السبت، 31 ديسمبر 2016
Shortening: Good or Bad?
Shortening is a type of fat used in cooking and baking. It is typically made from hydrogenated vegetable oil and has a long history of use in American kitchens that dates back to the early 1900s. However, shortening has fallen out of favor during the past few decades because of its high trans fat content. […] The article "Shortening: Good or Bad?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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الجمعة، 30 ديسمبر 2016
Staying Trim, Strong May Cut Incontinence Risk
But for women in study, these factors only helped with one type of incontinence
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Weight Loss Tips You Haven’t Heard Before
Follow these 11 doable strategies, all backed by research, to reach your goals.
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Pot May Restrict Blood Flow to Brain: Study
It's too early to say if this contributes to mental decline, Alzheimer's expert says
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Could Anemia Cause Hearing Loss?
Iron deficiency might keep ear cells from getting oxygen they need, study suggests
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Weight Loss Surgery Linked To Gastro Issues
Stomach problems, food intolerance plagued many patients even 2 years after procedure, study found
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Are Eggs Considered to Be a Dairy Product?
For some reason, eggs and dairy are often grouped together. Therefore, many people speculate about whether they’re a dairy product. For those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk proteins, it’s an important distinction to make. This article answers the question whether eggs are a dairy product. Eggs Are Not a Dairy Product Eggs […] The article "Are Eggs Considered to Be a Dairy Product?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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Do You Really Need to Cool Down After Exercising?
One of the most important steps in your fitness routine comes at the conclusion. Many know the importance of properly warming up and preparing to exercise, but experts say that incorporating a cool down routine is just as important. According to the Mayo Clinic, cooling down allows for your body to recover and return to its normal, pre-exercise state.
Though cooling down isn’t proven to reduce muscle stiffness or soreness, it can prevent dizziness and allow your heart rate and breathing to ease back to a normal rate, Harvard Medical School reports. Phyllis Mammarelli, personal trainer at the Shenango Valley YMCA in Sharon, Pennsylvania, works with each of her clients on a cool down routine as she says it’s a beneficial part of exercising.
“Cooling down allows your body to gradually return to a low-intensity activity level, slowly reducing your respiratory and heart rate until it’s equalized and back to normal” she says.
Skipping the recovery phase of a workout isn’t proven to be harmful to your body, but Mammarelli warns that without cooling down, the body will take longer to return back to the low-intensity level activity level you began your workout with.
There are also non-threatening side effects that could occur as a result of forgoing a cool down. Mammarelli warns that blood can gather or pool in your lower extremities and lead to dizziness and fainting. Additionally, ACE says to keep an eye on your muscle soreness and stiffness. While soreness after a workout is to be expected, delayed onset muscle soreness can occur 24-48 hours after your workout and cause “uncomfortable debilitating pain.” Side effects are mostly seen in the elderly or those with cardiovascular disease and can be eased by warming up and cooling down. Here are some other signs that you might be working out too much.
Allow five to 10 minutes at the conclusion of your workout for a cool-down routine. During this period, continue your workout session, but at a much reduced rate. If you’re pressed for time during your workouts or unsure how to allow your body to recover, Mammarelli suggests stretching muscles in a pain-free range of motion. Here’s an easy stretch routine to try.
Tacking on a few additional minutes to your workout for cooling down may seem like an inconvenience, but the benefits outweigh the cost of finding extra time in your schedule. If you need inspiration for scheduling the time to workout and cool down look to these women who work out every day.
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10 Little Compliments You Should Be Giving Every Day
Say: “It’s so good to see you”
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8 Fun Sensory Activities to Engage All of Your Child’s Senses
Any play that engages your child's sense is sensory play. Both children and adults learn better when they can explore a new concept or activity with...
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الخميس، 29 ديسمبر 2016
Mesothelioma Study: Direct Chemo-Drug Delivery During Surgery
In the interest of many of our clients who suffer from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma, we sometimes post about new medical research that has potential for helping to treat the devastating cancer. Baylor has announced the launch of a clinical research study that will evaluate a new chemotherapy-drug treatment protocol.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The tumors grow in the linings around major organs, most commonly in the lining around the lungs, called the pleura. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include weight loss, lumps under the skin on the chest, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, fluid in the chest, painful cough and more.
Treatment of mesothelioma is difficult because it is often first discovered at an advanced state of the disease. Treatment can include a combination of surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Because of limited treatment options in many cases, it is not unusual for patients to participate in experimental clinical trials of new treatments, like the upcoming study at Baylor.
The Baylor Clinical Trial
The Baylor College of Medicine Lung Institute's Mesothelioma Treatment Center announced on December 20 that it has begun enrolling participants with malignant pleural mesothelioma in a clinical study of the performance of two chemotherapy drugs when placed together in the chest at the site of tumors through surgical means.
