vitamin D drops on a daily basis.

Sir Harry also said that pregnant women should take the vitamin daily to protect themselves from bone disease and other illnesses. He has written to the health professionals outlining the risks of vitamin D deficiency among children and women.

He wrote in the letter that all pregnant and breastfeeding women should intake a 10 micrograms dose everyday. It also said that the people aged 65 and over who do not get much direct sunlight should also take a dose of 10 micrograms daily.

The Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to high rates of multiple sclerosis in Scotland by several health studies. The main reasons for lower Vitamin D among people in Scotland include lack of sunshine and a diet low in oily fish. Sir Harry also said that the daily dose would allow children to meet the requirement of 7 to 8.5 micrograms of vitamin D per day.

“My colleagues and I are writing a joint letter to health professionals to increase awareness of this important issue, highlighting the fact there are steps that people who may be at risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as pregnant women, infants and young children, can take to avoid low levels,” said Sir Harry.


http://www.topnews.in/children-should-be-given-vitamin-d-drops-daily-scotlands-health-chief-2356614

Has SirHarry ever heard about the benefits of going out into the sun, exercising (not necessarily in a gym) and eating healthy?

See? One of my conservative positions! ;-)

LOL!

First, commentaries about coffee. Now, quoting someone in Scotland.
Carra63, I am starting to like you.

thanks...

Meaningful Sayings for a Meaningful Life

Here are some sayings on “what I feel”, “what I observe”, “what I see”, “what I think” and “what I perceive”. And I do hope all these sayings can benefit you, your friends, your family, your career and any persons. Here we go..
Don’t make offensive judgments about people who’re born abnormally or handicapped, particularly when the judgments tend to be sarcastic and negative – which eventually can harm their self-esteem.
No one grows without support, so please give whatever support you can to your patients/friends/family members.


The trouble you experience in caring for the patients/elderly can lead you to a better understanding of yourself as well as the reality of life
Always be sure that you’re choosing your words carefully, because it’s always better to hold back some extra words of yours.
Guilt is always there when you’re unable to see the real facet of life.
Dwelling in yesterday’s painful feeling is an awful mistake.
One of the best ways to not hang on your loneliness and fear towards yourself is to hang on your painful feeling.
You shouldn’t let anger/unstable mood weigh you down in your life. Your rage and finally, hurt and hatred feelings will know no boundary. When it lies beneath your heart, it’ll erupt like a volcano- but at the end, you’ll never have it completely burst out of your confusing mind. The reason is that you’re being bristled with rage that has caused you to be HOT under the collar.
You must work to pay for the same price that is paid for anything you do. Nothing comes so easily for your success. You must work at it, of course.
Judging the worst for others, and giving them the doubts- these behaviors- as though you’re not cultivating conscious habit in your daily life.
You can’t make other people shine without first shining yourself.
You shouldn’t do something just simply to get people to applaud you.
When you keep on thinking the vital role you’re acting, you’re likely to pass over or may even forget many painful moments.
If you’re placing your self-worth by other’s people pats, claps and compliments on the back, you’re not growing maturely. When all these attentions are withdrawn, you feel mistreated. In an attempt to seek for praises, you’ve given other people authority to validate your self-esteem.
Happiness is like a beautiful butterfly Each time it lands softly to your shoulder, but you don’t quite realize to catch it.
No matter what irritates your feelings badly, you can, of course, get it over and over, if you’ve compassion and determination.
Strong desire and confidence can significantly overcome many adverse circumstances.
Happiness is sometimes an unexplainable process that you created to enjoy the beauty of the world whenever you can. It, of course, requires your effort to realize the conditions of laughing more, of taking more time off, of living happier than usual, of relaxing more, of communicating more with the people you care about, of having less stressful life, of enjoying the benefits when you’re tense, panicked and too tired.
Guilt is always there when you’re living without dignity, honesty, morale, repentance and benevolence.
While painful feelings and deadly awful nightmares are always irritating and frustrating, they shouldn’t be served as a measure to defeat you badly.
You must endure the bad situation, so that you can see a beautiful life.



socyberty.com

Are genetically modified foods (GMF) safe or dangerous to consume?
When the first Genetic Modification techniques were applied agriculturally to a brand of tomatoes in 1994 to cause them to grow bigger and redder, the public and consumers showed a mixed reaction. A minority consisting mostly of the scientific community and the industry understood what GM was and mainly had not problem with it.
Most people didn't understand what GM actually was, and neither did they care - do you know the chemical structure of the acids in fruit juice? Probably not, and you wouldn't be expected to. However, when a new technology makes its debut into the world there are always skeptics.

