As a young child I tried never to swallow my gum, for fear that I would have seven years of bad luck, according to my wise six-year-old friends.  Unlike when I was in first grade, I no longer think twice about swallowing my gum. In situations where I have to get ride of my gum I simply swallow it. Thinking back on the many times my friends warned me never to swallow gum, I find myself wondering “are there any non luck related consequences that result form swallowing gum” ?

According to Dr. Michael F. Picco, “chewing gum is designed to be chewed and not swallowed, but it generally isn’t harmful if swallowed”. Unlike what I was taught in first grade, gum does not stay in your stomach for seven years. Even though gum does not stay in your body for years, the body is not able to digest it. According to gastroenterologist, Dr. Robynne Chutakan, “we don’t have the enzymes to break gum down. But eventually gum does get through the intestine and into the colon, where it is mixed with stool and then excreted”.

Contrary to popular belief, gum can take one, two or even three days, to exit the body. When asked about the time lapse between swallowing gum and it exiting the body Dr. Chutakan says, “it’s always within days, not weeks and certainly not years”.

More often then not swallowing gum will not harm you, however there are incredibly rare occasions when “large amounts of swallowed gum combined with constipation have blocked intestines in children”.  The most dangerous consequence that can result from gum chewing is the potential possibility for children to choke.

According to kidshealth.org, children should not begin chewing gum until around age five. Most pediatricians fear that before five years of age children are unable to understand the difference between candy and gum.

Despite the fact that gum will not stay in your system for seven years, denouncing the “seven years of bad luck” belief, it is best to avoid swallowing your gum. When dealing with young children you must be aware of the fact that gum can be a choking hazard. So the next time you take a piece of your favorite chewing gum remember that if you accidentally swallow it your luck will be no better off then it was before.

Resources:

http://www.impressionsinflight.com/images/GumVar.jpg

http://www.webmd.com/children/features/swallowing-gum

http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/yucky/swallowed_gum.html

http://www.mayoclinic.org/digestive-system/expert-answers/faq-20058446

Among all of the disorders I can think of, depression is one of the first that comes to mind. I have often heard it classified as a “chemical imbalance”. This has always struck me as a very simple explanation for what seems to be a very complex illness. It turns out that this claim may very well be a myth. Many drugs claim to be the cure to depressive thoughts, yet chemicals are not necessarily the only participant with regard to the existence of depression in a person. According to Psychology Today, “Psychiatrists and researchers of depression have yet to isolate specifically the relationship between all the different neural connections and firings of our brains and depression. In fact, the notion of serotonin being the chief biological basis or the underlying root for the illness is, “a reductionistic oversimplification of a very complex biological state” (Greenberg, 2010, p. 197).” Some sources even claim that low serotonin levels do not cause depression.

Serotonin is defined as a chemical present in the brain which regulates mood, sleep, appetite, and memory. While medications which affect the level of serotonin in the brain are common in the treatment of depression, factors which include genetics, life events, and hormones. When someone has depression, they have a greater amount of stress hormones which include cortisol and non adrenaline hormones. Both hormones are essentially released as a result of stress. It is also easy to understand that traumatic life events may cause depression. For example, people that are grieving will have high levels of the hormone ACTH. ACTH plays a part in the production of cortisone. When one is excessively stressed, often one who is suffering from grief and/or depression, cortisone levels are abnormally high.

Depression may also be inherited from relatives. According to doctors at Stanford University, “in most cases of depression, around 50% of the cause is genetic, and around 50% is unrelated to genes (psychological or physical factors).” This suggests that genetics is a significant factor with regard to depression.

I think that simply referring to depression as a chemical imbalance is excessively vague. As every emotion we endure involves some sort of chemical release, it is also questionable that it is referred to as simply a chemical imbalance. I also think that the depiction of depression is skewed specifically through commercials. Depression has many forms and causes.