Baylor physicians already deliver heated cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug, into the chest cavity in surgery with a positive impact on survival. Heated chemotherapy administered surgically is less toxic to the body so higher amounts can be delivered than through IVs, according to Dr. Shawn Groth, cited in the Baylor news release.
In another treatment method, when cisplatin is combined with the cancer drug pemetrexed and delivered intravenously in chemotherapy treatment, the results are more promising than when cisplatin is used through IV alone.
In the new study, researchers want to learn whether the combination of these two drugs when administered heated and through surgery directly into the chest will be more effective than cisplatin delivered this way alone.
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Melanoma Rates Rise in South, Midwest
Local sun-safety campaigns may be key to progress against the deadly skin cancer, researchers say
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An Energizing 10-Minute Morning Yoga Routine
Stretch your body, center your mind, and boost your energy with this beginner-friendly flow.
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Fish Oil For Moms May Cut Kids' Asthma Risk
High doses linked to 30 percent drop in children's odds of developing the airway disease, study finds
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Men Don't Know About Risks to Fertility: Survey
It's not commonly known that factors such as obesity, laptop use on lap can affect sperm counts
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A 10-Minute Workout to Strengthen Your Whole Body
Start your day with this quick body weight routine from WebMD's chief medical editor Michael Smith, MD.
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Which Habits Really Help You Avoid Colds and Flu?
While some precautions can help you stay healthy, others are a waste of time.
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How to Get a Fast Metabolism
Your metabolism is the chemical engine that keeps you alive. The speed at which it runs varies by individual. Those with a slow metabolism tend to have more leftover fuel (calories), which gets stored as fat. On the other hand, those with a fast metabolism burn more calories and are less likely to accumulate a […] The article "How to Get a Fast Metabolism" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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Disabled Children Face Bullying Throughout School
More must be done to teach them how to respond to aggression, researcher says
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This One-Minute Trick That Will Instantly Improve Your Handwriting
Handwriting—much less neat handwriting—is quickly becoming obsolete in this digital age of communication. Now, it’s all about the text message. According to a 2013 study, American smartphone owners send an average of 4,735 texts each month. (Do you have any of these annoying texting habits?) Texters aged 18 to 24 alone send about 67 texts every day. What’s more, learning how to type has now taken precedence over cursive in some schools.
With less time spent holding an actual writing utensil, it’s no surprise that your (or your child’s) handwriting might be suffering. Luckily, there’s a way to improve your penmanship in one stroke—and it involves the body parts you already use to write.
Most people move only their fingers when they write, essentially drawing each letter. But when you keep your fingers and wrist still and put your whole arm into each stroke, the result is more fluid and legible writing.
Practice by writing big letters in the air. Notice how even your shoulder gets involved. These are the same motions you should be using when you write on paper. Making an effort to slow down (again, a lost art in our fast-paced modern world) will also improve the control you have over your penmanship.
It may take some time (and more practice) to get used to, but once you do, you’ll be able to make handwritten notes more personal—and nicer to look at—and boost your intelligence while you’re at it. Bonus: Choosing pens over keyboards can save you from a nasty case of text neck. Everybody wins!
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Improve Your Toddler’s Fine Motor Skills with These 7 Fun Activities
Some examples of fine motor skills in toddlers include grasping and pinching objects with their fingers. Parents can help their children to improve hand...
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11 Telltale Signs You’re Being Passive Aggressive—Without Even Realizing It
Dr. Hall-Flavin states in this article a passive-aggressive person might appear to agree perhaps even enthusiastically with another person's request,...
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الأربعاء، 28 ديسمبر 2016
17 Tiny Weight-Loss Resolutions You Can Actually Keep
Take a real lunch break, even if it’s short
Eating at your desk or in front of the TV is distracting, and because your brain doesn’t fully realize what you’re eating, you could end up unsatisfied, even with big portions, says Alissa Rumsey, MS, RD, CDN, CSCS, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “People look down after their meal and have no memory of what was on their plate,” she says. “They don’t feel satisfied and are hungry again in an hour.” Ideally, you should spend the full 20 or 30 minutes it takes to eat focusing on your meal. If it’s unrealistic to leave your desk that long during lunch, take at least the first five to ten minutes chowing down without distractions, she says. Find out more about what healthy people do on their lunch breaks.
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Food Aversions During Pregnancy
A lot of women have pregnancy cravings, but there’s also a flip side: food aversions.
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Texas City Announces High Levels of Asbestos in Drinking Water
On November 28, the city of Devine, Texas, outside of San Antonio, announced that the asbestos levels in the city's drinking water exceeded federal limits. State officials had notified Devine that the asbestos levels had been too high during the first three quarters of 2016.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA has set an upper safety limit, called the Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL, for asbestos at 7 MFL (a scientific measurement). According to the city news release, the EPA has concluded that levels higher than 7 MFL raise health concerns.
