Is putting styrofoam in the microwave a bad idea? why?

Styrofoam is made by a combination of air and polystyrene. The two are molded into cells and pressed together. The main component of styrofoam is the chemical styrene. Polystyrene itself is non-toxic to our bodies; but it can cause an inflammatory response when enclosed within us. Depolymerization can occur at higher temperatures; when this happens chain scission may occur and monomers can be released. Polymers, at low temperatures are highly preferred in most cases, but at higher temperatures you may approach the ceiling temperature.

The ceiling temperature is where polymerization and depolymerization are at equilibrium with each other. Styrofoam is not FDA-approved inherently but can be manufactured in such a way so that it is. Styrofoam with a high ceiling temperature is better used and much less dangerous. The average microwave cannot reach a temperature high enough to hit the ceiling temperature. The ceiling temperature of polystyrene is three hundred ninety-five degrees celsius. The polymer would already have began charring at this temperature; in other words, you would need to make the polystyrene very very hot in order to release such monomers.

Short term exposure to the chemical styrene can cause stomachaches or irritation/inflammation of your eyes and nose. If you are exposed to this chemical at high temperatures for a longer period of time you may experience headaches, fatigue, depression, hearing loss, nervous system disfunction, or other symptoms. The temperature at which styrofoam is dangerous to be around is much higher than the maximum temperature that a microwave can reach. Certain forms of polystyrene will react differently at different temperatures but I would say do not place styrofoam in a microwave just to be safe. Unless it is written that the styrofoam has been tested and is microwave safe, just use a different material to heat up your food.

Sources:

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/213/

http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/1bjzxo/can_you_microwave_styrofoam_is_it_safe_to_eat/

How are mirrors manufactured?

A mirror starts out as clear glass; just a large panel. It is then cleaned with water and cerium oxide. Cerium oxide is a powder derived from a type of earth. Rotating brushes will scrub the glass and polish it on both the top and bottom sides. This is done to remove the many oils and other contaminants already on the glass surface. This does not take long; the machines used are in factories that have perfected the process. Next the glass is sprayed by very hot demineralized water; the minerals in everyday tap water would damage the metals used in the next step. The first metal used on the back side of the mirror is liquified tin; this is used to adhere the next metal applied, which is silver. Silver will otherwise not stick to glass and it is also in liquid form. When the silver is sprayed onto the tin it begins to harden, and you can start to see a slight reflection. The silver backing is what turns clear glass into a mirror. Next, sprayers rinse off the excess silver and it is recycled to be used for other mirrors.

Atop the silver, two layers of paint are sprayed onto the back to protect it, but that isn’t quite enough. A layer of copper is sprayed on and then sprayers take off the excess. It is then put through a dryer at the temperature of seventy-one degrees celsius. The moisture is evaporated in about seventy-five seconds and the panel is flipped with the copper side up. It passes through the curtain coater; which drops a continuous curtain of paint across the conveyor belt. With this fresh coat of paint, the mirror is put into an oven set at ninety-nine degrees celsius. When cured, it is put through the machine again for another coat and is cured at one hundred and eighteen degrees celsius. An acid wash removes any remaining residues and the mirror is then inspected. It’s pretty cool how mirrors are made, and it surprised me that it is all done on the back of the original glass panel as oppose to the front.

Sources:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/mirror-info.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u03S1Nmslw4

Why are some people color blind?

A human eye works a lot like a camera. There is a lens in the front of our eyes that bring images to focus on the back of our eyes. The retina, which this area has come to be called, is covered with special nerve cells that react to light. Within this nerve, there are rods and cones which contain pigments that react when struck by light. Pigments within cones react differently to different wavelengths within the light. The rods all react the same way to any wavelength; they don’t help with color vision but allow us to see at night because they are so sensitive to light. When all of the rods and cones in our nerves are working correctly, we can see any possible colors and should have somewhat perfect vision.

When the pigments in the cones are not working properly, this is when we see color deficiency, or color blindness. If any pigments are missing, even one, it can make it troublesome for your eyes to see certain colors. The most common form of color blindness is red-green color blindness; this is where green and red will basically appear to be the same color. The second most common is blue-yellow color blindness. Having these deficiencies can be really hard for some people and can actually affect what a person can or cannot do. Think about how essential our sight is; seeing colors differently from the rest of the world can make certain things in life very difficult. Achromatopsia is a case where there are no pigments present in the cones and one cannot see any color at all. Color blindness is a genetic condition that affects one out of every ten men to some degree; although it only occurs rarely in women. Color-blindness does not lead to any other health defects; though the lack of pigments may also affect how sharply your eyes can focus on an image.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001997/

http://www.medicinenet.com/color_blindness/page2.htm#what_is_color_blindness

What’s in The Drink?

College teenagers are always resorting to energy drinks to revive them for studying or even to help them energize for a night out. Almost all college students are consuming caffeine in some form throughout the day and studies show that too much can be dangerous, especially when mixed with alcohol.