Sources:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-first-impression/201302/5-myths-about-depression

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/causes/con-20032977
http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/depression-faq/is-depression-caused-by-chemical-imbalance/

http://psychcentral.com/lib/your-health-and-grief/000621

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/09/13/low-serotonin-levels-dont-cause-depression/

http://depressiongenetics.stanford.edu/mddandgenes.html

On Monday, scientist released a huge breakthrough in discovering the routes of our universe. If the discovery is true, it will back up the hypothesis of the Big Bang theory. Researchers discovered for the first time what Albert Einstein had once predicted: gravitational waves. These gravitational waves are known as ripples in time which are known as the first tremors of the big bang.

The critical piece of equipment that helped discover this was the Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization 2 (BICEP2). The BICEP2 is a telescope that allowed scientist to analyze the polarization of the light that was left over from the early universe such as the gravitational waves. 

The word “inflation” is used by scientist to describe how the universe rapidly expanded after the Big Bang. It’s the “bang” part of the Big Bang when the universe began to rip apart.

Sources:

http://www.livescience.com/44136-universe-inflation-gravitational-waves-discovery.html

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/17/tech/innovation/big-bang-gravitational-waves/

A common recommendation to people trying to lose weight is to cut out soft drinks in favor of diet soda. However, as more and more research come out, these zero-calorie, artificially sweetened beverages are shown to be as bad or even worse for a person than the soda they originally gave up.

As someone who grew up drinking diet soda, as it was the only thing that my mom would buy thinking it was healthier because of the zero calorie label, I was curious to see if my continuation of this habit is dangerous to my health. As I looked into research, I began to see that more and more studies show that these types of sodas are negatively impacting the health of calorie-conscious consumers in ways more significant than the calories and sugar from normal soft drinks.

This article from Today.com cites research that confirms that negative effect of diet sodas. One piece of research is from the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, which compiled evidence from recent literature on this topic and actually found that artificial sweeteners have “a variety of negative health outcomes, especially in adults.”

The Today article itself ponders whether or not the unhealthy nature of diet soda is due to psychological reasons, such as people thinking they’re healthy, therefore eating more sugary food to compensate. Additionally, they mention that people drinking diet soda tend to be heavier and actually are more at risk regardless.

Susan Swithers, professor or behavioral sciences at Purdue says that the research is hard to explain by these ideas. She instead suggests that it could possibly be due to your body expecting a lot of sugar when you drink that sweet sip of diet soda, and then your stomach expects a high level of energy to arrive following the sweet flavor, and when it never comes, your body is inefficient at handling the utilization of food.

My own personal analysis on this is that diet soda is not “healthy”, but I don’t think it is necessarily harmful. I think that the evidence provided by Dr. Swithers explains a reason why it would be unhealthy to drink diet soda in excess, but if you have it in moderation, it couldn’t be that bad for you.

While it would be unhealthy to drink it every day, small amounts of this would likely not ruin your body’s ability to process food effectively. However, thinking of opportunity cost versus danger and risk, I definitely will be cutting down on my diet soda consumption because I really don’t lose anything by instead simply choosing Swithers recommended diet drink, water.

Alas, you did it again didn’t you? You went out on a Thursday night knowing about that quiz you have tomorrow morning.  You wake up at 8 am, Friday, with a brutal headache and the second you stand up, you feel as if you may vomit all of last nights memories.  And then you remember that quiz you have to take in just a few short hours….  You have to get rid of this hangover, and fast.

Scientists are still unclear as to what actually causes a hangover, but they are getting close.    According to Scientific American, “Patients with hangovers show changes in the blood levels of several hormones, which are often responsible for some of the hangover symptoms.”  For example, there is a hormone called antidiuretic that is affected by alcohol.  Once this hormone can not work efficiently, excessive urination occurs and the body dehydrates itself.  Also, when your body is going through a hangover, it is actually going through alcohol withdrawal. During a night of excessive drinking, your brain is working quickly to develop a tolerance.  So once this tolerance is disrupted after one has not consumed alcohol in a while, withdrawal symptoms take place.