Devine levels for the first three quarters of this year ranged from a low of 10 MFL to a high of 18 MFL. The city says that this does not constitute an emergency and that the water can be consumed, but that drinking water for many years with excessive asbestos levels could increase the risk of "benign intestinal polyps."
The city is "researching the issue" and will "address it as soon as possible." However, the reason for the excessive levels has not been uncovered. News 4 San Antonio cited the mayor as hoping that the high readings are "just a sampling problem, not that the contaminants were there."
The article says that some, but not all, Devine residents have switched to bottled water. It quotes one young mother as expressing concern about her baby drinking the city water or about herself, as she is pregnant.
Scientific opinion seems fairly sparse about the impact of ingestion of asbestos, as opposed to the known danger of breathing it in. Asbestos fibers that are ingested often pass through the body and are excreted. The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention states that the few fibers that remain in the body after swallowing asbestos could penetrate stomach or intestinal cells, possibly making it through to the bloodstream, where they could "become trapped in other tissues."
Still, asbestos is a known carcinogen, which could make anyone wary of drinking Devine's water.
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Diabetes Takes Biggest Bite Out of U.S. Health Care Spending
Top 5 diseases, conditions accounted for $437 billion in 2013
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Why Acne Can Strike Women After the Teen Years
Study suggests diet, stress and family history may play a role
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How Garcinia Cambogia Can Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat
Garcinia cambogia is a popular weight loss supplement. It is derived from a fruit of the same name, also called Garcinia gummi-gutta or Malabar tamarind. The peel of the fruit contains high amounts of hydroxycitric acid (HCA), which is the active ingredient believed to be responsible for most of the weight loss benefits (1). This […] The article "How Garcinia Cambogia Can Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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Why Do You Believe in Superstititons? Here’s What the Science Says
By their very definition, according to Merriam-Webster, superstitions are nonsensical: “A belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation.” In other words, a superstition is “an action that is inconsistent with science,” Stuart Vyse, a psychologist and professor at Connecticut College, told CBS.
Still, for a set of supposedly irrational beliefs, superstitions have a surprisingly large following. An estimated 17 to 21 million people in America. are afraid of Friday the 13th, 74 percent of those in the U.K. say they knock on wood to avoid bad luck, and 13 percent of Americans cringe at the sight of a black cat.
So why does more than 50 percent of the country, as per a recent Gallop poll, consider themselves superstitious? And why, even when people don’t truly believe superstitions can impact our fate, do they continue to participate in them?
For one, superstitions have been ingrained in our lives since the very beginning. “People teach them to us when we’re young,” Vyse, the author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, told LifeHacker. “They’re part of the lore of any culture. The basic process of socialization is a major part of it.”
Secondly, they can be a soothing control mechanism. “We live in a world where you can’t always control the outcome,” says Vyse. “Superstitions tend to emerge in those contexts. You do everything you possibly can to ensure that things will work out.” Together, those two factors have made a very real impact.
“One of the interesting things about superstitions is their seemingly arbitrary nature,” Tom Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, told CBS. “Like, why 13? Why black cats? Why can’t you walk under that ladder? It has no rational bearing. Yet somehow you feel like you’re tempting fate, and the outcome, a bad outcome, that could befall you is going to be worse because you deliberately did something that people say you shouldn’t do.”
Evolution might also be at play here. “A prehistoric human might associate rustling grass with the approach of a predator and hide. Most of the time, the wind will have caused the sound, but if a group of lions is coming, there’s a huge benefit to not being around,” Kevin Foster, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University, told the New Scientist.
Speaking of the benefit of superstitions, many of the ones that indicate good fortune—a lucky penny or a trusty charm bracelet—can have their perks. In one study published in Psychological Science, researchers gave golf balls to all of their participants and told half that their golf ball was lucky. The subjects with the “lucky” golf balls made 35 percent more successful putts.
“Feeling lucky gave them a better sense of self-efficacy (a belief in your own competence), which then enhanced their performance with the golf playing,” Matthew Hutson, science writer and author of The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking, told LifeHacker about the study. “The same researcher did several other experiments where she crossed fingers for them or the subjects had lucky charms on them. Their superstition helped them perform better on certain cognitive tasks, memory games, and physical tasks.”
So go ahead and wear your trusty charm bracelet, and ditch your fear of Friday the 13th. It could bring you a little bit of—dare we say—luck.
MORE: Here are some pretty bizarre things that happened on Friday the 13th.
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10 Reasons Unexpected Weight Loss Could Be a Serious Problem
When most people hear the word "malnutrition," they tend to think of starving children in developing countries. However, malnutrition, or undernutrition, exists in every part of the world and can...
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8 Signs You’re Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children
"Kids are impulsive by nature and when unchecked they can become impulsive adults," shared certified emotional intelligence coach Aleasa Word....
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الثلاثاء، 27 ديسمبر 2016
Health Care Spending for U.S. Kids Jumped 56 Percent in Less Than 20 Years
Preventive services in childhood create healthier adults, researcher says
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Does Legalizing Pot Spur Kids to Try It?