Caffeine is a chemical stimulant that affects the central nervous system called trimethylxanthine and, surprisingly, it shares similar traits with serious drugs such as cocaine and heroine. Caffeine affects two important neurotransmitters: adenosine and dopamine. Caffeine blocks adenosine reception to prevent drowsiness and instead injects adrenaline. Caffeine then also increases levels of dopamine to make you feel good. Similarly, heroine and cocaine use the same system but instead slow down dopamine reabsorption.

So what’s a safe level of caffeine? The Mayo Clinic reported that, “Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults. That’s roughly the amount of caffeine in four cups of brewed coffee, 10 cans of cola or two ‘energy shot’ drinks.” However, that doesn’t mean that you should consume 400mg because according to The National Council on Strength and Fitness, “Research suggests that caffeine consumption during adolescence (approximately 220mg per day) is associated with increased impulsivity, sensation seeking, and risk-taking behaviors – such as is seen with illicit drug and tobacco use. One particular study revealed that consuming four or more caffeinated beverages a day during adolescence was associated with daily cigarette use, aggressive behavior, and attention and conduct problems.” All of the possible outcomes listed are activities teenagers can very easily get involved in. Although, it seems farfetched that caffeine is associated with cigarette use and aggressive behavior it additionally has other health consequences that are problematic.

I know personally just after a cup of coffee I feel extremely anxious and jittery. Caffeine can lead to increased heart rate, anxiety, insomnia, nausea, and more. In an article by Keith Cambrel, Steve Clarke (Director of the College Alcohol Abuse Center) stated, “‘Energy drinks have a lot of stimulants in them like ginseng and taurine, while alcohol is a depressant so by mixing the two you’re sending mixed messages to your nervous system which can cause cardiac related problems.’” Everything is always best taken in moderation so if you are planning to consume energy drinks and alcohol together you need to lower your intake of both. Not only does alcohol dehydrate you but so does caffeine, which is dangerous to your well being and will leave you with a terrible hangover the next day, so reconsider that Four Loko you planned on drinking tonight.

Works Cited

“Caffeine.” Teens Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/nutrition/caffeine.html#>.

“Caffeine Consumption among Children and Adolescents.” National Council on Strength on Fitness. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://www.ncsf.org/enew/articles/articles-CaffeineConsumptionChildrenAdolescents.aspx>.

Cambrel, Keith. “Mixing Alcohol & Energy Drinks May Spell Disaster.” Alcohol Problems and Solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://www2.potsdam.edu/alcohol/HealthIssues/1043185105.html#.VHqaU2TF-ts>.

Marshall, Brian, Charles Bryant, and Matt Cunningham. “How Caffeine Works.” How Stuff Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/caffeine5.htm>.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do wood and metal react to being burnt and why do they react this way?

Different solids react to fire in several different ways. Metals and Wood do not burn the same way. When wood burns, it loses mass. This is how ashes are created. Wood contains carbon and hydrogen and when they combine with the oxygen at high temperatures they create carbon dioxide and water vapor. When this mixture leaves the wood as smoke, ashes are what we have left over. The light mass is fragile and black and can be easily disintegrated into nothing. You can see this reaction when people smoke cigars or paper products. The paper is lit on fire which, in turn, burns the tobacco and paper into ash. Other examples of this are campfires and forest fires. When people light a fire in the woods or in their backyard the wood burns and eventually turns to ash. Sometimes, the campfires can cause forest fires which wipe out entire communities. Miles and miles of land can be turned to ash in a matter of hours and there is no way to stop it.

When everyday metals burn, they has a reciprocated reaction in relation to the wood. Metals such as aluminum, copper, and steel combine with oxygen at high temperatures to form oxides that actually stick to the metal. Because of this we can see an increase in mass when burning these metals. Metals do not form ash, they gain mass when burned. This process is similar to the rusting of iron; the metal is bonding with the oxygen, increasing it’s mass. When iron is heated, it causes a incandescent reaction. Iron glows red and orange when initially heated; as the temperature increases it gives off a white light. This is how heat energy is converted to light energy. We see light energy in the light bulbs that people use in their everyday lives.

Sources:

http://askville.amazon.com/burn-wood/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=5378489

http://indianapublicmedia.org/amomentofscience/burned-burnt-paper/

http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/3.html

Fluid in the Ear

Last weekend I woke up feeling like my ear was popped, kind of like when you fly on an airplane or drive up a very tall hill, changing your elevation. I couldn’t really hear very well. When my symptoms didn’t go away after a couple of days, I decided to go to UHS. They told me I had fluid in my ear. I was surprised! I thought I had an earwax buildup or an ear infection, but I was very confused how fluid gets, and stays in ones ear.

After some research, I found out that this buildup of fluid in my ear without any sort of pain or redness is called Otitis media with effusion. What the CDC says about it is that it is caused by some sort of upper respiratory infection, allergy, or an irritant such as cigarette smoke. It says it is supposed to go away on its own. Another way this could happen is that the eustachian tube gets blocked. Because of this fluid builds up in the middle ear and causes blockage making it hard to hear. Many doctors say the fluid should go away on its own, while others believe in surgically inserting tubes into the ear to help drain the fluid.