Although the best cure to a hangover is time, there are other remedies.  Drinking a beverage with a small amount of alcohol in it will postpone withdrawal symptoms temporarily.  However, this is not the best idea because then an even worse hangover will occur later on.  Sticking to the good old H20 is the best way to go because it is the most efficient when curing dehydration.  In order to acquire energy, food is the answer.  Easily digestible foods such as toast, soup, or rice can do wonders.  The best way to get rid of a headache is to take Tylenol.  Aspirin/Ibuprofen thin the blood stream (which alcohol does as well) and can cause seriously dangerous effects to your liver.

Still hungover? You’re not alone.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, “hangovers cost the U.S. alone some $224 billion a year in workplace productivity declines, drinking-related health care expenses, law enforcement, and motor vehicle accident and fatality costs”.  Hopefully one day science will find a cure for hangovers but in the mean time, we will just have to keep pushing through it!

Kristen Robertson

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/in-search-of-a-cure-for-the-dreaded-hangover/

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1017_alcohol_consumption.html

When you think of an all American, many imagine blond hair, blues eyes and fair skin; At least you do now. With America today being 63% white, 12% black, 17% Hispanic and 8% other (kff.org), Scientist have a very new image of what the Average American will look like by the year 2050.

As a biracial person myself I get asked at least once a day from a stranger, “Where are you from?” or “What are you?” People look and wonder because what we see, and curiosity speaks volumes about our country’s past, its present, and the promise and peril of its future. As well as the features of many biracial people disrupt normal expectations (National Geographic).

In 2000, the Census Bureau began allowing people to begin to check off multiple races. In the same year 6.8 million Americans were more than one race. Ten years later, the number jumped by thirty two percent making it one of the fastest growing categories (National Geographic).

Similarly, The Wall Street Journal reported a few years back that 15% of new marriages in 2010 were between individuals of different races. This number is more than double what it was twenty-five years ago (Huffington Post).

As for how this looks moving forward, studies have repeatedly shown that young people, especially those under 30, are significantly more amenable to interracial relationships. As a population composed largely of 20-somethings, our generation is primed and expected to play a major role in populating this projected future America. That goes double if you live in a Western state, where people intermarry at higher rates; Hawaii is winning at the moment, with four of ten new marriages identifying as interracial (The Wall Street Journal).

So will the appearance of the average American be so drastically different by 2050? I guess we’ll just have to see for ourselves.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/01/national-geographic-changing-face-of-america-photos_n_4024415.html

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/changing-faces/funderburg-text

http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/distribution-by-raceethnicity/

Genetic testing has become much more prevalent. It seems like more people are developing cancer, but it is possible that the diagnostic process has simply improved, and doctors are now more equipped to diagnose. There are many different aspects when considering genetic testing; however there are a few main areas that I would like to focus on. Important topics to reflect on while debating genetic testing include the process of the testing, the types of tests available, the downfalls of the testing and the benefits of the testing.

First, let’s discuss what genetic testing entails. Genetic testing can be a little complicated. Luckily, The American Cancer Society does a great job of breaking it down. Each person has 23 pairs of DNA chromosomes. Gene mutations alter the gene to either over produce or under produce proteins that could lead to certain cells dividing and growing. If these cells grow too rapidly, then cancer develops in that person. Mutations can either be inherited or developed through different external behavior, such as tobacco use. The acquired mutations are a bit less harmful than the inherited mutations, because the acquired mutations only affect the cells that grow off of that cell. The inherited mutations can affect any growing and developing cells, even if they are not spawned from the mutated one. The most common form of genetic testing is the predicative gene test. The predicative gene test basically looks for any gene mutation that could put a patient’s health at risk in the future. There is also the carrier testing, which many potential parents undergo before deciding to have children to see if they will pass on defective genes to their offspring. The prenatal screening and newborn screening are both used on babies to insure their wellness before they arrive, and immediately after. Genetic testing can be done on blood, urine, cheek cells, and amniotic fluid. The scientists take the sample from the person and will look for the specific gene the mutation is known to affect. The results can take a few weeks.