In 2 states studied, teens downplayed harms after recreational pot legalized; use increased in 1 state
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Sexual Relationships When You're HIV-Positive
HIV doesn't have to come between you. Get tips for good sex and a healthy relationship with your partner when one (or both) of you is HIV-positive.
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Living Longer and Aging With HIV
Although HIV makes it more complicated, you can live well into middle age and beyond. Find out how HIV will affect you as you get older and how to plan ahead.
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Wiser, But Fatter, by Graduation
Study finds 10-pound weight gain is about average for college students
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Heart Failure Drug Shows Promise in First Human Trial
Cimaglermin appears to strengthen cells and improve heart function, researchers report
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'Emotional Hangover' Is Real and Affects Future Experiences: Study
Emotion-provoking events prime the brain to remember things more effectively, researchers find
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The BRAT Diet: Is It a Good Idea?
The BRAT diet is a bland, easily digestible diet. For decades, it has been prescribed for adults and children with gastroenteritis, an infection of the intestines commonly known as the stomach flu. However, the BRAT diet has been criticized for being overly restrictive. This article takes a detailed look at the BRAT diet and whether […] The article "The BRAT Diet: Is It a Good Idea?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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This Is the Secret to Making Amazing DIY Microwave Popcorn
Most of us have enjoyed the buttery goodness of microwave popcorn by simply unfolding a bag and pressing the “popcorn” button. Unfortunately, that buttery goodness can be a chemcialized butter flavor with additives and ingredients that less healthy than popping corn the old-fashioned way. Microwave bags aren’t much better either. When bags of microwave popcorn are heated, they emit fine and ultrafine particles that may come with health risks, Yifang Zhu, associate professor of the environmental health sciences department in UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, told Time. Exposure to high levels of the chemicals found in the bags has been linked to lung disease among those who work in popcorn manufacturing, Time reported.
We asked Sonali Ruder, MD, who is also a chef and blogger at thefoodiephysician.com how to make an amazing (and simple) bag of healthy microwave popcorn. Here’s the recipe she gave us.
Microwave Popcorn
Makes 1 serving
Ingredients:
1/4 cup popcorn kernels*
1/4 teaspoon oil
Pinch of salt
Yellow and white popcorn are a bit different in appearance but not in nutrition profiles. Yellow kernels are larger and take longer to cook. They also have a tougher hull and chewier. White is smaller, lighter, and crispier than yellow. Choose a non-GMO variety like Bob’s Red Mill.
Directions:
Toss the popcorn kernels in a small bowl with the oil and a pinch of salt. Pour the contents into a brown paper lunch bag. Fold the bag over a couple of times and then fold the corners in so that the bag doesn’t open during cooking.
Place the bag upright in the microwave and set the “cook” button for about 2 minutes. Turn off the microwave when the popping slows down to about two kernels between pops – otherwise, you risk scorching it.
Take the bag out of the microwave and open it carefully, watching out for hot steam. Pour the popcorn into a bowl and toss with seasonings of your choice. The heat will maximize the absorption of the seasoning’s flavor.
Personalize Your Popcorn
The beauty of this recipe is its so versatile. The basic recipe is tasty on its own but you can the toppings are limited only by your taste buds. What’s also fun about this recipe is that it makes an individual portion so everyone can make their own bag, the way they like it! Set out melted butter, olive oil or toasted sesame oil, spices, cheeses and dried fruit and have everyone sprinkle on their own combos. Here’s some ideas:
Savory Combos
- Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese
- Rosemary and Parmesan
- Crumbled seaweed crisps
- Nutritional yeast (non-dairy, cheesy option) with cumin
- Wassabi, low-salt soy sauce and sesame oil
- Paprika, cumin and cayenne pepper
Sweet Combos
- Cinnamon sugar
- Melted peanut butter and mini-chocolate chips
- Cocoa powder and coconut flakes
- Dried fruit and mini-dark chocolate chips
Here are 9 reasons popcorn can be a ridiculously healthy snack.
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9 Little Body Changes That Could Signal a Much Bigger Health Problem
According to Bradley Bloom, M.D., dermatologist at Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists, watch out for the pimple that won't heal. "Many patients come...
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Every Book Lover Will Love These Sweet Stories About Local Bookstores
The Golden Notebook: Woodstock, New York
“Once, a customer came in looking for a book for his daughter. Our children’s buyer, Gaela Pearson, was busy trying to put together a cardboard book display. She told the man, ‘I would be happy to help you. In fact, I’ll give you 20 percent off your purchase if you help me put together this display.’ He said, ‘No, I don’t need a discount, but I’d be happy to help.’ Gaela and the man sat on the floor and assembled the display. The man bought a book and then left. Gaela’s daughter, working in the back of the store, said, ‘You know who that was? Didn’t you notice his eyes were two different colors? That was David Bowie.'” —Jacqueline Kellachan, owner
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الاثنين، 26 ديسمبر 2016
Pumpkin Nutrition Review — What Is It Good For?