Although research shows that an upper respiratory infection such as a cold is likely to cause the fluid to buildup in the middle ear, but maybe it is actually reverse causation. It could be possible that the buildup of fluid in the ear causes a cold. If that is true, it there must be something else that causes the build up. Maybe it has something to do with the amount of wax in a persons ear, or maybe a buildup of earwax causes a buildup of fluid, which then causes a cold. Experiments on this are probably done via a case study. Treatment seems like its on a case by case basis because there are many different ways to deal with the buildup of fluid.

Overall, I’m not completely sure how this fluid ended up in my ear, but what I do know is that I would like it to go away

. t15_ear_problems_fluid_in_the_ear_xxxlarge

 

 

Can Red Wine Make You Live Longer?

Whether you are drinking it from a glass or a red solo cup, from a bottle or from a bag red wine has been thought that if drank in moderation could prevent heart disease. Now as this is not an excuse to drinking heavily, in taking too much red wine in one sitting will actually reverse the effect of preventing heart disease. The main reason why it is believed that red wine is good for our health is because the antioxidants in the wine increase level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This is the good type of cholesterol and with having higher levels of this can also help with artery damage. But scientists do believe that it might be something else that is protecting us against heart disease. They believe this to be a polyphenol called resveratrol that helps protect the lining of blood vessels in our hearts. This resveratrol is responsible for lowering the bad type of cholesterol called low-density lipoprotein, which can cause blood clots.

LDL-cholesterol

And although in theory this seems like a perfect reasoning for why red wine helps with heart health, almost all of the studies done on if the resveratrol are the ones helping our hearts have been done on animals. One a study done with mice it was concluded that red wine for this reason has a strong possibility in aiding against obesity and diabetes. Unfortunately, these findings were only held accurate in mice and not in humans. This is due because to get the same level of red wine as the mice produced, we would have to drink more than 1,000 liters of red wine everyday—quite the hangover. A study done in pigs showed that red wine improves heart function and helps bodies use insulin. As for helping humans, there has not been enough studies done yet.

Red_Wine_Glass

And although we would like to say we are similar to other animals, it has been seen that red wine can have some reverse effects. According to the Mayo Clinic article on how red wine can help us, red wine was showed to reduce the positive effect of exercise on the hearts in older men. This is due because resveratrol does not tend to work in the long time run.

Overall, wine addicts and vino’s should halt before they think they are treating themselves before getting a heart condition. This will only work if it is done in moderation and even with that being said, there still is a lot more research that needs to be done. Drinking too much alcohol will have a negative effect: liver damage, high blood pressure, certain cancers, high triglycerides, etc.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281?pg=2

Is Raw Cookie Dough That Dangerous?

I can easily admit that anytime my mom decided to make her famous chocolate chip cookies when I was a kid, it wasn’t the cookies that were my favorite part. I would always be more than willing to help her bake just so I was able to steal a spoonful of cookie dough whenever she wasn’t looking. Whenever she caught me I would always simply ignore her warning, which I’m pretty sure every kid has heard, that if I eat too much raw cookie dough I will become extremely sick. Well after years of hearing this warning, I can’t help but wonder if it’s true?

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According to a CBS news article from 2011, some researchers are agreeing with the possibility that our parents were right to warn us. The fear of raw cookie dough came from the concern that raw eggs might contain salmonella or other types of bacteria, which could be harmful to the body. Scientists investigated a food-borne illness outbreak that occurred in 2009 where 77 patients were affected across 30 states, including 35 having to go to the hospital. Trying to find the source of this illness, researchers were focusing on the bacteria known as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, also known as STEC and found three strains of STEC in one brand of cookie dough; yet it was not the exact strain that caused the outbreak. This study was led by Dr. Karen Neil at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where they conducted a matched case-control study. They reported that 33 of 35 case patients, who had the illness, had consumed raw cookie dough compared to 4 of 36 control patients who did not have the illness. These findings led to a recall of 3.6 million packages of cookie dough. The ingredient in the cookie dough that they believe caused the illness, was the flour. All the other ingredients in cookie dough had gone through a “kill step” which was meant to eliminate pathogens; yet flour did not go through this step. Yet the study never specifically implicated flour.

This report does give good reason for avoiding consuming raw cookie dough, even though the strain that caused the 2009 outbreak was not the same ones found in the specific brand of cookie dough in the investigation. The link between the cookie dough and the illness is only supported by the statistics stated above, which was a small group of people. Yet the difference between the two groups (33 out of 35 and 4 out of 36) is quite large. Even though the chance of actually getting sick seems unlikely, I will think twice before stealing a spoonful of raw cookie dough while baking.

Sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/researchers-warn-against-eating-raw-cookie-dough/

http://www.idsociety.org/Templates/TwoColumn.aspx?pageid=32212258654

http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/12/08/cid.cir831.full

Whiskey Hangover

As many of us know, hangovers suck. They leave us laying in bed with a pounding headache, sensitivity to light and sometimes even make us throw up. Many people know what is going to make them hungover, but they still continue to drink it anyway

A study done by Damaris Rohsenow, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research says that whiskey is more likely to give you a hangover than vodka. The study was conducted by monitoring “healthy heavy drinkers” ages 21 to 23 while they drink. Whiskey has a higher congener content than vodka because of the way it is made. It is made in oak barrels which takes out different molecules. They were monitored for two nights but were given one night to get acclimated to the whiskey and vodka.  On both nights after the acclimatization night, the drinkers had to build a BAC level of 0.11 (thats about 7 drinks for a 200 lb person). They drank whiskey or vodka on one night, then consumed a matched placebo the next. The study found that whiskey gave the drinkers a worse hangover. Studies also found that the reason for the terrible hangover is because of the level of congeners (37 times more than vodka) within the whiskey.

Although this study gave useful information I believe it could of been conducted better. I think the study could of been larger and also could of contained more alcoholic beverage options. Also, there could be a third variable within the trial causing a worse hangover for the people who drank the whiskey. The third variable could range anywhere from what they ate that day to even a certain prescribed medicine they are taking. It is understandable that whiskey makes a person more hungover due to the congener level, but I think a third variable really comes into play when monitoring a whiskey hangover.  Next time you’re out with your friends or frolicking on frat row, monitor what you drink and see how you feel the next day (if you’re 21 of course).

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

Could too Much Exercise be bad for you?

Not just athletes, but anyone for that matter tend to over exercise. Some people think that the more you exercise, the better. However this is not necessarily true. The first effect of too much exercising is muscle pain. While lactic acid build-up has been blamed for producing muscle pain, it is actually the result of three things combined. Lactate, certain acids, and ATP. During muscle contraction, these substances are released causing pain and discomfort. Scientists at the University of Utah conducted a study of mice to show how too much exercising can cause pain. Researchers isolated the substances and injected them into mouse nerve cells. At first there was no response, but when all three substances were injected at the same time, many of the nerve cells responded. The neurons responded differently depending on how much of the substances were injected. The results were similar when they performed this on humans. When the substances were combined, the subjects reported pain, swelling, and fatigue. Therefore, “The accumulation of these substances is likely what causes your muscles to hit a wall, so to speak, when you exercise too much.”

While exercise is essential for good cardiovascular health, new research is finding that too much exercise can also increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke in patients with existing heart problems. The journal, “Heart,” published a new study that tracked a decade’s worth of exercise habits and survival of more than 1,000 people with diagnosed, but stable, coronary artery disease. “Surprisingly, those who did the most strenuous daily exercise were also more likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than people who engaged in more moderate activity.”

While of course exercising regularly is extremely beneficial to your body, you must be careful to not reach an excessive amount. There are some drawbacks with prolonged and high-intensity activities.Swedish researchers studied the physical activity of more than 44,000 men periodically over 12 years. “They found that those who exercised more than five hours per week were 19 percent more likely to develop irregular heart rhythm than those who exercised less often.”

Current medical recommendations call for heart-disease patients (like everyone else) to exercise five to seven days a week. What is shocking, is that this may actually be more detrimental than beneficial. One study followed 1,038 patients with heart disease for 10 years and found that “Those who vigorously exercised daily were more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than those who exercised only two to four days a week.” Endurance exercise also increases the risk of atrial fibrillation. It is a cardiac arrhythmia that greatly increases the risk of stroke. These health risks come with consistent vigorous exercise. It is important to exercise and be active, but always know when to stop. exercise1

 

 

Works Cited

http://www.healthline.com/health-news/why-too-much-exercise-can-be-bad-042514

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/too-much-exercise-may-be-bad-for-the-heart/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brad-stulberg/health-and-fitness_b_5622445.html

http://www.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/health/too-much-exercise-bad-your-health/nfxmX/#__federated=1

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2511045/Getting-exercise-bad-getting-all.html

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304908304579561802820076042

Link

nfl-collision

Professional football has always been a game of violence, and that is not likely to change anytime in the near future. However, the rise in player concussions combined with reports of former players suffering from debilitative mental health issues once they retire, has caused the league to take a closer look at concussions and their lingering effects. PBS’s Frontline has been tracking NFL concussion numbers over the past two seasons in order to determine if the new concussion rules have had an impact on player safety.

Over the past two seasons there have been similar numbers in terms of diagnosed concussions, 261 in 2012 and 228 in 2013. However, in each of these past seasons a sizeable number of these traumatic head injuries have not appeared on the NFL injury report, 171 in 2012 and only 152 in 2013. This may be explained by the gaps in injury reporting during team bye weeks as well as training camp. I feel that in order to better track and treat player head injuries in a timely fashion, a more detailed and all-encompassing list of player injuries needs to be kept starting in the early weeks of training camp.