A lack of understanding or knowledge breeds mistrust. This is a primal human instinct sometimes, and while it can serve us well on occasion (for example, one might not trust a stranger with your personal belongings or volunteer to trial a new untested drug) it can often have undesirable side effects. Examples could be a fear of the dark, which comes from a basic fear of the unknown.
So, when faced with this new "genetic manipulation" technology, some developed a suspicion of the process and, as is typical to sentiments of fear or mistrust, made their views very public knowledge.
The fact of the matter is, genetically modifying a vegetable's DNA structure will cause changes in the way it may grow. The typical application of this is to cause fruits and vegetables to grow into larger or better tasting. There is no inherent "danger" in the new food. Foods which are dangerous to consume are only dangerous because of unhealthy chemicals or toxins present in them, for example the ricin poison in castor beans or the deadly toxins in the Japanese fugu. DNA, on the other hand, is not a poison.
On this note, it is imperative to mention (to avoid accusations of bias) that it is theoretically possible that a certain genetic modification might cause a plant to grow in a manner that would produce certain chemicals that could be hazardous to human health if consumed. However this is in my mind highly improbable, as the genes manipulated by GMF scientists target such attributes as growth rather than chemical constituency. It is also important to note that any new GM food would undergo examination of chemical content and rigourous testing to ensure its safety. Therefore the danger posed by these chemicals is, in practice, none.
In conclusion, there is no inherent danger posed by GM foods; the "scare" present in the media is derived only from a poor understanding of the technology and a basic suspicion of new things.



^^^Martin Michael Rose... helium.com

The Benefits Of Ginger
Ginger has long been renowned for its use in cooking and for its aromatic smell, but did you know that there are also many health benefits of ginger root such as curing nausea and helping with digestion. What is Ginger?

z Ginger is a plant that comes from southeast Asia, and is now also cultivated in Jamaica and other tropical areas. The ginger herb root is used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

Ginger is a natural spice and is known world wide for its smell and pungent taste. Ginger has been used by Chinese herbalists for more than 2,500 years as flavouring in food and also as a medicine.

What are the Health Benefits Of Ginger?

There is a wide range of benefits of ginger such as nausea, digestive problems, circulation and arthritis. Nausea caused during pregnancy or by travelling is one of the benefits of ginger root. Ginger is also known to have the ability to calm an upset stomach and to promote the flow of bile. Stomach cramps can be eased and circulation can also be improved. Ginger supports a healthy cardiovascular system by making platelets less sticky which in turn reduces circulatory problems.

Ginger oil used for massage can help relieve painful arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is often included in many herbal decongestants and can help to minimise the symptoms of respiratory conditions, colds and allergies.

With all the benefits of ginger and continuing research, the ginger root is fast becoming a very popular medicinal herb.

How to Use Ginger

Ginger can be freshly grated and used in cooking. It is also available as a supplement which can be taken on a daily bases.

Gated ginger root mixed with diluted lime juice can help to soothe the digestive tract and reduce flatulence. It can be made into oil and used to massage areas of localised chronic pain. It can also be taken in an extract form to reduce inflammation.

When choosing a ginger supplement it is essential to choose ones that contain ginger's pungent compounds. These are gingerols and shogaols and are the ginger plant's active ingredients.

Ginger can be used in extract pill form and the dosage for this is 100 to 200mg up to three times a day. Fresh powdered ginger should be taken three times a day ½ to ¾ of a teaspoon. Fresh ginger root can be eaten every four hours but no more than three times a day and should be approximately ½ inch and peeled. Ginger tea which now comes prepackaged can be taken several times a day. Crystallised ginger can be taken twice a day.

With such a wide range ginger products available and with the ever increasing benefits of ginger being discovered ginger or a product of ginger is something that everyone should have in their homes.