Pumpkin is a favorite autumn ingredient. But is it healthy? As it turns out, pumpkin is very nutritious and low in calories. Plus, it’s more versatile than you may know. It can be cooked into savory dishes, as well as sweet ones. This article reviews the nutritional properties of pumpkin and its various uses and […] The article "Pumpkin Nutrition Review — What Is It Good For?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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7 Silent Signs Your Child Might Have Lazy Eye
Epley says if you notice your child repeatedly turning his or her head when watching television, it could be one of the symptoms of lazy eye. Those with...
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Are You a People Pleaser? Then You Need These 12 Tips to Set Healthy Boundaries
Our drive to please others comes from biology—our ancestors depended on others for survival. Even today, we still seek social acceptance and connection,...
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How to Chill a Bottle of White Wine ASAP
Need a cold glass of Riesling ASAP? Wine expert Mark Oldman, author of How to Drink Like a Billionaire: Mastering Wine With Joie de Vivre, says the first thing to do is fill a third of an ice bucket with ice. “Next, add water,” advises Oldman. “This oft-neglected step is done to create an ice bath that will submerge the bottle up to its neck. The water fills the air pockets between the cubes and pulls heat away from the wine faster than the ice alone. Mixing water with ice also makes it much easier to maneuver the wine in and out of the ice bucket.”
Then consider adding salt. “If possible, add a few fistfuls of salt to the mix,” Oldman continues. “Salt lowers the freezing temperature of water.”
Finally, he said, add your bottle and gently spin it at first and after a few minutes to ensure that all of the wine is exposed to the ice bath. (Here are more ideas to make your dinner party a success.)
“In 10 minutes, you wine will be chilled,” affirms Oldman.
Katie Owen, wine director of Winc, a direct-to-consumer online winery, said you can chill a bottle of white using a paper towel and your freezer. “I have found the quickest way to chill a white wine is to wet a paper towel, wrap the wet paper towel around the wine bottle, and then stick the wine bottle in the freezer,” Owen says, “In about 10 minutes the wine should be properly chilled.”
Another unexpected idea is to drop frozen grapes into your wine glass to cool the temperature of your wine, recommends an article on epicurious.com.
You Shouldn‘t Store White Wine in the Fridge
Although it may seem convenient to store white wine in the refrigerator, experts say to skip that idea. Charles Smith, a winemaker is Seattle, says what wine really wants is a dark place with no dramatic temperature shifts and no vibration. In most cases, your closet—or even a north-facing wall that doesn’t get direct sun—works just fine, he says.
“Temperature is, by far, the most important thing to consider when storing wine in your home, but most of us are doing it wrong. It shouldn’t be put in the fridge for longer than it needs to be.” Smith continues. “”Never keep your wine in the refrigerator. It seems really convenient because you want to keep it cool, but it only takes about 20 minutes in the freezer to do the same thing.”
If you have some advance notice, an hour or two in the fridge—or about 20 minutes in the freezer—should be all you need to cool your wine to the right temperature, he says.
Why White Wine Should Be Chilled (But Not Ice Cold)
Also, keep in mind you don’t want white wine too cold. “Good white wine shouldn’t be too cold, by the way,” says Keith Wallace, president and founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia and author of Corked & Forked: Four Seasons of Eats and Drinks. “It should be served slightly chilled. We chill white wine because it usually has a higher level of acidity, which makes white wine taste more like fresher fruit than a red wine. The chill accentuates that fresh fruit flavor.”
Higor Valle, sommelier at The Continental in Naples, Florida, says red and white wines have different chemical compositions that behave and respond differently under certain circumstances. ‘”The way we perceive them on nose and palate is also different, and temperature is one of the most important factors that will influence or vary this perception,” Valle says. “White wine has a higher proportion of interesting chemicals such as aldehydes, esters, and terpenes that are easier to detect at lower temperature. Aromatic varietals such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc will display their signature notes better when chilled [fruit, organic, and non-organic notes: think of green apples, citrus, and slate on Rieslings and grapefruit, fresh herb, and chalk on sauvignon blanc] and it will also accentuate the acid, enhancing the freshness and crisp note on these wines. Around 46 degrees F would be a recommended temperature.”
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الأحد، 25 ديسمبر 2016
How Many Calories and Carbs Are in a Banana?
Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They are extremely healthy and contain several important nutrients. People generally know that bananas are very nutritious, but many wonder how many calories and carbs they actually contain. This article answers those questions. How Many Calories Are in Various Sizes of Bananas? A medium-sized […] The article "How Many Calories and Carbs Are in a Banana?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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السبت، 24 ديسمبر 2016
Is Avocado a Fruit or a Vegetable?