Another alarming statistic reported from Frontline’s Concussion Watch, is the vast number of players that sustained concussions and returned to action the following week. Over the past two NFL regular seasons, 49.5% of players do not miss a week after sustaining a head injury. While every player is different in terms of healing and recovery time, this number seems surprisingly high and may place players in danger when they return to action too quickly after a concussion.

In an analysis of position by position concussion numbers, Frontline reported that wide receivers and cornerbacks have suffered the highest number of concussions over the past two seasons. In the past two years both positions have posted an overall concussion total of 49, ten total concussions more than any other position on the field. This is most likely due to the fact that the NFL has evolved into more of a pass-heavy league as a result of rule adjustments benefiting quarterbacks and receivers.

Despite these rather harrowing statistics, there have been some bright notes in respect to the league’s initiative to limit concussions amongst players. Since the NFL turned its attention more towards concussion reports, the league has made an effort to improve sideline medical diagnosis and treatment while also enacting new rules in an attempt to curb helmet to helmet contact. As a result, concussion totals have dropped 13% from 2012-2013. As stated above, the total number of concussions has fallen from 261 reported in 2012 to 228 reported in 2013. While this decline is somewhat small, it is an encouraging figure with regards to the league’s concussion initiative. Going forward, the NFL should continue to put an emphasis on compiling concussion data in order to better diagnose and treat players in a timely manner.

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/31/sports/football/nfl-reports-concussions-dropped-13-percent-in-2013.html?_r=0

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/concussion-watch/what-weve-learned-from-two-years-of-tracking-nfl-concussions/

 

Temperature can affect cognitive thinking?

Students, have you ever felt that you perform better in school during the colder days of the year? Research shows that people make better decision-making skills and perform better cognitively in cooler environments compared to hotter environments. This may sound silly and weird, but our brain (which is what we use to think with) is an organ and it needs certain things to work most efficiently. Brains need energy to function properly and it uses glucose as an energy source.

An important task of the body is temperature regulation. Peoples’ bodies use energy to maintain a healthy internal temperature. This is achieved through sweating, shivering, and getting goose bumps.

Warm temperatures are more likely to deplete peoples’ resources for energy. It is proposed that because our bodies need to use more glucose in warmer areas to function properly, brains cannot function to their full capacity due to lack of glucose for cognitive functioning.

Two researchers form UVA wanted to test this theory out. They gathered sales data for multiple types of lottery games in St. Louis County for a year and then examined the differences in sales in relation to the temperature each day. Sales for scratch tickets fell by almost $600 with every one degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature. They then made two experiments. In one lab study, participants were asked to proofread an article while they were in either a warm or cool room. Participants that were in warm rooms performed significantly worse than those in cool rooms. In a second study, participants were asked to choose between two cell phone plans in either a warm or cool room. One plan looked better, but was actually more expensive and the wrong choice. This task was harder than the first experiment, but it still showed the ability of whether people can or cannot make good cognitive decisions in hotter areas compared to cooler areas. Participants in the cool room made the correct decision more than half of the time. Participants in the warmer room made the correct decision only a quarter of the time.

Warmer temperatures seem to make people more likely to rely on easy patterns of decision-making, which in turn lead to inferior choices and more decisions. While there it could have been chance that the smarter people were put in a cooler room, this is doubtful because two experiments give evidence and support that people do perform worse cognitively in warmer areas. I have one question concerning the experiment. If glucose is needed for cognitive thinking, then what people ate before the study is important for accurate results. This is a third variable that needs to be taken into account.

brainblackandwhite

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/warm-weather-makes-it-hard-think-straight/

Grapefruit is good… but also bad?

Grapefruit is known to be low in calories but full of nutrients. They help you gain clear, healthy skin, help lower our risk for many diseases and conditions and even help with weight loss. Grapefruit contains protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium, and magnesium. It also contains vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, potassium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc and copper. It is also known to prevent and treat disease, reduce the risk of cancer, and reduce the hardening of the arteries.

In 2012, many studies came to the conclusion that grapefruit interacts badly with certain prescription drugs. Apparently many doctors are unaware of this still today and the number of people that take prescription medicine has doubled. Grapefruit can have life-threatening effects when combined with people’s medicines.

Side effects that grapefruit can have on people taking medicines, which interact poorly together, are sudden death, severe kidney failure, respiratory failure, and gastrointestinal bleeding. My grandparents take drugs to help with their blood pressure and they cannot eat grapefruit because their doctor told them their medicine will not work. Research shows that pills taken orally do not metabolize well and in some drugs, when pills are taken with some grapefruit, it can increase the dosage of the drug that enters the blood stream, which obviously can have bad effects.

Research shows that furanocoumarins are responsible for the bad effects grapefruits have when people take certain medications. When taking drugs that interact poorly with grapefruit, it is advised to not consume grapefruit AT ALL because no amount of time that passes will allow for you to eat grapefruit without there being any poor side effects.

Statistics show that people over the age of 45 are more likely to eat grapefruit as well as more medication than younger people. These are the more people at risk. More complications arise as people get older. Statistics also show that one out of every five Americans eat grapefruit for breakfast which is also when a lot of people take their medications.