http://www.nutritional-supplements-h...of-ginger.html

Health Benefits of Strawberry
The health benefits of strawberry include eye care, proper brain function, and relief from high blood pressure, arthritis, gout and heart diseases.
These berries, with their tempting looks and great taste, have secured their place in the list of favorites for ages. Strawberries, with their common scientific name Fragaria (there are different suffixes for different varieties, such as Fragaria Vesca for wild strawberry, Fragaria Orientalis for Eastern Strawberries etc.), are berries which grow in bushes.
They are extensively used in food stuffs ice-creams, jams, jellies, squashes, syrups, confectionaries, bakeries, chocolates and even medicines for their extraordinarily rich flavor, taste and color. They are also consumed fresh. We know that all fruits, particularly berries and those with exotic colors are rich in anti oxidants. Strawberries are no exceptions. In addition to anti oxidants, they have many other nutrients and can be efficiently used to prevent many diseases.
Let us see what they are. The health benefits of strawberry include the following:
Eye Care: The primary reasons for almost all the problems of eyes are free radicals and deficiency of certain nutrients. With the growing age and lack of these protective nutrients, the harmful oxidants or free radicals cast heavy damage on our eyes, such as drying up of eyes, degeneration of optical nerves, Macular degeneration, vision defects and make them prone to infections too. The anti oxidants such as vitamin-C, Flavonoids, Phenolic Phytochemicals and Elagic Acid, present in strawberries can help avoid this situation to a great extent. One more factor is ocular pressure, i.e. the pressure of the eyes. Any disturbance in it is also harmful for the eyes. Here too, strawberries are helpful as they contain potassium, which help maintain right pressure.
Arthritis and Gout: The degeneration of muscles and tissues, drying up of the fluid which help mobility of the joints and accumulation of toxic substances and acids (such as uric acid) in the body are some of the ill effects of free radicals present in our body, which are primarily responsible for Arthritis and Gout. Strawberries, with their team of anti oxidants and detoxifiers, can effectively help push away such health hazards forever. It is a famous saying in India that a serving of any fruit a day will remove the rust from the joints. It is very true for strawberries.
Cancer: Vitamin-C, Folate and Anthocyanin, Quercetin and Kaempferol (few of the many Flavonoids in strawberries which possess excellent anti oxidant and anti carcinogenic properties) together form an excellent team to fight cancer and tumor. A daily intake of strawberries is seen to have remarkably brought down the growth of cancerous cells.
Brain Function: It is a very common observation that old people tend to lose their memory and control over their activities, limbs etc. This is because of aging of their brain and the nervous system. Actually, the free radicals, the agents very much responsible for aging, have a very adverse effect on these systems. Due to them, the brain tissues start degenerating and the nerves get weaker. Strawberries can help you out. The vitamin-C and the phytochemicals in them neutralize the effect of these oxidants and also rejuvenate the system. One more thing, strawberries are rich in iodine too, which is very helpful for proper functioning of the brain and nervous system.
High Blood Pressure: Strawberries are very good in potassium and magnesium content, both of which are very effective in lowering high blood pressure caused by sodium.
Heart Diseases: High fiber, Folate, no fats and high anti oxidants such as vitamin-C and those phytochemicals (Flavonoids) together form an ideal cardiac health pack, as they effectively reduce cholesterol. Some of the members of the vitamin-B family present in strawberries also strengthen the cardiac muscles and help better functioning of the heart.
Other Benefits: Folate is known to protect from birth-defects. Vitamin-C effectively prevents from infections and cold. The phytonutrients also have anti inflammatory properties. Wait! I forgot to tell you about the best benefit. The strawberry preserve tastes just awesome.

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-b...trawberry.html

Diabetes Myths
Insulin and food are key components of diabetes care. Diabetics have many doubts and suspicions. It’s no surprise that a lot of myths in diabetes revolve around these two topics. In this article I have tried to clear these myths so that more and more diabetics have the true knowledge to for better management.
Myth No.1> No Symptoms of Diabetes Appear before Damage Has Occurred
Diabetes is sometimes called “the Silent Disease,” but this is not true. Diabetes actually has plenty of symptoms like increased urination, increased thirst, dry skin, fatigue, blurry vision, irritability, extreme hunger, eating without weight gain, unexpected and unusual weight loss, these [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important][COLOR=#6C8C37 ! important]symptoms aren’t severe, so they often go unnoticed by parents and caretakers.Put simply, it’s hard to accept the fact that there’s something seriously wrong with body.
Myth No.2> Type 1 Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Are the Same
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes share some common characteristics but they are hardly the same disease. They differ in the following ways:
Type 1 is a genetic tendency plus a virus. These patients have an absolute lack of insulin and most cases occur in childhood. Type 1 can’t be controlled by diet and [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important][COLOR=#6C8C37 ! important]exercise alone. Most patients are thin.
The cause of Type 2 is heredity plus obesity plus a sedentary lifestyle. These patients have insulin resistance and it mostly occurs after age 35.It can be controlled with diet and exercise alone. Patients are generally (but not always) fat.
Myth No.3> You Can’t Eat Sugar with Type 1 Diabetes
Today, there are probably more types of insulin available than are needed. A little injected insulin can take care of lots of sugar or other carbohydrates.A corollary to this myth is that diabetes caused by consuming too many sweets. Doctors have a pretty good idea of the cause of diabetes, and sweets have nothing to do with it.
Myth No.4> You Have to Eat Special Foods When You Have Diabetes
With diabetes, there’s no advantage to eating special diabetic foods. It’s difficult enough to deal with all the requirements for good diabetes care to have to eat boring tasteless foods! Food is one of [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important][COLOR=#6c8c37 !important]life’s great pleasures. Diabetics can have excellent glucose control with regular food so long as you account for the carbohydrate in it.
Myth No.5> If You Take Insulin, You Must Have Type 1 Diabetes
In Type 1, insulin is an essential part of diabetes care because the disease is characterized by a total lack of insulin in the body. On the other hand, in Type 2, insulin is a tool to get the blood glucose to a level at which diet and exercise can [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important][COLOR=#6c8c37 !important]work. Type 2 is a lifestyle disease, not a disease of lack of insulin. When someone with Type 2 improves his diet, exercise regimen, and weight, he can manage Type 2 without insulin.
Myth No.6> Insulin Causes Atherosclerosis
The fact is that insulin actually causes a decline in atherosclerosis by reversing the processes that lead to elevated [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important][COLOR=#6c8c37 !important]blood [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important]glucose [COLOR=#6c8c37 !important]levels and elevated fatty acids in the blood.
Myth No.7> Insulin Cures Type 1 Diabetes
Many myths concern great new cures for Type 1 with this medication or that medication. Ignore them. At the present time, no single medication can cure Type 1 diabetes.
Myth No.8> Women with Diabetes Shouldn’t Get Pregnant
The woman with diabetes who’s even thinking about a pregnancy must improve her glucose control so that she has HbA1c below 7 percent before she conceives. She also must keep her blood glucose below 90 mg/dl before a meal and below 120 mg/dl an hour after the meal throughout the pregnancy.
Myth No.9> Doctors Are Hiding the Cure for Diabetes So They Can Make More Money
There’s nothing further from the truth than this myth. Scientists are a highly competitive bunch. None of them is holding back a diabetes cure because they can feel the others breathing down their necks! Thousands of hard-working doctors and other scientists have dedicated their lives to finding a cure for diabetes
With the proper knowledge about diabetes we can easily overcome the diabetes and its related complications.