Avocado is a fruit. More specifically, it’s a large berry with a single seed. Although it’s not nearly as sweet as many other fruits, it falls under the definition of fruit, which is “the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food” (1). Avocados […] The article "Is Avocado a Fruit or a Vegetable?" appeared first on AuthorityNutrition.com
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الجمعة، 23 ديسمبر 2016
Is It Gross to Never Wash Your Coffee Mug?
Getting out the door in the morning to start your daily grind can be a bit difficult minus caffeine. So you grab that coffee mug that’s been in the sink since yesterday … or the day before … or was it the day before that? Without thinking you briskly rinse it with water and pour a fresh mug of java. Five minutes later when the coffee has kicked in and you are stuck in unenviable traffic you ask yourself, “Should I have used dish detergent?”
It’s actually not really necessary, infectious disease expert Jeffrey Starke, MD, from Baylor College of Medicine, told scienceofus.com. “If I went and cultured the average unwashed coffee cup, of course I’m going to find germs,” he said. “But remember the vast majority came from the person who used the cup.”
Since you don’t generally contract the same cold virus that you’ve had in the past because you have already built up immunity to it, you’re in the clear (but not if you decide to share your mug). In other words you are unable to reinfect yourself because you have built up the antibodies to that particular germ.
Starke does issue some warnings though. First if you use milk, creamer, or sugar with your coffee or tea and they are left in the mug overnight or longer, there is a chance mold can grow. And when you do clean your mug, use a clean kitchen sponge! Kitchen sponges are notorious germ magnets. Here’s how to properly clean your sponge to banish germs.
MORE: Here’s the spill-proof way to carry your coffee mug, according to science.
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Eww! How to Stop Your Child from Picking Their Nose
From thumb-sucking to finger nail biting, children are likely to engage in new behaviors and habits as they grow older. Counted among those possible habits is one that could be significantly more embarrassing for parents to manage: nose picking.
“Children start putting their fingers in their noses as infants,” says Sarah Springer, MD, of Kids Plus Pediatrics in Pittsburgh. “As soon as they have motor control of their fingers, they’ll find holes where their fingers can fit. It’s not a worry—just a normal part of how they explore and learn.”
In order to help your child to stop engaging in the behavior it’s important to understand why they may start the habit in the first place, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Nose picking can be a result of boredom, sleepiness, falling asleep, relaxation or coping. In most instances, nose picking is likely just a phase and the child will eventually outgrow it.
There isn’t much parents can do to stop the behavior of nose picking, as it’s a normal part of being a kid, Dr. Springer says. Parents are advised to ignore the behavior and not show frustration, as this won’t help encourage your child to stop picking their nose. Instead, Dr. Springer says to help your child learn to blow their nose once they are four or five years old and talk to your child about keeping their hands clean to avoid spreading germs.
Take note of the season or climate, too, as dry air or cold can increase the occurrence of nose picking. Parents should use a humidifier in these conditions to help nasal secretions stay moist. Petroleum jelly a few times a day inside the nose can help with irritation and minimize picking.
Once your child enters school it’s inevitable for them to see and pick up bad habits, Dr. Springer said. Nose picking is a common habit, even among adults and as children age most will realize it’s not an acceptable behavior. (Here’s why it’s pretty bad for adults to pick their nose too.)
“Nose picking is a normal part of childhood,” Dr. Springer says. “Most kids will become aware of the social stigma associated with it, and will eventually stop picking, at least in public.”
MORE: Here are the other body parts you must stop picking, plucking, and popping, stat.
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How Bad Is It to Sleep in Your Contact Lenses?
A common question for contact lens wearers is whether it’s OK to sleep with their contacts in overnight. “One of the first questions I always ask my contact lens wearers is whether they sleep in their contact lenses,” South Florida Ophthalmologist Inna Ozerov, MD says. “As a cornea specialist, some of the worst corneal infections I have treated were directly related to poor contact lens hygiene habits.”
According to the All About Vision website, the FDA first approved certain contact lenses for overnight wear in 1981. These lenses were approved for up to two weeks of wear without removal but shortly after this approval some lenses received FDA approval for up to 30 days of continuous wear. As time passed, researchers found that the incidence of eye infections was greater among people who slept while wearing contact lenses so the FDA changed the maximum extended wear period back to seven days.
Many eye care professionals still feel strongly that overnight wear is too risky, and that includes Dr. Ozerov. She says that even though there are contact lens brands that are FDA-approved for overnight use, she always warns her patients against potential dangers. “A central corneal ulcer can progress fairly quickly over 24 hours and can have potentially devastating consequences on a person’s vision,” she says. “The more virulent type of organisms that invade the cornea thrive in a dark, moist, low oxygen tension environment. These are precisely the conditions that occur on the ocular surface when we sleep. The lens may allow micro-organisms to adhere to the lens, therefore increasing the likelihood of infection.”