Based on this research, grapefruit and drug interaction leads to unpredictable and hazardous levels of certain drugs that people need for good health. My grandparents need to take their blood pressure medicine because without it they immediately feel sick. It is best to talk to your doctor when on medication to make sure that grapefruit does not reduce or increase the dosage of medicine that you take. Here is a list of medicines that you cannot eat grapefruit with.

There are not any experiments shown online because it would not be ethical to have a person take medicine that interacts poorly with grapefruit and then give them grapefruit to see what happens. Reports are based on facts and experiences people have had.

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http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/11/26/more-new-drugs-a-bad-fit-with-grapefruit-study-finds

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/280882.php

Do flowers improve emotional health?

It has been proven that the presence of flowers trigger happy emotions and help with feelings of life satisfaction. It has also been proven to affect social behavior in a positive manner far beyond what is normally believed. Nowadays people need as many ways as possible to release stress. Having flowers in the room is a healthy and natural way for people to release stress, rather than taking pills and supplements.

Researchers set up a 10-month experiment, which studies participants’ behavior and emotional responses to receiving flowers. The results were positive; flowers do improve peoples’ moods. There were three findings in the research results. First, that flowers have a direct response to happiness. When participants received flowers, they expressed the emotions of true happiness and excitement. They also demonstrated extreme amusement and appreciation. This was a universal reaction, it occurred to all genders, ages, and race. Secondly, flowers end up having long-term effects on moods. The study shows that participants felt happier in general, while less anxious and agitated after receiving flowers. With flowers, participants felt a higher sense of confidence and pleasure. Think about it, who wouldn’t feel good after receiving flowers? Thirdly, flowers help people have stronger intimate connections. Flowers lead families and friends to having improved relationships.

If flowers make people happy, then does having flowers around the house cause for a happier family? According to this study, flower arrangements that were placed around people’s homes showed symbols of sharing and welcoming. Flowers bring positive emotions into rooms and to people.

In another study, which shows the research behind their findings, concluded the same results. In this study, about 150 women were recruited to participate in a study about “normal daily moods.” The women were asked questions about their mood and overall satisfaction with life. Then the women were all given a gift. One third was given flowers, one third was given a fruit basket, and the other was given a candle. When the women were given their gifts, 100% smiled when they got flowers, 90% smiled when they received fruit, and 77% smiled when they received candles. Three days later, they were asked the same questions about their mood and life satisfaction. The women who received flowers scored noticeably higher on the mood questionnaire than they did the first time.

Needless to say, who would not feel good and confident after receiving flowers? I know if I got flowers sent to me it would probably make not only my day, but my week! There are some things that need to be considered from this second experiment though. Why did they only test out women? Also, what age were the women they tested. Would they have gotten different results if they tested men in the same experiment? Also, did the type of flower have any effect on the results? These are all third variables that need to be considered.

I found a website that has different types of flowers and colors of flowers that evoke different emotions due to the different colors the floor arrangements contain.

I want to fill my dorm with flowers to feel happier. Heck, maybe I will send some to my parents, too.

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http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2008/04/17/flowers-really-do-make-you-hap/

http://aboutflowers.com/health-benefits-a-research/emotional-impact-of-flowers-study.html

Is a cup of wine a day good for you?

Red wine has been found to be healthy for your heart in moderation. There are certain substances and ingredients (antioxidants) in red wine that help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and always help protect against artery damage. Some antioxidants that wine contains are flavonoids or resveratrol.

There has been a lot of research (according to this article) that moderate intake of alcohol improves cardiovascular health. Research has suggested that red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. The antioxidants in wine from the skin and seed of grapes are healthy for the heart.

Flavonoids help reduce the risk of coronary heart in three major ways. These are: By reducing the production of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is considered “bad protein” because it adds to plaque, a think hard deposit that can clop arteries and cause them to be less flexible. It boosts high density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is considered the “good protein” because it helps remove lipoprotein cholesterol from the arteries and to the liver, where it is then removed from the body. Thirdly, it reduces blood clotting.

So you may be wondering, as long as I am drinking red wine I’m being healthy? From my observations the answer is no. For red wine to be beneficial for your heart health, it needs to have a large quantity of the antioxidants flavonoids and resveratrol, so sorry college kids but Franzia is probably not cutting it. Also, when drinking wine for health benefits, one serving is the appropriate amount to drink. If you have certain health issues, red wine may not be the answer to your problem.

So if wine comes from grapes, does grape juice have the same benefits? Apparently purple grape juice reduces blood clotting and some juices do contain the same antioxidant that red wine contains, but it was found that it does not lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as red wine.

It is important to remember that too much alcohol is unhealthy and can be damaging to your body. Moderation is key for red wine to actually be beneficial.GlassesHeartRedWine-copy

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/AboutCholesterol/Good-vsBad-Cholesterol_UCM_305561_Article.jsp

 

http://www.ynhh.org/about-us/red_wine.aspx

Do higher SPFs actually work?