http://healthcareupdates.com

9 Uncommon Uses for Bananas
Make a face mask
Who needs Botox when you have bananas? That's right: You can use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

Eat a frozen "banana-sicle"
As a summer treat for friends and family, peel and cut four ripe bananas in half (across the middle). Stick a wooden ice-cream stick into the flat end of each piece. Place them all on a piece of wax paper, and then put it in the freezer. A few hours later, serve them up as simply yummy frozen banana-sicles. If you want to go all-out, quickly dip your frozen bananas in 6 ounces (170 grams) melted butterscotch or chocolate morsels (chopped nuts or shredded coconut are optional), then refreeze.

Tenderize a roast
Banana leaves are commonly used in many Asian countries to wrap meat as it's cooking to make it more tender. Some folks in these areas say the banana itself also has this ability. So the next time you fear the roast you're cooking will turn tough on you, try softening it up by adding a ripe, peeled banana to the pan.

Polish silverware and leather shoes
It may sound a bit like a lark, but using a banana peel is actually a great way to put the shine back into your silverware and leather shoes. First, remove any of the leftover stringy material from the inside of the peel, then just start rubbing the inside of the peel on your shoes or silver. When you're done, buff up the object with a paper towel or soft cloth. You might even want to use this technique to restore your leather furniture. Test it on a small section first before you take on the whole chair.

Brighten up houseplants
Are the leaves on your houseplants looking dingy or dusty? Don't bother misting them with water -- that just spreads the dirt around. Rather, wipe down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel. It'll remove all the gunk on the surface and replace it with a lustrous shine.

Deter aphids
Are aphids attacking your rosebushes or other plants? Bury dried or cut-up banana peels an inch or two deep around the base of the aphid-prone plants, and soon the little suckers will pack up and leave. Don't use whole peels or the bananas themselves, though; they tend to be viewed as tasty treats by raccoons, squirrels, gophers, rabbits, and other animals, who will just dig them up.

Use as fertilizer or mulch
Banana peels, like the fruit itself, are rich in potassium -- an important nutrient for both you and your garden. Dry out banana peels on screens during the winter months. In early spring, grind them up in a food processor or blender and use it as a mulch to give new plants and seedlings a healthy start. Many cultivars of roses and other plants, like staghorn ferns, also benefit from the nutrients found in banana peels; simply cut up some peels and use them as plant food around your established plants.

Add to compost pile
With their high content of potassium and phosphorus, whole bananas and peels are welcome additions to any compost pile -- particularly in so-called compost tea recipes. The fruit breaks down especially fast in hot temperatures. But don't forget to remove any glued-on tags from the peels, and be sure to bury bananas deep within your pile -- otherwise they may simply turn out to be a meal for a four-legged visitor.

Attract butterflies and birds
Bring more butterflies and various bird species to your backyard by putting out overripe bananas (as well as other fruits such as mangos, oranges, and papayas) on a raised platform. Punch a few holes in the bananas to make the fruit more accessible to the butterflies. Some enthusiasts swear by adding a drop of Gatorade to further mush things up. The fruit is also likely to attract more bees and wasps as well, so make sure that the plat-form is well above head level and not centrally located. Moreover, you'll probably want to clear it off before sunset, to discourage visits from raccoons and other nocturnal creatures.

^^^rd.com./advice

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

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

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.
__________________

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

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

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

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

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.




/www.realsimple.com/