Ozerov says that contact lens users need to remember that a contact lens is a medical device, and requires proper care. “I also remind my contact lens wearers they should always have a pair of glasses to fall back on.”
Sleeping regularly in contacts (especially those not made for overnight wear) is just one of many mistakes contact lens wearers make that can damage their eyes. Here are more secrets your eye doctor won’t tell you.
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FDA Suggests Limits on Lead in Cosmetics
Agency notes most products already below recommended level
from WebMD Health http://ift.tt/2hQEbU6
How Bad Is It to Sleep with Wet Hair?
At the end of a long day, it’s all too easy to take a hot shower, throw on some pajamas, brush your teeth, and then jump into bed. But have you ever stopped to think about the risks of sleeping with wet hair? As it turns out, going to bed with wet hair isn’t as safe as we like to assume.
The first negative result of sleeping with wet hair is purely cosmetic: you can’t predict how your wet hair is going to look in the morning. “If you try to style your hair in the morning after sleeping on it wet, you’re likely to have trouble styling the resulting frizziness, funny waves, flat sides, and crinkles,” says hairstylist Olga Gilbert of J. Russell Salon in Southern California.
“When you wake up to unruly bedhead, you’re probably going to have to re-wet it again to properly dry it and regain control. This unnecessarily adds time to your morning routine,” she says.
Gilbert says that sleeping with wet hair does not immediately damage your hair follicles or shaft, but it can certainly lead to hair breakage, because wet hair is weakest when wet, making it more pliable and easy to break. “If you pull your wet hair up into a tight ponytail or bun, you have a much greater chance of breaking it during the night,” Gilbert says.
If you absolutely must sleep with wet hair for scheduling reasons (i.e., you get up crazy-early for work), there are a few easy ways to minimize the damage caused by going to bed with dripping strands. First, you can swap your cotton pillowcases for silk or satin ones. Silk has a much smoother surface that’s less abrasive on your wet hair, so you won’t experience as much unfortunate breakage. Skipping a silk pillowcase is just one of a few nighttime habits that can ruin your hair.
Next, you can make sure to sleep with your hair down or in a loose braid, instead of up in a tight bun or ponytail. In addition, you should replace your tight, elastic bands with a soft scrunchy that isn’t going to roughly pull at night. If you’re willing, it’s also very helpful (but less comfortable) to wrap your hair in a silk scarf.
Finally, if you’re going to bed with wet hair, the most important rule is to never ever skip out on applying product! Leave-in conditioners, protective serums, dry oils, and texturizing mousses are some of the best ways to ensure you don’t wake up looking like an alpaca, as well as protect your precious locks from tearing.
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Get to Know Oral Allergy Syndrome—Because You Might Have It
If you’ve ever eaten something, say a peach or a carrot, and immediately felt your mouth start to tingle or your lips or tongue begin to swell, you may suffer from oral allergy syndrome. But what exactly is oral allergy syndrome? How do you know if you have it? And most importantly, what can you do to treat it?
Oral allergy syndrome is the most common type of food allergy among adults, according to Clifford Bassett, MD, founder and medical director of Allergy & Asthma Care of New York, and assistant clinical professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine. “It may affect up to 5 percent of the population, and is clearly more prevalent among those with seasonal pollen allergies, specifically those who have an allergic sensitivity to tree, weed, and/or grass pollen,” Dr. Bassett says.
Here’s how oral allergy syndrome works: If you have seasonal allergies, certain foods trick your body into thinking it’s encountering its seasonal nemesis, in what’s known as a cross reaction. “The immune system recognizes the pollen and similar proteins in the food and directs an allergic response to it,” according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. It’s most likely to happen with foods that are closely linked to certain pollens. For example, someone allergic to tree pollen may have an allergic reaction to kiwis or walnuts. Someone with a grass pollen sensitivity may have a reaction to melons or tomatoes. The biggest oral allergy triggers are fresh or dried fruits, such as nectarines, peaches, cherries, apples, and vegetables, including celery, carrots, string beans, snap peas, and peppers, and even some nuts, like walnuts and almonds.
Itching and/or swelling of the throat, mouth, tongue, and lips are the most common symptoms of oral allergy syndrome, which usually occur within minutes of eating.
Unfortunately, the only way to completely prevent an allergic reaction is to not eat the food at all. But if you love carrots and can’t imagine giving them up, Dr. Bassett says there are ways to lessen the severity of the reaction. “In some cases, you may peel or cook (even microwave) the food, and that appears to reduce the likelihood of experiencing symptoms,” he adds. “There is also some data to indicate that many patients can see a lessening of symptoms after receiving allergy injections to those same seasonal pollens.”
If you think you may have oral allergy syndrome, consider seeing an allergist who may be able to diagnose you right on the spot. A simple skin test may also be performed. And if your reactions to certain foods—especially nuts—are severe, where it feels like your throat is closing up, call 911, as it could be a sign of anaphylactic shock, an extreme, often life-threatening allergic reaction. Here’s other bizarre stuff you might be allergic to.