When going to the beach, there are various SPFs that people can choose to buy, the higher the number, the better the protection. Does having 100 SPF screen protect your so much more than 30 SPF? SPF is the amount of ultraviolet B rays sunscreen blocks. Sunscreen does not block UVA rays, which damages the skin more than UVB rays. But at the end of the day, both UVB and UVA rays damage the skin and lead to skin cancer. Most people do not understand what the number of SPF means in sunscreen. SPF 30 does not block double the sun from using SPF 15. According to a Florida dermatologist James M. Spencer, “ SPF 15 product blocks about 94% of UVB rays; an SPF 30 product blocks 97% of UVB rays; and an SPF 45 product blocks about 98% of rays.” No sunscreen will ever block 100% of UVB rays. It might be in your best interest to use a sunscreen with a higher SPF if you have paler skin and to reapply often, especially after get wet.

There is an experiment that shows that higher SPF sunscreens do work slightly better than sunscreens with lower SPF. The experimenter used different types of sunscreen: SPF 0 (control sheet), SPF 30 cream, SPF 30 spray, and SPF 50 cream (because the experiment believes that nothing over 50 SPF is better than 50 SPF) (sources claim different information). The experimenter smeared/sprayed the appropriate sunscreen onto its labeled plastic rectangle with the same thickness people usually apply when using sunscreen and then placed it over top of a photosensitive paper. The sheets were placed outside in the sun and were timed to be outside in the sun for two minutes each. After the two minutes passed, the photosensitive paper was rinsed in cold water for one minute to let the images show and then they were left to dry.

The results of the experiment show that the SPF cream worked well only if used in large amounts, which isn’t as typical of a person to do. The spray 30 SPF surprisingly worked better than the 30 SPF lotion. The SPF 50 lotion worked the best out of all three sunscreens.

There are third variables in this experiment that need to be considered. How much sunscreen SPF 30 spray was used.. could it have been more than an average person would use? What brands were used when conducting this experiment? Should two different brand have been tested? Also, was there not an appropriate amount of lotion used for the 30 SPF lotion to have reliable results. Should the experimenters have tested the lotions for longer than two minutes to see what the long-term effects of the sunscreen are? These are all things that people need to consider when considering what SPF sunscreen to use.

I have a darker skin tone, so usually I am fine wearing little to no sunscreen during the summer and I do not get burnt. Some people I know can do the same, while other people need to wear constant sunscreen to not end up looking like a tomato! At this point, most people know what works for them and as long as you can go to the beach and not completely fry your skin, that is what is important!art-sunscreen-620x349

 

http://www.theusualmayhem.com/2012/06/experiment-do-higher-spf-sunscreens.html

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/sun/high-spf-sunscreens-are-they-better

Does stress cause over eating?

Whenever I am stressed about class or a life situation, I find myself continuously wanting to eat food. I do not know if it is to avoid doing work, to try and make the work I am doing more enjoyable, or to be doing something while working. I researched the science behind stress eating and this what I found out. Researchers have linked weight gain to stress.

In a study with fifty-nine healthy pre-menopausal women from ages 30-45 were recruited for a study testing if stress leads to an increase in food consumption. Women had four days where they went to three-hour lab sessions beginning within the first five days of the follicular stage of their menstrual cycle. The first three sessions were stressful and the fourth was a control session where no stress was involved. Women were told to eat a snack one hour before going to the lab. After the sessions in the lab, they were given a basket of food that contained different kinds of snack, some healthy and some not. After the sessions, the women had to wait an hour in the laboratory and they would read or listen to music. Little did they know that they were being analyzed for how much and what food they ate out of what the researchers gave them.

The researchers found that stressed was related to a greater calorie intake. The women ate more food and sweets after they had a stressful session.

When a person’s stress lingers, the adrenal glands release a hormone called cortisol, which increase appetite and motivate to eat. When people begin to get less stressed, their appetite will begin to fall. Harvard research also shows that women are more likely to eat more food and men are more likely to drink alcohol or smoke when under stress. According to a Harvard article, stress affects the type of food people want to eat. When people are stressed that want food that is high in fat, sugar, or both.

There are third variables that researchers need to take into account. Eating disorders are very common in women and they need to be taken into consideration during these studies. Eating disorders could cause women to binge eat after a stressful period or eat nothing or almost nothing. Weight, age, height, and allergies also need to be taken into consideration when analyzing what women choose to eat and how much. Another important detail to focus on is how much the women ate during the day before going to the lab, did they eat breakfast, lunch, an early dinner, snacks through out the day or do they have plans to eat after the lab session? This is very important when examining what and how much people eat after a lab session.

Stress causes people to lose sleep, exercise less, and drink alcohol more often, which can all contribute to weight gain. I have learned that the best thing to do when stress in college is to go to the library and get work done rather then eating a lot of food that later you regret.