The benefits of allowing genetic testing are immense, in the scientific world. Since people allowed researchers to analyze their genes, The Human Genome Project was completed in 2003. In The Human Genome Project, researchers mapped out an entire sequence of DNA. The next step is to figure out what every gene within a human genome does. There are approximately 25,000 genes per one human genome with a total of 3 billion human genomes in one person. If genetic testing continues, it will be much easier to trace every gene. Aside from The Human Genome Project, there is also The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The American Cancer Society says that TCGA is “working to map the genes of cancer cells to try to learn how those genes are changed to produce the cancer.” In order for TCGA to continue their work they have to collect tissue samples from cancer ridden people to trace all of the different types of cancer.

Apart from the scientific discovery end of genetic testing, it can also benefit the patient. Knowing what gene mutation a patient is exposed to can aid in deciphering what type of treatment is needed. Doctors can then decipher how the genes will be altered, anticipate how it will affect the patient, and attempt to counteract the disease. Knowing the gene mutation can also aid in lowering the risk of developing the disease and allows for early detection. But, a lot of times knowing about a gene mutation can cause a person a lot of unnecessary stress. Even if someone does find out they have a mutation, sometimes there are no treatment options available until that person is actually sick. People then worry about becoming ill, when the mutation does not always lead to disease.

The patients’ distress leads me to the main question of genetic testing. Is ignorance bliss? While researchers need genetic testing to discover how diseases work, is it too emotionally straining on the patients? Or is it better to know your genetic makeup to avoid catastrophe in the future? Should those with cancer in their family’s medical history participate in testing to further researcher goals?

Sources:

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/geneticsandcancer/genetictesting/genetic-testing-future

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/BRCA

According to a new study, artificial sweeteners may disrupt the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar which can result in metabolic changes. This in turn can result in diabetes. This is an interesting study because often people consume sweeteners to avoid this exact metabolic change and it is also relevant because a lot of people our age consume coffee and tea and will add artificial sweeteners.

The study was conducted mostly on mice to see how the artificial sweeteners effected their body, but especially their blood sugar levels. Not only does this metabolic change potentially cause diabetes, but it also can cause obesity. But the study was not conclusive in its finding so we can not say that we are completely positive that artificial sweeteners are directly related to diabetes or other disease that humans may get.

One flaw in the study may be that those in the trial were already over weight so they were already at a higher risk of getting diabetes or other blood sugar level diseases. Or vise versa, some people in the study may be thin and not as at risk as the others. Also, getting diabetes may be a generic trait. So someone’s weight may not play as large of a role in if someone gets diabetes or not as we think.

Also, the article doesn’t give a lot of info on how the study was conducted or who it was conducted. Therefore, we don’t have enough information to know weather or not the test was conducted well or if there are variables that they tested for that we don’t know of. We also don’t know that types of artificial sweeteners were used in this test. Some sweeteners may have gotten different results than others, so to generalize this study doesn’t seem right.

Overall, this study seems to have a lot of flaws in it and doesn’t give enough information to decided if this study should be trusted or not. Until further testing is done into this subject, I would say that our age group is more than okay with using any type of sweetener they chose to for their morning energy burst of coffee.

Most people make their clothing choices to make a fashion statement, to impress, or to keep warm. But this clothing designer from Colombia is putting a whole new spin on stylish accessories. Specifically, taking traditional forms of clothing, and making them bulletproof.

Designer Miguel Caballero is a Colombian manufacturer of bulletproof products worn by everyone from actor Steven Segal to the Barack Obama. The self-titled “Armored Armani” (fantastic nickname) runs a company which creates secure, bullet-resistant clothes targeted at both the big-shot politician and the common man. (Caballero’s inconspicuous bulletproof polo is pictured below.)

With products ranging from bulletproof tank tops to bulletproof polo shirts, Caballero claims that you can be shot in style. As proof of his “seal of quality,” Caballero has an unspoken rule that each and every person working in his manufacturing plant has to take a very serious test to assure the product is up to standard. Each employee of Caballero’s company must be shot (wearing one of the clothing pieces they made.)