To learn more about oral allergy syndrome and to see a more comprehensive oral allergy syndrome food list, visit the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
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Coffee vs. Tea: Is One Better for Your Health?
After years of studies that seemed to swing between dire warnings and cheery promises about what our favorite caffeinated beverages do and don’t do, much of the recent science regarding coffee and tea is generally positive.
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Johnson & Johnson Receives $1 Billion Faulty Hip Implant Verdict
According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), hundreds of thousands of individuals received hip implants between 2000 and 2010, with the numbers continuously increasing. But what is explained to patients to be a quick and easy procedure might actually cause more damage than advertised.
There are several defective hip implant models on the market that have caused problems in thousands of injured individuals. Many of these individuals end up filing a personal injury lawsuit against the manufacturer or distributor of these dangerous medical devices.
Most recently, Johnson & Johnson and their DePuy Orthopaedics unit have been ordered to pay one billion dollars in a settlement of the defective design and their failure to warn consumers about the risks of their metal-on-metal Pinnacle hip implants.
Some of the serious medical complications that six plaintiffs suffered included tissue damage & death, bone erosion, and more. Each patient was required to undergo a second revision surgery to replace the initial DePuy implants.
Over 8,000 lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson in association with defective hip implants. The company denies any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the $1 billion decision. This was the third-largest overall jury award in 2016, according to Bloomberg.
If you have experienced a medical condition after receiving a metal-on-metal hip implant, you should consider speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options. You might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.
Sources: Bloomberg / CNN / Reuters
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Sarah Conyer Didn’t Even Know What an Alpaca Was. Now She and Her Husband Run an Adorable Alpaca Ranch.
Sarah Conyer and I worked together at a software development company, and one day at lunch I mentioned my recent visit to an alpaca ranch.
“What’s an alpaca?” Sarah asked.
With their mop-top hairdos and long eyelashes, these native South American camelids had captured my heart. Alpacas are endearingly curious, gentle creatures. And while their larger cousin, the llama, is bred primarily as a pack animal, alpacas are bred for incredibly warm, soft, hypoallergenic fleece that comes in 22 natural colors.
A few weeks later, Sarah greeted me with: “We might do it.”
“Do what?” I asked.
“Raise alpacas,” she replied.
Sarah and her husband, Mike, had been planning to spend their retirement years in relaxation mode. But something about alpacas grabbed her and wouldn’t let go. They researched the industry, and after visiting a ranch decided to get alpacas of their own.
A software developer and an insurance adjuster, respectively, Sarah and Mike had no experience with rural life, let alone livestock. When they told their three adult children that they were planning to buy a ranch and raise alpacas, “they thought we were nuts,” Sarah recalls. And they tried their best to talk their parents out of it.
But the Conyers didn’t waver. Within three months, Sarah and Mike had bought their first alpaca, a pregnant female named Miaya. The sale agreement included a short-term boarding arrangement at the ranch. Then came T.K., a gelded male. The ranch was close enough to home so that Sarah and Mike could spend time a few weeknights and on weekends learning to care for their new hobby animals from an experienced alpaca owner.
But in 2008, as they planned to sell their suburban Raleigh home and buy an acreage, the housing market collapsed. While their house sat on the market for nearly two years, the Conyers used the time to set up their business. They went to Florida to learn to assist with alpaca births; they joined the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association; and they set up Alpaca Dreams, a limited liability company.
Meanwhile, Miaya gave birth to a bouncing baby cria. And Sarah and Mike happened upon an opportunity to acquire six more animals with good lineage. The timing was not ideal, but the couple remained optimistic. Sarah’s motto is: “It will all work out. It always does.”
Finally, their home sold and they found a 5-acre horse ranch an hour from Raleigh. It had a big barn, so all they had to add was predator-proof fencing and a three-sided shelter, because alpacas don’t like to be enclosed. They also added a weigh-in station for the monthly health checkups. “We set up everything so we can still do this in our 70s and 80s,” Sarah says.
In September 2012, Sarah and Mike welcomed the public to their first Open Ranch Weekend. The little ones, Rocket and Reggie, were cute enough to make anyone want to bring home an alpaca.
Once self-proclaimed couch potatoes, Sarah and Mike are now scooping poop, trimming toenails, administering dewormer—and loving it. “We’re happier than we ever thought we would be,” Sarah says. The alpacas are even winning over the kids, who help with Open Ranch Weekends.
The Conyers plan school visits for the alpacas and want to train them as therapy animals. The goal is to bring in enough to support their alpacas while sharing them in as many ways as possible. “We’re not doing this for the money,” Sarah says. “We fell in love with the animals.”
Optimism, patience and determination have carried them through this adventure. And as Mike and Sarah learn more about alpacas, I’ve learned: When your heart speaks, listen—and act.
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