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http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/harvard_mental_health_letter/2012/february/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat

http://www.chc.ucsf.edu/ame_lab/pdfs/Epel_etal_2001.pdf

The Truth About Coffee

Being college students, especially with finals coming up, typically means consuming a large amount of coffee. I’m actually drinking a cup of coffee right now as I’m writing this, but growing up I have always heard a variety of things about one of my favorite drinks. As a kid I was told if I drank coffee too early it could stunt my growth, or that coffee was bad for my health, or even that it was good for me.

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According to Dr. Rob van Dam, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, coffee may not be as unhealthy as we feared. The Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study investigated the relationship between the amount of coffee consumed and overall mortality. These studies included about 130,000 healthy men and women who were in their mid 40s and 50s. The researchers followed them for 18 to 24 years, tracking their habits, diet, and their coffee intake. The findings concluded that there was no relationship linking coffee consumption and increased risk of death. Whether death by cancer or any other cause, they found no increased risk. Researchers even reported that the people who drank up to 6 cups of coffee a day, were still fine. It seems the reports were well conducted since it was two studies that followed a large amount of people for a long period of time.

This observational studies’ conclusion was negative since they found nothing was going on, but is that good news? I’m curious if the researchers could have also included younger patients such as in their late teens and early twenties to see if there was a difference between the two age groups. The other part of the study that should be noted is that the research is based on coffee that is typically black with a little sugar or cream. This does not include the sugary, high-calorie coffees, such as Frappachinos, that have become incredibly popular over the years especially with younger people. These sugary drinks seem like a possible variable that could lead to increase weight gain overtime. Although this study does not rule out if coffee causes any other health issues, which is a possibility and Dr. Rob van Dam even mentions investigating the possible link between coffee and diabetes. But it does show that coffee does not seem to risk your overall health or increase your risk of death in the long run.

Sources: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/coffee/

http://www.channing.harvard.edu/nhs/

http://thenypost.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/shutterstock_125466521.jpg

 

How much is too much ibuprofen?

When I have a headache or toothache, my first reaction is to pop a couple Advil or Aleve and the pain mostly goes away within an hour. I never thought that I may be taking too much, though. Sometimes if I’m incredibly stressed out I’ll take painkillers several times a day, every day for sometimes up to a week. It just never occurred to me that I may be overdoing it because it’s not a prescription drug and people take it so casually all the time. After reading this article, though, I realized that the effects of taking too much ibuprofen can be really bad for you, even dangerous at times.

Taking too much at once can be incredibly damaging to your intestinal tract, and the effects of that include nausea, vomiting, and severe stomach pain, and sometimes the stomach pain can be a cause of internal bleeding in the stomach or intestines. Taking too much can also cause an increase in acid production, which can lead to heartburn. Lastly, another common effect of taking too much ibuprofen can be severe diarrhea, which is safe to assume no one really enjoys.

Some more things that you can experience include difficulty breathing, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, confusion, drowsiness, and convulsions. Ibuprofen may seem relatively harmless, and in most cases it is, but you still want to be careful about your intake to avoid any possible serious health issues.

photos.demandstudios.com-getty-article-167-37-83113540_XS

The Higher the Heel…… The More Helpful the Man?

 

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Photo courtesy of www.indiatimes.com

A recent study published in Springer’s Journal Archive’s of Sexual Behavior studied the correlation between the height of a woman’s heel and the influence that has on how men act around her.  Nicolas Guéguen, the director of the study, took a woman outdoors and had her ask people to complete a survey in flat shoes and high heels.  In this situation Guéguen observed that men were more likely to complete the survey if the woman asking was wearing high heels.  The heel height had no affect on other women though.  Next, Guéguen took the woman to a bar and found that men were more likely to start talking to her if she was wearing heels rather than flats.  Guéguen does believe that more research should be conducted on this specific topic, but it’s a start.  He also stated that he believes that men act the way they do around women in heels because of the way women in heels are portrayed in the media.

This study immediately caught my attention because I am a heel loving, and wearing, girl.  How could one small factor effect men on such a level?  What does this say about our society today, and what implications could it have for the future?

After thoroughly examining the study, I found a few flaws in this system.  First of all, the study is observational and is only partially blind.  The giver of the survey (the woman) and the person observing were both in on what they were trying to find, so that could have caused the woman to be more open to reaching out for help from the men instead of the women.  There was also only one woman used in the study.  A bigger sample size would have reduced the effects of chance, which can never be eliminated, and are still always present.  Another problem is that they didn’t account for third variables.  Guéguen even states that the media could be another factor that plays into the results that the study produced.  This study was conducted in France, so readers also have to be cautious about the implications it has in America.

Overall I think the study has an interesting topic, but there should be more studies like it.  If this study is replicated and rid of other conflicting variables there may be some good evidence that in fact there is a correlation between the helpfulness of a man and the height of a woman’s heel.  For now I find it hard to even say that there is a strong correlation because of the flaws in this particular study.

Works Cited:

“High Heels May Enhance a Man’s Instinct to Be Helpful.” Springer.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2014. <http://www.springer.com/gp/about-springer/media/springer-select/high-heels-may-enhance-a-man-s-instinct-to-be-helpful/40852>.