Just So You Know

by | Articles

Here is a Collection of Things that are Good to Know:

 

“If a late night at the office has you reaching for a sugary treat to stay alert, a new study might make you reconsider your approach. Research published in the journal Neuron in November 2011 suggests that it is protein, not sugar or a caloric infusion, that stimulates the cells we rely on to help us fend off fatigue.

The study looked at the effect of a variety of nutrients on orexin cells, which secrete stimulants in the brain that cause us to expend energy and stay awake. Scientists found that the number of nerve impulses generated by orexin cells were increased by the intake of amino acids (building blocks of protein) similar to those found in egg whites. Glucose, a sugar, blocked these impulses. (Caffeine was not investigated in the study.)

According to lead researcher Denis Burdakov, PhD, a pharmacology professor at the University of Cambridge, the research suggests that the type of nutrients we ingest can have a big impact not just on our health and weight, but also on our day-to-day energy rhythms and mental alertness.

“The brain’s sleep and nutrition centers are not just ‘calorie meters,’” he says. “They are influenced, instead, by the balance of different nutrients in the diet.”

So the next time you need to power through a long workday, avoid sugar-laden snacks in favor of protein-rich foods.”

Read more: Boost Your Energy with Protein Snacks

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Del Monte’s Fruit Twist Apple Strawberry Juice contains 3 teaspoons of sugar per 18g serving (66% sugar by weight responsible for 80% of calories) coming from concentrated apple purees and juices. This is 10X the sugar of 18g of actual apples and 40% more sugar bite for bite than you would find in a Twizzlers candy.

Read more: Weighty Matters 

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“A consumer group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), has filed a class-action lawsuit against Splenda Essentials for misleading consumers about its health benefits.
‘I was attracted to the idea of keeping my metabolism going strong, and I’d talk with my clients about how it might shed a pound or two,’ co-plaintiff and hair salon owner Barbara Bronson said in a statement. ‘It’s really terrible that Splenda would try to make us believe something that isn’t true.”

Barbara Bronson’s comment illustrates how uneducated many consumers are about rudimentary high school level biology — believing, for example, that an artificial sweetener loaded with synthetic chemicals could aid in weight loss or even remotely be beneficial to human health.”
Read more: Freind’s Eat Blog

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“Wholesome Wave, a non-profit organization, is funded through private donations. Those donations supply the new Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx). The FVRx program is available through a doctor’s prescription that requires fresh fruit and vegetables. FVRx provides $1 daily subsidies for the purchase of produce at local farmers’ markets. These subsidies are extended to each member of a family, so a family of five would receive $35 a week for fresh produce. How awesome is that?
Additionally, when a patient is receiving produce from the FVRx, they must meet with their doctors for regular check-ups. These check-ups include a check of weight, blood pressure and BMI, and recipients receive exercise and cooking classes, too.”Read more: Fruits and Vegetables are the New Doctor’s Orders
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“The scientific literature indicates that there are at least two dozen adverse health effects linked to exposure to mineral oil, a crude oil derivative. New research indicates these fat-soluble hydrocarbons are accumulating to disturbing levels in our bodies, and affecting newborns by contaminating breast milk.How did they get there? Mineral oil is legally allowed to be added to our foods, drugs and cosmetics, where they accumulate in our bodies over time, with the highest concentrations found in our fat deposits. One autopsy study performed in 1985, revealed that 48% of the livers and 46% of the spleens of the 465 autopsies analyzed showed signs of mineral-oil induced lipogranuloma (a nodule of necrotic, fatty tissue associated with granulomatous inflammation or a foreign-body reaction around a deposit of an oily substance), indicating just how widespread pathological tissue changes associated with exposure really are.”Read more: Green Med Info

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All Cravings—Most cravings are actually misinterpretations from our bodies that we are dehydrated. By drinking a tall glass of water first, you may be giving your body exactly what it wants and alleviate the craving altogether. By some estimations, 80 percent of people are chronically dehydrated. So, before you reach for food to nix your cravings, quench them with some water. Then wait half an hour. More often than not, they’ll be gone.Sweets—If you crave sweets of almost any kind you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations. Giving in to pie, candy, cake, or other goodies only makes the problem worse by causing blood sugar roller coasters that lead to more crav­ings. Instead, choose a piece of fruit when you’re craving sweets.Salty Foods—Cravings for salty foods like potato chips or popcorn often meanschronic stress may be taking a toll on your adrenal glands—two triangular-shaped glands that sit atop the kidneys and give us energy and help us to cope with stress of all kinds. Getting on top of the stress in your life is essential. Try medita­tion, breathing exercises, or other stress management techniques. Research at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City showed that people who take a break to breathe deeply or meditate before reach­ing for salty snacks reduced their stress hormones by 25 percent and cut the binging in half.

Chocolate—Cravings for chocolate often indicate that your body may be deficient inmagnesium. Many nutritionists estimate that more than 80% of the population is lacking magnesium in their diet, which may explain why so many of us reach for chocolate. While chocolate can contain beneficial antioxidants, they usually come alongside plentiful amounts of sugar. If you eat chocolate be sure to reach for dark chocolate which is usually lower in sugar and higher in antioxidants. Additionally, eat foods high in magnesium, such as nuts, seeds, fish, and leafy greens.

Red Meat—Not surprisingly, cravings for red meat usually indicate an iron deficiency. Often people crave burgers or steaks. Women of menstruation age are especially vulnerable to iron deficiencies.

Cheese—Cravings for cheese or pizza often indicate a fatty acid de­ficiency, which is common in most people, since few people get enough Omega 3 fatty acids. Reach for raw walnuts, wild salmon, flax oil, and add ground flaxseeds to your diet.

Read more: Your Cravings: Decoded

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How to Cut An Onion:
1. Cut a small portion off the top of the onion.
2. From the root down, cut the onion in half.
3. Peel & discard skin.
4. With the flat side down, cut parallel, evenly spaced slices into the onion. Don’t cut all the way to the root.
5. With your knife parallel to your cutting board, cut slices that stop before the root end.
6. Cut through your first round of slices.Other Tips:

Make sure that your knife is as sharp as possible. A chef’s knife is ideal here.
You can freeze onions or let them sit in cool water for 15-20 minutes before chopping to reduce tears.
Having the hood vent on can reduce irritation.
Dicing with a piece of bread in your mouth has been known to alleviate symptoms.
You can even use goggles to stop the sting.

Read more: How to Cut an Onion Without Tears

Posted Kay Curtis

These recommendations are for the reduction of stress only.  They are not intended as treatment or prescription for any disease, or as a substitute for regular medical care.