The one thing about this that supposedly proves Caballero’s product is legitimate is this VICE documentary in which a reporter wears one of Cabellero’s stylish woolen jackets and is shot at point blank range with a revolver courtesy of Mr. Cabellero himself. Though Caballero advertises his product as an acceessory for the everyman, I think it is not reasonable to expect this product to go mainstream, one, because of the price ($390 at cheapest) but also because it is likely that if these became commonplace objects somewhere like the US, people would likely shoot each other to test them out, which would inevitably lead to injury.

In other words, while Caballero’s product is astounding, it is most likely less scientifically sound than it appears in this documentary clip. I think it is entirely possible that Caballero set up this specific test with the reporter to be sure nothing would go wrong, which inaccurately demonstrates how well the product would hold up in a real life or death incident.

Growing up, I drank soda like no one’s business. Even now I am likely to pick up a can of soda over a glass of water. As I went through the awkward stage of puberty in my middle school years, pimples and blemishes emerged on my face out of nowhere. My old fashioned step-father always told me, “It’s that soda! If you stop drinking soda, your face will clear up.” But is that statement necessarily true? Is it educated to think that soda is a direct cause of acne?

I asked my doctor several years ago this question and his response was, “I’m no dermatologist, but to my knowledge, no it is not.” If that’s the case, why is the rumor still circulating around? According to Amy Wechsler, the origin of acne is more complicated than food. She says, “The root of virtually all acne is genetics, hormones, stress and inflammation.” Later on in the article, Jody Levine goes on to say, “While there is no direct evidence that soda causes pimples, some ingredients may trigger the body to produce acne.” And that is where the rumor lies.

Soda is obviously loaded with sugar, refined to be exact, and consuming the high glycemic drink that we love oh so much can lead to blood sugar. Then, Levine explains, will cause more insulin and testosterone, which leads to skin inflammation or clogged pores.

Another blog states, “If your persistent pimple is large and inflamed, its most likely coming from under the skin…which usually means the cause is internal. Stress and hormonal changes can cause systic (inflamed) breakouts. Caffeine, sugar, pesticides, MSG and other food additives found in sodas, bottles teas, energy drinks, flavored coffee, and juice can throw your body off balance, causing stress and breakouts. Sodas in particular, have also been known to pull calcium from the bones.”

So no, drinking soda does not DIRECTLY cause acne as adults always throw around. But it does make an impact on your body’s natural performance and balance.

Global warming is the gradual heating of the earth and it’s atmosphere. Since the ice age, the planet’s temperature has been increasing; however, the numbers really started to explode after the industrial revolution. At this point in time, a ton of toxins were set free into the atmosphere from factories and power plants. These chemicals being burned caused CO2 and other greenhouse gases to begin destroying our ozone layer. The answer to global warming would be to somehow reverse the industrial revolution, or at least use more renewable sources of energy rather than coal, steam, and nuclear energy.

Some people believe that there is no way global warming can affect us in this lifetime. Religious folks may argue that God created this planet and all of the planets for a reason and he has them under control. Others think that the earth’s temperature can change drastically over periods of time; hence, the ice age. They believe man made inventions and greenhouse gases couldn’t possibly be depleting our ozone layer because global warming doesn’t exist. It has also been discussed that correlation does not equal causation. This means that an increase in temperature and an increase in CO2 levels don’t exactly mean that one causes the other. It can just be coincidental.

I’m quite sure that global warming does exist. You can see the air pollution that come out of cars and factories. It makes the air harder to breathe and you can see the chemicals going into our atmosphere. It’s no surprise to me that global warming is taking place. If we don’t change the way we live soon, polar bears won’t be the only mammals going extinct. Humans could become extinct as well. If the sun depletes our atmosphere enough, we will not be able to survive in such high temperatures.

As I watched many of my friends  go to numerous job interviews for their THON committees, I became interested in what actually went on during their time there. Of course there was the standard questioning, small talk, and silent judging of attire, but I also wanted to know what personality each of my friends presented to their future leaders; I wanted to know what they appeared to be through the eyes of others, other than myself.

Like most of us have learned, body language is an important factor in determining whether or not the person is fit for a job. It shows us how they are feeling about themselves, as well as, others around them. I strongly believe the presentation of one’s self is extremely important not just during job interviews, but in daily life.

There have been many studies involving body language that shed light on its importance, but the one I found most interesting was completed by Princeton researchers.

“For their study, the Princeton researchers used stock photos of people at six emotional “peaks”: pain, pleasure, victory, defeat, grief and joy. In the first experiment, three groups of 15 people were shown only the facial expression, the body position or the face and body together, respectively. Participants who saw the face only had a 50-50 chance of being correct, whereas those who only saw a body or the face and body together were far more accurate.”

Interestingly enough, we almost always skip the importance of the movements our body is making and focus just on the preconceived center of all emotion: the face. With this data, it suggests that we be more aware of our body language, making sure we are conveying what we actually want to convey. Smiling can help you appear as a more positive, outgoing peson, but you may also need to take the time to get your body to agree.

Some gestures can have multiple meanings. For instance, according to trainingzone.co, “Folded arms can mean a number of things, from being defensive to bored, irritated, happy, confused, content or worried and I am sure the list could go on.”

Sometimes we are too quick to assume what each of these movements or expressions mean and unfairly judge someone. It is imperative that we take take the time to evaluate how we want to present our selves to employees, friends, and family.

References: 

Clayton, Peter. “The Body Language Clinic: Mysterious Misconceptions.” TrainingZone.co.uk. N.p., 24 Aug. 2010. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.trainingzone.co.uk/topic/soft-skills/body-language-clinic-mysterious-misconceptions/145930>.

Kelly, Morgan. “Don’t Read My Lips! Body Language Trumps the Face for Conveying Intense Emotions.” Princeton University. Trustees of Princeton University, 15 Jan. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S35/82/65G58/>.

Dimethylpolysiloxane is a type of silicone that is used in vinegary-smelling silicone caulks, adhesives, and aquarium sealants, a component in silicone grease and other silicone based lubricants, as well as in defoaming agents, mold release agents, daming fluids, heat transfer fluids, polishes, cosmetics, hair conditioners.

So why would you care about this especific type of silicone? According to the McDonald`s Corporation, its famous chicken McNuggets are made with Dimethylpolysiloxane and citric acid added to preserve freshness. I know I feel bad because I just broke your heart, the truth is that only half of the chicken mcnugget is made of chicken and still the chicken had been vaccine and added hormones.

Laboratories studies have linked it to stomach tumors.” At higher doses, it has some negative health effect on lab animals, such as producing precursors to stomach tumors and damage to ADN. A number of studies have shown that prolonged exposure to high doses of TNHQ may be carcinogenic, especially for stomach tumors.

So from now on, everyone should think twice before getting chicken mcnuggets at McDonals.

http://www.naturalnews.com/032820_Chicken_McNuggets_ingredients.html#

http://foodbabe.com/2013/10/22/sillyputty/

We all know that one person who is always on their phone or computer, or you are guilty of that yourself, but overuse of technology may be causing negative effects on our society.  For the new technological age, it is important for everyone to get the phone, or tablet, or flat screen T.V.  One of the first problems that is associated with too much technology is that it may be rewiring our brains (Richtel).  Our brains are working differently while using technology and even after we are done using it.  Our ability to think straight and keep our thoughts organized is being destroyed by over use of technology.  There is too much information coming into our brain at one time so, it is causing our brains to be scattered. ” Heavy multitaskers actually have more trouble focusing and shutting out irrelevant information, scientists say, and they experience more stress” (Richtel).  Even off of technology, our brains are still unable to focus correctly (Richtel).  So, too much use of technology is changing the way our brains are taking in information.  These problems impact children more than adults because their brains are still developing.  They can have over stimulation from technology that can deter them from learning to set priorities (Richtel).  It is important for children to have less exposure to technology because it is harming them in the long run.

Our society consumes much of it’s time on some type of technology instead of being social or interacting with family and friends.  Whenever I am around campus, I see many people on their phones, working on their laptops, or listening to music.  According to the New York Times article, “At home, people consume 12 hours of media a day on average, when an hour spent with, say, the Internet and TV simultaneously counts as two hours. That compares with five hours in 1960, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego.”  Although technology is an important feature in our society and has allowed us to make many advancements, it is taking over our lives, slowly.  Maybe we should spend less time on our technological devices and spend more time interacting with other people face to face.

Works Cited

Matt, Richtel. “Your Brain on Computers – Attached to Technology and Paying a Price.” The New York Times 6 Jan. 2010, Technology sec. Web. 18 Sept. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.

Picture from Google Images

Marijuana is one of those topics that everyone has a distinct opinion about. Either you are more on the “Tobacco has more harmful effects than marijuana does, so it should be legal” side, or the “Marijuana is a gateway drug, so it should be illegal” side. Marijuana has always been known as a “gateway drug”, or a minor drug that leads to the usage of more serious drugs. But has anyone ever considered alcohol to be a gateway drug?

Although there are studies that show marijuana leads to cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, etc., I believe it is almost common sense that one who uses cocaine will not just jump directly to cocaine. It only makes sense for a rock star to have listened to rock music at one point in their life. Marijuana being recognized as a direct gateway drug, however, does not exist. A 12-year experiment, courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh, tackles the question head-on by tracking 214 boys beginning at ages 10-12, all of whom eventually used either legal or illegal drugs. When the boys reached age 22, they were categorized into three groups: those who used only alcohol or tobacco, those who started with alcohol and tobacco then used marijuana, and those who used marijuana prior to alcohol or tobacco.

Nearly a quarter of the study population who used both legal and illegal drugs at some point – 28 boys – exhibited the reverse pattern of using marijuana prior to alcohol or tobacco, and those individuals were no more likely to develop a substance use disorder than those who followed the traditional succession of alcohol and tobacco before illegal drugs, according to the study. “The gateway progression may be a common pattern, but certainly not the only pattern of drug use,” said Ralph E. Tarter, Ph.D, professor at the University of Pittsburgh. “In fact, the reverse pattern is just as accurate for predicting who might be at risk for developing a drug dependence disorder.”

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more than tobacco and illicit drugs, and is responsible for more than 4,300 annual deaths among underage youth. The article goes on to say, “Although drinking by persons under the age of 21 is illegal, people aged 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. More than 90% of this alcohol is consumed in the form of binge drinks. On average, underage drinkers consume more drinks per drinking occasion than adult drinkers. In 2010, there were approximately 189,000 emergency rooms visits by persons under age 21 for injuries and other conditions linked to alcohol.”

WebMD Health News stated, “The highest and lowest overall harm scores … are 72 for alcohol and 5 for mushrooms,” Nutt and colleagues calculate. “The ICSD scores lend support to the widely accepted view that alcohol is an extremely harmful drug both to users and to society.”

Overall, alcohol should be considered more of a gateway drug than marijuana. There are far more incidents and deaths that occur from alcohol consumption opposed to marijuana. Also, there are too many possible confounding variables in the equation to say that marijuana is a sole gateway drug.

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? This Victorian era proverb has been said for years and there may actually be truth to it. According to an article on NPR this habit can improve cardiovascular health.

           According to calculations by the University of Oxford, mentioned in the article, for people over the age of 50 eating an apple a day would have a similar effect to that of statins, drugs which are used to lower cholesterol. By their calculations, if they put 70% of people over the age of 50 on an apple a day regiment it would save about 8,500 lives. While apples are more expensive than statins and are not covered by medical insurance they also come without the risk of side effects unlike statins. However, before starting the apple a day regimen there are some things to consider.

While this article sounds good in theory it may not prove to actually be as good as it seems. This article is based on calculations, not a study or experiment, so the only thing to back this up is the numbers which may or may not be real considering there is no evidence to go along with them. A better version of this is a healthy diet will keep the doctor away, defined by Health Guide as mostly vegetables and fruits (see graph below). An apple a day is a healthy way to live your life, however it may not necessarily keep the doctor away.

Works Cited

“Healthy Eating.” : Easy Tips for Planning a Healthy Diet & Sticking to It. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.

Shute, Nancy. “An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away, And Statins Do, Too.” NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 18 Sept. 2014.

It’s very common to be completely awake, but see another overly tired passerby yawn, and immediately yawn. It’s also very common to describe a yawn as infectious. However, when compared to certain things like the plague, and ebola virus, it doesn’t seem like the same kind of infectious does it?

At the ripe age of four humans begin to feel the effects of an infectious yawn. This is due to the fact that at that time humans begin to develop feelings such as empathy. Due to this, it is said that the need to yawn after another person yawns is actually a sign of social bonding.

This type of social bonding doesn’t necessarily have to be obvious to the person mimicking the yawn. It is subconscious. Yawning as a reaction to another passerby yawning is a primal instinct, which allows humans to connect with each other on a deeper level.However, humans aren’t the only organism to perform this ritual. Lizards and snakes also display this phenomenon.

It is true that yawns are contagious. Not in the way a common cold is, but in a more habitual way.

In today’s society, there is always a new fad especially when it comes to losing weight. Everyone is always looking to lose weight and to lose it almost immediately without a lot of effort. Detoxes have become very popular in today’s health world because it seems to be the fastest way to get desired results. The definition of the word “detox” is the removal of toxins from the body.

The toxins that inhabit the human body fall into two main categories; environmental and metabolic. Environmental toxins are carried into the body from outside sources such as air, water and the food we eat. Metabolic toxins are already inside of our body. It is with these toxins that we ask ourselves, how do we remove these toxins in a healthy way? There are indeed ways to use a detox to one’s benefit and to misuse it causing more harm then good.

Harmful ways of detoxing include fasting. By not eating people deprive themselves of the nutrients that are necessary to maintain a healthy balance. In addition to fasting, following the new fad or “quick fix” of dieting can also lead to harming one’s body. There may be results seen faster but most of the weight lost is simply water weight. This weight will be regained just as fast as it was lost once a person is off the detox according to Every Day Roots.

Despite these minor problems, there are other healthy alternatives to truly detox one’s body. For starters, establishing healthy eating habits is the most effective because that already reduces the amount of toxins entering the body. Another option is to keep the air you breathe healthy. This means using more environmentally friendly cleaning products that will limit the amount of toxins you breathe in. Finally, exercise is one of the best options and most effective. It does more than help you to lose weight; it also helps to live a more stress free life.

Sources:

http://everydayroots.com/breaking-down-detox

What does your printer do? It prints picture, images, documents words, etc, onto a piece of paper. Maybe your printer is also a scanner or copier or even a fax machine also. But soon in the future printer will have a whole new meaning. The technology is still new but its growing very fast. 3-d Printers. In the near future you will be able to download a blueprint off the internet of for example a toaster oven print out a fully functioning toaster oven. There will be no stores or malls or any need for that stuff. Whatever you need you will be able to print from your 3-d printer at home or local location. But even more intriguing is the thought that scientist are working on making 3-d printers that can print human organs. Thats right. A completely artificial man-made organ. People plan to use these organs to test new drugs and to use as a more suitable experimenting tool opposed to animals. But the plan in the far future is to use these organs to insert into humans whose organs are failing. Millions of people are on an organ donor list just waiting for someone to die and to donate their organ or until their organ fails.  The organ that gets donated may be rejected and have other complications. Being able to print your own customized organs creates the hope that people will not have to suffer and wait years for organs. The article from the CNN says the plan is for everyone to scan their bodies while in their prime and use that as a blueprint for any complications in the future. There are many kinks that need to be worked out. There are many questions regarding whether or not this will work. Is putting a foreign object in your body ok? Will these manufactured organs work as well as a real organ? How long will these organs last? Will they need to be replaced? Will they last a lifetime? What are the side effects and risks of having this fake organ? Will only the wealthy be able to afford it? Will there be low quality printers that print low quality products? There are very high hopes for this new technology but not many promising statistics. In the more near future doctor hope to repair organs by printing strips of tissue and cells.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/03/tech/innovation/3-d-printing-human-organs/